Wildlife

It isn't very wild, but has been exciting to have some baby birds in the birdhouse built and decorated by A. years and years ago.

 If you click on the image below you can see that there is something in the house, but you can't see the birds.  Sorry.

After watching the parent go off and come back with bits of worms and bugs, A. and his friend took some worms from the compost and got them into the birdhouse.  I wish I could have been able to understand the reaction from the babies and parents.

I looked through our book and think maybe it is a bushtit, but I am not sure.  You are welcome to come visit and take a look and no one will make you dig worms.

Rain

R. goes to school very early on Mondays and that is the only time she gets a ride, which means on Monday mornings I must cycle to the pool.  I almost always ride so it isn't a challenge, except two of the last three Mondays it has rained.  The first time I texted my coach and got a ride to and from the pool, but today I reminded myself that I lived without a car in a place with rain, snow, and ice.  I can handle it, I told myself.  I did handle it, but the ride home with the water from the road coming off the tires and onto me was not my favorite part.  I suppose the bragging rights were the best part.

I've started hiking with a small group once a week and today we we set off in dry weather.  Unfortunately right at the turn around (where the Johnson's Pasture trail meets the Wilderness Park Loop) a few drops fell and pretty soon it was a steady rain.  We tried to say nice things (at least there are no wildfires in Claremont today, this will fill my rain barrel, isn't it nice that the trail isn't crowded), but it is a 50 minute (+/-) hike down and we fell into the silence of trudging before too long.  I started imagining sitting in a hot tub, but when I got home all I wanted to do was put on a flannel nightgown and fleece robe.

Too bad I had to get dressed.  A meeting at the high school meant cycling (tried that one already), driving (I would have been happy to have done this if I didn't have to park it anywhere), or walking (which always seems to take so long).  And then a stroke of brilliance.  I remembered my neighbor worked at the school and got off when my meeting ended.  She said would be happy to give me a ride, but the meeting ended early and the sun was almost shining.  The walk didn't seem so long anymore!

How different my life has become.  I write about the unusual rain and a friend in Denmark writes about the sun.

Return of the Screen

During screen-free week I learned that one way I waste time is to check the weather forecast, not just for Claremont but also for Ithaca, Boulder, Cleveland, Singapore, and Roskilde.  I also like to read the headlines and check the webcams for those places.  When I am online I check a lot of sports scores, too.

Another way I waste time is to read useless etiquette columns, like how to deal with divorced parents at a wedding (my parents are married to each other and I am not getting married).  Maybe it is like reading recipes for dishes I'll never make and travel articles about places I'll never visit?

I did not take a single picture this week!  Now I can't remember if not much happened or if I knew I wasn't blogging so I didn't look for any catchy material.

During the week I went to bed earlier, completed a Tuesday NY Times crossword puzzle (I can't remember the last time I even attempted a Tuesday puzzle), completed a jigsaw puzzle I started ages ago, read the whole newspaper, worked in the yard, and went to the park after dinner to help my son practice the unicycle.  The best part was going to bed earlier each night.

I don't think anything will change, but I have no regrets about taking part in the challenge.  Up next, I'll take some pictures and do some posting, but I have to hang out on Facebook first.

Busy weekend

After I swam, R. finished mock trial practice, and David and A. did some science fair and unicycle work we all had lunch and were ready for family time.  This week had an All-American theme.

First stop - the mall!  Not so many photo opportunities, but this is the one thing we purchased (not spontaneously).  Some assembly required.

Can you count the 4,295 pieces?

Next stop on the American tour was the drive in.  It was my first time being the driver and I was a little disappointed to have a person come to the window instead of getting to talk to a box.  It was the kids' first experience at a drive through and the first time at In-N-Out for 75% of the people in the car.

Final stop was Memorial Park in Upland where we played with frisbee-like disks and tried out the standing see-saw on the playground.

We ended the evening with a fund raiser at the Dale Bros. Brewery, which hosted a fund raiser for A.'s soccer team.  A friend said it was like a pub in the U.K. because there were families enjoying the evening and having a drink, but not having that be the only source of enjoyment.

Los Whateveros preparing to perform

A. had a sleepover so David could cycle, I could run, we could both enjoy browsing the farmers market while R. slept.  We had a playdate with a friend's dog in order to get to know each other before committing to hosting the dog for a week this summer.  She was great and we look forward to temporary dog ownership - good when she arrives, good when she leaves.  

After A. and David played a casual soccer game (kids v. adults) it was more dog time, walking one to help out friends.  The funniest part of the outing was when I tried to get the dog to drink water from my hands and then she wiped her face on the grass.  Turns out she will only drink water at home!

Homework and music were next, followed by brick sorting.  I am wondering if this project will last until the end of screen-free week.

The evening ended with company for dinner and open mic night at the Folk Music Center.  

Singing The Circle Game

Now we are ready for Screen-Free Week.  I wonder if I will take fewer pictures knowing that I won't be posting on a blog for a week.  You can always call me if you want to know.

Screen Free Week

Our family talked about participating in Screen Free Week last year, but it didn't get a lot of support.  This year we said it was optional and even offered a bribe (money toward an activity, like a Lego set).

There isn't one right way to do it and each person will decide what it means (is Skyping allowed?  using the computer for work or school okay?).  I have my own list, which excludes Facebook, newspapers, and comics.  I won't post here and won't check the weather.  I will still use the computer for volunteer activities and to communicate with the school.

I will buy the LA Times on the days we don't have it delivered.  Maybe I'll write in the kids' baby books, which has been on my to-do list for a year.  Maybe I'll work on the sweater I started ages ago.  I am hoping we play more board games, including Iota, which I read about on one of my favorite blogs.

I hope you'll let me know how your week goes if you decide to give it a try.

p.s.  I am adding this after reading a bit more of the Screen Free Week material.  If the American Academy of Pediatrics supports reducing screen time, maybe we can eliminate screens in pediatric waiting rooms (yes, I know it entertains without sharing germs toys harbor, but maybe we can find another option?).  Maybe restaurants could have screen-free sections so people have a choice?

Culture in the morning

A.'s chamber orchestra director was so excited about taking the group to the Disney Concert Hall to hear the L.A. Philharmonic that it was contagious.  Even though A. gets sick on the bus he was enthusiastic to go and even happier when I said we could drive there.

I was excited to be included because I have fond memories of going to similar concerts at Severance Hall.

 We got there early and had time to walk around the building, 

which looks nothing like the Severance Hall.

The inside color scheme goes well with A.'s sneakers and pants.

No one was at the instrument petting zoo so A. could try the violin, viola, and percussion instruments.

This is a close-up of the flower in the background of the previous picture.

After we met up with the group we got to take part in a percussion (boomwhacker, tambourine, and hand drum) rhythm workshop.  It was a good idea to have some participatory event before having the kids be quiet members of the audience.

The bearded fellow on the cover of the program is Mussorgsky and the other four people are student composers whose works had their world premier at the concert.  The students I was sitting with seemed fascinated that teenagers could be composers and especially enjoyed seeing them in person (although they were disappointed to be unable to get autographs).

A big thanks goes to Foothill Philharmonic Committee for making this possible.

Culture in the afternoon

Last December I raved about a field trip to the Maloof Foundation campus and now my daughter has art hanging in their garden!

A view from the trail

The submarine birdhouse in the fig tree

There were over a dozen birdhouses, including a backpack (or was it a lunchbox?) and a toadstool.

Unfortunately the s'more got hung upside down.

I didn't catch the title of this piece.

The art will be left hanging until June in case a bird decides to use one of them.

We also had a chance to take a tour of the house

An oud made of walnut and spruce by the father of A.'s friend

and see a special exhibit, "With Strings Attached." 

I appreciate that the Maloof Foundation thought to include high school students in their exhibit so we could have a perfect excuse to spend an afternoon there.