Salinas Valley Now, the online sister publication of Monterey County Now, has a great story about this weekend’s fair.
Lots of activities for kids and wine tastings for adults.
A link to the Salinas Valley Now story follows:
Have fun strolling in the sun!
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
People who loved the film Oppenheimer and want to know more about the experiments carried out in Los Alamos might enjoy the book Trinity: An Illustrated History of the World’s First Atomic Test by Emily Seyl named for the work done in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Trinity is published by the University of Chicago Press.
General Information and purchase information follow:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19e2ba1413cd6830
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Oleaster (Silverberry) And Other Sightings at Pebble Beach, California by Ruth Paget
On my latest outing to Pebble Beach (California) for organic Peerless coffee at The Market, I used the Google lens app to identify a dense, leaf-packed shrub called an oleaster or silverberry.
The oleaster can be trimmed to make a hedge for privacy. It blossoms in summer and can grow into a mid-size tree (about 5 to 8 feet).
The oleaster is popular in coastal areas due to its ability to withstand salt and wind.
More general information about the oleaster follows:
https://mygardenlife.com/plant-library/russian-olive-oleaster-elaeagnus-angustifolia
Nursery information and purchase information about the oleaster follow:
Thanks to the Google lens app, I was able to easily identify the oleaster. I checked other websites to make sure I had the right plant.
The Google lens app has allowed me to add nature photography, nature writing, and gardens walks to my hobby list. I have used field guides in the past to do this, but Google lens speeds up the process considerably.
I will use Google lens to identify flowers, plants, trees, and animals throughout Pebble Beach now. I already like to visit this spot for bird watching. Pebble Beach has brown pelicans, cormorants, and seagulls in abundance with Great Egrets starting to make appearances on a regular basis.
Deer and seals also make Pebble Beach home. I enjoy looking at them at a distance and use my phone camera close up app to take photos of them.
Taking time to learn about the oleaster plant I saw at The Market made me appreciate the organic coffee and all the wildlife at Pebble Beach, California even more than usual.
Other visitors might enjoy adding plant identification to their Pebble Beach, California outings as well.
Happy Strolling on the Coast!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The University of Chicago is offering free tuition to students with families whose families have $250,000 or less in yearly income.
Details about this program follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The book Chaos, Creativity, Completion by Martinez and sold by the University of Chicago Press just looks so interesting for all kinds of creators during a time of technological change and economic challenge.
Purchase details follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The University of Chicago Press Free E-Book for May 2026 is Big Bosses: A Working Girl’s Memoir of Jazz Age America.
Information about the book and download details follow:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/search/Uchicago/19e031b7867f335d
Happy Reading!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Karura, Japanese poetry card gaming, will take place at the University of Chicago on May 22, 2026 as part of the Year of Games at the University of Chicago.
The media release below relates that Karuta was introduced to Japan in the 16th century by Portuguese traders.
Details about this fast-paced Karuta card gaming event follow:
https://events.uchicago.edu/event/264199-karuta-japanese-poetry-card-game-demo-talk
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games