Tanabata

It's the seventh of the seventh, which in Japan (I've just remembered) is celebrated as "Tanabata-matsuri", the star festival, after a legend in which two divided lovers are permitted to meet as stars in the milkyway on this one night of the year. 

I was obsessed with Japan as a child, and at least once held a Tanabata party in the back garden.  Friends came dressed in international costumes, and we tied wishes to a tree branch, which is what Japanese people traditionally do.

I can't remember what I wished for at the age of nine or ten, nor what I wished for years later when I got to celebrate Tanabata for real as a student in Japan.  There are always little of-the-moment things to wish for (I wish the Girl's passport would arrive!) and huge things (world peace etc), but other than that...? 

Well, all good wishes to you!

The ice is right

I delivered the kids to friends' houses this morning and then set off to Siena College for the inaugral meeting of the New York Capital Region Fair Trade Coalition.  It was an interesting gathering - a mixture of retailers, advocates, not-for-profit representatives, educators, and volunteers.  I think we'll mostly act as a support network for each other as we pursue the activities we're already engaged in, but we'll also find opportunities to work together, welcome others to join us and generally try to give fair trade a higher profile.  It's exciting - this is the first regional (as opposed to single town-or-city-based) fair trade initiative in the USA, so we're blazing a bit of a trail here.

This afternoon I managed to get the Girl to a skating lesson.  It doesn't seem at all the right time of year for ice-skating, but actually when it's 89F and humid out, a rink is quite a comfortable place to be.  I sat in the bleachers and chatted to a "skate-mom" - she has three figure-skating daughters - and learnt with growing apprehension just how much time and money it's possible to spend if you really get into this sport.  One of the daughters had just bought a new pair of skates that cost $1,200!  And unlike a quality musical instrument or whatever, skates wear out...  Yikes.  Still, I think there's a way to go before we're aspiring to that sort of investment.

On show, and no show

I had business at the library this morning, setting up a fair trade exhibit in the foyer.  I'd borrowed craft items and other products from various vendors and churches and managed to put together quite a nice collection that demonstrates local commitment and also illustrates some important aspects of fair trade - safe working conditions, employing marginalised people etc. 

The librarian who gave me the key to the glass cabinet said she recognised me "from that Our Town program on TV" (it was broadcast again the other night).  Ha ha!  Who'd have thought anyone would ever think of me as "that person off the telly"?

Anyway.  The display will be on show for the next month, and I hope it will generate some interest. 

Important P.S. for UK readers:
I have finally managed to have a conversation with someone about the Girl's delayed passport.  Not good news - we should expect to wait another seven weeks before we see it again.  "Unexpectedly high demand" for passports is what they're saying, but I think "major screw-up" is more likely.  16-week turnaround for a passport?  That's ridiculous.  Whatever, it doesn't look like we'll be visiting the UK this month after all.  If it seems like we'll be able to make it at the end of the August, obviously we'll let you know...

Bang to rights

Though we could have gatecrashed a British friend's annual Independence Day "runners up" party (which might have justified the title "Third Fourth, on the fourth") in the end those of us still at home today mostly stayed here.  It has been a perfect day for neighbours round about to host barbecues, and for us to laze on the lawn and splash about in the pool, and listen to fireworks going off after nightfall.

The Man adds... Sale of fireworks to the public is strictly forbidden in New York State.  Fireworks can be purchased in next door Pennsylvania - there are apparently many stores near the state border -  but only by people who are not residents of Pennsylvania (unless they have a special permit) and who intend to take them out of the state!

None of this confusion in the Live Free or Die state, New Hampshire, where you are pretty much free to endanger your life however you so choose - still no seatbelt requirement there except for under-18s, no need to wear a helmet if you ride a motorbike, and of course, fireworks a-plenty.

The main public display in the centre of Albany will no doubt have attracted a large crowd, but we have avoided it since we were warned that it takes an hour to get out of the car parks afterwards. Probably sounds like a normal day in Cambridge, but we are not used to that sort of thing anymore.

Second Fourth, on the third

We were invited to another 4th July party today. 

In contrast to yesterday, but in common with much of this summer, this morning it tipped with rain - monsoon-like bucketloads of the stuff, and the house shook with all the thunder.  But the weather had calmed down by the afternoon, and by the time we joined the other guests at the party it was mostly quite warm and pleasant to be outside.  Adults stood about chatting over cheese and crackers and, in some cases, raw clams from Long Island. Kids and dogs happily swam in a small lake.

We didn't stay late this time - or at least, most of us didn't. We left the Girl behind, enjoying homemade sausages. Apparently she and a bunch of other children will be camping out, so fingers crossed it will stay dry tonight and they won't have to wring each other out in the morning.

Fourth on the second

It has been a beautiful day here.  Nice and sunny for the farmers' market this morning, and staying warm and bright this afternoon for a pre-4th July party in Schenectady at the home of one of the Man's colleagues.

There was a pool, which the kids enjoyed, and garden games including a baseball practice machine.  We were surprised at how well our children, not famous for their love of baseball, performed with a bat.  The Exiles brought along their genuine French petanque set, and a tense game ensued:  Man & Exile versus me & a friendly biker who'd never played before.  Guess who won?

The festivities went on until well after dark.  We hadn't planned on staying so late, but we were having fun so we did.  We all felt quite sleepy on the car journey home.

Whatever floats your boat

The children have spent the week doing some of the things they like best.

The Girl has been attending her favourite farm camp. She's spent her mornings hanging out with goats, crafting a dream catcher, hanging out with goats, making cheese, hypnotising chickens (seriously!) and hanging out some more with goats. She has had a blissful time.

The Boy has had his buddy over nearly every day.  As well as enjoying swimming in the pool, they've been using it to sail puffle ships on.  They've crafted several of these - some entirely out of cardboard wrapped in tape (not so seaworthy); others combining card on top of plastic containers; and today they made one from balsawood.  Some of the puffles have ended the week cleaner than they began it, but they've certainly earned their sea-legs (or would have, if they had legs).