Roving

BEACHED: We decided to get a walk in first thing this morning, and chose the north beach at Discovery Park as our destination. Though it's right here in our neighborhood, we hadn't been to that particular spot in years. 

We made our way through a part of Discovery Park's forest and wound our way down to the shore. When you look to the north, you see Shilshole Marina. 

The beach has a couple of large granite erratics on site. The tide was out just far enough for us to get a closer look at this one. 

As we strolled, CJ noticed a red, squishy looking thing on the beach. He asked me what it was. I haven't a clue. I suggested he gently poke it with a stick and flip it over, to look at its other side. 

 He did so tentatively. The flipside provided no further clues. Kinda looks like some kind of sea tomato to me!

We hiked our way back up the hill to our car, about 6000 steps or 2 miles in all. 

As an added bonus, on our way home, the sprinklers were on at Bayview Park. Hooray!

CRISPY: During our walk today, Annabelle asked me how long it has been since it has rained in Seattle. I wasn't sure, but was happy that just a bit later, the answer to that popped up in my Facebook feed. According to KOMO's weather expert Scott Sistek, it has been 36 days since Seattle last had significant rainfall. It has been 23 days since we've last had a high below 70 degrees, 18 days since we've had a traditional cloudy day, we've had 12 days in a row with highs above 80 degrees, and a record-tying 5 days in a row at 90 degrees. 

Sistek put together a tribute to Seattle rain, using video from KOMO news photographers Mike McLaughlin and Doug Pigsley

http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Click-here-if-you-miss-Seattles-gray-skies-and-rain-311936591.html

GOOD STUFF:  NASA has just released its second edition of the book International Space Station Benefits for Humanity. You can buy an ink on paper version, but it's free to read online in a PDF format: http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/jsc_benefits_for_humanity_tagged_6-30-15.pdf

The book highlights benefits in a number of key areas including human health, disaster relief and education programs to inspire future scientists, engineers and space explorers.

In a NASA press replase, Julie Robinson, NASA International Space Station chief scientist, said, "People do not realize how much their lives today have been made better by the space station. You would be surprised to know that station research has resulted in devices that can help control asthma and sensor systems that significantly improve our ability to monitor the Earth and respond to natural hazards and catastrophes, among many other discoveries." 

NASA also has a section of its Web site all about ISS' benefits for humanity. It's definitely worth checking out!

STRUMMING: Here's a little ditty the kids have been working on the past couple of days. It's "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. https://youtu.be/yjmmJq8blU4


ROVING: On this day (July 7) in 2003, NASA's rover Opportunity launched from Cape Canaveral, destination, Mars!

                        Photo: NASA, naturally

Opportunity landed on the Red Planet on January 25, 2004, and since then it has "run" (rolled, really) the equivalent of a marathon. Here's a cool video of the durable rover's travels.

MURALS ON THE MOVE: We turned on the local news tonight (a bit of a rarity in our house, actually), and we were pleased to seen an update about the massive Native American-themed murals on the exterior of the kids' former learning center. You can view the video here: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Murals-On-The-Move-312302601.html