Farm Work Day in Novato

We visited our dear friends, Rachael and Shirene, for a farm wokday in Novato, about 45 minutes north of our house. They have goats,cows, chickens, cornish hens, pigs, and rabbits.

Avery rides on his first tractor!
It was not long-lived; shortly after this picture, he begged off with a pretty scared look in his eyes.
"Fall down," he explained.

Shirene looks at Avery as he sings her a song.

The two kids played and climbed with the goats.

Avery couldn't believe his luck. Goat sightings everywhere!

Point Reyes Weekend

The weekend began with a family reunion to celebrate Chris's Uncle's and Aunt's 60th Wedding Anniversary. Vince and Adeline, congratulations! You have this group of young people to be proud of. 

Then we headed to Coast Camp at Point Reyes National Seashore. Our tent is the closest one to the photographer. We had a very sheltered spot for 3 days.

We got there using a bike trailer because Christine can't really carry anything and neither can Avery. The trailer was not meant for this, clearly, but all went according to plan.

Christine did the flats and downhills.

Chris did the uphills. Even minor uphills were hard with the 100 pounds of kid and stuff.

Mornings were chilly.

This look says, "Why should I smile at breakfast?"

We buried a 10-year-old boy who was staying at the next campsite.

We found mussels, turquoise anemones, and crabs in the tidepools. 

We went on day trips.

Avery even braved the freezing ocean.

And got turned into a baby beluga whale.

We found several chunks of a baleen whale on the sand.

Avery slept well and with his precious orca.

The trail from our campsite.

We Will Miss You, Brennan!

 Many of you know our dear friend and housemate, Brennan. She was our tenant and friend, so we sometimes called her our Frenant. We got a huge kick out of one of our neighbors thinking she was our "housemaid" because they'd misunderstood "housemate." Brennan basically was our harbinger of humor (and caring and inspiration). And after 2 and 1/2 years of living with her, she is moving to Tennessee to study midwifery.

Here she is about enrich Avery's bath experience.

Here is where she lived.

Avery thinks of her as his 3rd parent. 

(In fact, he recently listed his whole family as Mama, Papa, Brennan, and Avery.)

We are so proud of you and your Vanderbilt aspirations. Nashville is lucky to get you. 

We know you will be a fantastic midwife.  

Love, 

the Hansons

Guido Garden Update

We discovered this sign at a neighbor's house here on Guido Street

The gazebo is open and ready for reading, sipping, gardener oggling.

Another perch with garden views

Late afternoon

Blushing peaches

The Three Sisters planting is waist high. Corn, squash, beans.

Corn tassles

Flower starts

Apples

Our favorite cut flowers: astroemeria

Raspberries!

How much we pick every 2 days:

Duck house with sun reflector because....

One duck has gotten broody and won't leave the nest. We expect ducklings at the end of June. 

You can see all the loose eggs she isn't on; we're not sure if she was just overwhelmed by the quantity. She is sitting on about 15 eggs. Maybe they are all hers and the others are her sisters'.

Meanwhile, inside, we are doing some fermentation projects like sauerkraut and ginger carrots.

And playing doctor (Avery and midwife, Lael, with a fetoscope)

31 weeks. Head is down and baby is active.