Dispatches from the beach

I can hear the water lapping against the shores of the channel, can feel the breeze whisper against and across my shoulders as I rock slowly on the second floor porch. Some birds perch, others soar, boats and jet skis head home. The sun is setting, moving south as if through multiple filters. It is vivid orange. It is blinding yellow with rays bursting in all directions like a child's drawing. It is muted behind the prism of layers of clouds moving in various directions. Some are utterly static while others race. How is this? How do some freeze in the face of forceful currents?

Last night we celebrated my mother-in-law's 70th birthday, and today, she, my father-in-law, brother- and sister-in-law, and nieces headed home. It was a wonderful week- getting to see the kids together, see them truly love and delight in playing together is a treasure.

yellow cake with whipped chocolate caramel ganache frosting - recipes by apuginthekitchen

My crew decided to stay the day and are glad we did. I had peach apricot pie for breakfast (made this yesterday!), went for a run, we spent a last couple hours on the beach, and saw Wonder Woman. As have many, I cried in several spots, moved by her fierceness, wisdom, compassion, courage, and unabating morality. If only such sorts of people actually led our country right now. If only...

Instead, we have an ignorant, insecure, greedy, lying, fraud in the big seat, and innocent people like Philando Castile are murdered in cold blood for no reason other than their skin color and their killers are set free. This country is not moving forward, and it is utterly disheartening and enraging.

With a wink, a nod, and a clenched fist of hell yeah, I leave you with this. 

Study of Wondie, gorgeous jam

Since his birthday, Oliver's love for Wonder Woman has not waned in the slightest. While in NC last month, I bought him a Wonder Woman coloring book, and you'd have thought I'd given him the greatest gift in the world. Perhaps it was! Since camp began, Ol has drawn at least one picture of "Wondie" every day, and because he seems slightly bashful about his love for her -despite my entreaties that he be proud; she is cool- he has his counselors (or maybe he does this by now) wrap each picture up like a scroll and tape it shut with painter's tape so the paper doesn't get nicked or torn. At pick-up, he proudly though somewhat shyly presents me with his newest work(s), and I am excited anew because these are truly wonderful and darling. Sometimes Wondie lacks arms, and in one -gasp- she wasn't wearing her star-spangled undies, but Ol never forgets her tiara or golden lasso. Sometimes Wondie is alone on the page, at other times, she's amidst words or some other scene (see: hand-crabs). I treasure these pieces and had to share.

It's another gray day here but blessedly both kiddos are at camp (especially blessed because I slept in the basement with Jack last night and was kicked more than once, coughed on and awakened by his loud shout-outs to Oliver and other subjects playing prominently in his dreams), so I've enjoyed quietude and coffee. I'm about to get back to work on my newest puzzle but did make a glorious batch of peach-apricot-almond jam earlier. Just four half-pints and I spooned the rest over some fresh yogurt for a wow breakfast.

It's actually that color- incredible, yes?

Lastly, an enormous thanks to all who wrote in response to yesterday's post. I'm so grateful that you read Em-i-lis and let me know when things resonate with you!