Pumpkins

Yesterday we went to a Fall Festival at an environmental centre. The centre had plantings representing the 8 different ecosystems of california. It was really well done and beautiful. Strange to look at plants that I'd normally consider as introduced and know that they are native to where I am. The kids did a whole bunch of crafts which were set up picnic tables around the forests, and plants (i'd call it a garden, but it wasn't quite). The crafts were managed by girl scouts who all had tanned freckled skin, were skinny and had blonde hair. It was disquieting. There was a really cool 'pumpkin patch' where you could choose your pumpkins for halloween carving. Anyway heres some photos.

I found a really great organic store here. Its just huge, with nearly everything you could think of in organic. The prices were reasonable as well. We've been feasting on organic sweet potato chips, they're so yum! The birds at the beach agree too, we were there the other day and they pecked through a pack of unopened chips and ate them all! At this store, there was a dispenser near the trolleys, of disinefectant wipes, so you could wipe the germs of the handle of the trolley. They really are paranoid here. About half of the TV advertising is for cleaning products. The other half is for prescription medicine.

The beach here is fantastic, the sand is perfect for building castles, we built a canal city the other day, the waves are perfect for boogie boarding and the weather is perfect too. Its in farenheit, but I'd guess about 25-28 everyday. (Slightly too hot for me, but great for swimming and the beach).

We're mostly over jet lag now, which is great. I'm getting used to the driving too. I don't think I'll ever get used to the bread though. Theres so much sugar in that it's putting me off toast and sandwiches, which is a bit sad, because that was more than half my diet in Aus. Its also a waste of the six tube of vegemite that I brought. Its like trying to have vegemite on a scone.

Anyways, I shouold be educating the kids right now, so I'd better be off. Cheers, Nic