D.O.P.-T. (Tuesday)

The chickens had been confined to half the yard - the end without the floppy-leaved plant they liked to shelter under. But the barrier has now been moved so they again have the run of the small lawn, and can shelter from the rain under the leaves.

D.O.P.-T. (day before yesterday)

Either this is a colony of artists or Michael's is selling lots of stencils or kits: this weekend dozens of houses suddenly had pumpkins out front with exquisite cut-out pictures on them. Spooky houses, cats with their backs arched, flying witches ... and the chickens were feasting on pumpkin innards.

D.O.P.-T. (yesterday)

A small rain shower a little while after I got up was my reward for watering my potted plants, and chased away the last of the younger trick-or-treaters. (The older ones came right back, to be boomed at by both dogs.) When I got off the bus in Santa Clara there was a guy fast asleep on a grassy bank by the westward-bound bus stop. In the small hours it began to rain steadily, washing the revelers off the streets.