Gretchen
@offgridteacher
Edu MA • Teach Plus Fellow Alum • Peace Corps 🇸🇳 in Agro-Forestry • Veteran Wife + Caregiver • Stay At Home Mom I talk about education, running, nature, caregiving, California, cats, and health.
This book is incredible and one of our best book purchases all year. Toddler parents especiall, run to get Every Monday Mabel. It’s about every little kid’s favorite day of the week: garbage truck day. Today is our trash day and we’ve already read it 3 times this morning. #kidlit
Picture is from when I looked it up on Google Maps, and reminding me of my major take away from The Geology of California’s Rivers and Streams: “Don’t buy property in Sacramento.”
Head’s up NorCal, the Kearney Fire in Nevada County just cropped up, evacuations starting along highway 20 near Penn Valley and Lake Wildwood. Some of the air resources have been going over our house on their way.
Nature in the Suburbs. I spotted this heron plus another, multiple egrets flying overhead, and bunnies!
I’ve been in my happy place for the past few days with my family, and I already miss it. Somehow my brother, sister in law, and myself all lived there but at different times. I feel at home in Santa Cruz but no longer belong there.
Tonight’s Golden Hour Run was a gift. Literally, because the Mr gave up playing hockey tonight so I could be outside, but also because, well just look at what it was like outside.
Our Babies and Toddlers field trip at the Nature Center turned into an informal shelter in place because TWO big rattlesnakes showed up. NOPE. They are out in force in our county.
That was a first - I got stung by a bee during my run tonight. I’m hoping Zyrtec keeps a reaction at bay. Sorry @mariannedenton.bsky.social
I spotted two in our neighborhood slough recently, it was so exciting!
This is a cat check point; relinquish your most recent cat picture on your phone. Molly has no sense of dignity.
I’ve seen some unhinged candidate statements over the years, but I’ve never seen one so unhinged that the Secretary of State had to include a disclaimer. (This is from the California voter guide governor candidate statements).
IT FINALLY HAPPENED: I saw the local beaver family during my run today. #natureinthesuburbs #beavers
I’m happy to report that after their Taco Fest party, my neighbors collapsed their blow-up sombrero wearing cactus, and then their dog peed all over it.
Today this big, fluffy, all-yellow bee was buzzing around our tree. Am I right in saying it’s a male Valley Carpenter Bee?
Cool mornings this week in Waikīkī, but that didn’t stop us from hitting the beach and pool!
I am downright devastated by the Peace Corps introducing a “Tech Corps” program to push AI in developing countries. It is a disgrace to the service we have done as returned volunteers.
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is offering free admission for SFUSD students (and discounted admission for their parents). SFUSD schools are currently closed during the ongoing teachers strike; this gives families a place to go and still learn during this disruptive time. This is the way.
One of our favorite parts of Disneyland: the minerals display case at the Redwood Creek Trail. Okay, really my daughter’s favorite part there was running across the swinging bridge and going down the slide, over and over and over again…. But she was able to identify quartz!
First time traveling far from home specifically for a race, AND I have to get up in the middle of the night AND not wake the baby.