trains

 

 

 

 

 

As we drove across the American West, I was fascinated by the long, double stacked trains that snaked across the sage speckled plains and deserts. One train after another, they appeared from the west. Hundreds of cars stacked with goods from China---products that are no longer made in the U.S.

where the buffalo roam

 

 

A herd of buffalo graze the woodland pastures along the entrance to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It was explained that they were the result of an experiment many years ago to cross beef and buffalo.The endeavor failed, and the remaining herd was released into the wild. Some areas were set aside for them to roam, but they have outgrown that space . They number over 400 now and are becoming a nuisance as they use all the resources and compact the soil in an area that did not originally have them. They are magnificent creatures, and I was enthralled thinking that they once covered the plains in the millions.

4th of July

 

Home made ice cream, peach cobbler, cold watermelon--grilled hamburgers and hot dogs,  big bowls of potato salad----flags waving in a breeze!
Happy 4th!

summer solstice at the north rim of grand canyon

 

 

 

The longest day of the year---watching the sun set on the multi-colored rock folds of the Grand Canyon was definitely an event to remember. Every sunset there is a treat, and visitors usually gather at the rim to record it in memory and photos. A reverence settles over the crowd and most do not speak.

star party at the canyon

 

 

 

While at the north rim of the Grand Canyon we were thrilled to find that volunteer astronomers had brought their telescopes and were sharing them with visitors. One astronomer had set his up with a sun filter during the daylight hours and gave us looks at sunspots and solar prominences. 

That evening we returned to find all the magnificent telescopes set up to show us planets, stars, nebulas and galaxies. Visitors waited patiently in line for their turn, and the volunteers graciously explained their telescopes and their targets.

What a combination--gorgeous scenery, dark skies and an opportunity to gaze at the heavens!

Newspaper Rock

 

 

 

Newspaper Rock has one of the largest known collections of petroglyphs. This ceremonial rock is located in eastern Utah. The carvings were made by the Native Americans who lived in the region and are some are thought to be at least 2000 years old.
Their age and purpose are not certain since it is impossible to carbon date rock. It is thought that some of the figures were carved as a right of passage to adulthood by young males.

There are over 650 figures of animals, humans and symbols.

To stand there in the early morning and think of all who had passed that way filled me with awe.

Arches National Park

 

 

 

 

 

Finally I was able to experience for myself the cathedral like arches and vast desert of Arches National Park. Edward Abbey wrote about the region in a series of essays that comprised Desert Solitaire, a book published in 1968. The tales come from time he spent there as a park ranger, living alone in a trailer on the edge of this wonderland of eroded sandstone and harsh desert. I can't imagine how it would be sitting there waiting for tourists who rarely came 50 years ago. Today, though, the traffic pours through almost bumper to bumper making it hard to find a parking place at some of the more famous formations.

We hunted for the location of his former ranger station, but could not find it. At the visitors center we learned that the entrance used in Abbey's time was no longer in use, and the trailer is long gone.
It was brutally hot the day I was there.....104F, and I couldn't make the trek up to the arches themselves.

Route 66

 

 

 

Part of our western journey bordered on and sometimes actually followed the celebrated Route 66.
When I was a teenager my family traveled on the famous highway in our epic vacation to California. My dad had dreamed of this trip for a long time, and with little money and a car that overheated we made the attempt.
We followed Route 66 all the way. The highway was lined with colorful motels in classic mid century design and souvenir shops that promised all kinds of thrilling products such as cactus candy, petrified wood, Indian pottery and blankets, and gaudy home decorations. It was a thrill for us to stop and study the exotic offerings, though we never bought any for we had limited funds.

On this trip we were only able to see broken remnants of the old route or portions of the road that traveled through now withering towns that thrived when it was THE route west.

The wigwam motel is still in use in Holbrook, Arizona where part of Route 66 still exists and the lava bed is near Gallup, New Mexico along the old highway.

Way Out West

 

Open roads and seemingly endless spaces characterize the American West. In the next few posts I will share some photos of my recent trip to the West.

I grew up watching "cowboy" movies and yearning to see the landscapes that served as settings for some of these movies. So on this trip I finally got to see some of John Ford's favorite movie sets in Monument Valley. And I was able to visit again the canyonlands that are like no other on earth.

I also got to stand on the very spots that inspired one of my favorite authors, Edward Abbey, in Arches National Park.

Everything is just peachy!

 

 

 

Rains were plentiful this spring and the crop of peaches is early and generous. Who can resist the sweet , tart juicy goodness? So we made a peach cobbler or maybe two.

Walter Anderson--The Islander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many years ago I read a book, The Horn Island Logs of Walter Anderson, and became entranced by the author. It was a log of time he spent alone on an island off the coast of Mississippi.
He would row a small boat to the island and spend months alone. During that time, he observed the natural world that he found around him. Often he would gaze for hours at a bird or crab, following them around and just observing. Then he would try to capture its essence in  sketches and watercolors.
He saw the patterns in bark, feathers, flowers and water. It always amazes me when I look and see that those patterns ARE there!

 Perhaps his ability to focus so intensely was due to mental illness. He was hospitalized several times for depression and possible schizophrenia. In spite of it all, he continued to create beautiful works of art. Much of it is on typing paper, boards, wallpaper, and anything that offered a blank space to fill.


Anderson was hired to paint the walls of the Ocean Springs Community House. The series of murals wraps around the walls of the building in vibrant colors that fill all the spaces. Some of the above photos are of the community center, and others are from a room that he filled with art in his Mississippi home.
There is also a museum dedicated to his work in Ocean Springs, MS. Every year I try to make a pilgrimage there to look at it all once again and be awed by the magic.

Hill Country Lavender

 

 

 

The small lavender farm struggles to exist in the dry Texas climate. It has been a challenge with the recent droughts. Every spring I visit just to sniff the pungent fragrance and buy a few soaps.