Pumpkin patch and carving party

We had a great Saturday picking out some pumpkins from the local pumpkin patch and carving them at Aunt Kara and Uncle Jake's Pumpkin Carving Party!

Work-in-progress

Since Zadie LOVEs strawberries, I'm making her a strawberry halloween costume...

First I made a little paper prototype with notebook paper and tape to get some general shapes and relative measurements...


Then, sewing the fleece seeds onto the flannel...


Then we add some leaves...


And almost finished...


We are planning a final fitting before the pumpkin carving party this Saturday...hopefully Zadie will let me put it on her long enough to take a picture wearing it!

Bike Commute Day 3

I tried the slightly more local way today bypassing Sunnyvale-Saratoga. It was much, much nicer. Totally worth the extra distance.

Total Distance: 32.5 miles.
Still between 65 and 70 minutes to the office and around 70 minutes home.

The way back was easier this time. I think this was partially because I had a better idea of where I was going and more confidence I wouldn't get lost. I took Homestead instead of Stevens Creek which meant less freeway merges and fewer hills. Win-win! It also helped a lot that I wasn't dying on the hills.

Yay for getting fitter!

Too bad I can only go one way this Thursday since I have a 5:30 meeting. Poo.

I'm still hoping to break the 60 minute barrier sometime soon. Perhaps Thursday morning...

Bike Commute Day 2

I am beat. I overdid it yesterday...by about 7 or 8 miles.

I did the whole round trip yesterday.

15.7 miles each way for a grand total of 30.4 miles.

I had felt really good on the way to work. I spent about two thirds of it with another biker who was going the same way. It was very pleasant to chat while commuting and gave me some incentive to try to keep up. Even without my biking shoes I still made it in 70 minutes. At least I'm consistent!

Since I have to go to a conference Thursday, yesterday was my only chance the entire week to bike commute. So, I figured why not try the whole thing.

What I had not considered was the subtle difference in terrain and route the trip back would present. There is far more uphill...I think I was somewhere along Foothill when I slowed to maybe 6mph struggling just to turn over the pedals.

I also took a route where I had to cross a busy street with no cross traffic stop sign. I think I waited at least 10 minutes before there was an opening long enough for me to cross...

I was surprised to find that I managed to make it home in around 80 minutes.

I don't think I'll be trying that again for a while...maybe next spring. I think I'll stick to the 19 mile option until I'm in a bit better shape.