Showing my visiting grandchildren the Pacific Ocean makes me appreciate it all over again.  Just driving over the hill to the ocean, it is so beautiful to see and it makes me think again of all that the oceans give us.  Ninety seven of every 100 drops of water on earth are seawater from the oceans and scientists who study the oceans think that as many as two million kinds of animals may live there.  The oceans are so vast and deep that, if the tallest mountain in the world was sitting on the bottom of the ocean, it would still be covered by water.  Weather patterns of the world begin in the oceans and the bounty of the oceans supports all life on earth.

I have snorkeled in the Seychelles and Belize and been swimming with the pearl divers in Fiji but being in the ocean is really "not my thing".  I don't like sand that I can't seem to get rid of and I am not sure what I am going to encounter as I venture out into the water.  But I do enjoy the wonder of the ocean; particularly in the early morning or evening when things are calm and I can watch the sunrise or the moonlight dancing on the water.

This summer, however, seeing the shear love of the beach and ocean from my grandchildren's point of view gives me their perspective.  After camp is out the first thing they want to do is go to the beach and play in the ocean.  To them the ocean is to enjoy and have fun in and they are totally at home there.  I can hardly tear them away to go in for dinner.  I take my reading and keep a watchful eye on them and enjoy their fun vicariously.  I hope that they will always have these wonderful oceans to enjoy and that they will grown up with a deep appreciation for what the oceans give us and how we must honor and take care of them.  

Recently, I rescued a young dog from the side of a busy and dangerous street. She was friendly, with a clean coat and ears. She readily jumped into my arms and licked my face. I thought, "This will be easy getting her back to her owners safely." She showed all the signs of having been owned by someone, surely they will be looking for her. Over the next two weeks, I kept searching the neighborhoods near where I found her for posters of a lost dog. There were none. Days passed and I went to the pound and left information about having found her and her description. I inquired if anyone had called missing a dog matching her description. No one had. I didn't want to drop her off at the shelter because I wasn't certain now if the owners where looking for her, and I didn't want to risk the dog's life turning her over to the crowed pound. I created posters and put them up in the neighborhoods where I found her with no luck finding the owners. I began to have a dreadful feeling the dog had been abandoned. I'll never really know. The owners haven't come forward and now I have to locate a home for this lovable young dog who still has her baby teeth. How hard can that be?

In the weeks that passed, my daughter came up with a name for her, Clementine "little orange". Curiously, Clementine likes oranges so it's a fitting name. It helped to be able to call her something now that she looks to be needing a new home. I taught her the "sit" command, and she does well with that. It became apparent she was "house broken" and luckily we haven't had to train her to do her business outside. These are all good things for a dog that needs a home. But finding a home has been difficult and the interest in Clementine has been nonexistent. So what to do now?

Adopt her. We have three older rescue dogs and that means a full house, but turning a young innocent dog over to the pound in an area where the animal shelters are overflowing is not an option for us. We are just not those kinds of people. We've successfully rescued dogs and found them homes for decades. We enjoy rescuing animals, but we are aware of the risks to us; that we may find ourselves sheltering one or two more dogs than we intended. It is still possible that we could locate a good home for Clementine, but as each day passes our attachment to her and her attachment to us grows stronger. We may need to expand the family by one more dog, and we know what that means. She needs to be spade and given her vaccinations. It means walks and cuddle time for a fourth dog, including food and baths. It means training her not to chew on the furniture and how to successfully get out of the pool if she falls in. Luckily, she has recently mastered that life saving skill. Essentially, it means providing her a loving home without depriving our other dogs the same level of care. Fortunately, Clementine has settled in well with our older dogs. In fact, she injects a new level of energy into the pack. But there is a downside to all this. 

Unfortunately, I'm at a crossroads about rescuing dogs in the future. I can't continue to adopt dogs whose owners can't be found. And I don't know if I have the mental stamina to turn a dog over to an animal shelter with no guarantee it will be found a home. Yet, I find it difficult to look the other way when I see an animal in danger. It's a conundrum. One I hope I don't have to face in the future. But for now, we have a happy home with enough "cuddle monsters" to keep us busy. 

by Chelse Benham (Lae Lae team member)

Above:  the magnificent cliffs on a morning walk with my "mountain dogs".

I just returned from one of my favorite places - Sedona, AZ.  Such a special place, the Red Rock Country is a place of intensely blue skies, greens of all colors, and red, red rocks, a place of tremendous contrasts and many personalities.  Offering something for visitors of all ages; new age seekers, big-city refugees, outdoor enthusiasts, artists, retirees and families from all over enjoy the Oak Creek Canyon and its surrounding ragged bluffs.  Home to more than 500 types of plants, 55 mammals and 180 species of birds among its abundant wildlife; it is a perfect spot for parents and children alike to enjoy healthy, activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing, golfing or just sitting by the creek to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.  It is also home to world class art and delightful dining if you want that to round out your stay.   

I don't want to post a travel log but I do want to say that Sedona is worth a visit.  When I am there, I just seem to relax and enjoy the ancient land and its quiet spirit.  People smile and the traffic flows at 35 miles an hour; providing a lovely getaway to my sometimes hectic life elsewhere.  If you haven't experienced Sedona, try it.  I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't love it.

Below:  The artistic Javelina statues in their park like setting and the fountain where I love to sit and enjoy the water.