Fungi, Fauna and Family

Is this a poodle that has gone unclipped? It is the friendliest, most eager-to-play dog I've seen in a long time. I think he would love the boys. We (the boys and I) are dying to get to him as right now we can only pat him through his prison bars. Honestly I would steal him away if I could.


I've taken Dex to the library's story hour the last two times. He loves it and falls asleep in the stroller on the way home, exhausted with stimulation. (In the background are Zach, Sarah and Carl, our new friend with a buzz cut. He's as cute as a poodle.)

The mushrooms here are yet another fascinating feature of the environment. This one is about three feet square and is really comprised of many small mushrooms that seem to have grown together.

62 degrees in the SHADE in Los Gatos

Zach loves returning his books in the book drop at the library each week. I was a bit sad as this week we checked out no new books knowing that I won't be taking him to Story Hour again for a long time.


The persimmon trees are amazing when their leaves are all gone and their fruit remains. Our neighbor calls them "percinnamon" trees. seriously

I just love the way the sun plays with these leaves.

Is this rose hip wearing a silly hat or a crown?

December 25

My only Christmas photo this year is of Zachy and Sarah snuggled up together watching Wall-E.

Thrift Store Addict

I've been a thrift store addict for decades, for a lifetime. I go through periods when I eschew them/the stores, but all it takes is one huge hit and I am a Pavlovian dog. After the moth-eaten cashmere sweater find (previous post), I have been making frequent drop-ins to The Happy Dragon in Los Gatos. These were my finds yesterday, all for under $5.00.

Weekend with the Boys

The boys were at my place overnight. After they left, I opened my fridge and this is what greeted me:

Sunday morning we kept with a familiar routine of meeting with the Hermans at the Farmers Market. Zach and Sarah are best friends. They share everything, including germs. Forks passed between them many times, as well as rice, beans and tortillas.

Vasona Park Festival of Lights

Santa Clara Parks puts on an extraordinary festival of lights in Vasona Park each year. Last night the boys were wide awake at 8 p.m. so we took them on over to view the ongoing extravaganza. It's a vehicles-only event in which riders are invited to tune into a special radio station to hear holiday music as they drive through the park. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. We were all pretty impressed and I am sorry to say I am not including a video of the action as most of the figures move.

Jack-in-the-Boxes must have been more popular 100 years ago. Z still hasn't seen one and doesn't quite get it about the surprise element.

Dexie was WIDE AWAKE, though facing backward (and me in the far seat), and delighted!


Happy Solstice to all as tomorrow is the shortest day of the year!

Two New Recycled Sweaters

In searching for mifflette making materials, I happened upon a moth eaten white turtle neck sweater. I couldn't talk the seller down from $3, and begrudgingly paid full price. That evening at Rose Ave, I really was cold and put on the sweater until I could make it back to my house. It sure was comfy, and it sure was full of holes.

Epiphany hit and I decided to alter the sweater a bit by cutting off the turtle neck, cuffs at the bottom and sleeves and to mend the holes with bright embroidery floss. Voila! I have a very whimsical and cozy new sweater!

On a roll, I added the cuff I had cut off of the first sweater to an earlier purchase of a too-short raspberry colored cashmere sweater. I may add yet another round of ribbing to the bottom of that one, but already it is more comfortable and sits lower on my hips. What I love about this sweater is the reason I purchased it; it has old fashioned short sleeves that are not cap sleeves but rather reach down to my elbows.