Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner was vegan this year and it was fabulous! Natural foods like vegetables and fruits and nuts really made for a delicious feast. The food was organic, environmentally friendly and fair trade in some places. A healthy feast for everyone involved!

Trick-or-Treat

For Halloween this year, I dressed as a witch. Two of my girlfriends joined me in the theme. Trick0or-Treating was fun, though I did not get any Bit-O-Honeys. At least I had plenty of candy corn!

Scrapbooking Retreat

I spent a relaxing weekend in Bodega Bay, where 15 girls shared a house to scrapbook all weekend long. I worked on my Disneyland album and finished the whole thing. I also worked on the photos from the pirate party I attended last month. We listened to fun 80's music, stayed in our pajamas, ate good food and a lot of candy and baked goods. It was overcast and rainy so I didn't get to see the migrating whales this year. It was still a fun weekend and I am looking forward to my next retreat.

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

In Morgan Hill is Uesugi Family Pumpkin Farm. There are hundreds of thousands of pumpkins to be found here. They have hay rides, a corn maze, giant bales of hay to jump in, a haunted house, a train ride, and so much more.

If you choose several pumpkins, or one of their large pumpkins, wheelbarrows are provided. They also make fun transportation!




Lots of beautiful pumpkins.


The prices are very reasonable for the pumpkins and entertainment. Plan at least an hour to explore the farm!

Yo-Ho, A Pirate Party For Me

Yesterday I went to a birthday party with a pirate theme. Many people dressed up and so did a few bear friends.

The birthday boy had a lot of fun and received many pirate gifts. The cake was a pirate ship and a giant flag covered the garage.

I can't wait until the next party!

My Surgery

Recently I suffered a back injury where I tore some fur. My stuffing was spilling out and I needed medical attention.

Here I am, getting ready to be stitched up.

The surgery took about ten minutes. I was wheeled out of the operating room and given some aspirin and an ice pack for my head.

Hospital gowns are very fashionable.

A Day on the Farm

Well, not a true "farm." Here in San Jose at Emma Prusch Farm Park, chicken and rooster run free throughout the grounds. They don't seem to fear people or small bears. The park is beautiful and clean. It's a place where San Joseans keep their farm animals. The animals are in the barn area.

Do they know the Chicken Dance?

A very old-fashioned tractor.

Perhaps the biggest attraction at the farm is a giant play structure with climbing features, slides, a bridge, and swings.

Gilroy Gardens

Today I took a trip to Gilroy Gardens, formerly Bonfante Gardens. There are great botanical gardens and it is home to the Circus Trees.

As Gilroy is famous for its garlic, it is only fitting there would be garlic fries throughout the park. Unfortunately they just weren't as flavorful as I had hoped. Then again I have been known to bite into raw garlic cloves. Maybe I have dulled my taste buds.

One of the attractions is the pleasant boat ride through beautiful flowery gardens. The transport is made up of circle boats with a canopy as to shield the hot sun. Pretty music plays throughout the ride.

Most of their rides are themed after locally grown produce. Here I sit in a spinning artichoke as grown in the nearby town of Castroville.

It was a nice, enjoyable summer day.

Cub-gratulations to Bear-y Bonds!

Way to go, Barry Bonds! 756 home runs and more to go!

Santa Cruz

I soent a day at the Boardwalk. They are calling themselves "The original surf city." I hardly think so. As I have mentioned in a past post, Huntington Beach is the Original Surf City. Just one of my rants...

It was quite overcast and cold in the morning. I didn't know if I would make it to the beach.

Turns out the sun came through and it did warm up.

Listening to some beach tunes on my MP3 player.

Feeling happy, warm, and refreshed. Good day!

Happy Hollow

Today I went to Happy Hollow which is a zoo and park in San Jose. They have just a few animals, small ones like meerkats and guinea pigs. It's a fun adventure for small ones - kids or bears.

What's that giant rodent? A capybara.

Here is some type of monkey. It was sitting by the glass so I could get a close look.

Happy Hollow is a Certified Wildlife Habitat

There is a section in the park devoted to fire safety. This is an old-fashioned San Jose Fire Dept truck.

The Safety House that teaches about fires and offers safety tips.

"With a dreamy, far-off look. And her nose stuck in a book"

One of my favorite pastimes is reading. I have hundreds - possible even thousands of books in my house that I have read. I love fiction and nonfiction, history, romance, travel, cookbooks, biographies, ghost stories... I have a nice collection of books about California and many books of haunted tales.
I like to do a lot of reading at Barnes & Noble and Borders. They are great places to preview books and have a cup of coffee while I browse. It's great they have cafes in their stores. Having a drink while I shop keeps me in the store longer, therefore I buy more books. When stores say "No drinks" I think "If I am standing outside your store I can't spend money in there."



Tonight I enjoyed a Raspberry Mocha Light Frappuccino. It kept me going while I read 200 pages.

Here is a book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?"

One of my favorite subjects: California. After all, I was named after Califia, Queen of California.

I like dressing the part. William Shakes-bear!

Day Out With Thomas

Today I went to Roaring Camp in Felton. Thomas the Train made a special appearance and I wanted to see him. There were a lot of fun activities including coloring and painting Thomas pictures, playing with train sets, bounce jumpers, face painting, Thomas video viewing... it was a fun experience.

Post-Disney Blues

In missing the Disneyland Resort I thought maybe another theme park would help me transition back into reality. Not so. I went to Great America and had an okay time. It is no Disneyland, that's for sure.

The last day

My last day of vacation. I am already feeling sad and dreading the long drive home. At least when I get home I can start planning for my next trip back. I enjoyed a Malibu Mocha - I hope I don't miss them too much.

Remember... Dreams Come True

On the last night in Disneyland I decided to watch the fireworks from Main Street. I was lucky enough to get a seat on a bench at the train station. I didn't get all the effects of the Castle and being in the hub, but at least the music was loud.
While I waited for the show I munched on some popcorn... a favorite of Disneyland guests.

A cold soda helped to wash away the salty taste from the popcorn.

More Disney Fun

Here I am back in ToonTown. It is such a fun place to play.

The jail which isn't very effective: the bars are made of rubber and can stretch.

Another fun toon gag.

Relaxing by the water fountain just outside of Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.