May Your Holiday Season Be Bright!

Sending Much Love

Today I feel humbled. Humbled by all the wonderful people who have opened their hearts and doors to my family and I during this year. We are so blessed to have wonderful friends and neighbors who lift our spirits and create a sense of belonging. Our families are far away, but our friends help us feel at home here in California. 

Over this weekend I was brought right back into my college years. My international student college counselor and his wife invited our family to their annual Christmas Sing Along event. It felt like a college reunion of the international club. My counselor is a wonderful pianist and he inspired us all to really get into singing. We took turns singing a verse of Silent Night in our native tongues. It lifted my spirits and warmed my heart to hear the beautiful song sung in Japanese, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Finnish and English. During the party, I realized that this environment and these people were all part of my international life and my identity. Many countries were represented in the party, and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoy the cheery holiday atmosphere together. I am very thankful for the friendships that connect us to many countries and I am thankful for our wonderful hosts and their generosity!

During my college years a wonderful Finnish couple took me under their wings and ever since then I have been invited into their very special annual Pikkujoulu = Little Christmas Party at their house every year. My friends have been organizing these parties for forty years. This year, I was brought to tears as I watched my friends announce that the time had come when organizing these parties has become too difficult to do and that this was going to be their last party. Everyone was crying and friends who've known each other for a life time were hugging each other. The generosity of this wonderful couple has been enormous. And the friendships within this group of Finnish people runs so strong that they are there to help each other through both good and difficult times. My family and I feel honored to have been blessed with the friendship of our gracious hosts. It might be the end of these parties, but surely not the every day chats over a hot cup of coffee! After all there are children and grandchildren who now need to develop friendships of their own within our fabulous Finnish-American community.

After a very emotional weekend, I think that strong friendships make life worth living. There are seasons in life when we are capable, energetic and able to conquer anything in life. And there are seasons when we need to take on a slower pace. These seasons come and go multiple times with in our life times. The seasons change, but our friends understand this and accept us just the way we are. With the example of our wonderful hosts, I resolve to pay special attention to young people who are exploring the world at this time, work harder on my friendships and to be a nicer and more caring person next year.

It is time to turn off the computer and go and make sure my kids learn something about new and old traditions during this season. After all, more than anything the kids need a real human connection.

Rauhallista ja Kiireetöntä Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays! May Your Season Be Bright!

Sending much love all across our beautiful earth.

Terhi xoxoxoxo

On Being More Mindful During the Holidays

Let's Be Less Busy and More Present in the Moment During the Holidays

Tomorrow I will be taking my family to three separate holiday events. I felt guilty, but I did decline one invitation. In reality I should have declined at least one more. But how could I when all of them are lovely events that tie us to our friends? Three separate events still seems a bit much especially to my 4-year-old. It is definitely a really fun time of year, but at times I wonder whether all of this merriment is just too much to handle.

I crave for a more simple and less busy life. I always longingly think of how things actually slow down at Christmas time in Finland. Christmas is celebrated already on the 24th of December and almost everyone gets a week or two off work. Here in the States we work and shop until we drop on the 24th and the shops are open on the 25th as well. Christmas parties go on until right before the 25th. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th and most people have the 26th off, but then it's over and done with before it even started. 

But as usual, I am going to rebel. I am going to slow down. After this weekend it is my time to be with my family, create memories and enjoy the simple things in life! It takes serious will power to slow down, but I think that we all need it more than ever at this time. I kicked off this blog with mindfulness in mind and here are some Terhific suggestions on how you can slow down as well.

1. Turn off all electronics, especially your online presence and your cell phone. I know that it is hard not to check your friends status updates on Facebook and Twitter, but you can do it. You can live without knowing what your friends just ate for dinner for a few days.

2. Pay attention to your kids. Sit down. Listen and have fun. Let the kids be in charge for a change!

3. A little humor goes a long way. Laugh and be silly. The kids love it when the parents drop their authority and join in on the fun.

4. Create a peaceful environment that fosters togetherness. Candles and quiet music do the trick for me. The space does not need to be perfect. In actual fact, the less perfect it is, the homier it looks. Check out my ripped couch here... (And no, I am not going to replace it until the kids are a little bit older.) Let's be real, not perfect, and let's not be embarrassed if our houses are not in tip top order when friends come over. What do you think friends? 

5. Try really hard to not to get something done and to not to accomplish anything and just be. You can do it! The kids know how to pull you into the moment if you let them!

Those of you who know me, know that I am a busy bee at all times. Something is cooking up in this household all the time. One promise to myself for next year is that I join my better half in the every day fun with the kids. The dishes and laundry can wait. Right?

Last Minute Terhific Gift Idea - Experiences

Consider giving experiences instead of material Gifts

My house is drowning in stuff. My kids rooms are filled with toys. My house is about to burst. This is a topic that is often covered during my discussions with friends who have children. We all share the notion of not wanting any more plastic toys for our children. And we all think that experiences would be much nicer gifts especially from Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and other relatives.

Here are 5 Terhific Experience Gifting Ideas that would work in many countries:

1. Consider sponsoring a hobby and/or an after school activity. Think about what you like to do. Do you and the child share an interest such as a type of sport or love for fine arts and crafts or music?  The choices are endless. Make sure to check with the parents whether your plans sound good to them as well before purchasing the classes. If you live close by, then you could also volunteer to take the child back and forth to the activity. That would be a wonderful way for you to build a strong bond with the child. Here are some ideas:
1. Piano lessons (or any other instrument)
2. Swimming lessons
3. Singing in a choir
4. Fine art lessons
5. Sports Clubs: for example soccer, volley ball, gymnastics, etc...
2. Consider giving the child and his or her family a chance to see a live show. Think of child friendly concerts, dance performances and plays.
3. Consider buying museum memberships for the child and his or her family. Think of museums that offer activities such as story telling and crafts for children, or special exhibits made especially for children. Science, Air and Space, Natural History, Art Museums and Children's museums, just to name a few, are wonderful places for children.
4. Consider helping the child learn about your heritage through enrollment into language schools. 
5. Consider helping the child stay healthy through access to a sports facility. Here in the States, YMCA offers sports, classes and events through YMCA child or family membership.

Here is also a list of Terhific local San Diego Experiences:

1.  Balboa Park Explorer Tickets which would allow the child and his or her family to access 17 museums at Balboa Park for the whole year! This is my absolute favorite!
   
2. San Diego Maritime Museum Membership which would enable the child and family to climb on board 5 different ships along downtown water front. This museum also organizes lovely family days filled with ship worthy activities.
3. Tickets to Nut Cracker or any other dance performance. Many Dance Companies have Nutcracker performances throughout the San Diego County.
4. Tickets to go and see Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! play at the Old Globe Theater
5. USS Midway Museum Membership would be a lovely gift for a family with ties to the US Navy and others as well. I am always amazed by the sheer size of this ship. The Midway Museum has also recently started to organize wonderful Family days which entertain both the parents and kids.
   
6. San Diego Zoo Membership. There is always something going on at the zoo. My little entomologist loves the insects at the Children's zoo. The best part of the membership is that it allows full access to both the Zoo and the Safari Park.
7. Tickets to San Diego Symphony's Family Festival Concerts. These concerts are designed with families in mind. The kids get to try playing instruments before the concerts. The performances are exciting and entertaining.
8. Tickets to try something new: Go Ice Skating at the Kroc Center.
9. Museum visit or membership to Birch Aquarium
10. Enrollment into a language and culture school that ties you and the child into your heritage. Finnish communities organize Finnish schools (Suomi-Koulu) so that the children can learn about Finnish culture, customs and language. Greek communities also organize Greek Schools for their children. I am also aware of Japanese schools and German speaking preschools here in San Diego. These are just a few examples.
11. Outdoorsy families would love Annual National Parks Passes or a camping trips to County Parks or State Parks!

Parents also appreciate financial gifts towards college funds. Getting a little help with preschool tuition might be a wonderful way to help out young families.

Hope these lists give you some new ideas. Have you ever received an experience as a gift? What was it and how did you like it?

Beating the Holiday Blues at Balboa Park

Balboa Park Glimmers During the Holiday Season

It's the most festive season of the year, but some how the holiday blues find me right when I am supposed to be very productive and excited. There are so many expectations of people being surrounded by their families and children getting special attention from their grandparents during the holidays. There will only be the four of us around our Christmas table again this year. At times, the distance between our immediate family and relatives seems too great to bear. I always feel guilty that my children do not get to experience togetherness with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. After the guilt comes sadness. Being lonesome is my least favorite state of mind.

Those feelings of sadness come go as waves throughout the holiday season. I acknowledge my feelings, let a few tears drop, and then I pick myself up again. After all,  I am a strong Finnish woman who is not supposed to get overwhelmed by emotions and I can only blame myself for having moved so far from our loved ones.

One of the best things that our pediatrician has told me is to smile at my children. He also said that parents are the first people our children see regularly. If mom looks sad, then the children's world view will be melancholy, but if mom looks happy then they will feel happy and excited as well. With the help of that memory, I pull my frown up side down and start smiling. After all, this is the season to make memories and my children will only get to experience holiday traditions if my husband and I create them.

After one particularly blue morning, I decided that a change of surroundings would help. Thus we decided to take advantage of our Balboa Park Explorer tickets and head over to find Holiday Treasures of the park.

You can spend a lovely day at Balboa Park and get into Holiday mood by visiting these six Terhific sights. They are not listed in any particular order.

1. One-of-a-kind Christmas Tree and Fabulous Ornaments at Timken Museum

Timken museum surprised us with holiday splendor. A beautiful Christmas tree full of handmade ornaments by San Diego native artists and splendid large size nutcrackers greet visitors in the foyer. My son loved looking at the nutcrackers and my daughter delighted in the details of the beaded ornaments.

2. Wintry Holiday Scene at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum

We had such a lovely time at the Model Railroad Museum. Winter has set in one of the rooms and the trains get to ride in the middle of a lovely miniature holiday village. We spent more time than usual while paying attention to the tiny details of the winter wonderland.

3. Dr. Seuss Inspired Christmas Tree at the Old Globe Theater

This Christmas Tree is as whimsical as it gets. You cannot but giggle when looking at the this tree. My kids wanted to join the Who's and started Christmas caroling on the top of their lungs. As Ken Kramer of All About San Diego Program would say: This Seussical Tree is one thing unique about San Diego!

4. Nativity at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion

We delight in studying the Christmas story through the scenes of the Nativity set in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. My daughter and I take turns reading the story.

5. Santa Claus and his Reindeer at the Central Plaza

We love waiving at Santa as he gets ready to take off and fly in the sky. He sits on his sleigh and greets the people at the Central Plaza near Spreckels Organ Pavilion. My kids love pointing out Rudolph's red nose!

6. Glorious Poinsettia Display at the Botanical Building

The Botanical Building is filled with Poinsettias and it looks gorgeous! My kids wanted to take pictures of the beautiful plants and I especially loved seeing the Red Glitter poinsettias with white specks. My kids also love the Touch and Smell garden in which they can play with unusual variety of plants.

The Spanish Village Art Center is also filled with holiday decor, but I always worry about all the easily breakable pieces of art when my 4-year-old is with me.  Some of the cottages in the International Cottages Village by the House of Pacific Relations also decorate for the holidays. The cottages are open on Sundays from 12 noon till 4:00 pm.  Don't forget to visit House of Finland!

If you are feeling the holiday blues, I send you warm thoughts and my best wishes. Feelings come and go, and you can help lifting the mood by visiting a cheery place such as Balboa Park.

Let me know if I inspired you to go and enjoy Balboa Park, one of my favorite places in San Diego!

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Terhific Recommendation on where to find snow in San Diego 

Can you believe it, but local folks here in Southern California might just get a chance to play in the snow this coming weekend? We are so lucky to live within easy drive to the local mountains with high elevations! I take advantage of this situation and head over to Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains as soon as I hear about the possibility of snow!

I might have to ditch all the holiday party plans and start packing our winter gear into the car! There is a winter storm warning that promises two to five inches of snow accumulation from 3,000 to 5,000 feet and up to a foot of snow is expected above 5,000 feet. This means that both Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains will provide wonderful winter fun for families.

Each year, our local mountains have a chance of getting a snow blanket a few times between November and March. The snow never stays on the ground for many days, so you should pay attention to the weather forecasts. When I plan our trips, I always check Laguna Mountain Lodge's Facebook pages and Mt.Laguna Webcam and Local Weather Info for Mt. Laguna before we leave. That way I know for sure whether there is snow in the ground. I only go as far into the mountains as I can without chains. I usually drive through the Cuyamacas. If there is not enough snow there, then I head over to the higher elevations at Laguna Mountains.

Here are our favorite spots for snow play in our local moutains:

1. Green Valley Falls Area Campground at Cuyamaca Mountains Green Valley sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The day use fee is $8 per vehicle. It is a great place for a snowball fight!
   
2. Paso Picacho Campground at Cuyamaca Mountains Paso Picacho Campground sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The day use fee is $8 per vehicle. We like to play both in the fields and in the hills. Bring your toboggans and snowshoes and have fun!
   
3. Laguna Mountain Lodge Area at Laguna Mountains Stop by the Laguna Mountain Lodge to get tips where to park and play in the snow in Laguna Mountains. You will need an Adventure Pass if you plan on playing in the fields along Sunrise Highway. The Adventure Passes are available in the Lodge.

Make sure you bring a change of clothes for everyone as the kids get cold after getting wet in the snow. The close by mountain town of Julian also looks great with a blanket of snow! Palomar Mountain is yet another place that receives snow in San Diego.

Enjoy and make sure you take pictures of your snowmen! I'd love to hear if I inspired anyone to go and play in the snow!

Terhific Ideas Goes Global

Sharing the good, internationally

 

I had a really good day yesterday! I gave myself an early Christmas present by registering for some classes in a local university. These little international Christmas trees greeted me at the admissions office and I felt like I had just arrived to a place where I needed to be. It has been a while since I've done something just for me. As a mom, it is so easy to put other people's needs first. But now I am determined to steal some time for studying. Nothing beats renewal and continuous learning!

 

Being around the university campus and seeing young students reminded me of my early experiences here in the States. When I first came here to study, I remember walking into the international student orientation and noticing that my peers were mostly Japanese and Chinese. I had already spent a year in England and experienced being a foreigner. Nevertheless, it took me by a surprise, as I had expected to see more Europeans in the group. Little did I know then that my first experiences in California would involve cooking Japanese food with my Japanese friends and learning the basics of Turkish language with the help of my Turkish roommate. And little did I know then that it was only the beginning of my international journey.

Nowadays I think that exposure to diverse groups of people, cultures, customs and languages during the formative years of young adulthood really shaped me as a human being. It is really eye opening to experience being the different one in a group and even more powerful is meeting wonderful people with varied backgrounds. Acceptance and appreciation towards diversity comes from exposure. In actual fact, I think that the best part of the United States is the fact that it is such a big melting pot of people from all over the world!

In the recent years my world has shrunk. Before the children were born, I had visions of taking the kids to many foreign lands. But the reality is quite different from those visions. There are many reasons for it. First of all, the kids do not particularly like to spend time in air planes and traveling with them can be stressful. Secondly, United States is quite far from many other places and tickets to other lands cost a hefty sum. Thirdly, companies in the States do not give long vacations to their employees every summer like they do in Europe. Pairing those things with high cost of living in California has pretty much made sure that my family is stuck here for the moment. 

My experience is shared by many families here in the States, and everywhere else as well.. I often hear desperation in the voice of my friends when they grieve for the lost opportunity to travel and to expose their children to different cultures. I have become pretty creative in my ways to try and make sure that my kids grow into open minded global citizens. Once year 2015 rolls in, I will start sharing my ideas about raising globally aware children. You can look forward to learning more about Australia and China in January and February. How does that sound like to you?

Today, I ran into an acquaintance from Mexico. In the end of our brief conversation I asked her whether she celebrated Christmas because I wanted to wish her Merry Christmas if it was appropriate. She replied that she is a Mexican and that Mexicans celebrate everything!  Now that answer is perfect. Even though I am a Finn and I celebrate Christmas, I can also appreciate and join in on the fun of all international celebrations. Cheers to my global community! And cheers to my readers who now access my blog from the United States, Finland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Egypt, Norway, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, France and Canada!

Sending much love to everyone!

Terhific Recommendation on Five Fabulous Finnish Things

Made in Finland

Finnish candy in Finnish Maribowls

 

When I walk around our house I see Finnish things everywhere. Moomin characters and Marimekko's Unikko bedsheets make my daughter's room cozy. At this time of year our living room is just filled with Finnish Christmas items such as elves, Santa Claus figures and ornaments. But it is in the kitchen and the dining room where I feel the connection to Finland the most throughout the year. When I set our dining table with Finnish table cloths, dishes and silverware, I feel very homey. None of these items are worth much, but yet they are among my most priced possessions.

It is exciting to see that few Finnish items are now available through Amazon. The following items are Terhific!

1. Moomin Mug - Love

Pros: Whether you know the Moomin characters or not, the images of this mug will tell the whole story. If you hand this mug to someone, you are handing pure love to them. Each night, I pass this mug to the person who has been the nicest that day at our house.  These mugs are made by Arabia in Finland. The quality is great and the mug can last a life time or two. Moomin mugs are now so popular in Finland that they have become collectible items. Cons: None, but some prefer larger size mugs.

2. Iittala Maribowl - Light Blue

Pros: Did you know that Finnish glass is stunning, bold and beautiful? These Maribowls come handy when ever I have some little things to add into the table. For example, candies, berries or little cookies look great in these bowls. Quality of these bowls is top notch. Maribowls have been around for many years in Finland, but recently they have become popular again. Maribowls are available in many colors and at least two sizes. Cons: None.

3. Karl Fazer Milk Chocolate Bar, 200g

Pros: You've got to try Finnish chocolate at least once in your life time! Karl Fazer has been making this chocolate since 1891! It melts in your mouth! Cons: Calories.

4. Full/Queen Duvet Set (Marimekko Unikko Orange)

Pros: Marimekko is well know for it's bold and colorful designs. Marimekko's classic Unikko pattern in modern colors looks just great. These bed sheets come in many colors. I picked this one as an example as I want one! My daughter's bed has the classic red Unikko sheets. I have washed these sheets many times and the color does not fade. The quality is wonderful. Cons: If you prefer a less bold print, take a look at other Marimekko designs.

5. Kuksa, Kupilka Cup and Bowl

Pros: This list would not be complete, if there wasn't at least one wooden item in it. Thus, I picked Kuksa. Kuksa is an ancient artifact from Lapland, Finland. Originally kuksas were made out of wood, but this innovative Finnish company, Kupilka, makes theirs from Natural FiberComposites Material. If you like to camp and spend time in the nature, a kuksa can be really handy. You can use it as a cup for any drinks and as a bowl for soups and other foods. Kuksa never feels cold against your lips even in really cold temperatures. Cons: Based on the reviews, some people do not like the spoon that comes with this kit.

Here are a few other places that sell Finnish things here in the United States:

• Finn Style is my favorite place to shop for all things Finnish.
• Marimekko sells design items both online and with a few stores gathered around the country.
• Crate and Barrel stores have Marimekko shops within their shops.
• Banana Republic sells or will soon sell clothes in Marimekko designs
• World Market and Fresh and Easy sell Finn Crisps (Hapankorppuja). World Market also carries Finnish liqorice (Panda Lakritsia) 

Do any of you other Finns have anything to add to my list? I welcome comments and additions!

Let me know if I inspired you to include something Finnish in your holiday shopping list. It would also be lovely to hear about your favorite Finnish things.

Faking the Season: Winter Part 3 - Wintry Scene

It's beginning to look a lot like winter even in Moomin Valley at our house!

The illusion of snow is better than no snow at all, thus the kids and I set out to make a wintry scene. Our Moomin Valley has finally received a blanket of snow, albeit made out of cotton balls, but snow nevertheless!

The beloved Moomins were created by Swedish-speaking Finnish illustrator and write Tove Jansson.  Moomins are very popular in Finland and Japan, but unfortunately not here in the United States. Moomins are white, roundish characters with large snouts and their adventures have captured the hearts of Finnish people since 1945.

You can find out more about the Moomins here: All Things Moomin BBC News Magazine also wrote an interesting article on Tove Jansson earlier this year. Tove Jansson: Love, war and the Moomins

If you would like to make your own wintry scene, you will need the following items:

• tray
• white printing paper
• double sided tape
• glue
• cotton balls
• small characters of your choice

I laid out a piece of white paper and used double sided tape to attach it to the bottom of the tray. Then the kids and I made a scene with the characters. Lastly we glued and taped cotton balls all over the scene.

What do you guys think? Would you like to make your own wintry scene? Would it help you get in the holiday mood? If so, I would love to receive a photo or a description of your scene! It would be great to be able to post one of my dear reader's creation here on my blog!

Next, I am going to make another wintry scene with my son. He is crazy about Super Heroes and Star Wars... I wonder what kind of winter I can create for them. Share your wintry scene, and I'll share our action figure scene when it is ready :-D

Happy 97th Birthday Finland!

Finland celebrates Independence Day on December 6th!

December 6th is a day of jubilation in Finland. People host Independence Day dinner parties and follow the Presidential Independence Day Gala from their TVs. Some lucky children in the capital area might even get to participate in an Independence Day Gala of their own. The mayor invites Helsinki’s fourth-graders to Finlandia Hall and the kids get to dress up in fancy gowns and tuxes just like adults! What a treat it must be!

Even though I have spent most of my adult life abroad, I am very much a Finn at heart. So much so that I might have become more Finnish than the Finns living in Finland. This seems to be the case with many other Finns living here in the States and elsewhere as well. The terrific part about that is that Finland is so awesome that it is easy to be proud of it. World winning schools, environment that supports innovation, stunning natural beauty of thousands of lakes and pristine forests and freedom to live just as one wishes are just a few fantastic things about Finland.

I have worked pretty hard to make sure that my half Finnish - half American children get to know their Finnish roots. Every year we celebrate Independence day one way or another. A few years ago our family baked and decorated gingerbread cookies in the shapes of Finland, snowflakes, forest animals and traditional Christmas on Independence day. (I can't believe how small the kids look in these pictures.)

This year, we get to celebrate Independence Day at Finnish School of San Diego (San Diegon Suomi-Koulu). The students will perform and this mama here can't wait to see her children on the stage. Hearing my children speak in Finnish warms my heart so much so that it is hard the keep those tears from flowing. Thank you so much for all the hard working Finnish school teachers around the globe! Let's make sure the children know where they are from!

Happy Birthday Finland! And Happy Birthday to my sister who also gets to celebrate her birthday on Independence Day! Sending much love to the Arctic Circle!

Happy Birthday Finland! .

Drawing Strength from Nature

Two Hidden Nature Gems of Greater San Diego

This morning, when I dragged myself out of bed, my husband told me: "You can't soar with the eagles if you blog with the owls." I'm used to hearing:"You can't soar wit the eagles if you hoot with the owls." A beloved saying from my better half's father and his family. I took the advice and here I am blogging a little bit earlier today :-D

I always get the blues when a Finnish celebration is coming up and I am way out here across the ocean from all the excitement. Tomorrow is Finland's Independence Day and the Finns are getting ready to party. In situations like this, I like to draw strength from nature. I miss the Finnish forests and nature dearly and I get tired of the crowds of people. I  have worked pretty hard to find inspiring natural places to visit amongst the semi-desert landscape of Southern California. Here are two of our favorite calm places to visit:

1. Mt. Helix

Our family loves Mt. Helix. It is a place where one can find peace by looking at 350 degree views of the greater San Diego area. The kids love to play in the amphitheater and the stairs. We like to hike along the dirt path around the top of  Mt. Helix and sit there and look at the views all the way to Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Downtown, the mountains in the east and Cowles Mountain and North County. These pictures were taken on a beautiful blustery day after San Diego had received a few rain showers. It was lovely to see some clouds in the sky!

2. Louis Stelzer County Park

Stelzer County Park is my favorite parks in San Diego. It hurts to mention this park, as the best part of it is that there has never been many people there. We love the peace and quiet of this park. The old live oak trees provide shade and make our visits comfortable even during the summer. There are two shaded play grounds, a compost and a small native plants garden. If you are lucky, you might even get to watch the park rangers feed their pet snakes in the little ranger station. The Kumeyaay Indians have left behind grinding rocks to the boulders and it is easy to see why they chose to live in the Stelzer park region. There is a little fresh water stream that creates a riparian forest with wild grapevines and oak trees. It is a lovely place to hike!

Sending much love to those friends who are now packing up and getting ready to move! Perhaps, you can find some peace in the above places before you move or sometime over the holidays.