Channel Sam

17 May 2010 First Ballet Shoes

May 17, 2010

Sam and her classmates are going to be in a show at the end of the ballet school term in July. Today we finally ponied up for ballet shoes, much to the dancer’s delight. It took me nearly an hour to sew the elastic bands on by hand. An accomplished seamstress I am not. The sparkly pink cape I made for Sam back in …

11 May 2010 London 2012 Games, Here We Come

May 11, 2010

Today Sam received a badge and certificate for passing the British Gymnastics Level 8 Proficiency exam. (8 is the lowest level. It goes up to 1 apparently.) We’re very proud, though we’re not packing our bags for Olympic Village [yet ;-)]

Alice Meets Mickey Mouse

May 11, 2010

In Scotland, AC read aloud Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and lately we’ve been reading Through the Looking Glass, as well as listening to Alice on StoryNory.com. This afternoon I played Sam “Mickey and the Beanstalk” which I found on this excellent website devoted to making old children’s records available as free …

10 May 2010 Molly Bear Goes to Ballet

May 10, 2010

8 May 2010 Potty the Pirate

May 8, 2010

This afternoon while AC was out at Sailing School, Sam and I went to Pirate school, courtesy of the Brighton Fringe Festival. Part school, part magic show, “Potty the Pirate” took place at the Friends’ Meeting House, which probably heard more noise there this afternoon than it has in the last two hundred years. Mostly …

7 May 2010 77 Million Paintings

May 7, 2010

We didn’t stay for all 77 million. Brian Eno is the Artistic Director of the Brighton Festival this year and there are Eno installations and shows throughout the month-long festival. Sam and I took in some of the 77 Million Paintings this afternoon. What made it particularly work for me is that Fabrica is in a …

6 May 2010 Pavilion Gardens

May 6, 2010

4 May 2010 Thanks, Mom and Dad!

May 4, 2010

A parcel of goodness came today from the States: Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, Trader Joe’s Turkey Jerky, Annie’s Mac n Cheese, Kashi Heart to Heart cereal, enough flaxseed to last me through the summer, clothes, pencils, stickers, and coloring pages for Sam. We’ve already gotten into the box of goldfish crackers, …

3 May 2010 Relaxing with the 12 Labors of Hercules

May 3, 2010

30 April 2010 The Birnam Oak

Apr 30, 2010

I have never before seen a tree with such personality, such sleepy menace, so old, leaning heavily on its crutches, the last soldier standing, who once rumbled up its roots from the earth and lumbered to Dunsinane Hill. Yes, I know that Birnam wood doesn’t really come to Dunsinane, and that Macbeth, as usual, takes the …