MonsterFool

30 April 2011 A Day Spent Almost Entirely Outdoors

May 1, 2011

29 April 2011 The Royal Wave

Apr 30, 2011

Sam and I watched highlights of the royal wedding this afternoon. She was, to put it mildly, fascinated. Afterward she disappeared upstairs for a while, then emerged dressed in her own regal garb. “Mommy,” she said, “I am a Duchess too.” Then she waved that tightly controlled, fanning wave she saw Kate and William do …

28 April 2011 Farm Girl

Apr 29, 2011

Last year on April 28 we found three dead sheep on a hike in the Scottish Highlands. Sam remembers the dead sheep. Is this going to be one of those memories she carries from childhood to adulthood? I wonder. This year on April 28 there were no sheep, dead or otherwise. But Sam did draw a picture of a farm girl trying …

27 April 2011 Cave Painting

Apr 28, 2011

26 April 2011 Storm

Apr 27, 2011

It’s been a long time since we’ve experienced a proper thunderstorm. They just don’t happen in the Bay Area. I think we had thunder once in Brighton last year, but it was short lived. This storm has been raging all evening now. First there was distant thunder. Then wind. Then a LOT of wind. Then rain. Then flashes …

25 April 2011 Good Yum Lettuce

Apr 26, 2011

Whether or not gardening works out, Sam just might have a career as a writer of Chinese restaurant menus.

24 April 2011 Hunting for Easter Eggs

Apr 25, 2011

23 April 2011 Crabtree Falls

Apr 24, 2011

Our first hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains this year was to Crabtree Falls. Turns out these are the longest falls east of the Mississippi. I can believe it after a Very Vertical (1380 foot elevation gain) 1.7 mile hike to the top. “Holy Cow” as Sam would say (and did). Gorgeous views. Muddy rocks. Tired Feet. 6 miles …

22 April 2011 What I Received in Exchange for French Class this Week

Apr 24, 2011

It says it’s cracked corn, but it’s not: it’s compost for our garden plot. One of the families who comes to my weekly French class runs a small farm. They offered to barter some of their produce in exchange for French lessons. So last week I got paid in eggs and honey. This week it was two enormous bags of homemade …

21 April 2011 The Maltese Falcon!

Apr 24, 2011

“Miss Wonderly” finally gets to unwrap the elusive black bird… and I go to an adult party for the first time in many years. Of course it was a book group discussion of The Maltese Falcon, but hey… there was wine AND chocolate chevre. Definitely my kind of party.