I just received my blood tests from my doctor and learned that I am at the high end of the pre-diabetic scale. (The rest of my blood tests were excellent, by the way.) So, I have a new job to tackle over the next three months: to get my blood sugar down to a more…
Month: July 2026
Up Early at the Orange Grove
I was up at six a few days ago and caught some early morning photos of the orange grove. The light was lovely and the temperature was cool. The orange trees have three stages of growth right now: mature oranges, green oranges, and orange blossoms. The scent is heavenly. Pickers will come in a few…
Why I Have to Write A House Divided
Hannah’s voice came to me in the middle of an ordinary quick write with a student. Right in the middle of recording the mundane details of the day—the time, where I was, and which student I was writing with—a voice spoke to me and said, “My name is Hannah Price.” She went on to tell…
Ojai 4th of July Parade – Small Town America
Today, Ron, Liz, Ethan, Ray, and I attended the annual Ojai 4th of July parade. This is a big deal in this little town of 8,000, and people set up folding chairs along the parade route weeks in advance to get a prime, shady spot. For the second year in a row, we were comfortable…
Ray’s Optimistic Oak Trees
Twenty-two years ago, Ray planted 65 cork oak and California coastal oak trees around the edges and in the empty spaces of the orange grove. Now, they range from 30 to 50 feet tall and grace our property with their stately presence while providing deep shade for us in the hot summer months. Ray described…
20 Minutes a Day 