Honk honk

How can such beautiful birds be such pests. The apples are ripe and the geese are back in my sister in law's yard and she's on her yearly rampage. It's not so much that they eat the apples....it's the mess they leave behind. Now if they would stay in the bay where they belong and where I  snapped this pix as they swam by, all would be well, but they love to stop by with all their many friends and have one big poop party :o)

Inside look

Jacob and I were at Jericich Park yesterday when the kids showed up with their kayaks and canoes for their daily training session. I thought it would be fun to show you the inside of a canoe, which is not much  wider than their hips and getting in and out takes real skill or gravity will take over instantly. They were very adept at doing both and the one question I asked the little gal was.....how do you steer. She said with the paddle.  Hmmmmm.

Kayak kids

We had more fun yesterday watching the kayak team do their daily training. We were sitting on the end of a houseboat opposite Jericich dock as they took turns competing, usually two at a time, right smack in front of us, with some  sitting in  long, narrow kayaks using double ended paddles, and others kneeling in  long, narrow canoes, paddling on just one side.
They were  very successful in their latest competiton in Oklahoma, coming in first. We had lots of questions for the young people, one of which was how old are you...the boy we asked was 13....how much does your canoe cost...the one he was in cost $2,600.00. 
It was fun seeing the kids up close instead of from a distance out the window of my house....and if I were young again...what a fun sport to be involved with. I think of the young people living in the inner cities and how sad that they don't have the opportunities we have here in this beautiful part of the country.

Success

Jacob is wearing a happy face because grandma said "SMILE"....after a bunch of goofy poses, I finally managed to get him to stop being silly. He is four and such fun. Oh...and the reason for the picture is because he is getting really good at putting together puzzles...and did this one in record time.
After he finished,  we had lunch, then it was off to ride the trolley, which lead to all kinds of adventures. How lucky we are to have these wonderful times together.

 

Paddle fun

I spotted this group  as they headed away from the kayak rental place yesterday. Every time I see the "kayak rental,  $20.00 for two hours" sign, I wonder why I don't spring for a couple of hours and  get out there with all the other folks on a a beautiful August afternoon. It couldn't be easier for me since the place is just a short walk down the hill.

Eighteenth Century Drawing Room

Just for fun, here is a recording I made of the solo I used to play in high school. I found the exact verson on youtube the other day and played along, recording it with my trusty digital recorder. Mr. Cozart, our music director, gave a few of us band members music to work on and then off we went to one of the schools to play and be graded. I don't remember if I did well or not, but any excuse to get out of school was always fun.   One of the girls in my class was the designated accompaniest. Her name now is  Jeanine Jacobson and she went on to become quite an accomplished pianist and professor. Me, I am still trying to play that darn song :o)

And...a must read for anyone not happy with the way things are going in our country...maybe there is a way to turn things around.

Purdy bridge

It was such a beautiful evening while we dined a couple days ago. In one direction were the indians fishing and in the other direction were the cars moving slowly across the very  narrow and somewhat frightening Purdy bridge. My hope is that sooner rather than later there is a new road built at the end of the lagoon, eliminating the need to cross that dangerous and very old bridge and it can become a playground for all....especially the kids who jump off even though they aren't supposed to :o)