I can always talk my busy daughter into time for a pedicure!

I head up the hill to visit at least once a week and when I am VERY VERY lucky, like I was this past week, Joc comes and visits a couple of days with Juniper. Oh sigh, she is a magical human Bean!

She is growing out of her infant car seat already, she is not even three months old yet!

She has grown and gained weight. She is perceiving the world around her with great interest. It is so fun to watch her change and become part of our life as we become part of hers. We all love her so much. I feel as though all our love lifts her up and floats her along. And our team of love makes us all kinder and gentler and more loving of each other.

Sleeping angel

She is looking at her little fishy buddies in her fabulous swing (it was swinging when I took the pic that is why it is blurry)

Life is just darn fine. Not much to report. Life is swimming along. The hot weather has arrived. It was 108 degrees one day last week and hanging at 100 or so pretty much daily for the past two plus weeks. Time spent inside is the best time although the mornings and evenings are mild and fair.

My son and the kids from work imbibing at my backyard for one reason or another...because we can

Anything to get friends over, sit around my back yard and celebrate. We can always conjure up SOMETHING.

It really is all good.

The bad pretty much remains my brother. We cannot do anything to ready mom's house for sale. He is living there and denying access. While it is frustrating, I choose not to get caught up in his sad behaviour. I had the power turned off but do not know if he has found a way to get it turned back on. I have a storage pod there that I really need to get off the property. I may just go up there and empty it's contents onto the driveway and have it removed. It costs me money every month. Sigh, I try not to think of it. I do have a good attorney but I don't think either her or I know exactly what to do here. I have served him with an eviction notice. Bleh.

The fugly is the pot pie venture. The gallery owner has now forbid me to cook pies at the gallery because of the heat of the oven (which is not really a true deal since it is a convection oven and puts off little heat) and the pot pie peeps cannot allow me to cook the pies off site and deliver them for health and safety worries. I understand. I am kind between a rock and a hard place at this exact moment.

Smarty slinging pies and pouring hooch

I served sample pot pies at an art opening a couple of weeks back (with the help of our most wonderful Smarticus) and they were really really well received.  (Remind me to tell you the story about the band that played and how mean they were to me, awful, in fact...) The sales have gone up since. I am delivering more of the frozen samples to all my downtown pals and professionals to taste test and create enthusiasm for the product. I have some ideas but have work to do and could be shot down once again by the gallery owner.

I could get pissed off but I think it best to just be disappointed and figure out a solution.

One would be and will be signing back up for school. Somethings may be on hold but I shouldn't be. Right?

I am signing up for classes again for fall next week. May as well keep on doing what I should be doing.

My compost bin (after I repaired it)

And I started a compost bin in my back yard. That is exciting. I know. Compost and baby poop have become very enthralling in my part of the world. What? Did I sell out? Am I becoming a corporate bastard? No, I guess not. Maybe a little boring. I guess that is where pictures of our Junebug come in!

Here are my fair ladies at a music show in Davis this past week

A friend of mine from Seattle was in town as part of his tour this week. He graced the Gallery as part of their Thursday night music series. I have written about my buddy Ronn before. He goes by the moniker Morgan's Orange.  He and another musician, Wyatt McKenzie, played at the Natsoulas Gallery. My son also played. It was a wonderful night of friends, family and music.

Ronn Benway doing his chores at Kinko's before the show in downtown Davis

Ronn was more fabulous than ever

He busks in Seattle for a living. At Pikes Market on a regular basis. His voice is spot on. He did his own music this eve and also has a cd out with his busking buddy, Craig the Accordianati, of all the best covers. They go by Raw Corn.

I love Ronn, I wish he was around more often or was closer so we could talk music ( he owned a record store for years in Venice Beach) and kids (his daughter is going to university in SF and is just a tad younger than mine) and get pedicures.

Michael (my son) played a bunch of his new songs

Which are fantastic.

Mother McKenzie from Las Vegas

He had a subtle gritty but smooth vocal with some of the best tongue in cheek subtle lyrics I have heard in awhile. Talented. Yes.

Kind of shy and very polite

They were heading to Las Vegas after this because it was not hot enough for them here. Ack!

My daughter and her daughter along with her friend Jessalyn came to the show

Of course I am in heaven having my whole fam together at my workplace with music involved

Jocelyn is so beautiful. Ally, the girl that puts together the music night commented on how great Joc looks after having her baby. "She looks like nothing happened at all!"
But of course, Juniper happened.

Let us take a  brief moment for this cockatiel intermission...George Bill with his beak closed (for a change)

That was nice wasn't it?

And so, in closing, I had my family around me these past couple of days. Joc came to Davis to see the music on Thursday.

We cleaned houses together on Friday, my son watched Juniper. He is such a darling.

On Saturday we did a yard sale. Oh my dog, how much work is that? And with the temps being in the hundreds (this was planned when temps were still hovering in the late 80's...) we decided to serve up free lemonade to draw in the masses to view our beloved and worthy JUNK!

Joc and Daniel making this the scene it deserves to be

Our junk Your TREASURES (our mantra plus MAKE ME AN OFFER and FREE LEMONADE)

So, we made some cash, some friends, cleared some space and worked way too hard. All in all, a perfect day. We were so exhausted by days end. Ack.

Well, that's me!

How are you, xanga crew?

Beautiful Juniper!

These are about one week old. I have seen her twice since these were taken but I am trying to NOT drive everyone insane with my photo taking.

Jocelyn and I spent most of yesterday shopping and eating. Really nice day that included pedicures. Juniper was very patient for a newbie shopper. We will get her into the girl groove yet!

Unfortunate news, I read on facebook this morning that one of my xanga and a real life friend (and neighbor) had a car vandalized in front of her home last night. Apparently there was a rash of cars messed with last night BUT the culprit has been apprehended.

I was rushing out to meet with a friend for coffee and relieved to see that no hijinx seemed to have befallen our neighborhood cars.

I was wrong...

My son's car was a victim. I did not notice since it was the street side and there was no glass on the ground. He called me as I was coming home. Curse the little toad who wreaked such senseless havoc!

Shocking news. A dear and darling friend of mine has separated from her long time marriage. Her hub was cheating. Oh sigh, this woman is a special human, an inspiration and I am very fortunate to call her a friend. I am only a third of the friend to her that she is to me. The deal with her hub has all the personal deals that are none of any of our bees wax but in the end, the disrespect he showed and is currently showing her and the fam is not ok. And the grace with which she is dealing and sharing this big change is to be an example that we can all take the high road no matter what the situation.

All in all, life goes on and I hope to learn something new each day. I also hope to keep becoming a bit of a better person with every experience. I am triply blessed with people that help me on that path when there are days in which I do not seem to be helping myself.

I found a yurt in Point Reyes Station (check out the link to Windsong Cottage) available for a a couple of nights. On Tuesday, off I went. A yurt  is a round, portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. A yurt is more home-like in shape and build, with thicker walls than that of a tent. They are popular amongst nomads. That info is from wikipedia.

I was feeling like a nomad so when I arrived at the yurt too early for check in I figured I would kill time by cruising further up Highway One in search of some grub. I was starving and I knew fresh sea food was around some unknown corner.

I pulled into Nick's Cove and Cottages in the small bay front town of Marshall. I thought this place might just do!

I was at the coast!
Nick's Cove is a really nice place, the service was excellent. I ate the best fish and chips ever.

Finally, full and relaxed, it was time to return to yurt central.

This was no portable or felt made yurt. This was a rustic, inviting round cottage settled in the center of amazing pastoral and bay views.

It was cozy and quiet. I sighed a breath of relief when I put down my (many many) bags.

This is taken from the living room into the bedroom and showing the circular ceiling with sky light.

I had sunset views. Every night. Awesome.

There is also a jacuzzi. I used that both nights and even the morning of my departure. My shoulder has been in pain from some recent falls. It was a wonderful way to get relaxed before falling sound asleep.

Well, I'm here! Time to take a walk.

I took a walk from the house to a trail head up Hwy One Tomales Trail head. I passed grazing cows, lots of bird friends and plenty of wild flowers. The path led me to swamp pond that gave views of the inlet and the bay. Just a nice warm up to my day ahead.

This guy was very social. He trotted up the fence as I walked by. He wanted to greet me and get his nose nuzzled.

A couple of fun-gi's I met in the neighborhood. I knew I would be inviting them over to party and hang in the hot tub.

As for my day, I planned on going to Point Reyes Station for some shopping. I had a list of gifts to buy the people I love. My son wanted a t-shirt and my daughter wanted cheese. I wanted to buy my grand daughter her first Toby's Feed Barn t-shirt. There is also a wonderful jewelry store (Zuma's) that I can always find amazing earrings (for ME).

Once I accomplished the gift list my plan was to visit an oyster farm and purchase fresh live oysters for dinner that night.

I headed over to Tomales Bay Oyster Company. I had driven past it when I was driving north along Hwy One the day before.

  
I picked up some smalls for eating raw and some mediums for bb'qing too. I bought lots so I would have some to bring home.

 
It being mid week, the place was quiet and the oyster dudes and dudettes were very helpful.

I had forgotten to eat much food so I had to get back to the yurt STAT to start doing some dinner making.

I had my work cut out for me. Fresh live oysters mean a bunch of prep work to get at those tasty treats!

There was a whole bunch of that up there to get to this right here!

It was heaven on the half shell. There is nothing like fresh raw oysters, NOTHING!

Ok, well yeah there is. BBQ'ed fresh oysters and ice cold beer. Just keep 'em coming.

I gorged myself. It was amazing. A food orgy. A food symphony. A food masterpiece.

I fell asleep in oyster ecstasy.

After all those oysters and just having to chase them with all those ice cold beers, the pastoral view to the bay was not the only thing that was foggy the next morn. Alas, it was time to pack my bags and journey home. But not so fast! I need to clear my head and feel some ocean breezes!

A drive out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse was just the ticket.

I have not been all the way out to the lighthouse in a couple of years. I packed my car and hit the road while the morning mist was still in the air.

I drove past all the dairy farms and ranches full of the Oreo Cows. Moo, I would tell them, Mooooo!

It was foggy at the light house. But, when you are the coast, weather doesn't really matter, does it?

Being there mid week, very few people were out and about. The visitor center was open.

There are 308 steps in all. I climbed them all. Up and Down.
I had passed a group of four men riding their bikes up to the lighthouse, some 20 miles. But pretty much a calve cranking up hill. I still felt proud when I walked down to sight see and made it back up all those stairs with out vomiting or passing out.

My head cleared and my stomach growling, it was indeed time to hit the road for home.

I stopped in the little town of Olema to get something to eat.

I chose the Olema Farmhouse Bar and Restaurant to stop and eat.
First Mistake...
I had their fish and chips. Really really great!
With a local IPA.
Second Mistake.
Had a second beer...
Third Mistake.
Oh sigh, I was not ready to go home yet!
So I took a walk, texted my kids and booked a room at the Point Reyes Seaside Lodge right next door.

The woman who checked me in also gave me a great price on the room when I balked (just a little) at the cost. I was on the first floor with a deck/porch with a view of the lawn and creek. It was midweek and the place was quiet. I walked around the grounds, dipped my feet in the creek that ran at the back of the grounds and then sat on the porch and relaxed. I ordered food to go and sat on the porch and enjoyed a crab salad and a glass of wine (or two). It was lovely. I could not ask for a better end to my get away.

I came home this morning. Not too early but with enough time to unpack and tidy up. Putting things in order. Giving my cat extra pets.

Daniel is so good with her. He was born to be her daddy.

Juniper with Daniel and Jocelyn. Look at how big and strong she is getting. Can you believe she is just one month old?

Daddy working on music while Juniper sleeps in THE SWING! (Jocelyn loves this thing, it rocks and makes awesome gurgling water noises)

My kids get pissed off at me for taking so many photos but I know that Juniper will love this stuff when she gets older. My kids love all this stuff now. Don't your kids sit around the table and LOVE to re-hash any long forgotten kid memory they can think of? Oh my dog, I just ignore my bitchy kids for the most part.

My favorite people on the planet.

What boys do when they are not writing songs.

Happy Sunday.

Jocelyn and I hung out since her baby' daddy had to go to work. She made us dinner Saturday eve. Joc is an exquisite cook. Always has been experimental in the kitchen.

My son called at this point and we all met up at the place I was staying to mingle and chat and rest. We still had three blocks more to walk home. No small task for a woman about to give birth!

I stayed later that eve and Joc was flying around for final preps as her contractions started to get stronger but not very regular. Daniel came home and I walked back to my place to get a little shut eye.

They called me at 2:30am. I drove over to their place and followed them to the hospital.

Once checked in, Daniel and I were ready to bring Joc's suitcase and such in but the nurse told us to wait to make sure that they were going to let her stay. They checked her to see how everything was doing...

"She's a keeper" nurse Tracy told us. Daniel and I unpacked the car.

Daniel's brother Matt showed up around 4:30am. I texted the other grandparents through out this. They were driving back to Placerville from Los Angeles. Grandpa John's sister had just passed and they had driven down south for her funeral and memorial. They were anxious but Daniel and I kept them in the loop through out.

My son and Daniel's youngest brother Johnny finally showed around 7 ish. Sleepy heads!

By this time Joc was in the jacuzzi. This birth suite had the big jacuzzi. This really relieved the intense labor pains she was enduring at this point. Joc was debating whether or not to take pain meds. Daniel and I supported her in what ever decision she made. Lets get this straight. Labor HURTS. A BUNCH. Joc had been up all night and had eaten little in prep. My darling girl was struggling and in a ton of pain.