What do you do when the November cold and rain is IN your house because of this?

And This:

You do this:

Bake sweet potatoes

and cranberry bread

and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving!

The end result is a much more energy efficient house this winter AND a tax credit!

I am Thankful for new windows.

Mountain top

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We got to do a little more sight-seeing.

We had breakfast at this diner.  We were the only one’s there because we’d been wandering around looking for a certain coffee shop that, even tho we asked many people, we never found!  So we were very happy to land here:

We then when over the mountains –stopping to make a call in to work, and take some pix–and through the woods to see the Redwood trees.  Wow.  Amazing.  Fabulous.  Incredible.  The adjectives failed us.  God is amazing!  I felt so small.

On the other side of the ridge, we arrived at the ocean once again.  This time in Santa Cruz.  We had lunch on the pier with the pelicans! (the picture is not cropped or zoomed, just right out the window from our table!)

We did some shopping and then headed back to San Jose.

It was fun trying to see how far the Prius could go on just one tank of gas, and we weren’t done yet!

Our Hotel

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The hotel we stayed in, The Saint Claire, is historic.  A fantastic place for me to spend my week while Rich was at his conference.  I sat in the huge yet intimate lobby to knit and people watch; it was so peaceful and the luxury further pampered me!

I went to two museums.  The San Jose Museum of Art and the Museum of Quilts and Textiles.   It was so nice to read all the placards and to take my time.  The museum of art had some Ansel Adams and tho I am not a huge fan, the original works were almost  textural to me.  The quilts on display were Victorian “crazy quilts”; a style of various shapes and textures.  They included hand panted velvet and detailed embroidered images.  spectacular works of art!

I wandered the streets exploring.

Mostly, I relaxed.

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We drove up to Napa Valley.  It was so beautiful.  We had tasting and lunch at V. Sattui where I had been with Kirsy before.  The tasting was fun.  We bought a Medeira which is a type of port.

As we were going back south, we were following a slow car into a winery.  When we got out of the car, we could hear the air flowing out of the tire!  Rich volunteered to help.  Turns out the driver was on his way to a Dr. consultation about having knee replacement surgery and would have missed the appointment if he’d had to wait for a tow truck.  They were so grateful and couldn’t believe Rich offered to help.  The lady and her two friends insisted I join them for tasting.  She is a member there and treated us not only to the tasting but also to a bottle of Cabernet!

Good wine, Good scenery, and Good deeds.

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We did some of the famous things–with me as the tour-guide.  Obviously after one visit almost 2 yrs ago, I am an expert!

Ghiradelle Square was very nice.  We had an ice cream, bought some chocolate, listened to live music, and had the first California wine tasting.  Nice way to start the trip!

Rich really wanted his picture under the Haight Ashbury sign… ahh musicians.

We drove down the crookedest road.  Rich even video taped that one.

And we had a “smoochie scene” as the sun set over the ocean horizon.

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I am so blessed!

Rich had to speak at a conference in San Jose and he pushed to have me go too!  When I say pushed, I mean it’s not easy to leave 3 kids at home for 8 days.  I literally had to make a spread sheet for the kids’ care givers. Thanks to all of you!

We went to San Fransisco first and stayed at Aunt Connie’s in Oakland.  She has a fabulous little place.  Thanks for lending it to us!

I will post the pix in groups.

This group is mostly the Golden Gate bridge.  There is a fort below the bridge that we climbed up into.

There are many things that I think of during this month.  I am reminded of this poem that we included in Alexander’s book.

Hand Picked

I know that a mother’s excited

When she sees her baby new

And her feelings overwhelm her,

As the waiting days are through.

I had just as much excitement,

As I waited patiently,

For the telephone call that would

Change it all,

When you’d start you life with me.

I have never been disappointed

With how you came to be.

For you were specially chosen by God

To be in our family.

–Anne Peterson

I am reminded of when I first saw his picture and cried with joy.

I am reminded of the orphanage director.

I am reminded of the airport coming home.

I am still amazed at how God blessed us then –

and now –

with such an active and fun-loving little boy!

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Alexander is a natural at ice hockey.  We gave him all the gear and set him up with lessons for his birthday.  Since then, he’s had lessons and is really loving it.  This class was only 3 kids.  He would  pass the puck past them, skate all around them shoot the net and not fall!  We just signed him up for the next level and look forward to watching him grow and succeed at something he enjoys.