Earthquake 2008

We’re fine.

In fact, we were oblivious to the fact that there was an earthquake until two hours later, when I logged on the Internet. We felt something alright – we just didn’t know what it was. We were hiking at El Dorado Nature Center and I thought I heard or felt a distant explosion, followed by the sound of shattering of glass. Then we passed a woman who was somewhat desperately trying to get cell phone coverage, which seemed odd since we were in the middle of the woods. When we got back to the nature center after our 1.7-mile hike (thanks, GPS) all seemed normal so I didn’t think much of it until we got home and saw the headlines. The house was fine, too, though all this makes me realize it is far from earthquake-proof.

All in all, we had a great morning communing with nature. The El Dorado trails are flat and shady and surround two large ponds. Lots of benches for picknicking and resting, plus plenty of resident turtles, butterflies and ducks. Perfect for the 3-to-5-year-old set.

Cost: $4 to park on weekdays, $7 weekends. 

 

Summer Sounds

A rite of passage for all L.A. moms of 3-5 year-olds is attending the annual Summer Sounds program at the Hollywood Bowl. It’s akin (I’d guess) to going to the White House Easter Egg Roll if you live in D.C.  Each week or 2 in July and August, a specific type of music is showcased in a concert, then paired with a related art project. This week’s focus was Zimbabwe, and the show (at least the part we saw) was awesome spectacle of drums, dancing, and giant marimbas (like xylophones). A definite A. The art segment (for which you buy tickets separately) was disappointing, with projects that aren’t much different from the kind you find in preschools. It also could have something to do with the fact that Jack isn’t all that interested in crafts and was happy to let me glue beads on a piece of cardboard while he munched on a Clif bar. The highlight for him was by far getting to talk in the microphone about his creation. He told the lead person that he made it all by himself and was going to hang it on the wall of his room. 

TIPS: If you only have time for one program, choose the music one. If you do both music and art, try to go to the 10 am concert, followed by the art project. If you choose the 11:15 concert, you end up waiting a good half hour between events. By the time the music started Jack (who slept a measly 8 hours last night) was good and tired and ready to go home.

COST: $6 per person for the concert, $4 (kid only) for the craft.

The Grove for eastsiders

I really wanted to hate Americana at Brand, a new outdoor mall in Glendale created by the same guy who built the Grove on Fairfax. But the truth is, it’s a pleasant, easy way to spend a morning. The $3 and up parking fee annoyed me at first, but the free perks make up for it. We rode the glass elevators to the roof and looked out over the city, followed the trolley tracks to nowhere, and watched the twice-hourly dancing fountain show. There’s a small playground, but Jack got bored with that fast. The whole place is more compact than I thought and must be elbow to elbow on weekends, but I’d definitely spend another morning here, if only to ride the trolley (for Jack) and buy cream puffs from Beard Papa (me). I’ll also bring a camera next time!

Plumapalooza

One of the perks of our odd little corner of Altadena: a tree that produces some of the sweetest juiciest plums on the planet every summer. Jack enjoyed them last year, but this season he is taking full ownership of the tree. He will eat as many per day as I let him, and he now views the local deer as his rival plum eaters, jumping up and down and yelling when he sees them outside.

Too bad they all come at once. We are making quantities of plum pie and plum bread, and giving them away like crazy, but we still can’t keep up with the bounty.

p.s. Happy Fourth of July!