The oak moths are devouring our trees, They eat the oak leaves. They drop down by the dozens onto heads and cars and mail boxes. They are icky. The trees look dead and maybe some are actually dead. They go through the cycles of worms and moths throught the summer months. I can hardly wait for rain when they become dormant.

I did an introduction class on plein air writing today in Pacific Grove. twelve people came. We swat outside in the fog drinking coffee and writing and reading t each other. It all worked well. Such an intimacy arises when people listen to each other's work. I love it.

Went to San Carlos Beach yesterday afternoon with my chair and a book. Sat at the railing reading and watching the fog hover near the shore. I wore a warm jacket while others were in shorts and swim suits. I think they were jealous of me.

I am frequently melancholic on Sunday afternoons and this was true yesterday. Something about Sundays that pushes me around.

I struggle with reading poetry. Most morning after my first cup of coffee I read for a bit from a poetry collection POET'S CHOICE by Edward Hirsch. I read diligently hoping to develop the mind that can appreciate a good poem.

I suspect I just need to expand the neuron connections so the I can really understand.

It helps that I have studied koans.

It helps that I am resigned to accepting that there is lots I don't understand.

We picked black berries, apples and tomatoes in the back yard. and some plums. The plums are sitting on the counter waiting to ripen. The yard is beginning to produce.

Sat at the dinning room table and stuffed envelops for the monthly mailing. Luckily NPR had some good shows on so the time went quickly. Tomorrow I will put them in the mail.

Spent most of the day at home working on my writing. the writing circle starts up again in two weeks. I need to be prepared.

Picked a couple of tomatoes, watered the garden, watched the confusing news and now I am settling down for a nice read.

I am sitting in my room this early evening with my windows open listening to the neighbor boys play in the alley. they are not so young now and their play is rougher and wilder. I wonder sometimes if I should go out and talk to them. But it is not my job and no one is crying yet but they sound so mean and rough. Where are the little boys they used to be.

Had lunch at the Loose Noddle on Lighthouse Ave today. I was wasting time and thought an early lunch would be just right. Italian food, really garlicky and really good. And inexpensive. I had my New York Times, fresh bread and spaghetti. Just hit the spot. I will go there again.

Sun was out all day and the house heated up.

The sun finally came out in the afternoon. What joy. At least in Monterey. I had lunch in Pacific Grove in a friend's orchard and it was foggy but still we sat outside in the garden ad complained about the fig. lttle did we know over the hill the sun had returned.

So I sat outside for an hour in the shade of an oak tree and read. the oak trees are full of bugs right now. I had to shake my self off before I went into the house..

This evening I saw once again the bright lights out on the bay. Must be squid season now.

I am reading IN THE GARDEN OF BEAST by Erik Larson. this is te stroyof a a US ambassador to Germany in the mid 1930's. I am in the middle of it and can hardly put it down to go to bed.

two teenage boys knocked on my front door this afternoon. They said they were from Monterey High football team and were asking for help from the neighborhood to help buy needed equipment. They looked uncomfortable asking for money. For $20 you could get this coupon book.

I had to tell them that I didn't support playing football. It caused too many head injuries. they nodded their heads and left.

I wonder if they were legitimate high school students. I know the schools are going through a difficult time.I

My daughter's family left this morning. the house seems so empty. I am doing laundry and eating gum drops. It will take time for me to reenter my life again. I miss them so much and I am glad to be alone again..

the deer got into my back yard last night. The kids left the garden gate open and I forgot to check it.

they ate the leaves on the apple tree and apricot tree. They nibbled on the tomatoes and the nasturtiums.

when I complained to the kids they were surprised and concerned. they said they saw three deer in the yard in the morning and were enchanted.

Went to Lou Lou's on the wharf for lunch to day with my Daughter and her two boys. they live in New york where it is hot.

My daughter and I dressed warmly but the two boys insisted on wearing shorts and t-shirts and complained loudly about the cold. I pulled a blanket from my car to wrap them up. They couldn't believe it would be cold in August.

Lots of fishermen on the wharf catching what looks like sardines. busy, busy

Jojo and Susan spent several hours weeding and trimming the front yard yesterday and now it is looking good. I wish I had the ability to do this but my body doesn't let me any more.

Actually I have had a lazy streak all my life but now it just isn't a choice.

But I love to sit in my comfortable chair and read and that is what my body does well now.

I am sitting in my bedroom at dusk listening to the neighborhood boys pick on one kid. I go out to stop it and the boys run away. Now these are all basically good boys but, but, but sometimes they get mean with each other. this is the curse of good hearing. It is so sad when they fight like this. I really can't stop it.

I started the day by baking really good chocolate chip cookies. I used the recipe on the back of the trader joes package of chocolate chips. six dozen cookies. we have been eating them all day, visiting relatives, grandchildren adults. Also made tocos and burittos for the family lunch. A day full of eating.

Went for a late lunch at Turtle Bay, my favorite restaurant. And it was packed with families with lots of little kids. Adults were trying to talk to each other. Lots of noise but no crying. It took awhile to get a table for myself.

I read the New York Times while waiting for my food. I watched kids smear food across tables, across themelves and tease their siblings. The parents were determind to not notice but I kept a close watch on the growing mayhem.

Still no one cried. not a child, not an adult nor a wait person.

Spent the morning spending money in stores other then the grocery store. Such a novel experience. and the money goes so fast. Everything costs so much.

I had to go to the bank to get out some cash. I like to pay for things in cash rather then use my credit card.

I get the feeling of what things really cost this way.

so what did I buy? new frying pan, storage containers, new pen, a red ink pad, watercolar paper, note paper, coffee, tea. Not so much when I think about it.

The local schools opened today. This evening the neighborhood boys are out playing in the alley. Running, playing games, shouting at each other. They have returned from whereever they were this summer.

I am readingTHE FIRE MONKS, the story of the forest fire in 2008 that threatened Tassajara. It is better then I thought it waqs going to be. I will finish it.

I am sitting in my room this morning reading about the riots in England. And around the world. And here is in this small corner of life I am safe. Fog,squirrels, crows, dogs barking song birds. When will the riots hit the central coast of California. Maybe I should just stop watching the news hour on TV for awhile.

My house was so cold today that I turned on the heater. The sun never came out today. I had the two children ages 9 and 11 who only wanted to watch cartoons this afternoon. School starts on Wednesday so I let them. But the cartoons are so loud. Everyone screams and the kids were laughing so I just made do. Now my house is quiet again.

Spent the afternoon measuring and cutting fabric for sewing kits for rakusus. An endless job for a sewing teacher. Then I went to Turtle Bay for dinner and reading the Sunday
Times. I wish the sun would come out. I am so cold now I am thinking of turning on my heater.

I am having trouble with my alrm clock. The one I have now the sound is so feint that I am afraid I will not hear it. The last one, the loud alarm would go off even if the alarm button was turned off. I finally threw it away. I keep looking for a servicable alarm clock but the stores don't carry them. Maybe I will have to trust that my body will wake up on tome. I don't know.

I had made the intention to walk every day and now I am looking at why I have not followed through with this. Yesterday I waited for the mood to walk to arise. It never did. So Today I am setting a time, mood or no mood. 2:30 wharf #2 right after lunch at Lou Lou's

Met with a friend to sew. Quiet time. We both were working with the needle and talking softly.

Later I went to our book group where we all ate and talked somewhat loudly. I had thought they would all be angry at me for the book I recommended but in fact they mostly liked it. You can just never tell.

I took a shortcut behind the police station on the way to the library at 8:30 am. there were four police cars parked with lights flashing and tired looking police officers taking boxes of equipment out of the trunks and back seats. I wonder if they do this every morning at the end of a shift.

The town was quiet. I returned a pile of books to the library drop and went to Paris Bakery to meet my friend.

The plein air writing group met this morning at Lover's point. We found picnic tables by the shuttered grill. We walked and wrote and read. Such joyous activity. Came home tired but no time for a nap. the 9 and 11 year old kids spent the afternoon with me and then I went to the Cherry Center to sit. Now the day is done and I can kick back a bit.

Last night there were stars in the sky. The fog had cleared. And this morning after several hours of fog the sun came out. Crowds of tourists around town, everybody smiling.

I had meant to take a walk but I didn't. Tomorrow is another day.