Lewis G. Larus Park

My idea of a park is more Capability Brown than this, but with massive fallen tree trunks from past storms and stark clear blue sky above, it is hard not to be stilled. The remaining dried leaves crackled quietly in the air and all was calm in the deep, sunlit wood...

Seemingly no gruffalos or wildlife, apart from some great bird calls and the best bit - the smell of dry earth and pine cones.

Sandbox aka sandpit construction

The brief was specific, the work force came in from Mineral on official godparent duty and the consignment (aka reclaimed) supplies came over the fence. This was an amish-style affair with pit digging involving major root and rubble removal, closely-monitored depth surveying (enough that getting to the bottom should be a challenge - 1ft aka 0.3 metres) and a delicious, not quite shared, meal of French lamb and a cashew nut bake for the vegetarian.


For those who might be inspired, we are now 60 bags (50lb/23kg each) into the process of creating this 'sandbox' and pondering the wisdom of its scale (6 x 7 foot/1.85 x 2.2 metres) - however the kids, plus neighbours can be accommodated with ease and poor brown dog (a once stylish doorstop) is routinely buried. Taunt muscles in workforce anticipated, pending recovering from aching limbs.

Inaugural event: J's 3rd birthday party...

Sledging at Maymont

Following on from the serious road-snow-trauma yesterday, we took the sledge to nearby Maymont Park, which we had heard had good slopes (but terrible après-ski).

We'd missed the best of the snow, but we got sunshine and there was enough left to build snow women and get a fairly decent sledge run. Finally justification for this piece of plastic's controversial inclusion in our shipping container.

Best sledging spots in Richmond

Pro-choice

Our day of political protest began with Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants -- the best we've found in America. They're frozen uncooked and happen to be a great choice to address a red-wine hangover.

Then we went to stand in line with hundreds of others for the silent protest regarding a new law requiring those seeking to terminate their pregnancy to have an ultrasound image of the foetus. Whatever position one takes on choice, in a country where unnecessary medical procedures aren't covered by insurance, involve travel, time-off work, delay and is designed to make a difficult emotional decision even harder, in our opinion this isn't a good state law.

Thankfully we weren't shipped home in the Department of Corrections white busses which were standing by with engines running.


Update:

Bill passed despite John Stewart's Daily Show coverage (21st Feb) - Virginia 'The Punnany State' - however it was amended so that trans-vaginal scans are not to be mandated, so a slight victory on that score; whilst Saturday Night Live's 'Really?' segment with Amy Poehler had a go and finally MSNBC overage.

The equally awful 'Personhood' bill has been kicked out though - what a result!

Mini Croissants
Hundreds at Capitol for women's rights rally

Snow on Floyd

I am sitting here watching M, in full ski-wear and Sam, in pyjamas and a hat, build an igloo in the 4" of snow that has fallen since 5pm. J has taken herself off to bed fully clothed whilst P and I are living in the moment after 2 hours (should have been 55 mins!) driving home from Williamsburg Premium Outlet Mall, where we'd been stocking up on decent all-weather shoes in the hopes of some skiing in Wintergreen on President's Day (plan now shelved). 

Of the 12 cars we saw who'd slewed off the road into various precipitous ditches we were reassured to note most were of the 4-wheeled and overtaking-variety. However we felt bad not stopping to help. There was no given that we wouldn't be joining them. 

Having finally made it up Main Street, our first task was to head to Shield's Store and stock up on a celebratory bottle of red. The igloo is almost done. It is now 10.40pm at night but the earth is not cold and I suspect this will all be gone in the morning. M wanted to tell the world it was snowing in Richmond but she wasn't sure they'd reply...

Pho Tây Dô, off Horsepen Road, Richmond

So the hairdresser of a friend, who we coincidently met in a park we'd ended up in, recommended this Vietnamese blue shed for lunch. We joined them in a convoy that involved finding an ATM, then rejoining the dual carriageway before turning and spotting a little Vietnames place in a strip mall, but they didn't turn off; then we saw a strange cluster of Far Eastern cafes and mini markets, with stooped men on porches smoking, which looked interesting but we still didn't stop; we turned up a residential back street and saw a regular house that was indeed blue, with Vietnamese folk just leaving and we parked.

Inside it was awesome - murals of Vietnam, with cut outs of Erin Brockovitch and airline stewardesses and seating that was functional '50s with red plastic coverings. I went for something on the bottom of page 3 and the fried tofu in rice paper was pretty and great with chilli and peanut sauce. The soup involved adding fresh bean sprouts, basil and pak choi so that it wilted amidst the noodles - definitely the best 'hidden' diner in town.

Valentine's Day 2012

You might say it's all rampant commercialism but when you're in Kindergarten and every kid in your class has either written you a card or given you a gift - chocolates bound in pipe cleaners to look like bejewelled rings or heart-shaped tattoos or simple sweetheart candies - all contained in your own heart-decorated bag and you've made a crown and all the older kids have chalked the entrance to school with love hearts... You can't help but smile when you finally sit down at home for a little taste of everything (some vile!), with the prospect of the neighbours' boys joining you for the feast.

Parental input included tracing out 20 bags of assorted heart shapes for the class and commenting (not an editor's pick) on this BBC news story...

Cupid's algorithm c/o BBC News

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant, Richmond

Food Photographer of the Year - NOT! Despite appearances this was incredible Ethiopian fare. Yellow split peas and goats cheese won the youth vote, though the salicylate content (ginger!) was nightmarish and we had to deal with a heart-breaking two hour tantrum afterwards and screaming dreams all through the night.  Gluten free and mainly vegetarian - so awesome for others we know with dietary challenges.

A lovely place to eat and the kindest staff. When crayons weren't enough for pre-supper entertainment, they supplied the most enormous pair of scissors, much to M's delight. We'll be returning for an adult date with some heat, of the spice variety, and plenty of the offending ginger.

http://nilerichmond.com/

you, your sun and shadow, Anderson Gallery, VCU

Concise interpretation from J - man dead - rainbow pens - bees upstairs (there are)... From where we stood and peered and crouched, there were some great combinations of things, from condensation, to multiple light switches, to dust, to radical black literature.

Quiet but substantial and the welcome desk installation was a delightful mix of white plaster-casts and back catalogues - oh that our book shelves could ever look this good?

The goldfish are still swimming in the miniature pond outside and VCU continues to feel like the place to be - 'Our time, right now' indeed.

Artists credits:
Tony Matelli, Josh, 2010 - pictured top, including mirror
Sarah Sze, Imposters, fillers and editors (liquid to solid), 2010 - foyer installation
Pam Lins, Lincoln bookend obstructions, 2010 - pictured bottom

you, your sun and shadow

Super Bowl, Giants vs Patriots

We invited ourselves over to the neighbour with the cutest boys and the biggest TV and attempted to get into the game. The rules were cursorily covered, before beer and chilli proved distracting. Then Madonna arrived on the scene at half-time with her insane gold-clad Roman army and some pitch-projections that were jaw-dropping. No austerity measures this side of the pond! These guys should be doing the Olympic Opening ceremony. It glittered and won (our full attention), as did the New York Giants.

Yard wildlife...

The state bird of Virginia - the cardinal - has graced the garden, or at least that of neighbour-on-left. Caught this close-up thanks to some over the fence balancing from P, at which point said neighbour returns and shrieks (with amusement!) and the bird departs.

We also have our own rather large, local opossum who chunters about at night and sleeps under the porch of neighbour-on-right. Not a beauty - a mangey long tail and greyish coat and a rather distinctive nose. He's not loveable, known to bite and drives the squirrels wild. They scream at 'him' from the electricity wires.

NB: The red cardinal is a boy according to the junior twitcher in the house. The girls are greyish-blackish.

A Meadowmorphosis - 'Diamonds in the Rough'

It's a fantastical stick sculpture with turrets and inter-weaving rooms and a lean... excellent to race through and where Princess Rosebud hangs out - fiction not fact, of course, as M is keen to point out. To be found in Lewis Ginter Gardens, where we gathered with two other classmates and their moms for a non-school day picnic, though officially they're not allowed - our mild subversion was overlooked this time. Last time my resting on the mulch on my Dutch behind was reprimanded, for its compacting force!