Zion Nation Park

The Patriarchs 

Diddy - Dirty Money - Coming Home ft. Skylar Grey

All's Quiet on the Black Canyon Rim

It's quiet outside.  I can hear my footsteps as they crunch on the fresh powder that has fallen. Everything that makes a sound my ears are alerted to it.  My heartbeat, the silence of early dawn as it pushes the darkness slowly over the rim of the horizon.  It is a wonderful challenging feeling to be still. I find myself trying to figure out what to do with me.  With no urban distractions I find my entertainment, play and work in the environment that is present before me. It is stark, rugged unforgiving if you are not aware of the dangers that exist in the Black Canyon.

Yet it is a nature scene out of array of photographs of the West. It is serene breathe taking views of canyon walls, spires es, schist and dramatic overlooks to the Gunnison river down below. It inspires you to take deep breathes of cold clean air releasing your inner cares for a moment.  This place is a winter wonderland of raw nature.

Working in a national park has its perks and one of them is the solitude of silence.  Winter in the Black Canyon brings a subtle nuance to this place on earth. Snow coats the ground allowing visitors to take advantage of our closed roads for skiing and snowshoe. Its a treat watching people use the winter not as a time to hibernate as the bear but embrace the season at hand. Living in Colorado I one either embraces the cold, snow as part of your experience like spring in Florida or stay in your cave/home until spring.

No traffic, no rush hour of cars all trying to find the quickest way to get back home. No sitting on the metro reading while the time ticks away the minutes I spend above ground taking in the sunlight. Here its has slowed down.  I'm learning to drive in weather I'm used to keeping the car parked and staying inside. I no longer peep out the door to see if its all gone before venturing out to be about my day. My day is filled with finding ways to be out in the snow learning the lessons of winter and what she brings to my life.

My first hike along the Rim Rock trail I discovered mountain lion tracks. I felt exhilarated and frighten at the same time. It felt good to know what to how to identify animals by their feet. This isn't something I could have done five years ago. The only track I knew then was dog and cat. Now I notice things too. As a birder I spot quickly where the chirping is coming from. I see the pine cross beck trying to get nuts, or follow the angle of the gambel oaks trunks angled and twisted from blowing wind. I see new in my world. I realize I slow down. I  pause to be with nature, to be with myself as well.

Listening is key.  In our rush of things to do, work, family modernization has taken away the slow pace winter to use to bring. In the native tradition of the Utes of this area and I believe many other cultures as well, winter was a time for storytelling. It was a time to slow down, reconnect with family, talk about traditions and be still.  Our expectation of snow is to get it removed off the streets, sidewalks so we can keep doing whatever we are doing. Only the children have a wonder sense of wishing for snow so they can play the day away.  We are upset when flights are delayed or airports come to a screeching halt.

Here its apart of the fabric of life. It snows. Mountain passes get closed, avalanche control does happen and folks give pause.  They relish new inches on the ground. Its an opportunity to get out in the open country to be with it whether on skis or snowshoes. Its layering for the day before you go outside to hang out at the local coffee spot. I myself has acclimated well to the change of weather.  I find myself searching out favorable powder as it is called for snowshoeing or cross country skiing. I yearn for my days off to figure out what I'm discovering next.

Lately it has been my cooking skills. The crock pot and I have learned new soup recipes. It is something about simmering all day tomatoes or butternut squash soup. I look forward to the evening sitting in my dinning room looking out the bay window as I eat a nourishing bowl of soup.  I feel welcomed coming through my door the smells of spice, vegetable broth and beans cooking all day warm my home and heart.

Welcome my friends to Black Canyon National Park

Quitting Coffee and other Stuff

Quitting coffee is should require in house rehab. Years of drinking mocha flavors of vanilla bean, hazelnut, southern pecan, and even the rich dark Blue Mountain come down to this. I must let it go for the sake of health. If I could drink coffee and go through hot flashes (yes we are back to that) I would. This is similar to the Gettysburg address of President Lincoln when it came to freeing the slaves. It was only about saving the Union and which scenario got the end result was his choice. Okay that is too dramatic. Yet it is just what three days without coffee will do, bring out the dramatics. My end result is a return to sanity without medication. So if it means giving up the love of my life - coffee then here we are. No one wins here. I love coffee. I love the taste of the flavors; the discovery of new coffee theme shops with their own pizzazz and flavor.  Every new city I encounter its livability is dictated by the coffee shops it has, second being the independent bookstores. Let me say chain shops like Starbucks, Seattle's Best are not considered in the grouping. They are a by product of the excess that has drove the country to over spending. Who pays over two dollars for coffee. It is immoral
This is day three of my not having coffee.
Is it a coincidence that clouds moved across our blue skies; rain fell in big water droplets followed by rumblings of thunder that vibrated against my window pane. Did I anger the coffee gods by stopping my daily morning libations of caffeinated elixir?  My symptoms the first day were headaches and mood swings. At one point I contemplate going to the emergency room.  A throbbing in the back of my head that drifted over the back of my head right behind my left eye socket before settling down in my frontal lobes for the night.  That night I tossed and turned waking every two hours to the aching behind my eyes.  The second day by mid-afternoon I felt better.  The headaches were gone but psychologically I wanted a cup of coffee.   No addiction is rational.  Right now I steer clear of the coffee shop on my block. It is my stumbling block of sorts. I can't go in there without desiring to taste the flavor of the day.
Everyone do enjoy the trees. It is my distraction for today. I have some water on boiling on the stove. A box of Bigelow tea and Natures Best are on the counter.  Maybe orange mint can be the flavor of the day.

Bodie Island Restoration to the Lighthouse

This is where tax dollars and other monies are going Ameria. When this project is finished visitors will be able to climb this lighthouse and look out on the Outer Banks portion of Bodie Island. This is a great place to bring the family and learn why this part of our east coast was so in need of these lighthouses to keep ships from sinking along the shoals. Also the birding is nice and plentiful.  I enjoyed my return visit and I can't say enough about the beaches. Can anyone tell me the characterstics of the light on this lighthouse.  Leave your answers in the comment box

Getting back Outdoors

What is this heating up of our area really about? It is so uncomfortable for me to be outside after 11am. I'm down here in southern Louisiana and babbby its hot humid and there isn't enough minty mojiots to quench my thirst. So for those who are wondering what the global climate change is all about, just check the weather channel. Heat waves in Russia, Europe including the yellow and burnt orange colors of across the United States map predicting nothing but more scorching temperatures for the reminder of August. Right now a cool breeze of air without the humidity will do. I'm looking for the perfect place to go before the end of the summer. It must be cool, water to swim and did I say cool and lots of  water too. Cool is the key. I can't sit in the ocean from sun up to sun down. Just saying. I'm just blabbing and rightly so. I will be back blogging regularly in September.

Have a happy end of the summer vacations everyone.  Stay cool, hydrated and safe.