Catching Up

The California kids have come and gone two weeks ago and I still have not blogged about their visit. Life is busy... and now hot. So I'll try to catch up by sharing photos of their visit...

Well, first here are photos of Johnny's visit to San Carlos after which he brought Cedrus and Kestrel home with him on the train. He did lots of projects in San Carlos, including putting together those cabinets behind Cedrus swinging on another project...

 They all visited Steve's office, the one he rarely visits since he works from home. It seems Mozilla folks have a good time... their office includes a ball pool...

A week later, Johnny and Kestrel and Cedrus arrived at the farm. Hooray!

Before the parents arrived by car a few days later, we went to the beach.

The kids danced in the surf and built a sand barricade in a rock outcropping against the coming tide.

On the farm, there was work to do. The kids drove the two EZ Gos while I loaded up barkdust and spread it on paths. Alas, Cedrus soon discovered he is very allergic to bark dust!

 Lots of time was spent feeding citrus peels to happy goats.

Cedrus feeding orange peels to Cindy Lou

Kestrel feeding Cindy Lou, who wanted all the peels for herself

Cedrus and Kestrel with the youngest kid. I needed photos for my monthly column in United Caprine News. The kids cooperated.

Cindy Lou wanted attention, too

Cedrus feeding Goldilocks and more, with Lindoro the llama in a field behind

Steve and Cedrus pet 13-year-old Shirley, who loves the kids

Mister McCoy, the big white dog, got some attention, too.

Always a trek to the creek. Here Steve and Cedrus trek across it.

Kestrel preferred whittling. Here he selects the proper stick.

Kestrel whittling

Cedrus, Grandpa and Steve looking for creatures

Steve was a master crawdad catcher

Steve selecting a rock for skipping

Shirley leading the way through the woods

Cedrus and Steve coming behind Shirley

Kestrel and Cedrus loved driving Grandpa's EZ Go. Here at the end of the arboretum, waiting for the rest of us to catch up for the return trip, they take time to pet Shirley

 On Saturday morning, the Qi Gong gang, Munazza and Blythe and John and Carol and Johnny and Steve and I, did Qi Gong in our Qi Gong Grove. The kids provided transportation in the EZ Go, christened the Qi Gong Shuttle. After our practice, we retired to the arena where Kestrel and Cedrus danced for us.

 

 

Steve and Munazza had driven up a few days after the kids arrived. Munazza spent some time away from the farm working on the next level of Qi Gong so she can become a trainer for that level... and teach all of us!

As always, the kids were measured to see how much they had grown since last year. A lot! The rest of us were measured to see if we had shrunk any more. Thankfully, not.

Before they all left by car on Monday, July 2nd, Johnny insisted they get a "charge". Steve reacts.

Munazza was cautious and, intelligently in my opinion, did not press the plunger hard enough to cause a shock.

It was wonderful, as always, to have kids and grandkids here... and so glad the weather did not turn beastly hot until after they had left. Now it's beastly hot. I spend most days at the coast now, doing bird surveys and enjoying mild temperatures. At home, I try to keep the garden and greenhouse plants watered. Johnny works on his myriad projects outdoors and in his shop. He doesn't melt in the heat like I do. The weather is supposed to be dropping out of the 90s into the 70s soon. I sure hope so.