Valerie sprung a leak

Well, Rex turns 14 and finally gets the coveted iPhone (and a paintball party). At least we now know what Valerie & her friends are up to ...

May Happenings

Here's a photo of Valerie with her teacher, Teri, and other students at the end of the year recital at Teri's home. Valerie looks so grown up here. The student on the far right is amazing and graduating this year. Valerie will now be the oldest student. She's been taking lessons since she was 7. How time flies!

We went to the Endangered Species fair. Amira got her face painted.



Amira also marched with the mask she made in the parade of the species.




Valerie arrived at the Endangered Species Fair with her string quartet from school. I give you Valerie on cello.

At home Amira has harvested some carrots. Yay!!! Carrots!!




And her friend Ruby was really wanting to pull an onion out of the garden. Here's the first one of the season.




Michael was going to mow some fox tails out of the sheep area. Forbes & Bambi are such helpers. Hugh, do you recognize your old mower? Thanks!




Of course May brings the annual May Faire. Here are Amira & Ruby.




There was food for sale. I just had to photo these fruit kabobs. How cool is that display?



Valerie & Mr. Carr (the other 7th grade teacher) played music at the fair for the dancers.




Below are Valerie & her friend Ruthie flanking their teacher, Miss Welch as they prepare to play music for the 4th grade dancers.




Here are Ruby & Amira with their favorite teacher, Mrs. Lohse with her husband, Scott, and new baby, Brooke.



Below are the fourth graders dancing around the May pole to the tunes of the 7th grade players.

Back at home we have a rare Rex sighting. I had just asked the kids to kill a snail that was headed for my newly planted zinnias. Rex said, "I'll get my gun!" He came running out with his air soft pistol. It was just such a funny response that I wanted to take a picture. But, being 14, he quickly turned his back to the camera. Also partially pictured below is our perennial front yard coming into bloom.





Valerie is off at a series of Shakespeare plays in Ashland with the 7th graders. Amira is taking care of munchkin for her.




Could there be a happier hamster?

Malakoff Diggins

A right of passage for the fourth graders at a Waldorf school is to, not just study the pioneers, but become pioneers. The girls' school goes up to Malakoff Diggins in the Sierra foothills where they used a water cannon to mine gold. The students all have to adopt old timey names, write a back story and dress the part. Parents who chaperone must go to a training and take on jobs. I got the candle dipping station and giving tours of the Skidmore house.

Here I am (Miss Camelia, "Candlestick Camelia") with Amira ("Samantha") and her friends dipping candles.






I made some fat candles as I got to dip and demonstrate all day ... And stke the fire under the big iron cauldron.




There's a snake in my boot! Actually, I had no pockets. That's just where I kept my tissues. It was a wee bit sneezy.



I had to keep that fire burning between groups of kids. They also had lantern making, bench making, rope making, black smithing and rag doll making. I was quite content with my wicks and hot wax.






Of course, candle making all day can make one tired. I was caught snoozing by the kitchen fire.





Here are the tents where we slept for two nights. Amira and I slept in the tent on the far left with Ruby (Lucy), Julia (Evelyn) and Kasey (Dahlia).




Here Amira helps Maggie (Miss Kitty) with the kitchen fire.



Amira and some classmates taking a well deserved break.




On the second morning we took a hike through the Diggins. We were like pioneers on the long hard trail.





Oh, weary travelers! Amira is wearing one of Great Grandma's old aprons in this photo.




I enjoyed the hike.



Here is Amira (next to her teacher, Miss Simons) and the rest of her pioneering class.



At the end of a long hike and scavenger hunt through town, we all gathered in the saloon for some piano music, root beer, peanuts and red licorice. The pony express came by and the pioneers received letters. You can see Amira's back in this photo. It was too hot to dress like a pioneer at this point so she stripped down to a tank top.
I kept the bonnet on all the time. It hid my "pioneer hair".



On our last night we had a wonderful old time entertainer/storyteller come. The kids sat on the benches they made while he played the part of a man who came out to mine gold in California. He played a modern and antique banjo as well as the jaw harp, saw and others. He taught us all a dance too.

Great way to wrap up the 4th grade year!