Today was such a great day! Heather and I went to the Grand Canyon today for the unveiling of the mural my friend Julie Greer painted at the Shrine of the Ages building. She was the artist-in-residence there, and this was the culmination of all of her hard work. It's a beautiful mural-a Native American grandmother and granddaughter standing at the edge of the Canyon, wrapped in blankets. The detail is marvelous, and there is a lot of meaning in the items around them, wildflowers, rocks, it was so cool to hear her explain it for us. The Shrine of the Ages is not in the main traffic-pattern of the tourist areas, but it's not far from the Marketplace Plaza, so if you plan a trip to the canyon, take time to stop by there too. Shrine of the Ages is the building used for orchestras, gatherings and church services, and she wanted to use that area as her canvas.
This is the first time I've been at the Grand Canyon in the winter, and with all the snow we've had this year, it is really beautiful! The weather was clear, and warmed up to the high 40's I think. It wasn't very crowded, so that was nice too. We were there last May for a wedding, and took the rim trail west along the canyon, it's an easy and beautiful hike, I want to go back and spend a little more time along there. I've talked David into a trip to the far western end of the canyon, where the local Tribe has built a walkway over the canyon with plexiglass, so when you walk out over the edge, there's nothing much between you and the bottom! I planned to go last summer, but had to put that on hold for a while. It's about 3-4 hours up there from here, and I want to feel good enough to really enjoy the trip. Plus I better have my heart in good shape before I stroll out onto the see-through walkway, don't want to shake it up again.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Swinging hearts and hobbies
Have you seen an action movie where the hero is on a high-rise construction site, and grabs onto an I-beam, falls, catches him/herself by one hand? Then we watch them swing around as the beam jerks- the hero scrambles, trying to hang on and get his other arm or a leg up onto the beam. Well, that's what happens to my heart when I roll over onto my right side. Now, I love to sleep on my side, but when I move to the right, my poor naked heart flippity-flops around. There is no security blanket/pericardium to keep it cozy and in place, so suddenly its only the, what- valves and blood vessels, that hold it into place. Nature hates a vaccuum, so hopefully other organs will shift enough to cushion my old ticker, but for now it sure gets excited when I try to nap to the right. It's not nearly as exciting as being a movie hero, swinging around in midair, but it's one of the few excercises my heart gets right now!
I have read 8-10 books the past few weeks, one of them is Eat, Pray, Love- which is a great book. The others are a series called Mrs. Pollifax adventures, easy to read and enough mystery to be engaging. She learns karate in her late 50's or early 60's and becomes a CIA spy. I love that, it gives me hope that I can figure out a new era in my life that is as much fun as the past eras I've had. Right now I'm getting antsy to get moving again, but in the meantime I've finished knitting sweaters, scarves and other unfinished projects. I'm still working on a nice warm sweater that I want to wear this winter- it's a big one, so wish me luck.
Life is good! I love my family, my friends, my life in general is wonderful. I am so grateful to everyone that has kept my in their thoughts and prayers over the past year, and that's a fact. Now, if I can just get my naked heart to let me nap on my right side.......
I have read 8-10 books the past few weeks, one of them is Eat, Pray, Love- which is a great book. The others are a series called Mrs. Pollifax adventures, easy to read and enough mystery to be engaging. She learns karate in her late 50's or early 60's and becomes a CIA spy. I love that, it gives me hope that I can figure out a new era in my life that is as much fun as the past eras I've had. Right now I'm getting antsy to get moving again, but in the meantime I've finished knitting sweaters, scarves and other unfinished projects. I'm still working on a nice warm sweater that I want to wear this winter- it's a big one, so wish me luck.
Life is good! I love my family, my friends, my life in general is wonderful. I am so grateful to everyone that has kept my in their thoughts and prayers over the past year, and that's a fact. Now, if I can just get my naked heart to let me nap on my right side.......
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Please note that the sweater Dakota is wearing in the Christmas pictures is a handknitted original by her Grandma Farr- me!
Boy am I thrilled to say goodby to 2007, needless to say it wasn't my favorite. 3 surgeries in 8 months and being sick all year did not endear it to me. I have to say that I have become more patient with myself, and my lack of energy, so maybe the tests of patience I've had will slow down some.
So now on to 2008! I received a knitting machine for Christmas, and now that I'm getting over strep throat, maybe I can start using it this week. I've thought about getting one for several years, but I love to knit by hand, so kept putting it off. This year I decided to make the plunge, because it can be so much faster to make gifts. I have several friends with babies on the way, and this will give me a way to knit baby blankets.
My other goal is to further my genealogy research- I'd love to get my mother's family lines out of the US and figure out where they immigrated from. I have my dad's direct line back 9 generations, I still can't believe we've found that much information!
My third goal is to meditate and excercise regularly this year. I'm signed up for a yoga class, so that will get me 2 days a week, then I'll have to get moving the other days. Hopefully walking will work, since I still can't work out in the yard as much as I like. I have all these seed catalogs coming in now, and it kills me, because I don't have the energy to do much gardening yet. I'm dreaming of digging in the dirt, and find myself sitting at the table staring out the window, imagining hauling in compost and steer manure. I know, you're jealous, why should I have all the fun! I'll have to satisfy my garden craving by clipping dead stems and things in the planters on the back porch, that much I have energy for. David will shoot me if I try to haul dirt or do any major yardwork right now, he's tired of seeing me sick too.
Well, I wish everyone peace and joy this coming year, and abundance in all things. Happy New Year!
Boy am I thrilled to say goodby to 2007, needless to say it wasn't my favorite. 3 surgeries in 8 months and being sick all year did not endear it to me. I have to say that I have become more patient with myself, and my lack of energy, so maybe the tests of patience I've had will slow down some.
So now on to 2008! I received a knitting machine for Christmas, and now that I'm getting over strep throat, maybe I can start using it this week. I've thought about getting one for several years, but I love to knit by hand, so kept putting it off. This year I decided to make the plunge, because it can be so much faster to make gifts. I have several friends with babies on the way, and this will give me a way to knit baby blankets.
My other goal is to further my genealogy research- I'd love to get my mother's family lines out of the US and figure out where they immigrated from. I have my dad's direct line back 9 generations, I still can't believe we've found that much information!
My third goal is to meditate and excercise regularly this year. I'm signed up for a yoga class, so that will get me 2 days a week, then I'll have to get moving the other days. Hopefully walking will work, since I still can't work out in the yard as much as I like. I have all these seed catalogs coming in now, and it kills me, because I don't have the energy to do much gardening yet. I'm dreaming of digging in the dirt, and find myself sitting at the table staring out the window, imagining hauling in compost and steer manure. I know, you're jealous, why should I have all the fun! I'll have to satisfy my garden craving by clipping dead stems and things in the planters on the back porch, that much I have energy for. David will shoot me if I try to haul dirt or do any major yardwork right now, he's tired of seeing me sick too.
Well, I wish everyone peace and joy this coming year, and abundance in all things. Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Quiet after Christmas
We had Christmas on Saturday and Sunday, so yesterday was a nice quiet day. It's the first time we haven't all been together on Christmas though, that was hard to adjust to. Everyone had to work Monday and Wednesday, and Dakota came over on Saturday for her Christmas, so we decided to have ours over the weekend too. Heather stayed here, that made it easier for me. I enjoyed reading the Christmas verses in the New Testament with her.
My family can be happy to know that I didn't let any skeletons out of the closet during my interview with channel 8! They primarily wanted to know about Prescott in the 1970's, and some of the important issues of the day. It was fun, we were there nearly 2 hours. Heather got to be in the control room to watch, and the interviewer sat off screen. Who knows what it will look like, but hopefully I'll get a little time on the program when they are through editing and cutting. We went shopping afterwards, at the Arizona Mills center. Heather found an Ann Taylor store there, and I found Burlington coat factory. Unfortunately I didn't just pick up a coat there, I caught a pretty bad cold too. We were standing in line with 900 other people, and I kept thinking that wasn't a good idea, my stamina is still pretty lousy. Today I slept most of the day, and I'm feeling better today. We won't make it to Maricopa this weekend though, and I'm sad about that. Most of the family is going to Mom's to help build an addition on her place, and I was looking forward to seeing everyone and helping out a little. But, hopefully she can get a lot done, and we'll go down another weekend to help with the interior.
My family can be happy to know that I didn't let any skeletons out of the closet during my interview with channel 8! They primarily wanted to know about Prescott in the 1970's, and some of the important issues of the day. It was fun, we were there nearly 2 hours. Heather got to be in the control room to watch, and the interviewer sat off screen. Who knows what it will look like, but hopefully I'll get a little time on the program when they are through editing and cutting. We went shopping afterwards, at the Arizona Mills center. Heather found an Ann Taylor store there, and I found Burlington coat factory. Unfortunately I didn't just pick up a coat there, I caught a pretty bad cold too. We were standing in line with 900 other people, and I kept thinking that wasn't a good idea, my stamina is still pretty lousy. Today I slept most of the day, and I'm feeling better today. We won't make it to Maricopa this weekend though, and I'm sad about that. Most of the family is going to Mom's to help build an addition on her place, and I was looking forward to seeing everyone and helping out a little. But, hopefully she can get a lot done, and we'll go down another weekend to help with the interior.
Monday, December 17, 2007
I am a star!
Okay, so not yet, but I have been asked to tape an interview with PBS Arizona, so can fame be farr behind? Channel 8 asked for input on a 1970's feature they are creating, so I wrote this-
'I was a cowgirl, and I loved going to the Prescott Rodeo in July. My dad always worked the livestock pens, and we often were back there helping. As a young girl, it was scary to deal with the big bulls, moving them from one corral to the chutes, watching them crash into the fences, bending the wooden fences nearly over before they even met the cowboy that would ride them, or get bucked off. We went to many ropings around northern Arizona- Prescott, Kirkland, Cottonwood, Cornville, Dewey. Mormon Lake was the best, there was usually a dance after the rodeo, and everyone went, from the grandparents to the little kids. We were very involved with the 4 of July celebrations in Prescott, we usually entered the kids parade when we were small. As we grew up, our church had a booth on the Prescott square- my Mom made the best bread, and we sold fresh bread or sopapillas with butter and honey. After the rodeo, the highlight of the week for me was the street dance. It spanned Whiskey Row, which was closed completely, and had a band at one end. Thousands of people were there, and it was the greatest thing for we small town hicks! As a teenager, it was cool to drive over the hill to Jerome to people watch. At the time, the hippie communes were in full force, with very creative people selling art, ceramics etc. It was great fun to sit on the steps and watch people, lots and lots of hippies in psychedelic shirts or long, prairie skirts with hiking boots. I was too young to go into the Spirit Room, but the music and the bikers were usually spilling out into the streets. '
How surprised was I when they called last week, telling me they liked my story, and did I have photos or videos too? Then Marissa asked if I'd be willing to come down to Tempe and be interviewed on camera. What can I say, my public is waiting..... ha ha! Heather promised she'd drive me down if I'll go to Ann Taylor's with her later. Gee, tough decision, huh? I'll let you know how it really goes- I'll be attacked by the shy's, and get all nervous on camera. After all, I still see myself as young, like I was in the 70's, but the camera will see a 50+ year old woman with too many years and miles behind her. Oh so what, I don't care. I love an audience, even if it's a fisheyed camera instead of people. At least Heather will be there with me for moral support. Wish me luck!
'I was a cowgirl, and I loved going to the Prescott Rodeo in July. My dad always worked the livestock pens, and we often were back there helping. As a young girl, it was scary to deal with the big bulls, moving them from one corral to the chutes, watching them crash into the fences, bending the wooden fences nearly over before they even met the cowboy that would ride them, or get bucked off. We went to many ropings around northern Arizona- Prescott, Kirkland, Cottonwood, Cornville, Dewey. Mormon Lake was the best, there was usually a dance after the rodeo, and everyone went, from the grandparents to the little kids. We were very involved with the 4 of July celebrations in Prescott, we usually entered the kids parade when we were small. As we grew up, our church had a booth on the Prescott square- my Mom made the best bread, and we sold fresh bread or sopapillas with butter and honey. After the rodeo, the highlight of the week for me was the street dance. It spanned Whiskey Row, which was closed completely, and had a band at one end. Thousands of people were there, and it was the greatest thing for we small town hicks! As a teenager, it was cool to drive over the hill to Jerome to people watch. At the time, the hippie communes were in full force, with very creative people selling art, ceramics etc. It was great fun to sit on the steps and watch people, lots and lots of hippies in psychedelic shirts or long, prairie skirts with hiking boots. I was too young to go into the Spirit Room, but the music and the bikers were usually spilling out into the streets. '
How surprised was I when they called last week, telling me they liked my story, and did I have photos or videos too? Then Marissa asked if I'd be willing to come down to Tempe and be interviewed on camera. What can I say, my public is waiting..... ha ha! Heather promised she'd drive me down if I'll go to Ann Taylor's with her later. Gee, tough decision, huh? I'll let you know how it really goes- I'll be attacked by the shy's, and get all nervous on camera. After all, I still see myself as young, like I was in the 70's, but the camera will see a 50+ year old woman with too many years and miles behind her. Oh so what, I don't care. I love an audience, even if it's a fisheyed camera instead of people. At least Heather will be there with me for moral support. Wish me luck!
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