Backyard Adventures

Natural Wonders Entertain

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Even though we're being advised to distance ourselves and stay at home now, one of SurfWriter Girl Patti's neighbors still continues to stop by and visit in her backyard – an adventurous squirrel.

He started coming by at the start of spring...and his visits have increased since the big tree in the yard began shedding its berries on the ground.

Patti and her husband Greg aren't sure what kind of tree it is, but the berries must be good because the squirrel – who is becoming quite plump – keeps gobbling them up.

Just as renowned British children's book author Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) formed stories around the animals in her garden – including Peter Rabbit and another adventurous squirrel Squirrel Nutkin – we've been speculating about the comings-and-goings of our backyard visitor.

Watching him through the terrace window, it's entertaining to see him climbing back-and-forth over the back wall and scurrying around the garden.

Who knows who else he visits and the treats he finds in other yards?

For now, we're content to watch him from afar and vicariously enjoy the places he goes.

When you look out your window, perhaps you'll see him...or some other intrepid visitor peeking out from the bushes or balanced on a branch, inviting you to enjoy the natural wonders around you.      

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Skip the Waves

Flatten the Curve!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

No matter how tempting the waves may be now – or your favorite beach jogging or bike trail – it's important to stay inside.

Lives depend on it. Yours and the people around you.

The ocean may seem vast and open, but when surfers in the lineup go after the same waves everyone gets jammed together. What's more, experts are finding that even with six-feet of separation a cough or sneeze can travel farther than that...and virus-infected aerosol droplets can linger in the air.

Kim Prather, an atmospheric chemist at San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, says, "The beach is one of the most dangerous places to be now. People should refrain from surfing, swimming, walking or biking along the coast."

Prather describes the ocean as "a hot spot for pathogens that continuously ejects particles back into the atmosphere." And when the wind is blowing the virus can remain airborne and travel farther than it was initially thought. This is why we need to avoid the beach now.

To beat the coronavirus, we need to flatten the curve – reducing and spreading out the incidence of new infections so that health care professionals have the time and tools they need to fight it.

Recognizing how important this is, the Surfrider Foundation is calling on surfers to "Stay Home, Shred Later."

Skipping waves and staying inside is what it takes to get us back on board.

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.