Crosswoods Park, Citrus Heights; aka: "Bunny Park"

When we were at "Chicken Park" in Fair Oaks last week (actually called "Fair Oaks Village Park"), a woman told me about a park in Citrus Heights (a city in Sacramento county) that was the wild rabbit equivalent.

Toby's been sick with a cold this last week, which means no one has been sleeping, so I brought the camera, but forgot to take the camera battery out of the charger - so alas, no pictures - but yes, bunnies!

Not a lot and everywhere, like the chickens of Fair Oaks, but we did see one hopping around the play structure. Toby chased it all the way over to the apartment complex nearby, and we noticed that the residents put out food for them.

It's right next to the Sylvan Oaks branch library so we could go to the library, or use their bathroom if need be, and chase the bunnies around. We also spotted two wild chickens as well.

It's a cool park and we will definitely be back --- next time, with the camera AND the camera battery!

The Treadmill

The last few days I've been using the fitness center at our apartment complex instead of walking all over our neighborhood. Our neighbors scare me, but so does our neighborhood - so I'm trying this new routine out for size.

Since I have less time to get my miles in on the treadmill, I've been jogging instead of walking; three miles of jogging instead of my usual 6-9 miles of walking.

It's a different animal, this jogging thing. I am embarrassed to report that I am sore from those three miles - and I certainly sweat a whole lot more without the stops to checkout lady bugs, and make wishes on dandelions, on our walks.

Brentwood, Ca

We dropped Oliver off at work today in Stockton and explored the city of Brentwood, California.

We went to a park, and the extremely tiny library across the street. At the park, some mom's and 3 year olds let us crash their T-ball game. Toby took to it instantly. Gotta get that boy a bat now.

Downtown Brentwood:

It's a very small town, but it does have all the basics. It's friendly - but very, very, small - too small for us, I think - but a nice place to spend the day.

Folsom, Ca

Oliver didn't have any clients scheduled yesterday morning, so we all went to a park in Folsom. I needed a little break from our neighborhood - and Folsom is a much nicer, quieter place to spend a few hours. Toby called this park "the red slide park". There are two parks in our neighborhood with similar names, "the pink slide park" and "the green slide park".

What's Grosser Than Gross?

What's grosser than gross: Witnessing 3 drunks at the park get into a physical altercation that escalates to pulling out knives in front of me and my two year old on a Monday afternoon in the park - or the fact that another dad at the park couldn't be bothered to end his personal phone conversation to call 911 when one of the bleeding guys asked him to?

What is wrong with people?!!!!

We are looking for a new place to live within commuting distance of Oliver's work in Stockton.

The crime here in Sacramento, especially the violent crime, is bad. I've had to call 911 three times in the last two weeks; for the above mentioned fist and knife fight, a drunk man with a machete throwing rocks at people on the bike path by our house, and a domestic violence situation in our apartment complex.

When you call 911 you get placed on hold. "All lines are busy". It takes 20 minutes to report something, and far too long for the police to show up, for my comfort level. They are doing the best they can with the resources they have, I understand that, but their hands our more than full, and I just don't feel safe living here.

Our neighborhood is beautiful. The museums in Sacramento are cool, but the crime is a deal breaker.

Right now, I'm leaning towards moving to El Dorado Hills, which has even less crime than Santa Barbara and higher school ratings too - but still close enough to Sacramento to visit the museums, etc. Elk Grove, Folsom, Los Gatos, Davis, and Fremont are also on the radar.

**** Edited to add a response to Justina's comment - (Yes! I forgot to mention that Clayton and Brentwood are also contenders. Clayton is one of the safest cities in California. The weather is nice in these areas too - but they are both more expensive, and super, super, small towns. Oliver says they might be too small, but they are close enough to other bigger cities, so that factor might even things out in their favor. The schools in Clayton and Brentwood are great, but Oakley's ratings were not as good. I've gotten a lot of great feedback so far, and a lot of great information online - so hopefully, we will find a great place to live, for more than a year, this time. ) ****

Any suggestions?

The Wild Bok-da-boks of Sacramento

We all visited the Effie Yeaw Nature Center and went on a short hike this morning. We saw lots of lady bugs, two dear, and wild turkeys. The wild turkeys reminded Toby of the wild chickens of Fair Oaks (or the "bok-da-boks" as Toby calls them), so we went to a park in Fair Oaks, to hang out with them too.

Crafts Fair, etc.

Oliver and Toby went to the Train Museum, and I went to the crafts fair at the California Museum today. I ran into one of the moms from the local moms' group there. It's very weird to run into people that I know in Sacramento since I know so few of them, but it's happened a few times already.

I also stopped by a yarn store a few blocks away. It's in a building with a very snazzy name; "the building."

Census 2010

Then we all went to the Natural Foods Coop for lunch - which was amazing. I had the best hummus sandwich ever. It was on honey whole wheat bread, so technically, not vegan - but close enough for me.

When we got back home I roasted some potatoes, onions, and beets. I got a call from Sabrina, a friend of mine from Fresno. She said she was coming to Sacramento today to go to Ikea - so, while Toby was still napping, I went to Ikea and left Oliver in charge of our son, and, gasp, the stove. The potatoes and onions were done, but the beets were still cooking when she called. "Take the beets out at 3 p.m.," I told him, and he did. My husband cooks! I am so proud.

I made a burrito of curried potatoes with fresh parsley and peas, and a salad with roasted beets with orange zest, chopped fresh rosemary, and a little balsamic vinegar, for dinner. Oliver had potatoes with salsa instead, but both Toby and Oliver agreed to try a bite of my curried potato burrito. I thought it was pretty yummy - and I'm proud of them both for trying it. I love it when things that I have never made before, actually end up being edible.

It's been an exceptionally yummy day all around.