February-Ness: Sing-Songy Days

In honor of Presidents' Day and my love of teaching US history to kinders.

Happy Chinese New Year. Happy 100th Day of School. Happy Groundhog day. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Birthday Old Abe Lincoln. Happy Birthday G.Washington P.S. I like your hair!

LOTS of celebrating this month. I probably missed something.  Oh wait, today was Susan B. Anthony's birthday so I got on my soapbox about women not being able to vote less than 100 years ago. Then I cast a vote in my class over something--of course many 5-year-olds vote twice no matter what you do--and announced the girls votes don't count. I showed them a cartoon biographical video clip about Susan B. Anthony. They were mesmerized.  Issues of segregation (MLK), slavery (Lincoln), assassination (both) come up with these topics. I just sadly shrug and say, "It was a very dark time in America" or "Remembering their lives is more important than their death." The first thing they will want to know about  George Washington is "Who killed him?"  "Well, actually, it was a throat infection."  "Yeah, but who killed him?"  

I am weirdly patriotic and love history. I wavered between a history and English major in college; English won but they overlap a lot. 

We celebrate everything in kindergarten. I mean, we celebrate the alphabet. I have been an unabashed (though sadly ungifted) singer my whole life.  I always thought singing really well would be a great super power--then you could listen to great music whenever you wanted.

Still, I remember feeling a little uneasy about leading students in singing when I was a student teacher. Now I have NO SHAME.  I use and abuse music in my classroom each day. Name a topic, I might have a song for it.  My life is becoming a musical.

If you ever glance at your clock from 8:00a.m. to 8:03, West Coast time, know that I am dancing and singing.  My students stand in a circle as they trickle in the room after the last bell....and sing Good morning, Gooood morning to you! (as they wave to one another).  Our daaaaaaaay is beginning, there's so much to do...  Then the student rotate to the center of the carpet with a dance move. Everyone else imitates their move.  

By 8:03 we have said the Pledge of Allegiance and are on to attendance.

Note: we have a few dance rules: Nothing on the floor. No rolling. You have to stay in a two foot square space as you do your move, no run dancing.  The scissors and jumping jacks are popular moves.

When the kids are exhausted and unfocused and really difficult to the get the attention of (perhaps the entire day after Valentine's day) that's when you start whisper singing "America the Beautiful."  When children are singing they usually aren't teasing or hitting or telling or crying or yelling. Usually aren't. , I do have to demonstrate the difference between YELLING THE WORDS FROM A SONG and singing in a loud, clear voice.

Anyway, I am moving on from Heart Day and have been teaching about Lincoln this week.  Old Abe Lincoln he came out of the wilderness, out of the wilderness, down in Illinois. Next week will be Washington and "I cannot tell a lie." Again, I teach these topics with songs. And books. And coins. Coins are very high interest... did you know you can actually see Lincoln on the back of a penny, in his monument? We have been examining them with a magnifying glass. Also, we make penny necklaces with yarn and construction paper (bling).

A pal of mine just posted a link to this video called Death to Penny:
I am still a sentimental sap who wants pennies to stick around. And yes, I'm the lady counting out 3 random pennies to hand over with my cash,  just to ensure I don't get any back. Sorry, guys.

Below, random DC pictures from last December. My dad grew up in Bethesda and I've made many a trip back there. I do love that pretty city.

Winterscape.

The bottom.

The top.

It cracked during a recent earthquake so you weren't able to go up. I still have never been to the top. And don't really want to go to the top. Glad I  didn't need an excuse.

This was my Aunt and Uncles' last evening living on the West Coast. They moved to Hawaii the next day.

Before the cherry blossoms.

Lazing about Lahaina

My Auntie's pretty condo... We got a chance to play tourist for a day. Our one outing without the family.

Coffee Berry Tea.

I was inspired and made my own

from my dad's yard. Yum. Antioxidants!

Peaceful Sunset. Same Pacific Ocean.

Can you believe it? I say the ocean is my favorite thing,

but maybe it is the sky above the ocean.

Sir Wilfred's, the cigar and coffee joint of my youth, is now on Front Street.

My mom's artist friend Karen, featured herself in this piece, sitting on the bar.

This creative spirit, passed away over 10 years ago. Rainbow Kelly, aka "Uncle Bo"

also looks over us with his Santa Beard. He introduced my parents 30 years ago.

A radio personality with a hearty laugh. These were the characters from my childhood.

Both gone now, but I discovered them again on Front street, among celebrities, in this old painting.

My handsome boyfriend, I mean husband. I don't know when I will get used to saying HUSBAND.

Someday, I guess. He is my favorite date. We hung out under the giant banyan tree and listened to the

myna birds squawk.

Holiday

 

My favorite. The rugged beauty of the north shore.

 

Cruisin' with my hommies.

 

Same place...many angles of Ho'okipa.

My bruddah & my seestah prepare to paddle out.

Flying into SB: Aerial Views

With the current storm outside these pictures seem a wee bit irrelevant . But after several cold cozy holiday weeks in Maryland/DC it was nice to come home to t-shirt weather in January.  Above we have a view of the harbor, downtown and the foothills behind.

Zoom into downtown: red tiles roofs galore. I both work and live under one.

This is Hope Ranch, a very posh neighborhood.  When I went sailing we went right along the coast line and got our rutter tangled in a kelp bed. Someone told me the Hope comes from Bob Hope.  While mapping out my new town, I had suspected that it might be hideous (or at least hope-less) since place names often mislead. I was wrong.

Clearly, I prefer the window seat. If this blog is any indication inflight  snap-happiness has become quite a habit.

The Magic of Pazelle

My friend invited me over

to show me the ways of her

late Italian grandmother.

The secret ingredient.

Magical pazelle, warm from the press.

 Light, flakey, and delicious.
Italian Christmas cookies.
A tradition worth sharing.

Snow Way

 My aunt emailed me these this morning. We are headed for snow! Never a guarantee in the Maryland/DC area. I am feeling extremely giddy/lucky/happy right now. Hooray for snow days ahead.

Cold in California

 

I woke up this morning to glittery frost coating my car. 

I am grateful for the 1990 hot-rod
(show room model at that)
that travels me well.

I am also grateful for a new fuzzy white vest (with pink lining) that A says reminds him of a rabbit. My students said it is more like a polar bear.  I think of these comments as compliments.
 
Winter is Santa Claus and hot chocolate.
Winter is rain, Santa, reindeer, and snow.
Winter is a star on top of the Christmas tree.

 

As written this morning by a posse of sophisticated 5-year-olds. Can you tell I'm proud?

What does winter mean to you?

Jolly Holiday

Last year for the very first time I had a non-Mele-Kalikimaka and celebrated Christmas on the mainland. I bought my first Xmas tree and crafted loads of ornaments at the pottery studio (see gingerbread man above). I made neatloaf and walked to the movie theater on Christmas Day.

This year, the day after Thanksgiving, A and I brought a Noble Fir home. I plopped the base on an upside-down planter and found my shoebox filled with last years hand-made ornaments. It feels like a tradition now. Our house is extra cozy. I even smelled some chimney smoke today (it's what California people do when it drops to 60).

We plan to visit extended family and friends (love my ohana) in the DC area. I spent every other summer there through my adolescence so it has a fond familiar feeling. Cousins' new(ish) babies to see, phenomenal grandparents to soak up, and smells and streets I recognize. At least in the summer version with chlorine-y smell of pools, lightning bugs, and hot-wet-blanket-humidity. This will be my first East Coast winter experience.

Pray for snow!
According to Wikipedia there is a 13% chance for a white Christmas in DC.

SB Photo Journal: Beaching It

Looks like pahoehoe lava flow, like you'd see on a Hawai'i beach. Nope. It's naturally occurring beach tar. This is the reason you may avoid going barefoot on the luscious white sand beaches around here. It was treasured by the Chumash Indians for its waterproofing ability and it's the reason for the brightly-lit pirate ship-esque oil platforms stationed off the coast. It also did a good job preserving the bones of the mammoths that lived on the Channel Islands across the way.

Bigger waves bring out better surfers, rather than the typical scene of Midwestern folk flailing about in whitewash... I am so pleased with this lucky shot! I love that the Island is visible behind him. Wish I knew who the guy was so I could give him some extra bragging rights.

Storm surf casualty-looks like it may have been worth it!

Rainy cloudy days make for better sunsets. Thank you sun! See you soon.

Strawberry Smoothie

Strawberry Smoothie
Originally uploaded by Emily October

We've had a few overcast, almost winter-like, days lately. And suddenly I am craving fruit and thinking of the amazing fruit salads my dear friend Cristina can throw together on a whim. Bruised supermarket produce is rarely inspiring and the farmer's markets, though still going, aren't at their peak for much other than citrus. So, my best choice is my stockpile of frozen fruit. I threw this together a quick smoothie.

Plain (unsweetened) soymilk
Frozen strawberries--make it pink!
frozen mango--make it creamy!
frozen pineapple--make it sweet!

Since I only had plain soymilk on stock (which I like to use as creamy base for sauces) I added a wee bit of:
vanilla extract and a
squirt of agave nectar.

This natural sweetener from the agave plant feels so appropriate to use in this climate. The desert-loving agave (or "century plants") decorate just about every parking lot.

Voila--tropical delight on a "cold" winter days.

Happy Winter Solstice

My sister has come to town for the holidays. We've had a wonderful visit so far (day 2). We hiked yesterday, walked on the beach today at sunset and are having a very merry, enjoyable time. It is my first non-Mele Kalikimaka and I'll be missing Maui and the rest of my fam--but in the meanwhile we're having a blast:

Jumping for joy:

Tightrope walking:

Some friendly fellows invited us to try out their equipment. It is great to remember that trying new things makes you feel alive.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa or whatever makes you Merry!

Snow in SB

Winter is here!

Baby it's cold outside! 39 degree see-your-breath weather is dramatically cold for an island girl. I woke up to a tiny bit of snow(frost, ice?) on the mountains behind us. I am really enjoying it. This weather is a good excuse to wear pretty scarves, finally break out those coats I saved from my Oregon days, and to be cozy indoors. Plus, with the bit of rain we've had I don't need to water my garden.