Mid-Life Crisis

Everyone at HappyAcres is sick with a cold on top of wicked Spring allergies (live oak, blue oak).
...hacking, coughing, eyes glued shut, itchy itchy itchy...

During the kids' Spring Break, it seems particularly unfair.

The remodeling that began in January proceeds.  An electrician is engaged to put recessed lights in the kitchen.  Painting is about a quarter done.  Shopping for new ceiling fans, etc.

Homeschooling begins in a few months so we're outfitting one room as the kids' study, courtesy Ikea.
It's going to be sweet.  Jonathan one the  left, Mary on the right, window for viewing wildlife.

In spite of being sick Jonathan roused himself for yesterday's track meet.

The weather was glorious.  He took 1st in 60 meter hurdles, 2nd in 400 meter dash.

Fluorescent florescence.  The California Poppy is nature's only dayglow.

Oh No!
My buddy Grady is having a mid-life crisis (Mid-Life Crisis IV according to his long-suffering wife).
He quit his job on New Year's Day.  He makes noises about "going back to Saudi Arabia."  He surprised everyone with a gaudy tattoo and is growing his hair and beard.

And he's threatened to buy a Harley and live on the road.

Well, this morning his pickup truck is gone and a pimped-out hog sits in its place.  I can't believe he did it.  His wife has locked herself in the bathroom.

Says he got my neighbor Mike to drive him to Las Vegas yesterday.  Since his wife has frozen the bank account, Grady sold his truck for ready cash.

This does not end well.

Back in Business

Yesterday was the first track meet of the season, a "practice" meet at Union Mine.  Six or so middle schools from the Sierra foothills participated.  The weather began well -- sunny, breezy -- but snow was predicted at this altitude and by afternoon's end it was dark and chill.

First event was the 100 meter hurdles.  Although Jonathan had no opportunity to practice with hurdles the past weeks, he did very well, leading the field  -- until tripping right before the finish line!
(he's the guy in maroon, second from the camera)

J shrugged it off, and in fact felt pretty good: "Now I know I can beat these guys."

Next was the 400 meter dash.  He looked great and breezed to a win.

Generally:
The middle floor of the house is being painted by Savannah (pronounced "Sa-fawn-a"); she's trading her skill for acupuncture treatments by the wife.

Meanwhile we're living upstairs and the inlaws are downstairs.  It's a neverending mess.

Outside, the deck is being repaired.  Forrest ("I got all the Gump jokes in high school.") is helping.  Construction is all but dead, so you can get good help for a pittance.  Forrest is a good ol' boy, hard-working, honest, church-going, raising 2 kids alone, getting by on day jobs.

Note my Chinese inlaws in the background, planning a garden.  Since this photo, Jonathan & have fenced the area against deer and built a raised bed, trucked in 5 yards of topsoil.

Taking advantage of the "wet" season, we're frantically burning brush in the woods.  Having recently watched an episode of "The Real McCoys" where Grandpa dickers over a chainsaw, Jonathan got it into his head to handle one himself -- I'd just bought a second, 20" Husky -- and he wielded it masterfully.  Until his arms tired.  And it brushed his knee.

I get a cold feeling thinking about it.  I must have been mislead by his size, and forgot he was only 13 years old.  He wasn't frightened by the close call, no, he was proud, insisted his sister get a photo with his wound.

(Mary is the family photographer.  She exhibits with 4-H at the county fair in June.)

Spring flowers, birds, and butterflies are suddenly everywhere.  Even as snow falls only 15 minutes up the hill.  Today I saw the first Black-headed Grosbeak of the season.  Two nights back the coyote sang a Spring song, driving the neighborhood dogs nuts.

Next week the son leaves for a field trip to Monterey, then the kids are home for a 2 week vacation.  We'll take the inlaws on daytrips to Yosemite, Tahoe, SF.

That's all.

Smartphone capture outside Starbucks
they call it moonbat heaven, Crazyfornia