During the deluge on Tuesday, I was glumly sure that the Redwood Shores Tennis Club’s October tournament would be rained out, although I took small hope in the fact that the weekend forecast was “mostly cloudy”.  Who would have thought Saturday would be warm and sunny??  It was a perfect day for my favorite sport.

We played Fixed Mixed Doubles Tennis.  Several husband/wife teams played and we paired up unmatched players.  A novel handicapping system made the day fun for all levels of players.  Cynthia Hunton & Dennis Murphy won on Shorebird Courts.  Janice Carter and Sundar Venkateswaran won on Quay Courts.  Prizes included a cactus in a ceramic pumpkin pot, pumpkin bread mix, and chocolate.

Thank you to our volunteers this month: Tournament director Karen Brodersen, Annette Vernon for courtside refreshments, Cynthia Hunton and Dennis Murphy for imaginative prizes, and photographers Karen Brodersen, Bob Brodersen, and RIck Urrutia.

After a hearty day of tennis, we were all too tired to make it over the hill to Half Moon Bay so RSTC held our own Great Pumpkin Festival.  Hostess Janice Carter decorated with carved pumpkins and the spicy scent of pumpkin candles filled the night air.  We had a lovely view of the Bay Area lights as we dined on Caramelized Apple Salad, Bean Pot, a beefy pasta, and a pair of pumpkin infused rices.  Dessert consisted of Pumpkin Pilgrim Cake (tasted like a heavenly combination of pecan pie and pumpkin pie), Chocolate Pumpkin Pie, pumpkin cake decorated with fluffy white frosting and candy pumpkins, and much more.  Many kids-at-heart were noshing on the candy corn.

Thank you to June Walker for setup assistance, clean up crew Barb Urrutia, Laurie and Pat Merrill, and Jeanette Collins, and photographer RIck Urrutia.