Little Patch of Earth

Monday, June 2, 2025

REEF

Recently we checked out REEF, UCSB's teaching aquarium. (REEF stands for Research Experience and Education Facility.) If you have seen touch tanks at a school science night. they probably came from here. The tanks are interactive, educational and fun.

Cost: Free

Location: Near Campus Point at UCSB

Directions: From the 101 take the 217 to UCSB. Take the second roundabout exit (left towards the beach). Follow the road along the bluff and park in the last lot on the left (there are coastal access spots.)

Parking: Saturday $4 or $3 an hour

Hours: Open House hours are on Friday 3:00pm–5:00pm and Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm (but only during the school year). Spring dates are April 11-June 7. SPRING DATES END SOON!
Time: 30 minutes

Drive Time: 10 minutes

More Information: https://msi.ucsb.edu/facilities-services/reef or on Instagram

Nearby: Campus Point, Goleta Beach, UCSB Labyrinth,

Quote from my 11 year old: "I got to hold starfish, a sea cucumber and urchins. It was very fun and I learned a lot. It is fun for all ages and I really recommend it."

Educational videos from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNC-IK5BNlgY3cZrGrWEqQ

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025

Campus Point

UCSB Labyrinth Walk

Tide Pooling

Friday, May 16, 2025

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025

Over the past two summers, I have realized and accepted that summer blogging looks different with a teen and a tween! I only blog about things I have actually done with one or both of my kids, but I have kept a list of things I would like to do and so we have done a handful of things over the past few summers and I have written them up! Here is the list I am chipping away at that we have done a few things from in 2023 and 2024. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

From 2015 Parks

Armitos Park got new play equipment

Eastside Neighborhood Park also had an update

From 2016 and 2020 Beaches

Rincon Beach
Sandyland Beach ?
Padaro Beach ?
Loon Point Beach
Finney Beach
Summerland Beach
Gaviota Beach

From 2017 Nature Walks
Wind Tunnels at Gaviota State Park
Cheltham/Westmont Trail
Allan Road Footpath
Ortega Hill Loop
Ennisbrook Trail

From 2018 Day Trips
Lake Casitas Water Park got a facelift!
Canzelle Alpacas

Great American Melodrama
Pump It Up (Ventura)
Marina Park (Ventura)
Ventura Aquatic Center
Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch (Santa Ynez)
Solvang
La Purissima Mission
Seein Spots Farm

From 2019 Museums
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum
Santa Barbara Historical Museum (El Presidio)
Ablitt House
Bellosguardo Estate
Casa del Herrero
Casa Dolores
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Reagan Ranch Center
Ridley Tree Museum of Art (Westmont College)
Santa Barbara Art Museum (UCSB)
Santa Barbara Surfing Museum
Santa Barbara Veterans Museum
Susan Quinlan's Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
UCSB Multicultural Center
Elveroj Museum of History and Art
Guadelupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Guadelupe Cultural Arts Center
La Purissima Mission
Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Santa Maria Valley Historical Railway Museum
Wilding Art Museum
UCSB Marine Science Institute (REEF)

From Kids Choice Awards 2021

Riding a Surrey

Bowlero
Lotusland
Lompoc Aquatic Center
Art from Scrap

From 2022 Hikes

Cold Springs Loop
Gaviota Wind Caves
Lizards Mouth
Tangerine Falls
Lizards Mouth
Rattlesnake Canyon
Parma Park
San Ysidro falls
Seven Sisters
Skofield Park
Tunnel Trail

Related Posts
Summer of the Parks (2015)
Summer of the Beaches (2016)
Summer of the Nature Walks (2017)
Summer of the Day Trips (2018)
Summer of the Museums (2019)
Summer of the Beaches 2 (2020)
Summer of Kid's Choice (2021)
Summer of the Hikes (2022)

Choose Your Own Adventure (2023)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Spring Snapshot 2025

While I have kept posting events on Instagram and Facebook, I haven't kept up with the blogging! I have some more capacity to blog again over the summer and I am excited about it!

Favorite New Product: Trader Joe's Leave In Conditioner My curly girls and I have used a lot of leave in conditioners and detanglers over the years. Out current favorite is this one from Trader Joe's.

What is Working for Me Right Now: Audiobooks! As part of my job, I have been driving to Carpinteria often. I have an Audible subscription, but I also have been enjoying free library books through Libby and Hoopla. Fun Hoopla fact--with Goleta card you can check out 5 items a month, but with a Santa Barbara card you can check out 10 items a month. The items are slightly different between the two libraries as well. You can have both library cards.

Last Book I Finished: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Mille goes to work for the Winchester family because she is desperate for a job. The wife is crazy, the husband is hot. I could see what was happening from a mile away from when we hear the dark secret of how the wife is crazy. The ending was interesting but didn't outweigh the predicability or the creepy.

Life Project: Getting Ready for house guests and revamping our guest room.

What we are eating today: "Rainbow Quinoa Casserole" I shared this one back during the 40 recipes the year I turned 40!

Related Links:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022 Snapshot
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot

Friday, March 7, 2025

Book Discussion Questions: Soul Survivor

I am reading a book called Soul Survivors by Philip Yancey with my spiritual formation group. It is an autobiography of sorts, telling the people who have influenced Yancey's faith as he matured. This book is not in any free library places, but it was easy to get a used copy on Thriftbooks. We split the book into 4 3-4 chapter sections for discussion over the first half of the year.

Chapters 1 through 3
How did you relate (or not) to Yancey's experience of the church?
Did you learn about Martin Luther King in this chapter that you did not previously know?
What aspects of our life and culture are we blind to you today in a similar way that the church has been blind to racism?
How is the "problem of pleasure" problematic for the atheist?

Chapters 4 through 7
How do you think Dr Brad's work with the poor and marginalized and forms his life with god?
How do we give live like Dr Cole's and give dignity to each person's life and story?
How do you feel like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky get faith right? How did they get faith wrong?
How do you think Gandhi embraced the ideals of Jesus without learning to live by faith or accept the grace from God?

Chapters 8 through 10
What did Dr Koop model about how Christians should engage with the wider world?
How does Donne's suffering at lack of fear inspire you?
How do we shift our view on heaven to be more in line with God's?
How do we, like Dillard, allow beauty and nature to lead us to God?

Other books this group has read and worked through:

Theodyssey: A Spiritual Formation Journey by David V Smith

All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore (Discussion Questions)

Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mullholland

Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton (Discussion Questions)

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

The Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby

Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Winter Snapshot 2025

Hello Followers! I have been so busy with a new job transition, there hasn't been much time for blogging. My kids are also at a different stage where they have many things to do and exploring with mom gets less time.

Favorite New Product: Trader Joe's Chili and Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chip AKA Takis Okay, I don't really know if these are new or if my kids just found them, but these are a after school treat (or sometimes even a bribe--take a bag to school to share with your friends if you......).

What is Working for Me Right Now: Both an online and a paper calendar

I am admittedly kind of old school. When I got an Android Smart Phone, I tried to do an entirely digital calendar and to do list. It just doesn't work for me. So every Monday I write out the digital calendar onto my paper one. It gives me space to think on the week and do any necessary planning. It isn't efficient in one sense, but it gives me contemplative space to think on my week and often things that might have fallen off my radar surface to make it on my to do list. We use Google Calendar and each member of my family has a separate, shared calendar.

Last Book I Finished: No Logo by Naomi Klein This is a well research book that conveys the reach of branding on our culture. It has been on my to-read book for years. Since it is over 25 years old, it seemed like many of the issues changed a lot from when it was written. Social media and the rise of influencers have changed the landscape of this a lot.

Life Project: Transitioning to a new job as an adjunct professor at Westmont College!

What we are eating today: One Pot Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes and Kale (using brown rice-quinoa pasta and add ground turkey)

Friday, January 10, 2025

Yearly Reading Challenge Part 2

One of my COVID year successes was changing up the way I read to be more intentional. I have been doing this now for 5 years and it fits well. Each target is tied to a month of the year and it makes it easier to track and meet the targets. I have not made it every year by December 31, but I have finished within days almost every year. In 2020 and 2021, I hit all the categories! I didn't quite make it in 2022 because of school in the spring (master's degree) and work in the fall. In 2023, I finished within 12 hours and 2024 within 10 days.

I have shared the reading list on my personal FB page, but here it is for wider perusal. Note: this list has categories that reflect my Christian worldview, especially March and July, as well as choices in each category that are Christian books. IN past years, I have included a Spanish language choice as well as a teacher/education choice. (I also spent many years in a GK Chesterton book group and so read a Chesterton or CS Lewis book too.) I share to inspire you to think of categories that would fit you and to share my reading life too.

I italicized the potential picks in each category for 2025. I am trying to read books I already have or that are already on my to read list, but something new always catches my eye too!

January Social Justice for Martin Luther King Day:

2025: How to Fight Racism

February Marriage for Valentine's Day:

2025: Language of Love

March Christian Living for Lent:

2025: Soul Survivors, Invitation to Solitude and Silence

April Environment for Earth Day:

2025: For the Beauty of the Earth