Fairy Houses and Flower People

Well, we are in the wilderness right now, so it seemed appropriate to do some wildernessy things with the kids. I have to admit that I get a little bored with the wilderness, unless I have some kind of project or goal. Like, exploring a place I don't think someone has been or climbing an impossibly hard mountain. I really am a city girl at heart. I probably get more excited about a street packed with stores and restaurants and even a burnt out building or two than I do about a gorgeous mountain vista. So, this year, I've been trying to learn what all these wildflowers are that I've been seeing for over thirty years now (yeah, about time, huh?). It has been very fun, but a lot harder than I thought it would be. Oh well, I like a challenge.

So I saw somewhere some craft making flower people and that was kinda fun.

This one looks like it belongs in the tropics somewhere, what with that fringy skirt and Carmen Miranda headpiece.

Nice face.

Then I found some idea about making fairy houses and this one was genius! I could make the wilderness look like a city of some sort and the kids could collect stuff and help me build them. I thought we would all have fun doing this one. However, a two year old doesn't have much of an attention span and I didn't exactly bring a diaper bag with me into the woods. I noticed some strange behavior from Isabella and immediately sensed that it was time for a poop. I asked her if I was right and she confirmed my suspicions.

(See our little fairy house on the right?)

So then, we had a true wilderness adventure...Isabella's first poop in the woods. I was especially proud about this because she isn't potty trained, but she cooperated really well. And it made my quarter mile walk back to the house much more pleasant.

Before we left, I got a picture of Bastien with our house and told him we would come back again without Isabella. I think he was secretly thrilled that it would just be us two, but I don't know ...he sure loves his sister. Witness...

This never fails to melt my heart. Funny side note, they have been trying to get me to let them sleep together. I tried it once and Isabella just kept screwing around and I had to put her in the Pack N Play eventually. A few nights later, they tried again, and it was so cute hearing Bastien try to talk Isabella into behaving so it would work out. Of course, she just can't stay still and she really is the troublemaker of the two - so it didn't work out again. But Bastien's disappointment was really endearing. He is such a sweetheart. On the other hand, she just thinks everything he does is the coolest. It's like having a little shadow for Bastien, she has to do everything he does. Luckily, he usually has a lot of patience for it. So I'm glad then he had me to himself later... Here's the fairy house we made...

In the directions I found online, you aren't supposed to use living things (flowers, etc), just already dead stuff. I'm sorry, but when you are in a place that is miles and miles of this stuff and you see that the flowers only last a few days, you feel it is your duty to give them a starring role in a fairy house. Not such a bad way to go. And I think the fairies will appreciate the added color.

I got asked a lot of questions about fairies today that I was not prepared to answer. Are there male fairies? Do fairies laugh? Can fairies swim? How big are they? Do bugs eat fairies? And the kicker...are they real? Well, I just had to wing it.

By the way, this fairy house had the added benefit of being seaside...

I don't know if you can see it on the right, but that's some pretty prime property. Bastien felt the need to take a dip in the "sea" so I told him to take off his pants so they wouldn't get wet. I guess he thought I meant underwear too, so it was a pretty funny sight. Wish I had taken a picture of that.

John Wayne

Our Aunt Susie has been getting the kids the coolest gifts. She has been searching out things from her own childhood. First we got a vintage set of Old Maid cards.

These are my favorite ones...

She also found an old tin spinning top which she restored beautifully. It's so great and both of the kids love it.

Then, she found a doll that she apparently did some major restoration on. She picked it for Isabella because she thought it looked so much like Isabella. And it does!! My mom made a little dress for her and then one for Isabella that matches. When I get some pictures, I'll post those. But this post is about John Wayne.

Anyway, Bastien has been a bit jealous. He has been wanting a doll for awhile now and we have been kind of old school about it all. With the "those dolls are for girls" business. But I finally caved in Cabo this Xmas and let Isabella pick a "boyfriend" doll...

and he got a little "girlfriend" one...

Well...After sending Isabella her vintage doll, Aunt Susie decided Bastien needed a vintage male doll of his own and found....you guessed it, John Wayne.

John Wayne is a bad ass and I'm loving that Bastien has this doll. He has a hat too, he just wasn't wearing it for these photos. And a rifle, which you do see. That's actually what Bastien is trying to show in these pictures.

I had so much fun showing Bastien John Wayne on YouTube. What was really funny was that in searching through YouTube videos, I landed on this one.... I love how he talks about how "corny" his values might be and "old fashioned" (that says so much about the 60s). Unfortunately, those values aren't associated so much with being "corny" and "old fashioned" as being "narrow minded"(religious) and "warmongering"(Support The Troops). I think on this day especially, it would be nice to think about the good intentions of those values. Hmmmmm......

So, John Wayne...

This is who he's been hanging out with lately.

Interesting group of friends, no?

Happy Birthday America.

Huntington Gardens Take 2

So, yes, we did make it to the Huntington Gardens again. And this time I took some photos of what I was talking about the last time. This is the pathway to the entrance lined with jacarandas.

We got to see a lot more of the gardens this time too. This looks like something out of a Dr. Suess book to me.

If you like succulents, this weekend would be a great time to visit...

Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale

June 27–28

Saturday–Sunday

10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Hundreds of award-winning plants will be on view as the Cactus and Succulent Society of America presents its annual show and sale. Included will be rare specimens native to Chile, Argentina, Botswana, Madagascar, and the Middle East. An early-bird plant sale will be held on Friday, June 26, from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Free. Show in Friends’ Hall, sale on Jacaranda Walk.

Bamboo forests...Bastien kept asking me if this was "real" bamboo. I think this is because Jason and I had commented on the fake bamboo at Disneyland looking so real and he remembered that. Wow.

Lovely lily ponds with giant koi.

The kids sat and watched a mama duck with her babies for quite awhile.

Is this not the PERFECT tree for a treehouse?!!!

We discovered another little area that the kids fell in love with. There's not much to it...just some spirals dug into the ground,

but the kids could have stayed here for hours just running around.

Next we checked out the Japanese Gardens. I didn't take enough pictures, but really it's something you should just experience in person. Here's a little taste...

They also have a little bonsai garden. I love miniature things, so this was right up my alley. This looks like a tiny forest, right?

We happened to be at the Huntington at a semi historic time. This is called a Corpse Flower and it is quite rare. This plant hasn't bloomed in the Huntington since 2002. We were 4 days too early for the actual opening of the bloom but apparently that is a good thing. It's supposed to smell like rotted meat. Yum...

Back to the Children's Garden, and the kids headed straight for the fountains!

This was the part of the garden I was trying to describe that has the slot in the wall where you drop pebbles through and it makes music. The pictures aren't that helpful, but it's such a great thing. I want one in my backyard. This can keep a toddler fascinated for a long time.

One nice moneysaving tip for those of you planning on visiting. The first Thursday of the month is free, but you have to reserve tickets in advance. On regular days, it a bit pricey but definitely worth every penny!

Dancing Queen

Little Ninja

Saturday mornings for the past few months, Bastien has been taking a karate class called Little Ninjas at a place called Creative Seeds. I went to the first few classes, then Jason took over. Once he went out of town, I had the pleasure of seeing the progress Bastien has made. It's pretty awesome. I love this class because it teaches three import things: "Focus, Discipline...

...Respect."

Right now, the class is small. There are 2 other boys and 1 girl. The teacher, Master Torres of Crescent Moon Karate, is great with the kids. He teaches with a good balance of seriousness and fun. And they actually talk about what these words really mean. The other great thing is they get to yell and kick and punch and jump.

There are surely not enough opportunities for city kids to do these things unfettered. (That's why I like the Santa Anita Racetrack but that's another post).

I finally bought Bastien a little gi. The arms are way too long and the pants are a bit long too, but he looks so cute in it. Notice the camouflage belt. He has earned a white tip and a yellow tip so far. They earn these tips by learning things like their phone number, parents' names, address, etc. (in addition to the karate moves).

Driving up Highland the other day, I saw two boys in their gis standing in the front yard. They were probably 10-12 yrs old. I'm guessing they were either on their way to or from a karate class. They saw me looking at them and I smiled. I'm sure they thought I was a weirdo. But, I was smiling to think maybe that would be Bastien and Isabella 8 years from now. I'd like that.