Da Keiki Blog

We drove up Saturday morning, and claimed one of the last camping spots. Then we went looking for mushrooms and flowers.

On the way to the first trailhead, we drove past this small meadow of flowers, right next to the road:

Five Spot:

On Sunday, we left the car parked and explored around at the campground (since Sonja found mushrooms nearby). There was a trail along the river, past some swimming holes and on a boardwalk through a meadow (not shown):

While Sonja looked for mushrooms, Andy and Leilani looked for gold. This is Motherlode country and long ago, Andy had told Leilani how to look for gold. Now was our chance to get rich, so we found a place to buy the gold pan and shovel on the drive up, and Andy tried at several places along the river.

In the end, Andy found the gold in the practice kit, and perhaps two tiny flakes of real gold at this spot:

Everywhere else was a wash. At least we found a gold bug…

So back to the flowers—a Snowplant:

Unknown:

Our neighbors at the campground had a little girl that came to visit. Leilani was happy to have a playmate, and played very nicely with Ashley, even though she was much younger:

Later, Leilani buckled herself into the front seat of the car, pretending to be a big girl:

Memorial Day weekend, a bit early for the Sierra, but we heard of Pi Pi campground in the foothills from the Mushroom club. No, it had nothing to do with Pippi Longstocking… we went there for morels and flowers.

We found enough mushrooms to have 6 meals of them. A few very tasty morels (we think they all got picked before us) and some very crunchy Spring Kings (boletus). We only regretted one thing… we did not bring a nice frying pan. They were still very tasty, and now we do have a special camping frying pan and a bigger camping pot.

Putting the gold pan (more on that later) to good use:

Blond morel, one of the few:

It was the boletes, not far from the campground, that made the trip:

And made Sonja smile:

Excitedly they awaited their train

and waved to all the other trains

FInally….

“I think I can see my school!”

…the trip was so short, it was almost time to get out…

walking to Washington Park

I think Leilani really enjoyed her hair standing up almost as much as sliding

Just when you think it could not stand up any worse

Lunch

Unfortunately Leilani got very upset because she could not do the monkey bars. She has little upper body strength, and it is something she never practices. Josselyn and James were really good at it.

Leilani sat underneath the play structure pouting and crying and did not come out for the group photo. I had no success getting her out, Brigidan had to talk to her.

Going back the train was late and we sat and sang for a while.

We found this Clarkia on our way home.

Before the Posy parade we got together four times and made craft flowers. Everybody had fun, we got a lot of flowers made. I planned and Leilani tested almost all the crafts that we made.

The Flower crowns require a lot of steps. Olivia and Alyssa got theirs completely finished, Leilani put 4 more flowers on the one she had started at home, and there were a few in progress.

We used a lot of recycled materials – cut up cereal boxes and magazine paper.

The first time we almost forgot to feed the kids… Liselle reminded us and Bigal and Olivia helped her to get the snack ready. Watermelon, veggies and cheese sandwich – Yum!

At the next crafts event: I had found an old yoga mat (and washed it) and we cut these jester crowns from it.

Unfortunately we did not photograph the other 2, but we made a lot of mushroom hats… the items were raffled off just before the parade and almost everybody was fully decorated.

We had a Hawaiian Night at Leilani’s school, complete with Hula dancers.
Thanks Amy for the photos.

Thanks Katie, for organizing

I froze a little, but wearing my Hawaiian Dress was worth it…

Leilani’s hula teacher is on the left and on the photos further down in the blue dress

Below is a Youtube Video:

Click on the arrow to play the movie