In my activism with LGBTQ Minus Tobacco, we were invited to table at the Jesse Bethel High School mental health fair as part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
This was a pleasant experience. The kids were receptive to us being there and asked a lot of questions, knowing in large part how harmful smoking and vaping are to our communities. As many know, the insidious tobacco industry in particular targets communities like LGBTQ and BIPOC, causing them to smoke at higher rates.
Here are some of the fabulous things I got in return for donations to HSNB.org. We have auctions and other events coming up where we will be featuring these items in exchange for donations. Check out our website on how to give and be informed of upcoming events!
I love thrift stores and estate sales, so I’m kind of dangerous around this kind of stuff, but there are definitely pieces that do and don’t speak to me. This time a cluster of them just happened to.
This is the video tour Shando took with a lot of garden updates. There isn’t a lot of wind chiming in this video because of the calm air, but at least the fountains still add to the zen.
Side Yard Updates:
Our friends Greg and Steve joined us for a trip to the art lofts in Benicia. I had never really wandered around there, nor did I know how cavernous the studios were. I also was very impressed the the gardens on the ground and some of the military (?) architecture even as it begins to look neglected.
Shando’s selfies:
Glen Cove Waterfront Park on May 4 – I took Polar and probably Monte (who is not pictured here). It was overcast but beautiful. I like to take a few of the dogs even when I run errands so they get the stimulation of a drive and the smells from the window, especially when it’s cool like today. Sometimes I’ll take a detour on the way home so they get some coastal time in.
Backyard and beard growth:
Wardlaw Dog Park on April 2:
Timber in the foreground of this video is just about to turn 18 years old. While petting our oldest dog, our youngest reaches out (as he does ALL THE TIME) to make sure he gets his share of petting.
Here is more dog snuggling in the same part of the backyard:
Our new backyard patio cover is a game-changer! I love the finials and the two fifteen-foot skylights. I picked out this tropical leaf fan which helps to make it feel like a scene in Golden Girls. I remember in that show that they always talk about going out on the lanai. Now we have our very own lanai, which feels like a great new room that can be used pretty much all year round.
Now that rain has returned to California, it also happens to double for a place where the dogs can go to the bathroom when it rains as they are usually tepid about going out in inclement weather.
New backyard tour:
Spinners under the lanai:
As opposed to earlier in the month when the spinners went simultaneously without the lanai:
