Stasia ottering, Amos

The first real heat of summer is firmly in place, and it kept us off the hiking trails for most of the day. But by mid-afternoon, Stasia was champing at the bit for an outdoor adventure and that, of course, meant a trip to the lake. It was cooler and breezier by the water, and my granddaughter got enough of her energy back that she was soon following the lead of countless other kids and playing otter on the sand pile. While it's not exactly a fast way to travel down the small hill, it is a lot of fun... even though it results in a ground-in, sand stain on one's shirt. No matter. It'll all come out in the lake. Except, of course, it didn't. Maybe it'll come out in the wash. Maybe it won't really matter. [Note added later: the stain was permanent. Consider it a useful source of pleasant memories.]

Stasia, Amos