I love my smart phone. I can’t imagine a day without it. A friend of mine told me that I would discover uses that I could only have imagined when I first got it. One of the simple things I use it for is taking pictures.

“Natural history isn’t just science, it predates science,” says Chris Lay. “It’s the observation and interpretation of the natural world from a personal perspective. It could be a scientist or an artist or a writer.”

For those inclined to be superstitious, Scotts Valley’s fumble on their first snap from center in their first game of the season last Saturday against Los Banos was an ill – but accurate – omen of the day to come as the Falcons were beaten 34-7. 

You can feel the weather changing as summer winds down. It’s more than just the passing of the Labor Day holiday and the school year starting. The nights are longer and cooler. The days are not quite so hot and the flowers in the garden seem brighter and more colorful. I look past the soft blue and lavender blossoms and am drawn to the warm shades of gold, rust, orange, hot pink and red. They shout autumn is on the way.