Granddaughter Visit – Birthday Beach Day

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Robin

Kirby’s last full day here was her tenth birthday and the day after the fair. She had celebrated with the other set of grandparents in Dixon when they picked her up from the fair on Saturday afternoon. When we discussed what she’d like to do for her birthday, she asked to go to the beach.

We had got home from the fair with the sheep after dark the night before. We could all sleep in a bit on Monday (as if I ever really sleep in). Kirby came out for chores and gave her sheep, Rose a treat.

One of my Farm Club friends volunteers at Pt. Reyes National Seashore, so I had talked to her about where to go. She thought Drakes beach would be a good choice and that’s where we went.

The cool temperature was a welcome contrast after the Central Valley heat.

But Kirby didn’t keep her sweatshirt on for long.

One of the goals we had while Kirby was here was to help her create some entries for her 4-H show in January. We were so busy that we didn’t get very far on those, but I remembered that photography was one of the categories she could enter. I gave her my iPhone and Kirby took dozens of photos. As I saw her running at the hundreds of birds on the beach I gave her an idea.

I suggested that she practice holding the phone in position while running and then be able to hold it still and click as soon as she stopped.

She took several photos that way as well as some still life photos that she carefully arranged.

Kirby also asked me to take posed photos of her.

We spent a couple of hours at Drakes Beach but then drove to another. This is a view of Point Reyes Beach South from above. Here there were signs about a dangerous undertow and the beach has a much more severe slope where the waves are crashing.

We spent some time looking at the sea creatures that were washed up with every wave. These burrowed quickly as the wave receded and all that gave them away was a small hole in the wet sand.

I think I like this photo of Kirby best because it features her wonderful smile.

Is there something wrong with this picture? I didn’t take off my jacket or wool hat all day. I also forgot about sunburn on an overcast day. didn’t realize that Kirby would be sunburned by the time we went home.

Here is the sunburned birthday girl after dinner. She had a real birthday cake on Saturday and she was going to have another back home. With the fair and then the beach trip I didn’t try to make her a cake, but I remembered the blueberry muffins that Kirby and I had made using her Harry Potter cookbook. We had put some in the freezer to save for later and I thawed them and surprised her by turning them into a birthday dessert.

On Tuesday Kirby and I got up at 4:30 so she could make her early flight to Texas. She made a visit to the barn to say goodby to Jade before we left.

Dan and I were leaving that afternoon for our own adventure…next post.

Visiting the Marine Mammal Center

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Robin

I don’t like that my blog posts are all out of order now, but that’s my life…out of order. Before the fair (the last three blog posts) I took Kirby to the Marine Mammal Center on the Marin Headlands.

Girl digging channels in the sand at the beach with surfers in the waves in the background.

I had signed up for a tour at 11:00. We got there early enough to spend about an hour at Rodeo Beach before the tour. Notice all the surfers spending their Sunday morning in the water.

Model sea lion on the wall that says Marine Mammal Center.

I have been to the Marine Mammal Center only once before. I found my blog post from 2011 when a few Farm Club members visited.

This same sea lion is in that first blog post. This time I learned that sea lions have longer flippers than seals and that is how they are more mobile on land.

Girl in front of life size model of elephant seal.

The elephant seal was also there earlier.

On this visit I had signed up for a tour. It was well worth the modest amount that cost. We had a good tour guide who has been volunteering at the center for years. She described how the Center began–three friends wanted to help the mammals they found (sea lions?) and started the effort in 1975 with bathtubs enclosed by a fence.The Center is entirely privately funded and has rescued over 24,000 marine mammals. The Center’s goal is not to keep animals but to rescue and release them back to the wild.

Fenced pens with sea lions in the back of the Marine Mammal Center

We had a look behind the scenes at the enclosures where animals are monitored and rehabilitated. The people in the pen are using a PVC and net contraption to move a sea lion out of the water.

Fenced pens for sea lions and a handler moving a sea lion in a wheel barrow labeled seal barrow.

They are moving the sea lion to a scale at the end of the pens and using a SealBarrow for transport.

Girl in front of background of an ocean scene with sea lion and otter cut outs.

Kirby wrote her name on a sea otter cut out and put it up on this wall.

Remains of whale skeleton in an outline of the whole whale.

After our tour we sought out a whale skeleton I’d read about. A blue whale washed up on Ocean Beach in 1988. It was buried and after five years arranged in this outline of a whale. This has not been maintained and there is no sign although I saw one at this link for the Park Service. The part at the front that looks like wood is baleen–the filter-feeding system of this whale.

On the way back I took the one way loop road that provides views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate when its not foggy. The dirt road in this photo was below the paved road and was closed to traffic. If we’d had more time and energy we could have walked a couple of miles to Kirby Cove at the water’s edge. I told Kirby that she’d have to plan for that on another visit.

It was just a few days before that we had been to Fort Point which you can barely see at the south end of the bridge.

We were able to park on the edge of the road to walk out the path to the overlook. It was extremely windy and cold. On the path I was surprised to see two vendors selling some kind of hot sandwich or wrap. We passed them, to Kirby’s annoyance.

From a Google Search: “Fort Baker, the final “Post-to-Park” conversion in the Golden Gate National Parks, is a 335 acre former 1905 US Army post located immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge. There are more than 30 historic army buildings, many clustered around a main parade ground.” I was surprised that there were so many buildings and remnants of buildings throughout this area and they are left wide open. There is a lot to explore in the Marin Headlands and I hope that Dan and I will make it back for more exploration.

Golden Gate Bridge in fog viewed from the north end.

A final view of the bridge. This is as clear as it got while we were there.

Kirby walking through barn with sheep following.

Back home. Kirby is always followed by Jade and Hazel and a couple of others.

Cutest Grandkids Ever

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Robin

The Texas family has gone home. I need to get back to my regular work. But I also want to share some of these Cute Grandkid photos. After all, this blog is really mostly a scrapbook for myself as well as being partly about my business of weaving and raising sheep. When there are so many photos and I get behind then it’s harder to start. Too many photos. This one or that one? Delete? Edit? Share?

I made the hard decision and chose some of my favorites from one of the first days the kids were here. Kirby had gone on an overnight trip with the other grandma and I went with Katie and 17-month-old Kasen to San Francisco for an informal brunch following Katie’s friend’s wedding the previous day. We stayed about as long as Kasen could last and then took him to the beach.

I love the expressions on this kid’s face.

Later that day…

The hay feeders are a little high for Kirby to reach without the hay falling all over her.

Kirby told me she was making a nest for the other chickens.

Hawaii – Day 4

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Robin

Tuesday began with a trip to another beach. DSC_3303 Kirby (1) While the big kids swam and paddle boarded and snorkeled Kirby and I walked on the beach. Or I should say I walked on the beach and carried Kirby. She still didn’t like the sand or the waves. At one end of the beach we found lounge chairs and buckets. As long as there was no sand she was happy. Another first for me. I went snorkeling with my kids and there is video to prove it somewhere. Very cool. IMG_7759-Kona brewing Dan had to get back to work and was leaving this morning so we cut the beach visit short. After he left we drove to Kona and had lunch at the Kona Brewing Company. DSC_3308 Kirby in backpack Then we loaded Kirby into her new backpack and went walking around Kona. IMG_7767-Ironman start This is the dock overlooking the start area of the Ironman triathlon. My father-in-law (who lives in Hawaii and is why we were all here) has completed the Kona Ironman twice and for many years volunteered here. Chris has plans to someday qualify for entry in Kona. DSC_3316 Matt and gecko Some of the local wildlife… DSC_3319 gecko

…and color. IMG_7768-basket maker While the kids were looking in other shops I found a basket weaver and bought a few of his things.On the way back to our house we stopped north of Kona to catch the sunset.

Hawaii – Day 3

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Robin

By Monday morning all three of my kids and spouses/fiancee were here. We started the morning joining my father-in-law’s at his daily ritual–breakfast at Lava Java in Waikoloa Village. IMG_7682 breakfast We enjoyed live music and I got a photo of Kirby and me.Another day at the beach. Today’s choice was Waialea Beach, also known as Beach 69. Kirby would stand on the sand in shoes…but still wasn’t happy about the water even with much coercing by Aunt Meryl and Aunt Kaleena.She preferred refuge on her towel……even while everyone else (except Grandma) was in the water. DSC_3164 -Kaleena Kaleena creates a selfie-stick out of a paddle. DSC_3222 paddleboards Matt rides a wave (ripple?) in to shore. DSC_3148 Chris-paddleboard Chris looks like a pro. DSC_3216-Meryl handstand Meryl perfected her headstand while paddleboarding and Chris valiantly tried to keep up. DSC_3218-Meryl handstand

DSC_3229 Kirby asleep I took all of those photos while sitting on the sand holding a sleepy baby. She was finally ready to put down to finish her nap. I went paddleboarding for the first time. Eventually I will have photos taken by my kids but for now it’s just my photos. DSC_3233-group-Beach 69 A group photo before we left the beach.In the evening we waited for our chosen sushi restaurant to open and wandered around the Mauna Lani shops. It sure doesn’t feel like Christmas here but there are decorations everywhere.We strolled along the resort paths. DSC_3260 - black-crowned night heron Look! I finally got a wildlife photo! This is (I think) a black-crowned night heron. DSC_3271-Kirby Kirby found kitties in the parking lot before we finally went to dinner.