Obligatory concert post

For you grandparents who missed it:

Here's Nimue's favorite piece that her choir did at their recent concert.  Bootleg recording as usual given the group's evil policies...

Bob Chilcott's "A Little Jazz Mass"

(If it doesn't work, let me know -- there's some weird new security certificate stuff, at least with my browser, and I had to click a little box saying it's ok to get the file off our server to make it work here. The pop up window with the click box may be hiding behind your main browser window)

I also snuck into the "closed" rehearsal and took a few pictures.  The church they sang in (First United Methodist in Palo Alto) was visually interesting, with lots of small trapezoidal colored windows, and I guess Nimue was amused by the maze of rooms down underneath.

See if you can spot the Nim (blurry given that I had to sneak the picture -- i.e. no flash!)

This will be the last one of these for a while, as Nim has decided to not sing with the group next year.  They do quite a lot in terms of good music education, but the main conductor -- who runs the groups for the older kids -- is not a very fun person to work with.  Not unexpected, and it will give Nim time to  try some other activities next year.

Mellow spectating at the Tour of California

This year, there was only one local stage of the Tour of California.  It went up and over Mt. Hamilton, so naturally Chad and I had to ride up to watch it there.

Despite a predicted high of 94F.  The timing was such that I convinced myself that all the hotness would occur on the descent.

Right.

Thank goodness for the soda machine in the observatory at the top.

After inhaling a cold beverage, I climbed through the fence to sit on the edge of the lip of the pavement to survey the landscape below.  Quite a comfy spot, and we were joined by some other folks that Chad knew from NASA, as well as some other spectators.  It was blessedly not crowded, as all the crazies were over on Mt. Diablo for the stage finish.

 The view, while waiting.  We weren't right on the edge of the course, but we could see quite a bit of the road as it snaked up to the summit.

 The early-morning break (eight guys), who were six minutes ahead of the bunch at this point came into view on a switchback below

and eventually whooshed by on the road just below us.

 Then came the peloton, all strung out, followed by a long caravan of cars.

 The riders were more bunched up as they came right below us, given that this point was about 200 meters before the summit.

 I was, as always, amused by the broom wagon bringing up the rear of the train.

Chad clearly enjoyed taking the day off of work.  It's good to have an excuse.

Five Feet, One and One Half Inches

Large kid, likely taller than at least one grandma.  Over 100 lb.  Size 7.5-8 shoe.  Clothing rule of thumb is adult, only one size smaller than me, both top and bottom.  Giant kid.  Still eating a lot, so more sprouting to come.  Enough said.

More California wildflowers

I took a hike at Russian Ridge earlier in the week to see what the wildflowers were like.  They're late this year, since the rain came late, but better late than never!

 

 

As a side note, all these pictures were taken with the spooky new phone (Nexus 5) that Chad got me for my birthday.  I still prefer to use the indestructible camera (given my habits), but it's good to know the phone will take a halfway decent picture in a pinch.

Jasper Ridge

As a side benefit to volunteering with MROSD, I got in on a wildflower walk at Jasper Ridge last weekend.  We seem to have just missed the peak at that location, but there were still many nice blooms.  Here are a few for you to enjoy:

First, there was grass (good native grasses).

 We gradually found some blooms.

Close-up of the goldfields which form a yellow carpet when they are happy.

Silver puff.

 A new serpentine-soil-loving plant for me to remember: california plantain (the fuzzy white and green flowers with the red dots).  Not sure what the pink thing is (maybe a red maid); the tiny yellow ones are hill lotus, and the little five-petalled white ones are linanthus.

Nice fairy lantern in the sun.

 Spring California hillside.

And, I've definitely not missed the wildflower peak elsewhere, given that Nim and I counted 37 different species on a short hike at Coe the other weekend and the number of brilliant orange poppies I saw as I rode along Skyline this morning.  Might just have to go on a hike tomorrow...

Unplugged for Spring Break

In case you missed it, we unplugged for most of spring break and went camping and hiking at Arroyo Seco.  We should do this more often...

The Getting-In Process

Hmm...is it warm enough?

Maybe...

Look at me!

 Time to get the arms and tummy wet

No, really -- I'm getting in now!

 Finally.

Post-swim lizard basking.

Growing

Same kid, same campsite, same tree, year and a half of growth

Nov 2012

April 2014

Itty bitty baby deer

Seen this morning on the road up to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve:  deer + two very small, very spotted, very wobbly fawns.

The first one didn't even run away, but merely stood in the road as I came up next to it and fumbled for the camera.  "Hi!  What are you?"

The second one had slightly more of a self-preservation instinct, going to the side of the road and huddling in some branches.  "If I don't move, you can't see me."