Pre-Christmas Activities

On Christmas Eve Day we headed to Mt. Shasta for a glorious day on the slopes. It was our second day at Mt. Shasta, and Katya's first day of the season. The snow was better than expected and the weather was balmy. The last run of the day, Katya soloed the chair lift. Ross was a proud and anxious father!

Katya and Ross selected a big, heavy, picture perfect Christmas tree and Meemaw joined in the decoration party.

Our Christmas portrait. Our stylist is Katya.

Belated Thanksgiving photos

After learning that at least two different households check our blog, I have been re-inspired to keep our posts up to date. Thanksgiving morning dawned beautiful; Jamie, Ross, and I participated in the Run for Food 5k through Bidwell Park. Mom, Scott and the girls played and cheered us on. Dinner was easy as everyone helped out. Overall, it was a perfect day!

As you can see, the crowd was quite large; approximately 3,000 people participated.

Our Thanksgiving family portrait.

Bardee's Bar 11-21

LPZ & Dr. Adventure on the Bardee's Bar section of the Feather River.

Last week Lance, Amanda, and Cirrus were back in Chico for a pre-Thanksgiving visit. It was great to visit with them; they are much missed. We kayaked (LPZ talked me through some jitters), had a group dinner, and cruised through the Chico Christmas Preview. We are looking forward to their next visit.

November visit to Eureka

The weekend of November 7/8 I travelled up to Eureka for a visit with Scott, Jamie, and the girls. Scott made special pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, pictured below. Can you guess which one was mine?

The weather was perfect for taking walks and playing outside.

Michaela is now calling me Auntie, I hope Squizzle will be doing so by Thanksgiving.

Halloween with the Fischers

Army Man, Spider, Elegant Witch


Amanda's pumpkin

We travelled down to Dr. Adventure's old stomping ground to spend Halloween with Mike, Amanda, Kurt, and Karl. We, all, played with RC cars, launched missiles, and rode bikes. Katya made up stories about vampires and mummies for Kurt. Amanda forgot to turn the clock back and went out for her morning run at 4am:) Amanda, Ross and the kids carved pumpkins, which glowed spookily on the front porch after dark. Mike and Ross escorted Kurt and Katya around the neighborhood; each returning home with substantial bags of loot. Everyone ate too much candy and the kids entertained us with jokes from laffy taffy wrappers (Kurt made up many of his own). It was another great weekend!

Smokey the Pumpkin Bus and other fall fun...

What a beautiful weekend; mild temperatures, wonderful lighting, leaves beginning to turn. At the Saturday Farmers' market we stocked up on produce for the first lasagna of the fall season and Katya added a stuffed dolphin to her mermaid collection. We spent much of Saturday outside and on our bikes, and dropped by the public library for their Fall Festival. Katya traded a few books that she has outgrown, had her face painted, Ross obtained a library card, and we enjoyed the music of a fun local band(most of whom were teachers).

Although it is a little early in the season, Katya and I collected some beautiful leaves and she made a few "stained glass windows."

On Sunday afternoon we decided that it was time to visit the pumpkin patch and to check out a different patch from our usual. The new pumpkin patch had several amenities: big pile of sand, small petting zoo, amusing scarecrows, corn maze (with tasty corn), a pumpkin washing trough, and Smokey the Pumpkin Bus, (the owners were forced to suspend the helicopter flights which greatly irritated their neighbors and wasn't covered in the use permit granted by the city council). Ross and Katya took two spins around the patch on Smokey (the guy who drove Smokey LOVES his job); I declined as my back went out last Saturday and this ride was guaranteed to inflict more damage. Smokey sped and jerked around the pumpkin patch, belching fumes, on a dirt track specially modified for bumps, jumps, and the maximum legal fun allowed while not wearing seat belts. On the second trip, Katya and Ross were the only passengers, so the driver closed his eyes on a curvy section of the track while Katya told him which way to steer the wheel (she keeps her rights and lefts straight about 78% of the time)! We managed to return home safe, sound, with pumpkins, and gourds.

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Escrow has closed!

Escrow has closed on 14 Joy Lane.

Johnny Appleseed Days Weekend 10/3-4

The town of Paradise celebrates Johnny Appleseed Days, every year, at the end of the apple harvest. The three of us ventured up the hill to Paradise on Saturday to check out the festivities. We met Johnny, listened to his story, played carnival games, and bought a caramel apple for Katya (which she says has loosened two teeth that shouldn't be loose as their predecessors have already been shed). Ross got into the spirit of things once he found the coffee booth.

On another note, Autumn has definitely arrived. The lows are in the high 40's with day time temperatures in the mid 70's. On Sunday, Katya and I took a walk through the US Forest Service Genetic Resource Center & Conservation Camp. Katya collected acorn caps & pine cones and we discovered a grove of vanilla scented Ponderosa Pines. I took a few pictures of the persimmons, as they are a highly photogenic fruit.

Santa Cruz Weekend for e2

Friday after work, I drove down to Mom's; the next morning we headed down to Capitola. The weather was warm, sunny, and beautiful. We spent the day relaxing and wandering through Capitola and Santa Cruz. When we checked into the motel that I had book, it quickly became evident why the room was such a bargain (no AC, on a busy street corner, relatively close proximity to the boardwalk, weird stains on the sides of the mattress that I did not give close consideration to, and I won't mention the carpet). Not quite a third world country, yet reminiscent.... Sunday morning I dressed in my special skulls & hearts socks (very feminine), coffeed up, and then we headed to Harvey West Park. I was running the puny 10K trail run (puny as compared to the 50K or 29K). The course was hilly and challenging, on single track & fire roads, through shaded mixed forests of oak, bay (I love the scent of trampled bay leaves), and coastal redwood. It was a terrific run! Sunday night I was back home in Chico, soaking in an ice bath and listening to Dr. Adventures tales of the Feather Fest and kayaking. By the way, if anyone would like to donate a right side hamstring I would be happy to offer an intact appendix in exchange.

Best of Chico Silver Medal Goes to......

Chico News & Review September 24 Issue

Readers’ picks for the Best of Chico 2009

Health & Wellness

Doctor’s office
2ND PLACE: Mission Ranch Primary Care 114 Mission Ranch Blvd.; 894-0500

Congratulations to our favorite doctor, Dr. Adventure!!!!

Chico World Fest & Criterium Weekend

We made the most of our weekend and enjoyed the awesome community events. Saturday began with our usual trip to the farmers' market for produce, eggs, chevre, and bread. Then we went to North Rim Adventure Sports for a bike tube, but were sucked in by all of the gear. After a gourmet lunch, courtesy of our morning purchases, we biked downtown to CSUC. Both Saturday and Sunday, the college hosts/sponsors a wonderful (and free) event with three stages, multiple bands/performers, food (mangoes on a stick), vendors, and childrens' activities. There were several very large hula hoops (burning man models) that Katya had a great time hooping and dancing with. Ross is going to try to build one of these large hoops. If successful, please expect one in the mail at Christmas time.

This photo is of Katya dancing to the music of Katia Moraes, a Brazillian jazz singer, and her name sake.

Sunday began and ended with bike races, with music interspersed through the day. Katya rode in the children's criterium. This was her first criterium and she had a great time. All entrants were awarded medals. Katya recieved coaching and race support from Dr. Adventure (who is always grooming the next generation).

Monday 9-14

Chico experienced a taste of autumn, beginning yesterday, with cool temperatures and rain showers lasting through Monday morning. Saturday, Ross and Charlie boated Tobin, 250ish cfs. They had a good, if uneventful, run. Sunday Ross and I drove up to Nevada City to ride the Pioneer Trail. It was beautiful to be riding a smooth rolling trail amongst tall pines. I stopped too quickly and ejected myself off the bike, twice. Ross styled it all. Ross and Martini will be running Tobin this afternoon. No grass will grow under Dr. Adventure!

Test Flight

Scott, Jamie, and the bugaroos visited Chico over the Labor Day. We played in the creek--Katya made sand pies, Isabelle collected a basket full of rocks, Michaela caught tadpoles- visited Caper Acres, shopped the Farmers Market, played frisbee, and made gigantic messes. Jamie also had time to make me feel very guilty about not blogging, so here we are. If I can figure out how to log back in, I will post photos and provide updates on Dr. Adventure.

Ciao