nature
Days of Tea
More teas I was able to try!
- Day 5 Supreme Matcha Green Tea – Here is the cup to make you feel supreme. Organic Matcha and tea- the purest green.
- Day 6 Three Ginger – Three wise herbal kings are here. Majestic heat to feel the cheer.
- Day 7 Three Fennel – Leaves and seeds of a powerful plant. Gentle but essential to help food go down.
- Day 8 Turmeric Gold – This is the queen of all herbs. Each sip a draught of golden power.
- Day 9 Blackcurrant Beauty – Nature’s berries bold and deep. A cup of purple fruit and dark delight.
The little sayings behind each packet of tea are cute and they give a little insight on that specific tea.
“Some people will tell you there is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sunset at Home
Managed to get a picture of the sunset a few days ago. The sky was so beautiful ☀️
February 9th 2021
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”
–Henry David Thoreau
Hiking in a Pandemic
Being able to enjoy the outdoors almost feels forgotten. With the impact of COVID-19, we should make sure we do our part in keeping ourselves and others safe. In California, it has been an up and down battle on getting things under control. Sunday, my family and I decided that it was possible for us to get back into hiking and do our weekly walks. Of course we took precautions and followed the suggested guidelines. We had our hand sanitizers, keeping six feet apart and wearing our masks.
The Trail
We decided to go to a less strenuous trail and hopefully wasn’t too crowded. We took Rex this time, so we only managed to make it about 2 miles.There’s a variety of starting points for a nice walk. It can start from Fernandez Park in Pinole and end all the way at Pinole Shores. Or you can start at Fernandez Park and find yourself in Hercules next to Leila by the Bay Restaurant. I have only done this hike once before when it first opened up and it was beautiful. Now, almost two years later, it still is a beautiful trail and kind of maintained in this Pandemic. The trail we decided to take had the starting point of Bayfront Park. Since the tide was out, we could walk out into the bay quite a ways. It’s can be very slick, so be careful. After we walked out into the bay, we made our way over the bridge which gives you a beautiful overlook of both the bay and Mount Tamalpais. We hit our 1 mile mark on my Fitbit and turned around. We couldn’t go much further because Rex was with us and it was hot! By the time we got back to the truck it was a little over 2 miles. The trail wasn’t very crowded at all. When we did see and pass people, we all had our masks on and practiced the 6 feet social distancing rule. It was nice to be outdoors again, and even nicer that people were polite and courteous of the situation.
The new bridge on the Bay Trail.
Some Things to Bring
- Good walking or hiking shoes.
- Water. Always a good idea to hydrate.
- Sunblock to protect your skin.
- If you bring your dog, they are required to be on a leash.
- A walking stick if you would like.
- Masks
- Hand Sanitizer.
Additional Info
Parking is free and doesn’t get too crowded. Because of COVID-19 the trail upkeep is a little less. Be careful of wild animals, snakes and spiders. The area is relatively safe, but make sure to lock your vehicle and keep valuables out of sight. Bring a snack and water with you. Most of all, stay safe, have fun and enjoy the outdoors. 💚
“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.”
– Diane Spicer
June 5th 2020
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.”
—Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib
Upper Fisherman’s Trail and Black Sands Beach 2017
Marin Headlands, CA
Nothing beats a nice breezy walk out to water. With this 0.5 mile hike you’ll be on the sand in no time. Bring your water, pack some lunch and enjoy the views. Click here for directions, comments and more pictures. Plan your trip now!
“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.”
– Robert Wyland
May 1st 2020
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
– Albert Einstein
The Clouds Above
Sometimes all you can do is look to the sky and revel. Think about the vastness of it all. Sometimes all you should do is pause, and cloud watch. Let the calming sensation flow into your soul.
“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Four Books For A Rainy Day
Some of my Favorite Books for the Rain
First off…There will always be a never ending list of books that will be amazing to read in the rain. The list will always change and everyone has their own views on whether or not a book is worth reading or not. Why specifically reading in the rain you may ask, simple, it is some of the most calming (in some cases) weather there is. I’m sure many of you have heard that rain can make you sleepy or feel more calm that’s because rain tends to be white noise or what some call pink noise. Pink noise allows you to focus on just the sound of the rain and nothing else. This allows your body to rest, focus and to destress in a sense. This is why reading in the rain is calming and one of my favorite times to get cozy on the couch with a book. Here is a small list of my favorite books to read while it’s raining.
- The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This comedic book series gets you through the galaxy over a span of 5 books! It keeps you entertained and glued to the pages the whole time! They also have a movie based on the books and a radio series that was done.
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. A very gripping story that tells the chilling tale of Susie. The movie was also just recently released.
- The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. Four different women whose lives intersect around chaos, keeping secrets about themselves and who they love. A captivating well researched and written novel. Fiercely independent and mind provoking.
- The Pact by Jodi Picoult. This is a heart wrenching love story between two teenagers with a tragic story to tell. It’ll keep you guessing until the very last page. I loved this book so much I actually wrote a post about it, which you can read here.
This is just a short list of a few mesmerizing stories. Each book will fill your soul with happiness, sadness and every emotion in-between. Reading not only stimulates your brain with creativity and calmness. It allows a little time of escaping to just be you and not have to worry about anything for another chapter. Even if it isn’t raining, you should still give these books a good read. So sit down, have some tea, get cozy and start reading.
“You are only worthy of what you prove yourself to be.”
―Alice Hoffman, The Dovekeepers
Katie Writes 