Who stole the year? It can't be 2019 already? Time certainly seems to have acceleration. A whole year has passed, and I continue to do the same things that bring me peace. Perhaps peace is needed more these days. The year seemed to have a very unpleasant undertone with political divide to the point of creeping into families and friendships. I also lost a dear aunt this year. But I also had much to be thankful for: My family is healthy, I enjoyed good times with family and friends, I have gotten to watch my granddaughter grow from baby to toddler, and I have been constantly amused by my cats.

I learned a new term, "forest bathing". The Japanese term shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. I apply it to deserts, beaches, oak woodlands, and grasslands, scrub, and my backyard too. I feel renewed by immersing myself in and sharing nature and art. I fear the political climate will continue, or even ramp up, for the next two years. I will do my best not to add to the drama. I may need a lot more forest baths. 

A recap of 2018

Stats (slightly up from 2017):

•   344 volunteer hours (Citizen Science, Interpretation, Program Support )
•   321 bird species for the year,  294 in LA County - eBird listing rank 17 in LA County
•  over 2,900 observations, 775 species, over 5300 identifications logged in iNaturalist:  iNat stats

Classes/Conferences:

• Citizen Science Symposium
• Printmaking workshop
• On-line watercolor class
• Mixing Greens in Watercolor Workshop
• Arcylics class
• Colored pencil classes

Some of the things I did:

• Gave talks on "Documenting Nature" at the Los Alamitos Library and at Caspers Wilderness Center
• Gave presentation to the Master Naturalist Program for the chapter on Wildlife
• Co-led the July NABA Butterfly Count at the Nature Center
• Participated in an Invertebrate Bioblitz at Tejon Ranch with the Conservancy and the Lorquin Entomological Society
• Had three pieces of artwork displayed in a Colored Pencil Exhibit
• Wrote a blog on birding and nature in Long Beach (https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/blog/2018/7/birding-and-observing-nature-in-long-beach)
• Participated in monthly butterfly survey with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy
• Participated in several Black-lighting Events with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy
• Participated in monthly bird survey at Los Cerritos Wetlands with Sea and Sage Audubon
• Served as secretary of the Lorquin Entomological Society
• Volunteered as a Trail Steward for El Dorado Nature Center

For the most part, I stuck closer to home visiting old and new places, mostly while birding. I like to discover new places that I have previously overlooked, didn't get to, or never knew about. In addition to some of my old favorites, I visited new places for me:

• Pasadena Parrot Roost
• Bob's Gap
• Deforest Wetlands
• Bixby Marshlands
• Wilmington Marina
• Agua Amarga Canyon

Some farther trips with friends and family, some of which were new to me too:

• Catalina
• Mammoth Lakes
• Bodie
• Mono Lake
• Alabama Hills
• Fossil Falls
• The Salton Sea
• Anza-Borrego
• Tucson/Mount Lemon, Arizona
• Louisville, Kentucky

Wishing you much happiness, peace, and nature in 2019!