Back in January we hosted a birthday party for madame.

This year’s theme was Beatrix Potter. Everyone wore masks of different Potter characters, and we had tea, sandwiches, scones and cakes for the party.

We played with some of her new presents…

and had a rousing game of impromptu ‘balloon ball’ too!

The next day, she was inspired to make a caterpillar house and look for caterpillars while visiting grandma’s.

She didn’t discover any caterpillars, though grandma reported seeing some lovely green and black ones on her tomatoes a few weeks back. But she did find two green grasshoppers on the geraniums next to a rose bush.

So into the caterpillar (now grasshopper) house they went. They didn’t stay long, but they humoured L and didn’t seem to mind too much. After testing out the box they went back to napping on the geranium.

Maybe next time she will find a new insect friend!

We went to the Nevada County Fair, which had loads of rides, games, food, music,  animals and exhibits.

 
After watching her fearless cousin tackle walking on water in a big bubble, L had to give it a try!

We had a wonderful visit, can’t wait to see everyone again!

“O-pus and starfish are having a seaweed wedding underwater!” -The Kid explaining why her octopus bucket and starfish shovel were all dressed up.

It was another hot day in the valley so we headed up to the cool foggy city. We stopped at the de Young to see the Balenciaga exhibit before it closed.

Auntie led us up to the observation tower, where we were treated to superb views of the city on this clear day.

Next we checked out the Balenciaga dresses…my favorite was the pink one at the entrance, but as no pics were allowed, you will just have to imagine it. There were so many wearable, beautiful dresses…I wanted several! There was one room of all black dresses and suits…in dark nightclubby lighting, so it was a bit hard to see them, esp. when being tugged by a toddler who loves to tour museums at breakneck speed. Also as we departed I noticed a sign that they had a Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit (could be upcoming? can’t find it anywhere)…and this Dior dress…sigh…maybe next time. There are lots of great things still to see, we will be back.

When we were up in the tower we spotted a pool with lily pads, so when we got back to ground level we checked out the pool and surrounding gardens. The pool had turtles! There was a family of different sizes, and one particularly cute baby turtle.

The kid and auntie gathered some daisies and dandelions nearby.

After this we strolled through the plane trees and fountains (last time the fountains were dry, so this was a welcome change) and madame was particularly entranced by the smaller fountain which undulated.

But the day wasn’t over yet…next stop, the beach. Auntie took us to a beach that was loaded with sand dollars…it was a nice, calm, gentle day for waves, and we walked barefoot along the beach, gathering sand dollars. What a beautiful day!

We ended the day with a visit at Auntie’s, rinsed off the sand and played with Luna and the kitties. The kid was very proud that Omie let her pet him, now that she has a gentler touch. Having thoroughly tuckered out Auntie, we headed out for the local Trader Joe’s for some travel snacks for the long drive home.

We loved their cart escalator…we could watch it for hours! This reminded me of London…the escalators down into hidden food halls…were they at M&S or Selfridges? They also had the little shopping carts for kids which our kid loved pushing around the store (and into my shins..ouch).

Thoroughly happy with our day out, we cruised back to the (finally) cooling off valley.

Yesterday we went with Grandma to see Lucy’s cousin starring as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at her school.

Lucy is a big fan of putting on shows, and she loved it…she was on the edge of her seat. We envision a lot of plays and shows in our future.

There were no photos of the show allowed, so we just snapped some before and after pics. It was a lot of fun, and we look forward to the next one. Congrats on a wonderful play!

We’ve been to Filoli three times since it reopened in February. We went on Grandmommy’s birthday with the family, as has become our tradition.

Looking back through our photos I am reminded how happy Grandmommy was there, despite her illness. (The first photo below is Lucy now…the one next to it is Grandmommy in the same space 3 years ago. )

How peaceful and relaxing and ‘away from it all’ it is here.

We saw a rare and endangered monk seal resting, fenced off of course to allow him his privacy;

Mike, Jim and Tisa snorkeled and tried out a new underwater camera head strap thingy;

Grandma Vita started a new book (The Other Boleyn Girl)

Lucy splashed around, kicked sand into the waves, watched her daddy snorkel, counted chickens and roosters and baby chicks, played with the faucet at the rinsing station, and snuck in a climb and a slide on the beach playground. Phew!

None of us got sunburned (hopefully) and we all managed to pile into one car (though trooper Tisa was boxed in by chairs and boogie boards and had to wait patiently in a hot car to climb out of the back after all the gear was taken out.)

Later on we checked out a local farmer’s market, had an ice cream, bought some veg and snacks, and wandered through shops.

The weather has been absolutely perfect, not too hot, no rain, we have been very lucky so far. What a wonderful day!

p.s. Our gracious hosts have prepared gourmet dinners for us each night, this is surely the best restaurant on the island. Must remember to photograph the food!

The menu so far chez Tisa & Jim:

• teriyaki steak on a bed of coconut rice, haupia cake

• peruvian grilled chicken with zucchini, cassoulet and baguette

Lucy was so enamored of the coconut rice we got the recipe and will make it for her at home.

Recipe: Cook rice (in rice cooker of course) with homemade chicken stock and coconut milk, liquid to rice ratio is 2 to 1.

Next post: tour of the magnificent abode and the dramatic rain forest back yard.

First up, the 4 year old portion…princess themed, with castle, knights, and princesses. (She said she and I could be the valiant knights, and Auntie Laura could be the princess.) There were cupcakes for all, and a crown each for Grandpa and Lucy.

After the cupcakes, piles of presents (she says her favorite present was her new scissors), and dancing portion, we went out to dinner for the grown up portion with Gpa’s longtime friends.

We had a great meal, good company, and madame managed to make it through the long meal by getting Grandma to rub her feet.

After dinner we had a coconut cake chez Gma & Gpa, and presents for Grandpa. A wonderful time was had by all!

the map…and some treasure…

essential pirate gear…hat, eye patch, and cardboard sword…

ye olde pirate cupcakes…some were stolen treasure before the party started!

Practicing trick or treating….and our pumpkins

the downtown area was well decorated…

there were loads of trick or treaters…and luckily the forecasted rain never showed!

Auntie met us there for the trick-o-treating, and a spot of lunch.

Afterwards Minnie Mouse tried her hands at the crafts. She made a bear magnet and a pipe-cleaner spider (which was her favorite).

Two streets had been blocked off to allow for stress-free kid roaming. There was even a parade!

Someone still isn’t that interested in candy…her favorite items were a cat finger puppet and the cat stickers auntie gave her. Happy Halloween!