First things

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

The pages of our virtual scrapbook here are filled with adventure. Our family has been blessed with many opportunities I could never have imagined. Never think for a minute though, that they come without sacrifices or compromises. That can be difficult. For every wonderful project I say yes to there are a dozen others that must be set aside. Sometimes it can be difficult to know for sure if the right choices are being made. If the tradeoffs are worthwhile. Sometimes saying no is exceptionally difficult, especially when it is saying no to something more pleasant or with more accolades attached. Sometimes even after screening out any extra thing there is still list longer than hours in the day.

But then again, often when I get stuck there is a timely reminder of just how to order things. That happened this weekend. My planner is at large (no, that irony is not lost on me either) so I have been writing notes to myself so I don't forget things I need to do. When I walked into my bathroom last night I saw one of those to do notes on the sink had been carefully cut into a mom love note. I have the best kids in the world and even when one or more is driving me absolutely nuts – and they definitely do at times – they are also continually doing things like this which quickly ground me again.

It did not escape me that my little artist used my to-do list. Carved into my schedule of chores and commitments and opportunities passed over, is this reminder. THIS is my priority. Other plates may occasionally stop spinning. (fall, crash, shatter…)

I have this awesome day job though. I am ok.

Travel Diary – Long Beach Waterfront

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

It was late in the day when we got set up at the RV park and then got ourselves over to the waterfront. Such a beautiful welcome to California though for us landlocked folks. We walked as far around the little marina area as we could before dark fell then stopped to eat. This evening was chillier than we had expected but also more colorful. Such happy bright colors on this trip!

Apr 2017 long beach pier (1 of 1)

Apr 2017 long beach pier (5 of 6)

It was a treat for us all around. We usually don't eat out a lot when traveling so it was a fun splurge to enjoy dinner on the patio of the restaurant. Our weird funny California newbie story then was that we circled a while for parking when we arrived. Since we didn't know our way around we made another splurge decision and used the waterfront's valet parking. It was like $10 and we figured that was what a parking garage was going to cost anyway. When we finished dinner we walked back to the valet pick-up and they cheerfully said we were like third in line. No problem. There were heated pavillions to wait in. We sat ourselves down with a very cool international mix of other folks and waited.

And waited.

And waaaaaaited.

50 minutes all told. Fortunately the views were awesome and the people were interesting. People and places are always interesting to me though. : )

of canyons and emus

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

The first day of our California trip took us through a bit of Arizona and some….. sparsely populated places. The canyons were incredible, soaring up high above us as we wound our way through. Also, I should clean the windshield before I take pictures through it.

We stopped for gas at a little hole in the wall place in the middle of nowhere. In the middle of nowhere, across from a gas station, there is a petting zoo. At the petting zoo, across from the gas station, there are some emus. (you were dying to know how this comes together right?) So, none of it made sense but you can be sure I made the mister pull over.

This is him thinking something to the effect of, "She seriously wants to go over across the road to see the emus in the junkyard petting zoo? Silly question. Of course she does."

Of course I did! You've gotta admit they are some of the creepiest semi-domestic creatures ever. So much attitude.

Child posing cooperatively.

#ibrakeforemus

Day at the Capitol

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

A few weeks ago the little homeschool group we have been joining for field trips had planned a tour of the capitol building. Since we had a commitment that morning I hadn't expected to attend. Our appointment wrapped up early however, and I quipped that we could have gone ahead and done the field trip after all. My husband said why don't you guys just pack up and head down?

Why not indeed? Though if you knew me you'd know that while I am always game for spur of the moment outings when I am riding shotgun, it's different when I am the driver and navigator both. Especially since I don't know everyone in our group well enough to recognize them at a distance. First thoughts were that it was too late, there wasn't enough time to check out directions and confirm with people and about a dozen other reasons why it was too much trouble. The second thought was go, Kim. Just get in the car and it will be great.

And it was.

We not only got a tour but a thorough history of the building and the circumstances surrounding its construction and our statehood. The land it sits on came into the hands of the state through a windfall of inheritance tax money from a railroad tycoon.

Mar 2017 capitol web (7 of 16)

The murals just below the rotunda depict early missionaries and settlers.

The beehive is the state symbol and it figures prominently throughtout the building.

Mar 2017 capitol web (7 of 16)

We were fortunate that one of our state representatives took time to visit with us and arranged for the children to sit in on a hearing discussing upcoming measures. Being kids, and being tired by that time, there was glazing over. Later that night though we saw our local television news channel had been there and was covering the same things we learned about in the evening news.

It was a beautiful day and they came away with a firm idea of the three branches of government as well as a clear visual of where and how they work in this state. Bonus was we were right down the street from Whole Foods so we stopped and had an overpriced fun lunch while we were in town. And I didn't get a parking ticket and didn't get lost. Not that you were probably concerned but just wanted to throw that in.

March hares

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

If you drove down our farm road in England in the early morning hours of springtime you had to be on your toes not to hit the dozens of tiny bunnies that dodged into your path. Or at least I made everyone navigate with exceptional care, being sure to warn them loudly when I saw one bounce out onto the gravel. It might sound silly but I loved seeing those little fur babies darting into the hedgerows.

Two years in a row now, since we have been back in the States, I have found some little wild hares at the thrift shop that remind me of an old Georgian farmhouse on the fens of Suffolk. In the springtime they come out again.

The Observation of Trifles

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

No fancy lesson plan here, just the fun of taking things apart and looking inside. Don't worry. No garden perennials were harmed in this project. I read on a decor blog that forced potted bulbs were an inexpensive way to buy spring flowers so we had several. It turns out forced bulbs don't transplant well. As the blooms faded we made some cross sections to label.