penrose state park- camping over the 4th of july

We have been camping several times this summer, and I am behind on posting the photos... I'm just going to post them out of order, just to get them on here before I get even further behind!

We spent Fourth of July weekend with friends at Penrose Point, on Hood Canal. It was our first time at that campground, and it was fun to explore... A nice place to go for just two nights because it is so close. Getting to the water was not quite convenient, but for the price of a half hour hike, we had a small section of beach nearly to ourselves, while the "parking lot" beach was over crowded.

Jason kept rigging his pole for salmon, but those darn sculpin are hungrier, I guess... Here is his prize winner. Bo had a great time swimming- just wore his little brown self out. He was so tired he had to go curl up for a nap- right on all the dry clothes.

The kids had so much fun together- they played non-stop all weekend. I felt like I didn't even talk to them! But that means they're having fun, I know. So we tried to get a "nice picture" of them all together before we left. Little Gabie, though, was just not feeling compliant. Doesn't this remind you of that old Sesame Street song, "One of these kids is doin' his own thing..." Finally he agreed to humor the mommies, and stand behind the other kids. What a guy!

And below is the price they exacted for all that "nice for the mommies" smiling... Aren't they charming?

Eva got to listen to her buddy Nicholas' iPod- in fact, he was playing it for everyone, though it didn't get very loud... They decided to make up skits and dances, and perform them for the parents around the campfire. Naomi got pretty into it- she is quite the budding rock star, as you can see from her self-styling in this picture. She and Nicholas had a competitive dance off. Eva declared Nicholas the winner. It was just too close to call, really. I will now always think of this trip when I hear the old C & C Music Factory song, "Everybody Dance Now!"

Good friends, seaweed, burnt marshmallows, mosquito bites, fireworks, toxic algae... These are the things great memories are made of! We'll be off to do it again soon!

said the heifer to the bull...

The other day we went through the four-way stop near our neighborhood, and slowed a little, as usual, to peer at the livestock on the right. "Oooo..." said Naomi with a sly grin, "I see an udder surprise!" Goofy laughter ensues.



So that is to say, that Naomi has been just slightly fascinated with udders of late. No particular reason why, that I know of- just finds them interesting and rather funny. And that leads to last night's post-tooth-brushing conversation, which I overheard...



Naomi finished brushing and leaned over the wooden stool (could be a milking stool- but isn't). "Whoop!" she says, "I'm a cow! Someone's milkin' me! I'm a cow! Milk milk milk!" This accompanied by handmotions on her invisable udder, pointed toward the stool. Josiah finishes brushing too and wants to get in on this pretend... "I'm a cow too! Someone's milkin' me too!" he says.



"No, no, Bubby." Naomi says. "You're a male. You can't get milked- you've gotta get killed, and ate! You're no dairy cow... (and here she pauses to shake her head, and give him a consiliatory hug).... You, are a Steak."

a bright bracelet by Naomi

Naomi's latest craft: plastic lacing. Aunt Leslie gave us lots of craft supplies from her teaching days, and Naomi waited patiently for weeks til I "had time" to help her make something. She chose the colors and did all the wrapping, though I had to hold the laces because it was really kind of tricky. She is very pleased with her new bracelet. Now, maybe Auntie Dani can dig deep in her memory and remember how to make all those rope-like things with plastic laces, so we can have lots of key chains, lanyards, zipper-pulls, etc. milling around the house? Isn't it great that kids have time for everything?

brothers

Bubby loves to sing to and talk to Bo, whether they are all alone or with the whole family. I frequently overhear him singling little ditties such as, "I luv ya Mistah Bo! I luv ya Mistah Bo!" Tonight he asked me once again to please have a baby brother for him. I made some comment like, "Well at least you have Bo around?!" and, poor little guy, he went out and found his furry brother. This is what I overheard in the hallway after that:

"Bo... We're brothers! We're brothers, cuz we're so alike! We've both got just one thing on. I've got m'one thing, m'underwear, you've got yer one thing, yer coat! We're so alike, we're brothers, we're twins! Twins- we live in the same country! Our ships have the same anchors, only you don't have a ship! We're brothers, Bo! Twins!!"

a little news about Naomi

Naomi's newest favorite snack- a whole avocado, peeled carefully. It makes her muzzle quite slimy , but she adores it.

Naomi is growing like crazy, and of course learning and doing all sorts of new things. She has really been into biking lately, and has challenged herself on the Lake Youngs Trail- wanting to go faster and further each time. It is so fun to run with her and watch her getting better and feeling great about it... She has become an awesome rider!

Naomi is also making gains in spelling and reading. As a kid, and a younger sister, she has been hearing "secret" things spelled out by adults for years, and has made a mission of figuring them out. She's been pretty good at certain things. In fact, when she was two, she used to ask for "C-A-N-D-Y." So the other day, she overheard Eva and me discussing when and how a package would arrive, and she thought she was missing out on something when we mentioned the "USPS." Not about to be left in the dark, she rushed over and yelled out, "I know what you're talking about!! Us pus!" We're not pulling the wool over her eyes anytime soon, right?

mid-week getaway to the beach

Last week the kids and I had the privilege of taking a mini-vacation in the middle of the week to Leslie and J's beach house on Hood Canal. It was 28 hours of adventurous beach combing, laughter and relaxation. Uncle J rowed the kids out onto the Canal twice. They enjoyed seeing Blue Herons in their nests, and an Osprey feeding it's babies a snake. J is good about sharing his knowledge with the kids, and they are happy recipients of this first-hand education.

Eva found this piece of Sea Lasagna (I don't know what it's really called) and, after noting all the other life growing on it, decided it was best suited as a fashion piece.

Jellyfish are always good to find- fun to gross out the squeamish. Eva said, "I was going to make some eggs, anybody want some?"

Here Josiah is contemplating and discussing with J the pros and cons of letting his crab go. The cons, of course, being that he loved it and he wanted it as a pet. The pros included the fact that the crab would be free and could live. While thinking about it's fate, he spent a little time training it, "No pinch! No pinch Crabby!" He finally made the decision to release it, but the main thought was that he had trained it so well, he could let it go and it would grow and then come back to him years later, much bigger and better to eat.

Bo had an awesome time roaming the beach and carrying clam shells and driftwood here and there. He did not have much success befriending the two little old lady dogs Zoe and Katie, but he gets points for persistence! That's a puppy for you.

Naomi made this balance game out of a half-hollow log.

For dinner we went to pizza in nearby Belfair. Leslie and J gave the kids some coins for the vending machines, where some major decisions were made. (Each kid came away with a gumball in each cheek, among other things.) Naomi was pleased with the little pink monkey that came out for her- the last time she was there, years ago, she came away with an ugly little man complete with a mullet, mustache, sneer, keg with hose and beer stein. She had wanted the pretty princess little girl. She named the little man Lemenen, and despite his unloved status, he is still at large in our house. He turns up here or there every few months.

After dinner we went back at played a little, then the kids went in to watch "Dennis the Menace" with Leslie. I took Bo out for some exercise before bedtime, and I could hear them all laughing from way out on the beach! The evening light was beautiful, and the sunset so calming. I was finally able to get a "looking" picture of Bo! Usually he runs at me to get the camera strap! I insisted that he stay, and he did, though he looks rather mystified...

Maybe no one else will see this, but I saw a lion and a lamb in the clouds above.

I was enjoying all the contrasts the fading light provided- bright flowers and flags against the dark clouds and last sunlight.

We all went home relaxed and refreshed by our stay at the beach. It was just the thing.

currently happening- abundant life

On Saturday it rained for a few minutes, and then cleared to a nice light for photos. I thought I would take the camera out and capture all that is changing around here.

There is new growth everywhere around our place... The puppy, the plants, the insects... Even the kids are growing at an alarming rate... I cannot keep them full!

Below, one of the many Borage plants that seeded itself from last years single planting....

The theme of this garden bed (above and below) is all shades and textures of green, and a bit of orange and yellow- also know as "always room for one more."

Creeping Jenny streaking through the Woolly Thyme

The strawberries are blooming prolifically...

Artichoke- a repeat performer from last year too.

Three little zucchinis

An organic lettuce mix... looking forward to trying the freckled leaves...

Kale with beautiful magenta stems. At least it looks good- I'll be the only one eating it, chances are...

Lily, keeping us in suspense

Peas, starting their climb

Lupines, spread beyond their plot from last summer...

And below, lovely dogwood blossoms. These always remind me of my Grandma Millie as they are some of her favorite flowers. The first photo was taken a few weeks ago- the second two just last week... I love their transformation- I'm not sure which stage is most beautiful, but the whole show is amazing.

The first rose blossom of the year, on my "Julia Child" rose bush.

A good old standby Rhody- the neighbors say this one used to be as big as a small house!

My herb garden- totally wild this year. Naomi's chives, which she likes to snack on and subsequently torture people with her onion / dragon breath, are nearly squeezed out by the aggressive oregano and thyme. They will have to be moved so she can continue her sinister tradition.

We have been studying invertebrates, and most recently, insects. I ordered Painted lady butterfly caterpillars, and we receive d them in the mail and watched them eat, grow, change into chrysalises, and the emerge butterflies. They whole process was incredible, and awfully fun to watch close up. The children enjoyed it immensely, and had a controlled situation in which to observe what they'd learned first hand. Of course they often find and observe bugs on their own, but having them for such a long period and watching their life cycle was quite different. I would highly recommend this activity for anyone- child or adult!

Two chrysalises are still hanging- three have emerged butterflies.

Time to release the butterflies outside. The kids decided they would like the small herb flowers. They were correct.

Naomi helped one to come out of the container- she was so thrilled to be holding it, ever so gently, a few minutes before it flew away.

Look closely above- you can see the little black proboscis (straw-like tounge) reaching out for a thyme flower.

It would be so exciting to come across Painted Lady caterpillars in the yard somewhere, and to think that perhaps they came from "our" butterflies. Of course it may not be so, but you never know. I know at least three little people who would have no doubts!