spirit rock center

This is a meditation and retreat center in Woodacre, California. Gary and I used to go here for the Monday night classes before we had children. Jack Kornfield, famous author and meditation teacher, is a main staff member here. Jack was Gary's first meditation teacher, and he used to attend free classes in a small church in Fairfax years ago. The place has grown and attained more buildings, but the serenity on the property remains the same.

san geronimo

This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been. It is a small town about 45 minutes from San Francisco, in the San Geronimo Valley. It is ten minutes from the sweet small town of Fairfax. Our dear friends, the Edwards, moved out here several years ago onto a wonderful property that they have been enjoying ever since. Andreas was one of the first people to talk about sustainability. He got a hybrid car when they were just made, and has had solar panels for years. Years ago he and Rochelle took Gary and I to a camping place called Shenoa, where I was first introduced to straw bale houses. Andreas is the author of The Sustainabilty Revolution. http://www.sustainabilityrevolution.com/

Rochelle is an awesome friend, a great mother, and as Skylar once said as a toddler, "a good cooker." She makes her home a haven and I always love to visit.

Their backyard area for chickens, complete with a live roof.

Rochelle and Naomi. I met Rochelle in an exercise class when Sky was a new baby, and Naomi was born soon thereafter. We were part of a mom's group for years, that still meets a few times a year.

Sky and Naomi, both age 11.

Another view of their front yard which has inspired me to
redo my back yard with gardens and get rid of my lawn.

The girls picking berries.

parks, parks, parks

My kids all love parks. Where we live, the ocean is our closest playground, so parks are quite novel to them. There are two parks in our old hometown that they love and we got to visit both of them. Both were recently updated with all parent volunteer funds and labor. The results are some of the most beautiful, artistic, innovative parks around. The above photo is only a small part of Perry Park, in Fairfax, CA. They actually finshed this right after Shawn was born, when we had returned to California, so we were actually there to help a bit, and even got tee shirts! My favorite part of this park in that it sits in the redwoods on a creek. My kids love the modern art sculpture spin around thing that gives me a stomach ache just watching! Below is a closeup of them all on it. Note how calm their stomachs seem!

Memorial Park, San Anselmo, California

memorable mosaic at Memorial Park

heat wave

We were invited to dinner at our friends home in Orinda. We spent time together when our firstborns were babies. It was so much fun to connect with old friends. The first few days in Orinda were really hot. I wasn't sure of the typical weather patterns until one night I went into the drugstore to buy squirtguns for the kids, which seemed the only intelligent choice of toy for the moment. I couldn't find any so I opted for squirt bottles. Two men were in line in front of me, both buying huge bags of ice.

"Excuse me," I said. "I am from out of town. Is this a heat wave?"

Hello, McFly!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Yes it is. This is bloody hot!" the man answered. "But it's supposed to clear soon."

I was relieved and hopeful that we would get some of those beautiful sunny California cloudless summer days unlike the sticky oppressive heat that hung over us from morning til night.

Our friends took us to their local neighborhood pool. Their 2 boys and our kids had a blast and after the visit Skylar declared that Noah, their son who is her age, is on her best friend list. The pool was set in a gorgeous natural area.

Annabel was the first off the real diving board!

Skylar learned to dive.

This is Shawn before his first jump off the diving board. Look how scared he is!

Meanwhile Gary and Brad shot baskets and Gary showed of his dunking skills.

Then we went home and had a lovely dinner of salmon, potatoes, salad, and homemade cake for desert. All of the children performed music, and played wonderfully together.

back to berkeley

Gary lived in Berkeley years before he met me. We heard about a French restaurant there and decided to try it. The food was fabulous so one evening as a last minute plan we decided to take the kids there again. Berkeley is a lively place. It was fun showing them the city, the college campus, and the unique architecture. Gary relived moments of his life including concerts he played, as he gave the children a tour from the car.

I love this house

Another totally different home. We drove down a few streets and were amazed to see all of the different architecture, and gorgeous gardens!

Years ago Gary lived in this house. He used to

climb on the roof and write songs on his guitar...

...looking out over this...

inside the Bistro Liason

Three happy kids leaving a restaurant on their way to an ice cream shop

under a san anselmo sky

view from our old neighborhood

Gary and I lived in San Anselmo, outside of San Francisco, for several years. Even after the girls were born and we had moved away, we returned for some time and found a house to rent in this sweet town, so Shawn was also born in San Anselmo.

We made the 45 minute drive over the Richmond bridge, to Marin county a few times.

One evening we were able to visit friends. They have 3 boys and we have known them since Sky was a newborn. Laura, their mother, was at Shawn's birth. All of the kids have almost a cousin-like relationship. Here they all are five minutes after we had arrived. I commented to the adults that, between our 2 families, we now have a basketball team and a sub. The trampoline is cleverly placed over a sunken hot tub.

our old neighborhood

the kids' table

We had a lovely meal and were happy to have so much time to visit, after so many years of watching young children toddle around, and being interrupted. The kids all shot baskets until it got dark. This was independence!

I did a little research on Saint Anselm (San Anselmo is Spanish for St. Anselm). For perspecive, he was born in 1033! I was interested to find this tidbit:

Always an independent thinker, Anselm also became the most learned theologian of his generation, and as a metaphysician and a mystic surpassed all Latin Christian writers since St. Augustine. Not content with collecting and rewording the books of earlier Church Fathers, he pursued an independent line of reasoning. His predecessors for the most part had assumed without argument the fundamental principle that the God whom they loved and worshiped had real existence. Although Anselm never doubted, he nevertheless wished to satisfy his mind by rational proof that what he already believed was true. "I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand."

With regard to the education of the young, Anselm held very liberal views. To an abbot who was lamenting the poor success of his efforts, he said: "If you planted a tree in your garden, and bound it down on all sides, so that it could not spread years branches, what kind of a tree would it prove when in after years you gave it room to spread? Would it not be useless, with its boughs all twisted and tangled? . . . But that is how you treat your boys . . . cramping them with fears and blows and debarring them from the enjoyment of any freedom."

I can tell you that these boys are some of the sweetest boys we know. They live in a very loving family with a great balance of structure and freedom. I think St. Anselm would be very happy.

orinda

Backyard leading to our portion of the deck

After we left the retreat we drove about twenty minutes to a town called Orinda, where we planned to stay for a week and a half. It was so NICE to not have to get on a plane! From there we were going to Lake Tahoe to meet up with Gary's brother and his wife, and then head back east. We found a place to rent on Craigslist. We were able to have part of a house, which included 2 bedrooms, a kitchenette, a sitting room, a huge private deck, and a bathroom. We brought Annie for part of the stay. During this time we visited friends in Marin county, went out to dinner, shopped, saw an outdoor concert, took the kids to the park, and, much to Annabel's delight, played Monopoly.

stream in backyard

closeup of sculpture by George Fisher, our host

home of George and Mari, including George's vineyard

california

We arrived in California ten days ago. We spent the first part of the trip attending a retreat, which was a lot of fun, inspiring, and relaxing. The weather has been great, sunny in the daytime and cooler at night. Here are some visual highlights thus far:

View of grounds where the retreat was held.

The pond on the retreat grounds.

California summer meadow. Photo by Skylar Marks

Another photo by Skylar Marks. Someone dropped rose petals in the pond...

Our kids with Annie, our champion sitter.

Greenfriends organization booth selling plants, saplings, seeds, and baskets and handbags woven from recycled plastic. They also gave out info on how to save bees. More on that soon.

Our family with friends, including Patrick and Shahla from Mother Miracle school in India, with two of their girls. Also pictured are our friends Paul and Kasandra who are starting a new school in California.

Shawn with Mamta and Kusum from India. Both girls help teach the younger children English at their school. They also both want to be doctors. This was their first time in America. They were so sweet. They received their first toys this trip (large stuffed bears) and also saw their reflections in a mirror for the first time ever.

time for a trip

photo by Skylar Marks

It's half past midnight and I am finished packing! It was a big job with the new airline rule of no bag over 50 lbs., yet only one checked bag per person. It was a funny sight, me weighing each bag by lifting them, getting my combined weight on the scale, and then subtracting this from my actual weight. Fifty lbs. is heavy! My heaviest bag is 45 lbs. I am proud to say. We might rent our house while we are gone so I had to clear out all closets, etc. It was quite a job!

The kids had a half day at school today. It was a whirlwind day. First of all it was pajama day at Annabel's school, which for her meant one less thing she had to do on her morning routine -- yeehaw. She was so cute and excited in her little white pajamas with hearts and flowers, and I wonder how long this innocence will last. Sky is far too grown up for this. She's eleven after all.

After I dropped the kids off I went into town to get another large suitcase, shopped for some clothing for me (found some cute stuff!), had a quick smoothie, picked up laundry soap, then picked up the kids and wished all of our friends and the teachers a happy summer. Sky and Annabel went to friends' houses after school and Annabel got a bag of treats from her teachers in front of Shawn. He was pretty bummed. They shared with him, but he still wanted his own. We went to Jamba Juice, our favorite place and got smoothies, and then he was happy. He watched a movie at home and I packed all day long. I took a break to swim in the pool with him (we each pushed each other in with our clothes on) and then we played the octopus game (his invention) where I was the octopus and he was the kid and I was trying to get him, except he never left base, so I never could get him. Then I became the kid and he was the octopus and he got me right away and began taking bites out of me. But he pretended that I tasted yucky so I was saved. This was the highlight of the day.

Thankfully friends transported the girls home and I made a nice dinner, we ate together as a family. Everyone was bathed and the girls played music after dinner, and Shawn drummed. Sky is teaching him to drum to her songs. He is getting quite good, and actually taking direction. We will miss the musical freedom we have with this house and all of our instruments, although the girls will brings guitars and all three kids will bring harmonicas. Can't bring the drum set.

I am tired, but very excited for this adventure. I love California.

shawn's school birthday

The tradition on our children's Montessori school is to do what they call "the walk around the sun" for their birthday. The teacher sets up the diagram of the months of the year. The child holds the globe and walks around the sun (the lit candle) for each year of life. The teacher had Shawn stop at each year and asked me to talk about what he was like at age 1, 2 ,3, and 4. We also showed photos of him at various ages that I had picked out ahead of time. Shawn loved telling his friends about his photos. He asked me, "Was I good at walking?" and "Was I good at talking?"

After he was finished the kids sang happy birthday and then he blew out the candle.

He got to pick a friend to eat lunch with and he picked a little girl I have never heard him talk about. I sat with them too, Shawn kept resting his head on my shoulder during lunch. He was really happy I was there. I could tell it was a big deal to him. Lately he has been saying "No kisses Mom" whenever I kiss him goodnight. But he kept kissing me that day. It was pretty cute.

it's time for me to fly

photo by Skylar Marks

Quotes of Annabel, at age 5:

"How come we can't feel the speed of light?"

"I tried to fly and I stayed up for awhile, but I can't get where I want to go."

"What if the whole world were a carnival? Wouldn't that be great?"

a happy moment

Monday June 2, 1:08 am

I just finished my book and will take it to the printer tomorrow to print it for final editing - spelling, typos etc...before I turn it in. I wanted to get it done by June 6, the day before we leave, and I think I might just do it.

I was asked to keep it to 200 pages. That was hard, as I had over 220 worth of text. I am down to 203 pages, as of now. I think that is okay, close enough. This includes an intro, the text with several photos, an appendix, a glossary, and author's notes. I am the second author in fact.

I feel so very good about this book. It is beautiful. The words, the images, what it evokes in me, and hopefully in others.

What an honor. And I get to turn it in about five days. I am not sure what will happen from here. I don't even know if it is good enough to publish. But I think it's great. And I have loved every step of the process. I began work on this in August of 2006. Wow.

Anyway it is a very happy feeling. Thank you for your support.