The students will soon be departing Stanford but it appears they’re trying to scratch out some last of the term enjoyment at Lake Lagunita now that the weather has finally turned nice. The Dawn Jogger spotted rows of bright blue lawn chairs spread out on the grass near one of the student housing buildings. And the rowboat first spotted last week has been joined by a raft. A good just after dawn outing…
The Dawn Jogger had a nice jog around the Dish land this morning, walking down the hills so as to not aggravate her cranky knee. The Dish is now mainly golden, but the vegetables in Grace’s garden are green, and, in the case of the lettuce, reddish in hue. She’d bought the seedlings at Menlo’s farmers market and this afternoon harvested the first head to give to trusted repairman Kevin, who was tending to a few things around the house. She wanted to get one last photo before one by one the heads will be eaten…
While Stanford officially no longer considers Lake Lagunita a recreational lake, recreational users usually make their way to the large body of water on campus during the spring term. This year there have been more bonfires and left behind beer cans than boats. Maybe the weather has been a factor; it’s hardly been balmy boating weather.
This morning the Dawn Jogger spotted the first rowboat of the season, tethered along the banks of the quickly receding lake. It was always the chosen spot for a duck family – dad, mom and two almost teenage ducklings. A nice late spring scene on cloudy but rainless morning…
When the Dawn Jogger moved into her Menlo Park neighborhood 21 years ago, she wasn’t working at the time and went walking at least once a week with her across-the-street neighbor Kay and Kay’s wonderful dog Milo. They resurrected that tradition today. Along the way the paused to look at two trees that are so totally in bloom that you can hardly see the leaves. For the moment, they remain mystery trees…
The Dawn Jogger feels it’s impossible to follow up her post of June 2. That’s made more difficult by the fact that she’s just been walking various loop neighborhood routes and there’s not a lot new and different to see. That changed a little bit today when she slightly altered her route and came across a front yard pole that had been dedicated to Dad. As it’s not Father’s Day, she’s guessing maybe it’s Dad’s birthday. Or there is just a houseful of grateful children…
Giants first baseman Audrey Huff promised his wife, who was born on June 2, a break out game. So he hit three home runs today against St. Louis. The Dawn Jogger kept promising her good friends Terye (they were in Miss Sutow’s second grade at Hillview!) and David that grandson James Henry would be born on their birthdays. She really didn’t think it could happen – but it did.
He debuted this morning shortly after 8:00 am, weighing 7 lbs., 14 oz. and measuring 20 inches. She’d driven over to Oakland around 9:00 pm yesterday to pick up Grace, who spent the night. When shown a photo of her little brother on Facebook this morning, her succinct reply was “I don’t know what to say.”
But before she met her little brother – and housemate to stay! – she and the DJ spent a few hours at the Oakland Zoo (that’s why she has paw print on her hand) where, somewhat ironically, she became a “big girl.” That milestone was signified by the fact that she learned how to pull the stick in her airplane ride back enough that the plane “flew,” rather than circle around at ground level.
So June 2 will remain forever a date of milestones and birthdays. Meanwhile Grace is spending the last night of her life at home where she’s always ruled the roost. Tomorrow that changes forever when James comes home to stay…
The weather in the Bay Area continues to be cool and damp – more Portland style than San Francisco Peninsula. So the Dawn Jogger looks for cheer on her early morning outings to offset the gloom. Today it came in the form of a male and female Mallard that had taken over a pool of water near one of the Lake Lagunita storms drains. It undoubtedly had more depth and privacy than the Lake, which is more like a skimmed pond. She thinks they’re handsome pair…
The Dawn Jogger was not out anywhere near dawn this morning, choosing to sleep in on the Memorial Day holiday. So by the time she got out to Big Dish for a loop walk, there were lots of others pounding the pavement, particularly families. As she made her way down the northernmost trail she came upon a sunflower affixed to a post with a note attached. She took a peek at what was written. Sam was congratulated for making it this far and told to now put on the blindfold. What happened next she’ll never know…
Ultimately the choice was easy for the Dawn Jogger. She could plaster yet another photo of the Big Dish, which she walked early this morning. Or she could instead use the pretty picture of Grace who had come to admire the fruits of her labor in the vegetable garden she planted at Easter. Her carrots, beans and sunflowers had all popped up…
Stanford University has also had an eclectic group of cars, especially those that are golf-cart sized. They’re used to scoot around campus on roads that aren’t open to regular automobiles. This morning the Dawn Jogger spotted an amusing looking little electric car that was plugged in and getting charged, all the better to be ready for the day’s duties. She didn’t know at the time that it was going to be a big day for cars. In the afternoon she spotted a gorgeous 1936 Buick Roadmaster in downtown Menlo. “Roadmaster” really does say it all…
 | Amy Bayersdorfer on End of the year, beginning of… |
 | Jim on Good Feast of the Immaculate C… |
 | Alice Carrott on Dawn jog eclipsed by visit wit… |
| Fowl frenzy on the F… on That’s Mr. Gobble Gobble… | |
 | Sue on Bye to Britain with breakfast… |
Dawn Jogger 2011 