New Digs

It only took four tries to get something that didn't end up back in the clay pot. And then three trips to the hardware store with an additional trip to the Oakland Tool Library to engineer the hanging system. Thankfully, everyone was very helpful.

But the old, worn (decrepit, even, one could say), albeit well-loved gourd has now been replaced. I only hope that the wrens are as pleased with it as I am.

The Very Local Lending Library

Colby St.

Hillegass Ave.

When my mom went back home after her visit in March, she left behind some books. Not keepers these books, but clearly meant to passed along. However, since our local branch library no longer accepts book donations, you have to cart them down to the Bookmark bookstore in Old Oakland. But that meant driving and, even worse, parking.

Shafter Ave.

Instead, I wandered over to my local Little Free Library. Started in 2009, the movement's mission is "To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations."

People certainly support the idea - Little Free Library estimates that there are now at least 36,000 free book exchanges worldwide.

I think there are even more. The one on Shafter Ave. is registered with the organization. But the ones on Colby and on Hillegass don't appear on their map.

Regardless, next time you're looking for something to read, you might want to stroll over to your neighbor's front yard and see what's on offer.

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The hummingbird's nest is now empty. Sadly, one of the two baby birds did not survive. All of the neighbors are very hopeful that the second baby did make it, and is off sipping nectar nearby.

Oakland Tool Lending Library

Ever since the painter in the family moved his studio back home, we have been engaged in a Battle Against Too Much Stuff. 

On our side, we have craigslist, thrift stores, young friends starting new homes, the recycling bin and as a last resort, the little blue garbage can. Stuff has inertia - the resistance of a physical object to any change in its state of motion. As well, Stuff controls a small, well-equipped and coordinated roving herd of dust rhinos.

Clearly, we don't stand a chance. Stuff alwaaays wins.

One of my favorite Get Rid of Stuff sites is the Tool Lending Library (TLL) of the Oakland Public Library.  Not only can you donate usable tools there (I mean seriously, how did we end up with 26 screwdrivers, anyway?), but if you ever find that you need that exact tool again, you can just go borrow it back.

In May, 2012, Judith Doner Berne wrote all about the TLL for the Rockridge News (scroll down to page 8). More recently, plans are alive to make the TLL an even better space for us chimp-like tool users.

Updates: #3

The Discover and Go program, available through the Oakland Public Library and other local libraries, still works for me.  Free entry into the Aquarium by the Bay, the Academy of Sciences and the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, for example, really saved this month's budget.

At the Aquarium, the coolest items included the jellyfish tanks and the octopus. I had heard that the Aquarium was kinda rinky-dink, but it was far more interesting than I was expecting. (Maybe the free entry helped.)

So why were we aware of entrance fees? Well, aside from the fact that some of them are pretty high (I know, the costs of blah, blah, blah justify...) we had a young visitor, our nephew Ian, who wanted to see everything.

And although the weather was foggy and cool, the Bay Bridge out of commission and the fireworks show canceled, we persevered. Heck, we even went to Tahoe, suspecting that it might be a little smoky from the Rim Fire, but never ever imaging that it would be sooooo bad. No hiking for us.

Princess came out of hiding once Ian left. She has never been keen about visitors, hates it when the doorbell rings but somehow always seems to know the precise moment when those evil strangers are gone.

Whew! Still with me? Well then, Kevin is doing just great, and planning on going back to work asap (yeah, he likes to keep busy).

And if you need some retail therapy now that the back-to-school madness is over, Kathy Kenny and a few friends - Las Tres Amigas - are putting on a trunk show this upcoming weekend.

Oh yeah, and did I mention the tomatoes? Finally, finally, finally, something is happening out back. And this year, they are pretty tasty. We switched from Stupice to Glacier, and they really were glacial in ripening - ninety days? C'mon. But I'll try them again next year, no prob. 'cause they taste so good.

Lastly, it was a great party at Velvet da Vinci in celebration of the marriage of Tom and Mike! Yessir, it was a fun time, and it was had by all. Congratulations and Best Wishes!

Jellyfish photo courtesy of Ian Cullings

Updates: #2

In the thangka room

Some people have all the luck. Our Brazilian friends Marilia and Marco get to hang out at the lovely Ratna Ling Retreat Center. Yeah, yeah, they are on a work-study assignment so they do have to put in some time on the job, but when we went to visit them, it just seemed completely restful and idyllic.

Fun, but hardly idyllic, was the afternoon I spent in the AFSC basement, helping afghans for Afghans prepare those lovely handmade items for shipping to Afghanistan. For a laugh, I even modeled a few of the garments (while disguised behind a borrowed pair of pink glasses). The scarf is mine, though. Thank you Michele!

Annelise practicing the hula
at the Discovery Museum

Once again, we "discovered and went". This time our library cards took us and some favorite friends to the Bay Area Discovery Museum (all for free).

Be aware that a few institutions which were participating in the Discover and Go program in Oakland and Berkeley are no longer on the list - most notably the Academy of Sciences. Nonetheless, there still are loads of wonderful places to visit (for free!).


Two members of Pauline Autet's fun little ceramic project have a new home. On my front porch. They also got a small redesign, and a stronger hanging system, but can go back to their original forms any time. And if someone tries to take them, I too hope that s/he leaves a note. (And an address, so that I can hunt 'em down...)

Peas and carrots. Carrots and peas. Yes, lucky us, we have peas once again. We had carrots, but they were early, and the peas are late, so they never got properly introduced. I am (slowly, very slowly) learning that carrots are probably not the wisest thing to grow in a tiny urban backyard. But I find them to be the absolutely most fun vegetable to harvest. Just that perfect measure of resistance against your steady tug. And if you grew up, as I did, with The Carrot Seed record, then you may just understand.

Went & Discovered

We've been taking advantage of the Discover & Go program of the Oakland Public Library (which the Berkeley library and the Contra Costa County library now offer as well).

It wouldn't have crossed my mind to go see art at Saint Mary's College, but their Museum of Art had a knock-out show this past year. It caught my eye in the D & G line-up, so we went and felt very lucky. Even ran into some friends.

We also took advantage of the free tickets at Cal Shakes' for Blithe Spirit (somewhat listless) and Hamlet  (wonderful, but free-ee-zing).  And just two weeks ago we ambled out to the California Academy of Sciences. (If you possibly can, play hooky and go on a weekday afternoon. The school tours have mostly left by then and the decibel levels have declined to below "painful acoustic trauma".) We caught the baby ostriches on their last day there. Simply adorable.

And what do you do with the money that you've saved?  Duh, you blow it all on a wonderful meal at Chapeau!  Ooh-la-la!

Got an Oakland Library Card?

If so, then you can go to wide variety of wonderful museums and other cool places in the Bay Area for free!  Places such as the Asian Art Museum, the California Academy of Sciences (save a bundle!), the California Shakespeare Theater and the Exploratorium.  

This brilliant program is called Discover & Go.  The only thing you need is an Oakland library card.  If you already have one, it's very easy.

And if you don't, sign up - it's free, but you have to be a California resident and apply in person.  So just come on over here one day soon, grab a bite for lunch and meet some lovely people at one of the many branch libraries.  For hours and locations, click here.

Then, with your library card in hand, sign up for a PIN. (It's really simple. The library card number that they require is right on the card itself.)

Next, go to the Discover & Go page which lists the participating organizations. Read the instructions - you will have to enter your library card number and that new PIN.  After that, you can see which venues have free passes available on a particular date.  Some places have other restrictions as well, so click on the name, read the details, and get ready to see some great sights. You may even catch us at the Cal Shakes' production of Hamlet in September.

All brought to you by your (my!) local public library.  I love it.