Look

Up today at 7:30 a.m., I was determined to enjoy the cooler weather Utah mornings offer.  We packed light - drinking water, peanut butter, rolls, and frozen ice tea.  Last night, we targeted the Beaver Dam Wash area for our wanderings today.  The dirt road curved through a beautiful Joshua tree oasis and then stretched toward the mountains often turning into a two-track strewn with rocks.  Throughout the day, I looked; simply turned everything else off in my mind and turned attention to nature by studying whatever moved. This could be a hawk, several sunning lizards and, believe it or not, a catfish that I found at Indian Spring - the morning stretched to 5:00 p.m.  There will be photos to follow - I've been lucky to travel with the photographer from theworldinlight.com and the pictures will tell the story of this day better than words.  

Father of Photojournalism

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Throughout my career as librarian, one publication that I liked to keep as a complete set was the National Geographic Magazine.  If a collection was excellent, this would include owning the original 1888 publication.  In one community during the first week serving as librarian,  I questioned my assistant because she was using a permanent black magic marker to black out any naked skin displayed in the magazine photos.  I learned that the employees in this school district had been doing this for ten years!  My first decision as librarian was to put that practice to a halt ... I marched down to the principal and said that if he supported the act of defaming art and exploration of culture,  I would cancel the district's subscription.  Canceling the National Geographic was tantamount to mutiny in the library world - he rescinded the practice.

Two weeks ago I visited Grosvenor Arch named after the father of photojournalism and the first full-time editor of National Geographic Magazine, (Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor serving from 1899 to 1954).

Viewing the magnificent arch, named after a man who respected natural beauty, evoked many memories for me (like the one I shared ).  Each year during my career, an elderly person downsizing their living arrangements would sadly offer an entire magazine collection with the distinct yellow border for use in the library ... owning the issues and preserving them had meant a great deal to each individual. 

I spent more than an hour gazing at Grosvenor Arch; thinking about the magazine and how the contents enriched life; thinking about what is permanent; thinking about art; thinking about what is important to me.  Throughout this reminiscence, I did not use black magic marker - there have been actions that I would like to erase but I know that doing so would be counterproductive.

Phases

I am boiling water to make tea while considering what is happening in the world.  With water, there is an attractive force between the positive and negative charge of the adjacent water molecules.  Applying the flame under the pan is energy and this considerable, concentrated heat force causes the water particle bond to separate and form steam.  Once the heat is turned off, the vapor returns to its original state.  Water is water regardless of the phase of the H2O molecule. 

As I sip my tea, I think about the separate energy forces that put people into another phase, often at odds with each other. This is demonstrated by a person signing up as a humanitarian passenger on the 2011 Flotilla, or the farmer trying to survive in the Gaza Strip, or an Israeli feeling threatened.

Azurite

Quite by accident while driving in the mountains today , we discovered an abandoned mine area.  Primarily, we collected Azurite and by the time the sun drove us out of the locale, our assembled assortment  looked like we spent an afternoon hand painting rocks.  Doing a quick bit of research, I learned that this mineral has been used to make paint pigment ... no doubt special to dip a paint brush in such a brilliant display of blue and green.

theworldinlight.com

Azurite is a secondary copper mineral and historicallyhas been ground into a powder and used as paint pigment (Polk, Patti. Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals;244)

Expendable

One definition for the word expendable in the American Heritage Dictionary is: Open to sacrifice in the interest of gaining an objective.  I've been considering this word after the past week of enjoying wildlife in the native environment...complicated thoughts.  On days when I've walked for an hour without viewing wildlife, I have been disappointed. 

Pets

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This Desert collared Lizard was found in the Woodbury Desert on Thursday running lickety-split along the side of a dirt road.  Stopping the car, my travel companion muttered that surely by the time the camera was ready, the reptile would be gone; surprisingly the lizard also stopped and seemed to be waiting patiently, even stayed still to pose for several shots.  Viewing with the naked eye it was hard to discern the color because this guy was dusty.  But the collar was distinct - my first sighting of a Collared Lizard.  The camera eye (guided by the expert ability of my friend)  was able to focus through the dusty coating to offer the details of this beautiful reptile.  The National Audibon Guide states that he would make a "hardy pet"; I considered that as the leathery creature took off (after the photo shoot) - miles of desert to prowl, insects galore to eat here in his natural habitat...I cannot believe that "pet" is the proper word choice.

Toroweap cont...

The trip to Toroweap (also Tuweep) last week was grueling - the factor influencing that adjective choice most is the weather, about 100 degrees.  But looking back to consider, I remember the beauty and this memory cancels the heat and the drive.  Getting there by taking the most difficult route (made possible by considerable vehicle readiness completed by my travel partner), sleeping in a small tent at the campground that hosts only nine sites that overlook the canyon area,  made the experience remarkable and filled me with a feeling of accomplishment.  Another element that was pleasing about the remotness of the Toroweap Grand Canyon North Rim was the absence of crowds ...  I encountered eight people and this number includes the ranger and his guests. 

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Reflection on Toroweap

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Taking the back road (Mt. Trumball) last week to Toroweap was one of the highlights thus far of my stay in Utah.  Although rigorous and steep, this description includes a section of dirt road that is reduced to one lane around the side of a mountain along with long stretches of dust and loose gravel, I had a feeling of accomplishment upon arriving to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Taking the road less traveled was an adventure.  Yes, we needed a 4-wheel vehicle with high clearance, ATV tires, a jerry can containing emergency gas and five gallons of extra drinking water but all worth the effort.  Exhausted and hot, I was seated in a shaded area when I noticed a Desert Spiny Lizard seemingly enjoying the shade and the view with me. 

Hot

104 degrees in Utah ... this was a day to slow down.  

Ancient Communication

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Sitting on a large, black rock in the Gunlock area, I turned to gaze up the ridge while enjoying the breeze on an otherwise hot Utahan day.  Perhaps only ten feet away from me was a flat redstone surface filled with carvings; my breath caught momentarily before I quickly made my way for a closer look.  I was not in a designated Anasazi petroglyph area - actually this spot seemed off the beaten trail which delighted me all the more.  Reaching across time from perhaps A.D. 100, the Native American (who labored here to communicate) had the same need I do, to exchange thoughts, information, or messages with each other.  The ancient one who worked on this stone and I are connected in that we were here; we lived and tried to make sense out of life - possibly though, our recorded symbols attached a greater meaning than there is.  Perhaps the others were hunting, tending children and busy with survival.  But some were communicating - this act was important to the creator of this etched stone.  I do not understand the substance of what I am viewing, but I grasp the effort and the need to express.

Sensory explosion

Yesterday,  I was exploring a rocky ridge in the Red Cliffs Reserve area when I came across a Mojave Rattlesnake ... I froze.  He was large and long with beautiful coloring of yellow, brown, and several hues of green that formed a distinct pattern.  He seemed to be looking at me, through me and for a second we stayed in that posture studying each other.  Once the black and white  ringed- tail vibrated his warning signal, I could not hold my ground.  Looking back at him as I fled the area, I noticed he was fleeing too. 

Toroweap - North Rim of Grand Canyon

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My conscious effort to use words to imitate nature's aesthetics are muted ... the continually changing art produced by the Colorado River is visually distinguishable from any human effort.  While studying the Grand Canyon's North Rim from the isolated Toroweap, Arizonia location, I had a sense of what is artistically valid and beautiful.  I also had a sense of how fragile life is ... one slipped step made too close to the edge and I would be part of the scenery ... the river would not even notice but go on with her work.

North Rim Grand Canyon

We are heading out for an off-road trip to Toroweap, Arizonia.  After sixty plus miles on a dirt trail, I am going to enjoy what I believe will be a spectacular view of the North Rim from a remote site.  No internet for a couple of days. 

Learning

I am thankful for people who accept my limitations and still call me friend.  There are blue skies in Utah today and a warm sun.  In the near distance, I can see the red mountains in Snow Canyon.  I will regret leaving this glorious place - I can say I am sorry but that does not necessarily mend.  Hopefully, sincerity of intention and time can weave a healing patch.

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No matter how much personal growth, I have the potential to slip.  Today I hurt a person I care about deeply.  I am continually humbled by my inability to communicate properly.

photo credit:   theworldinlight.com

A Barn Owl landed in the backyard yesterday; he appears to be curious or is there some knowing that nature has  instinctively instilled ... the wise owl? 

There is peace within order - I spent a couple of hours last night and today identifying the wildflowers encountered yesterday along the drive toward Mount Trumball, Arizonia.  The road was dirt, washboard in some places; the necessity for 4-wheel drive helped the jeep traverse Wolf Hole Mountain, all worth the effort to view the abundance of flowers.  Categorizing them by studying the detailed descriptions in the National Audubon Society Field Guide was a satisfying task.  There are distinguishing minutia that differentiate each species allowing me to say, 'Aha, this is the one.'  After this acknowledgment, a sense of satisfaction permeates my inner being.

June 9, 2011

A picnic half way up Wolf Hole Mountain offered not only a spectacular view but also a plethora of wildflowers ... a mountain bouquet.  I am documenting nature's beauty; there is abundant color everywhere often in areas where at first glance, appear arid.

Healing in Utah

June 8, 2011

This afternoon, I walked a path in the Dameron Valley ... wildflowers and various flowering cacti colored the landscape. I had an intimate viewing of Utah's state flower: the Sego Lily - inside the outer  three-pedaled white envelope is a symetrical design reminding me of a kaleidoscope offering in deep eggplant, yellow and white.  In the distance, Pine Valley Mountain range, some peaks still with snow, created a majestic backdrop against the pure blue sky.  I can breath here; I can think.