Pooks Canyon

I got out of the kitchen by the day after Christmas just in time to burn off some pie and show the dads Chico's finest disc golf course, Peregrine Point.  On the way, we saw a highway patrolman driving slowly in the opposite direction, attempting to prevent some loose cattle from entering the roadway. The cattle must have come our way. Watch out, Dad!  They eventually got a moove-on, and so did we. Bill threw a nice roller out of trouble on hole three.  The canyon views at Peregrine are pretty nice. Jon was stuck in a bush and could only pitch out for par. Anonymous Discraft man. Dad, Scott, and I all threw into this bush, which sucked.  But then we all managed to make the putt, so we were redeemed.  Scott was upset enough about throwing into the bush that he flipped me off, but he was still able to smile because he saved par. Jon and his dad, very close to where someone fell off the...

Below are some snippets of Chateau Baker from today. While I miss the snow at Christmas, it is novel and welcome to be playing disc golf in the warmth, looking at flowers, and wearing tank tops.  There is no chance I'll be pick-axing an ice shelf in my driveway this year (hi Laura). Honeysuckle Lena would know what this is. Probably this, too. These look like they'll be in full bloom by... January? Seasonal color. Good thing Santa Pig is foregoing the pants. Good thing Jon is foregoing the shirt.  *whistle*

Tonight Chico felt more like home to me than any time over the last five months. The kids have friends, the neighbors come over to chat and drink beer, and I'm baking bread again. Leah is having one of her school friends, Alexa, over to spend the night. Alexa and her family came to Chico two years ago from... guess where... The Colorado Front Range. Small world. Alexa assured Leah that at the five month mark she was "still pretty messed up about the move." I hope Leah takes heart. Alexa reports full acclimation at this point. Axel seemed a bit sad that Leah had a friend over so he helped me make banana bread until the door bell rang and the neighbor girl, Natalia, (also five) asked if he wanted to play. That left me to do the baguettes and the split pea soup on my own. Jon came home and settled into a game of Internet chess until Natalia's dad, Chris, came over. Then the men migrated naturally toward the garage. First our garage, then Chris's... what is...

Tonight we attended the Sherwood Montessori Christmas show. No slipping out early for us- having a child in the youngest grade and another in the oldest grade. No matter, though, the show was entertaining, that quintessential mix of proud, embarrassing, and adorable moments. Axel's class sang a song called "We Are the Mosaic" which was very cute. Leah played the lead villain, Wolfgang, in Little Red Riding in the 'Hood . She is quite the budding actress, though I'm sure she'll kill me for writing that. Good thing she never reads my blog. Axel looking handsome in his grey vest. He was nervous before the show so I told him to picture the audience in their underwear. He later reported that he did just that. He loosened up talking with his blond classmate. Here's Leah, ahem Wolfgang, before the show, in the green hoodie. Wolfgang strutted around the stage and got several laughs from the audience. The other children are members of Wolfgang's gang. We...

Moving back to California held many promises for me, time with my family being the foremost of these. So with pleasure, this weekend, the Chico Bakers embarked on the annual Christmas Tree Hunt in Lassen National Forest. We were guided by Dad (aka Forester Frank) and Mom (bringer of cocoa and Santa hats). Three generations of Christmas Tree Hunters. Our native guides. Mom, looking cute. Leah played video games in the car. This one says "No Cut" so we'd better keep looking. Watch the antlers! Our little tiger helped drink the cocoa and find pine cones. A large piece of Lassen National Forest installed in our family room. Needles to say (pun intended) I have not yet begun to decorate!

As you may or may not know, we're moving to Chico, California on May 31st. Our prospective domicile is a 1980's contemporary extravaganza and I have been up late nights planning the minutia of interior decor to suit the style of the house. Call it overactive nesting instincts. Anyway, the kitchen has dominated much of these nocturnal ponderings. It is an eat-in kitchen with some serious built-in appliances in black... 1983 double ovens anyone? Why not black, I wondered? I have stainless at my current house and have concluded we are not tidy enough to qualify for a package of stainless steel appliances anyway. Black: I'm going with it. A little research on how to decorate a kitchen with black appliances revealed some helpful information. Did you know that black appliances visually recede rather than pop-out? Sounding good so far... I'm down with receding appliances. Can it make the dishes and mess recede as well? Another tidbit: a modern style kitchen with checker...