End-of-the-Year Dinner

The Claremont Colleges are in preparation for the end of yet another school year.  Alumni weekend has come and gone with the various performing groups strutting their stuff.  The Claremont Concert Orchestra  performed, along with the Concert Choir, the Brahms Requiem. (You can read my music blog about the concert and my thoughts on Brahms here.)

As per tradition, the choir and orchestra shared a lovely dinner at Scripps' Malott Commons to celebrate yet another great season of music-making.  Community members of the ensembles (aka "the grown-ups") sit together and enjoy a chance to talk about a number of things.

Portabello mushroom

This year our conversation took a silly turn.  One of the forks at the table had a bent tyne, and that somehow led to a discussion about a runcible spoon. Pretty soon a few of us started quoting as much of the Edward Lear poem "The Owl and the Pussycat" by memory as we could.  When we faltered, someone would check their smartphone and get us back on track.  I had not thought about that poem for a long time, and it certainly produced a few giggles at our table.  Bong-trees, anyone?

Grill Logistics

Conundrum.  Find a new grill at Lowe's.  Try to put it in the backseat of a 1998 Toyota Camry.  Look befuddled.

Solution.  A friend walks up in the parking lot and says, "I have my pickup truck.  Do you want me to drive that grill home for you?"  Yes, please!  Thanks, Lelia!

Library Book Sale

It's time for the Spring Book Sale at the Claremont Library!  Now, if you know me, or read my blog, you know that books are right up there with food for the quantity of blog posts.  If you know me, or read my blog last summer, you know that I frequently try to pare down the possessions in my house.  Books, though, pose a quandary for me.  Although I believe strongly in borrowing books from libraries and friends (who has time to read every book multiple times?), I can hardly resist a used book sale.  It's like crack.  So, yesterday I walked out of the sale with a Trader Joe's bag half-full of books for $8.50.  First of all, I know that the money is going to a great cause.  Second of all, I have at least half of the books earmarked to give to certain people.  Third of all, the remaining books will travel with me.  When I finish reading them, I will leave them strewn behind for the next person to enjoy. 

Ukelele Player

Last weekend H could not resist adding his contribution to the pot for this cute ukelele player out in front of Starbucks in the Village.

Warm Bacon and Herb Coleslaw

On Sunday I took this coleslaw to book club, and I was very happy that we had some of it leftover for the next day.

As a kid I was no fan of coleslaw, but now I really enjoy it, and this one (no mayo!) is very delicious.  It's in my "keeper" file.

Wednesday in the Water-Wise Garden

Today's post comes not from my garden, but from one of the garden's on Sunday's tour.  Not only is this particular garden very draught-tolerant, but it also has many edibles, "because fescue does not make good salsa." (This yard also belongs to my friend, Eric, who landscaped my own yard almost four years ago.  You can see photos of that project on my blog if you go back to posts from January to April 2009.)

I particularly liked this use of an old magazine rack to house succulents.  When the plants get bigger and more start cascading down the front, it will be quite lovely.

Some Assembly Required

I've enjoyed Anne Lamott's past books, so it didn't take long for me to get on the waiting list for her newest book, Some Assembly Required.  Lamott, along with her son, Sam, chronicles the first year in the life of Jax, Sam's son.

I have mixed feelings about this book.  On one hand, I think that Lamott's descriptions of raising an infant are spot on, as I can recall a very similar feeling when my oldest finally learned how to sleep through the night:

"Last night Jax got himself to sleep after ten minutes of crying, and then slept through the night.  He passed out after crying a few minutes for both naps today.  We all like him again and have decided to renew his lease."

What I like about Lamott's honesty of her foibles and character flaws is also what irritates me, especially as I got farther into this book.  Yes, I understand that she has an intense attachment to her grandson, but to think of herself as The most important part of Jax's life can be tiring.  At times the narrative reminded me of what I really disliked about Eat, Pray, Love, which is the narcissistic overdrive of the author.  What redeems this book for me is her occasional admittance to these character flaws.

Garden Tour

In keeping with a busy weekend (Women's Choir in the morning, book club in the evening), the afternoon was filled with music.  Once again, I enjoyed playing with the Village Pipers from the Claremont Community School of Music in the garden of one of the houses on a garden tour.  We enjoyed sitting under the shade of a huge live oak tree overlooking Claremont from our vantage point in Padua Hills.

This year I not only got to play the recorder, but also the violin, the bodhran and the stick (I conducted a few pieces).

LA Phil Field Trip - '12

It's the time of year when so much is happening. Yesterday I had the choice of going to a day-long all-church meeting, enjoying the Earth Day Celebration in Claremont, or going to the LA Phil with a group of 34 students and 5 adults for a Toyota Symphony for Youth. Obviously, as the music teacher, I needed to go on the field trip.  Don't feel sorry for me, though.  I really enjoy these music students, and I really enjoy these children's concerts.

This is the third year we've taken the District Elementary Orchestra students to Disney Hall.  You can read about last year's trip here.  This year the Philharmonic played minimalist music of John Cage, Steve Reich, John Adams, and Arvo Part.

Wisconsin Historical Society

I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I finally sent away for my grandmother's grandparents' marriage license from 1896.  (Perhaps it's the release of the 1940 census that inspired me to.) We've had so little information on these particular ancestors, but I did manage to find out that I could order a photocopy of said license from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Well, it arrived in the mail today, and I was pleased to find that it offered up the names of the bride's and groom's parents.  I also found out that this great-great grandmother was not born in the town that I had previously thought (Ellsworth, Wisconsin), but in neighboring Trimbelle (5 miles due west of Ellsworth).

This set me off on a few hour's worth of internet digging, and I came up with one more generation of ancestors (one born in Tennessee - I never knew!), as well as a variety of spellings of one great grandmother's maiden names.

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

About 10 days ago, I found out that the thirteenth installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency book had just been released.  I immediately logged into the LA Co. Library website to place myself on what I was sure was a long, long waiting list.  Nope!  It was really short, and within less than a week I got the happy email that a copy was waiting at the Claremont branch for me.

Because these books are like a little chocolate dessert for me and can be consumed easily, I finished this one in a few days and decided to be nice to the next people on the waiting list and return it earlier than the 3-week due date.

Although I tried the Sunday Philosopher's Club by McCall Smith, I didn't like the first book, but I see where he has a number of other series out now, so I might just try another one.  The Portuguese Irregular Verbs series has an intriguing title....

Wednesday in the Water-Wise Garden

In today's installment of this series of native plants I love in our yard, I bring you the manzanita.  I cannot tell you what species this one is, nor the ones we have in the parkway along the street (I do not know), but I do know that I have been taken with the red bark ever since I first encountered these plants while hiking in So. Cal.  

This particular plant is a spreading shrub which seems to be very happy in the partial shade of the backyard.  The manzanitas in the parkway have enjoyed mixed success.  Some have thrived, some have not.  Apparently the microclimate makes a difference to the well-being of manzanita.

New Costco Fare

Just when you think you know all the choices at the Costco Food Court....they go and introduce the Hot Turkey & Provolone Sandwich.  And it wasn't too bad, either!

A Little Photoshopping and A Shameless Plug

My dad gave me a little assignment while visiting last week.  He has four published books (comic novels) under his press, Komos Books.  He has started advertising on my cousin's husband's website - the History News Network - and he wanted me to design a banner ad.  We discussed the layout and content, and then I came home and played around with Photoshop Elements to come up with these two choices.  I believe that we both like the bottom choice better, so that's what will be appearing on the website (this week, I think).

Pianos

Last Wednesday while enjoying lunch with my mom and sister at Coopersmith's in Fort Collins, I looked through the window and saw someone playing a piano.  Outside.  Oh, yes, my sister explained.  There are a number of pianos hanging about in Fort Collins, and anyone can sit down and play Heart and Soul or Chopin or improvise to their heart's content.

"Pianos About Town is a collaborative project between Bohemian Foundation, the DDA (Donwtown Development Authority) and the City of Fort Collins’ Art in Public Places Program. The pianos are painted by local artists and then placed around Fort Collins, inviting pedestrians to participate in this interactive experience."

You can read a bit about this project and see pictures here and here.

In a moment of serendipity, my friend Judy sent me this link to this story in the LA Times about a similar endeavor, here in LA County called Play Me, I'm Yours.  30 pianos spread throughout the county - 3 weeks to enjoy.  Judy told me that one of the piano sits by Rhino Records, and I just had to go see it for myself.  Sure enough, someone was playing the piano while people milled past.

The photo gallery on the LA Times site shows how some of the pianos have been painted.

The Titanic - 100 Years Later

My eldest daughter feels a certain connection to the Titanic.  It's not for an extreme fascination with boats and the sea or anything like that, but on the day she was born, one of the headlines read that the wreck of the Titanic had been discovered at the bottom of the Atlantic.  Forward to 1991, and Robert Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the wreck, was invited to HMC to receive the Wright Prize.  L was 5 at the time and wrote him a letter asking how the smokestacks came off of the boat when it sank. We went to the dinner and lecture with Ballard and I handed him her letter.  He was quite pleased and made the remark along the lines that he loved his fan mail from children.

Two weeks later L received this reply in the mail from Ballard which she has kept all these years.  She recently asked me to scan and email her a copy of the letter which I was able to find.  She had been thinking about her personal brush with the Titanic since it's 100-year anniversary has been in the news.  She also alerted me to Ballard's recent appearance on the Colbert Report.

Benson Sculpture Garden, Loveland, CO

View of SOME of the sculptures

It's Spring Break for the Claremont USD this week, so I took the opportunity to visit my family (parents and sister) in Colorado for a few days.  Although I have been to visit a number of times, we usually find something new and different to do.  This time we took a little ride down to Loveland with our cameras to view the Benson Sculpture Garden.

Here are just a few of my favorite shots.  While there are many realistic bronze works, we also enjoyed the abstract and stylized art.

My favorite realistic people sculpture 

My favorite abstract

One of my favorite music-themed works

1940 Census

Quite recently, the government released the 1940 census for public consumption.  The 72-year privacy restriction has passed, so now family historians have a new treasure trove of information to sift through.

I have done a preliminary scan for my parents and grandparents and found them right away.  However, since I don't have exact addresses of my great and great-great grandparents, and some of them lived in Minneapolis (a large city with lots of pages), I can see where some of my summer vacation is going to be spent.

In Sunday's NY Times magazine I read the entire article about how digital games can monopolize your life, but this genealogy thing can rival digital games for one's attention....

Wednesday in the Water-Wise Garden

In the second installment of a tour through some of my favorite draught-tolerant, native plants in our garden, we feature the mimulus brevipes.  As a child I was delighted by snapdragons, the way you could snap open the petals like a jaw.  This monkeyflower reminds me of the snapdragon, so it became an instant favorite of mine when I first encountered it in Southern California.  We used to have mimulus cardinales in our front yard, the red variety which is harder to find, but it was taken over by the ornamental grasses awhile ago. So now we have the more common yellow variety in our back yard.

Mimulus in our yard

Aging with Grace

In a few weeks our book club will be discussing David Snowdon's Aging with Grace: What the Nun Study Teaches Us About Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives.  Snowdon started studying nuns in the 1986, using them as subjects because of their similar circumstances (profession, access to health care, etc.).  Although the main focus of the study has been to look at Alzheimer's, he has also looked at longevity and general health.

Although we can all name cases to the contrary, generalizations seem to suggest that people who are generally more optimistic, have some degree of higher learning, eat right, have social support systems (church families, spouses, etc) and other such factors do affect our brains and the quality of our lives.  I'm sure we'll have plenty to discuss about this book, and I found it generally comforting to read since I seem to have done many right things in my life.  I have always thought I would live to be 100 (and without dementia), and, at least I seem to be heading in that direction!

Women's Lacrosse

Having seen this new field at Pomona College which sits atop the new parking structure along 1st St., we finally got over to see a game on Saturday.  Look carefully and see that we watched women's lacrosse, with cross-campus rivals CMS challenging Pomona/Pitzer.  

Easter

On our deliciously warm day (in the mid-80s), we celebrated Easter with C and B who brought over (among other things) Budin of Local Vegetables and Mexican Crema and Chicken with Honey Pasilla Glaze.  

After our delicious noon meal, we took a stroll through the colleges and then came home for a game of Settlers of Catan to accompany our dessert of rice pudding and spice cake.   What a great way to kick off the start of spring break at CUSD!

Easter Egg Grab

It's time, once again, for the City of Claremont Spring Celebration and Egg Hunt. I have no idea how many years our fair city has had this tradition, but when my daughters were young, they learned early on to make sure to be at the Egg Hunt part of the morning ON TIME.  At precisely 10:30, the police siren wails and the kids who have been held back by the thin lengths of string race forward and grab as many eggs as they can.  At precisely 10:31, all the eggs are in baskets and there is sure to be at least one child crying.  As one of their friends once noted, "It shouldn't be called an Easter Egg Hunt.  It should be called an Easter Egg Grab."  

Take your photo with the Easter Bunny

Make sure you bring a basket

Parents, make sure to keep your children in check...

Who knew that eggs come in boxes?

The 3-5-year old crowd

The 6-9-year olds need no help

Bryan Clay at Vista

Do you know who Bruce Jenner is (before the Kardashians)?  Chances are you know he was an Olympic athlete.  To jog your memory, he was the decathlon Gold Medalist in 1976.  Flash forward.  Do you know who Bryan Clay is?  I didn't either, until yesterday when he came to Vista.  Clay also won the Gold Medal in decathlon - in the Beijing Olympics.  Vista's principal, Dave Stewart, was also a decathlete, and he used to work out with Clay.  

Clay came to tell the Vista kids that with hard work, you can achieve your dreams - whatever your dreams are.  He arrived in a fire truck (driven over the field to the cheering of the students), talked to the excited crowd and then demonstrated a long jump and javelin throw.  For fun, some of the teachers participated in putting the shot and javelin throw.  

(As an aside, I read a pretty funny blog post about a javelin recently, and the sister-in-law of the blogger was a brave soul who was one of the teachers throwing the javelin yesterday.  Although I have it on film, my better judgement said not to publish it on the blog, but if you want me to email you the clip....let me know.)

I have, however, included a video clip of Bryan Clay in the long jump at the bottom of this post.  You can check out the Bryan Clay Foundation here.

Bryan Clay holds his gold medal

Skateboarding or No?

Gotta love Claremont.  Gotta love Facebook from which I stole this photo.  Gotta love irony.

Wednesday in the Water-Wise Garden

While sitting in my garden eating lunch yesterday, I enjoyed the flowering Ribes speciosum which has slowly grown over the past several years.  It now puts out these lovely fuchsia flowers which contrast nicely against the spiny stalk.  We have difficulty finding a variety of draught-tolerant natives that thrive in the shade / partial sun, but this one seems very happy where it is.

Further Adventures in Southeast Asian Cooking

H has been working on his Thai cooking ever since our sabbatical in Chicago, and he has his specialities now - Tom Ka Kai, Pad See Ew and Pad Thai.  This weekend he decided to try Vietnamese Spring Rolls, and I'll have to say that I want to encourage him to continue.  These ones had carrots, tofu, lettuce, rice noodles, cilantro, mint, and maybe something else.  Next time we think maybe we'll try asparagus....

Fattoush

Fattoush: A Middle-Eastern salad with pita bread.
Fattoush: A Mediterranean Restaurant next to Super King just south of the 10 Freeway.

After reading the yelp reviews, I decided to have the lentil soup and the signature Fattoush (half size).  I really liked the soup, especially after I squirted the lemon juice into it.  The salad was also good, very fresh, although the dressing doesn't have too much flavor.

H chose the falafel sandwich and declared that he liked the ones at Saca's better, but he did really enjoy the Bataha Hara appetizer (spicy potatoes).

I think we will go back and try other menu items.