Heldweb.blog

Getting back together again

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:16:07 -0800

Well, the last Tucson trip is over and we are all back at home in Santa Rosa. It was a wonderful trip, made even more special by the totally unexpected arrival of my sister, Teri from Illinois. What was a simple visit home turned into a rare family reunion, the first time in a decade we were all in the same place together. Simply wonderful. I’ll blog more about the Tucson trip when I get all the remaining pictures up.

A Visitor to the Vineyard

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:18:39 -0700

When I was walking thorough the vineyards looking at the grapes and studying the version taking place, right in my path sitting quietly was a duck, probably from the creek next to us. The duck did not seem too shy, unlike the other ducks of the creek. As I approached it, I noticed an injury between the beak and the ducks eyes, on the forehead. The duck may have wanted help. I set out a plate of fresh water with some bread dissolved in it. The duck ate a little but not much. I took a picture of it and left to let the duck eat. When I came out about half an hour later, the dick had moved on.

Ryan and the big stick

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 11:25:11 -0700

I wanted to record an interesting little adventure with Ryan. It had been a rainy Saturday, the sort of day where it rains and rains and rains - where everyone in the family has cabin fever from being cooped up in the house. Sunday offered some sunshine and though everything was pretty wet, I decided to take Ryan bike riding to the park next to us. We rode our bikes as usual and Ryan settled in at the playground. He played in the swing, and climbed the gym equipment and took particular glee in the large puddle in the sand left by Saturday's rain. He wandered over to a small gully next to the playground and found his "big stick". The stick was about 7 feet long and as big around as his upper arm. Ryan was able to get the stick upright, but he soon found out it was so big that it was hard to control. He played around with it for a few minutes, and I called to him that it was time to go home. It was at that point he decided that he wanted to take the stick with him. I told him that it was too big, that he should he should leave it there - he was determined to bring the stick home. I debated to myself prying the stick out and herding him home, but the little guy showed such determination that I decided to see how determined he was. I resolved that I was not going to help him, he would need to bring both the stick (that he could barely lift it was so heavy), and his bicycle home by himself. I watch him struggle and struggle, he finally hit on an idea. Ryan wedged the large end of the stick into the frame of the bicycle and then propped the bike up on the front wheel and one of the training wheels and was able to walk the bike with the stick in it. I followed along, and he made his way out of the park and down Marlow road. Once we crossed Hershey place, Ryan got the idea of holding the end of the stick and the handlebar of his bike and riding along with the stick dragging behind. He made it work and rode the rest of the way home with the stick. I found his determination and his problem solving abilities to be remarkable for such a little guy.

Blue Angels 2008

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:19:01 -0700

Ryan and I went to San Francisco to see the Blue Angels as part of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Week. We met Christian Dumais and his family there and the kids has a great time.

Ryan’s first trip to the Sonoma County Fair

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:22:54 -0700

Yesterday I took Ryan to the Sonoma County Fair. He had a number of new experiences there. He saw many animals - horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, a red-tailed hawk, rabbits, Llamas and a baby Kangaroo. He rode his first carnival ride - A small roller coaster that looked like a caterpillar. He loved it so much he rode it two more times. He rode some spinning dragons and the Carousel. He also rode a bug ride and a motorcycle ride. He listed to a live band, went on a hay ride, and then rode a real horse (actually a pony). He really, really loved it and did not want to leave even after five hours. I took a few photos.