We're Outta Here!

Hooray for adventure!  I took R. and her friend to Redlands and we had a great time exploring!

These two first met at the library in 1999 so it is appropriate that our first stop was at the absolutely gorgeous A. M. Smiley Public Library.

library entrance

the little gargoyle on the corner of the entryway above

tile in entryway

I love the way the new facility included the original building.

The children's room has an original mural by Leo Politi, 

a Caldecott winner and author and illustrator of a memorable childhood book.

There was plenty of other art in the children's room, too.

Across from the library is the only shrine to Abraham Lincoln west of the Mississippi River.  How could we pass that up?  We had a great docent who shared stories not only about Lincoln but also about the shrine and how it acquired some of the pieces.  I love hearing stories.

Mary Todd Lincoln and a lock of hair, a traditional keepsake of the time

The seal from the United States Sanitary Commission,
which tried to improve conditions for the soldiers.

After a little more time at the library (and just a teeny tiny purchase at the Friends' bookstore) we headed to town.  

We had a good visit to the original Shop Called Quest, which has its other branch in Claremont, and to a children's bookstore.

We were very pleased with the Gourmet Pizza Shoppe, which offers an unusual assortment of pizzas and vegan cheese.  The only disappointment was that the cashier had no idea why we were so excited to be given the number 42 as our call number.

As we headed back to the car we walked through the Redlands Bowl, where Nancy Celeste Walker was performing, “A Tribute to the Legendary Women of Country Music."  At least one of us was tempted to stay.

Our final stop was the University of Redlands.  Of course we visited the library, but it was unfortunately it was closed.

R. said she learned the school cheer in elementary school.  You can hear it here.

And then it was time to go home, driving off into the sunset.

A Little Adventure

Usually I do the same things over and over - same locker, same breakfast, same foods from the same grocery store.  Today was a wild and crazy day at a new grocery store!  Thanks to my friend for getting me out of the house and to Whole Foods, where I visit at least once a year.  If only I had appreciated it more when I lived in Austin.

We have only three kinds of mustard in our frig now, but I resisted temptation to buy more.
I was tempted by tomato jelly and zippy jalapeño jam.

I was also tempted by this Greek salad so I made it for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow we'll have corn and arugula salad.

I splurged on Oregon cherries, but I can't show you a picture because they are all gone!  I hope you are eating something yummy, too!

On the Move

R. had her first driving lesson with a very patient person recommended by a friend.

Fuzzy picture because I took it from inside the house behind the screen
in hopes that she wouldn't notice that I watching!

I also hired a person to help her drive our standard transmission car because not one driving school teaches it!!  She didn't get out of first gear, but barely stalled at all.

Then it was my turn to be in charge.  The good news is I stayed calm.  The bad news is I was so calm my reflexes to grab the steering wheel or scream or something did not kick in.  The good news is that she hit the brakes instead of the car in the parking lot!  We found a new spot and after a bit decided to give up on learning stick shift while simultaneously learning to drive.

Since we have just the one car we had to find a kind, loving, and generous owner of an automatic transmission car.  Hooray for grandparents!

All of a sudden driving an automatic seemed easy!  She even got up to thirty mph today!  Reading NY Times articles (here and here) makes me grateful for our quiet town!

National Night Out

All summer long the police department has been sponsoring a summer movie series, free to all and held in a different park each week.  This week was special because it is also National Night Out, started as a way to fight crime.

The streets surrounding the park were closed.

The Claremont Police Department's mobile Emergency Operations Center
(shared with the colleges and the school district) was on display (maybe available for tours).

The volunteers answered important questions,

like where to get the free tickets for an In-N-Out burger.

Local groups were at the park, including Claremont Emergency Response Team,

and the local music school.

I wonder which officers (or maybe the volunteers) set up the screen,

and at dusk the movie began.

Next up - $5 drive-in (no passenger limit) at the L.A. Co. Fairplex.

Great feeling!

All pictures stuck into envelopes and other random places are now labeled and sorted by year.

Oversized photos were also labeled and sorted.

I tucked empty frames in the back of the closet (to be donated next time we go on leave).  I put photos into babybooks and into the family album.  If I don't think about the next project I feel totally satisfied!

Something New...

The dearly departed Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop had book readings of children's books and even though I never intended to buy the books I usually did.  I can't remember if I have ever been to a book reading geared to adults.  The father of A.'s teammate had a reading at the local record store.

Kevin Moffett reading from The Silent History,
a collaborative story presented in testimonials and field reports.

The book describes the lives of people involved with the silents, people who don't process language.  An implant becomes available but that leads to controversies similar to cochlear implants in the deaf community.  R. shared with me a similarly themed book, Speed of Dark, in which people on the autism spectrum could be surgically cured.

There was not a question-and-answer period or discussion following the reading, which was too bad since I would have been curious to hear what people had to say.

Something old...

I had an afternoon to play so I had lunch with a friend and then we visited thrift stores.  My parents have the same items and their prices are better, but it is still entertaining.

Just like at home, but my parents have these in a variety of a sizes.

Maybe everyone had this napkin holder?

My parents do have some unusual lamps, but nothing like this.
A different thrift store had an actual spinning wheel!

Purchases included one desk organizer, three books, two pairs of shorts for A., and one skirt that I hope I will wear.