Creeekside B — My friends, what a beautiful week we had. Great tide pools, clouds, sunshine and Saturn in the sky. Thanks for Mr. Rathjen for sharing his sky scout with me. I learned a lot.
The ocean was pretty calm for the most part. The swell was a local wind swell probably produced from the strong northwest winds that we experienced during the week. But once the students left, conditions were calm on the coast and the sun was strong. Saturday and Sunday were really hot with the beginnings of a deep water north swell that created perfect surfing conditions. On Monday the north swell maxed out at around 10 feet or more with clean conditions and finally the rain came on Tuesday, April 7th. It is so interesting to watch the ocean and predict the weather.
Well, back to the hot spot:
Forest: Redtail Hawk, Sharp shinned Hawk, wilsons warbler, orange crowned warbler, ruby crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, sparrows, pacific sloped flycatcher, purple finch, juncos, mergansers, allens humingbird, deer, salamander,
Marsh: doublecrested cormorant, black turnstone, western gulls, wandering tatlers, swallows, american kestrel, flock of brandts, common goldeneye, gadwall, widgeons, buffleheads, northern harrier, western pond turtles, caspian terns, wooley bear catepillar
Tidepools: abalone, sunstar, pinkish sponge, mossy green chitons, pricklebacks, anemone, blackeyed gobi
And a little inspiration from Burl:
The Beginners Mind
There is a way, a natural way
It costs you no money, it demands no pay.
It will leave you satisfied at the end of the day.
This week you walked the path of this way.
No tests, no desks, no least nor best.
No desire to be much better than the rest.
Just heartfelt moments from way beneath your chest.
And the realization that the Earth is the ultimate nest.
The Beginners Mind is the way that I speak.
It’s the awe in your heart as you first saw the creek.
It’s the focus you gained as you experienced this week.
The Beginners Mind is the way that I speak.
Move slowly, be thoughtful and enjoy what you see.
Take a moment to sit, watch the stars or just be.
Remember that this life is not about I, Enjoy WE.
And take deep breaths to allow your mind to be free.
So lives the whale, the bobcat and Jay.
All of nature is connected in a web of the way.
Be a part of this beauty as you leave here today.
Be grateful for these moments, in your heart may they