Do you ever feel like the news is just too much? Lately, that's been me. Some days I hold it together. Other days, I just feel overwhelmed by it all.

That's usually my sign to take a break, because overwhelm freezes me up, and I need to be able to take even small actions against the injustice I'm witnessing.

My artworks often portray specimens that are no longer alive, or as I usually call them, dead things. Even when I'm not photographing something dead, I almost always incorporate pressed dried leaves and flowers, roots, or feathers into the layers of a piece. There's just something about these earthy, finite things that draws me in and fascinates me.

During my summer break from teaching I've been doing more than enjoying the long days and the garden, I've also been taking a hard look at my art business and how it all works for me. Or doesn't. I am a compulsive creator, and sharing hope and healing through my work is at the core of everything I do. But sometimes living that out well means making decisions that simplify and protect the life that makes the art possible in the first place.

Living in the greater Sacramento area for most of my life means I've always had plenty of choices for day trips: Lake Tahoe, the historic sites scattered through the Sierra foothills, the museums and parks of the San Francisco area, even the occasional mini beach trip. There is a lot to see within just a couple of hours of home, and Sacramento has its own charms too, with plenty of trails, museums, and parks of its own. So it's a little surprising that in the middle of all that, I had never heard of, much less visited, the Filoli Historic Estate, just a couple of hours away in San Mateo County, traffic depending.

The summer solstice is this weekend - the longest day of the year - and there is no better time to talk about my favorite season. This is the time of year when my inner child comes out to play. I get out of bed easier and earlier, I have more energy, and I feel more relaxed. The fact that I'm not teaching summer school certainly helps, but no matter what, summer has always been my favorite season.