Davenport Beach

"I see the Ocean, Mommy!", yelled Momo as we drove on Pacific Highway 1, toward the town of Davenport, about 10 miles away from where we are living.

"And I see the moon, too. It's following us. But actually, it's because our car is moving..."

The monologue kept going as the excited young boy waited for his morning at the beach with his sister, and me.

The fog had not burned off yet, but several surfers were already in the water, catching waves. We had a few minutes to explore the tidepools before the tide came in too high. Within those few minutes, we were able to see lots of creatures and all sorts of plant life. No matter how many times we do this, the kids seem so eager to learn and find the treasures of the sea.


When it was too dangerous to poke around the tidepools, we retreated to comb the beach. We collected other treasures as the kids had a plan of making an 'exhibit' of what they found. They never cease to inspire and create, these little creatures of mine.

Jewels

Don't let these fall colored crops fool you... we have a lot more summer here left. Today, for instance, we spent two hours in the swimming pool and will be sleeping with the fan tonight. In some ways, summer has just begun here!

A Walk in the Woods

Just a few steps from where we live is a nice shaded trail with Bay trees and the Redwoods making a canopy overhead. 

Every so often, we will spot a stag or a deer, or a fawn, traversing and sharing our paths. They are quiet, but curious.  This one stared at us for a while before politely disappearing into the woods. 

Market Bounty

I am still in shock of the farmers' markets here.

First of all, there is practically a farmer's market every day of the week, just a matter of where. Secondly, these markets are bountiful: baskets overloaded with the most beautiful fruits and vegetables begging to be taken home and put into good use. Thirdly, the amount of people that go to these things: everybody. Make that, everybody and all their children and visitors from out of town. It can be a zoo, but as farmers' markets go, the more the merrier!

I am trying to take it all in slowly. There are many familiar faces both behind the stalls and those walking around. There are also many familiar offerings, but also new ones that I am excited to learn about. Padrone peppers, for example, was not in my pepper vocabulary until last Wednesday. And after being introduced to it, I am hooked (more on this in another post).

It's good to be able to call this place, with all its bounty and beauty, home again.

UCSC arboretum and the tub

Soon to be our backyard, the UCSC arboretum is a hidden gem.

Since we got back here, I have a personal mission to photograph one of the hundreds of hummingbirds zooming around from bush to bush, drinking away the sweet nectar of the flowers grown here. Everytime we have visited the arboretum, I am impressed at how peaceful yet extensive this place is.

Not only can you see the sweeping view of the Monterey Bay from up there, you can also pretend like you live down under because the arboretum has got one of the largest collections of Australian and New Zealand native plant species. I wonder how many local Santa Cruzians know about this!

This morning we went up there, partly to connect with nature, partly to monitor the progress of our new 'house'. Our property will literally border the arboretum, right by the New Zealand collection area. We could, within a few months time, be looking out our window at a Kauri tree standing tall against the California sky.


On a different note, we were happily reunited with our claw foot tub today! It is a long story, but the short of it is that we didn't think we would see it again when we sold our house last year... but here it is, still as good as before. It just feels slightly smaller because some people have grown!

The Sierras

If it seems like we have been absent, it is because we were away from civilization for a few days. And how wonderful it was to not be 'connected' to the world, but instead to nature. We slept in a small tent, all together like sardines. We ate by a campfire each night, listening to the birds, and watching little critters waiting for our crumbs.

Going from the California coast, into the Sierra Nevada mountains felt like entering a different piece of land all together. The air got thinner, and the mountains rose high into the brilliant blue sky. Mountain streams created a musical symphony and serenity unsurpassed by anything man-made.

Each of our children brought only one belonging with them: Momo brought Brown Cloud (his bear), and Claire brought Pink Pink (her bear). I intentionally did not bring any other toys because I knew that they would sit untouched as the children explored their surroundings where they were sure to find many more interesting things than manufactured plastic items.

Lucky for us, a lovely family was camping across from our camp site. Their 8 year old daughter and 6 year old son played wonderfully with our children. The four kids would disappear into the rocks and trees for what felt like an eternity, only to come back asking "Can we play some more?"

As an icing on the cake, Grover Hot Springs State Park where we camped had natural hot springs. We were spoiled with a hot pool and a cool pool right next to each other for swimming. We tried to remind the children that this was a special treat, especially when you have a 10,000-foot mountain as your view from the soaking pool.

We hope to return to the same spot next summer! For now, I am happy to be sharing these memories and photographs with you.

Sonoma

A quick visit to Sonoma reassured us that we have indeed returned to California: the deep blue sky, ripening fruits on the trees, grapes on the vines, the smell of the eucalyptus grove at Jack London State Park where the kids went lizard hunting!

The Beach

We woke up to the usual foggy summer morning in Santa Cruz.  Regardless, the children begged to go to the beach.  And why not? With our schedule wide open, we could do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted.  So to the beach we went.

There was one man on the beach, conversing with mother nature and practicing tai chi.  Ah, to be back in the land of all things alternative, I thought! 

It was not warm at the beach, and we were not well dressed (the only fall back to traveling light) for the cool temperature.  But the kids were too excited to care.  They looked for treasures, yearned to explore, and were thrilled to be free. 

We traversed a small estuary that ran into the ocean, and followed a foot-path to a washed up log.  A great blue heron flew by, so elegantly and quietly.  Both children gasped in amazement, and reminisced about our beloved Blue Heron farm back in Massachusetts.

The sun emerged later in the morning, just in time for us to swim in the pool, and frolicked with friends.  It was another perfect day to be back in Santa Cruz.

Back Home

UCSC farm

Best Friends

Looking at the lizard at the farm

It is a strange feeling, indeed, to be 'home' but not in one's own home. We have a few months yet to be able to get into a place we can call our own. But yet when we look about us, we are, in fact, home.

The glorious California sun greeted us as we landed in the sunshine state yesterday, and it seems as though it is here to stay! Within 24 hours of our arrival, we have already visited some our favorite spots: the bountiful farmers' market that reminded me of my love for this area, the UCSC farm where our children first learned about nature, the neighborhood playground in which our children played and progressed.

In some ways, it feels like we never left. And in many ways, it feels like we were gone for a long long time. Our children did a lot of growing in New England this past year: they perfected their speech, they learned about the extreme seasons, they became more independent, they made lots of friends, and don't forget - they learned how to swim!

So we return with more life, more maturity, as individuals as well as a family. What a year it was!

Michigan

Who would have thought that I would get to see the sculptures of Rodin and Degas in Michigan? And that seeing such beautiful work of art was just a small highlight of our few days in this midwestern state!

We had a lot of fun during our stay in Michigan, to say the least. Visiting the grandparents and our good friends made up for the long drive we did from Massachusetts. The kids did some more (real) fishing this time, and there were many fun and fond memories that will stay with us for a long time.

I am happy to say that we are now safe and sound in California! Many more stories and photographs to come, but for now, I must end this very long day on a nice soft pillow...

The Finger Lakes

We have been visiting relatives in upstate New York. The lakes are beautiful here, but it is clear that we are no longer in New England. The houses look different, the topography has changed, even people talk with a slight accent here.

The kids went kayaking for the first time on Lake Conesus. They are enjoying many new experiences and adventures as we traverse the country.

Tomorrow, we cross over to Canada, via Niagara Falls, into Michigan. More friends and families to see before we fly back to California next week.

Vermont living

We said goodbye to Cambridge and many dear friends, and are now on the road, heading West. Our first stop was Bennington, Vermont, where our friends live on a pristine piece of land just down the street from one of the infamous Vermont covered bridges. We camped in their upper 'yard' and lived the country life for a couple of days with lots of swimming, fishing, and eating from the garden. Our son was in newt-heaven, and our daughter had many girls to play with (her kind of heaven).

Thanks, Randy and Amy for hosting us, and for a wonderful stay. It will be a while before we return to New England, but return we will!

More Swimming

More swimming today at Walden - perhaps the last time before we depart for thunderstorms are expected for tomorrow. Our daughter has improved significantly in the last few days. And as for the man, he is already coming up with his own moves!

Claire Swims!

Just a week later, our Claire Bear is now swimming, too!
She, too, can say that she learned how to swim at Walden Pond...a place that we will always hold dear and near to our hearts!

Unlike her brother, who dares to be in the deeper water, Claire still feels most comfortable in the shallower end. Regardless, she has come so far, so fast. We are very proud of her!

Momo Swims!

Our little swimmer learned how to swim 5 days ago at Walden Pond. And we are astounded at how well he is doing! Proud parents, we are.

Farm Dinner

One of the lasting memories we will always cherish from our year here is the farm and all its glory. Tonight, we got to celebrate with our friends with food straight from where it is grown.  It was delicious and memorable.  I do hope our children realize how special it was for them to have had the farm as their playground for the year.  Perhaps we can return for an another mid summer's Farm Dinner some day!

Drawing by Claire

Our family as illustrated by our daughter
July, 2008

And no... we don't go around wearing crowns in real life...

Currants

We saw these today at Codman Farm. Red Currants bring back memories of my time in Eastern France, when my host family took me to a garden overflowing with these tart berries. We picked them and my host mother made jelly - confiture - for breakfast. Fresh French Baguette and a little bit of the jelly: delicious!