Wed, May 5th - 9:21PM

I cleaned a lot of the videos off my 'puter and was able to upload this.

Wed, May 5th - 4:10PM

Today was the Western Festival in Elk Grove. I was totally exhausted from the last two days, but dutifully got into the car and we went on down to Bernadette's.  They've been painting in the living room, and one wall is burgundy and charcoal gray. Cave colors. Bernadette has the opposite problem to us, we have a dark living room, and she has too much light.

I'm struck by the different approaches we've all used for painting: I suddenly realized there were possibilities beyond pale colors after visiting Steve, but I still kept it fairly light.
Monica went mad in the paint store, a different color in each room. I got to see them better this time --- it was all too dark at Christmas. I couldn't even see the color (yellow) in their bedroom and they have no overhead light. So I've coordinated through the rooms we've done, Monica played with a palette, and Bernadette and Rob have dark in their room and the living areas and bright in the kids' rooms.  As long as the people who live there like it, right?  I've defended my pink fireplace by pointing out that I'm not selling the place, and no matter what color I had, the new owners would repaint anyway.

Anyway.  We all went together in Bernadette's car. I managed to get into and out of the back seat!  She found an ideal parking place and we walked down close to the reviewing stand.  Gareth spent a lot of time walking back and forth and a lot of time looking at stuff. He seemed stunned to see a real, noisy, BIG, fire truck.  He also took in horses and the Shriners go-karts. I think he eventually decided he'd seen enough.  It's a lot to process.  I took him back to the car when the parade was over and he was crying, tired.

But then we went to the festival. He spent it all in the stroller, which worked out well. He got a balloon and we got some toys and stuff for him.  Gareth wasn't interested in any food except for the graham crackers we had along. I had a pepper beef sandwich which was very good.  After 90 minutes or so, we went back. Again, I started back with G. first and just got him into the carseat when Bernadette, Joanna, and Rich got there. Gareth managed to stay awake till we got home so he could climb in Daddy's lap for his nap.

Unfortunately, I messed up the pictures. I didn't copy them before I deleted them. I had a few more from Happy Hollow and then today's. I had gotten sidetracked, apparently, admiring my duckling picture.  (Gareth smiled at the ducklings.) Grumble.
Bernadette got some, though.