In winter, after the rains, some of my walking trails turn into brown mush. Unwalkable with dense and damp clumps of earth clinging to the bottom of my boots. Other trails, usually worn hard, have puddles for dogs to splash through and me to figure out how to cross.

This morning, something totally unexpected at Las Virgenes. Now I know why there's always been a sandy patch to the side of a small, barely noticeable streambed. It's been more active than I thought. Rushing water has filled that slight and shallow channel before but days ago, it was a force cutting through, exposing rocks and tree roots, leaving a gash all along the earth of it's path. January rains hollowed out a new winding way for the next heavy rain run off. Heavy like it hasn't been in 20+ years.

To put a finer point on it, what makes a cocktail party? Mixed drinks, light refreshments and an intimate guest list. Oh yes please. A perfect mixology: friends not-seen-often, Halloween and celebrate a birthday. Novel ingredients and complex flavors indeed.

​Edie and Andy add kick. Extra-dry retro spirits. 

This landmark conservation project at Liberty Canyon is complicated. It will span 10 lanes of Highway 101 where 300,000 vehicles roar every day. With this inspirational passageway urban wildlife will no longer face this impenetrable barrier, this monumental challenge to wandering between the Santa Monica Mountains, the Simi Hills and beyond.

We've inherited the trails that big cats built covering the hills and valleys of the Conejo Valley. They wander over these trails but they cannot build a bridge across one of SoCal's busiest freeways. So our mountain lions are running out of time. This transformative project will keep mountain lions from wandering into extinction.  ​

​L O V E comes in all sizes.

                         When I came to New York City on my own, this small town girl stepped
                     outside of everything she knew or grew up with. The yellow brick road called.

David McCabe was a well known British fashion photographer so my sense that anything could happen elevated wayyyy high whenever I was in his world. He photographed Andy Warhol, famous models, celebrities and - - me. His bright blue eyes and flattering English way are gone now.
​                                                  He passed away in March of this year.

Cats have kittens all year long but Kitten Season, usually twice a year in California because of warm weather,
puts an extra heavy burden on shelters and rescues. 80 - 90% of their cat and kitten intake happens during this time. Thousands of homeless kittens flood shelters across the country. Foster parents who can provide temporary care for these vulnerable little lives are needed even more desperately March - October.

Foster parents are the heart & soul of kitten rescue. An act of compassion, fostering for as little as two weeks, makes a life-saving difference ​for vulnerable kitten/teenager/adult cats and
helps save the greatest number of lives. Save more, euthanize less.
No matter your age, ability or resources, YOU can be a kitten season hero.
FOSTER
​a litter of kittens with your neighbors, donate old towels and blankets to your local shelter, or share a post on social media from a group that’s looking for volunteers or adopters.
​There’s not a person out there who can’t help.

In 2007 Pilot and I found a special place. Whatever you call it, Instagram has found it now. It's not a secret anymore. There was always edge-to-edge graffiti covering the cement square at the tip top end of the trail. But now, graffiti is splashed on rocks all along the way, small bits of wrappers and plastics ruffle the bushes, flutter through trees, wedge between rocks.

It's 2021 now and Jimmie's discovering trails travelled by Pi and I.
​Jimmie and I revel in the joy of being out and about in the early morning. Just as Pi and I did. ​

I find peace in the simple. ​