Back to school sandwiches 🥪

Soooo, anyone else find themselves raking last weekend (and doing a bang-up job, I might add) only to find the entire universe–including your car, the roof, the driveway, and your sense of accomplishment–covered in redwood needles? Not even the NEXT DAY, mind you, but 46 minutes later??

If you’re looking for another, less rude! lesson in zen as you mentally prepare for back to school sandwiches (it’s all just sandwiches: just constant sandwich-making–the jars of things, the bread, the deli meat, the lettuce washing, the removing of tomato “slime” or else the sandwich comes back whole) how about a sand sculpture contest at Drakes Beach?

You don’t even need to enter – you can just bring a lunch (more sandwiches!) and see what cool things people are making.

In fact, I’m thinking (if I can rope these guys into it) we might just have a non-competitive version of it, you know, like off to the side, just doing our thing. Hmmm… sounds a little womp womp. And the more I look at these pictures, the more I feel a little fiery prickle of excitement – especially seeing these past-year winners with names like The Kraken Leviathan, Jellyfish Village, and World Peace Meditation Dragon.

What would your sculpture be called? I’m thinking Barb at the Beach - about a lady who mistakes Pt. Reyes for a typical California summer beach, and is now covered in seaweed to keep warm. Or The Ultimate Japanese Garden Backyard Makeover, which could double as a little visual planning exercise for us, featuring gravel paths, drought-tolerant plants, and (conveniently?) lots of raked sand.

Here’s the info, plus so much going on this weekend you’ll want to plan for extra snack breaks and siestas.

Yours in line at the deli,

Kim

PS – Did you know? You’re reading the premier edition of This is Marin! Subscribe (if you haven’t yet) and get a nice letter like this, delivered free every Thursday. 💌

WINNERS

We have not one, but TWO lucky winners from our fun August promo:

WINNER #1: @melissaroman1226 wins the $50 gift card to Kuro Nami in San Anselmo! Thank you for sharing This is Marin with your peeps! (Also, have you tried their namesake sake cocktail? Those two words should probably be separated better, regardless: it’s like sipping a moonlit glacier… 🧊✨ Enjoy!)

WINNER #2: Jennifer Pitney wins the $25 gift card to Boo Koo in Mill Valley! Thanks for subscribing!! Check your email for the gift cert :)

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Did you get your Cash4Grass mailer from MMWD? Did you notice it inspired my Ultimate Japanese Garden Backyard Makeover sand sculpture mentioned just two minutes ago?

Kiddos on E-bikes: Sign! That! Pledge! (yelling courtesy of Nextdoor.)