National Bowtie Day 2015 featuring Cannon

www.nationalbowtieday.com

 starring this cutie

Cannon is cool!

Just like the Eleventh Doctor.

The Doctor?

Doctor who?

Exactly.

photo c. of bro and Grumpa

Lake Life: Devo Does a Thing

At one of our Development ("Devo") Department retreats earlier this year, we made a slew of goals to try and achieve this year. In addition to working on things like fund-raising dollar amounts, there were personal and professional goals in a variety of categories. (Communication/Outreach/Professional Development, etc.)

One of these things was:

DEVO DOES A THING.

It didn't have to be work related. It didn't have to be serious. The goal was just: DEVO DOES A THING.

We finally settled on ... playing hooky and going to a beach.

FORTUNATELY, one of our lovely teammates lives in a gated lake community in CT, not too far from the office.

Thank you, Karla, for introducing us to Lake Waubeeka and hosting us. Not to mention leading the canoeing expedition.

 

 

Thank you, Mother Nature, for cooperating, not raining (though we need it), and for being comfortably non-humid and in the low 80s, with a slight breeze. (Sunscreen and shade were important. It was cool and cloudy enough to forget about the burn factor. Whoops.)

Thank you, ladies, for your wonderful array of snacks that overflowed on the picnic table and kept us munching for the entire time we were there. Yes, we bring gourmet salads to the beach to be dressed. We're fancy like that.

Thank you, Lake Waubeeka association members, for the CLEANEST Porta Potties I've ever used.

Thank you, Alex, for carpooling and carting my stuff around for an entire weekend. (I promised no photos.)

Thank you, other beach goers, for ignoring the group of yakking ladies sprawled over half of your beach and the fact that we didn't share our copious foods. (These photos were taken right at 10a.m. when we arrived, before the other regulars arrived and had to regroup.)

It was a wonderful day of hooky. Going back to the office tomorrow is going to be hard. This was my desk today. Sigh.

Lake Life = life goals

~photos by iTouch

Harvest Season 2015

Harvest Time and everything is coming up RED. It's tomato time in the office garden. And other things.

Last year, the zucchini plants were home to a toad. This year, I found that the garden was home to ... older things.

Little did I realize when I went to harvest the tomatoes that I was actually a fossil hunter as well.

I give myself about 20-30 minutes every other morning or so, OR as fast as I can fill up a bucket or two.

This is what the crop looked like this morning spread out to air ripen and for people to take home. (Some of the larger tomatoes were from yesterday's bucket. And can you spot the dino?)

Yesterday it was: 1 person, 1 pail, 2 spiders, 2 crates, 30 minutes in the office garden for a tableful abudanza of veggies. 1 zucchini=5lbs

 Zucchinis to scale*

 Cucumbers to scale

* I made a LOT of zucchini baked treats for the Box Office kids this summer.
They never did believe me that there was zucchini in the chocolate cakes.

Earlier this summer, we had kale and lettuce, not to mention herbs,

 which we used for garnishes, kale chips, salads, etc.

We've also had beans, peppers, egg plants, and squash.

I would have picked more that day, but I was in a dress, it was hotter than blazes, and those beans STICK to you if you aren't watching. (Harvesting in a Festival dress = not a good idea.)

 There are also pots of things scattered around offices and porches.

FORESTS of Fennel

Plus the wild stuff.

What do you do when someone hands you a cup full of wild backyard raspberries? You make mini lemon raspberry muffins to share.

Pardon me -- it's time for dinner: A BLT with an office grown tomato OR (call me Mistress of the Obvious, why didn't I think of this earlier this summer?) an adult sized, dinner sized Cucumber Sandwich.

Note: Too bad there were no pumpkins planted this year.These were spotted back in 2013.

 

 Outside the HR office. No word on whether there was a Carve your Complaint into this Pumpkin contest.

~photos by iTouch

Beethoven on Deck

Where are we on transporter technology? Because not only would I live elsewhere (like near a beach/water) and not have to worry about my commute, and be closer to the nieces and nephews, I would be able to attend the activities my extended circle of "honorary" nieces and nephews.

Today in St. Chuck, Kari's Krew is performing Beethoven on the Deck as the Catalpa Trio of chamber musicians.

I am BUMMED I can't be there. Those girlies are so lucky -- for a variety of reasons.

I came to chamber music at the end of my formal training. Things were different when I taking lessons. It was more about solo tracks, and not what is now known formally as "Collaborative Piano" - chamber music, training on how to be a equal chamber music partner, and even training on how to be a 'real' chorus, ballet, or rehearsal pianist for theatricals. I picked up a lot on the "job" at church and high schoo chorus/pitl, but there was a lot I didn't know. I know for a fact that some orchestral directors had negative things to say about my playing when I worked with instrumentalists, but they didn't know that *I* didn't know what to do. I was working with what I knew - and the fact that I was highly uncomfortable? (Well, that's another story.) When I played for vocal auditions at UCONN for some regional competitions or auditions, some of those adjudicators and coaches were kind enough to give me some feedback, in the middle of the singers' auditions. (Sorry!) It wasn't until I got to college when I REALLY got chamber instructions - and I have to thank my fellow TRIO NON SACRA* cohorts, Jane and Kristin, for putting up with me -- and Dr. B, Dr. C, and Dr. LaM.

TRIO NON SACRA 4EVAH!

Thanks to social media, I can get glimpses of what the girlies are up to as part of their youth symphony orchestra and in rehearsal. (Not to mention have actual SM interactions with them and now play I spy with parental units. (BECAUSE I MISS THEM. NOT IN A CREEPER WAY!)

My parents are like a @timbuk2 ad! #swag pic.twitter.com/ePSgWYm9Gl

— Stella (@StellaChilds) July 3, 2015

Representing #EYSO last day of Swedish Days! #stringworks http://t.co/HEk60MGPl4 thanks for hosting The Catalpa Trio. pic.twitter.com/EQZfa889sQ

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) June 28, 2015

@EYSO Fall Camp volunteers. pic.twitter.com/otseFzGx5P

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) August 29, 2015

@kristins4kids last week @gpmf so grown up! pic.twitter.com/LzOvo2I55k

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) July 13, 2015

Thanks to WQXR's swag from Opening Night -- Beethoven's Ode to Joy - I sent along my love and a semi-permanent reminder that I am there in spirit, if not body.

Break a leg, girlies! Have FUN!

Beethoven on the deck with the #catalpatrio pic.twitter.com/WzMF3DIEPI

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) August 22, 2015

Catalpa Trio play Beethoven on the deck at 3pm #obeythoven pic.twitter.com/vJ91LxNUHH

— noel childs (@noelchilds) August 22, 2015

*Unholy Trio

Photo of the Day

Oh, you know, just a young couple enjoying a kiss in a beautiful, natural setting, plus a rainbow. pic.twitter.com/6DLhp0Ppda

— Justin Hackworth (@justinhackworth) August 18, 2015

from Twitter

Photo of the Day

This evening just before sunset, I finally got the shot I've been trying to get for years. pic.twitter.com/JFJG4vlAb3

— Greg McCown (@Gregtucson) August 9, 2015

from Twitter

Update: Kute Kids 'Kaus - Idaho Crew

With thanks to Grumpa for grabbing these off the sib's social media, so I can collect them and share all at once:

May 2015

Quoth Christina: Finally got the fire pit out for the summer! The kids actually ate the s'mores this year.

June 2015

Visiting Utah to hang out with their cousins from Heber and maternal grandparents

A rarity in our family, but not in others, a gathering of the maternal family tree and branches

Quoth Christina: Fun times at the science center today!

 Pool time!

 Quoth Christina: They wanted to all sleep together!

July 2015

Quoth Grumpa? Christina?: Dad is away to cheese head paddlesports convention so mice will play.

Splash pad fun times

Quoth Christina: We had a great time bowling today! 

We were even lucky enough to have Grandpa Ben and Grandma Virginia with us too!

  Quoth Grumpa: Christina posted the following pictures from their day at the park and lake Friday. 

J took a day off work and headed the family off for a day together.

Quoth Christina: We had a beautiful day playing in Coeur D’Alene.

It's been 1 year, 5 months, a few weeks, and a handful of days since I've seen this crew in person. 

In two days I will FINALLY be on my way to see them.

I can't wait. But I am SO SO SO tired!

Festival Fatigue is real.