A Day by the Lake

Zoe likes nothing more than spending a day by the water. Except being in the water. We spent another lovely day at Meech Lake. Zoe swam around in her innertube, dug up sand, splashed, laughed and enjoyed a picnic on the grass.

Good Morning!

The view from our room in Montreal

Fine Dining

If Zoe doesn't grow up to be a foodie, it's not for a lack of exposure! Zoe goes to all the best restaurants on our travels in Canada- even if she doesn't try everything. Last night, Zoe had a great time at Dune- a North African restaurant in Montreal. If tomato soup with garbanzo beans and lamb wasn't wonderful enough, the belly dancing made her night!

Hello Kitty

Zoe greets the house kitty, "Moppett", at the home where we stayed in Montreal.

Skinned Knee

Zoe gets her first skinned knee by chasing seagulls in old Montreal. No tears though, she was up and chasing again in no time.

Watering the Basil

Zoe is enjoying the cool evening breezes, and celebrating by watering the basil on Grammy's porch.

Meech Lake

Today we drove out of Ottawa, over the river into Quebec, up to the hills- Le Gatineau. About half an hour from Marcia & Ted's house is beautiful Lake Meech. We drove up there for a refreshing dip in the lake. Even with her teeth chattering, Zoe kept wanting to go back into the water!

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

First, Bart to SFO


Then the United flight to Chicago O'Hare


Then Chicago to Ottawa

It was a long way to Ottawa. First we drove to Fruitvale Bart, then we ran through SFO just in time to save our seats from the Stand-by hoards (that was a long shower, Mark) unfortunately, our bags were not as lucky. After our full 737 to chicago we changed to a half full express plane to Ottawa, where we had both sides of the aisle to ourselves. Zoe read, looked out the window, napped & nibbled her way across country like a trooper. We timed bottles with take-offs and had a good time.

Listening to the birds

Everyone loves to rock on the porch and listen to the birds.

Riding a Tiger

Today Mommy took Zoe to San Francisco's newly restored Children's Playground at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park.
The playground was the first Children's Playground on the west coast. It has always been a cool playground, but after a $3million renovation, it is updated with the newest equipment, and more clever than ever. Wow! To be a kid again. I have been watching the renovation from the window of the Sharon Art Studio, and couldn't wait to introduce Zoe. Just in time, Zoe is at the age where she can begin to enjoy it- it opened this week.
The park was filled with kids, and I think Zoe felt a little overwhelmed. But she tromped around, watching everyone, and looking for something to get into. We went over to the new jungle gym-there are actually two HUGE ones. Zoe started up the stairs, headed to the top- No Fear! We came across the first slide, "nah" Zoe thought; she knows the first one is the wimpy one, and there must be a better one up higher. So up we went, over bridges, through tunnels, until we found the huge crooked slide. "oh yeah, that's what I was looking for". Zoe shrieked in delight all the way down, and was ready to go again and again and again. finally, I dragged her over to the Carousel. She didn't want to wait her turn and became upset that she had to wait until the ride was over. They played Beatles music and the painted animals went around. Once the ride stopped, we paid our ticket and stepped up to choose an animal. Zebra? Giraffe? Lion? Rooster? They made the purple horses seem common.
We chose a Tiger and around we went.

Road Trip

Ready for the big race


Headed to the track


Road trips are exhausting

Pasta Dinner

Story Time

Stern Grove Sundays

The tribe gets together at Stern Grove for a San Francisco Summer tradition- the free music concert in the Grove.
This week's draw is Los Amigos Invisibles. Zoe gets her funk on!


Zoe's new signature look (snicker snicker!)

4th of July

Fun in the sun of our new back yard swimmin' hole at the Oakland Ranch.