Personal

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

We had a great time at the beach! Minor and Minisculus frolicked in the waves. It was cold, but we didn't care. We took three long walks on the beach. The boys enjoyed cable TV and room service and the kind of breakfast you can only have on holiday at a hotel. Ocean view from the balcony. And it was largely a ghost town (a beach town more or less vacant, for example in the huge dining room for breakfast there were only two other guests eating). They also got to watch some surfers this morning which blew their minds. And we saw some dolphins from the balcony. Just the fins going by.

I got my feet wet and spent a lot of time picking up shells. Sometimes I think I'm not a nature-lover, but this excursion reminded me that there are some kinds of nature I like very much. The ocean is so many things, confessor, goddess, muse, wonder. I feel absolved and calmed and humbled.

Comments

[scfrankles]

It sounds like you had the perfect time ^___^ The ocean is so many things, confessor, goddess, muse, wonder. I feel absolved and calmed and humbled. That's so lovely.

And your photographs are gorgeous. I know I always say it but I'm always blown away by your talent for photography. I'm particularly taken with the first photo of the moon and the sea, and the one with the butterfly. And of course it was wonderful to see Minor and Minisculus doing their frolicking ^___^

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yes, I think it's safe to say all the aims were achieved: we weren't here for trick-or-treaters, Minor and Minisculus got to see the ocean for the first time, it was fun, no major mishaps.

Yes, the moon was spectacular. It was cold so not really comfortable enough to stay too long out on the balcony at night even with hat and scarf but really the moon was something else. And about 30 minutes after I took that photo, the clouds came in and there wasn't any moon the rest of the night so I was so glad I didn't wait to take the photo.

I don't know where the butterflies came from but there were two. So random (I think? Monarchs go where there is milkweed, which I didn't think was a shore-line plant). And Minor had a blast. He went nuts in the water. Not swimming just sort of running and falling down. And we got to see some surfers this morning and that blew the boys' minds. So lots of fun stuff. Chocolate chip pancakes for Minisculus. Cable TV. Stuff they don't get at home.

[ancientreader]

Monarchs migrate! There's a place in Mexico, I think it is, that's the winter habitat for most of the North American population. Though it's late in the year even for stragglers, sheesh.

Apologies if you knew this already!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

It seemed a bit far east for them, and, yes, late in the year.

[ancientreader]

maybe they just wanted to get their ballots in :^)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yeah, I'm glad they made the effort, but I'm afraid it won't matter much.