Earth Day

For her wonder project, Indika chose to discover a bit about Solar Energy.

Her booth at the school Earth Day fair, was a styrofoam and duct tape racetrack for the ten solar cars she had assembled.  

Also noteworthy, I received a special thank you from Indika: "Dear Mom, thank you for helping me with my booth I would be lost with out you, and also for letting me go to a few booths: Love, Indika"  I cried a little when I read that...so sweet!

Gaia day planting

This is how it all began...

But as of Mother's Day, we have an herb spiral, veggie garden, some shrubs and various marigolds and nasturtiums for company and color to the budding seeds.

And of course the Redbud (poking in below-left) adds great height and color...yay!

I have a few more pix on flickr, and will add to it every so often cuz the garden changes daily.  Let me just add that it was the best Mother's Day evah!  May become our traditional family plant time form hereon out?!

Wysteria gets a home

I think it was in April (the days are running together), Shawn designed, ordered all the materials for and then constructed the pergola in our front patio all in ONE week.  There once was a pergola in this spot (pre-house remodel), but I really like this one better and not just cuz Shawn built it, but it turned out to be a much better design and it's prettier.  Check out these before and after shots:

It makes a HUGE difference AND, the poor wysteria that has been flailing after being cut back to nothing for three years can finally reach up, out and over with it's beautiful winding arms which is green much of the year and even when the leaves fall it is gorgeous...so YAY.  Strande, you've become a master at your carpentry!!  I guess, all prep for the guitar making years to come.

Soon to be Middle Schooler?

Indika Mackayla graduated fifth grade and as her version of the memory book assignment, she created a slideshow of her first six years at SDCCS. We loved every memory and friendship created on our journey through elementary school.

CONGRATS INDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SDCCS Memories to New Soul by Yael Naim.

Directed by Indika

Been a while

But not for lack of big things happening.  Just the time to sit down and document.  I'll start with the most recent;  Shawn and I had our five year anniversary (May 28) and with wood as the theme, we exchanged these gifts:

My very own Redbud (I badly wanted this to add to our newly created garden space)

and his very own sushi set (pottery made dishes and wooden chopsticks)

Thanks, mom for watching the kids while Shawn and I slipped away for the evening.

I am working through pix from Indi's birthday (March) to mother's day planting (May) and lots more...fingers crossed I get it up before my B&W Photography class starts next week, otherwise it may be a while longer.

From my friend Eric...this will make laugh hysterically albeit feel slightly uncomfortable

I even get teary eyed listening to him talk about BUDGETS!!

HONK

There is a buzz at SDCCS and it's not just because the entire campus is getting a much needed facelift by adding a new color to the buildings, various colors to the door and another mural!  No, as aesthetically pleasing as this will be, the energy in the air is because of the Honk Jr. production.  The story of the Ugly Duckling.

It is the awesome-ist and cutest production I've seen in a loooooong time.  Maybe I'm biased because I have known many of the cast and crew (the kids) since Kindergarten or because Indika plays the Bullfrog- bursting on stage with with her little froglets and singing solo, but I don't think so. It. is. just. all around. delightful.

Mac is amazing as Ida, Ugly's mother (show above setting off to find her "different" chick) and Indika has truly found her theatrical voice.  She is a fantastically funny Bullfrog:

Tomorrow is the final show (and my third viewing), and the clamoring is already out there for next year's production.  Of course more shots are available and coming (as I sift and edit) on Flickr....enjoy!  And Annie has actual video shorts...cuteness in action!