The Wandering Dolphin crew has taken a brief hiatus from normalcy, but we are getting back into the swing of things.

Andy took a trip back to Minnesota and was gone for 11 days. 11 days! It was the longest we have ever been apart in our 13 years together.

Here are some throwback pics:

While he was gone, I took care of the park and our house, spending a lot of time with the animals but also getting a lot of writing done (part of the reason I haven’t updated the blog in a while, working on a book).

I also got in some volunteer time at the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center and the California Wolf Center. I just started my training on how to read fecal exams for wildlife — it sounds gross but it is actually really interesting. And I get to play with a microscope.

Andy got his own fair share of beautiful sunsets. He sent me this picture of the sun setting over the lake at his dad’s house. So gorgeous.

Andy got back on Sunday and the whole house was happy to see him. As a special treat, we took the dogs to the beach for a fun afternoon in the sun.

Now that Andy is back, we have started buckling down and planning our budget for the next several months, preparing for our eventual departure. He started a new job this week, working construction with a friend of ours. Though I think he was sad to leave the mechanic’s shop, he is excited to be learning new skills (also, it pays better and there is more consistent work).

We made lists of thing we need and want — and things we want to do before we leave this area. I’ll keep you all updated as we know more about our timeline!