I wrote in my last letter about my latest practice of crochet. To date, my largest crochet project is pictured below, a giant octopus…

Here she is stretched out on the bed to really show off her full reach and size.

She began a long journey to a new home in California last week but before she left we had some adventures here. She explored the house a bit, climbing around the dining room…

She raided the pantry for some snacks for her trip…

Outside, she climbed a tree…

She spent some time in the sun on the deck….

And even helped me release a new monarch butterfly…

(If the connection between butterflies and sea creatures feels new to your imagination, I recommend the beautiful retelling and illustration of The Little Mermaid, by Jerry Pinkney.)

After her outside adventures she came in for a bath…

She read some books, including my own Sanctuary: Nature as Contemplative Space and favorites by friends, Kathy Swaar and Melynne Rust. From Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery she learned more about ways humans and octopuses are learning about each other.