Reconciling July

Anthony Chabot Regional Park

There is a lot to reconcile for July. Experiences are extreme and divergent, depending on where you are turning your attention (and that's for those of us that have options). There is light and beauty (captured here in hopes it might uplift you). There is darkness and much to be alarmed by (translation:  you have to keep paying attention and taking action). 

We're temporarily separated from beauties that we used to take for granted. But the blessing of this time is we are contained and made to consider others who enable those things for us.

Dimond Park

This art work in the park is blocked by a fence around Lions Pool- unusable in this Era of the Covid. Happy to sacrifice if it saves a life or prevents an infection. Nature's growth behind the fence is unchecked. She steps in when we are finally away. 

Essential workers keep us going. It's imperative now that we change the systems to afford them a much better semblance of livlihood. Every time I eat a fruit I didn't grow, I think about the origin of my food and how those harvesting don't even have the certainty of citizenship or stable status right now. I have not deeply researched the answer to know if the origin of these (especially the rosé berries) carry this circumstance. 

It's not enough to "cancel" on the companies doing wrong. We have to ensure they do right and make the changes we want to see. If they are not willing, it's about patronizing their competitors. Sadly, this is the "language" of action in America. Our voices and dollars are more important now than ever, and they are far more resonant and impactful than just in a ballot box. 

Nectarine, raspberry + blackberry pie.

Our one 2020 nectarine, organic white nectarines, blackberries + Driscoll's Rosé Raspberries
 

Should have gone for the wild blackberries. Oakland.

More pies like that, please! Maybe? I applied to potentially bring baked goods to the Town Fridge program! It's possible they are overrun with people who want to give. I haven't heard back!

The most alarming thing Mother Nature whispered to me this month was in the visual song of this buckeye tree. It's already golden with shrinking leaves. Fall is on the way. It is...still July, right?

Digital Prayers

I am not certain that prayer can be digital, but helping a graphic designer friend with this campaign and lending one of my redwood photos in support of the Ohlone...

 

Design by tomahtoe.

Yielded this a few weeks later...

The story reports, "the 214-member Esselen tribe will share the land with other tribes originally from the area, including the Ohlone, the Amah Mutsun and the Rumsen people."

Nature has invited us back into her temple in so many ways. Some paths are dark, others are light. 

Do the Work

I'll close it out with this gorgeous Stevie Wonder rendition from the Jazz Mafia!