Little Patch of Earth

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!

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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 2025, I hit all the categories! Check out the first 5 years here.

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 C.S. 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 2026. 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

2026: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent

February Marriage for Valentine's Day:

2025: Language of Love

2026: Sex According to God

March Christian Living for Lent:

2025: Soul Survivors, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus

2026: Becoming God's Family, The Deeply Formed Life

April Environment for Earth Day:

2025: Is a River Alive?

2026: For the Beauty of the Earth or Abundance

May Biography:

2025: Brave the Wild River,

2026: Awake, The Hiding Place (reading this one aloud to the family right now)

June Parenting for Children's Day:

2025: Woven

2026: Teach Your Children Well, Untangled,

July Christian Fiction for summer:

2025: The Brethren

2026: Out of the Silent Planet

August Children's for summer:

2025: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2026: The Trouble with Heros, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

September Classics for Back to School:

2025: The End of the Affair

2026: Three Musketeers

October Food for Harvest:

2025: Well to the Core

2026: Grain Brain

November Science:

2025: Revenge of the Tipping Point

2026: Everything is Tuberculosis, Burnout,

December Global Issues for Christmas:

2025: Jesus and John Wayne

2026: Being Mortal

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Get to Know Me

Have you ever been curious about Goleta Mom?! Check out these places where you can learn more!

I shared my story at a women's event: Santa Barbara Community Church Story Night 2017

I was interviewed bu Bill Cirone after receiving a small grant. Talking with Teachers 2002

In the spring 2025 I taught at Westmont College. Adjunct Professor Bio

Friday, September 13, 2024

Swim Lessons

There are so many options for swim lessons in Santa Barbara. Here are the ones I found with experiences from friends included. Like school teachers, some kids will respond to different strategies and situations. I found that the right fit for each kid was crucial and we liked different options for different kids.

Dos Pueblos Swim Dos Pueblos High School, Elings Aquatic Center
Cost: $64 per 4 private 20 minute lessons
When: Summer Only
Comments: Teachers are DP students and the quality varies quite a bit. This is a cheaper option, however.

Santa Barbara Aquatics
When: Year Round
Comments: This newer option took over the Swim with Finn location in Old Town Goleta.

Santa Barbara Parks and Rec, Ortega Pool
Cost: $70 2 week sessions of 30 minute group lessons; Private lessons are $100 for 4 - 30 minute lessons
When: Summer Only
Comments:

UCSB, Rec Cen Pool
Cost: $75 for 10 (2 week sessions) 25 minute lessons, private lessons are $200
When: Summer Only
Comments: Quality can vary

Wendy Feredy
When: Year Round
Comments: Most people love this option even though they comment that it is expensive (but worth it)! Some friends also felt it was hard to cancel when they wanted to move on.

Wilson Swimming Private Pool off Patterson Ave,
Cost: $45 per private 30 minute lesson
When: mostly summer, but some options outside of that
Comments: This is a great private option. There will be a greater focus on the strokes and stroke names here as it is owned by a swimming coach.

YMCA YMCA Pool

Cost: $65 a lesson private (less if you buy multiple but lessons expire in 6 months)

Group lessons depend on the level but are cheaper and in 6. week-2 month sessions

When: Year Round

Comments: This is a less expensive but still quality option.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Armitos Park

Armitos Park in Goleta got a refresh and recently reopened. There is a big kid playground that is completely fenced in, a new community gardens with a group area. A new branch of the bike path is under construction that will continue by Johnny Wallis park into Old Town Goleta.

The play structure is an older kid (5-12 year old) over rubber mat. There are monkey bars, slides, climbing areas as well as many types of swings, a sand play area and sound toys.