Halloween

Nothing fancy this year, but I was happy
to go to the Cal Poly Pomona farm store 

even if the big patch was closed that day.

 

Our neighbor joined us along with students from France, Germany, and Macau.

Jack-o-lanterns look great and we have lots of candy so let the festivities begin.

I didn't save all the seeds, but this batch tastes delicious.

Fall Break, Part Two

 Sometimes it feels like trips are mostly sitting around. This time it was easy to get out and about. 

After watching the eclipse we visited friends in Los Osos and stayed so long that it was dark by the time we checked into our hotel. The shortest way to the Mexican restaurant and ice cream place was along the beach. I had forgotten how dark places are without lights from cars or other sources.

It was also a mile to dinner.

The next day we met family at the UC Santa Cruz arboretum.

It looks like we just meandered,
but we used the map a bit.

Before we met up with more relatives I had a chance to see the Santa Cruz boardwalk for the first time.

Later in the afternoon we made our way to Natural Bridges State Beach

and saw a newly formed bridge!

This time we made sure to leave early enough to ride to dinner in the daylight, but I forgot to record it.

The highlight of the ride was the corner of Short and Granite, which had treasures on each corner, including bonus treasures on one corner. It must be fairly new since the map app does not show any of it.

On the last day we walked to the butterfly sanctuary, lighthouse, John Denver memorial, along the coast and then on a converted railway track.

Such a great vacation!

Fall Break, part one

You can see a lot of pictures of people experiencing the annular (ring-shaped) eclipse on October 14, but here is our version. 

The viewing at home would have been fine and there was an event on campus event thought it was fall break, but we decided to leave early 

and drive to Surfers Point in Ventura. It turned out to be a great choice.

I packed our glasses from 2017

and D. brought a pair he had received in the mail.

It was a challenge to photograph the eclipse. Here are some attempts.

somehow it shows up in the tree

and the crescents in the dappled sunshine

and the most basic way to view the eclipse.

Another highlight was doing some science outreach, helping other people have the chance to see the eclipse. The most common response was a big wow.

Bonus picture my friend in New Mexico shared and said I could post. This was made by using a colander as a pinhole camera.

work

I have been working at the elementary school during recess and lunch time. I am told I am helpful, but it feels like most kids are just fine without me and the others need about ten of me!

Can you believe this tree looks so great?
R. started here twenty years ago and
I did not think this tree would make it.

I really love the one-on-one time with a little one and my neighbors said they could use some help! I took care of Baby three days as a trial run. It was so fun to walk around the neighborhood and pull out my favorite books and cds. And they paid me!

I like having flowers in the window, but I seldom have any and just as often think to buy some.

I bought my first Lego set.

I enjoyed building it with tips from my sister, an AFOL.

After the current flowers die I'll put these in the window.

Good commuting day

 

By 11:45am I had just about eight commuting miles.

First trip - to the pool and back

Next to the grocery store and back.

Nice parking spot where my parents-in-law live

Dropping off goodies at a friend's house

Last stop - work

walk and roll

 

The national event was promoted online,

outside the classroom,

and outside the school.

Bikes here,

helmets there,

and an overflowing bike rack.

There were plenty of people
showing up on foot, too.

The bike rack was a little emptier today.

September leftovers

Seen on a bicycle path
Not in Denmark

Another good thing about being back

I wonder why a curb cut was removed at the train station.

I also wondered why they were removing the time and temperature clock that I love (always try to guess the temperature before seeing it). The good news is that it is back to working order so maybe they were just updating it.