Mojave 2018 - Canned Ham

Molly's been asking to get back to the Mojave Desert since we briefly visited on our big road trip back in 2016. We finally made it this fall, in part because the kids got the entire Thanksgiving week off of school instead of the usual three days off, which gave us the time we needed to get down there. Well, not quite enough time, because we packed in a lot of other stops along the way. So Molly is still asking to get back to the Mojave Desert for another, longer visit.

Clara opted to stay with Nana and Pa for the week, and since we didn't really know what we would be getting into for the trip it seemed to be a good idea. We ended up taking a side trip to Redlands to pick up a "canned ham" trailer (an insurance replacement for the yurt that was destroyed in the fire). That side trip took a bit of extra time because the truck needed new brakes and a new hitch. We were lucky, though, in that we were back on the road with just one day lost. The family that sold us the trailer hooked us up with their dad, who is a mechanic and who could squeeze us in first thing in the morning. Then U-haul did the hitch install quickly and we were back on the road in (almost) no time.

Here are some glamor shots of "Faye" the 1960 Santa Fe Trailer. Her insides are pretty simple: two couches that make one large bed, a hammock style bunk loft, a small closet, and a tiny kitchen galley.

Olives 2018

We once again went to our neighbor's farm and picked olives. There was a bit of a twist this year, though: we picked 958 pounds (with the help of some friends) and took it to an olive oil press to be magically turned into olive oil!

Rachel & Anthony had decided not to harvest this year, but told us we could come and pick what we wanted. After discussing various options with them, we thought we'd give a try at seeing if we could get enough to bring to the press. We even had enough to pick a bucket just for curing as table olives.

We started by hand, but found it way more efficient to use the electric rakes (imagine a long rake with tines that wiggle). Huge thanks to the Newmans and the Foley-Maddoxes for joining us and making this happen!

Meet Turtle (or Al, or Snake, or maybe some other name)

After signifiant lobbying, much research, and several visits to the East Bay Vivarium, we decided to surprise Clara with a snake for her birthday. They're not cheap, but I have been fully convinced that they are good (and easy!) pets. Hopefully this will bear out to be true. I was the hardest in the family to be convinced, but I was won over by a combination of Clara's determination, her research and fact-finding, and actually holding the snake at the store (it's way nicer than I expected).

It's an amelanistic corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) and here are some pictures of the snake at the store and at home:

Happy Birthday, Clara!

You're 11 now -- a lovely palendromic number to go with your amazing self!

I've been a bit of a slacker on the photos this year, so hopefully this pre-birthday gift giving photo will do for now. : )

You've started middle school and are settling in to new routines and new independence. Over the past year you finished your first year on the gymnastics team, working hard to develop those skills.

Here's wishing you another great turn around the sun with tons of love!

First Day of School

The kids are back in school today. Clara started middle school, so they are both at the same school again for one year.

Clara seems to be thrilled/scared/excited/anxious, as appropriate. Molly seems to be over it (but probably a bit nervous on the inside?), also as appropriate.

They biked off for "zero period" which is the brutally early music class. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Day 8 - Return Ferry

And, just like that, it was time to go back. We packed up and zipped north, stopping to say hi to the banker ponies and enjoy the ferry ride. Just like on the way out, there was virtually no wait for the ferry. They must be running more ferries these days because it seemed like we passed a steady stream of ferries going the other way.

[posted 8/29/2018]