Saturday, December 3, 2011

wet ink

 My best friend & I have been friends since the fields of first grade soccer.  She has 2 kids, a daughter a little older than Beach & a son Beach's same age.  Her husband is a Tattoo Artist & she is the queen of Cooperative Learning so their house is a wonderland for art & education. 
 When we need some kids to collaborate with this is where we go.

 
 

 
We rolled up her front room rug and laid down 2 layers of paper.
                Dumped out the stamps, pencils, whatever else and set the kids & us free.
 


 

Things got pretty crazy & then there was lunch...
 








Stained fingers, faces, and even some toes.  All in a days art work.

give a little bit

"Knock it off before you call Japan."







"I'm not calling Japan I'm calling Hungry because I'm calling myself and I am hungry!"
Don't you have a gym to terrorize?

Well would you look at that?! Mom is so busted loving that little dog.
Welcome to the weekend.
~the call is coming from inside the house~

Friday, December 2, 2011

little science takes a little vacation

We headed off to Crystal Hot Springs in Honeywille, Utah.  Two moms and two kids, perfect! 




The owner  of the springs did the honors of teaching class today giving us a 25 minute over view of the history of the spring, the minerals in the pools, geology of the springs/valley, the crystal formations and how each hot springs has a unique crystal shape.  Told you I was on vacation!   The prices are Family Affordable!




Crystal Hot Springs History (taken w/ permission from their web page):
Crystal Hot Springs, originally named Madsen Hot Springs, was used by the Native Americans as a campsite during the winter. Located along the Northern part of the Wasatch Mountain range, it provided a natural windbreak from the bitter winter winds. The hot springs also provided a much needed heating source. It is rumored that an Indian burial ground is located on the premises.

As the Transcontinental Railroad was being built, the Chinese railroad workers learned of the hot springs, made tubs out of cedar wood and allowed the refreshing waters to flow into them.
As the Transcontinental Railroad was being built, the Chinese railroad workers learned of the hot springs, made tubs out of cedar wood and allowed the refreshing waters to flow into them.
This provided a relaxing and muscle-soothing mineral bath.
Soon the area around the hot springs became occupied with more and more settlers. With their coming, the hot springs grew in popularity. Around this period of growth, Abraham Hunsaker, a local bee keeper, was instrumental in establishing the town of Honeyville.






According to some of the locals' memories and recollections, the town was originally called "Hunsakerville". But Abraham was a humble man and asked that it be given another name. In honor, then, of Abraham's profession, it was renamed "Honeyville."


Crystal Hot Springs became a business enterprise in 1901. Because of its exceptional crystal clear waters, it is not surprising it was given this name. Crystal Hot Springs' uniqueness derives from the fact that it has a hot spring and a cold spring which come together within 50 feet of each other. By mixing the water temperatures from each spring, they create optimal relaxing conditions in each of the pools. These wonderful healthful waters offer families, campers, and guests year round enjoyment. http://www.crystalhotsprings.net/about/history/





















Oh we'll be back this whole hot mineral water needs further study. 
Special thanks to my partner in crime at Joyful Liberation

smiles in the dark

Yesterday, oh how funny that was, how strange the wind did blow. 


















It started normal minus the fact we are out of coffee...but things really began to shift as the winds grew. 


















Being a gymnastics day meant a late dinner.  I loaded the slow cooker with turkey broth, potatoes, and gingered carrots.  Dinner handled, work out done, the house clean, and the girls playing in the wind I decided to take a little time to read. 












But sometime between loading more wood into the wood stove and checking on the girls who had moved into the shelter of the green house I noticed it- the little red light on the slow cooker was off.  The power had gone out and I had not even known.














By late Afternoon still nothing on the restoring power front.  I decided to stay the three hours at the gym, having nothing better to do and nowhere to go.
Well after dark we pulled off the freeway into to total black out of our neighborhood.  Our house dancing with candle light. 
We pulled a corded phone out of the emergency supplies and called the grandparents.
Between the giggles Beach tried her best to explain the funny phone.  Then I called a friend up the street to make sure they were staying warm, she said she was just thinking to call and check on us.
With nothing left to do and 10PM falling I was laying in bed when a call sent me back out on a late night rescue of C-Boy patiently waiting for his mother on a down town street corner in the wind.  Damn I love that kid!  He is so sweet & so gentle.  Truly becoming a wonderful man wading through some surmountable obstacles with a new found grace & power.       

After dropping him at his dad's, reentering the freeway a gust of canyon wind hit Little Red so hard it knocked us back a gear! So I drove alone at night in the wind and the dark smiling about Beach and the funny phone: childhood intact.  And my son a crooked smile, easy laugh as the told his tale of an evening date gone wrong ending with him sitting in a theater watching alone, of all things, the end of a Twilight movie: childhood in the rear view mirror.       

                                I came home again into the dark windy abyss- so strange. 
                                      The power came on sometime in the early hours of today.
              Today doesn't look a thing like yesterday.  It's not a hat day.  It looks blue & flat like ice...