I can tell when I'm about to say something controversial. As much as I try to share the upside of our daily lives.

The good, the bad, and the ugly are unfolding all around us. I feel the stresses of climate change and sometimes lament that we rely on a well for our water.

I save every bit of water I can and use it to water our small garden and try to keep plants that have been here for a generation alive.

That being said, it is painful to watch two of our neighbors water their lawn and the fairly new cannabis farm up the hill add their eighteenth green house and another well. Within a half mile of both of these activities are neighbors whose wells have dried up.

I am all for people living their own lives, but our fresh water isn't an endless resource.

There are no good solutions beyond everyone conserving and working toward the recovery of our water table.

My humble opinion.

Over the years I have introduced friends and family to Matt.

My niece was passing through on her way to somewhere, and the one thing she wanted from me was to meet Matt Beard and visit his studio.

I was able to arrange a private show of some new work and the introduction she wanted.

Coincidentally, the new work was plein air paintings from an Oregon trip.

As an Oregon resident and avid hiker, she had recently been to this beach and had a photo of the same scene on her phone.

Named Mine... Or Maybe Yours this original painting now lives at her house and is a prized possession.

I was happy to be of assistance.

#MattBeard

The muffins needed to cook for fifteen minutes, so Summer and I decided to use our interlude wisely.

Break out the Frisbee time.

I wish I knew how many miles she runs every day on our little front acre.

#DogsOfMastodon

My husband beat me downstairs this morning.

By the time I got down here, Summer was excited to work off some morning energy.

My husband says, "You know if you baked me something with sugar, it could give me a little boost to keep up with her."

Hmmm

It all sounded a little bit dubious to me, but I caved and made him his favorite plain vanilla muffins so he could bury them in homemade raspberry jam.

He might seem a little perkier.

He is smiling anyway.

Good morning, Mastodon.

Summer says it's never too early for the first nap on a Monday.

Good morning, Mastodon.

#DogsOfMastodon

nostr:npub1qyg8p87g2ygujhafqcs0yvqv53qq8nllc0rkmr699e4pdxx5p4xqmuuf04

It has been fun to be back so far.

Lots of color in my California northcoast sunset.

Today has been a good day.

Retiring early to care for my husband seemed like a negative consequence at first, but now I am thankful. We both worked so much that we didn't have much time to smell the roses or have an afternoon cup of tea together for years. Here we are in the bonus round.

We are old but have an enhanced appreciation for life and each other.

Sweet dreams.