A Summer Stroll
I’ve tried to start this newsletter several times, but my brain feels like one of those metal baskets you spin to pop out a number for BINGO, only the little balls are getting jammed and when they finally shove their way out it’s like I’m reading numbers in a foreign language, so I set them aside and the cat plays with them and they disappear under the couch and maybe into a floor vent or a black hole.
I need a nap, is what I’m saying.
I should be chatting about Regenesis by George Monbiot, but it’s a challenging book that I don’t feel particularly great airing my opinions about until I’ve had the chance to do more research (I’m still happy to discuss it if you want to drop your thoughts in the comments). So let’s take the equivalent of a summer stroll instead, through some recent photos and sketches of things I couldn’t capture with a camera.
Monarch caterpillar in our backyard (photo by Lucas)
A chipmunk did his best flying squirrel impression trying to jump into our planter. He only made it 8 inches before scuttling away in shame.
Annie enjoying the fact that the rug is now clean (no thanks to her) and the table hasn’t been moved back yet
A chipmunk took all of the serviceberries (except for the two Lucas ate) and stored them in its home under our patio
Many native plants thriving in my parents’ garden! Hard to tell how big it is from here, but it’s huge. I had my dad in the original shot, but I cropped him out so I don’t have to pay him portrait rights. ;) Hopefully one day he’ll let me share some of his amazing photos with you.
As you can see in the photo below, we have a pile of dirt left from our landscaping, which the bunnies have claimed as their spa.
Annie watches the rabbit. The rabbit watches…?
If you’d like to continue your stroll, take a look at this lovely post on the stories we tell ourselves, including a 6-minute mindfulness meditation, by my sister Emily.
July’s Book
The End of Night: Searching for Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard is July’s book. Thanks to this book, I just learned there’s such a thing as astronomical twilight, nautical twilight, and civilian twilight. It came in handy when I wanted to research sunset times for stargazing on our fall Santa Fe trip! (Has anyone here been to Albuquerque or Santa Fe? Any recommendations?)
I’m pairing The End of Night with a gorgeous book my mom loaned me called Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos. Just flipping through the photographs is an amazing experience—I can’t wait to read it.
