What the Future Holds

Both Max and Alex are working on entries for a Lego contest. The theme: Build the hot new gadget of the future... What will everyone want 50 years from now?


What will people be clamoring for in 50 years? There are so many amazing gadgets already. Sometimes I wish we could decree a cease fire... an agreement not to make any new gadgets until we can catch our collective breaths and fully absorb and appreciate all the technology at our disposal already.

Max envisioned a hand held computer with an attached stylus. "It has an antenna, and you use it for wireless internet." And he adds, "You can use the stylus to type things on the keyboard, which is located in the screen. It has 2 buttons for the power, and the power comes from a processor that collects the energy from sound waves." He says, "Using its processor you can make charging it easier by talking to it."


I think I say this every time the boys show me one of their creations: I only ever made roofless houses, boxes with imagined furnishings and gardens and tiny kitchens. Max made a streamlined, curved frame, a monitor and pen pointed stylus with its own built in holder.


No one diagramed this. He did not follow a plan or instructions. I have a deep and abiding admiration for creativity, for the skill required to envision something and the ability to make it real. Plumbing, wiring, planting a garden, plowing a field, sewing a dress, writing software, baking bread... these are the skills that impress me. I suppose there will be marvelous gadgets 50 years from now. There are marvelous gadgets today. But I hope in 50 years children will still empty a box of parts and pieces and make something all their own, something from the recesses of their hearts and fancy.

We Should Start A Guild


At the market these peppers called my name.
In crisp peppery voices they said, "Psst. Natalie, come here. Check us out. Wouldn't we smell marvelous roasting on your stove-top? Take us home. Make chile rellenos. I promised a friend the recipe, and I think it would be a great one for documenting.


Making chile rellenos is quite an undertaking, and one I haven't tackled in almost a year. The beauty of these fresh Anaheim peppers, the saturated tones of the bells is inspiring.

The light box has its own home on the new school desk, which makes it extra convenient for a quick photo session. It's also comes in very handy for the latest family obsession... producing our own stop-motion animations. Alex, William and Max are thrilled with the new set-up and software. Years ago they mastered the Lego program. It's good they have a chance to reacquaint themselves with this process and art. Look for our YouTube links soon!


The changes we are making to the schoolroom and the garage/sewing room are coming along nicely. The latest ambition is to finish a hanging screen that will keep cats and children inside, while allowing fresh air to enter through the open garage door. Geoff set up a power strip, so the sewing machine is plugged in. I bought a 3rd table, because Alex and Max were drawn to the cleared space and wanted to work on their robotic and mechanical inventions. I like having their company. The room is taking on a creative vibe.


I have never, ever had a cutting table. A cutting table is an awesome tool. Maria and I spent an evening cutting a pattern for pants and a dress. She pinned her bunny drawing and thoughtfully measured and cut her handmade pattern, while I pinned and cut the pieces for her new wardrobe.


Yesterday we ran away and joined the Faire, and we would have stayed forever, living in a canvas tent and wearing tunics, boots, fairy wings and Irish skirts, but we do not have a guild. We really must form our own guild. Cooking, inventing, artists with interests in science and farming, handwork, singing weird songs and relaxing in the shade... we'll make our family crest and heraldry soon.


Max tried archery, which is a favorite activity of his. He is quite skilled with a bow and arrow.


In spite of the 98 degree temperatures we did and saw a lot. Geoff documented some of the elaborate battles and other faire activities. He has a new hobby too. Our guild will include stop motion and slow motion photography. More about our day at the faire later. It's time to open books and sharpen pencils.

LEGOLAND, The Pause That Refreshes


We spent a brickrageous afternoon exploring LEGOLAND California. Holly and Nick and Izzy invited us to join them and they shared their spare tickets with us. Thank you! And we must thank our oh-so awesome Legoland connection, Ms. D, who keeps the family well stocked in spare passes. Someday I will post about our whole happy Legoland history; we have been going since opening day, when Max was just a baby. We are quite fortunate to have this family favorite within an easy drive... it's a good match for us. I need to go back through the archives and sort through the many Lego and Legoland posts... for now the links in this old post are broken... yet another project to fix, someday.


Speaking of "other projects," I am in my usual state of behindedness and have not accomplished a fraction of what I've meant to. Ironically, I have such lofty and idealized visions of how I want to do things, that I often never even leave the starting gate... uhmm, am I mixing metaphors, or just being confusing? What I am trying to say is: I do not get stuff done. And furthermore I do not get stuff done on a really grand scale, a shameful, ridiculous, seemingly unkind grand scale. Sigh.

For example: A few weeks ago I dragged my lazy butt to the mail box and waiting there was a most unexpected package, and I was so touched by it, I got teary and emotional. I was already in a weepy mood, but now I felt loved and weepy, which is much better than just weepy. It was from Tami, of Lemon Tree Tales. I don't know what inspired her but she sent me a crafty-home magazine and a beaded chicken key ring and a stuffed chicken doll pattern. I determined I would let her know the full measure of my gratitude, that I would thank her for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and for the wonderful timing of her cheering gift. And I think about this everyday and then one thing leads to another and then somehow days have become weeks, and I am starting to feel like a disorganized loser... blah, blah, blah...

OKay. So, I am behind, and that was just 1 example of my ineptitude. Geoff is going to suggest I try being less apologetic and down on myself, but I really think "ineptitude" is the fitting description, so I'm sticking with it. I will add this much: I always tell my children that it's never too late to try again, to never give up on making things right. I really want them to realize that all is not lost until we stop trying. Shall I apply this to me? Yes, I think that would be good.


Tami, your care package made me so happy I cried. I read the magazine cover to cover and the chicken key chain is hanging by our front door. The day I found your gift was a hard one and I was immersed in a major pity party. Your thoughtfulness snapped me out of my funk and made me glad. Thank you Tami. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


Maybe this shot is a good one for a life's ups and downs metaphor. Just kidding. Holly's arms are in the air and William is beside her. Max and Nick are braving the front seat of the Technic Coaster's big drop. I have been on this one 6 times, and it's not the drop that freaks me out, it's the wild mouse at the top. The little car is balanced on the narrow track and it zig-zags above the park... urp!


Ahh... I am sighing, because this is like a milestone in our Lego Family Life. Maria's first horse ride as a knight. She's waited to be daring enough to make this adventure.

Lately Maria has added the word either to her lexicon. The amusing part is how she uses it.
"I'm hungry either." = I am hungry too = feed me
"I love you too either." = I love you = hugs and kisses
"I'm not like cleaning it, and I am cleaning it either." = I will not do my part. = I can be just as lazy as you


I'm almost positive I've posted this image before. Chickenblog is almost 6 years old! No wonder it needs updating and archive organizing. 1,088 posts! Whew, that's a lot. The Lego mosaic is really big. It's a funny, familiar story board, that tells the story of a late night request for a cup of water. Parents of children with Legos know this pain all too well.


Actually, I have become quite masterful at navigating the Lego floors around our house. It's no secret that I love my Lego Maniacs. On this day Alex got to participate in a Junior Master Builder contest. I think that besides fun rides, amazing Lego figures and scenes throughout the park, the greatest part of Legoland are all of the opportunities for people to play and create.


It's a fun park. There is a lot to see and do. And even the little ones enjoy themselves.


Towards the end of our visit we sat together and played at the tables, where there are generous bowls full of bricks. It was a nice way to cool off after running around the Hideaways on Castle Hill.


I asked her, "Maria, what did you make? Show mommy."
"Oh," she said proudly, "It's my boat."
I said, "It looks like a chicken."
"No(ohohoh). It's not a chicken either. It's my boat."


Alex asked, "Maria, did you make that?"
"I made this either."
"Oh, that's good. It looks like a bird."


"It's my boat. It's not a bird either."

And now I am going to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again. Never give up. Never surrender. I am behind and late and remiss, but I am not through trying either.

Lego Bricks + Imagination + Patience + Cooperation = Amazing Creations

William, Alex, Max and Maria love to create and build with Lego. I really ought to create a separate label for this topic, as it has come up before. I believe I have been listing all Lego creations under the "Talent" label, which is appropriate. But after taking photographs of just a few of Alex's creations, I realize that the subject of Legos could be its own blog. None of these creations is made from instructions or diagrams or kits... they are each a result of Alex's imagination and ingenuity and a great deal of diligence.


Using bricks and parts from the Mars Mission theme, Alex created a few new vehicles and rovers for exploring Mars. The sets have vehicles with animal names, like the beetle and a bull. Alex created a rabbit. Note the cute bunny ears. I don't think he used the word "cute." He says, "It can fit one astronaut and the upper half can rotate to allow it a wider range of vision."


"The fore and aft panels can be lifted for engine repairs."
That sounds useful, don't you agree?


I like the cute bunny profile, and the suggestion of big bunny teeth.


This is a Hazardous Environment Unmanned Heavy Lifting Vehicle or HEULV. I have an order in for a house cleaning version.


"His tongue extends to grab hazardous materials, such as explosives and radioactive waste," says Alex.


I am thinking how great this could be for scooping up dirty socks and sweeping under the dining table... talk about hazardous duty!


Here's HEULV with his grabbing tongue fully extended.


I would be proud enough to assemble things as elaborate these, but Alex does more than create interesting figures. His creations have purpose and every part has a function. His Mars Scorpion is a transporter that works in conjunction with the HEULV. "It has 6 legs, constructed using Martian technology. The front arms are for drilling and picking up energy crystals. The 3 tubes on the top can carry Martians in cryo-sleep."


"The legs can lower the hull for loading and unloading of cargo."


Check out the doors! This could be a futuristic mini-van. I'll have to ask Alex to design mine with a renewable and sustainable fuel source.


Top Secret Mystery Chest
Alex and William made this decorative and purposeful box together. William built the Eye of Horus. Alex designed and constructed the rest. The pictures do not do this one justice. I wish you could try to unlock its secret for yourself and see up close the engineering, art and ingenuity of this treasure chest.


We like Lego brick mosaics. Mosaics are a unique and beautiful use for the bricks and they take some patience to create.


Turn the box around and you may discover that 2 of the decorative pieces are keys. But keys to what?


Remove both keys and look for the keyhole to unlock the secret.


Hmmm... what have we here?


Nothing needs to be forced or yanked. If you are on the right path doors and locks open with ease. That takes masterful engineering.


Choose the right key and turn in the right direction and you are almost in.


Alex had to design, construct and reconstruct the lock at least 6 times. He wanted the mechanisms to work precisely.


A hush falls over the archaeologists...


and we are in the treasure chamber!


I think this is Max's favorite part. Max loves treasures.


Here are the tumblers. I love that Alex knows how things work. He based it off the same design used in safes. So awesome.


Riding the currents in his Steampunk Gyrocopter, Alex's future is as wide and clear as the skies he flies.

Suddenly It Is Spring


William initiated this Spring cleaning weeks ago and they are still at it. They are methodically, diligently sorting and organizing Lego bricks, components, characters and gears.
I tried to get a picture that included the cats; the cats like to tiptoe through the maze and find a spot to roll in, but they came to me when I showed up with my camera. This is Alex's room. This is the first time the boys have had their own rooms. In the "TreeHouse" their beds were in the dining room/kitchen/living room. In our "Rancho" they slept in one room and played in another. At "Neptune" they shared a room in the little house we had. Maria shares our room. I think the boys would just as soon share a room as not, or at least they agree that they enjoy sharing a playroom, er a "Lego Room."

They love Lego bricks. Love. Don't talk to me about the expense or the waste or the volume... I have a thoughtful and tested response to every negative comment I have ever heard against Legos. Even Maria uses Lego bricks to make things and she brightens when her brothers invite her into their world. She is very helpful with sorting and finding heads. I imagine she will be an engineer, like her brothers, able to comprehend the function of gears and pistons, and how to increase the speed of vehicles. Maybe she will have Alex's design skills, or some of William's creative abilities. She'll be lucky if she can be as methodical and disciplined as Max is with his creations.

Sometimes the house gets very quiet, and I call their names... William? Alex? Max? Maria?
Then I hear back, "We're up here. Maria's with us."
They are playing together. They often do.
They plan and design together, and share ideas for future creations.
They read aloud to each other and have sleep-overs in each other's bedrooms.
No, they are not always perfect angels... they get moody and mean, but it's quite rare and even understandable.
Truthfully, I think they are 4 of my favorite people in the world. I love their company and their ideas, their attitudes.
I love that they care for each other and that they have no qualms about sharing their love.
I marvel at their intelligence and curiosity, their appetite for learning.
Even when I think of our challenges, the areas we need to improve, the setbacks we want to overcome, I think that I am not so disappointed or dismayed. They fill my heart with so much pride and joy, that I can only expect good things, bright paths. Perhaps our paths are unconventional, and maybe we cannot always see the most direct route, but at the end of the day, you will find us together and happy, and I would not want to have it any other way.

Everyday Life 30 :: 14

William entertains Maria, making clever Lego creations from the pieces she hands to him.

Have you ever suddenly noticed things around your house that you see everyday, and yet never see? I get that a lot. Maybe because we have a lot of stuff, which one might expect considering there are 6 creative and curious residents here. Perhaps I don't notice some things, because my mind is so preoccupied with managing this full house, listening to 5 voices and my own, looking for the lost cat, trying to keep life in balance.


So this was a fun variation on the Everyday theme... looking at objects illuminated, separated from their mantles, bookshelves, dusty corners. I like how funny I feel realizing that I have seen this little pumpkin everyday since October, and yet I hadn't seriously reflected on what it meant, what it signifies... suddenly, in late January, a pumpkin seems strangely out of context, and yet recalling the happy way I felt bringing it home is good. I remember anticipating Thanksgiving, hoping to conjure up the warmth and connectedness of an imagined harvest.


Three tiny chairs sit on a shelf by our front door, so I definitely see these everyday. And what do they recall? My childhood, keeping tiny things, pottery and dolls, things from Mexico, Olvera Street, Guatemala. Tiny things that I could easily pack and carry away. And I am reminded, by the sight of these chairs, that someday I want to make a house... maybe only a doll house, one that I fill with sentimental objects and pretty things.


Legos. I certainly see a lot of Legos. These clever little bricks and gears are the tools and media that foster creativity, ingenuity, perseverance, industry, cooperation, diligence, planning, design, engineering and pleasure in our children. This is the 4th prototype of a dragon that Alex has been working on, off and on, for about 3 years. It walks. It's mouth opens and closes, with a flicking tongue. The motor is in the tail. This is not from a kit, or a tutorial, and he did not consult NASA or M.I.T. It is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen.


My new angle on Everyday Life, is thanks in part to "Sallad Says..." and the lightbox I made.


I am seeing things in a whole new light.

Bird? What Bird?


This is a ruse.
This cat wants to eat play with the bird.
He wants it so bad he can taste it.
Bad kitty. Bad.
And sitting on the table too. Double offense.


We wondered if he was ever going to sing, and now he has started singing and it's at the fun stage, when it's novel and charming. He whirrs and clicks and chirps. When I visit him he turns his head attentively. Steve? I dunno... I think he needs a pirate-y name or something celestial, like "Pluto." Geoff offered "Trogdor." Benjamin might suggest "Lunch."

Guess what? My computer is my own again, almost. William still needs to do his English homework on the Mac, but Geoff is reveling in an early Christmas. A bright, shiny red laptop arrived yesterday and today he is loading it up with his stuff...insert geek jargon here, if you know any. Can I just say that I am thrilled for him? Not just because I don't have to share any more, but because Geoff is the most worthy person I know. He deserves a shiny, brand new, super powerful computing machine. His laptop before was a second-hand, patched-up work horse with a tricky hinge. And, he drives a very old beater of a vehicle with many alarming features and a questionable safety record + a smell. So, you see, I really do like it that he has a new laptop, and I would be even happier if Santa would see fit to getting him into a better ride too.


Now I have more computer time, assuming I continue to neglect housework, so I can share all the news. News like Maria knowing all of her colors. For a few months she enjoyed rattling-off the names of colors, a rather hit or miss process. Having three children before, I knew she would get it right sooner or later, so I never drill her on facts and figures. In the last 24 hours she hit the Rainbow Connection and names all the colors with unfailing accuracy. Brown pajamas. Purple flower. Orange pumpkin. Pink polka dots. Red singing dress. White hat. Green frog. She even tells us our favorite colors. Cute-cute!


Did I mention our full and fun weekend? Uh-huh, we went to Legoland! Or, The Mothership, as it is sometimes referred to around here. We know people in high places and fortunately they are kind and generous, so when family came to town we were able to make these extra special plans for all of us to play! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins... all of us together, enjoying quality time in the sun, spinning around, getting wet, having fun.


It is so much fun to be in a place like Legoland with people in the mood to play... and everyone was quite enthused about boat rides, however slow, and roller coasters, and obstacle courses, robotic arm rides, apple fries, and water fun.


I can still hear my mom laughing, laughing! when her two boys took her out for a spin in a BIONICLE Blaster.


Even wilder? Choose your wild level, ride intensity on this robotic arm ride. On a scale of 1 through 5, you can decide how much spinning, inverting and revolving you need.


I've been up to a 3, which was plenty disorientating for me, but these two went all the way!


And while you are onboard, trying to retain your composure, people on the sidelines can activate water bombs that detonate in your face. William took a few hits, but Geoff was the most soaked rider.


It was a beautiful day... a regular occurrence in So Cal, where it can be autumn one day and summer the next. Max took Hans and Gretchen through the Hideaways obstacle course. They are an athletic pair and I think Max was very happy to have such willing and capable companions.


Bright sun? No, that's Maria's smile. Bill and Geoff took the two youngest explorers through the mazes, across rickety bridges and down slides.


After warming-up, and devouring some apple fries, we were ready to splash. This spot is fun to play in and fun to watch others playing in too. Water is wonderful.


I was hoping it would be warm enough for Maria and her cousin Dominic to enjoy the water, and it was. The added bonus was watching my brothers and Gretchen get in to the game. They stood beneath the ginormous bucket...


and they got soaked!


A bell rings before the bucket spills, but when you are standing beneath it, like Gretchen, Alex, Max and William were, it's very hard to hear the warning bell and before you know it...


you are part of the waterfall.


Of course once you are drenched, there's no point in trying to stay away from the water slide!


More days like this would be most welcome. Not amusement parks (not every day,) but time with my brothers and their wives, my nephew, my folks. Time to share new experiences and recall times past.

It's never too hot to lavish pride on our children...

William has always had impressive Etch A Sketch capabilities. He can do faces and phrases and even Lego BIONICLE characters. Trust me; this is a good rendition of Tahu, the red Toa of Fire.



Here is a comparison of the model and his Pocket Etch A Sketch portrait.

Wow! Holly left me a very thoughtful gift in my email this morning! Check out our new header for Chicken Blog. Using pictures I took, she did some graphic magic, a specialty of her's, and voila! Then Geoff added his technical magic, (2 geniuses-one family!) and now we are one sharp looking Chicken Blog.

Chicken Blog goes LEGO!



What a day we had! We cannot thank our friend Deanne
enough for the amazing Legoland day she arranged for us.


Tahu Nuva, a Big Red Bionicle Figure

Alex's favorite Lego theme, Bionicle, just got its own corner in the Park and Deanne invited us to a sneak preview party with more goodies and extras than we ever dreamed of.

Besides including Holly, Nicholas, Kristin and Jordan and the rest of us, we were also treated to breakfast and early admission to ride "Bionicle Blaster!"



William, Alex and Max are more than delighted with an ordinary day at Legoland (aka: The Mother Ship,) but this day really was exceptional, for us all. The boys enjoy stopping by the Lego lab where master builders are busy at work on product development and assembly of new creations for use in the Park. On this day we were all allowed behind the scenes to meet the master builders themselves, see the 5 million Legos they work with, witness new creations and be simply in awe of the creativity and fun.



Alex aspires to be a master builder, and I think William wouldn't mind working there either. Okay, even Geoff made some job inquiries. We were able to ask questions and explore a bit, and marvel at all the cool stuff like; adjustable tables, aisles and aisles of organized Legos, and stuff...just really cool stuff!


Notice: 'All over the floor' is not how the Master Builders do it!

Thanks to Chicken Blog, the boys were able to share some of their creations and collections. We opened up the web page where I had posted images of William and Alex's efforts.


Imagine our surprise when we saw ourselves as mini Lego Models!

It was hard to pull ourselves away, but we wouldn't want to delay the progress of the master builders, so we did eventually return to seeing the rest of the fun sights and rides, like Safari adventures, shows in the Fourth Dimension, and other California sights.


Mini Land provides all the best sights.


And on a clear day, it's possible to see San Francisco,
from Mann's Chinese Theater.

Undo. "Undo" is a feature I just discovered on the computer. "Undo" is powerful magic and I am already disappointed to realize that I cannot apply its effects to my daily life. I wrote a paragraph that was not going any where; it lacked interest and direction, so I deleted it. Then I thought "Drat, maybe I should have kept the general concept," and that is when I found the undo prompt and *ping* everything reverted to its former state.

I would like to undo...

the moment the dentist drilled through my sinus.
the school picture I took in 9th grade, and tenth.
enrolling for hula lessons.
skiing on ice, the second time.
attempting to cheat on a pop quiz in 1984
3:40 a.m. February 14, 2001...forgetting my purse as we began a 16 hour drive home from a very small town in Mexico...

Of course, if we can undo the little things that snag our thoughts or give us regret, then perhaps we miss out on evolvement, growth, sympathy, enlightenment and even humiliation. Chaos, missteps, even poor judgment can lead to marvelous insights and understanding. I suppose I should not waste my time wishing I could undo every regrettable event of my life (obviously there is no sound reason to excuse the dental incident...argghh.) The great choices and brilliant ideas, the dumb moves, and shameful goof ups have all served to bring me here, to this place, with the people I know and love. I would not undo anything.

And speaking of "people I know and love," my boys, the artists and scientists, are always very busy. They are happy here at El Rancho. They have room to play and work. Room to make goof ups of their own, but mostly they are making wonderful discoveries, learning and inventing.


Last Spring, when Max was 3 he drew and colored one of the baby chicas.
He wants to post his picture, to share.


Alex loves Legos, especially Bionicles. He is collecting Bionicles
and keeps them displayed on his desk and a shelf he chose.


These are some of the Bionicle Masks that Alex has collected.


William spent two days designing and building this large scale pirate model.
The head, arms and legs are solid, and the chest is hollow (to save on bricks.)
He included such all Lego details as teeth, a shoe lace, a hoop earring, hairy chest, and
silver coins in his pouch.


Captain Cutlass stands 17.5" tall.


Actually Nena hasn't made or collected much at all, she isn't even a son of mine.
She is just a cat in love with her cat nip laced scratch box. She stayed on it for 3 hours
and left it soaked with drool.