Spring Break

I don't remember my spring breaks as a kid.  I know we didn't travel anywhere.  My family didn't really take vacations, unless you count driving across the I-10 desert to visit family in South Phoenix in the middle of summer a vacation.  

G had big plans for his vacation and we made a list of projects and places he wanted to visit during his week off from school.  San Francisco for the night was one of our plans.

We hit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on their Free Tuesday.  It was a bit of a hot mess of people and the museum was really warm.  We went up to the roof top sculpture garden to check out this Calder piece and then went to their museum store (which is one of the main reasons I like to visit this museum).

The Cartoon Art Museum was next on our list and just around the corner.  I didn't have high hopes for this little museum, but it really delivered.  A great Chuck Jones' exhibit and a small show featuring children's book illustrators.  Carson Ellis is one of our favorites and she illustrates the Wildwood series written by her husband, Colin Meloy.

The museum was interesting and not overwhelming.  G even got to watch a little Looney Tunes episode while we took in the exhibit.

The #1 thing our son wanted to do on our trip to San Francisco was to become a card-carrying member of the San Francisco Main Library.  Yes, it's true.  He signed up online, selected the artwork for his library card (very cool feature!) and then promptly walked up a flight of stairs towards the children's literature section and plopped 28 books into his bag.  He started reading them as soon as we got in the car.

They are due back in three weeks and it looks like we'll be getting another city fix later this month when we return them back to their rightful home on Larkin Street.

I love living in the country, but there is something about the energy of a big city.  The conveniences, restaurants and people-watching are fascinating.  We ran a few needed errands and stumbled upon good food & drink along the way.

A major farmers' market was happening just down the street from City Hall and the SF Main Library.  We each grabbed lunch (or a Nutella Waffle for brekkie) from different vendors and grabbed a table in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the market.

I was inspired to do my shopping here while the guys played a game of catch on the open green space in front of City Hall.  

We also took time to grab a few ice cream cones at Bi-Rite Creamery in the Mission and Oh. My. God.  Ever have a salted caramel ice cream cone?  Transcendent.  We'll definitely have to add that on to our day when we come back to return library books.

Art was ever-present this week.  G has been on an origami mission and has been creating hundreds of miniature origami yodas.  The faces are all unique and sweet.  He created this origami installation in his art studio that I absolutely love.

It must be like a quiet meditation for him.  He turns on his boom box, listens to Harry Potter books on CD and spends hours folding paper.

Lime Curd Tart
Spanish Frittata
Birds of a Lesser Paradise by Megan Mayhew Bergman

Upon arriving home from the city with bags full of fresh produce and a hosting duty the next evening for book club, I set to making & baking in the kitchen.  I can't believe I've never made a frittata.  We have an egg glut at the moment and it was a great way to whittle it down to a manageable stash.

I made this lime curd tart several years back and it totally delivered.  I used some of my frozen blackberries from last summer on top and it was beautiful and delicious.

G is working on paintings for his upcoming show this summer with Scott Van Cleemput.  He's studying with a local watercolorist and has painted about 10 canvases.  He just needs to put the finishing touches on them and spray with a UV coating.  I can't wait for the show to come together.

His watercolor "Their King" was exhibited in the art show & gala fundraiser kicking off the 40th Annual Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival.  He received word this week that he wasn't accepted in the Local Art Tent at the festival and was a little deflated, but having his work displayed at the gala seemed to offset those feelings (for him, not me!).  I'm really proud of his hard work and dedication to his art.

We packed in a little indoor fun on Saturday, as the days of spring break were coming to a close.  We hit up some indoor soccer and then an afternoon at Cal Skate with his buddy Keegan.  The boys are not the best skaters and fell quite often, but they didn't give up and had a really good time.

I saved the best for last.

Grady and Steve spent a good portion of this week working quietly, patiently and determinedly on the San Luis Obispo Mission project for G's 4th grade class assignment.  G led the charge with ideas of sugar cubes, popsicle sticks, barnyard animals and mini vineyard placement.  They used a lot of math skills in trying to make this model to scale, glue and creative energy.  They slowly problem-solved and it was a treat to see them so engaged with this project.

G woke up early yesterday morning, on his first day back to school after spring break, quickly dressed, ate breakfast and was anxious to hoist his mission into his very own arms and have his father take him to school and turn it in.

I hope they get a good grade on it. ;-)