Tour de "Elk Grove"

Twice a year Elk Grove draws huge crowds to its large park. In July, the Park is home to the "Strauss Festival", complete with orchestra, dancers, and fireworks. It is quite beautiful.
The other event is Elk Grove's Harvest Festival which takes place in October. The first year that we had the Harvest Festival it was quite small, but in the past few years it has become a well-known event. A prize is given every year for the largest pumpkin entered. I had hoped to take a picture of it, but the battery in my camera died before I got the chance. I believe the winning pumpkin came from Canada and weighed about 1500 pounds.
One other event which takes place during the Harvest Festival is the "Great Pumpkin Race". We missed the race last year, but this year we were able to make it over in time to watch. The contestants hollow out their giant pumpkins and turn them into boats. The first "pumpkin boat" to paddle across the pond and back wins 500 dollars. Don't think it is possible? Take a look.
There were six contestants. One immediately tipped over as the whistle blew, so five boats were in the race. Below is the man who won the race.
Some people like to draw attention to themselves like the clown in the boat below.
We also had a pirate show up. Argh! as Jack would say.
Dad and I wish we could have taken some grandchildren along. But alas, they all live too far away. I hope they at least enjoy the pictures.

La benediction d'Ella

The Blessing of Ella.

Last Sunday Dad and I got up at 4 am and caught a flight to Burbank, California in order to attend Ella's blessing. We arrived about an hour before their church began. Robert's parents had flown in on Friday night before and everyone was getting themselves ready for church. Here is Ella in the dressing gown Andrea made for her. She is taking in all of the action.Jack and Grandpa Bowns both wore red ties for the occasion. Here Jack is giving Ella some assistance.
Pretty good looking family. This was taken after the blessing. Robert gave a good blessing, and Ella squawked a bit during it, but the job was done. She is officially Ella Fewkes.
The traditional family shot after the blessing. Jack didn't want to face the camera so I told him to look at the camera and say "puzzle" (Puzzles are his favorite thing to do.), and he did. Everyone had a good chuckle which is why we all look so happy.
It was a quick trip, but rewarding. We had a great time seeing Andrea and family again and we always enjoy visiting with Robert's parents. What a good way to spend a week-end!

POUR LA DEUXIEME FOIS!!

For the second time! I received this T shirt this week from the Junior Varisity Football team. and it is an exact duplicate of the one I received last year. It is nice to be appreciated. Teaching high school is not easy. As one of my colleagues said, "This job is not for wimps."

Now that I have two of these shirts which I will only wear to school one time, I have been considering the options of what to do with them. Dad and I could wear them on walks or vacations, or better yet, I could give one to Dan and one to Ross and they could be "twins". At any rate, here is a picture of the front also. They are up for grabs. They are a size large, so that one size fits all teachers or other people. Any takers?

Ma petite-fille, Ella

ELLE EST BELLE!

Yes, she is beautiful, Ella Fewkes. Here I am holding her as she sleeps. Dad and I were able to spend almost six days with Ella and Jack (and Drea and Robert, too). We were happy to be able to help, although the parents seemed to have things pretty well under control. Jack tells his little sister "I love Ella" and tries to be gentle with her.
This is my tenth grandchild and the ninth time (Ben & Aubrey make one)I was asked to help out. I am happy that I have been invited and able to do this for all of my children. I can still remember the face of each grandchild as he or she was born and the circumstances of their births. Each visit has been a memory to treasure.

Termine

Termine (with an accent) in French means terminated, which is exactly what happened to Dad on July 31st of this year. He was terminated as in "laid off", "let go", "don't come back to work tomorrow". The interesting aspect to his termination was that he received a personal registered letter from the ultimate Terminator, Arnold Schwarznegger. So what does a man do when he is required to remain home all week? Well, he does things like vacuum, iron, mow the lawn, help his wife set up her classroom, and take lots of pictures. Even better, he is able to spend more time in the garage planning new woodturning ideas. Here he is in the shop. What do you think he is making? You know it is going to be something good. He is a prize winning wood turner as evidenced by a few more ribbons that he picked up this year at the State Fair, with prize money to boot. In fact, a gentleman walked up to Dad and said that he has been an admirer of his for years. So, he has a following. How about that!
Well, here it is. Dad's most recent project. It is a whirl-a-gig. We keep it indoors, but when placed outside the propeller turns and the wooden pieces move up and down. Again, he developed this from his own mind, without a pattern. Amazing! Take that Arnold.!!
When life hands you a lemon, make "lemonade", or in Dad's case, turn some wood. Hopefully, the budget issue will be resolved soon and Dad will return to his retired annuitant's job. If not, there will probably be some more amazing wood pieces coming from his shop soon. ( We may also change to a different political party. This is the second Republican governor to give him the axe. )

un souvenir

Last Saturday Dad and I took a ride down the River Road. It was a beautiful day for a scenic drive. We stopped at the town of Locke, an old Chinese settlement, along the way and looked at the interesting buildings. The real reason for the trip, however, was to travel back in time and visit the high school in Rio Vista where I taught from 1970 to 1971. I used to commute from Orangevale to Rio Vista which took about an hour and twenty minutes one way on a good day. (no fog). Part of the ride was along the River Road. As we were driving down the winding road, Dad commented, "I can't believe we let you do this". My sentiments exactly.

We didn't have any difficulty finding the school. I just remembered that it was off the bridge, to the left somewhere and up a hill. Here is what used to be the main entrance. I still remember rushing up those stairs to my box and on to my classroom. Sometimes I made it only a few minutes before the bell rang, but I was never late. This is no longer the main entrance for the school as they share the facility now with a public library. Here is the new main entrance, much smaller. There was apparently more to the building, but it was removed, and a parking lot put in place. I was a little sad to see that the school looked rather worn and tired, but then, it has been thirty-eight years. It happens.

I next was planning to go to my old classroom, and as I looked for it, it was gone. A new structure had been built where my old building used to be. Darn! I was hoping to see that. Here is the view from where my classroom once was.

Below, Madame Bowns, 2008. School starts for me on the 20th, but it won't be here.

Below, Madame Bowns, 1970.

Here is the car that I drove (well, a picture of one like it) that year. 1969 Cougar. Ivy Green. Pretty cool!We got rid of it after that year because it had some major engine problems. Back then, there was no tape or CD player to keep me company during the long commute, but the radio worked fine. On a good day I got to hear, "Jeremiah was a Bull-Frog" at least three or four times.

Thanks for tagging along with me while on my sentimental journey. I loved that year of teaching and was very sad when we made the decision that I couldn't do the drive any longer. It was time for motherhood anyway, a wonderful time of my life.

ENCORE!

It is the end of July and once again time to move Ross. It is becoming an annual event. Ross has moved to the outer Mission District of San Francisco, closer to school. Above, it was time for a break. (me, Ross, Ray, Mary, Jamie, Shannon ). Below, the new place.

But wait! To get to Ross' apartment, you need to go around to the back via the narrow passageway below. We weren't sure the couch would fit through.

Once through the narrow passageway, there were a few stairs. We got everything down, including the couch. There is Dad standing at the entrance to Ross' place.

Et voila, la cuisine. His place is very nice inside-- clean, new flooring, two bedrooms and a huge storage area.

I always thought that the people who lived in San Francisco lived in a concrete jungle. The row houses are so close together, sometimes side by side, and they are only a few feet from the street with cement front "yards". But, what do you know? Behind these houses are backyards with patios and grass; some of them very large backyards. This is the view from Ross' yard. Beyond the small out building his yard goes on a very long distance with probably a half a dozen fruit trees on the property.

Wish you could have been here to help! Perhaps next year when Ross finishes with school. What do you think?