A Tulip Farm in Northern California

Photos and text by Jennifer.

John Bos is the son of immigrants who moved to California from The Netherlands in 1959.

Decades later, John was standing outside the family's Modesto dairy, admiring some tulips his mother had grown.

Then, John remembers, "My mom says, in her Dutch accent, 'Why don't you grow some and sell them for cut flowers?'"

And he did.

John started small, planting a couple hundred bulbs and sharing the flowers with family and friends.

Now, he plants 100,000 bulbs a year - imported from Holland - at his Modesto-based operation, Dutch Hollow Farms.

I had the chance to visit Dutch Hollow a few times recently on assignments for The Record newspaper and San Joaquin Lifestyles magazine.

What I didn't know about growing tulips is what an artisan's touch it demands: Throughout the short season, John has to carefully manage the sunlight - warm Valley winters can trick flowers into opening too soon, before their stems have had a chance to stretch.

There are easier flowers to grow and easier ways to grow them, but John believes Dutch Hollow's big, vibrant blooms owe to his hand-crafted approach.

John's flower stand is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And this weekend (March 7, 8 and 9), to celebrate the peak of the tulip season, Dutch Hollow Farms is hosting TulipMania, where visitors can pick their own tulips to plant at home or to trim into bouquets.

You can read more about Dutch Hollow Farms in The Record or the next issue of San Joaquin Lifestyles.

Super Easy Princess Dress

Alice wants to grow her hair so long it touches the ground. She'd like to toss it out of a tower window and let people climb on up. She thinks that would be fun.

I'm still hoping she outgrows (ha!) Mission Rapunzel before she realizes the mismatch between her vision and reality. But for now, anyway, she is committed to the fantasy.

So, when I saw a long blond wig in the toy aisle  the other day, I thought it would make a fun little treat for her.

And of course it would be even more fun if she had a Rapunzel dress to go with it, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money and didn't have a lot of time to make one.

Then I remembered the most important lesson I've learned about making princess dresses: They're not too difficult.

At least, not necessarily. If all you're looking for is a fun addition to the dress-up wardrobe, the gown doesn't have to be a perfect facsimile. With the right color palette, all you really need is to suggest a few signature details - kids' imaginations will take them the rest of the way.

For Alice's version of Rapunzel, those details were the sleeves and lace-up bodice. With that in mind, I tried to think up the simplest foundation possible and decided to try making a dress out of two T-shirts. This gave us a dress that is softer than most store-bought costumes, and a lot easier to get into.

It came out pretty well, I think! You can get this done in a couple of hours. Here's what you need:

• A T-shirt sized to fit your child
• A T-shirt sized to fit an adult. (I used a medium)
• Basic sewing supplies
• Embellishments
• Quarter-inch thick elastic

(The shirts I found were darker than I would have liked, but I got them both for $5 total, so I figured it was a good compromise).

• First, cut across the child-sized shirt, a couple of inches below the arm holes. This will be the bodice.
• The adult shirt will be the skirt. Decide how long you want it to be, then cut across the top of the shirt accordingly. For Alice's dress, I cut the adult-sized shirt right at the base of the arm openings.

Cut each shirt, roughly where indicated above.

• Depending on the size difference between your bodice and skirt pieces, you might need to gather the skirt a bit. If so, do that now. Then, sew the two pieces, right sides and raw edges together, with a 5/8 seam allowance. Using a zigzag stitch will make it easier to work with the knit fabric.
• Instead of trimming the excess fabric, stitch another line into the seam allowance, about 3/8 of an inch away from the original seam. You're creating a little casing for elastic to give the dress some shape - make sure to leave a 2-inch opening.
• Using some of your child's existing clothing as a guide - leggings work well - measure off a length of elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end and thread it through the casing you created. Sew the elastic ends together, then sew the opening shut.

That's your basic dress.

Now you get to add some details.

The lace-up bodice and slashed sleeves were beyond the scope of what I wanted and had time to do with Alice's Rapunzel dress. Instead, I tried to suggest those details with some pretty trim and ribbon. Finally, I added a little embellishment to the hem and neckline.

She was convinced.

I'd love to try this with other costumes. Cinderella and Snow White could be really fun, but those ladies are already represented in our dress-up drawer, so perhaps Tiana or Belle? Princess Anna might be too tricky for this method, but I bet you could pull off a credible Elsa. And why not non-princesses like Wonder Woman or Super Girl?

Update: We tried an Elsa version.

Name a Roach for Your Valentine

I had some disappointing news today. Nothing at all serious or, in the long run, even important. Just a small frustration that left me feeling a little deflated.

Until I discovered that you can name a cockroach for your valentine at Micke Grove Zoo.

Now I am beside myself.

The zoo explains:

"Do you have a love that can't be squashed? ... Nothing says 'forever' like a cockroach. Not only are they strong and resilient, they've also been around for about 300 million years. What better way to tell someone that you hope your love will last forever than to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach in their honor?"

Right?

I love it.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are among the more than 50 species at Micke Grove. Naming a roach costs $10, a tax-deductible donation that supports zoo operations and educational programming. Your (thrilled!) recipient will receive a personalized digital certificate and recognition at the zoo. It's a limited-time offer, friends. Order here.

Five Ways to Celebrate the Winter Olympics with Kids

Alice was born just before the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

And late, late at night, when it seemed like everyone else in the whole world was sleeping, she and I watched re-broadcasts of ice dancing and ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating. Foggy as my head was at the time, those are some my clearest (and tenderest) memories of her newborn days.

It's hard to believe that was four years ago. It's hard to believe she's 4!

We've been watching some of this year's competitions together - she's old enough now to take a more active interest. (The athletes in women's snowboarding look like they're flying, she says. I agree).

Has your family been tuning in? Here are a few more ways you can enjoy the games with little ones:

1. Lace up your skates
Stockton's Oak Park Ice Arena has public skate sessions as well as various classes and clinics throughout the week, including beginners programs for ice skating and hockey.

2. Take a picture book tour of Russia
The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library's collection includes quite a few children's books that are set in Russia or based on Russian folktales. I have my eye on "The Blessing Cup" by Patricia Polacco, "The Wind that Wanted to Rest" by Sheldon Oberman, and "Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls" by Jana Dillon.

3. Follow a local Olympian
It's fun to root for a local hero. News10 makes it easy with a handy roundup of Northern California Olympic athletes.

4. Look for snow
A nice place to try to find some is Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

5. Watch a hockey game in person
Stockton Thunder is hosting Star Wars Night on Feb. 15. No kidding.

Five Great Books to Read Aloud with Kids

The other night, when I tiptoed into Alice's room to check on her, I found her still awake and whispering to her stuffed animals.

"No, Templeton," she scolded. "That is not your slop."

She was acting out Charlotte's Web, and not in a million years would I have told her to go to bed just then.

We started reading the E.B. White classic, a chapter or two a night, about a week ago. I thought Alice might be a little too young for it - not the subject matter (though I am not looking forward to the ending) so much as the number of words and the lack of pictures. There are some pictures, of course. Beautiful ones by Garth Williams, but not a picture for every scene as in most of the books she has been read.

And beyond that, I wasn't sure she was ready to stick with a story that unfolds over days and weeks rather than just a few minutes. This was a book we would have to put down and pick back up night after night, remembering where we left off, and I just didn't know whether it would sustain her interest. But I wanted to give it a try.

So far, she's loving it. It helps that, when her dad reads it, he does all the farm animal voices.

When I bought our copy of Charlotte's Web, the cashier looked at it and said, "Oh, my mom used to read this to me."

I told her I was buying it to read to my daughter, but that I thought it was going to be a a bit of a stretch for her.

"That's OK," she said. "That's how we learn."

Don't you love conversations like that?

Anyway, reading aloud to children - especially before they start school - is heaven. And it has all sorts of developmental and educational benefits besides.

To help us discover even more books to share, I asked Suzy Daveluy, of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System, to reccommend some great family read-alouds. (The legendary Suzy Daveluy is youth services coordinator for the library, and also oversees literacy, outreach and programming). Here are her picks, in no particular order. All, coincidentally, are available throughout the local library system:

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
The classic adventures of Pooh Bear, Piglet, Christopher Robin and friends.

Mr Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Small-town painter Mr. Popper unexpectedly comes to possess a penguin. And then two. And then a dozen. A Newbery Honor book.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Edward Tulane is a china rabbit, given to a 10-year-old girl by her grandmother. After selfish Edward is accidentally lost, he is passed along, from owner to owner, maturing along the way.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon
Chester, a cricket from Connecticut gets caught on a commuter train and ends up in Times Square. Eventually, he reveals an unusual musical talent. A Newbery Honor book.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The diary of Ivan, a gorilla who has lived in a cage at the mall for 27 years. Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.

Where to Cool Off in Stockton

Over the weekend, my husband went to Target to buy the girls a wading pool and said the store was pretty much cleaned out.

Great minds, right?

He did manage to find a small inflatable model, though, and I have to tell you, I think it was one of the best purchases we have made in a while.

This heat is supposed to last a few days longer, so in case there isn't a pool in your backyard, I thought I'd compile some of the other places you and your kids can go to get wet. (Or, if you prefer to stay indoors, check out this list of air-conditioned activities in and around Stockton).

And again, stay healthy out there.

Michael Faklis Park
There isn't a ton of shade, but this north Stockton park does have a cool water feature. That's my preschooler playing at Faklis Park in the photo above.

Pixie Woods
Starting at 1 p.m., splash and stomp around under a dragon-shaped fountain. Admission is $4.

Weber Point Water Feature
A Stockton summer mainstay! There's no admission charge, and a run through the picturesque fountain will cool you off in no time.

Community Pools
YMCA of San Joaquin County operates public pools throughout the city. Recreational swim sessions are $2 a day. Here are the hours:

• Brooking Park Pool - Monday through Thursday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m; Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; weekends from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
• Kennedy Park Pool - Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Oak Park Pool - Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
• McKinley Park Pool - Tuesday through Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Weston Ranch High School Pool - Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Five Tips for Reading Aloud to Young Children

Moms and kids create their own books together at a literacy workshop.

A project I am particularly proud to be part of is the Beyond Our Gates Reading by Third initiative, coordinated by University of the Pacific, with support from dozens of local individuals and organizations.

Research shows that the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade is an important predictor of a child's educational success - kids who aren't strong readers by the time they leave third grade tend to fall behind, and many of them don't catch up. Unfortunately, fewer than half of third graders in our community are reading at grade level.

But we can turn things around.

One of the easiest - and, it must be said, most fun - ways to nurture strong readers is to read aloud to young children every day. Reading aloud help kids build vocabulary, make the connection between letters and words, and, perhaps most importantly, develop a strong bond with the adults in their lives.

For a lot of us, reading aloud feels easy and natural. But, many times, it can seem a little awkward, especially when your child is too young to sit still through a whole story, or even to really understand the words.

To help show parents how and why to read aloud to young children, we launched a series of summer literacy workshops. The project kicked off last week, and in celebration, I thought I'd share five simple tips for reading aloud with little ones (Tips compiled by First 5 San Joaquin):

1. Point to each word as you read so your child makes the connection between words and letters.
2. Read your child's favorite books over and over again.
3. Choose stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat.
4. Discuss new words. For example, "This big house is called a 'palace.' Who do you think lives in a palace?"
5. Stop and ask about the pictures and what is happening in the story.

Five Reasons to Visit Pixie Woods this Summer

The girls' grandparents were visiting from out of town a couple of weekends ago, and we decided to take the whole gang to Pixie Woods.

Set behind a rainbow gate in a corner of Louis Park, Pixie Woods is charming in that way our city can be so good at: Not fussy or fancy, but full of heart.

This is the top of the birthday enclosure.

Here are five reasons you and your kids should visit Pixie Woods before it closes for the season:

1. It inspires imaginative play
For the most part, Pixie Woods is made up of themed play areas. In the firefighters "boot camp," Alice climbed onto a big red engine and sped off on a rescue. During our visit, she was also a princess, a pirate and one of the three little pigs.

2. It's cheap
Admission is $4 for kids 2 and older. Ride tickets are $2 each, and family ticket packages are available. Parking is free.

3. It's cooler there
Under a canopy of big, shady trees, the park also features several pools and streams. It's just a pleasant place to be during the summer. And bring a towel: At 1 p.m., the dragon fountain switches on and your kiddos can splash in the water.

4. It's something special.
Besides the playgrounds, there are also a kiddie train, paddle boat, vintage carousel - and rabbit burrow. (With live bunnies).

5. It's a community effort.
Since Pixie Woods opened more than half a century ago, it has depended on the work and commitment of volunteers. Members of service clubs gather regularly to spruce up the grounds, and last year, a 16-year-old made it his Eagle Scout project. That's a cool thing to support.

Convinced?

Here are the details.
Address: 3121 Monte Diablo Ave., in Stockton
Hours:  From June 1 to July 31, Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
From Aug. 1 to Sept. 29, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
* The park is open on both Independence Day and Labor Day.
Tickets: $4 each for guests 2 and older. Rides are $2 each, with packages available.

And here's a bonus point:

It's not just for kids.

My husband and I don't get to a lot of fundraisers. Crab feed season passes us right by. But one fundraising event we've really enjoyed has been the annual wine tasting event at Pixie Woods. Contribute to the park while enjoying yummy wines and hors d'oeuvres. This year's event is Friday (June 21) from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $40. More information.



Explore some other local parks here.

Day Trip: Calaveras Big Trees State Park

The weather has turned so spring-like that it's hard to believe we took these wintry pictures just a few weeks ago.

We wanted Alice to see a little bit of snow before it melted (though there might be some left even now), and lots of local friends have recommended Calaveras Big Trees State Park, so we decided to check it out one weekend morning.

At about an hour and a half northeast of Stockton, it was a manageable drive with a preschooler. (Even one who's prone to car-sickness). And once there, we found an easy enough trail for her to walk.

The park was created in 1931 to preserve a grove of giant sequoias.

I'm sure we'll be back - campsites open up this weekend, and it looks like the park and its supporters maintain a busy schedule of spring and summer activities - including some for kids and families.

And here's a tip: On your way home, stop at The Red Apple, just outside of Murphys. (May I suggest turnovers and hot apple cider?)

An Eric Carle Baby Shower

I love the tradition of baby showers. I love celebrating a brand-new life and shoring up the parents-to-be with loads of support and a few of the little things they'll need to see themselves through.

Nevertheless, I've had mixed feelings about second-baby showers - for myself, anyway. We have a lot of baby stuff left over from Alice, after all, and the people closest to us have already been so generous.

But when our sweet friends very graciously offered to host a shower in honor of our new little one, it was hard to resist. And I started to think that a new baby, whether it's a first or a fifth, is a better excuse for a party than almost any other one I can think of. It was also a really fun way to involve Alice in the excitement (our baby showers include men and kiddos).

We had the most fantastic time.

Our friends chose an Eric Carle theme, which I thought was just perfect, with lots of bright colors and happy images. (I think it would make a great theme for a child's birthday party too!) I'm not doing the party justice here, but I thought I'd share some of the charming details. For even more inspiration, the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library has a wide selection of Eric Carle books.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar cake pops were killing me. Here's a closer look:

Can you stand it?

But wait. There were also favor bags:

There is a caterpillar hole through the center of that cookie. We are a hugely lucky family.

One More Dose of Christmas

I hope the holidays were happy and sweet for everyone - we certainly had a wonderful time, full of lots of friends and family.

It's tough getting back into the normal, everyday swing of things, though, don't you think?

Yesterday, I finished packing up our decorations, and Alice put up a small fight over her stocking. She just really didn't want to see it leave the mantel.

"Mama is putting Christmas away," I heard her tell her dad. "I want it to be Christmas again."

I can understand.

Last year around this time, when all the festivities were officially over, we went out - just the three of us - for one last Christmas lights tour. It was a really lovely night and a nice way to wave "so long" to the season.

Anyway, here are a few ideas in case you and your kiddos have just a just a little more Christmas to get out of your systems:

Snow and Skating
Santa's Village and Lights on the Farm are closed for the year, but, at least through Saturday, there's still snow tubing and ice skating to be had at Dell'Osso Family Farm in Lathrop. Check here for hours and ticket information.

Snow Village
Through Sunday, a display of hundreds of Department 56 Christmas houses, figurines and decor will be open for viewing at Lincoln Center North. (Pacific Avenue and Benjamind Holt Drive in Stockton). Lit daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Christmas Lights
I betcha a lot of people are waiting until this weekend to take down their holiday lights. The Record newspaper compiled a list of some of San Joaquin County's most impressive displays and built this handy little guide. Jot down the addresses, pour some hot cocoa into your Thermoses and head out.

Advent Calendars

I love a countdown.

Every year when we were kids, my grandmother would buy my cousins and brothers and I one of those imported-from-Germany, chocolate-filled advent calendars - the kind where you pop open a little cardboard window for every day in December.

It was my favorite part of the holiday season.

I still love an advent calendar, and this year, Alice is old enough to look forward to the ritual of counting down days until Christmas. I sewed pouches out of some scrap fabric to make the simple advent calendar strung under our mantel. Each pouch is filled with a piece of chocolate or a couple of stickers or some other trinket - and her excitement at opening a new one each day makes a tiny surprise seem like a treasure.

Does your family keep an advent calendar? A new one every year or a much-loved heirloom that's carefully taken out of storage each December?

No advent calendar? Well, the month may be half over, but I say it's not too late. Starting tomorrow gives you a nice 10-day countdown, after all, which sounds perfectly fun to me.

P.S. Oh, man. I'm feeling really bad about the unexpected and unexplained break from posting. Here's my excuse: We're expecting another baby! (Talk about a countdown). I'm over the moon about it, of course, but those early months took a lot out of me. Feeling better now, though, so here's to the return of energy.

Staying Cool With Kids

Every time I go outside today, I can't help but sigh over how absolutely pleasant it feels - especially after the stretch of 100-plus days we had recently. Such a relief.

But summer isn't over yet, and all that heat had me thinking hard about what there is to do with kids when it feels too warm to do anything.

1. Go Bananas
We invited another family with very young kids to this Lathrop indoor play area a couple of weekends ago. It was our first time. To adult eyes, it doesn't look too fancy - basically, a collection of the kinds of inflatable slides and bounce houses you often see at children's birthday parties. But, I have to tell you, the kiddos thought it was the most exciting place they had ever seen. They happily spent a solid two hours running and jumping and would have stayed longer if it was up to them. I especially liked the separate toddler play area, which even included a Pack 'N Play and a bunch of infant toys. Snacks are available for purchase. Don't forget to bring socks. (Oh, P.S., all the kids fell asleep on the drive back home. An extra treat.)

2. Story Time
I've written before about how much I love public library story hours. They're free, they're fun, and they're just a great opportunity to get out of the house and into the community, especially, I think, in energy-sapping weather. Come early to browse books and play with puzzles and other quiet games in the children's section.

3. The Mud Mill
Have you ever been? We haven't yet, but it's been highly recommended to me, and I'm super tempted. At the Mud Mill (in Lodi), you choose a piece of pottery from a selection of more than 300 designs, then paint it. Once you're done, the shop will fire and glaze your piece for you to pick up a few days later. Sounds fun, right? Check out their calendar for discounts and special events.

4. Museums
Does the idea of taking young children to a museum make you nervous? Me too, sort of. But, I think at the right time, on the right day, with the right preparation, it could be a totally rewarding experience. And, we're lucky to have some very family-friendly museums in our area. The Haggin Museum, for example, is pretty accessible, and its history galleries are especially fascinating to kids. Meanwhile, the World of Wonders Science Museum in downtown Lodi was designed for young people and features hands-on exhibits. Or, there's one of my favorites, the Children's Museum of Stockton.

5. The Afternaps
When it's really hot outside, the idea I always seem to default to is, "Let's go get ice cream!" or some variation, like, "Let's go get smoothies! or frozen yogurt! or iced coffees!" And that's fine, I guess. It's fun. It's a treat. But it doesn't exactly burn off any energy. Unless you can combine your treat-run with a mini-concert and dance party. We love The Afternaps. They play weekly at Empresso Coffee House.

So do you have tips on hot-weather activities for kids? I would love to hear them.

A Summer Memory Jar {DailyBuzz Moms 9x9}

When people argue against venturing out with very young kids, the argument often goes something like this: "She's not even going to remember it. Wait until she's older."

And it's true that, at 2-and-a-half, Alice is too young to remember any of the out-and-about adventures we have had so far this summer.

But it's also true that, at 2-and-a-half, she is plenty old enough to enjoy those experiences and, moreover, to be enriched by them.

I can help with the memories.

I tend to be a little sentimental when it comes to old ticket stubs and matchbooks and notes from friends - small things that remind me of happy times. I decided to gather up some of the keepsakes we've collected this summer to into a little memory jar for Alice. Something we can save and open up a few years from now, and a few years after that - whenever she wants to hear stories about what her family was like when she was very small.

There is the ticket from her first professional baseball game. She ate a warm pretzel and cheered for every hit, no matter the team.

There is a tiny packet of seeds left over from the vegetable garden we planted a few months ago - our very first as a family.

Some seashells from our visit to the Monterey Bay, and

Pebbles from the shore of Lake Superior - the lake was too choppy that day to skip rocks, but she spent a quiet 40 minutes simply tossing them into the water.

Her favorite purple sunglasses. Very Ooh-la-la.

And a penny I found while stopping for gas on our mama-daughter drive to Los Angeles. Three hundred fifty miles isn't really so long when you think about it. Still. It felt like an adventure, and if there was a little bit of extra luck left in our path, I was going to take it.

Then I tucked in my favorite sunshiney picture - with a tiny note handwritten on the back, just a few lines to capture what I'll always remember about Alice's 2-year-old summer.

Baseball with Young Children

Since we moved here, my husband and I have really enjoyed going to Minor League baseball games. It's inexpensive and casual, a fun reason to be outdoors during the evening cool-down - my favorite part of Central Valley summers, and a good excuse to indulge in a little junk food. And sometimes, if you're lucky, there are fireworks.

Fortunately for us, Alice likes baseball too.

We took her for the first time this spring.

Baseball, I think, works really well for toddlers. They get to be outside where there is room to move around and plenty to distract.

Alice loves when we sit out in the grassy Home Run Hill area. She could spend hours rolling down, then wobbling back up, dizzy, to try again.

The Stockton Ports have quite a few home games left this season. Look for promotions such as 2-buck Mondays or post-game fireworks. (Lately, we haven't managed to stay long enough to actually see the fireworks - but we can hear them all the way back home. That makes me smile).

Ladybugs in the Garden

One afternoon a couple of weeks ago,  I found small cardboard box sitting in some shade near the front door.

Inside was a tub full of 1,500 ladybugs.

My father had shipped them, addressed to Alice.

"Can I open it?" she asked.

We decided we would open it after her dad got home from work - directions advised that the bugs would be less likely to fly away if we released them at sunset.

While she waited, Alice carried the container all around the house with her, warning ladybugs, "Don't fall!" and reassuring them, "Don't be scared!"

Garden experts (including local ones) often recommend ladybugs as a natural method of pest control; ladybugs like to eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects that chomp on plants and flowers.

Certainly, we appreciate the benefits. And when we finally lifted the lid from the top of the ladybug tub, it was with fingers crossed that the critters would help keep our edible front-yard garden healthy and strong.

But to say we did it for the garden just wouldn't be true.

As the ladybugs spilled from their container, Alice was overtaken by little-girl shrieks of all-consuming happiness. She screamed when ladybugs crawled onto her dress. She screamed when they flew off the tips of her fingers. It was joyful to an extreme that mid-week evenings almost never reach.

Then the sun went down and it was time to take a bath.

Every once in a while, I see ladybugs for sale at the larger hardware stores in town. If you're looking to buy some - and, if you ask me, you totally should - it might also be worth calling a few nurseries and garden-supply shops. Otherwise, online ordering worked well for us. Here are several sources: Amazon (these are the guys we got), Home Depot,  and Insect Lore. If you know of any others, please let me know!