Summer '06, farewell!

The Wahatoya

I post one last landscape from Martine's ranch. This shot taken in the early afternoon and precedes a storm front which eventually brings lightening and hail. To the right, the sky is black and we can see rainfall across the Rockies. The dirt road angles to the east side of West Spanish Peak (elev. 13,625'). The Ute indians called the twin mountains the Wahatoya, meaning "Breasts of the Earth."

Cousin Susan Lee Schadey gives birth to a healthy and loud 7lb, 7oz Joseph Lawrence Schady (Joey) in Westchester, New York. Congratulations!

Words

Madeleine, from back of the car: "I want to be rich."
Me: "What would you do with all that money?"
Her: "I would buy one bag of crisps and a lolly."

Eitan on what he will will eat at today's birthday party: "I'm going to have a bit of birthday cake, a cup cake, sausages and an omelette!"

On Milk
Me: "Madeleine, what does your milk taste like?"
She: "Apple juice."
Me: "Well, that's interesting."
She: "Do you know where milk grows?"
Me: "Yes?"
She: "It comes from the milky way, where it is bottled."

Sonnet asks Madeleine to clean up her lunch crumbs. Madeleine, on floor with a sponge and forlorn: "I'm just like Cinderella!"

Eitan and I play 20 questions
He: "Does it have a tail?"
Me: "No."
He: "Is it a cat without a tail?"


Madeleine, refusing to eat the dinner I've made: "This is the worst dinner I ever ate."

Madeleine looking at the breakfast I've prepared: "I hate it."

Madeleine re my home prepared chicken: "that's disgusting, dad."

Eitan matter-of-factly informs me that he will quit sucking his thumb if I stop drinking beer.

Last night Madeleine draws a picture for Sonnet's Saturday return, after lights-out. We argue about this for a bit and I explain she can continue in the morning. I return later to find about 40 crayons and paper hidden beneath her bedsheet. She sound asleep, of course.

Eitan, reading with his head in hands: "Aw, dad - this is the worst thing that's ever happened to me!" (14/9/06)

Madeleine to me: "I'll always love you dad - even when I'm a teenager."

I ask Madeleine about the paint on her hands. She, very gravely: "Honestly dad, don't get involved with this." (14/9/06)

The Line-Up

The reception kids gather in front of their class room, and await entrance into school. The parents stand around and gossip (several mums shed tears today, the first day) while the five or six dads (a rare sighting) huddle together in a corner of the playground talking football. We all know where the power is here, and it ain't with us. Ms. Scotland is the headteacher.

From the school website:
"we area county primary school with approximately 450 children on roll. It was opened in March 19XX on the site of what was Stable House and is set in large, attractive grounds near Richmond Park. There is a playing field, orchard, pond, spacious playground and an outdoor heated swimming pool, which was built with funds raised by parents.

Many classrooms overlook the orchard and four have their own access to it. There is one large hall, which is used as an assembly hall and dining room in addition to being used for gym and drama.

We aim for excellence in all we do and we provide a structured environment in which children and their interests are warmly welcomed."

First Day of School!

Today is Madeleine's first day of reception (kindergarten). She joins her brother, who started Year One last week. Madeleine was rather matter-of-fact about the Big Occasion, and demonstrated little concern or anxiety about her transition from Montessori. Of course Aggie helped her along and we both give lots of encouragement to the future scholar. With a kiss and a wave, Madeleine marches into the classroom with the other students, guided by the very sensible Class Teacher Mrs. Sedden.

Sonnet NYC

Sonnet has my digital camera this week in New York, where she is attending the Fashion Week shows. The kids get a break. On her list is many of the 20 designers profiled in her upcoming book "New York Fashion" for the V&A press, which will become an exhibition at the V&A sometime next year. Stay tuned. As for me and the kids, we exhaust ourselves over the weekend at two birthday parties, Snakes 'n Ladders, and various run-around activities. At bday #2, Eitan's new khaki pants rip right down the middle and he is inconsolable (I tell him the Hulk does same). Madeleine does not eat food as she misses mum. Last night I watch "Path to 911" on BBC television anticipating today, 11/9. It airs this evening in the USA.

The Bears rebound Saturday, defeating Minnesota 42-17 at Memorial stadium in Berkeley.

Crouchie

England striker Peter Crouch scores the decisive goal at 46 minutes in England's 1-0 victory over Macedonia (photo from The Sun). What is remarkable about this over-the-head shot is Crouch's size: at 6'7'' he is easily the largest (and gangliest) player on the pitch. Still, Crouch has put 11 balls in the net since donning his England cap 14 games ago. When not for England, he plays for Liverpool. Ok, we'll forgive the silly post-score "robot" moves pre-World Cup. The guy is for real.

Sonnet leaves for New York City today, and will stay with Aunt Marcia in Bronxville and Katie on the Upper West Side. She is attending NY Fashion Week, and will see many of the designers, and their shows, profiled in her book "New York Fashion." Eitan started Year 1 (Kindgergarten or "Big Boys School") Tuesday, and reports that "it's fine", while not relinquishing any further data. Madeleine begins reception, at the same school, on the 12th and enjoys extra time with Aggie until then. Yesterday they were at Kew Gardens for a picnic and day before Lego Land. Lucky kid.

Nose job

Eitan takes one on the nose at nine months when I take this photo at Lauderdale Mansions (11/7/01). The boy is still crawling and, in fact, won't walk for another nine - why mess about with rapid transportation? Despite a solid foundation of four points, he still manages to fall off his rocker and scrape up his nose. This dinger took place in Paddington Park when - baff ! - down he goes. I feel inadequate as a father - the guilt begins. Sonnet now four months pregnant with Madeleine and we often discuss the mathematics of children - ie, the child-work relationship is not linear.

Cal gets thumped by Tennesee 35-18 in the season opener. The 21 unaswered points in the third quarter kill us. Christian Wright predicts they will win every game hereafter. "The Bear will not quit. The Bear will not die" - Joe Capp, 1982

Nightime creeps

I take the kids to see the cartoon movie 'Monster House' this rainy Sunday (2/9/06). It was pretty darn scary - in fact, Madeleine stands up and walks out of the theatre with Aggie (this takes some courage and I give her credit). Eitan insists he is not scared. Tonight, however, he shacks up with his sister - go figure.

36 minutes to kick-off, Cal vs. Tennessee. Go Bears!

Homeward bound

Madeleine at Denver Int'l - note the security stickers, given to her for "good behavior" (Sonnet rolls her eyes).

The drive from Cuchara to Denver was uneventful, other than a six mile farm road detour from the I-25 at Pueblo due to last week's flooding (the southwest has been in a drought otherwise). In Denver, we visit Aunt Beecher, Whitney, Frank, Tess and one-week old Thea, which brings back memories and all sorts of nostalgia from us (esp. Sonnet). We spend the night at a Radisson hotel, with pool and hot-tub, and catch the long-haul flight to the U.K. Eitan is the perfect seat mate, as he watches the digital entertainment for 10 hours including the cartoon move with Bruce Willis "Over The Top" three times (3X). Madeleine has a harder time, but both kids keep it together. Neither slept. At home, Aggie awaits us and Sonnet and I use today Friday to due some errands, and I move into my new office close to home (less than 10 minutes).

This photograph of the flag taken by Eitan.

At the airport beyond security, Sonnet points out that I don't have my camera, which has been left in the rent-a-car (damn!). I call Alamo Denver Airport, speak to a gal who uses her walkie-talkie to speak to a field agent. The camera is located and put on a ground transportation bus to the terminal (guy heavily tipped). I speak to the head of Airport Security, who gives me a red-card, and accompanies outside of the security zone. I meet the bus, collect my camera, re-pass security and race to the gate with two minutes to spare. Sonnet was sure she would see me somepoint in London - and had even told the kids so!

Adobe

The Church of St Francis of Assis. This beautiful spanish church in Taos, New Mexico, is made from adobe ("biblical brick") and the straw is visible if one looks close. Georgia O'Keefe made the St. Francis of Assis one of her favorite subjects and consequently this is the most photographed church in the world. My photo is backside of the church.

Tonight we stay at the Rancho Arriba, Turca, New Mexico - 8,400 feet in the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the east and the Jemez range to the west. The ranch was built by Curtis Franks in '65, and became a b&b in '78. The kids fall in love with the dogs (I call Eitan the "dog whisperer"), and Madeleine continues her infatuation with horses. Sonnet and I have a drink on the porch watching the sunset over the mountains, listening to the dogs bay. This feels like Mexico to me.

Welch's

Who can forget grape soda? We spend the day driving through Carson National Forrest (most of the remaining land is made up of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants). This photo taken in fron of the Santuario de Chimayo church, whose soil is believed to have restorative powers. Inside the adobe is a sobering hall with crutches and photos of the deceased or injured, including a wall dedicated to our troops in Iraq.

Taos, New Mexico

This self portrait surounds me with the Sangre de Christo mountains in the San Louis Valley, about 20 miles from the New Mexico border. It took me one hour or so to hike the largest sand dune, which was a similar sensation to the stair-master (plant foot, feel slip). The view in any direction is dramatic - westward rolling sand-tops and northeast spikey snow-caps.

From CO, we drive through the Sangre De Christo mountains over the La Veta pass on HW 160 to 150 at Ft William, on our way to Taos, New Mexico. In Taos, we stay at the El Pueblo hotel, and explore the historical plaza, settled by the Spanish in the early 1600s and where Sonnet buys a pair of cowboy boots. Dinner is newmex at Orlando's and we are buffeted by an alpine storm complete with lightening and hail balls.

Brown Eyed Susans

While hiking the dunes, I come across a perfectly cheerful family of wild-flowers. Hidden between the sand, away from wind and visitor, the colony seems to thrive and I on my belly to take this picture.

Almighty sandcastle

The walk to the dunes is about one mile, then they reach upwards to 750 feet (26/8/06). Eitan was keen to climb to the top with me, but petered out to re-join Sonnet and Madeleine who are walking at a slower pace. From mid-way, the kids roll down sand embankments of 50 feet, screaming with glee. The temperature today is a pleasant early fall-like 85 degrees - during summer's peak in July the sands reach 140 or higher. Afterwards, we visit a roadside cafe called appropriately "The Oasis" and have a late lunch including home-made cherry and coconut cream pie. Yum.

We drive back to Beecher's cabin in Cachara, and the kids fight in the back of the car, forcing me to pull off the side of the road to swipe at them. They remain "wired", and I take them through a series of yoga deep breathing excercises to calm them down. Both kids have been sleeping soundly, especially Madeleine who seems to devour it - waking up sometimes at 10AM, sleeping on average 12 hours a night.

Dunes

From the back of a post-card: "Great Sand Dunes, National Park, CO. 1920 Sand dunes towering 750 feet (214m) above the valley floor and covering over 50 square miles (130 sq. km) are swallowed by the huge scalae of the San Luis Valley and the 12,000 to 14,000 ft (3700 to 4300 m) Sangre de Cristo mountains. Prevailing southwesterly wind pile the sand at the base of three low passes in the mountains. Strong northeast winds occassionally roar through the mountain passes, reversing the usual direction of sand flow and piling the dunes back upon themselves building "chinese walls". In 2004, Congress made this area a National Park and so protected (since 1920 the dunes were a National Monument)."

Aunt Martine

Sonnet's Aunt splits her time between Denver and her ranch near La Veta. Now retired, she taught in the CO public kindergarten and secondary schools, which formed her political views from first hand experience (she is a Republican in a split state). Martine is unafraid to share her opinion with Berkeley-ites like me or her liberal sisters Silver and Robin. Martine's husband Bill is a cowboy and horse whisperer, when he is not selling insurance for State Farm or preaching episcopalian part time. Bill also had a baseball scholarship to CU and has a cracker fast ball. Together they make a cutting vision of the Southwest.

H-2-O

Sophie and Eitan at the Big Trees rec center. One thing is for sure: these kids love water. Nestled in the white pines and fir trees, the 25 meter and kiddie pools are well-used from Memorial Day to Labour Day weekend. A 15 minute "adult swim" takes place each day at 1400, which elicits an earnest groan from the younger crowd - despite 6-8 hours of aquatic activity throughout the day.

Urban cowboy

Eitan, not to be out-done by Madeleine, strikes a pose (or two). Behind Beecher's cabin is an alpine field with mountain flowers and rolling hills of pine tree and the mountains behind. Today, we will drive to the Colorado dunes, about 100 miles from La Veta. The sand dunes are some of the biggest in North America, and I plan to take some pictures. Unfortunately I am out of black & white film, and unable to find any film where we are. My cheap Olympus Camedia does a fine job for my needs, but does not match the quality or texture of the b&w. Any case, I will post what I see.

Exuberant Madeleine

Madeleine at Beecher's cabin (23/8/06). She is excited by the return of Sonnet following her trip to New Mexico, and to be alive. Madeleine's imagination runs free and often, and in this case she is a "super cow-gal". She is a joy to watch, unless her wrath directed at you - then good luck!

Spanish Mountains

This photograph taken from nearby Martine's ranch. I correct my below entry regarding the mountains and their creation. According to wise uncle Ray, the Spanish Mountain range is not volcanic, as reported. Rather, when Colorado was five miles underground "drain-pipes" formed from the surface to undergound water and mineral reservoirs. Over 26 million years of erosion uncovered the pipes. Where did the dirt go? Texas, Arizona, Nevada.... According to Ray, geologist from around the world study this unusual and unique formation, with many other "spouts" still buried hundreds of feet below.