Hezký Štědrý Den

Vám všem!

White Christmas?

I was not really crazy about this particular Santa, silly-jumping skinny...probably a recession-friendly one. Though it was not a bad idea to spend the afternoon in a cozy Irish pub and have 'Lunch with Santa'.


Last week was actually the coldest period of our stay here in the Bay Area.
The heater has been on every day.
Rain showers changed to hail and when the clouds cleared, the tops of Mount Diablo and Sunol were dusted with snow.
What a pretty sight! Just perfect for the season.


PS: Another bike accident today...

Speaking of Biking

It's already dark when Rob returns from his work.

Tonight he 'almost' had an accident with a car.
The driver was about to turn right and obviously didn't see him.
Rob saw the car though. So he braked suddenly which caused him to fly over the handlebars.

Luckily he 'only' ended up with a bad scrape on his knee (and pants) and his front light is probably broken too.
The driver apologized and offered him 20 dollars to make amends.

This is not Holland after all...

Speedy Maarten

Mikuláš

Some of you already know that here, far away from Czech Republic , we still celebrate our traditional Mikuláš.

For the occasion of Saint Nicolas Day the local Czech community organized a CHILDREN'S PARTY.


Maarten was very excited to meet this mysterious Mikuláš /Sinterklaas in person at last.
And there he was all holy and shiny, wearing cloak and mitter (even not red as usual) holding his big golden crozier, accompanied by a beautiful angel and a friendly devil.
Maarten was so impressed.


He did sing his Sinterklaas kapoentje song to them but not as loud as he did before to us.

There are probably no bad or naughty children here in the Bay Area. No one received a lump of coal or a potato in the stocking and the devil didn't put any child in a sack (if he had any).

I hope Maarten understood well that Sinterklaas (the Dutch one who brings presents during the night) is gone to Spain now and Maarten will no longer look in his shoe at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Indeed, I'm dying for a good night's sleep.

Happy Looking-Out!

I really hate visiting dentists but there are still good things about it.
They are reconstructing my mouth and because I have to wait there for hours (seems pretty normal here) I have plenty of time to read magazines.
That's how I learned about the possibility of renting fire lookouts. Last summer we visited one and we found the idea of spending a night up there pretty exciting.


There are many structures like this atop Sierran peaks. Some are still in service during the fire season, some are abandoned and some are in fact converted for public rental.
The one we visited this weekend was built in a special WINDMILL STYLE once popular throughout California. I appreciated the thirties pictures above each of the wall-to-wall window explaining the panoramic view in every direction. And what a view!
Some previous visitors suggested the trees be cut to improve the 'original' view but I hope the rangers won't listen to such thoughts. The scenery is just perfect. Forested hills, purple-pink glowing sunsets, the wide flat Sierra Valley with its tiny towns shining in the dark... even Maarten got poetic watching the valley's lights deep at night...instead of sleeping!
Actually for the most part the nights spent up here turned out to be a real nightmare. Maarten stayed awake almost the whole night. This was not because of Tuesday night's storm when the whole tower was shaking, the broken windows in the attic rumbling with heavy squalls of wind making loud passing-train-like noise.

And no, Rob and I were not waking up romantically in each other's arms watching the beautiful sunrise...
You see, the cabin wasn't pet free as advertised and therefore Rob spent nights in the car.

Anyhow the stay at the lookout was a delight and the day adventures made up for it for sure.

We did some awesome hikes in the area.
There are so many LAKES here. We hiked past Long Lake, Silver Lake, Cub Lake, Big Bear and Little Bear Lake, a more than 5 mile trip.

I was afraid Maarten would not enjoy the lakes without splashing in the water, but there was another big trigger to keep him walking. Snow and ice along the trail!

It would be too boring to spend both days admiring the local lakes. We set off to hike to the top of SIERRA BUTTES. I had some serious concerns about taking Maarten up there. I wasn't sure how difficult and safe in particular this hike would be. We decided to give it a try. We'll just drive to the trailhead and see.

Once we saw the lookout at the top of the buttes we couldn't resist it. And it was really worth the climb even though Maarten and I spent only a moment at the scary lookout atop. Climbing the steep stairs is compared to climbing Half Dome, but some find it even scarier. My knees were really weak and shaking. Because of the steep climb or fear? I'm not sure. Maarten was behaving and stayed calm. He even tried to comfort me that looking through the grated walkway around the lookout isn't scary at all.
It seems pretty safe if you behave.
But the tiny teddy bear and silk flowers tied to the railing are a reminder of someone who probably didn't.

Hen and Then

The Thanksgiving hassle is over and the shops are back to normal.
Somehow we were also tempted by the Black Friday savings but the idea of being dragged around stores by the mass of scurrying shoppers was just too scary.

However this was for the first time we tried to eat something more 'Thanksgiving' like. But we were obviously too naïve trying to buy some turkey breast the day before.

We were lucky to at least get this very tiny hen.
It was more than enough for the three of us though.

For most Americans Thanksgiving probably is an important holiday. There were even campers in our usually very quite street coming with their RV all the way from Washington for this family celebration.


Of course even we are happy with this long weekend. Maarten and I have finally started baking Czech and Dutch holiday cookies.
Now I have to look for a place to hide them from him.


Time to write something nice about our little rascal. Thanks to his daddy's patience and thanks to an accident when one of the training wheels got damaged, Maarten just learned to ride his bike without training wheels!
Now he is really free to go FAST!

Lake Chabot

Now and then Sinterklaas drops by; therefore Maarten keeps putting his shoe next to the chimney.
This is a very exciting time and Maarten can’t wait till morning comes. Read: the entire house has to wake up before 4!
Maarten probably thinks the shoe is kind of a carrot-operated machine. In the evening, a carrot goes in and in the morning there is a present instead.
But the holy man can’t visit Claremont Crest every night though. Maarten has a hard time accepting that.
There are so many children in the world, you know...


Our house is on a hill so the paved trail round Lake Chabot is a better opportunity for Maarten to practice. Despite the foggy weather at the lake early this week Maarten was really enjoying biking with his friend Dejda. That’s why I suggested a ‘bike trip’ there on this sunny Sunday again.

However it definitely didn’t go as smoothly as the picture may suggest.


PS: Maarten was very much impressed by Anton's birthday party.
This year we will really have to think of something similar I’m afraid.

Health above All

The results of the medical tests taken a couple of months ago have brought some worries into our lives.
Assuming Rob's kidneys are not working properly he had to test his blood again and again. You may understand we became pretty nervous knowing that my father-in-law actually died because of kidney failure.
Well this was a false alarm. The problem is not the kidneys but a blood disorder...
Should we be relieved?

And about me? Probably something wrong with my liver...

~~~

When Maarten suddenly lays down on the floor trying to convince me that he is 'only tired from school' I know there is something more.

An hour later at the emergency room they tried to bring down his fever of 105°F. After more than five hours, his temperature finally went down and they let us go home. Maarten seemed to be healthy as ever. We still didn’t know the cause of his fever. Some virus probably...

To sum up, we ended up at the clinic two days later. The fever came back and his left eye became badly swollen. If he hadn’t rubbed his ear I would probably have never found out he was in pain. Sinus and ear infections.
Of course he could have told us earlier and spared all of us, and especially himself, this misery. But he simply didn’t want to see the physician.

~~~

PS: Although SINTERKLAAS has already arrived to our Oma’s town and Maarten can put his shoe by the chimney, the temperatures in San Ramon still climbs to the high 70s.

Exciting Times

This past Friday was Halloween. Our fourth one. As I’ve already mentioned, we arrived in the U.S. three years ago exactly on this particular day. I remember having mixed up feelings about seeing the people at customs dressed in costumes. Weird people those Americans, I thought...

After learning more about this practice and getting used to it, I have to admit that Halloween became one of my favorite holidays.

I love fall and this celebration fits very well into this season.
Even though we spent almost all of October visiting Europe, we were still in time for the Pumpkin Patch.

The boys even successfully made their first “jack-o’-lanterns”. Everything is much more fun to share with a little one. Maarten was soo excited seeing the lighted pumpkin face in the back yard.
Unfortunately, he laid down on the sofa seized with a fever. Probably still an aftereffect from jet lag.

We spent HALLOWEEN NIGHT at a friends’ house and Maarten and Anton, all dressed up as a pirate and a vampire, had an exciting time going trick-or-treating from door-to-door in the neighborhood.

The best part of the evening were of course tons of candies and...Maarten’s trick-or-treat baskets.


Starting with Halloween night the weather finally felt like fall. It also started to rain which pleased me and Maarten as well.


It got much colder and therefore Rob looked for his winter slippers. That’s how we found out that we are not the only residents in this house.


Another big issue during the last week and, I believe the most important one, was the presidential election. We are not allowed to vote of course but even we had our preference. I will not sum up all the reasons why I support Barack Obama.
I hope he will fulfill his promise to endorse the recovery of American economy and first and foremost take actions to improve our environment.

I understand some people are disappointed with the election results.
Yet, what shocked me was the range of reactions among my Republican friends against those with opposite political beliefs.
Let’s all respect each others' views and opinions!

Europe, Sep 22 - Oct 22

Though I agree with the Dutch saying "Bezoek en vis blijven maar drie dagen fris", we had to stay much longer this time.

Next to the nice stuff like visiting friends and family we had to apply for a visa extension.
Our appointment at the embassy turned out to be a complete disaster. I guess I will always remember this stressful afternoon. I shall skip all the details since, despite missing some documents and even losing Maarten’s passport, we have got the visa in the end.
While waiting at the embassy this particular afternoon, Maarten wanted to go home. How do you think it feels knowing you need a visa for that...


I hoped visiting Europe would help me to answer many questions. America or Europe?
I had such a wonderful time out there that I returned even more confused.
The time I spent in my hometown was especially unforgettable. After so many years it still feels like coming home.

Usal Beach (September 12-14)

I guess we will never find this remote ‘campground’ without my clever guide book. The road is unsigned and very rough and bumping. Maarten has to chuckle from the moment we’ve entered it. So funny.
The dense forest is still drenched in the morning fog. It is dark and mysterious here. Hardly to imagine only within a couple of miles there it is sunny and warm as always. We are still not sure this is the right road to our destination. The six miles seems to be endless. Finally there it is. Even it’s really foggy we get a view of the spectacular combination of mountains and sea.
We found a beautiful spot back in the drizzly forest but Rob and Maarten insist to camp at the beach. All right.

What a depressive place full of wild blackberry and fallen leaves. Looking on the bright side how romantic campsite in the fall spirit we have got this time.


We go for a walk on the black sand beach and there on the reefs at the southern end of the beach we’ve found lots of starfish.

I mean really lots!







Then in the evening more and more people are coming to the, at first, empty campground and look for a suitable spot. It’s Friday evening so that’s understandable. But I’ve never seen 'this kind of people' in any campground before. Hard music, they are hanging out of the windows or even sitting on the deck lid and shouting out all the time. Luckily they head back to the forest. Now I’m really thankful for our ‘depressive campsite’.

We will probably not see much of the sun this weekend. Also on Saturday it’s foggy and dark but despite the fog is pretty warm.
We go back into the forest campground to find the trail head for the Lost Coast Trail. I prefer not to comment how this place looks like with them around. Actually I feel a little uncomfortable. Those youngsters really behave pretty aggressive. The trail winds and climbs uphill through a beautiful redwood forest.

Up from the grassy slope we get a nice view of the beach we are camping at. Some portions of the trail are overgrown and therefore a bit difficult to our little hiker. But he loves the winding way and keeps running and running ahead. We hardly can keep up with him.

It’s so pristine here only sounds of the forest and sea. I and Maarten even ‘hear’ a mermaid crying now and then.
I almost step on a snake. This one was a good size, but the same striped one as usual.

The guys still don’t have enough of walking so in the evening before the dinner they take off for a beach stroll.
They return within half an hour. Maarten soaked and Rob similar. Don’t ask me what happened since I’m still not sure.

Maarten is finally in bed when we hear this strange sound from the bushes next to our tent. Rob’s face is serious when he claims it has to be a mountain lion. I trust the experts that a cougar would never get voluntarily never get so close to humans. I take a flashlight and go to the nearby meadow look for the elks who are supposed to be common in this area. The sounds from the bushes don’t really indicate a big animal.
Then we hear another ROAR and another, another…it’s very close and I realize it really has to be some ‘kitty’.

Honestly I’m more concerned about the aggressive groups with pickups packed with alcohol and loud music that are driving on the beach and crossing the creek bed day and night.
I’ve understood this hell breaks out just about every weekend. I guess we are very lucky this time seeing only one off road vehicle just while leaving for our hike.
Although this area belongs to State Parks, it’s so remote; there is no host and therefore no rules.

PS: There was a huge event, a music festival, in Laytonville. The Earthdance.
Hundreds of thousands enthusiasts and therefore thousands of cars. I was really scared we get in a bad traffic jam.
Fortunately they were probably still asleep on Sunday afternoon when we were passing.

The Heat Over?

I’m just back from my morning bike ride enjoying a big mound of cake, remnants from the yesterday’s garden party. You always get some leftovers in a ‘doggie bag’ to take with you while leaving a home party. It’s often dessert.
I would not call this an ‘American’ usage since there are actually no Americans at parties we usually attend.

Today it’s the first day in weeks when the temperature seems to stay below 90 °F.
I know people in Holland would probably not understand our complaining but the persistent heat for weeks is really tiring.
Maarten doesn’t get ill easily but now he has suffered an annoying cold for almost a week. Rob got a bad migraine attack; he even had to leave his office. We can’t get out of the house during the day. The water in the pool is hot like coffee.

Silly us, we thought to chill at the beach as normally but we forgot that September has already started, one of the most agreeable and also warm months at the Pacific coast.


PS: I should mention the Saturday night earthquake of 4.0 Magnitude. Since the epicenter was in the nearby Alamo we experienced it pretty intense. At 9 p.m. the house started to shake and crake and the dishes were clattering and clanging together in the cupboard.
Let’s hope it will always stay by that.

End of Summer

I haven't been keeping this up to date but I think most of you are likewise summer-busy anyway.


Summer school is over. Luckily there are so many fun activities for kids in the area. The trains are recently very popular with Maarten. Even the train table is back in our living room.

And of course visiting the historical steam train on narrow gauge railroads complete with whistle and steam was very exciting to him and his little friends.


He was only a little disappointed at the petting zoo being not allowed to pet the rabbits and geese. Yet he always may cuddle them with ‘babi’!


Oakland ZOO is just ‘around the corner’ and we are visiting almost every week. Therefore we naturally became members. Although the merry go round and the ZOO train is what Maarten lately prefers above the animals.


You can already smell fall in the air but it still gets pretty hot in San Ramon every afternoon. Luckily there is the cool ocean within one hour.


Maarten has a new friend. We have known his parents for years and coincidentally they moved to San Ramon a week ago.
Surprisingly the boys got along with each other despite speaking different languages.
Like Maarten, Anton is also half Dutch but Portuguese is still his strongest language.
Can you imagine our babble when we all get together?

Juniper Lake, 7 - 10 August

After a long drive to Juniper Lake it is good to stretch your legs.
Right next to our campsite a trail heads to the summit of nearby Mount Harkness.
It’s a pretty climb and I’m surprised how well Maarten is doing. We are huffing and puffing up the trail but he runs all the way and finds looking for the trail markers a huge amusement. Also the switchbacks are a lot of fun. Good!


When we leave the forest behind, Juniper Lake comes into view.
The last part of our climb leads along an exposed and steep slope. Read = boring for Maarten.

‘Maminko, Tvoje nožičky už nechodi...’ (Mommy, your legs don’t walk anymore... Maarten starts to complain.

Luckily the lonely fire lookout tower atop the mountain is already in sight. We are surprised to see someone up here. Wendy, the friendly volunteer, invites us into her ‘home’. Yes, that’s right; she stays up here for four days watching the forested slopes for signs of fire. Then she’s off for another ten days. What a dream ‘job’!

The views in all directions are amazing, but unfortunately it’s quite hazy this afternoon.


In the evening, back at the camp, it's still hot and we are ready to plunge in the lake.
Shock! The water is really freezing.



The trail around Juniper Lake is mostly a level walk with beautiful views of the lake. But after two miles it leaves the shore and only now we can really learn how tiring yesterday's climb was for Maarten. The boys return to the lake. I continue and hope to reach Horseshoe Lake farther in the backcountry.

Even though I truly desire to see a bear in the wild I prefer not to encounter one on a solo hike. I’m a little nervous when the boys leave me but this unpleasant feeling soon disappears.

I’m passing several swamps and small lakes full of pond lilies.
Finally, I reach Indian Lake.
I meet two friendly backpackers there who warn me about bad fishing.

It’s only another mile to reach Horseshoe Lake but I decide to 'save' that for another time. At least I have a reason to come back here again.



The hike to Crystal Lake is supposed to be ‘a killer’. It is pretty steep, but it’s only a short trip and with all the trail markers is fun again for Maarten. Two disappointed fishermen leaving the lake and they are surprised to see other people here. That’s a good sign.

From the cliffs above the lake, the view of Mt. Lassen and Juniper Lake is stunning... it is clear today.

Crystal Lake isn’t as warm 'as promised' but it really is warmer than the much larger Juniper Lake we are camping at.

I’ve hoped to find another trail from here but there is none; so we end up spending the whole day at this beautiful spot.


About the camping at the lake.
I love this area and also this place isn’t disappointing. On the contrary. The campground right on the lakeshore is a gem. Even though it’s still a part of Lassen Volcanic National Park it is far enough from the busy park highway so there is not any traffic noise that could disturb you.
You can camp right on the shore and the lakefront sites are obviously the prettiest but with not much privacy.

We prefer the opposite so we camped back in the forest.
More solitude and therefore more chance to view wildlife.
Though no bear sighting as usual; only (also as usual) a herd of deer coming in the early mornings and evenings to the meadow adjacent to our campsite .

Safety First

Even the bread toaster can burn down your house. Don’t leave food or anything else on top of it. I think of Rob telling me about his last ‘safety first moment’ last night.
And what about the gas stove?! I realize there is the lasagna dish on it covered with a kitchen towel.
What if just a little spark shoots out of the stove?!

I turn the car around quickly and drive back home. Just to be sure.
Maarten is pretty upset since he really wants to go to ‘his little forest’. I try to explain, we will be going in a second. I turn off the engine and the key alarm is warning me that I left the keys in the ignition.
Automatically, I lock the car door from inside and jump out to check the kitchen. The moment I see the door closing, I immediately realize what I’ve just done.

I feel I’m getting warm and dizzy. I still hope I left at least one of the doors open. Nope, I didn’t.
Maarten is inside the locked car parked negligently in the middle of our street. And in the full sun.
The only key I have is locked inside with Maarten.
The next couple of minutes I find myself running around my car with all kinds of tools trying to open one of the doors.

Maarten is really upset. He wants to leave for the forest immediately! I try to explain, but he doesn’t listen at all.
Then I realize he can easily reach the lock button even though he’s fastened in his car seat. I beg him to press the button. But he gets very angry seeing I’m not intending to go to the forest yet. I promise him all kinds of treats and presents, everything just to make him press the button and open the door. But my little friend is red from anger and from the heat and resolutely refuses to do so. The only thing he wants right now is to be in the forest.
Those minutes feel like ages.

I realize I really have to call for help when at last my ‘little angel’ pities me and presses the button.

Lala Lala

One thing I like about the Bay Area is the ‘summer’ fog. It smells nice just like the ocean where it is coming from. The fog is truly refreshing and offers welcome relief in the long, dry and hot summer. On most evenings (or mornings sometimes) you see the fog streaming over the hills that separates us from the cool bay.
Really a pretty sight.

Call me crazy but I don’t mind the fog at the beach either.

We were early this Sunday morning so exploring the tide pools was even more fun.

I’ve never seen here so many starfish before!
It’s only a shame that people bring their dogs to the beach despite signs prohibiting them. The presence of dogs is stressful, disrupting and therefore harmful to the shy harbor seals who rest on the flat rocks close to shore.
How sad!



PS: Maarten enjoys singing. Unfortunately he was singing while also performing his scary stunts in the backyard.
He was lucky. Even though his mouth was full of blood he probably hasn’t bitten off much of his tongue. Though I'm not sure.
And you will never guess what he did afterwards...