Finally, I got to paddle this summer! On Friday, Chuck, Gillian, and I went over to Summit Reservoir and got the kayaks in the water. Chuck's folks also came along and brought their canoe. It was rather cool up there in the ponderosa pine forest and a little breezy, but we enjoyed it. Gillian stayed with Grandma on the shore (and eventually fell asleep in her arms, wrapped in a blanket), Grandpa tried fishing from the canoe, and Chuck and I paddled around the shoreline. 
We saw at least 10 great blue herons, a flock of about 30 Canada geese, and numerous distant ducks. I even spied a turkey vulture coming in for a drink. There was a large patch of blooming floating plants with pink spiking blossoms that I explored. I need to find out what kind they are.
I'm so glad Chuck got me hooked on kayaking. I love gliding about lakes, especially into the shallow, more marshy areas--my boat can float in about 6 inches of water. Floating along just above the surface of the water is an amazing perspective. Birds, insects, plants, fish, water, land, sky--all meld together. In the Zen tradition, there is a practice of formal walking meditation called kinhin. For me, kayaking is also a form of meditation. The rhythmic action and breathing both clear my mind and calm my body. I need to get out on the water more often!
During our lunch time picnic, my mother-in-law pointed out that Gillian's top front teeth appeared to be coming in. Peeking into her mouth, I could see the little white lines just below the gums. About an hour and half later, I looked again--one tooth had broken through! Gillian now has 3 teeth! It is truly amazing how she changes every single day. Before we left the lake, Chuck and I took Gillian down to the water for a photo op. We're hoping that next year this time she'll be wearing her own PFD and enjoying some heavily supervised play in the water. She is a water sign after all, being a Scorpio like her mama!
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