We have lots of people here at the orange grove at the moment. Liz and her family, Sarah and hers, and now the arrival of one of our oldest friends, Sonny, from Massachusetts. Sonny, an artist, is here with his easel and art supplies to luxuriate in the January sun of Southern CA, and even with the terrible fire events closer to LA, the weather here in Ojai has been beautiful. It was 73 degrees today with clear skies. When Sonny left Massachusetts early this morning, it was 0 degrees. I suspect he’ll be happy.

Today was Round 2 of picking oranges from our reserved trees for fresh orange juice. Nico and Lyla did the picking, washing, and squeezing, and I was in charge of the cutting. Though the trees were picked several months ago, these oranges still taste sweet. It’s quite a pleasure to have freshly squeezed orange juice in the middle of the winter. As you can imagine, having my grandkids up here for a few days is so fun. Seeing them relaxed, enjoying being outside, jumping on the trampoline, and chasing Ethan makes my heart sing.

The jury is still out as to when the Pacheco-Beaty family will return home. They are waiting to see if the winds returning tonight or tomorrow will fan the flames of the Altadena fire, which is close to them. With so many unknown variables, it’s tough on them: Will the fires resurge? When will school reopen? Will their babysitter be able to return to help their family after losing her home? Life with lots of questions can be difficult.

I am simply grateful for any time I get with Sarah, Gregorio, Luna, Nico, and Lyla. It’s always a treat for me to have them around, and I’ll enjoy them until they get the go-ahead to return home.

As for Sonny, Ray and I will enjoy his company for ten days. That will be fun all by itself.

I wish all who are reading this blog post a healthy and safe night. For those of us lucky enough to have family and friends who are close by, hooray. For those whose families are far away or not a source of comfort, my heart goes out to you. I pray for loving kindness, sincerity, and open hearts for all of us. Peace be with you.