Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Days of Summer

Long gone are the seemingly eternal summers of childhood (at least for me.) But there are still days when everything is perfect; the sky, the water, the company, and the cares and concerns of life drift away on the breeze. There are even some days when you expect to hear the voice of God emanating from the sky (or at least Charlton Heston) saying, "Count your blessings."

We finally got the kayaks in the water. Both Lela and Lian took turns in the Sidekick, which is designed for an adult and kids - the thing is a scow, but you could tap dance on it and it wouldn't go over, unlike most kayaks. I think I can configure it for three seats and take them both out at the same time. Jamie could also sit Lian in his lap in his kayak, so we were all able to take a paddle out to the middle of the Bay.
What's wrong with this picture? Tote that bucket and lift that pail. Build another sandcastle before we sail.
This is the view - aren't we lucky?
We spent one afternoon assembling the Adirondack chairs that Christy had ordered. Once we realized that if we ignored the 12 page instructions, we could get them put together correctly, and they came together in time for the sunset.
Catching the breeze at the end of a perfect day.

Zoo Too

Back to the Bronx Zoo for member's night two. Aunt Christy met us there and we decided to hit the Wild Asia monorail and the new Madagascar exhibit - having first viewed the cartoon movie. From the monorail we saw lots of deer of all sizes, tigers, wild horses, red pandas, elephants - but the favorite was voted on as...... the mom and daughter Rhinos.
Many kinds of monkeys. Who is watching who?
A daredevil baby. It's about 40 feet up on this snag.
Let's try swinging from the vines.
Above and below, the fishes go.
In line for the new Madagascar exhibit. Papa is appropriately clad.
Madagascar is apparently crammed full of funky frogs and VERY LARGE insects. I like them best behind glass.
Ring-tailed lemurs, one of over a dozen lemur species.
And yes, there really are Foosa's -who like to lick their privates in public.

Mother's Day

Last spring while riding the train home from the city where I had just handed in the last of Lian's paperwork, I had nothing to do since I had gone through all my reading material while waiting at the Chinese Embassy. I got out a notepad and this poem started to flow and practically wrote itself. Adoption can be bittersweet as there is no gain without a loss.
http://www.emkpress.com/mothersday.html

Lian on left in yellow

Lian on left in yellow
about 14 months, with her friend Hailey

Lian at 6 months

Lian at 6 months
Who could resist that smile?

Lian at 4 months

Lian at 4 months
Right after surgery for her lip

Sha'anxi Province Map

Sha'anxi Province Map
HanZhong in lower left

China Map

China Map
Sha'anxi Province in center