Spring Break 2011

Spring break this year took us off to South Carolina. We flew from Sacramento to Charlotte via Washington D.C. Michael saw us as far as Charlotte and then continued on to a job in New York for a few days.

We were greeted at the airport by Cee Cee and Choo Choo and whisked off to a tremendous sushi dinner. Of course, spoiling didn't stop there. The chocolate shop across the way sang her sweet siren song and lured us to the rocky shores of caramel apples and ice cream. I tell you, those kids were like ... well, kids in a candy shop!

Once we arrived at the Blue Sky Ranch, we were greeted by the dogs: Kelly, Gracie, Sky & Jake. Tails were wagging and paws were hopping as children shrieked and dogs barked with delight. We got the kids all settled in the Neverland Nursery (the guest room for the kids reminds me of the nursery in Peter Pan ... but they have four "Nannas").




The following day we had a southern style breakfast (although I confess to going for the homefries over the grits) and a visit to the tractor supply store. The kids each got some good old stomping boots for on the farm and we stopped to handle all the bunnies and baby chicks as well.

Because I am compulsive about food (I'm really working on this ...) I'd arranged to visit a farm to pick up raw milk, pastured eggs and meat. Of course, this farm is in Gaffney. Not being aware of the geography of South Carolina, we really spent an entire day getting out to the farm and back to do all our errands. Rex smartly declined the State tour and instead stayed with Choo Choo to muck out stalls and mow pasture. (Who can resist tractor rides and horse poop?)

Meanwhile, Cee Cee, the girls and I had a lovely drive through the back country of South Carolina. Lots of woods and fields and churches out in the middle of nowhere. Brickhouse Road farm is set in Gaffney, SC amongst the rolling hills, burbling brooks and thick woods. When we arrived, we were given a tour by the owners and their children. We loaded up on a golf cart to look at their heirloom red wattle pigs rooting in the woods. A five year old little boy on the cart with us takes a deep breath, inhaling the stench of the pigs, and turns to us with the most charming and deepest Southern drawl, "You smell that? That's the smell of money. That's what my daddy says." It was difficult not to laugh so hard I'd fall off the cart.

Our subsequent days were spent riding horses, fishing and gathering around a bonfire in the backyard at night complete with s'mores.




















The kids found a certain fishing hole in Cousin Eddy's pond where all they had to do was put their hook in the water and the fish would jump on. Between the pond and the lake by Aunt Mary Lou and Bobby's house, I believe Valerie caught something like 28 fish and a turtle (in total). I even had the good fortune to catch Billy Bigmouth Bass.









One day on a nature hike with Rex and Valerie I heard a rustling in the leaves near the pond. I squatted down and said, "Hey, kids. Do you hear that? What do you think that is? Listen." Rex responds, "I think it's a snake." I argued back, "No. Snakes don't sound like that. They don't even have legs. How could they make all that rustling noise." I poked my face down closer to the leaves to have a good look. Suddenly, the biggest brown snake you've ever seen comes slithering right out and goes directly into the water right in front of me. This was followed by much shrieking (on my part) and pulling the kids away from the pond. Valerie insists I'm afraid of nature. I insist that staying clear of water moccasins is simply the right thing to do.

Let's Go to Melbourne!

So I got to spend a day walking around Melbourne. All in all, I really like this city. There is the usual modern art monuments...



But also there are old buildings as well. Melbourne is about as old as San Francisco, so there is the mixture of old and new buildings.



New culture sprouting up everywhere.



But there are its share of foxes...



...and lots of birds



Some luckier than others.



This is outside this HUGE market that had stuff (clothes, shoes and crap) and food. As well as some livestock...well, chickens and ducks anyway.

The size of the fruit/vegetable part of this market can’t be captured by a photo. It is like Chico’s farmers market times 10 or 20.



And then there is the Meat and Fish building. dozens and dozens on venders, each with there own butchers. There was probably more butchers in this building than there is left in the U.S. They had quite the selection of meats. The yellow sign on the bottom right that you can’t read listed all the meats they had: Muskrat, wombat, wallaby, guinea fowl, ostrich, kangaroo and lots and lots of other critters.



The urinals here are much more efficient. ‘nuf said.



This is the old exhibition hall. It is over a hundred and fifty years old.



and from the outside.



Some other old building.



They do have certain standards in Australia. If you go to the Melbourne Cricket Club, even to see an Austrian Rules Football game, you must have proper attire.



So we went to an Australian Rules football game. It was a lot of fun. Kind of like soccer, rugby and basketball all wrapped into one, but much faster paced. The game never slows down. I used to watch it on TV when I was a kid (that was one of the only sports ESPN would televise in the 1970s) so I knew the rules. But is is great to see in person.



The crowd was really into it. More so than at football, baseball or basketball game I’ve seen in the U.S. It was too the point the hole stadium would erupt. But not in a mean/bad/crazy sort of way. They would just react to the game, not be on crazy drunken hooligan behavior.



It was a very exciting game to watch...but I forgot which time won.