Recent Familiy Happenings

I hope any faithful reader of this blog tries out the "blogfeed via Atom"
button on the bottom of the left column menu. I tend to post in 'bursts'
every three or so weeks, it seems -- whenever the list of blog-possibles
gets too long..
Anyway, here goes catching up!
First some general news. We had two great weekend trips to Sonoma
County recently, one for an evening event at New College North in
Santa Rosa that celebrated intentional community in the form of the
new Green Valley Village. We overnighted at Friends Home, a Quaker-
run retirement community in town, and enjoyed the half-dozen residents
we encountered. Quakers and their fellow-travellers can be relied upon
to be righteous folk, in the best meaning of the word 'righteous' -
'lighteous?' -- 'compassionate?' - you get the drift.
The Green Valley visit the next day was truly inspiring - a new intentional
community just a few miles from where Morningstar Ranch was shot down
in flames by the County establishment almost exactly 40 years ago.
Hopefully times have changed and officialdom now realizes that intentional communities have been part of the fabric of life there since the
1850s, and will treat them with greated understanding -- and enthusiasm!
The April 1st weekend saw us back in Occidental for 'Silly Day' - or
'Clown Day'/'Fools Day,' which gets better every year in my opinion,
although I think we could use some dedicated face painters to include
the kids more. This year it also coincided with a local artists' opening
and the new Harmony Union Cultural Center, which allowed us to greet
many friends on one location.
The parade on Sunday was just great, and it felt as it the town merchants
were getting behind it with enthusiasm. Sausages were being barbecued
outdoors, and a bellydancing troupe stood danced on the roof of one store
while throwing lacey undies into the crowd. An electric band supplanted
the acoustical instruments of the paraders, so there was something for
everyone.
We forgot our camera, but I'm attaching a few photos by John Shiflet.
Polish your red nose, and plan to come next year!