Giving Thanks

The holiday season is upon us!  As my sibling, Craig, gears up for Black Friday,
planning on spending little money (but lots of energy) buying presents for
family and friends, Max and I work on homemade gifts.  We'll spend as little
money and as much energy as Craig, but avoid the crowds, and end up with a
unique product that can't quite be bought anywhere.  Interested in doing the
same?  You might like our list of homemade gifts from this year and years in the
past:

Four-Grain Spicy Pancake Mix (All the dry stuff in a pretty jar, with
directions)

Chilled Cookie Dough Rolls (Spicy Vegan* Finnish Ginger Cookies in a roll, with
directions) or Frozen Cookie Dough (Vegan* Ginger Chocolate Cookies in
pre-dropped, frozen tablespoons – freeze the raw cookies in a single layer on a
cookie sheet, then fill a pretty Chinese To-Go Box and tape on directions.)  *
Why vegan?  No egg means less of an issue of bacteria-laden dough for your
recipient, plus you don't have to worry if your wee one tastes the dough during
assembly of this gift.

Beeswax Candles (Buy beeswax sheets at some craft stores** and use sturdy wicks
in the center; roll your sheet around the wick, and you're done!  Beeswax sheets
come in all colors, so you can mix and match or cut out fun shapes for some
pretty designs.) ** Call ahead or order online – these can be hard to find.

Pipe Cleaner Ornaments or Napkin Rings (Push beads onto pipe cleaners; you can
twist together several pipe cleaners to make an asterisk, for a star or
snowflake shape, or keep them long to make icicles.  Twist a pipecleaner with
white beads and one with red together to make a candy cane.  Less orderly beads
on pipe cleaners can be wrapped in a circle to make a napkin ring.)

Wine Glass Charms (Push beads onto little metal jewelry rings - for older
toddlers only.)

Fabric Shopping Bags, Aprons, or Napkins (Buy iron-on transfers, fabric pens and
fabric crayons.  A lot of craft stores sell plain canvas or
cotton/cotton-polyester fabric bags, aprons, and kerchiefs, if you don't want to
sew your own.  Your wee one can decorate, then you can make the design permanent
with the iron.)

Magnets (Buy pre-cut wood or foam shapes at the craft store, then let your wee
one paint, color, glue on embellishments, and so on.  Magnets get glued on the
back when your design is dry.  If your gift recipient is a beer drinker, you can
save bottle tops and glue on magnets for a super-easy gift.  Big buttons can
also be glued directly on magnets as gifts to crafty folks.)

Chip Clips (Buy wooden spring-loaded clothes pins and embellish them as with
magnets, above)

Paperweights or Garden Charms  (Liza came up with this one for this summer's
camping trip.  Paint a smooth, clean river rock.  If you want your garden charms
to last outside, be sure to use paints that are not water-soluble.)

Salt or Sugar Scrubs in a pretty jar (You can find recipes for these online.  I
am a fan of the all-salt scrubs, as I fear ants invading my bathroom.  You can
mix dried herbs (like rosemary or lavender), essential oils (like lavender or
orange), or even whole spices (like cloves or allspice) with kosher salt in a
jar, with enough oil (a kind that will keep well at room temperature, like
olive) mixed in to make a very thick paste.  Add directions for bathing use (not
cooking) to the lid.)

Wrapping Paper, Cards, or Framed Art (This time of year, find leaves to rub (put
beneath paper on a firm surface, then color the paper with crayon) or stick to
classic art with crayons, pens, pencils, or paints.  Stamps (homemade with
potatoes or other dipped veggies, or store-bought) help cover a lot of volume in
no time, if you'd like to make wrapping paper.  You can also cut out great art
pieces from your wee Picasso and matte them on clean white paper or cardstock to
make postcards or cards.  Avoid powder-based paints, as they will often become
powdery upon drying.)

If you'd like recipes or more details for any of these, please reply to this
e-mail (admin@...).  Want to share your own ideas?  We'll compile
them for an upcoming newsletter!  Maybe one or more of these can fill your days
at home this week, if the rain or cold keeps you from venturing outside.

Here are this week's events (you'll notice that the holidays this week have
several  cancelled):

Every Tuesday at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around Almaden
Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big playground
near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near the
intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Any baby
transport or stroller will work. For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Saturday, November 28th join Jennifer and little Kayla at 5 pm for a near-Full
Moon Hike at Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch Park near Gilroy. What a treat to
share sunset and witness some critters settling down to rest, while other
creatures come alive at night! We'll hike Martin Murphy Trail, a 2 mile paved
loop, with excellent vantage points for seeing stars and looking for bats flying
to catch insects, while offering plenty of safe space for toddlers and children
to hike with us. Jennifer will alert you to nature at dusk and beyond, by the
light of the moon. All family members welcome! This is a Santa Clara County Play
Here (http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/) activity. Register at the
Santa Clara County Website or by calling or e-mailing Carrie Grisenti at
408-355-2240 or Carrie.Grisenti@..., or just come out to join us! To
get to the trailhead, drive towards Gilroy on Highway 101. From the Highway 101
exit at San Martin Avenue, drive East for 2 miles on San Martin Avenue. The
Harvey Bear Ranch entrance to the park is on the left, a quarter mile East of
Foothill Avenue, on San Martin Avenue. Call Jennifer at 408-470-0463 if you're
running late. The event is free, but a parking fee may apply.

Enjoy getting crafty and giving those crafts in thanks to loved ones!

-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan on coming to any of this week's events.  Thanks!

   o Tuesday's 9 AM Hike at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek Trail (San Jose)
   o Saturday's 5 PM Moonlit Hike at Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch (near
Gilroy)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12964712

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

The Things We Accumulate

Lumbering through our cramped attic yesterday in the search for holiday
decorations, I marveled at the things we've accumulated across the years.  My
husband regularly criticizes my accumulation of craft supplies, which DO get
used every two months or so, but I had to laugh at his hippocracy when I found
box after box of VERY old climbing magazines that have been untouched for at
least 8 years, alongside the Christmas Tree Stand that hasn't been used for
about 13 years (we always migrate North for the holidays).

My step father's parents spent much of their impressionable years in the Great
Depression and the time of hardship that followed, so accumulated "free"
practical things out of necessity.  Empty coffee cans became the perfect storage
vessel for nails (which could be used and reused), a gardening tool as a scooper
or pot, or a perfect pan to bake bread in.  When June and Al did buy things,
they were meant to last a lifetime, and they diligently maintained and repaired
their furniture and tools to make sure their lifetime extended past their
owners'.  Over the last three years when the two of them became ill and passed
away, my parents faced the heap of accumulation several decades and their Great
Depression Philosophy had led to.  This meant piles of old varnish and cleaners,
rusty nails, coffee cans and margarine containers, old clothes that could be
used for patches, and other useful-to-them, but probably trash-to-most wares. 
Dozens of trips to the dump, Goodwill, and antique shops (for their immaculately
maintained furniture and tools) later, their house was finally clean and
sellable.

My family does not accumulate the way grandma and grandpa did, for good or bad. 
We buy Tupperware rather than use most of our old plastic and glass food
containers  for storing leftovers.  Our old clothes do find a home in the garage
as shop rags and occasionally for patchwork quilts.  But without having learned
how to darn socks from the generation that knew this skill well, we toss our
holey socks and gloves and buy new ones every year.  Max has already shown an
interest in sewing, woodworking, and machining, so we'll happily help him be
less reliant on the marketplace for replacing anything slightly worn or
malfunctioning.

One idea that brings me peace amidst our moderate accumulation is that Max, like
his parents, has found more joy from his rich experiences than from his material
goods.  As Kim shared with me this week, a stick and some dirt can be as
thoroughly enriching as can be a trademarked game, and with every occasion in
nature where Max can invent his own games and tools from wild things around him,
I  am pleased to know that his imagination and resourcefulness are flourishing. 
And dad delights in seeing no new chunky plastic toys that need a home in our
tiny house (especially while we try to cull the herd in anticipation of holiday
accumulation).  Now is the perfect time of year to collect leaves and seed pods,
pet the moss and newly reproducing lichen, and throw or pop gall balls.  We hope
you're able to get outside to enjoy nature's playspace!

The Kelty Frame Backpack/Kid Carrier sold last week – anyone interested in
buying the other Frame Carrier, the Evenflo TrailTech Carrier for a meager $10? 
This is the last week it will be offered only to Stroller Hikes, before we vend
it to a larger audience.  For more information on this carrier, see
http://www.strollerhikes.com/Resale.html.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, November 16th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L.,
little Adelina, and wee Gibson will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely
wide, paved greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure
they can manage on a faster-paced walk/run. Any baby transport should work! 
We'll take a break around the halfway point for the trip, to play at the large
playground for toddlers, along the greenbelt. Meet at the pedestrian bridge on
Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero
Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location :
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/. For
more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, call Amy at (650) 207-6556.

Tuesday, November 17th at 9 am the hike/run at Lake Almaden has been cancelled
this week.

Tuesday, November 17th at 2 PM join Amy B. and her wee ones for a hike at
Shoreline Park in Mountain View/Palo Alto. The trail is paved, so it's great for
all strollers or kid carriers. Meet at the lake next to where the sailboats are
kept (to the right of the cafe / bathrooms building) in Shoreline Park. There
are plenty of play structures and a beach for toddlers - we'll stop to play
after the hike! Sorry, no dogs allowed. For information about the park and
directions, see Shoreline Park Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Shoreline/Shoreline.html) and Emily
Renzel/Byxbee Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Byxbee/Byxbee.html). If
you're running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Friday, November 20th at 9 AM join Loren and little Angelo for a 2 mile loop
hike at Almaden Quicksilver Park in San Jose.  Baby carrier or backpack strongly
encouraged.  We'll begin from the McAbee road entrance, then travel up Mine Hill
Trail, across Guadalupe Trail, and then down Senador Mine trial. Dogs are
allowed. Directions: from Hwy 85 South, take Almaden Expressway South.  Turn
right on Camden Avenue, then left on McAbee Road. McAbee will dead end at the
trail head.  If you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Saturday, November 21st at 10:30 am join Bike Buddies for a Family Friendly Bike
Ride through downtown San Carlos. The ride will last up to an hour. For more
information, see SanCarlosGreen.org's Website
(http://www.sancarlosgreen.org/home/bikebuddies.html).

Enjoy your play in nature!

-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan to come to any of this week's events.
Thanks!

   o Monday's 10 AM hike along John W Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale)
   o Tuesday's 2 PM hike at Shoreline Park (Mountain View / Palo Alto)
   o Friday's 9 AM hike at Almaden Quicksilver (San Jose)
   o Saturday's 10:30 AM family bike ride in downtown San Carlos


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12962429

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Hi all. I'm too sick to hike today at Bol Park. Better luck next week.
Amy

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you're interested in attending any of this week's events.

   o Monday's 10 AM hike at John W Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale)
   o Monday's 4 PM Toddler Trek at Ulistac Natural Area (Santa Clara)
   o Tuesday's 9 AM Hike at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek Trail (San Jose)
   o Tuesday's 2 AM Hike at Bol Park (Palo Alto)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12960268

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Construction and Destruction

We had a wonderful hike at Ulistac Natural Area on Thursday, an afternoon
already dark with rainclouds, but wonderfully warm.  Ulistac is a very small
preserve located alongside the Guadalupe River Levee in Santa Clara, and a
construction crew has a real presence there now, as they are replacing a huge
water pipe/tank with valved pipes in accordance to earthquake-damage
preventative measures.  Without the update, I imagine a few dozen relatively new
condos in the area could face flood damage not directly from the river, but from
these underground water pipes that store and redirect some of this natural
water.

Max and I enjoyed equally the human and machine activity of the park – a crewman
explained quite happily what they were doing, and we marveled at the several
muddy cranes and diggers.  We had our snack mid-way through our walk, watching
the crewmen pump water from the old pipe, making a waterfall that tumbled water
into the river below.

We also saw some of the natural changes in the park.  Trees not only lose leaves
this time of year, but many lose limbs or break in half when, during wind storms
or very wet weather, the weights of their tops uproot the entire tree or cause
the tree to split down the middle.  Max found two trees for which this was an
issue, and we hiked towards them to check them out.  They both showed their own
waterfalls – this time of sap – frozen in place as they had dried, and we
enjoyed licking a bit of dried sap (ever so slightly sweet) and talking about
maple syrup.

Seeing changes like these really put life in perspective for me.  The crewmen
had their role in maintaining a balance between Mother Nature and human
habitation in the area, but in no way is Ulistac primped and prepped to be
devoid of all natural change.
Someone walked through the park with two dogs off-leash while we walked along
the levee above the park, and we watched as the dogs tipped the natural balance
of the park in their own way.  Two hares charged across the park and fleed to
the river, to escape the dogs, who were happily well enough trained not to
pursue what otherwise might have been their prey.

Given that we only had 45 minutes of good light for our hike last week, we'll be
stopping Thursday Toddler Treks until February.  Do come out to some of our
other events, however, and if you'd like to hike at night, enjoy a slightly
earlier Toddler Trek on Monday or a Moonlit Hike on November 28th.

Looking for a holiday gift that can help Stroller Hikes and help you get outside
with baby?  Two framed baby backpacks are still for resale.  Prices have fallen
$5 each this week – grab them while they're still available!  See
http://www.strollerhikes.com/Resale.html for more details.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, November 9th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L.
and little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water
features, so bring clothes if it's warm out), along the greenbelt. Meet at the
pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just
NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location
(http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/).
For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).

Monday, November 9th at 4 pm join Melissa and little Maxwell for a Toddler Trek
at Ulistac Natural Area and Guadalupe Levee in Santa Clara. The trail is
suitable for a large-wheeled stroller or jogger, or a backpack or carrier
(small-wheeled strollers will not work well), but we'll encourage toddlers to
walk. Dogs allowed! Meet in the parking lot of James Lick Park off of James Lick
Road, which is across from the natural area. We may linger afterwards to play in
the huge playground, or take a break at one of the playgrounds along the way.
For more information or directions, see Ulistac and Guadalupe Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Ulistac/Ulistac.html). Call Melissa at (650)
224-5461 if you're running late.

Tuesday, November 10th at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around
Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big
playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near
the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Any
baby transport or stroller will work. For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Tuesday, November 10th at 2 PM join Amy B. and her wee ones for a hike at Bol
Park in Palo Alto. Meet at Bol Park near the corner of Matadero Avenue and
Laguna Avenue (on Laguna Avenue). This trail is entirely paved, so any baby
transport will work. The trail is a widely used multi-use path that was
converted from an old railroad line - a little history here! Come visit the
donkeys and chickens and see a piece of "old" Palo Alto. Meet at the playground
in the middle of the park. For more information, see The Bol Park Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.
Thursday late afternoon/evening Toddler Treks will resume in February.

Plan Ahead!:
Saturday, November 28th join Jennifer and little Kayla at 5 pm for a near-Full
Moon Hike at Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch Park near Gilroy. What a treat to
share sunset and witness some critters settling down to rest, while other
creatures come alive at night! We'll hike Martin Murphy Trail, a 2 mile paved
loop, with excellent vantage points for seeing stars and looking for bats flying
to catch insects, while offering plenty of safe space for toddlers and children
to hike with us. Jennifer will alert you to nature at dusk and beyond, by the
light of the moon. All family members welcome! This is a Santa Clara County Play
Here (http://www.parkhere.org/) activity. Register at the Santa Clara County
Website or by calling or e-mailing Carrie Grisenti at 408-355-2240 or
Carrie.Grisenti@..., or just come out to join us! To get to the
trailhead, drive towards Gilroy on Highway 101. From the Highway 101 exit at San
Martin Avenue, drive East for 2 miles on San Martin Avenue. The Harvey Bear
Ranch entrance to the park is on the left, a quarter mile East of Foothill
Avenue, on San Martin Avenue. Call Jennifer at 408-470-0463 if you're running
late. The event is free, but a parking fee may apply.

Enjoy this season's changes!

-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan on coming to any of this week's events.  Thanks!

   o Monday's 10 AM hike at John W. Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale)
   o Tuesday's 9 AM hike at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek (San Jose)
   o Tuesday's 2 PM hike at Byxbee Park (Palo Alto)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Ulistac Natural Area (Santa Clara)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12958024

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

H1N1

A close friend at Max's daycare fell ill last week, and now it's confirmed he
has that nasty H1N1 virus.  We're nearly out of the woods for the predicted time
period in which Max would show symptoms if he had caught the flu from his buddy,
but the threat of illness still looms.  Living in a place with so many people,
with such different standards of hygiene and differing concepts of what it would
take to miss work or school and stay home, this swine flu has been a grey cloud
over our heads for several months now.

Data is coming in about how harmful swine flu is, but many people cling to the
idea that the flu claims lives every year, and H1N1 is no different.  This
explains why my school and district haven't publicly announced that there have
been confirmed cases of H1N1 in the student population, which has irked a wide
range of students, parents, and staff members.  Fortunately, not everyone has
been quiet – people in the health profession have been speaking up about this
unusual flu strain being contagious in different ways and potentially posing
more risk to healthy pregnant women.

County health agencies first acquire the H1N1 vaccines, then allocate them as
local jurisdiction deems appropriate.  In Oregon, my step sister's whole family
easily received their vaccines almost a month ago, and the county offered
vaccines to all school teachers and health workers, hoping to keep their service
workers healthy and reduce the spread of illness by these adults who interact
with so many people.  Contra Costa County was offering vaccinations at
elementary schools a few weeks ago.  Finally, after a month of waiting for
similar options, Santa Clara County is getting their vaccines!  (Not in Santa
Clara County?  Check your county website to see about clinics in your area too -
November 7th is a big distribution day for this vaccine!  At the release of this
newsletter, Santa Cruz County, Contra Costa County, and San Mateo County had not
arranged for any flu clinics.)

Santa Clara County is offering four flu clinics, beginning on November 7th in
four locations: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (San Jose), and Valley Health
Centers in Gilroy, San Jose, and Sunnyvale from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  There are
clinics projected for November 15th and 21st too, but demand may exceed supply,
so it is best to visit a clinic earlier in the month.  These clinics are
offering free H1N1 vaccinations to people in high-risk groups for infection
including pregnant women, childcare providers for infants under 6 months old,
children and young adults between 6 months and 24 years old, adults over 24
years old with medical conditions (like respiratory issues), and healthcare
workers.  Other people are asked not to attend; it is not clear if you will need
to provide proof of being in one of the above categories to get a vaccine.  For
more information, see http://www.sccphd.org.

We recognize that getting the H1N1 vaccine may not guarantee protection from the
virus, particularly if it mutates or you happen to be already sick with a virus
when you are inoculated.  Preservatives in vaccines have alone been an issue in
the past few years, making some want to avoid them entirely.  If you're steering
clear of the vaccine as well as the flu, keep up those good hygiene practices
like washing hands and covering your cough.  Also, please stay away from the
public if you have a fever or have had one in the last 24 hours.

In the event that sickness comes your way, hopefully you can rest easy knowing
that your exposure to the outdoor world and its diversity of germs has helped
you develop a strong, active immunity.  If you want more ways to get outside and
explore nature with your little one, consider buying a framed backpack now! 
Wonderful Kristen has donated her two frame backpacks to Stroller Hikes; their
sale will benefit Stroller Hikes, which is a 501-c-3 nonprofit.  Both are for
sale for screaming good deals (in commemoration of Halloween) - $35 and $15 or
best offers.  If you're interested, see
http://www.strollerhikes.com/Resale.html.  Not up for hiking in the winter
weather?  These would make excellent holiday gifts for some springtime hikes to
view wildflowers next year!

Here are this week's events:

Every Monday at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L. and
little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water
features, so bring clothes if it's warm out), along the greenbelt. Meet at the
pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just
NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/.  For
more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
Call Amy at 650-207-6556 if you're running late.

Every Tuesday at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around Almaden
Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big playground
near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near the
intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Any baby
transport or stroller will work. For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Tuesday, November 3rd at 2 PM join Amy B. and her wee ones for a hike at Byxbee
Park in Palo Alto. Meet at the Byxbee parking area. We'll hike up and down the
lovely crushed oyster shell paths around the artistic installments to Byxbee
Park, then hike over to the Palo Alto Baylands Park, stopping to check out the
birds around the duck pond as well as any artists trying to capture the
interesting landscape. The trail works fine for all types of strollers. Dogs
allowed! For more information about the parks and directions to Byxbee's main
parking lot, see Byxbee Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Byxbee/Byxbee.html and Palo Alto Baylands
Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/PABaylands/PABaylands.html). If you're
running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Thursday, November 5th at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at Ulistac Natural Area and Guadalupe Levee in Santa Clara. The trail is
suitable for a large-wheeled stroller or jogger, or a backpack or carrier
(small-wheeled strollers will not work well), but we'll encourage toddlers to
walk. Dogs allowed! Meet in the parking lot of James Lick Park off of James Lick
Road, which is across from the natural area. We may linger afterwards to play in
the huge playground, or take a break at one of the playgrounds along the way.
For more information or directions, see Ulistac and Guadalupe Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Ulistac/Ulistac.html). Debbie's cell number
is - call 650-776-1082 if you're running late.

Stay healthy!

-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan on coming to any of these week's events.  Thanks!

   o Tuesday's 9 AM Hike at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek (San Jose)
   o Tuesday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Bol Park (Palo Alto)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at McClellan Ranch Park (Cupertino)
   o Saturday's 12 - 4 PM California Street Carnival c/o Blossom Birth Services
(Palo Alto)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
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Thanks!

Life Lessons

As a parent, we come prepared with many lessons and values, but every now and
again, one strikes us as difficult, perhaps because we find ourselves being
hypocritical.

When we're out on hikes, Toddler Treks, runs, bike rides, and camping trips in
the local parks and open spaces, we enjoy the dirt and plant life, and the bugs,
worms, and other fauna help those areas feel more genuine, and exciting.  We'll
stop to follow an ant trail, watch a beetle, and wonder at where a spider might
be off to.  Petting moss and touching a slimy slug is MORE exciting than petting
a dog we might meet in town on the street, and watching wild turkeys or deer
from afar is a delight.  We respect nature and value this life.

We make our home cozy for us, and surround it with plants, dirt, and mulch that
helps it feel like nature, although in so many ways it is an artificial
environment.  So what happens when an earwig or spider crawl across the kitchen
floor?  "Kill it," Max said the other day.

I'm not really sure where Max got this from – we're both pretty mild-mannered
about bugs in and around the house, though I admit to killing a spider or earwig
when I know Max is not looking, rather than just helping the critter find the
door to escape into the garden.  For boys especially (who seem to be more
boisterous), I think there needs to be a clear message about appropriate
aggression and when violence crosses a line and becomes hateful.  I'm finding
that this is a very tricky message to deliver, as I feel I've been hypocritical
in my lifetime.

When in graduate school, I kept millions and millions of bugs alive – wonderful
water fleas that are ever so useful to people and live worldwide, though most
people have never seen them and don't have any clue about what they do for us. 
These Daphnia were the sweetest of critters – ranging from the size of a pinhead
to the tip of a finger – and are helpful in pharmaceutical and toxin research,
genetic mutation study, cleaning our water (at water treatment plants), and
serving at the base of the food chain for freshwater ecosystems.  If you've ever
bought gourmet fish food, you've bought them, and goldfish go CRAZY when you
drop their freeze-dried bodies into water.  If you've ever taken medication,
used bleached paper (where watery pulp is bleached with toxic dioxins), or used
municipal water in an area with water treatment ponds, you should thank Daphnia
for making the water safe.  We fed our Daphnia algae, yeast, and filtered pond
water, and they responded by reproducing so much that we ran out of room for
them.  It always saddened me to have to "throw some Daphnia away," to a large
bucket of pond water that I hopefully but unrealistically called "Daphnia
heaven."

There certainly are critters in this world that I would kill without hesitation
– black widow spiders and wasps, for instance with their nasty venom.  But can I
rationalize killing an earwig, ant, or spider when it's not of direct risk or
harm to me?

For now, I'm thrilled to have Stroller Hikes events as a way to respect ALL life
that we happen across.  Even if the right of critters at home may be unclear,
I'm satisfied with my life lesson to Max about all critters great and small in
wild places.

Here are this week's events:

Note that Monday's usual 10 AM John W. Christian Greenbelt hike is cancelled
this week.  Also please note that Melissa's Toddler Trek has a new location this
week (Hidden Villa is closed on Monday).  Amy Bankhead's wonderful 2 PM hikes on
Tuesday resume after this week!

Monday, October 26th at 4:30 pm join Melissa and little Maxwell for a Toddler
Trek at Bol Park in Palo Alto. Bol Park is in many ways an area that time
forget, in the otherwise bustling Stanford area. Meet at the play structures in
Bol Park for a romp down the Bol Park Trail to visit the chickens and donkeys,
look down the pond for frogs, and check out the change flora (lots of large-leaf
trees and grasses out here). Any baby transport will work on this wide paved
trail. For directions or more information, see The Bol Park Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BolPark/BolPark.html). Call Melissa at (650)
224-5461 if you're running late.

Tuesday, October 27th at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around
Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big
playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near
the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Any
baby transport or stroller will work. For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Thursday, October 29th at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at McClellan Ranch Farm/Park in Cupertino. We may see some reptiles, plants, and
insects with the help of one of the naturalists of the park. We may also visit
the gardens and livestock area of the park. Come walk along the new stretch of
Stevens Creek Trail here, and check out the creek!  They have restructured it
since last year – we may try to find the new collection/backwash area of the
creek and see if there might be new critters here that haven't been so prevalent
in the quick water, before.  Meet at the parking lot at McClellan Ranch Park at
22221 McClellan Road in Cupertino.  Any baby transport will work, but we'll
encourage toddlers to hike.  If you're running late, call Debbie at
650-776-1082.

Come celebrate the festivities of this season at Palo Alto's California Avenue
Carnival sponsored by California Avenue businesses including Blossom Birth. This
Halloween Event runs from 12 to 4 pm and will include store-to-store Trick or
Treating with emphasis on toddler-friendly treats, arts and crafts, and games.
Come by any time - most events will occur at or near Blossom Birth at 299 S.
California Avenue. The train comes right to California Avenue, if you want to
jazz up your trip with a train ride. Trick or Treating is free and participating
businesses will display an orange pumpkin sign in their windows. Carnival games
cost $1, with proceeds going to Blossom Birth, a local nonprofit supporting
growing families. For more information, see Blossom's Announcement about the
event at http://www.blossombirth.org/Special_Events/halloween_09.html.

Enjoy life!

-Debbie and little Max

Looks like it's supposed to rain off and on today.

Itty Bitty

Mindy, my big twin sister (by eight inches and 6 minutes) just bought her first
house, a very modest, teeny tiny bungalow in Portland, with a proportional
price, at least by Silicon Valley standards.  Looking at it compelled me to sing
the chorus for "It's all Right to be Itty Bitty," a cute country western song I
recall from college days.

It IS all right to be itty bitty.  We certainly cherish our itty bitty bundles
of joy, and I personally enjoyed being told "good things come in small packages"
over much of my existence, when I was usually the smallest girl at school, camp,
or anywhere else, including my years as a Wildlands Fire Fighter.  Size is, as
you know, not the only quality by which to judge things, and my wonderful
parents helped me develop a personality and personal limits that far exceeded my
vertically challenged physical stature.  I am certain many of you will do
similar things, helping your wee ones be all they can be.  This is a perfect
season for this, as pretending is all the rage, as are facing one's fears to
ride a pony for the first time, handle rubber spiders, or set foot in a haunted
house.

Mindy is loving her new space, as a renter for almost two decades who was used
to only really owning her bedroom, and having to share every other space with
roommates.  Her dog is loving claiming the space as his own too – he's
delighting in chasing off the neighborhood cats that thought that Mindy's yard
was part of THEIR territories.  "Ha ha, my yard," I can imagine Bowie barking,
between a wide smile.  Mindy's even got an even more itty bitty playhouse in the
back, ready and waiting for little Max to claim as his own.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, October 19th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L.
and little Adelina will lead a hike along the lovely wide, paved greenbelt in
Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage on a
faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the trip,
to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water features, so
bring clothes if it's warm out). Meet at the pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue
and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero Dr.).  For more
information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, call Amy at 650-207-6556.

Tuesday, October 20th at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around
Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big
playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near
the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed on
the beginning of the path, but they are allowed alongside the creek!  Any baby
transport or stroller will work. For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Thursday, October 22nd at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills. Hidden Villa is a fully functional,
educational farm, with chickens, pigs, goats, cows, and more! Toddlers will be
encouraged to walk, run, and explore. We'll talk about farm animals and organic
gardening. Meet at the farm's parking lot near their visitor center. Bring a
suggested $5 donation for parking. Baby backpacks or carriers or a jogging
stroller work best if your toddler doesn't want to walk. Sorry, dogs not
allowed. For directions or more information, see Hidden Villa Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/HiddenVilla/HiddenVilla.html). Call Debbie
at 650-776-1082 if you're running late.

"It's all Right to be Itty Bitty!"
-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you're interested in coming to any of this week's events. 
Thanks!

   o Monday's 10 AM hike along the John W. Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale)
   o Tuesday's 9 AM hike at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek Trail (San Jose)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek (Hike/Farm Visit) at Hidden Villa (Los Altos
Hills)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12953697

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Hello fellow stroller hikers. We won't be walking at almaden lake this morning.
Enjoy the rainy day!
Loren Romley LAc
www.lorenromley.com
831-227-6737   

FYI dogs are allowed on leash on this path.
Loren Romley LAc
www.lorenromley.com
831-227-6737   

Healthy Eating

As the weather changes and we experience the second season in California (it is
highly debatable if there are truly more than two seasons here), our culinary
attentions turn from the fresh fruits and vegetables of sunny days (like
watermelon, cherries, corn) towards the sweet treats of the impending holiday
season.  Already, stores are advertising for occasions that center around
not-so-healthful eating, with plenty of triple-wrapped bags of neon-colored
goodies.

Happily, Max is still focused on the other pleasures of Halloween, Thanksgiving,
and the December holidays, including pretending and visiting with friends and
family.  However, I fear that those modern American overtones that have come to
dominate will grasp hold of his attention soon, and this season will come to be
defined by gorging on sweets.

How do we combat this, when every store has aisles dedicated to bags of sweets,
and the healthful sweet treats of warmer days are now out of season and becoming
rarer or more expensive?

Looking to the historical sweet treats is one option.  I delighted to learn from
my CSA last week that many of the squashes of the season become sweeter with
age.  I already have Delicata, Butternut, and Pumpkin squash becoming sweeter by
the day, and enjoy that there is no rush to use them before spoiling, and they
don't take any room in the fridge, as they'll keep nicely on a counter.  We'll
be using our whole pumpkin this year – the shell for a Jack O Lantern, the seeds
toasted with a little salt in the oven, and the pulp cooked into a pie, some
cookies, or soup.  The dried corn ears that so many buy for table arrangements
can be popped and served in lieu of processed popcorn in a bag.  And I've even
discovered the joys of beet lollipops, using our mildly flavored golden and pink
beets (in thick slices, they get put on a stick and roasted in the oven).  With
recipes like these in mind, we'll get our vitamins and skip the artificial
colors and flavors, and appease our longing for sweets.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, October 12th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L.
and little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water
features, so bring clothes), along the greenbelt. Meet at the pedestrian bridge
on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero
Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location
(http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/).
For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, call Amy at 650-207-6556.

Monday, October 12th at 4:30 pm join Melissa and little Maxwell for a Toddler
Trek at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. If toddlers are up for
it, we'll tackle Coyote Loop to Deer Hollow Farm (with some uphill and
downhill), but if toddlers are not so ambitious, we'll take Deer Meadow Trail to
the Farm. For more information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. Bring your toddler's bike if you'd like. This hike is
at least half shaded. Meet near the large bathrooms at the park (stay right as
you enter, then follow the road downhill).  Call Melissa at (650) 224-5461 if
you're running late.

Tuesday, October 13th at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a hike around
Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the big
playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot near
the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Any
type of baby transport or strollers will work.  For more information about the
area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Thursday, October 15th at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at Santa Teresa County Park in San Jose. Come out to see the wildflowers
blooming, look for checkerspot butterflies, try to spy a deer, and find
serpentine rock formations. Much of this route follows the Juan Bautista De Anza
Trail. To get to the trailhead, take the Almaden Expressway exit from Highway
85, then travel south on Almaden Expressway. Turn right onto Harry Road, then
left on McKean Road. Turn onto Fortini Road, then park at the dirt parking lot
at the park entrance (where San Vicente Avenue also enters the park). The trail
is a 2.5 mile loop; we'll follow Fortini Trail along the Santa Teresa Creek for
almost a mile, then turn left on Mine Trail, then left on Stile Ranch Trail for
some nice views and a return back to the parking lot. There is no parking fee at
this park entrance. If you're running late, call Debbie at 650-776-1082. This is
a Santa Clara County Healthy Trails (http://www.parkhere.org) outing.

On Saturday, October 17th at 10:30 am join Bike Buddies for a Family Friendly
Bike Ride through downtown San Carlos. The ride will last up to an hour. For
more information, see SanCarlosGreen.org's Website
(http://www.sancarlosgreen.org/home/bikebuddies.html).

Last week I asked about costumes and festivals.  Several of you commented on how
to build costumes, but no one had a costume to trade, sell, or give away – these
are precious, aren't they?   Joey Franco's PW Market is sponsoring a costume
donation drive for the underpriviledged, if you have an extra costume you'd like
to give away.  You are still welcome to share holiday festival ideas – I'll add
them to the calendar; don't forget to come out for Palo Alto's California Street
Carnival on Halloween Day.

Happy Eating!

-Debbie Frazier

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan to come for any of this week's events.  Thanks!

   o Monday's 10 AM Hike at John W. Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale)
   o Monday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Rancho San Antonio (Cupertino/Los Altos
Hills)
   o Tuesday's 9 AM Hike at Lake Almaden/Los Alamitos Creek (San Jose)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Santa Teresa County Park (San Jose)
   o Saturday's 10:30 AM Family Bike Ride at San Carlos


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12951699

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Sorry for the short notice.  It's 49 degrees right now and I think it's a little
too cold for my 6-month-old to be out this morning.

Hi all-
Here's the anticipated update on Loren's run/hikes this week.

Loren's Tuesday morning hike at Los Alamitos Creek/Lake Almaden will begin at 9
AM.

Loren will not be leading a Friday morning hike this week.

StrollerHikes.com has been updated with this information.

On another note, Ilana and her family just moved back to Israel, and donated a
wonderful wooden crib to Stroller Hikes.  It is light tan wood, comes with a
waterproof foam mattress that fits a toddler bed, and has a side that raises and
lowers to make it easier to lift baby in/out (a back saver for me - I had the
same kind of crib).  The distance between the vertical slats all around the crib
meet current law; this is a safe design.  It comes with a bumper and sham in
blue and ivory with appliqued cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles on it.  If
you're interested please let me know - the crib would cost between $150 and $250
new, then the mattress and linens would cost more, but we're asking for $50 or a
best offer.  Proceeds will go to benefit Stroller Hikes, which is a 501-c-3
educational nonprofit, so what you spend will be tax deductable.  If you'd like
to see a couple of pictures, see
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bab/1404850877.html
You can reply to this e-mail if you are interested or call me at (650) 776-1082.

Enjoy the last few hours of your weekend!
-Debbie

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you are interested in coming to any of this week's events. 
Thanks!

   o Monday's 10 AM hike along the John W Christian Greenbelt (Sunnyvale) with
visit to park and water play
   o Tuesday's 8:30 AM / 9 AM Run at Lake Almaden / Los Alamitos Creek Trail (San
Jose)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Rancho San Antonio (Cupertino/Los Altos
Hills)
   o Friday's 8:30 / 9 AM Hike (TBD)
   o Saturday's 10 AM Burlingame Bike Ride


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12949674

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Costumes

Now is the busy season for craft stores and seasonal isles at pharmacies! 
Welcome to the season where we celebrate things that might otherwise scare us,
and embrace pretending.

Our neighbors already have the fake cobwebs and plastic pumpkins up.  Debating
if we should follow suit, Max and I spied a huge spider web in the garden (about
3 feet by 2 feet – really big) and a gorgeous orange and white spider to go with
it, hiding on a nearby leaf, waiting for its dinner to be trapped.

Visiting preschool on Wednesday, as soon as the topic of Halloween came up, all
of the kids gathered round with their costume ideas – the usual collection of
1950s Comic Book Heroes and 2000s Cartoon Heroes, as well as some creative
vegetative and animal matter.  Max loves horses, so he has opted to be a horse
this year, and we picked out fabric for sewing a costume already.  Dad's going
to be a pink bunny (he's always wanted to be), so I have some shaggy fabric for
that in the garage.  I'm still not settled on what I'll be – I'll shoot for
something less disturbing, but probably less regal than in years past.  (With
all intentions to be the life of the party, I managed to be a very scary clown
several years back, and on the other end of the spectrum, I have been the Statue
of Liberty and p53, DNA's guardian angel from mutation.)

I'm sure I'm not alone in my uncertainty about what to be.  And I'm sure there
are moms and dads out there hoping that their kids don't ask for a costume too
out of the ordinary.  I thought I'd propose a costume swap this year, if any of
you are interested.  Got a costume you'd like to lend out, give away, or sell? 
Let me know and I'll assemble these options for next weekend's newsletter. 
Costumes can be all types and sizes (even adult).

Halloween occurs on a weekend this year, so there are bound to be tons of ways
to celebrate.  If you're looking for a family friendly celebration in the middle
of the day, visit Palo Alto's California Street (there's a train station there,
if you'd like to take the train) for a neighborhood carnival managed by Blossom
Birth Services and sponsored by a lot of the California Street businesses this
year.  The event will run from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, October 31st.  I'll
post more information in the coming weeks.
If you're looking for a fun place to pick up a pumpkin and would rather not be
stuck in a single lane of traffic as you snake towards Half Moon Bay, there is a
Harvest Fair next Saturday (October 10th) from 10 AM to 4 PM put on by our
friends at Two Small Farms, in Watsonville.  See below!

Got your own recommendations for events this season?  Let me know, and they'll
get added to next week's newsletter and/or the website.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, October 5th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L.
and little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water
features, so bring clothes), along the greenbelt. Meet at the pedestrian bridge
on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero
Dr.). For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt
Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, give Amy a call at 650-207-6556.

Tuesday, October 6th at 8:30 or 9 am (a future e-mail to the group will confirm
the time) Loren and little Angelo will lead a mellow stroller jog (sometimes a
brisk walk) around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water
dragon by the big playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main
parking lot near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No
dogs allowed! Jogging strollers are best, but this is an entirely paved trail,
so smaller-wheeled strollers are also OK. Walkers always welcome! For more
information about the area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Webpage (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If
you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Thursday, October 8th at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. If toddlers are up for it,
we'll tackle Coyote Loop to Deer Hollow Farm (with some uphill and downhill),
but if toddlers are not so ambitious, we'll take Deer Meadow Trail to the Farm.
For more information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. If you're running
late, call Debbie at 650-776-1082.

Friday, October 9th at 8:30 or 9 am Loren will lead a hike for 1 to 2 hours
(more or less, depending on group needs and trail length).  A future e-mail to
the group will confirm the time and location.

Saturday, October 10th, at 10 am join BetterBurlingame.org for the Family Fun
Bike Ride in Burlingame. Tricycles, training wheels, and trailers are welcome!
The ride starts at the parking lot of the Broadway Caltrain Station on
California Drive. As described on BetterBurlingame.org's Website
(http://www.betterburlingame.org/Family_Bike_Ride/page109.htm): " We bike over
the new Broadway Bicycle-Pedestrian Overpass, and cruise along the Bayfront bike
path for about a mile to the small City park next to the beautiful Anza Lagoon.
Return trip: We retrace our route, ending up at Preston's on Broadway for FREE
ICE CREAM for all the kids."

Saturday, October 10th, visit High Ground Organics Farm in Watsonville for a
charter school fundraiser Harvest Fair.  The festivities run from 10 AM to 4 PM
and include arts and crafts, pony and hay rides, produce sales, apple tasting, a
petting zoo, and more.  Children 3 and under are free, but all other kids cost
$5, and adults cost $10 entry fee.  For more information, see The Harvest Fair's
flier at http://www.twosmallfarms.com/fliers/harvest%20festival%20flier.pdf. 
This is not a Stroller Hikes event, but several Stroller Hikes members are part
of this CSA.  All members of the public are welcome to this event.

Think about sharing those events and costumes!

-Debbie and little Max

Hi all-

Sorry for omitting Monday's John W Christian Greenbelt hike from Monday's
roster, next week.  It's still ON!  Here's the information:

Monday at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt.  Amy L. and little
Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved greenbelt in
Sunnyvale and Santa Clara.  Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage on a
faster-paced walk/run.  We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers (which includes water
features, so bring clothes), along the greenbelt.  Meet at the pedestrian bridge
on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero
Dr.).  For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt
Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, give Amy a call at (650) 207-6556.

I will not be able to add it to the poll without losing all of the poll data, so
no poll question about it this week.

Enjoy your weekend!

-Debbie and little Max

Risks and Rewards

My husband is an engineer and I am a scientist.  In our fields, as well as many
others, the most substantial rewards come out of taking risks to try something
new or think differently.

Max is three.  Though he has yet to learn about structured science and
invention, his world works the same way.  True rewards come only out of taking
risks to try something new or think differently.  At a big birthday party this
week, it gave me great joy to watch Max taking on new roles, for the first time
and without prompting from anyone.  He played the role of host, finding
impromptu favors for all of the guests and inventing a balloon game.  At the
Blossom Birth Picnic last weekend, it was delightful to sit with one of my
17-year-old students and talk about how children of all ages, and even adults,
were interpreting the Stroller Hikes obstacle course, using the props in a wide
range of ways, most often not completing the course in the linear fashion it had
originally been set up in.

Max's thinking is even traveling down some interesting, unique paths.  As a big
fan of bees (hey, my name is De-bee), I've taught Max that bees retrieve pollen
from flowers and make honey.  Yesterday on our Toddler Trek at Fremont Older,
Max was bitten by a yellow jacket wasp, a frightening situation for all of us
parents and the kids.*  Several hours later, Max's face was swollen, and while
clearly uncomfortable, his language was lively.  He spoke proudly of the honey
bee that had stung him, and wondered if his face was swollen with honey.  I had
to smile.  Not ever anything I would have thought of, but Max's thinking was
logical.  Who knows.  Maybe researchers will find parallels in honey production
and toxin produced by these animals in the future.

Richard Louv is a researcher who has championed several movements promoting free
play for kids.  To me, free play is a central activity to trying new things and
thinking differently.  If you'd like to join others in some open play, come out
for a Family Play Day – Children in Nature Collaborative, which Stroller Hikes
partners with, has put several together, all over the Bay Area.  For more
information, see http://www.communitywalk.com/playdays and come out to build a
fort, play in the mud, or pretend with others!

* By the way, I have contacted Fremont Older about their abundance of yellow
jacket wasps.  They have an unusually high amount of them this time of year.  
If you visit the park, keep a lookout for the wasps, as they can be territorial
if you "hang out" too close to their nests, which are in the ground.

This week will be the last for the Wednesday Rancho San Antonio hike unless
someone volunteers to lead those events.  Please e-mail me by replying to this
message if you would like to lead!

Note that Melissa has begun to lead weekly Toddler Treks on Monday afternoons,
and Jennifer is hosting another Moonlit Hike!

Here are this week's events:

Monday at 4:30 PM join Melissa and Maxwell for a Toddler Trek at Fremont Older
in Saratoga/Cupertino. We'll encourage toddlers to walk, run, and explore, and
visit the "ruins" by the creek, before heading up to a viewpoint to see the
rolling grassland and the valley below. Non-walking children should ride in
backpacks or carriers. We'll talk about seeds, with grasses as examples, and
notice how seeds hitch a ride on socks with special adaptations. Dogs welcome.
For more information about the area and directions, see Fremont Older Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/FremontOlder/FremontOlder.html). Meet at the
Prospect Road parking lot. Call Melissa at (650) 224-5461 if you're running
late.

Tuesday at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a walk (not a run this week)
around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by the
big playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot
near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed!
Any baby transport/stroller will work.  For more information about the area or
directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If you're
running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Wednesday at 9:45 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino/Los Altos
Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat path going to the farm, and
possibly go past it. The road is perfect for trikes or bikes, if toddlers or
young children want to ride. Any baby transport will work. Meet at the main
lower parking lot at the water fountain in front of the bathrooms(just past the
entrance, turn right, then follow the road until it ends). For more information
or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. There is currently
no leader for this hike, but it has been historically well attended, so come out
if you'd like.  This hike event will not continue in the future if no one
volunteers to lead it.

Thursday, October 1st at 4:30 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek
at Alviso Marina and Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge in Alviso. Come enjoy the range
of birds, the Bay breezes, and see the train! The boardwalks here are great for
toddlers. Meet at the Marina Parking lot. Bring a carrier or a jogging stroller
for wee ones. Sorry, no dogs allowed. Alviso is under construction right now, so
this should be a great trip for those kiddos that love to see big trucks and
tools!  For directions or more information about the area, see The Alviso / Don
Edwards Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Alviso/Alviso.html). Call
Debbie at 650-776-1082 if you're running late. This is a Santa Clara County
Healthy Trails (http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/) outing.

Saturday, October 3rd from 6 to 7:30 PM, join Jennifer and little Kayla for a
Full Moon Hike at Vasona Lake County Park.  Look for bats, listen for frogs and
crickets, and see what other animals come to life as dusk falls at this lovely
park with paved trails.  Jennifer Snedeker will lead this family-friendly event,
suitable for baby transport of all types.  Meet at the Vasona playground parking
lot.  Bring some layered clothes if it cools down, and also bring water, a
snack, and a flashlight.  Jennifer is a wonderful educator who will break up the
hike with games and exploration, depending on what critters the group sees. 
This event is co-sponsored by Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation.  For
information about Vasona's trail and directions to get to Vasona, see the Los
Gatos Creek Trail Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosGatosCreek/LosGatosCreek.html) or Santa
Clara Parks and Rec's Page about Vasona
(http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/parksarticle?path=%252Fv7%252FParks%2\
520and%2520Recreation%252C%2520Department%2520of%2520%2528DEP%2529&contentId=54a\
698ba77784010VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____&cpsextcurrchannel=1).

Enjoy the weekend!

-Debbie and little Max

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
StrollerHikes group:

Please indicate if you plan on coming out for any of this week's events. 
Thanks!

   o Monday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Fremont Older (Saratoga / Cupertino)
   o Tuesday's 9 AM Walk at Los Alamitos Creek Trail / Lake Almaden (San Jose)
   o Wednesday's 9:45 AM Trike-Friendly Hike at Rancho San Antonio (Los Altos
Hills / Cupertino)
   o Thursday's 4:30 PM Toddler Trek at Alviso Marina (Alviso)
   o Saturday's 6 PM Moonlit Hike at Vasona Lake Park (Los Gatos)


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerHikes/surveys?id=12946991

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!