O Portland

     O Portland, how I will miss you.    

Your color, your mundane,

your sleepy, your life,

your squares, your pegs,

your square pegs, your motley quilt

--do they not also abide in me?

Oh live strongly in me, Portland!

Run like a river through my soul and live as a lake in my heart.

Root yourself in the base of my skull and branch out into my vision and fingertips.

I remain under your spell.  Very truly yours.

S is 6

S turns 6 in about an hour.  

When I entered my last trimester of pregnancy with her, she started lifting textbooks off my belly.  I had taken a Spanish and Greek class during that period of my pregnancy, seizing the time as my final opportunity to indulge myself academically.  In the evenings, my husband and I would watch her unborn feet rub against the textbooks perched on my belly and marvel at how the books would undulate up and down like a wave.   Who knew that an unborn fetus could exert so much power in the world?   She really was a testament to the humanity of babies in the womb.  And now, when we cuddle on the couch, she still rubs her feet against me just like in the days of her gestation.  Some things never change.  

I love you, S!  I thank God for you.  

Escondido Falls in Malibu Canyon

     Escondido Falls is hidden in the gorgeous Malibu Canyon right off Malibu Beach.  In order to reach the Falls one must hike through a neighborhood of million dollar homes.  The view was breathtaking and the homes incredible.  Prior to our arrival, we were stuck in 2-2.5 hours of traffic and had followed some wrong directions on my iPad map app.  The hike was mostly canopied with trees but because the sun was setting fast we just cut short of the first tier of the falls.  At least we now have another reason to go back!

I love how my baby's eyes are just peaking over my shoulder.  Compliments to the unknown passerby who offered to take our pics!

Serial Files: Etiwanda Falls

     For the 4th or 5th time, we returned to Etiwanda Falls.  It's at the northenmost end of a local suburb.  Man and nature here have learned to reside in harmony.  And every time we come back, we unearth more of its beauty.