Tinkertoys

Tinkertoys continue to enthrall after almost 100 years of fun. First introduced in 1914, the toy was meant to let children's imaginations run wild. Our set is a thoughtful Christmas gift from Mister Jalopy and family. My son has enjoyed it so much, we bought an expansion set to create even larger structures.

Artist at Work and Play

Make a Box Kite

This fine flyer was made in one evening with the family. We used materials that we had on hand: drawing paper from a scroll, packing tape, cast off wood scraps near the saw, and markers to decorate. Eric bought the string.

The construction was surprisingly easy. It's not rocket science, but we looked for guidance from some rocket scientists at NASA.


The winds were fierce at Ventura's Emma Wood State Beach, but the kite sailed high.


In the end, the dirt was most compelling.

Watching the Waves

I remember visiting the Santa Monica Pier as a child with my family. There was a hurdy gurdy man with a little monkey. The monkey would work the crowd as the music played, taking money from people's hands. If you gave the monkey a quarter, he would hide it under his hat. I still remember the feel of those little fingernails scraping my palm as he took my pennies.

The hurdy gurdy man is no longer there, but it is a delight to now take my children to the pier.

Slow Events of the Day

Household chores have gotten easier thanks to my eldest son's efforts to do his own laundry. "Mom I just washed my pajamas," he said as he dropped the dripping wet pants into the dirt.

"That's great. Is there a good place to hang them to dry?" I asked.

The balance beam proved the best solution for the day.


Then a little time spent enjoying the California poppies.

And time to give the pozo blue sage a sip of water. The olive blossoms volunteered to swim.


The youngest works hard to pull himself up. Not quite there. Soon.

Puzzled?

Three days after the birth of our second child, Eric and I hosted a family party for the eldest to celebrate his third birthday. His birthday request? To be tossed in a sheet like Pooh. That's a wish I can get behind. A tarp was acquired, grandparents recruited, fun had. Later in the day, I came in the house to find this. A gift from the eldest for all those with their eyes open.

The Real Treasure of Sierra Madre--Neil the Pig

Neil has been around for at least a decade, although I was only introduced to him over a year ago. And what a fine friend he has become to my sons and me. He lives in the city of Sierra Madre, California, a tony foothill village community. He splits the yard with a few dogs and a kid's swing set.

My sons and I went to visit him about a month back only to find an empty yard. My heart sank with fear Neil had gone down the path that leads to bacon. To my delight, we returned to find our porcine friend fit and well. Neighbors and friends are welcome to feed him. However, the owners request that you only feed Neil lettuce or rice cakes. He's on a diet.

Inside & Outside

Inside the house, a giant palm seed pod known as Big (harvested many moons ago by the eldest on a walk to the library and carried all the way home by himself) sails across the livingroom with the carrot, peapod and the doll Funny Legs (pattern from Hillary Lang's fantastic Wee Wonderfuls).


Outside, the rain of olive blossoms begins, coating chairs, ground, children--everything--with a dusty yellow pollen and small delicate white flowers. "It looks like snow," says the big guy.