May 31

Brian said to me, gleefully, "I have used every tool I own on this project." I think that's awesome.

May 30

Mr Time on His Hands and the Supervisor team up to install the kitchen floor.

May 29

To replace the cat tower, which has been much loved and served a full career, we first thought we'd build our own. But then we took stock of Current Projects and also projects in the On Deck Spot, and also projects Down the Line, and are now in the market for a premade one.

Though only at the window shopping stage now, these caught my eye but I knew I would never remember distinguinshing features or scale. So Katie got to practice her "long sit & stay" so I could have a size reference, which is more impressive than it sounds because the cat adoption center and the wall of fish were in her line of sight behind me as I took this photo.

May 28

This architectual wonder sprung up overnight across the path between the lemon tree and the hanging baskets of strawberry plants. Judging by the holes, which look like the runs in my nylons, this spider ate well for breakfast!

May 28

We invited Aaron and Shannon over for our inaugural BBQ of the season.

May 26

Housework pretty much makes me want to flop over, too.

May 25

Here's a snapshot of our little yard. I just love puttering around out here, and it feels great to "unwrap" everything that was put away for the winter and get it cleaned up.

May 24

New annuals decorating the front yard.

May 23

I went out to check on the bird family this morning to find the chaos of nature had played itself out in my tiny backyard. Perhaps a cat, or a racoon, or heck could it have been a squirrel? Whichever it was, it came and did violence upon the nest. I righted the birdhouse and picked up a couple of feathers. One of the baby bird corpses, the only tangible casualty, was lying on the patio below the birdhouse. In an impotent gesture of sentimentality, I placed it back in the nest in the birdhouse.

So, I've been thinking a lot about the animal world today.

...he heard very sorrowful voices in a thorn-bush. It was Darzee, the Tailorbird, and his wife. They had made a beautiful nest by pulling two big leaves together and stitching them up the edges with fibers, and had filled the hollow with cotton and downy fluff. The nest swayed to and fro, as they sat on the rim and cried. "What is the matter?" asked Rikki-tikki. "We are very miserable," said Darzee. "One of our babies fell out of the nest yesterday and Nag ate him."

Rudyard Kipling wrote "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," a story about a mongoose who defeats a pair of cobras who tyrannically rule over a garden. Right there in this garden, nature plays out just like in suburbs and cities: grief, outrage, duty, cowardice, courage... It's comforting to think it works this way.

But today, I know better.

May 22

 

Today was the annual Sports Fair, and I got to man my favorite station: Belly Bumpers. It's exactly what it seems, and it's hilarious! The kids might enjoy it as much as I do :)

May 19, 20, 21

Last Friday, Brian and I were delighted and surprised to hear raucous cheeps coming from the dilapidated (and we thought purely unfunctional) birdhouse, but it wasn't until this week that I could get a decent photo. This watchful parent tried to make it very clear that my interest was not welcome.

I'm nosy, however, and was later able to see three babies inside. They are all skin, eyes, gaping mouths and a little fluff right now.

Here's a parent giving me the stink-eye.

May 18

I'm taking the high ground in the battle against snails. Tired of finding all the berries "pre-snacked," I hope I can protect them better in these double-decker hanging baskets.

May 17

This weekend's street fair is the kick off to the festival season. It was blazing hot and I was about five minutes from cranky the whole afternoon, but we enjoyed the arts and crafts, the garlic fries, and the people watching.

May 16

The teacher table at the fundraising event for our school district. I spent the whole evening with my hands by my sides--I was terrified I was going to inadvertantly bid on something!

May 15

We've got new neighbors! Stay tuned!

May 14

All that green is pretty much faded now. Fire season is already underway and the drought enters year 3.

May 13

A colleague and I, who share a mutual prep time, sometimes escape the school grounds for a brisk walk. Today the end-of-year kid shenanigans and beautiful weather made it a perfect retreat! These wildflowers covered a little embankment next to the trail.

May 11

I am totally enamored with an internet game of riddles called thisisnottom. Each week a series of puzzles is posted, lately beginning with a YouTube video and leading off onto anagrams, math equations that turn out to be Google Earth coordinates, online trivia scavenger hunts, picture clues and other such brain teasers. Following the series of clues leads to a chapter of a book being written by John Green. I've been slow to warm to the book, but recently it developed a plot twist and the added complexity has made it very compelling. It's my new bad habit to pace around Monday evenings until a clue is posted, then stay up far too late trying to work solutions, then feel sad that I solved it and need to wait seven days for the next clue. I didn't need any new bad habits!

Mothers' Day

 

Me and Mom, circa 1974

May 1-9

From rainy days to heat waves, the first days of May
As represented by Scrabble games and light rail trains
Walking the blue overpass and getting gas
The fish tank coming clean and enjoying Wolverine
Law & Order night and baseball delight
(plus Superman encouraging schoolwide pride).

Happy Birthday Dad!