Flowers in the Urban Jungle

With so many things in bloom, it is hard to resist taking pictures again:

Disneyland and All Its Charms

     We visited Disneyland the other day for my eldest daughter's birthday.  My parents are lifelong Disney Castmembers, so we didn't pay one cent to enter.  Thanks Pa and Mom!  E was so happy she couldn't believe it.  She started off rather shy from any of my efforts to document her.  The second born is not as self-conscious about such things and was radiating joy from her excitement. 

 

The smallest one was wary of everything at first.  It was his first time at Disneyland and he had never seen so much stimulation and people all in one place.  He just clung to Daddy as he sat in his baby carrier.

Being the family photographer, I never get to be in the pics.  But these peeps do not need me to look cute and adorable, even the hubby.

 

We had not been to the newly renovated Tom Sawyer Island, now known as some sort of Pirates of the Caribbean getaway.

 There were lots of bridges

and fun caves,

It was SuperTuesday that day so the saloon show at the Golden Horseshoe was about a man running for mayor who also was trying to get his manly looking daughter hitched to the blindfolded men from the audience.  I think I cried from laughter through the whole thing. 

It was the baby's first time at Disneyland, so of course I had to get the touristy picture in front of the Disney Castle.  As you can tell from the pic, he really didn't seem to care.  

He got tired of being carried in the carrier and the stroller, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and explore the world himself.  We went to the CA Grand Hotel where we would meet my parents for E's birthday lunch.  

And yes, the truth is, even though babies/toddlers are utterly adorable, they have a greater likeness to zombies than most would care to admit.  Hence, I hereby submit my evidence:  

The CA Grand Hotel is a work of art.  From light fixtures to wooden ceiling beams, no detail was overlooked or spared.  I love Craftsman style homes, so this place just blew me away.  

And yes my sweetest, dearest husband, you may take me here for a getaway weekend.  I will definitely show you my appreciation.  

Last but not least is the birthday celebrant.  The hotel restaurant gave her a cute little cupcake (among other tasty and sundry things).  

She was overcome with the giggles and did her little girl coy laugh.  

Happy Birthday, Sweet E!  

Spring By Gerard Manley Hopkins

Nothing is as beautiful as Spring

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;   The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush

The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?   A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning In Eden garden.—Have, get, before it cloy,

Before it cloud, Christ, Lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Claremont Hills with My Kit Lens

     My dear friend Susan and I hiked the hills of Claremont the other day.  What a sweet place to go:  there were lots of other hikers but not too many, the trail was wide and canopied by trees, and a stream bed was parallel to the entire hike.  A wonderful place for taking dreamy, romantic pictures!

Foray into Film: B & W of the Children

I tried a black and white film that can be processed easily at the local Walgreens (c-41 processing).  A previous set I had was bleached out because I had falsely assumed that the photo techs would know what to do with it.  It turns out most black and white film sets require a different set of chemicals.  It makes sense now but I didn't think about it then.  Lesson learned:  Don't assume anything!