This is what really mattered in my day.  Not the laundry, the conference registration, the vacuuming or the research on HP portable printers – what really mattered, was the fresh air and feeling those little donkey lips (are they called “lips” on a donkey?) touching my palm as she nuzzled around for bits of apple.

Makena creeps around the deck, checking in around the door, ensuring I’ll let her in if she is too cold and she wanders away again.  I watered the planters on the deck this morning. Their leaves are no longer upright and green and I try desperately to breathe life back into them again.  I want to see the deep purple petunia blossoms, the pink and striped geraniums, the purple fountain grasses that waves in the very slightest of breezes. 

The garden is harvested.  The last part, garlic and potatoes, sitting in a box in the kitchen.  The pumpkins left from the pumpkin party are in the yard, scattered like litter.  They are white, yellow and orange and stacking them together might be a good idea.  Minus their treasures, the pumpkin vines are wilting and it looks like last night might have been our first frost.  The tomato plants continue to give red*yellow*orange tomatoes, however I wander off and quit looking for them.  Isn’t that funny?  At some point, the garden loses its appeal and I’m ready for it to be done, while plans for next year’s garden evolve in my brain.  Looking ahead, I’m missing out on the fact that I can still eat the tomatoes now.  That’s not too unusual and I doubt I’m the only person who misses out on what is right in front of me because I’m looking ahead, past fall (golden, red, brilliant leaves), past winter (hibernation, snow shoes, skiing) to spring when the earth is renewed. 

Excuse me for leaving.  I need to go look for tomatoes to eat with my morning cups of tea.

Jane Goodall traveled to Africa at a time when it was not expected that a woman could or would be so adventurous.  For more than 30 years she studied the chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, in Tanzania and established the Jane Goodall Institute.  The Institute  was “Founded by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, JGI is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things. We are creating healthy ecosystems, promoting sustainable livelihoods and nurturing new generations of committed, active citizens around the world.”

Jane currently travels 300 days out of the year, speaking to audiences about healthy ecosystems, promoting the “Roots and Shoots” program for youth and advocating for creating sustainable living opportunities for the citizens of Africa.

All these things make me happy.  Today I was gifted with a free day – cancellations which allow me to be standing at my laptop during daylight hours and observe the creatures that hang around my house, enticed by the food we set out.

I watch them, take a deep breath and say “ahh…”.  

The website features a slide show of Yosemite photography from Glen Denny from the 1960s. I was in Yosemite only 45 days ago and stood in the spot the first photo was taken. Of course, not being a climber, the pictures that follow are out of bounds for me. I marvel at the drive of climbers, the commitment to “go higher”. It’s difficult for me to imagine spending that much time on one thing – days to climb one peak. The weeks and months and years it can take to prepare.

Take a few minutes to check out the photographs; some are breathtaking.