Halloween No!

Even though Alec loves pumpkins, he didn't quite get into the Halloween spirit. Given his documented appreciation of firetrucks, we had a firefighter costume all ready, thanks especially to Auntie R. (who always is on the lookout for dressup clothes). But Alec refused to dress up. And didn't want to go trick-or-treating, either.

We did have a fun afternoon anyways, running along the Embarcadero with N's parents, here from Quebec visiting their grandson and his wayward pirate father.

Pumpkins!

Today Alec and I returned to our favorite pumpkin patch, just north of Half Moon Bay.

Lots of pumpkins to choose from, but guess which one Alec chose?

At least he can carry it.

transporting pumpkin #2

Last week we also had a "rural experience" - the Potrero Hill Festival had a great petting zoo, and Alec got to feed the rabbits, goats, and other animals. Quite the treat!

Cro-cro

Would you like a crocodile as your breakfast partner? Alec would! Especially if the croc is a present from Auntie R.

Question: How do you feed a crocodile?

Answer: Very carefully!

And always invite the crocodile's friends.

Stormy weather

On Tuesday we had a major rainstorm here in NorCal - I got drenched walking to the train, and was glad that I didn't have to drive.

Alec was glad for another reason. He got to wear his new frog boots -or as Alec calls them, "les bottines grenouilles!"

After raining and gusting all day long, by 6pm all was calm and the air became warm. We watched the sunset with quickly moving clouds making way for patches of clear skies. Alec helped his papa rake the sidewalk, and then took a break to model his footwear.

Thanks, T, for the boots - Alec hopes that you are wearing your "bottines chiens" in Paris!

Hardly strictly

bluegrass!

Each October there is a great and huge (awesome?) free bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park . We started out the afternoon attending the Dirty Hoe Hoe-down at China Beach - merriment, gorgeous views, great food and homebrewed beer, courtesy of Bernie.

Then moseyed (according to Merriam-Webster, this is how you spell it) on over to the Park for some music at - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. We met up with uncle D and his friends near the Banjo stage to listen to some music under the trees:

• 3:45pm Songwriter Circle with Tom Morello, Dar Williams, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
  
• 5:25pm Richie Havens

We left right before Robert Earl Keen, since by 6pm it got cold and windy. But not before some dancing and jumping.

More than just gelato...

Of course we only had one gelato (divided 3 ways) per day, there was much more going on.
Here are some more photos of our explorations in the Veneto region earlier this month:

Caorle, the afternoon of our arrival

Outside the Villa Barbaro, Maser
Alec didn't like the villa, with its Veronese frescoes, but he didn't want to leave the small museum of horse-drawn carriages that was in one of the outbuildings, among the vines.

Running around Venice

Or getting a lift!

Checking out the gondolas

and helping with the harvest of Prosecco near Valdobbiadene

Where's Alec?

We've been on a trip - can you guess where?

Still can't guess?

We spent 10 days in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, exploring Venice, Treviso, Padova, and many smaller towns. We had a great time, and you can see one reason why! More photos to follow soon.