Day 3 Vacation

We then headed further up the coast to Humboldt Redwoods State park where we saw more massive trees (both more of them, and trees that are even bigger). Pictures can in no way do justice to how small these trees make you feel!

Day 2 Vacation

We visited a little beach to check out the tidepools on our way out of Santa Cruz toward San Fransisco. Unfortunately, the tide was still fairly high and we mostly saw tiny hermit crabs in the few exposed pools. As the little beach was also a preserve, we were not supposed to take any shells. Instead, I made little arrangements of the shells that I might have collected!

In the afternoon we visited Muir Woods, just north of SF where we took our walk of the day. I have many, many shots of the back of Betty's head as she looks up at the massive trees. Interesting fact of the day was that some of the star wars movie, with the Ewok's, was filmed in this grove of redwoods.

28 1/2 weeks

On our vacation, we drove along the California coast (we're both very lucky, I assume, that nausea hasn't been a part of this pregnancy!) When I am standing up, I really do look pregnant now. Baby also enjoyed the constant motion of the car ride and slept almost the whole four day trip!

Even when sitting down! We took a long walk each day of our trip and I needed a few extra sitting and resting moments before heading up hills. It looks dark, but we are really in a forest. Betty surprised me with a new camera (which we had been talking about getting before Baby arrives so we can take many pictures of her!) and I haven't yet figured out all the many options it has for taking pictures in different types of lighting.

More Housework

Betty had two days off in a row before our vacation and decided to get to work on digging out what will become an egress window in our basement. We decided we needed to replace the window after a rainstorm poured in around the AC unit--it seems that the previous owners had, instead of making a well around the unit, created a cement funnel that directed any excess water right into the basement.

By the end of the day, she did have to use a footstool to climb out of the hole!

Squirrel Gymnastics

Labor Day

Labor day was a vacation for both of us, for the first time in several weeks! We decided to go find a small open space park where we could hike around. On Memorial Day we had tried to go hiking, with the Cichan's, at a close in park and there was no parking. We were happy to find Pine Valley Ranch Open Space had parking even in the first parking lot when we arrived. We took advantage of the beautiful day to show off the baby belly--I really do look pregnant now!

I also braved an uphill hiking trail for about a mile and a half--I still seem to have a lot of energy--though we did stop in each shady spot for a little rest!

No, we didn't mean to dress alike--we just both have several pairs of blue athletic shorts (and they still fit me this week)

Pickles!

Our garden has been producing lots and lots of cucumbers and sometimes I am able to pick them before they become slicing size. I've been storing them in the bottom of the fridge for about a week (until the basket was full) and yesterday we made pickles for the first time!

First chop them up. Then they sit in the fridge under ice for a few hours while I get the canner going and boil the "brine." We just used a premixed packet of seasonings.

Here is the 25 week baby belly hot packing the first pickles in their jar. Thanks to Amy for bringing over her jar lifter and magnetic lid lifter.

Here are the first seven jars cooling while the last two take their boiling water bath. We'll be very interested to find out how they turn out!