It is a freezing cold day but we are at the pool having ice cream anyway.

Lyra is clearly having fun although Will and I are ready to go home.

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Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

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Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Big change for Lyra! She wanted her hair SHORT and we wouldn't trust anyone else but Annette to do it!

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

One of the best things about summer is getting to do projects like this!

I had promised Lyra a bracelet ages ago. Today, a fit of decluttering turned up some beading supplies I'd forgotten about. Making the bracelet was our reward for cleaning up am ancient pile of stuff in my room. Lyra us a happy girl! (and check out her manicure...)

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Wine Notes: Wolf Blass 2004 Platinum Label Barossa Shiraz

This was another gem from the Circle Liquors Aussie wine sale. I would put it at a 4 on my 5 point scale (where a 2 is about an 87 on the Parker scale). Very rich classic Australian Shiraz flavor. Fruit driven, but with structure and not sweet tasting. We had it with burgers, but it would have been as good with a juicy steak.

Via iPad

Lyra LOVES Monkey Bars, I Think She is Another Future Rock Climber

When Lyra is on the monkey bars, we have do do regular palm inspections. She already has callouses, but will keep playing until she gets new blisters, and they pop. Then she wants band aids and tape, so she can KEEP playing. She keeps pushing herself to skip bars, and has a new thing where she will jump from the start to the farthest bar she can reach. Sort of proto dynoing. We need to get her to the climbing gym this summer.

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Lyra's Super Cute Beach Bunny Ballet Costume

Lyra has been in a ballet class for little girls. She had a recent beach themed performance, complete with beach balls. The studio also had professional photos taken that are pretty good, but I think this one is better. She had a great time, and I think will be going back for more dance.

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Marina Diamandis, Marina & the Diamonds, 9:30 Club, DC

Bad iPhone photo, but great show. Marina has not 'hit' yet in the US, but she is very popular in the UK. A little like Lily Allen, or like a contemporary Kate Bush (more pop though). First club show for Will and Eva. Will liked it, Eva was a little intimidated by the crowd, and the volume. I think my ears are already shot enough that I need to feel the music, not so much with Eva. Marina is a powerful singer, and enthusiastic entertainer. She deserves a bigger following here.

Via iPad

Got totally wet in the car trying to get this photo (Bill is driving)

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Scooters di Roma - Corso Vittorio

I spent a few days in Rome this past week, and had a few (too short) opportunities to walk around. Wednesday evening I had dinner at La Danesina di Annalisa Polo, near Piazza Navona. There is a taxi stand also near the Piazza on Corso Vittorio where I took these photos. It seemed like scooters, and to a lesser extent motor cycles, were more common than cars, and everyone rode them - men, women, young and old. They were ubiquitous even in heavy traffic. If I were out in Roman traffic on a scooter, I would want body armor, not shorts, but it was hot so comfort won out for most riders.

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These kids are So Cute!!

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

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Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Disgusting!

Someone, I think Will, hid a piece of chocolate cake in a cabinet way up high. In April since that's the last time we had chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  I had bought Eva a birthday present several weeks ago and was trying to remember where I hid it.  Quelle surprise! And a total waste of *really good* chocolate cake. But some day, the kids are going to grow up and leave home and it will be quiet here, and clean and free from moldy surprises.  I will miss this in the years to come, I'm sure.  For now, I am just glad that the food storage container seems to have a very strong seal!

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Video: Arlington Children's Chorus, Festival of American Folk Music

Arlington Children's Chorus sounds GREAT! Check out the video -- Festival of American Folk Music http://t.co/0jtt1Qz via @youtube

http://twitter.com/cdphelps/status/77579562661314561

Sent from Bill Phelps' iPhone

A new take on wedding cake decorations

Found in a gag shop on my walk around Rome today.

Via iPad

Lyra at the Playground, Luray, Virginia

There is no setting more suited to getting great photos of kids than a playground. Luray has a small park in the center of town with lots of good old playground equipment. The kids especially loved the see-saw, which did not have any of the modern safety features of newer versions.

While all the kids played, due to some combination of their behavior and operator error with the camera, Lyra ended up best represented in decent photos. These are not as sharp as I would like. I was trying to set the shutter speed for motion blur in the background, and ended up with too much blur in the subjects. The results were also helped by the fact that (when she is in the mood) Lyra actually likes to pose for the camera, and most of these shots had her cooperation. Lyra especially loves the monkey bars, and as usual ended up with blisters on her palms. She worked hard to pose holding on with just one hand.

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Love places like this!

Pack's Frozen Custard in New Market VA.

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

More photos of Luray Caverns in Virginia

I shot these handholding my 7D. I also tried flash, but generally did not like it. Someone smarter than me on our tour brought a tripod, but with my wife and three kids that would have been too much. And on Saturday afternoon the tour was packed. I need to go back alone at some point alone with better gear for low light. As my friend Joe Nash says, it's the difference between going somewhere and taking photos vs going somewhere TO take photos. Luray Caverns is designed for heavy tourist traffic. Our guide said 3,000 people on a heavy day. WikiPedia says 500,000 in a year (which would imply more than 3,000 on busy days in season). The path through the cave is paved, and the cave is well lit with electric lights. The guide told us they actually wash the cave formations once a year because of all the dirt introduced by the tourists. This was a far cry from our cave experience in Belize where we basically had to swim into a cave and the only light source was our headlamp and the guide's flashlight.

A more significant difference from Belize was in the use of the cave by Native Americans. In Belize, where there is also a dense cave system, the caves were extensively used by the Maya. In Luray Caverns the evidence of earlier human use is very limited and inconclusive. For such a large and spectacular enclosed space this surprises me.

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Cave Formation, Luray Caverns, Luray Virginia

> These incredible caverns were discovered in 1878 and basically saved this little town from bankruptcy. They are about 35 acres underground and have the best cave formations I have ever seen.

Cave Formation, Luray Caverns, Luray Virginia

These incredible caverns were discovered in 1878 and basically saved this little town from bankruptcy. They are about 35 acres underground and have the best cave formations I have ever seen. Sent from Bill Phelps' iPhone

Driving the Tesla Roadster #fire11

I could not resist the opportunity to test drive the electric Tesla Roadster this morning. It is crazy fast, handles like a go kart and the only sounds are the wind and tires. I wish I had it for the day and a long winding mountain road. The electric motor is very fast in bursts (0 - 60mph in 3.9sec), but overheats under sustained load, so unfortunately the car is not feasible to run on a race track - so no Tesla race series for the time being. Too bad because it would be great marketing. 200 mile range between charges, so an expensive toy, but one that is very fun.

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Photo Day for Lyra's Ballet Class

was yesterday and we took our own photo in the garden.  I don't know where she got the idea to pose like this!

Lyra takes ballet at Tiny Dancers.  The kids got to vote on the recital theme, the choices being (unfortunately) a bunch of Disney movie titles. Aladdin was the winner. I have never seen this movie but her class's dance has something to do with finding an oasis. The girls wear these funny little costumes with these old fashioned bathing cap things and they will be dancing to Surfin' Safari by the Beach Boys. How exactly this relates to the theme of Aladdin, I am not quite sure. I guess someone sees a connection between the Oasis and the beach but that is a big stretch for me.  Personally, I would prefer actual classical ballet themes and music, but the kids do have a lot of fun and they sure are cute. Maybe things get a little more traditional in the older classes.

Lyra is going to try a tap/hip hop class this summer.  She *desperately* wants tap shoes, what little girl doesn't?  Not a lot of hip hop fans in this household but I can't wait to see what she learns this summer.  I anticipate some fun video opportunities!

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps