Hawkfest!

After we got back from the US, we left the very next day for Hawkfest, the musical festival put on by the 1970s "space rock" band Hawkwind.

It was held in field in the Devon countryside, and is a very small and family friendly festival; to buy tickets, you had to have a "Hawkpass," like Jackson's above.

It was Jackson's first time camping! He loved being in our big new tent.


There were lots of kid activities, such as bubbles and weird sculptures to play with.


There were also lots of other kids, who all looked after the littler ones!

During Hawkwind's performance, Jackson, Mama and Daddy had a picnic outside the main tent along with the other families with noise-sensitive babies and dogs.

Jackson really got into the music!

On the drive home we stopped off at a beach on the Dorset coast. Jackson wanted to go swimming so bad!

(Apologies for the tilted and low-quality videos!)

Jackson's Frog Pool

We had a great time at our music fest this weekend, and now we're back in Brighton waiting for Lili to arrive tomorrow.

Here are a few more great moments from our time at Grandaddy and Noname's.


Jackson loved to relax in his frog pool!

Cows N Ducks

We are back from the US! Mama, Daddy, and Jackson had such a great time seeing Grandaddy, Noname, Uncle Chris, Jerry and Kay and other friends and relatives (and animals).

While Daddy, Mama and Uncle Chris drove up to North Arkansas to meet up with Anne and explore the area, Jackson had fun in Magnolia with Grandaddy and Noname. He got to meet some cows and ducks:


There are other bits and pieces to post from our trip to America, but we are off to Devon for the weekend for a camping at a music festival, so this will have to do for now!

Stair Ascent

Jackson has taught himself to climb up a whole staircase now. Though it will probably be a little while before he figures out how to get back down!

Jackson + Horses = Fun

Last Thursday we went over to Noname and Grandaddy's friends Russ and Linda's house.

They keep horses (and Linda rides competitively), and invited us out to visit them.

Jackson (and Grandaddy and Uncle Chris) got to ride Tiffany Two Spots, who was very patient.

We also got to meet Jerry (who is deaf), Andy (who is making a comeback from an injury), Rainy (a new rescue horse), and another horse whose name we've forgotten!

Thanks, Russ and Linda, and thanks Uncle Chris for the taking the video!

Hangin' With Uncle Chris

Jackson finally got to meet his Uncle Chris, who is visiting the US from China.


They are having fun together.

Cool Cats

Gracie

Jackson

Baxter

Jackson at 11 Months

Jackson turned 11 months old on Saturday!

He can do lots of things, including climbing up stairs, standing for a few seconds on his own, and saying a few words, the first of which was the 3-syllabled "banana."

Noname and Grandaddy had a little birthday party for him with cupcakes and presents, including a little red wagon.

Jackson's 1st 4th

Jackson and Mama are in America visiting Noname and Grandaddy!

It was Independence Day on Friday, so we celebrated America's severed ties with Jackson's home country with Uncle Jerry and Aunt Kay.

We had barbecued chicken and sausage, corn salad, black eyed peas, dilled potatoes, garlic bread and homegrown tomatoes, not to mention cheesecake and peaches and ice cream. Jackson tried it all!

Then we went swimming.

Uncle Jerry and Aunt Kay brought Jackson a card with kittens and his very own puppy.

We all had a good time shooting the breeze and catching up.

More From Italy

Here are some more shots from our Tuscan holiday.

We saw lots of local wildlife, including lizards, fireflies, butterflies, bees and, down the path from our villa, a peacock, chickens, dogs, and mules. In villages, we saw lots of cats.


This innocuous looking al fresco meal gave Mama and Daddy food poisoning later.


In Monteriggioni, the towers of which Dante modelled part of his description of hell. We reckon the temperature had something to do with his inspiration as well.


A refreshing drink with a moustached man in Gimignano. (Or, our modern interpretation of La Pieta.)


Jackson learned to climb up the steep stairs at our villa!


He loved wandering all around the house.


And exhausted himself in the heat.