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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2025 49 Our book selection for July 8 is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Here is a brief description from Amazon.com: "At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer's eyes, it's in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama-desire, despair, jealousy, hope and love. At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town and in the world at large, but she doesn't always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive's own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse. As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life-sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition-its conf licts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires." Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in the RCN Room #3. All our book selections are recommended by book club members. Someone volunteers to lead the discussion about the book we have chosen for the month. For more information about the Four Seasons Book Club or to get your name on our mailing list, please contact me at michelesrosen@gmail.com. ~ Micki Rosen Greetings birders! We have officially arrived at the time of summer birding doldrums. Many of our feathered friends feel the heat as we do, and it may be difficult to see much bird activity as we walk the trails. You should still be able to spot our most common species such as Lesser and American Goldfinches, House Finches, Song Sparrows, Spotted and California Towhees, California Quail, American Crows, Common Ravens, Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Bewick's Wrens, Mourning Doves, Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds, Oak Titmice, Yellow Warblers, Black Phoebes, Mallards, Cooper's Hawks, and the occasional Great-Horned Owl. If you are looking to expand your horizons, however, you might want to consider a trip to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a 31,000 acre nature preserve located at 11055 East Drive, Morongo Valley, CA. It is about a half hour drive from Four Seasons. It can be hot there in the summer but there are many shaded paths which are pleasant to walk, especially if you are prepared with a hat, sun screen and plenty of water. Highly recommended is the Marsh Trail which leads to the Education Center where there are picnic tables and numerous bird feeders. These attract some of the preserve's most interesting birds, many of which we do not see at Four Seasons. Be sure to go early in the day for the best, most comfortable sightings. They have guided bird walks every Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 am. You can find out more information on their website, https://bigmorongo.org/. The Birding Club walks the trails as a group on the first Saturday of the month. We gather at 8 am by the Potrero Creek sign at the edge of The Lodge parking lot. We walk at a leisurely pace, taking time to see as many species as we can. Please feel free to join us. We love to see new faces. If you have any questions, please call or text me. ~ Genie Cooper (269) 930-0310 Birding CLUB Book Club

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