No Dashiki Required

Fourth of July 1820

2009-07-04T21:08:00.000-04:00

While Frontier Culture Museum had special events for July 4th, instead we just toured around the museum as we normally would. Only something has happened to Zara: instead of appreciating just the various animals (especially the historically accurate cats), she's suddenly interested in asking the interpreters questions, figuring out how stuff works, and otherwise appreciating the affordances of our local open air living history museum.

Cold Noodles in Sesame Sauce

2009-07-02T21:04:00.000-04:00

Zara really enjoys helping in the kitchen (licking the spoons). Here she contributes to our ever-improving cold noodles recipe: hint, garlic doesn't help this dish.

Drop-off Birthday Party!

2009-06-27T15:11:00.000-04:00

Zara invited five friends for her big-girl drop-off birthday party. We had a crown making station, a bracelet making station, a pizza topping station, and a cupcake decorating station, in addition to Simon says, "jump up and down!" in the backyard. Smashing success! How to top it for 5?!

Costco Park

2009-06-25T15:08:00.001-04:00

While picking up Gab & Maryann from the Richmond Airport, we took time out to play at the park near Costco, Deep Run.

Polaris

2009-06-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

He was supposed to visit for a week in January...

Live! from Tonsler Park Amphitheater!

2009-06-15T22:40:00.000-04:00

Our park is currently out of commission while the city replaces everything in it but the trees. The next nearest park has an under utilized stage. Luckily, Zara was available to introduce her traveling show, choreograph a wild combination of dance, martial arts, stand up comedy, and acrobatics, perform the same, applaud, and act as several ushers. Reviews were a smash.

New Car Seat

2009-06-14T22:33:00.000-04:00

Zara has outgrown her Britax Roundabout, the seat she's had since she was around 7 months old. Technically, we could probably put her in a booster, but her new Sunshine Kids Radian XT is way sweeter. It's good for 53" and 80 lb, very low profile, folds up nice & small, and pink. Need I say more?

Tag-a-long

2009-06-13T23:30:00.002-04:00

Gone are the days when Zara would ride passively on the back of my bike. Now, she pedals! And it's both noticeable and helpful on the hills! Life is good.

Dear Prudence

2009-06-06T23:24:00.001-04:00

We visited Brooklyn for the weekend, since there was a few-day break between the end of Zara's school and the beginning of her summer camp. They have a new kitten, the sweet and adorable Prudence. Pictured here with my sweet & adorable family. And Chocolate Fudge Brownie, the stuffed horse.

Riprap Hollow

2009-05-31T23:12:00.001-04:00

On our second swimming hole expedition, we traveled over the mountain to Rip Rap Hollow, which is more or less the other side of Afton mountain from Sugar Hollow. We went with the MM's. This time, we actually swam. It was ... cold. Not a little cold. All three girls swam, tho they might have turned slightly blue.

To make up for it, we stopped for Tastee Freeze. Ironic. No one ordered the "Freedom Fries". Char took these pictures, because Jo & I are lame. I think our battery charger is messed up. Or something.

Zara-patra

2009-05-29T23:08:00.000-04:00

Amazement Square is even more fun when you're nearly 4.

The Wave

2009-05-24T23:04:00.002-04:00

We went to Richmond to see Carbon Leaf perform at Plan 9, stock up on Costco & Trader Joe's, eat at Kuba Kuba, visit the Richmond Children's Museum, and play in this nice little park. Busy day. Zara's pictured here wearing "The Wave", a silver necklace that belonged to her great grandmother, Dorothy. It was made by Maryann's upstairs neighbor in Providence, Doug.

Go Fly a Kite

2009-05-23T23:20:00.000-04:00

(thanks to guest photogs at hungry robot for the snaps, we at no dashiki seem to never have batteries in the camera, or maybe not even have the camera, as of late...)

A few weekends ago the forecast was "rain likely" which in Michigan would have meant it will likely be raining most of the day, whereas in Virginia, it means it's likely that somewhere will get some rain sometime during the day, generally after dark. As you can see from the pictures of our foray with the Ts to the Kite Flying Festival in Palmyra, it was a lovely day to fly a kite.

Berry Picking Time

2009-05-19T22:06:00.003-04:00

After such a successful adventure at the strawberry patch with Zara's class, we decided to pick another 8 pounds just one week later. This time, we brought Laura with us, since she's between engagements. 3 pounds became fresh jam, 4 pounds we just ate, and the last pound or so, we're still working on. I'm told we can pick cherries shortly. And as always, surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains...

Field trip!

2009-05-15T20:35:00.005-04:00

The first pic is Z with her best buddies G (front) and A (back), sitting on a cannon in what she calls cannon park which likely has another name - basically it's a nice square with cannons and a horse statue right by the courthouses etc in downtown c'ville. The next pic is Z and many classmates in the cool glass elevator that goes up 5 stories and gives an awesome view of the downtown mall and the mountains near cville (like mount alto, home of TJ's Monticello, maybe you've heard of it?). Last pic is the result of Zara's gelato consumption, as this was a field trip/treasure hunt to seek out gelato... it doesn't get any better than this, does it? I want to go back to preschool!

Strawberry Picking

2009-05-12T21:47:00.000-04:00

Zara's preschool class took a strawberry picking trip. Good luck explaining to a bunch of 4 & 5 year olds about not eating the sprayed berries in the field! We picked nine pounds, made two into excellent jam, and accounted for the other seven per os.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T21:37:00.002-04:00

In the morning, we went for a walk in Sugar Hollow, searching more or less fruitlessly for Blue Hole, a locally renowned swimming hole. Apparently, we were on the right track, but didn't go far enough. Nonetheless, we had a lovely time, and a nice picnic on the North Fork of the Moorman River. Later that evening, we had the T's over to make ravioli from scratch.

Helicopter

2009-05-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

Zara went digging to the bottom of her toy box, finding this gem from her second birthday. It's really remarkable how differently she plays with it, now. In addition to a fascination with the nice noises and movements the toy makes, the vet now has a name, a mission, and as far as I can tell, likes certain restaurants more than others.

May Day (Observed)

2009-05-02T21:29:00.001-04:00

We met the T's and the MM's at Frontier Culture Museum for their annual Irish-themed May Day Fest. Live music, maypole, beer, Robin Hood, how could it be better?

Tragedy

2009-04-30T21:21:00.001-04:00

Zara and two friends had a fun experiment with scissors at school today. Eric said, "I looked away for just a second!" Apparently, the other two girls weren't as enthusiastic as Zara when it came to the actual cutting. Luckily, summer has more or less arrived, so a shorter "do" is just the thing. We had a long talk about scissors specifically and how good friends tell each other when they hear a bad plan.

Well Bear Clinic

2009-04-22T21:15:00.001-04:00

CBI took a whole-school trip to UVA's pediatric "well-bear" clinic. Trudy the Duck weighed in at 4 oz, she brushes her teeth very well, and is growing nicely. Pictured is Zara preparing to examine a possible case of Ursine Flu. She'll be flying the samples personally via helicopter to the CBC (Centers for Bear Control, natch).

San Diego Fun

2009-04-16T20:44:00.001-04:00

We all got to visit the SD Maritime Museum, where we saw Official Russian Sub, the star of Master & Commander, and the Star of India. Zara's favorite part was watching big kids on a field trip learn what sea shanties are for. While Jo was conferring, we made it to the zoo. The highlight of the visit (not pictured) was the double decker bus with no roof! We also got to visit the wacky covered park near the New Children's Museum a few more times.

New Children's Museum

2009-04-14T22:45:00.002-04:00

While Jo slaved away at AERA, Zara and I visited the New Children's (Art) Museum in San Diego. I guess it gives kids the opportunity to ponder "what is art" even earlier?

Martin's Branch at Ivy Creek

2009-04-12T22:41:00.000-04:00

Kiera, Claire, and Zara cool off from our hike.

Kitties in the Park

2009-04-05T21:04:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the extended radio silence. Exciting things that have happened unrelated to this picture - Zara's started to read. She read her first book all by herself, Up Went the Goat, on March 27th. This was also her 3 and 3/4 birthday. Meanwhile Wes has been rockin' the garden and I won a scholarship to a conference I was already going to be presenting at in St. Louis in July. And I passed my 2nd comprehensive exam. 1 to go!

Over a week later, we went to Greenleaf Park to enjoy the wonderful weather. While Luke, Wes and I chatted about lots of important grown up things, the kiddies played kitties. Here's Z and C doing something feline. Or something.