I realized that play needs rest – as much as rest needs play. For as much as we all wanted to play all the time, there were needed moments of rest and quiet, and they were as essential to cultivating play as actually experiencing play itself. So here are some of the photos of our […]
Carmel: Play and Surprises
I had the joy of the group planning a special outing to the Spanish Inn on Pebble Beach – the highlight was waiting for the surprise. As I listened, I heard the remarkable sound of the bagpiper. Seems it’s a nightly ritual, but for me and this experience – to smell the salt water, to see […]
Carmel: Using Someone Else’s Toys
On the 18 mile drive we came across these cairns – someone had a great sense of humor – and we decided to join in their fun. Truly we had to stop to see what they had done. Sometimes we create fun and have no idea how others might experience it later on. I think […]
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown, part 3
One of the fun discoveries about Stuart Brown is he isn’t just a brainiac espousing theories and hypothesis about play; he embodies his own theories and loves to play. We discovered upon meeting with him that he has an amazing tree house!! Four flights up to a location way up in the trees of Carmel Valley […]
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown, continued
Stuart listened as each of us shared our thoughts and hopes of this time and the whole summer. He shared the biological evidence, after extensive experimental work on rats, that play is indeed not something we learn or are conditioned, but truly a part of our DNA. It is woven in our very genetic fiber. At […]
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown
We met with Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute of Play and author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, which was an amazing time for us all. What an amazing man, in touch fully with both masculine and feminine sides, authentic, genuine, funny, brilliant, a story teller, Stanford […]
Carmel: Getting Your Grove On
At a wonderful Greek restaurant, after the appetizers were served, the owner and the waiter and the chef came out with guitar and tambourine, and started playing. The atmosphere of the place shifted radically as everyone joined in clapping and cheering then they brought out two belts with bells and invited Kay and Nicki to play – and […]
Article: Mountain Connection, July 2011
Published in the July 2011 issue of the Mountain Connection Magazine COTH Dances With Wolves By Amy Fisher For those of us fortunate enough to live in our beautiful mountain communities, getting up close and personal with wildlife typically occurs every day—perhaps an elk jam on the way to work or witnessing a mother […]
COTH Guest in the Pulpit, Joelle Brummett Beller
COTH looks forward to welcoming Reverend Joelle Brummett Beller, Fuller Teaching Professor, who will be preaching July 3rd and 10th. Pastor Joelle’s theme will be “Godly Play” which corresponds to Pastor Dee Cooper’s Sabbatical theme. Following is a brief bio for Pastor Brummett Beller: Joelle Brummett Beller is a Fuller Theological Seminary graduate and a PC(USA) minister. She has […]
Carmel: Curiosity
A sea otter The distance between the marine mammals and where we were allowed to observe had one compromise; if the otter or seal wanted to check us out they could come as close as they wanted to. Patti and I were talking when just 4 feet in front of us appeared this face – in […]