Thoughts on insanity...

For the past couple of weeks I have been flying solo, doing double doggy duty, and frantically preparing for and starting another school year. Insanity may be a little bit of an exaggeration, though dealing with a class of 20 boys and 7 girls and then an overly energetic and needy pooch upon my return home is a true recipe for crazy-making. Thankfully I have a sense of humor and enough spunk to find moments of enjoyment mixed in with the madness.

Today my class celebrated the invention of the toilet paper roll, which occurred 130 years ago on this very day. To honor such an important invention, we turned our very own roll into a self portrait of sorts. The creativity of the 9-year-olds was rather impressive. If I think of it tomorrow, I'll try to post a picture of their creations. Simple pleasures are alive and well in elementary school, in case you were wondering.

The joy of friendship...

A few months ago Lindsey and I met a woman and her dog Bella while walking on the beach. The dogs hit it off right away, proceeding to chase and wrestle with zest and delight. From that moment on, every time we ran into them on the beach, the dogs played joyfully, and the woman and I were able to enjoy a more relaxed walk as well. A win-win situation developed, which has continued to this day. Recently, we even tried carpooling to the beach, which Lindsey and Bella both seemed to love. Their friendship is really cute, and actually quite funny. Here's a glimpse of the buddies in action.

One of their favorite games: tug-of-war,

catching air during a wrestling match,

and chilling on the way home.

Stargazers...

Last night we tried to escape the bright city lights, the infamous marine layer, and smoke from a nearby fire, in an effort to watch some falling stars. Our wonderful neighbors joined us on the quest. After sampling a few spots, we finally settled on a flat dusty pull-out, high in the hills above Santa Barbara. Though we could still see the faint glow of the city below, it was dark enough for us to witness a few of nature's fireworks. Mixed with the excitement that came from announcing a sighting, was this underlying tone of youthfulness. In many ways, we were all transported back in time in our minds, as we reminisced childhood stargazing parties and camp outs in the yard. I had forgotten how mesmerizing the night sky can be. Thankfully, our spontaneity allowed us to rediscover those feelings, and to reconnect with the innocent part of our selves that still believes in the magic of falling stars.

Highlights from a dog's point of view...

Lindsey was a very lucky girl in July. The month started with a visit from grandma, followed by a road trip and lots of fun family time. She went hiking/camping, played in snow for the first time, learned to swim more comfortably, and met some new pals. Before our return home, Lindsey received her first official haircut and went backpacking in the Sierras. Wow! These days Lindsey can be found catching up on her sleep, often in front of the fan. She is becoming quite the princess. Enjoy these pics of her July highlights.

Road trip with Grams...Hikes in the Oregon wilderness...
Frolics in the snow...Swims in Alpine lakes...
Making new friends (Henry and Zoe)...Spa treatments and haircuts...and backpacking in the Sierras!

My summer barometer...

I've been thinking a lot about temperatures this summer, as I have found myself in a variety of time zones and seasonal patterns. After spending a few weeks in the southern hemisphere's winter, I ventured to another extreme where the infamous Oregon heatwave shocked my body a bit. This is by no means a complaint, as I have truly enjoyed all of my moments this summer. I just find it fascinating how intricate and diverse our world really is.

On a slightly less philosophical note, it does feel nice to be back in my current home with a few more weeks of vacation time to spend. It looks like I still have some time to get into mischief. Hurray for that!

July was full of memorable moments. I was able to spend time with family and a few friends, hike and explore the wilderness, and rekindle the joy of keeping old summer traditions alive. Though I was unable to reconnect with all my loved ones, I did greatly enjoy the special times I shared with those that I was able to see. Having Lindsey with me kept things exciting and even a bit challenging. Ahhh...the life of a dog owner is never dull. Kyle was even able to join us on some of our later adventures as well, which was wonderful. Here are a few images from the past few weeks.

Checking out the scene at Neverland...
Showing off the S.B. highlights...Picking berries with Grams...Honoring old traditions...
Family reunions...Spending time with my sisters and their wonderful offspring...Hiking with my dad...Exploring new places...Reconnecting with some amigas buenas...
Laughing with the wonderful K-Family...Enjoying some coffee and conversation...
and backpacking in the Sierras!

Book recommendation....

I just finished reading this book, "Last Child in the Woods." It was extremely moving and thought-provoking. Over and over again I found myself reading passages aloud to Kyle because they were so eloquent and powerful. As someone who benefited from a very nature-rich childhood, I was amazed to read about the growing level of environmental disconnect that is forming in countless children in our country, as fears and technological preoccupations strip them of their desires to really know nature. Imagining a world without young nature lovers is very sad and depressing. The threat of that, however, may be more possible than most people think, unless societal trends are either halted or modified by our communities. This is a "movement" I want to support. Hopefully there are others out there who will join the cause for nature-based experiences and education. Reading this book would be a great start, and then go have some fun outside!