Thursday.

In truth, I had to look at a calendar and count up what day of summer it is! The days blend and blur, as summer days do, a puzzle of balance and timing and far more science than art or quilting. But so far so good. I’ve got one exploring some things online, including his own blog, which I’m super excited about. He’s not the most eager writer, so it will be good practice, but I really hope he gets it going. He’s going to need some middle school readers, too!

The two pictures above are favorites from recent days. The first reminds me, so much, of a photo from a few years ago, also of dandelion in hand. This one was snapped a few minutes before the RC helicopter was unceremoniously flown across the field, over the walkway, and onto the roof of the park restroom. All the while I was yelling, “Drop it! Drop it! Drop it!” (Meaning, let it fall to the ground.) He ignored me for fear of the helicopter dropping on the head of the only person walking nearby. So after standing side by side and staring up at the helicopter and noting the absolute (almost uncanny for San Francisco) lack of wind, we went to the dry cleaner around the corner, asked if we could borrow a broom, and headed back, instead, with a giant ladder, which I used to climb up and retrieve the helicopter from the roof!

The other was snapped as part of the banner-making process for the new blog. He took all his own photos and had his own idea for a mosaic style banner. Like a supportive mom with a camera, I contributed a stunning photo of his eye. The eye photo is a different one, but from the same series of snaps.

Hope your summers are off to a good start. For some ideas for summer science explorations you might encourage your kids to try–when it’s all about the fun of it and not for a grade–see Beat Brain Drain with Summer Science. And for suggestions on ways to science-up your dinner table talk, see Family Dinner: Serving Up Science.

I learned a lot by working on both of these pieces. The numbers on academic loss during summer months are startling. I took the info especially to heart this year since my kids are doing less camp overall and less academic-oriented camps than ever before. As a result, I’m taking my own advice, and we’re weaving math and science into every day, along with a healthy dose of reading, of course! There’s plenty of art nudging, too, and plenty of time at the park. But I’m trying to keep the brains clicking.

And, for those who wonder, I know it’s June… I know a marker of time for the CMP just passed… and I know that my own marker of time is coming later this month. None of this has escaped me. I haven’t given up hope that the half formed show notes scattered all over the place will evolve into a birthday show. That might be the best gift I could give myself. I know there is still one person out there who would listen even, which is also a wonder.