Happy Halloween

I saw a lot of kids in costumes for Halloween today but I can honestly say none were so cute and original as Dale's grandkids.

Arriving at our house with Dad and Mom...



I mean, think about it... did you see another Link, the mighty swordsman from the Legend of Zelda video game, today? That's what Jaden, Dale's oldest grandson, was. Luke, center, was a fantastic pirate. And Josie?

Josie was the most beautiful Southern belle I think I've ever seen, at least on Halloween night.


Dale, Bret and Luke, goofing around.


The men of the family.

I can't get enough of Luke.

Luke, Rachelle, Josie, Bret and Jaden.

Props to Ashley

This is my niece (and god-daughter) Ashley with her family. I want to give her a shout-out for an amazing feat. Last Saturday she ran a half-marathon in Kansas City, with an average pace of 9:55 a mile. She loves running and it gives her much-deserved "me" time for training. Now she's looking for other half-marathons (and soon, full marathons) to run in her area. I'm very proud of her. Oh, and her family consists of husband Kyle and kiddos Hudson, 1, and Harper, 2. Way to go Ashley. Wish I could have been there to see it.

Book club at the Arb

Two things you can always counts on about book club at Bartlett Arboretum: you'll go home smelling like camp fire smoke and you'll have some nice snaps of the day.

Robin Macy, who owns the arb and lives there, always shows us a good time. She builds the fire herself, feeds it, and even makes our mulled cider inside it. Here she's squeezing the juice of a fresh orange into the pot of cider.


Everyone gathered round to talk about this month's selection, Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight." Very few people liked it. It is written for teenagers, after all, so I don't think it resonated with most of us, quite understandably so.


Lori Yount, Suzanne Tobias and Chris Siefers.


Robin and her trustry dog-friend, Stella.


Suzanne and Tara taking a stroll around the arb.


Jaime and Bonnie chillin'.



This is the new tree house at the arb. Diane McCartney is standing at the landing.


Denise and Cory Graham in the treehouse.



Denise roasting some dogs for dinner.

The bridge over the Euphrades.


Pretty pictures.



More postcard photos.

Chris, Tara, Bonnie and Robin.


Swinging at the arb.

San Francisco means long posting

I read something during our vacation that San Francisco is the No. 1 tourist destination in the United States. I wondered how legitimate that claim is, but I can see why it's so popular. Not only is it beautiful but there is more to do than time to do it in.
Dale and I spent the first two days of our vacation in the city with our friends Jim and Deb. The last three days were spent on a small-ship cruise through Sonoma and Napa valleys.

We stayed at the Drake in San Francisco, and it was beautiful. This is the lobby.



Dinner on our first night was spent in a quaint family-owned Italian restaurant with incredible food. We just lucked upon it as we strolled through the North Beach area. This is Jim and Deb.

Dale and I went to Fisherman's Wharf the next morning to take a ferry to Alcatraz.


One of the residents at F.W.

Dale at Alcatraz.


One of the cellblocks. Alcatraz was fascinating, and the self-guided tour we took perfectly captured the history and legend.

This is part of the fort on the island before it became a federal prison.



The Golden Gate Bridge, enshrouded in fog, as always.

A view of San Francisco from the "most crooked street in America." This is a winding, seven-block stretch of the city that attracts both motorists and pedestrians for the views and intensely beautiful landscaping.


A car coming down the crooked path.


Dale enjoying some art at Union Square.



One of the bakers at the world-famous Boudin bakery, where fresh sourdough bread is made daily as tourists view the process from the street outside.

Our first night on the well-appointed boat, enjoying the first of several glasses of champagne.

Dale and I at dinner.


After dinner we had wine on the deck and watched the S.F. skyline as we cruised out into the bay.


Jim and Dale at our first wine tour stop.


The stuff that wine is made of.



Some of the vines at one of our stops.

Dale on one of our stops to sample wine.


This chateau is at Domain Carneros, known for its sparkling wine.



A bin of corks at Domain Carneros.

One of the views at Domain Carneros.



Still at Domain Carneros.


A stand of redwood trees at our final stop, the Benziger winery.

A view of the Benziger vineyards.