Leap Day Adventure!

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This 2016 year is a Leap Year! And last month in February (goodness, more than a month almost two three months ago already!) we started a new family tradition of Leap Day = Adventure Day. We surprised our boys by NOT taking them to school and going on a day trip to San Francisco instead.

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Lucas was a little put out when we first told him we were skipping school. “But I have physics today.” He got into the spirit of our adventure, though. Many thanks to Miranda for making this happen for us!

Skulls

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Personally, I’m extremely fond of the Steinhart Aquarium. I love the gorgeous fishes and especially the jellies. I know—everyone loves the jellies.

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Living roof

And the living rooftop is just plain rad.

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May 24, 2016
OK. Truth is, I give up. I’ve been trying to write this post FOREVER. I think I’m just going to let it stand as it is. My pictures can tell you how wonderful this day way, and once I hit “publish” this day will not longer be blocking up my ability to write about other things. So, my loves. Here you have it. Life is beautiful and full of both exquisite, exceptional moments — like Leap Day — and lots of ordinary time in between. And isn’t that grand?

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A Dickens Christmas

Bay Bridge #California

In late November, we enjoyed a terrific day at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco. The boys had never been before and the last time Ian and I were there was probably 15 years ago. We left a rainy Sacramento to drive to the city, where I got to admire our pretty bridges and took some fun shots out the car windows. (Don’t laugh, they’re worth it.)

#dickens #faire

The Fair does an excellent job of representing a Victorian London “where it’s always Christmas Eve and the streets resound with celebrations of the season!” Chestnuts, puppeteers, street musicians, stage shows, Bobbies in uniform, gangs of urchins, card players, and dancers enliven the place. I don’t remember it being so elaborately textured and staged! Honestly, it’s a feast for the senses.

#dickens #faire #music #waltz #violin

I got to dance a bit at Fezziwig’s Christmas party.

Foresto #dickens #faire #waltz

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We watched dear friends perform and dance. That’s Bryn and Nicole there, playing with the Bruno Band.

Ebenezer and Ghost of Christmas Present #dickens #faire #christmas

Ran into Ebenezer and the Ghost of Christmas Present—you know, this fellow:

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Scrooges third visitor-John Leech,1843” by John Leech

Mad Sal's #autumn #dickens #faire

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Hammered dulcimer

Wands

We bought the boys wands as souvenirs. Asher chose Harry Potter’s wand. Lucas got a beautiful custom wooden wand.

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After a while, Asher reached a melting point. We realized that from his shorter perspective, it was all a bit overwhelming. I wish we could have stayed a little longer, but when you have to leave, you have to leave. The city glowed under stormy skies for us on our way home.

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Balclutha

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The flag the 7th grade made to fly on the Balclutha #waldorf #sacramentowaldorfschool #12yearold #seventhgrade #learning #adventure #ageofsail #classof2020

Here are some photos from the trip Lucas’s seventh-grade class took earlier this month to the Balclutha, an 1886 tall ship moored in San Francisco Harbor. Many thanks Ms. B for making this possible and to Frau S. for taking photos to share with us landlubbers back home. The kids were on the ship for an afternoon and a night, about 18 hours. Some kids had to work in the galley. Some had to swab the deck. They all had to stand watch during the night. At dusk they suspended their class teacher up in the rigging and extorted privileges from her before they’d bring her down. Lucas came back very very tired. The last shot is the flag some of the kids painted, which flew while they were aboard.

 

Visit to Flora Grubb Gardens

Flora Grubb Gardens

Back in September — gosh, yes, really that long ago — Ian and I took a wonderful weekend jaunt to San Francisco. We visited friends and the MOMA and saw some yummy city sights. Our friends know how much I love nurseries, so we paid a visit to Flora Grubb Gardens. I have been thinking about this glorious place off and on for months. Now, I don’t whether it is the springtime weather that’s got me thinking about this place so much or the fact that I really, really need another weekend away with my husband.

Flora Grubb Gardens

You know it’s a magical place when everything you see—natural or man-made—looks like art.

Orchids

Oncidium orchids in red pots. Fiery and gorgeous.

Purple Wandering Jew at Flora Grubb

Purple wandering jew.

Flag of Succulents

Little regiments of succulents. I need some of these hens and chicks.

Passion Flower Vine

Passion fruit vines with flowers that look like they were designed by my 9-year-old to transform into laser turrets.

Flora Grubb

Yumminess at every turn.

Pots of Color

Lots of modern, hipster stuff too.

Bike

Junk becomes art with the right application of air plants.

Me at Flora Grubb Gardens

This giant wall of succulents is dreamy. I want one sooooooo bad.

Flora Grubb Gardens

Fair bromeliad, let down your hair!

Awesomest Car Art Ever

And this, my dears, is the Flora Grubb piece de resistance!

Awesomest Car Art Ever

A beautiful, beat-up car (Chevy? no idea!) completely planted out.  It was so big, I couldn’t fit the whole thing in my frame.

Awesomest Car Art Ever

Now I know this is not for everybody’s yard, but—really— how cool is this? It’s wonderfully creative, whimsical, green upcycling at its best.

Honestly, I loved this place, so if you’re ever in San Francisco, check it out. Oh, and it appears that they do wedding flowers.

Adventure Day!

Last weekend we had a marvelous Adventure Day! Featuring … grandparents and SCIENCE! We met up with Ian’s dad, Glen, and his girlfriend, Miriam, and we all drove to San Francisco to visit the Exploratorium and nearby SF sights. If you ever get the chance to go to the Exploratorium, seize it.

So why don’t all exhibits have scientific explanations?
The Exporatorium is about discovering things for yourself. We want to spark your curiosity not just give you facts. That’s why you won’t find explanations at every exhibit. Facts and explanations are important, and you will find them here. But finding things out by experimenting, by playing around, is what science is all about.

So mess about. Explore your hunches. Follow your curiosity. See what happens.”

M, Our New Little Buddy

Perspective Drawing

Lucas Bighead Optics Beaming Up

Xylophone Love

Wheat, Mice, and Eagles

Science Officer Asher

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Plankton of San Francisco Bay

Mimi and Lucas Asher Climbing the Tree

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Lucas and Golden Gate

Asher on the Rocks Bascha Climbing

G.G. and Mimi

  • About Sara

    Thanks for visiting! I’m Sara, editor and writer, wife to Ian, and mother of two precious boys. I am living each day to the fullest and with as much grace, creativity, and patience as I can muster. This is where I write about living, loving, and engaging fully in family life and the world around me. I let my hair down here. I learn new skills here. I strive to be a better human being here. And I tell the truth.

    Our children attend Waldorf school and we are enriching our home and family life with plenty of Waldorf-inspired festivals, crafts, and stories.

    © 2003–2018 Please do not use my photographs or text without my permission.

    “Love doesn’t just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.” —Ursula K. LeGuinn

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