Cream Soda Crew strikes again!
Last weekend I noticed a flyer up in town regarding Project Backpack. We support the charity, which provides school supplies for families in need, through donations ($) but I thought they MUST be doing a lot of sorting right about now to get all those supplies handed out. It occurred to me it would be a great job for the Cream Soda Crew! A way to help other students and continue working together as a crew. I called Helpline House and left a message, something like…I have a crew of young boys who are experts at demolishing odd jobs. I explained the inception of the crew as a charitable endeavor in support of their school auction – they got their start doing spring yard cleanup. I hung up and wondered if I would hear back. I did!! While initially they were a little doubtful about 5-6 boys coming down and sorting/labeling supplies, they decided to give us a chance. (I understand – most of the jobs are outside, but I know they can handle inside work, too, thanks to Sara putting them to work at the courthouse!) Well, after we got the ok, more kids joined the crew. In the end we had 9 kids – 6 boys and 3 girls – grades 1 through 5! What a team! Take a look at what they did in just one hour! The teenagers volunteering today don’t need to do all the sorting – they just hand out supplies! Way to go, Cream Soda Crew! We had a good time at the after-party at our house.
This was my crew – we worked on bundling up glue sticks into groups of 4. We also sorted pens, pencils and other supplies.
Backpack unpacking, sorting and stacking crew!
Pencil crew! When you get 12 pencils bundled up, it makes a distinct pattern, so you know you have 12. (The boys noticed this.)
They were so awesome!
I think these were among the youngest kids to volunteer down at Helpline House! (Kai’s dad is making bunny ears over my head!)
Cream soda rewards afterwards – look what this bottle cap says!
Robot combat!
Six boys and two robots = very exciting match up! Boys took turns driving and repairing. It was awesome. I had the good fortune of having a friend pop over just as I was unloading 42 bags of groceries from the truck. She helped me carry them then helped finish of a few drops of wine. Then neighbor and baby popped in to see what all the commotion was! Then more boys and another mom! Blackberry cobbler in the over from picking adventure this morning. Fun afternoon! This is summer 🙂
Dressage training
If you are interested in what my dressage training is all about, here are a couple videos (and if you go to the channel, you can see more). Emmy is the spirited Irish Cob I am “borrowing” from Steve and Theresa just down the road from Janet’s Whitethorn Farm where I train. Theresa filmed the clinic with guest instructor Bill Woods for me so I could watch it again. Today I finally summoned the noogies to watch – I truly hate my lower leg position but since we continue to work on canter departs I decided to ignore the leg and take in the instruction once again! I’m also including a video from November 18, 2013 so you can see the progression over 10 months. Much work remains, but I can see progress, and I am noting how patient my instructors are. Geez it takes a long time to retrain the body! I am very grateful to have an opportunity to work with Janet after 26 years out of the saddle. I’ve been riding twice a week for the last 7 months and have only missed two rides this summer thanks to a steady stream of great high schoolers who have been able to hang out with the boys and other neighborhood kids. I can’t recommend Janet Grunbok highly enough. As Steve says, the progress to date compared to where I started is night and day! If you want an excellent instructor on Bainbridge Island, look no further. Janet is the consummate professional, always reading, thinking, seeking additional training for herself, and furthering her students’ understanding of dressage with selected readings from the web and dressage publications. Her lessons are focused and build on the fundamentals. Each time I come away exhilarated and with a goal to work on between lessons. I sure wish I’d known Janet when I was 8 years old and starting to ride my first pony! First lesson with Janet! I was on the longe line until February while we worked on balance, among myriad other things. You learn a lot just hanging out with Janet in the barn!
Olympic walkabouts
In August we popped out to the Olympic Peninsula several times to check out adventures we hadn’t gotten to yet. We were very fortunate to grab a room both at Kalaloch Lodge on the coast and Lake Crescent one weekend. We also made it to Rainier for PEAK WILDFLOWER VIEWING! Can you believe it? That was an epic day – 7 hrs of driving and 3.5 hrs of hiking! We sure did have fun! Please check the album link above for August pictures.
Dave at the Dosewallups River on a peaceful afternoon following a great hike on the Steam Donkey trail.
More mountain biking at Grand Forest! Ben is certified by Dave as a competent mountain biker, handling all of the trails, including steep, gravelly slopes and single track, with skill. Good for you, Ben!
Blackberry bear! He stops for berries of all kinds!
Some impromptu climbing that reminds me of Hawaii adventures. You don’t go far, but you go deep and explore things at the micro level that you never would have thought to stop by and check out otherwise. Sometimes we mainlanders feel like we have to strike out ambitiously to have a good time. We don’t.
Olympic Discovery Trail from Port Townsend. You bike 7.5 each way through many great trails and farms. Hard to decide which of these bike trails I like the most!
Hurricane Ridge rest stop on our way to Kalaloch.
Rialto Beach walk to Hole-in-the-Wall.
Lake Crescent!
I love the lodge at night. We are listening to a very funny and informative ranger presentation on the porch.
Wild sweet peas on our little lawn overlooking the lake.
Mount Rainier hike!
Wildflowers!! And marmots! OH MY! Check the album!
July adventures!
I can’t believe July few by! There are so many great July pictures to share with you here. Here is a selection. July was spent with sports during the week (roller hockey and STEM camp for Sam and soccer/basketball for Ben) and adventuring on the weekends. It is a blur now, but fun every day. I hope you enjoy these shots. Click on the link above to explore the rest of the album.
Mountain biking in Gazzam Preserve.
Roller Hockey rocks!
The Cream Soda Crew hard at work removing rocks from pastures!
Not worn out by rock removal…the Crew continues with wood chopping!
Mountain biking in Port Gamble. These were some great single-track trails. Just exhilarating! Sam did great – he’s been doing this for a while. But he has a bigger bike so I’m happy to see he can manage an adult-size bike on the more technical trails. Ben was surprisingly adept, but then again – it’s Ben. Fearless, unwitting of the danger. That’s all you need to barrel over roots. There will come a time when he begins to question his powers over gravity!
Sign Spinner
Ben helping recruit customers to buy eggs donated to a roller hockey team fundraiser!
Here they are talking to a neighbor and team mate, and the car behind them is one of the coaches! Wow – pretty good publicity!
This seemed like a decent way to offload a huge pile-up of eggs in our fridge (since I finally went to the market and needed some real estate back!). Turns out Ben is an amazing sales person! He helped pull in the customers, while Sam did the math checking (one person said how much are they and Ben said “Five cents!” – Sam jumped in and corrected that one!). A friend came down in his gear and helped out, too. They were awesome together. Ben was so enthusiastic that one customer turned around and came back. He said “I turned around because of YOU (Ben) and your enthusiasm.” He tipped Ben an extra $2. Isn’t that so nice? He is a science teacher in the district. Another lady bought two dozen but gave the kids $40 – essentially donating $30!!! I wish I could have thanked her but I was inside washing up another two dozen! I was watching Ben from the shadows to be sure his enthusiasm didn’t propel him into the road…we set up a hockey stick on the ground so he wouldn’t get too close. Needless to say…I did not get the office time today that I needed. Oh well. They raised $74!
Enjoy this video 🙂
A lovely chicken liver lemonade, please
Today I took two boys for a 4.5 mile jog. We had a wonderful time – it’s awesome here in the Northwest in the summer. And how lucky am I to be a work-from-home mom who can jog with boys? They talk about the oddest things while jogging. Sam thought it would be funny to set up a chicken liver lemonade stand. Hmmm…sounds a bit like what is on offer for dinner around here.
Anyone for soy wasabi almonds and marshmallows for dinner?
It was time for a commissary run. After a two hour hockey practice. Which was after a 3 hour soccer camp (while Sam and I were out running). A tasty high-salt Taco Bell dinner followed by an hour in the air conditioning made sense. So we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Sam got chatty with the guys at the fish counter. Ben asked “Are there any flying fish here?” (I guess he was thinking of Pike Market?) Sam got a taste of smoked salmon belly strips and pronounced them DELICIOUS and so he got some. $386 later we were out the door and loading the car. Which was full of stinking hot hockey gear.
Have you ever smelled the elbow pads of a hockey player? Dave enjoyed helping us unpack!
Here are a few pictures of my lovies from today. I can’t figure out if camps are helpful or a pain in the arse. My head is spinning from the logistics of planning out the moving parts (along with my neighbors and friends – we are all helping each other with the logistics but we need a flight control expert to train us in managing all this!). Today I cancelled a camp. It’s TOO MUCH! I just want my kids with me!!!
The guys out jogging.
Telling an incredible story which lasted a whole 5K!!!
And the reward 🙂 We found that soda is healthier than ice cream. We’ll testify under oath, too, that it’s healthier.
Sam at hockey in the blazing sun. What I would give for an ice rink anywhere near Bainbridge. Sam LOVES roller hockey, though, and has gotten so good at skating it’s unreal. The league is fantastic! Such nice people.
Mountain biking with boys
Testing out the bikes on a trail which isn’t too technical for Ben. Usually I am running alongside but this time I am ALSO on a bike! So Ben has to handle braking and shifting on his own with no mom parachute 🙂
A sweet little meadow along the wooded way.
Here comes Ben with Daddy behind. He enjoyed time riding with Dave, as did Sam. They each got time with Dave 🙂
Ben was being his loud self in the truck, singing, as Dave deftly hooked up four bikes to the carrier. It is no easy trick. A young couple came by and got in their Jeep. I could tell by the multiple looks that they were thinking what I used to think upon seeing this sort of scene…”My goodness. Wow. I am not sure I’m ready for ANY of that!”
Camping trip to Orcas Island
We had such a great time! It was too short, but we are glad we could get back for Sam’s hockey game and team photo. Grateful for every minute being unplugged and hanging out together as a family. Thanks, Dave, for an absolutely wonderful time. So glad, especially, that you could be with us this time. I hope you enjoy the pictures – they are nearly all annotated to capture the stories. Click on the photo below to go to the album. There are also some very funny movies that Sammy took!
Dave cooking dinner at our campsite!
On our way to Orcas Island!
Very foggy so had to switch which ferry we took. Truck likes having a kayak on top this time – Dave is able to come! Yay! Also first time using a roof rack. More evidence Dave is with us! Boys are having fun already 🙂 Ben is telling one of the animals with us which site we have “pythie we have site 17 which is really big and nice on the water! “
No more school! :)
We had fun at Wilkes today after school – first afternoon of summer!! Look at Dave on skates – he is great! Sam is really getting good. If you click on this picture you will get to see a movie of him.
And back at home…where is Mom???
Oh hi, Mom! Thank you for taking such good care of the ferns around here! It is the hallmark of this trip, your tending to the ferns and carefully disentangling archangel of death! THANK YOU!
Richard, that looks like a really great RV spot you have there. Where is it? Looks so peaceful, with a nice fence and woods and chickens. Are there nice people you’re visiting? 😉
The passing of a king
Merlin watching over the hens as they get a treat.
Merlin the day we got him in October 2011. He was only about a year old. Hadn’t crowed yet, according to his previous owner!
Merlin presiding over chicken family portraits in November 2012. This was the day I will never NEVER forget where he scared the livin’ #%*@ out of me! I was in a zen state snapping pictures when I suddenly noticed he had come up to check out my boot laces! I reeled back, still holding the shutter down (so yes, there are pictures of a blurry Merlin comb!) and fell into the compost heap, then did it all over again while yelling for help! It is hilarious now…
Today Merlin passed quietly. He was such a tremendous presence here adding drama and beauty to our lives. Whenever someone would come over we would show them Merlin and talk about how Gordon is his son, born on Ben’s 4th birthday. Sam noticed how odd it was that Merlin passed exactly 2 years after Gordon hatched – to the day! I guess he had decided that Gordon had apprenticed enough and was ready to step up as guardian.
The boys and I shed tears over the grand rooster as I scooped up his still-warm and limp body. It was the hug I had been wanting to give him for a long time. I could never turn my back on him or enter the run without my hoe. He never got used to the fact that I was friend, not foe!
I wish I could remember everything the boys said as we sadly buried him. They were very sweet, thinking about how Merlin was such a strong rooster. Sam noted that now “the girls might get some feathers back” and Ben said something about “If Merlin knows about God…” and I missed the rest. He is in his final dust bath under the maple tree. Rest in peace, big boy. We will sure miss you! Here are a couple of the things I already miss and it’s only been a few hours:
Hearing a big kerthunk as you hop off your roost at night to get a snack. I jump back every time!
Seeing you in your spot on the roost closest to the door so any predator has to cross by you first before getting to the girls. Your spot is open, like the missing man formation.
Hearing two crows and knowing if it was yours or Gordon’s.
Your chuckle as you point out a nice treat and never take a bite, saving it all for your girls. (OH – Sam put an earthworm in Merlin’s grave because he always gave them away – OMG I cried hard at that gesture it was so incredibly thoughtful.)
How you trained Gordon in the ways of roostering.
How I always called you “Mister Puffy” because I knew you didn’t like that nickname, referring to your soft rump feathers.
I’m sure I’ll add to this list, I’m just too sad right now to dwell on your passing.
First hockey practice
Today was the first inline hockey practice AND Gramma and Richard’s first day here! How do we not have a picture of them yet??? Geez! Must be because they scampered off to ACE Hardware – surprise surprise, right?
Here are some shots from the day – enjoy!
Sam on a great new bike – an adult size (13″ down tube in case you are interested) and he is proud to say “26 inch wheels!.” He really outgrew the other bike – I can’t believe we had him on it so long. Ben is now the proud owner of the other Trek bike I got of Craigslist.
Here is the hockey valet helping get things situated 🙂
Lots of gear! 20 lbs worth!
Mom took this nice landscape shot of the whole place.
Putting on the jersey 🙂
And off he goes! Third from left. Learning in sneakers today because the rink was wet. Practice is rain or shine but skates were out today. Sam was pretty ticked about that – “What is hockey without skates, really?” he said.
Ben enjoying some cupcake yesterday (Sunday) at a friend’s birthday party 🙂
Ben biking around on his own at Battle Point Park while Sam was playing hockey. I did a trial (training) run with him while he was riding so I could see if he was ready. He did great! I ran to meet up with him at two parking lot entrances (mini-vans racing in for other team practices). He was so funny – here he is saying “I can canter on my bike!” – he raises himself up and down on the bike (out of the seat) as if he is galloping along! I nearly died laughing.
A serendipitous mania
We had hockey tonight (new player drop-in to skate around and get some time building skills, meeting the coaches and other players). Then with 12 min to choke down a PB&J for dinner we went to guitar/ukulele. Instead of being exhausted, they were totally on it, leading the lesson and asking for more challenge! I say “serendipitous” because of all days they might choose to have a mania, this was probably a good one. I wish mine had arrived on the same day…I’m wiped! It was really hot out, too – 82 degrees at 5pm. Ben is practicing his slap shot and scoop shot while Sam skates. The team also brought a ton of snacks and popsicles, water and cookies. Amazing group! So as further evidence of the mania, Sam came out of the shower, threw on jammies, and grabbed a cube, saying “I want to get REALLY fast at this, like REALLY fast. Ok if I look up some L2L algorithms?”
Testing mobile post
Out mountain biking in the rain 🙂 So peaceful!
How in the world do I hit post?
Capturing rain for a drink 🙂