1 . Anniversary trips were a tradition that was nearly as old as our marriage. Each year, Jim and I took turns planning a secret trip for the other. I finally found a perfect spot: The Shire of Montana. It was a “hobbit house”. And our six-year-old daughter, Aurora, would also love it.

I was about to make a reservation when I saw a note on The Shire’s website: No kids allowed. We couldn’t leave Aurora behind. I asked if an exception might be possible. A reply came. “The rule exists because previous children destroyed large parts of the Elven Village,” wrote Mr. Michaels, the owner. “But if you promise that your daughter is responsible and will not touch anything, she can come.” Aurora was a well-behaved girl. I wrote back and filled in the reservation form.

The day finally arrived. I was excited very much. Still, turning onto Hobbit Lane, I felt anxious. “Children aren’t usually allowed here,” I reminded Aurora. “So you have to be very careful. You can look at everything, but don’t touch it.”

Then we began our journey. Aurora took everything in, keeping her hands pressed to her sides. “Remember, no touching,” I reminded Aurora, feeling like a complainer. Had I made Aurora so scared of touching things that she couldn’t think about anything else? What fun was that?

We spent several days at the Shire. I finally found that Aurora delighted in each discovery but never disturbed a thing. Being aware of boundaries didn’t take away the beauty and wonder; it allowed the Shire to remain beautiful. It was not so different from our family life, I thought. Jim and I moved through life side by side as a couple, but we’d learned to accept each other’s individuality and boundaries as well.

3 . Chinese researchers have found that the knife fish in the Yangtze River, once endangered by overfishing, is recovering thanks to a fishing ban（禁令）.

Monitoring data from different sections of the Yangtze shows that knife fish resources have been continuously recovering since 2019 when measures were taken to protect the fish, said Yang Jian, researcher with the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences.

The knife fish was known as “the first delicacy in the Yangtze,” and its population saw a sharp decrease due to overfishing and damage of its natural habitat（栖息地）. China banned the productive fishing of this species in 2019 and a 10-year fishing ban took effect in the Yangtze in 2021.

Since 2014, Yang Jian and his team have been monitoring a part of the Yangtze-connected Poyang Lake, an area for the knife fish to lay eggs. Yang said that from 2019 to 2021, the average number of knife fish caught by every observation unit in the area is 67 times that recorded during the period from 2014 to 2018.

The average length and weight of knife fish collected in 2021 was 27.2 cm and 91.4 grams respectively, an average increase of 41 percent and 37.55 percent compared to those collected from 2019 to 2020.

Yang Jian added that areas inhabited by knife fish have been increasing along the Yangtze, and the species was recently found in places such as Dongting Lake and the Ganjiang River where there had been no trace of the fish for more than ten years.

7 . Eric Ravilious was one of the greatest watercolorists of the 20th century, loved for his paintings of famous English landmarks. While he was a master painter and designer, his another great role was as a war artist. Among the finest and most productive of his generation, he died while on active duty during World War II. 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of his death, which raises the question: What makes a great war artist?

Ravilious’s war art is famous for its innocence and purity. Ravilious’s soft colors, cartoon-like figures, tranquil tide pools and sky ease the apparent danger and threat on the battle field. Staying true to his style was one of Ravilious’s greatest strengths. From his paintings we can see his firm control of the watercolor, his calm expression and attention to detail, showing his extraordinary insight and expression. He did not focus on style, but rather on his attitude and way of expression. He added a strong personal touch to the themes. That is why he is great. He often worked in very dangerous situations: sometimes painting on the deck of a military ship with fighters flying overhead or moving at such speed that his paints might be flying everywhere.

One of his friends said, “His war paintings are very much like children’s description of war. I saw a lot of paintings by refugee (难民) children and adults in Iraq. They are very similar to Eric Ravilious’s paintings. In their respective ways, they all describe war in an innocent and almost naïve (幼稚的) manner. In fact, the cruelty of war cannot be understood by everyone because it is in human and in humane.” He concludes, “Seen in this light, what Eric Ravilious did enables us to look at war with a calm mind. This is truly special.”

8 . If you are looking for an adventure for your kids, SummerCamps.com is here for you. We have rounded up some best camps to keep your thrill seekers busy all day.

Catalina Sea Camp

Catalina Sea Camp is an ocean adventure and marine(海洋的)biology summer camp located at Toyon Bay on Catalina Island. Marine science instructors lead explorations, provide help in identification, explain relationships and teach scientific knowledge in marine environments. It offers three one-week sessions for boys and girls aged 8-13.

Address: Toyon Bay, San Bruno, California

Phone: (800) 645-1423

Steve & Kate’s Camp

The summer camp trusts kids to choose their own adventure in film, fashion design, bread making, painting and so much more. Steve & Kate’s Camp offers a safe environment where kids aged 6-12 can be themselves and explore their passions. And because they’re making their own choices, they find a sense of meaning in their activities.

Address: 150 Pacific Ave, San Francisco

Phone: (415) 389-5437

Six Flags Animal Adventure Camps

Kids of all ages can enjoy a week-long journey into the world of animals. They’ll have fun while they learn about animals and the importance of preserving their habitats through hands-on activities and exciting live presentations from animal experts.

Address: Cosby, Tennessee

Phone: (866)876-8952

Lake Greeley Camp

Lake Greeley Camp is a private overnight summer camp located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The camp is owned and operated by the Buynak Family, who have given children fun-filled, safe summer experiences for over 50 years. It welcomes boys and girls aged 6-15.

Address: 222 Greeley Lake Rd, Greeley, Pennsylvania

Phone: (570) 685-7196

If you are not interested in the above, please click here for more camps.

9 . A Dutch collector who says he bought the Zhang Gong Patriarch—an ancient Buddha statue(佛像)containing the mummified(木乃伊化的)remains of a famous monk—has been ordered to return the stolen relic to its original owners, two villages in Fujian province. The Fujian Provincial High People’s Court announced the order on Wednesday, upholding the original ruling(裁决)made by a lower court about two years ago.

In a ruling in late 2020, the Sanming Intermediate People’s Court demanded that Oscar van Overeem, the Dutch architect and collector who bought the statue, return it to Yangchun and Dongpu villages. For local villagers, the statue is a significant cultural relic that had been at the Puzhao Temple in Sanming, Fujian province, where they could honor and worship it before it was stolen in December 1995, according to the high court. The lawyer for Van Overeem did not comment or give a statement over the ruling.

After further investigation and trial, the high court said on Wednesday that although Van Overeem has said he bought the statue in Amsterdam in 1996, he could not provide a receipt. In March 2015, he allowed the statue to be exhibited at the Hungarian Natural HIistory Museum in Budapest, the high court said.

The high court upheld the lower court’s ruling that the statue was stolen and is an illegally exported cultural relic. The high court added the statue reflects the traditional customs of southern Fujian and has a special meaning for the villagers, and, therefore, should be returned. Lawyers from both sides were present when the ruling was announced on Tuesday. A number of legislators(立法者), political advisers and journalists were also on hand for the ruling.

Lin Kaian, a villager from Yangchun who was present at the court when the ruling was announced on Tuesday, said,“I’m glad to hear the high court ruled in favor of us demanding the return of the statue. We respect the ruling, and we hope the statue will be back with us as soon as possible.”