Category: Blitherings
Been Gone, With Friends
It’s vacation time – but this has been a stay-cation, with trips hither and yon, and work around the house, and reading, and doing continuing education units. Not a very exciting time, really. However, visits with friends and family are always welcome, and just knowing I can sleep in if I want, or stay up late, and just not do anything is a real vacation in and of itself. I think I would have done more, but every day the weather has been hot and up in the 90s and 100s. Heat and I do not get along well.
Weather is certainly changing in our area. The coast is 20 miles away, and 20 degrees cooler, too, but even along the coastline, where summer fog is the norm, has been clear and warmer than usual. The trip to Venice Beach should have been welcomingly cool, but it wasn’t. Last night, in the late afternoon, members of our little photo group met in old town Ventura, which is halfway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and right on the coast. Here, I could finally cool off.
It is really enjoyable to get together with a bunch of people with similar interests, and in taking pictures, I took some of my fellow photographers. We also did dinner and dessert, and had a fun time wandering around.
In a few minutes, a friend is coming by for a beer. We are making smoked pulled pork for dinner, and the smoking is begun. Another lazy summer day.
A Bit of Madness
Yesterday, out in the broiling sun, smathered in sunscreen, but I still got burned.
Along the coast, it was hot; in the 80s. Moving into the valley, it was over 100.
We drove through Topanga Canyon, south onto the Pacific Coast Highway, and into the throngs along the Boardwalk of Venice Beach!
In the Moment
Our dog is very old, and getting doggy dementia. He was running around a bit, seeming anxious, and then comes the unmistakable sound of peeing.
How can you be mad about something like that? He was lost and confused in the house, and probably couldn’t remember where the door was. He knew he had to get out, but just could not figure out how. So I showed him.
Out to the patio we went, through the normal pathways of the house. Here!
And in that moment of early morning, the sun was reflecting through the water droplets left on the calla stems, golden and warm. (Not like pee at all!)
Two Wolves
Like a game of telephone . . . this came from Kirk Tuck’s blog, and this in turn came from Kim Critchfield’s Facebook page. It was too good to not pass along.
One evening a Cherokee elder told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “My son, the battle is between the two ‘wolves’ that live inside us all.
One is Unhappiness or Evil – It is anger, jealousy, fear, regret, greed, arrogance, sorrow, self-pity, resentment, inferiority, false pride, superiority, weakness and ego.
The other is Happiness or Good – It is joy, love, hope, serenity, benevolence, peace, empathy, kindness, generosity, truth, humility, faith, strength and compassion.”
The grandson thought about it for a while and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” – Cherokee Elder
Ink, Yarn & Beer 