crazy ladies

Sara and Annie.


If you want to see what Ruth and I looked like almost 20 years ago, check this entry in Reid's journal. Egads.

Today's photos were taken earlier in the week when I took care of the girls while Ruth was doing a workshop at a summer book camp. I love having Sara and Annie to myself. When I arrived, both girls were at the dining room table, researching flight. No, this wasn't homework; they are still on summer holiday... they were doing this for FUN. Sara is now 9, by the way, and Annie is 6.

Sara was focusing on the mechanical aspect, trying to design her own machine that could fly, studying books about planes. The pieces of paper spread in front of her were filled with copious notes and diagrams. Annie was on the other side of the table, going through books about birds, looking at different types of wings, reading about how different types of birds could fly, taking her own notes.



Annie mugs for the camera while Sara makes us
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.


it was a wonderful afternoon. We played outside in the backyard (my arms are well enough to throw a ball, yay!), then came inside and played Crazy Ladies, a game that the girls had invented themselves. It consisted of going downstairs to the basement and rummaging through The Costume Box and putting together an outfit from various bits and pieces.

We dressed in secret, then presented our outfits with great pomp and circumstance, admiring ourselves and each other in the hall mirror. Then we rushed down and repeated the process, trading scarves and hats, discarding and adding pieces of clothing.

When we were finally happy with our costumes, we organized a pretend picnic upstairs in their parents' bedroom with lots of imaginary cake and tea, and a talent show. Sadly, our picnic was rudely interrupted by a massive thunderstorm which washed away our refreshments but not our spirits; we retreated downstairs to the living room where we constructed imaginary houses for ourselves and then took turns visiting one another.

It was great fun, and I was as disappointed as the girls when we had to stop so I could take them to piano lessons. :-)



Sara and Annie ride their scooters to piano lessons.


My Blatherings over the next week will be sporadic, just to warn you, since I'm taking afternoons off for pre-Torcon activities. Torcon itself runs from Thursday August 28th through until Monday September 1st.

Phil and Lissa Allcock arrive from England tonight! I'm having breakfast with them tomorrow morning. Paul Kwinn arrives from California on Monday.

Bill Roper has been informed us that our "Sushi and High Tea" CDs -will- be ready for Torcon, woohoo!

By the way, my tendinitis is healing nicely, but I still have problems sitting still for long periods of time... for some reason, the inactivity makes my arms hurt. So if you see me get up in the middle of your concert at Torcon between songs and leave, please don't feel insulted.



Waiting for their piano lessons. Sara is currently
reading the third Harry Potter novel. Annie is partway through the
Secrets Of Droon chapter book series by Tony Abbott.


For those interested, here is a partial list of programming activities that Allison, Jodi and I are involved in:

"Greasy Grimy Gophers Guts and Other Silly Songs"
(Children's music programming)
We'll be entertaining the kids with A. Porter, P. Thomas, H. Borean, E. Mason.
Friday, Aug 29 at 1100-1200

Performers' Circle - Folk
"Filk music is the stepchild of folk music. Here are pieces from the other side that resonate with the filk community." Gary Ehrlich (M), Daniel & Melissa Glasser, Urban Tapestry
Friday, Aug 29 at 1900-2000

Columbia Remembrance and Space Celebration
We've been asked to perform "Starsoul" during this panel.
Friday, Aug 29 at 2000-2200

Concert: Urban Tapestry
Saturday, Aug 30 at 1500-1600

Theme Filk: Media
Songs based in television and movies, from Star Trek to Buffy.
Host: Urban Tapestry
Saturday, August 30 at 2300-2400

Open Filk (Chaos style)
Host: Urban Tapestry
Saturday, August 30 at 2400-0100

Please do check the Torcon program book for confirmation, however. Hope to see some of you there!



"Crazy ladies".

August/2003 comments: Read | Post | LJ