Community Garden

My friend and fellow blogger shared that one of the many empty lots being developed in Claremont was being considered for a community garden by a former principal whose school was down the block.

When the new bike path was built at the east end of First Street there was one block between it and the main drag.

The western portion had a few plantings, but

the larger portion was bare.  There was a sign about developing a community garden and I added my name, but never heard anything.  I know a garden is a logistical challenge, but I would love for Claremont to protect this little island.

Routes

A great thing about swimming is that no matter how slow you are you can't get more than 25 yards (or 50 meters, depending on the pool) behind the fastest person.  The downside (for some people) is that there isn't a variety in the view.  I find that a positive because it means I am not distracted by cars/dogs/potholes, etc.

When I run I have an opportunity to vary the route.  My favorite one takes me to campus to run around the un- (less-) developed area that is packed dirt.  I like the hens, the farm, the massive oaks, and the always-clean portapotty.  This time of year I find myself avoiding this route because I am so depressed by the wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata).

not my picture since I don't run with a camera

The vine takes over trees and shrubs and completely covers the tree's leaves so it can't make food and shrivels and dies.  The vine produces these large, prickly seed pods (that don't look like cucumbers to me) and the cycle starts again.

Running by these vines is so disturbing to me because they are so invasive and so destructive.  I find myself stopping and pulling them out and then I haven't run much and I get home late.  Sometimes I can stick with my route if I focus on the path and don't let my eyes wander, but that isn't as joyful.

It makes me homesick for Shaker Lakes (maybe not in winter), South Hill Rec Way, the Boulder Creek Path into Boulder Canyon, and my favorite route in Denmark.

taken in August, not February

Bed & Breakfast

our guestroom

Before airbnb or couchsurfing, the local League of Women Voters started a Bed & Breakfast as a fundraiser (copied from another nonprofit).  Local members open their homes to visitors and instead of collecting a fee the guests make a donation to the local LWV.

Because we are within walking distance of the Claremont Colleges it is easy to host parents who are in town for Family Weekend or graduation.  This weekend we have a couple from Boulder, Colorado whose daughter is a student at Scripps College.

When we have visited Boulder we have used the same system and stayed with a family that lived across the street from one of D.'s former students.  It was even better than a hotel because the family had shelves full of books, a yard to play in, and we had great conversations.

Fresh produce

When we lived in Ithaca we learned about CSAs, or community supported agriculture, which gives support to farmers by having customers commit to buying food before the season begins.  In Ithaca some of the farms require supporters to do work on the farm (I planted broccoli one day), which also allows them to learn more about the process of producing food.  It is nothing like that here.

I went to the annual Village Venture, a local arts and crafts fair, and stopped at the booth promoting a business that delivers organically grown fruits and vegetables.  They could be only locally grown, but if you want more of a variety you can accept that some of them are grown farther away in the state.  Other options include fruit only, vegetables only, and raw/no cooking (e.g., fruit, lettuce, bell pepper).  We chose to have a box delivered every other week, but we could get it more or less often and get a larger or smaller box.  

So far I have been pleased with the service.  It gets us to eat a variety of foods, the quality is good, and I like the element of surprise (although I could look online to see what is coming). 

packing slip

one week's food

Freshening up

After talking about it for months and looking in stores for a while, I finally ordered a new kitchen rug online.

It isn't very big, but came in this enormous box.

I wish I could figure out what to do with all this paper.

The new rug is smaller, but it has a non-stick bottom and can go
in the washing machine.  Obviously the other one could not!

For reasons I don't understand we got a free sample of children's cough and allergy medicine.

Sharing

Sometimes I download photos from the camera and am surprised to find some on there that I haven't taken.  Are these the things I will miss when the kids are off on their own?

Money, Money, Money

The day after Christmas I bought some coin holders at 90% off.
I love collecting and it brings back fond memories of my mom's coin holders.

A. was disappointed that the penny holder goes back to only 1979.

Only two nickels - time to buy a roll.

Time for a trip to the east coast since we have so few quarters minted in Philadelphia.

I like that our National Park quarters folder has a description for each state.

Next up, sorting my postcard collection.