Today's excursion was from home to the Ventura beach area. The beach front road went past the tony restaurants, the yacht club, finally slumming alongside tourist trap shops and stores.

We found ourselves a nice little cafe with outdoor seating and ate fabulous food while watching seagulls (minding their manners) and small songbirds scrounging for crumbs at our feet and an inquisitive raven or two (they were black, and not crows).

There was a feeling of living together harmoniously, a sense of give and take, that I found refreshing and soothing.

Back home to a quick nap and some time to read. The weather is still nice enough to spend the afternoon outdoors, keeping company with the tomatoes and the hummingbirds.

Tomorrow is another day, but for today, there has been a quiet joy sufficient to fill me up and spill over onto this journal.

Blessed be.