pumpkin hunting

So it was Sunday and time for a visit to the pumpkin patch.

Patrick spotted the mechanical bull.

Ride. Ride. Ride. Ride.

He was mesmerized and that's all he could say.

Auntie agreed to take him.

She screamed and laughed a lot.

He held on like a trooper.

And then it was time to choose pumpkins.

He chose one. Then two.

And then just kept piling them in my wheelbarrow.

We decided he was collecting them like eggs from laying hens.

We let him choose two.

Next up will be the carving.

Love Halloween.

high hopes

 Found this little guy one morning in the Virgina Creeper that hangs from the gazebo.

He was working away on the web,

and each day I would go out to check on him.

One day the web was a mess.

Had a bird eaten him? In subsequent days, the web was repaired,

damaged,

repaired.

mr. spider was busy.

The web is gone now.

Still think I can learn something about stick-to-it-tiveness

a family outing

My little family drove up to Lake Tahoe to see the Kokanee spawning in Taylor Creek.

These are landlocked salmon, born in Taylor Creek.

They swim to the lake for some life, 

then back to Taylor Creek to spawn and die

The circle of life.

the lake is beautiful in the fall;

an outing with the family is the best.

Here they are in their final beauty.

the guys have hooked jaws; the gals turn flashy red and green.

 Grandson Patrick mugs for the camera.

Auntie Brooke, Uncle Perry and Papa look on.

 Patrick and his dad, Josh,

after hiking to the lake's shore.

 Can't get enough of this little guy, standing on the roots of a fallen Jeffrey pine.

 Patrick's mom & dad on the left

Auntie and Uncle to the right

Grammie