What's Been Happening Here

Just sort of checking in. I haven’t been blogging much, as you may have observed, but the primary reason is a good one: I am working on a more substantial writing project. I’m excited about it and will tell you more later, maybe much later…when it has begun to really take shape and I am able to believe in myself enough to state that I will see it through to completion.

In the meantime:

I walked through the clouds up to Gaviota Peak with the intrepid ladies of the Santa Ynez Valley Women’s Hiking group.

We paused to look at the Hot Springs…check out those bubbles! Last time I loitered at the Hot Springs with my girlfriends, two unsavory tattooed men were bobbing around in there, rather naked, inviting us to join them. It was nice to see the pool in its vacant state.

‘tis chanterelle season! I won’t even tell you where I saw the beauty in the photo below.

And the toyon is in full holiday bloom.

We’ve been through a series of rainstorms. It’s pretty special to see rain water pooling in that old wheelbarrow.

But the sky cleared. And we have visitors from the Planet of the Young.

It’s beginning to feel like Christmas…a beautiful, last minute tree now stands in our living room, adorned with the motley ornaments accumulated over decades, each evoking a story and a memory.

A few friends and neighbors are coming over this evening for our traditional holiday gathering in the canyon. I always look forward to that.

Now the sun is sort of shining. I may even venture out on my bicycle for a bit.

So...I’ll be back eventually. In the meantime, I wish you joy and peace. May this be a season of hope.

We can help it be that...