Fall Fun

 We did our best to have some fall fun this weekend despite the pandemic.   The days are definitely getting shorter and cooler.  The kids carved their halloween pumpkins this weekend.   Neither chose a traditional jack-o-lantern face.   Instead, Ethan carved a jail (symbolic of the pandemic, perhaps?) and Alaina carved a pumpkin on her pumpkin.

  

They did a pretty good job doing it mostly without adult interference and even cleaned up their mess (mostly).   Win!

We also made my seasonal favorite, caramel apples.  I always think about the "taffy apple" days at my elementary school--where we could pre-order caramel apples and bring them home at the end of the school day.   Loved them then--and now!   I had upgraded them by adding sprinkles--and they were delicious.

So, no hayrides or pumpkin patches, but, still some home fun.

Our Pandemic Purchase

Well, this was a big weekend for our family: we closed on a vacation home in Lake Tahoe!  Now, if you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever buy a second home I would have laughed.  Certainly, this was never something I wanted to do, mostly because I love traveling to new places when I have time off of work.   Jason, on the other hand, has always waned a home in Lake Tahoe.   So, in this sense, the pandemic has been a big win for him.  CoVID certainly helped convince me that having a home away from home--a place that is easy and safe to travel to--is a good thing.   And since I don't foresee big trips anytime soon, it seemed like a good time to take the plunge.

When house-hunting, we looked all over the Tahoe area, but ultimately bought a home in an area called Serene Lakes, which is just west of the Donner Summit.    This area has two advantages: 1. It is about 30 minutes closer to our home in Marin than most other vacation areas and 2. It is super quiet (serene, really) and low key, which I something that was important to us.   It also is home to North America's largest cross-country ski resort, and a big downhill ski resort called Sugarbowl.   Plus a ton of hiking and biking trails for the summer.

 

Our cabin (name forthcoming, but I am thinking Pandemic Purchase might be pretty good!), is a rustic but charming house in the woods.   We are about a 10 minute walk from the lake itself which has a nice swimming beach and storage for non-motorized boats (the house came with a canoe!).   

  

Anyhow, we spent our first weekend up there--and I have to say it was lovely.   Cozy, quiet, and really beautiful.  I feel so fortunate that we were able to do this.   

Visitors Welcome!!

Some pictures from the week

 Well, it has been another special week of smoky home schooling.

Here is an assignment that Alaina "turned in" on how to behave appropriately during Zoom School.   Who would have ever thought?!?!?!?

Our School district is going to start very limited in-person school on Monday, 4-5 kids per grade.   What a joke.   There is a lot of challenges with the teachers union and it is unclear if/when either of my kids will get back to in person school.   Ugh.

Smoke: It has been another smoky week with another huge fire breaking out in the wine country last weekend.   Here is a blurry picture of the full orange moon I saw this week.

And here is a picture of the best air quality we have had all week, yesterday.   Blue sky, hooray!   But still lots of smoke too.

So, yes, it is a tough time to live here.   Our next-door neighbors announced this week that they (and their 4 kids) have decided to move to South Carolina (!).   I think that people are really feeling frustrated with everything....and looking for alternatives.   I am trying to stay positive and convince myself that at least the fires will go out soon--it is supposed to rain next weekend.  We will see.

Alaina Bridges to Brownies

 Lat week, Alaina became a Brownie Girl Scout--her troop graduated from Daisies.   The troop leader did a great job doing a little ceremony outside with a cool balloon rainbow arch.

 

I have to say, I have such great girl scout memories, I know that I am living vicariously through Alaina right now....and I don't think she is quite as into it as I am!   But maybe that will change.

When I was packing up things from the Park Ridge house I found my old girl scout vest--I remember my mom painstakingly sewing all the patches on (or outsourcing the sewing to my Grandma Harris)!   By the time I finished in 6th grade, there was not any more room for another patch!  Needless to say, the vest made the move.   Maybe someday, Alaina will appreciate it!!

Shana Tova

 This weekend we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.   Eileen did almost all of  the cooking but brought it down to our place to serve in the back yard.  Jason did smoke a brisket (which turned out delicious!), so I guess we contributed a bit.

My dad got to join in for his first Jewish holiday.   He did enjoy the Matzoh Ball Soup!

Look at the three beautiful cakes Eileen brought: Honey, Apple and Fig.   Delicious!

  

Lets hope that year 5781 is a bit better than 5780 was.   When I think back, the last 12 months have been pretty rough--Ethan was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, Jason's Grandma died, and of course, we have all suffered with the pandemic, lack of schooling/socilaization and the recent fires.   

I hope this is the turn of a new leaf!

Choking in the Smoke

 Well, it has been an unprecedented week of bad air quality.   Though there are no fires immediately close to us, much of northern California and Oregon are up in flames, and the smoke has blown in our direction.   Last week was supposed to be the kids' first soccer practice, but all practices were closed due to poor air quality.   

On Wednesday the sky was particularly eerie--it was glowing orange all day.   This was apparently due to a high layer of smoke with fog below it, which apparently prevents all blue/green light wavelengths from being seen.   I was working from home that day, and all of our interior corridors were pitch dark.   It was apocalyptic-looking.   

  

On Thursday the orange went away, only to be replaced by grey.   And the grey has stuck around.   You cannot see anythingonthie horizon at all.   So now, there are no indoor activity's due to CoVid and no outdoor activities due to the smoke.   Miserable! Though of course, not nearly as miserable as it would be if the fires were immediately nearby.   So, we are thankful for that!

Welcome to the Newest Resident of Marin: Dad!

 Well, its official!   My dad has moved in!   2 weeks ago he handed over the keys to his Park Ridge home and hit the road for Mill Valley, CA.   After a grueling 3 full days of driving with his girlfriend Marilynn, he made it to our place.   He then waited for the moving truck (which got a bit delayed) until last Sunday.   All of his stuff arrived safely (no broken items found yet!), and he has been spending the week settling into his new place.

  

It is so cool to be able to just stop by for a visit on my way home from work (his place is directly on the way home!)  I still haven't quite gotten used to the fact that I can do this, but it sure is pretty neat.

He has made some good progress in his unpacking over the week.  His bedrooms are basically done, and his kitchen is getting there.   It is starting to look like home! (I'll post some unpacked photos soon!)

What a journey--he made an offer on this place over 6 months ago.   So glad he is finally here.