Compulsive Creating

I cannot not create something.  Our home is filled with art and things that I have created.  

I know I am not in a minority amoungst artistic folks when it comes to creating stuff.  There are some of us who just have to do it.  I am one of those.  Not that I do it everyday, but I'd say 80% of the time I am thinking about creating something or creating something.

For instance, in the last two weeks, I have painted a painting, made a hat rack from an old twisted tree root, have two ongoing projects involving a table centerpiece and a vase/lighted plant with created fountain arrangement.  I am also making a rock sculpture and just completed this....

I love miniature things that are a little rustic.  I have a dollhouse that has turned into a longer term project than originally intended and eventually I will post pictures of it.   Anyway, I bought this little cabinet a few years ago at a flea market.  It was one of four in a big plastic bag.  I paid $8 for them.  They needed little repairs that were fairly easy to do.  The cabinets have been sitting in the upper reaches of my supply closet now for some time.  I decided that maybe painting this one and adding things inside would be nice.  This came about because I am considering it as part of the table centerpiece   The wooden dishes and "food" book came from a tray of little miniatures I have collected over the years.  I hand painted them for this cabinet and hot glued them in place.  Needing some variety I made little cloth napkins  from my vast supply of quilting squares (I do not quilt but I do use the material for other things).  Now it is done and it gives me a lovely feeling when I look at it.  I have no trouble imaging the little village of people that are part of this sized world.  They are hardy souls with round faces, chafed cheeks and bright eyes.  They ride brightly painted fat tired bicycles everywhere or shaggy ponies or they walk miles and miles across the windy moors surrounding their village.  They laugh and sing too.

See, I told you I had no trouble imagining them.

On the way Home.............

I forgot to mention that on the way home from Utah, we stayed overnight at a cabin north of New Castle, Colorado.  Here is the little watercolor I painted to try and capture the look. The painting in my little travel watercolor journal is about 6.5" x 5"

.....and below is a little video so you can hear the stream and "feel the fall".   The guy on the porch at the end lifting his coffee cup in greeting is my hubby (of course).

Utah and Arizona - September 2012

While hiking into Canyon de Chelly in Arizona this past week with our Navajo guide, we came upon this sight around a bend in the steep path.  There was no particular evidence for how this pony met its demise, but it wasn't eaten as if by a mountain lion so it may have broken a leg on the rough terrain and had to be killed as a result of that.  We will never know - we didn't stick around to examine it closely. 

We started the trail at the bottom of the "V" in the picture above.  The descent into the canyon took careful foot placement and the ascent 4 hours later around noon was arduous with midday temps in the upper 80's.  

This is the view into the canyon when we were about half way down the trail.  Very beautiful.  Canyon de Chelly (link)

Our hired guide was disappointing considering the price paid ($30/hour with a minimum of 3 hours).  Based upon reviews on TripAdvisor, though, this was not the usual case.  It sounds like most of the guides got rave reviews.  However, ours showed up late in a glassy eyed state and provided little interesting information and when he did provide information, he mumbled it and so it was very difficult to understand.  We asked if he had been out with the boys the night before and he acknowledged that this was the case.  

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Canyon de Chelly was a side trip we made from the mecca of Moab, Utah, our favorite place. We came back to Moab after visiting the canyon.  We stayed in our usual campground that had all of the amenities, showers, clean bathrooms, a laundry, lots of shady trees and the Colorado River to sit by in the mornings with our coffee.

Cycling was a big part of what we did while in Moab.  This activity is a newer one for us in that we used to four wheel drive all over the backcountry trails, but vehicle changes and gas prices have made it difficult to do that anymore. Seeing the huge towering sandstone monoliths from a bike or on a hike where you don't hear the sound of an engine is a very positive experience.  Plus, the health benefits are great and the endorphins are wonderful.

We were not aware that the Moab Century and Metric Century (link) cycle rides were taking place our last weekend there.  The 100 mile (the Century) and 65 mile (the Metric Century) routes were ridden by a variety of riders.  One, in particular, was a man in our campground, from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, aged 66.  He was going on the more difficult ride (the Metric Century) .   Quote:  "The Metric Century (65 miles over the La Sal Loop including the infamous "big nasty" section of 3000 feet elevation in seven miles); climbing elevation:  approximately 5,350 feet."   Amazing stuff.  We opted to ride the Potash Road to it's end and back, a mere 34 mile round trip ride all along the river.  It was great.

Aspenglen Campground in June

Camped for a few days in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was hot, too hot. It was hot and dry everywhere except the highest elevations.  The Colorado wildfire season was in full swing and a very appropriate fire ban in effect.  Visited with friends and family while there and ate at the Rock Inn (as depicted).  Drew myself some petroglyphs.

Utah In May

We were hiking in a the Capitol Gorge canyon, the wind was blowing, sand was flying around and sandblasting our faces.  We had only one bandanna with us. So, in true pioneering fashion we found a sharp rock, laid the bandanna on a flat rock and while I held it, Merle cut it in half.  

Here is a watercolor "map" of the trip we made in late May for two weeks.  It will hopefully help us remember the trip when the old gray cells start to wither away.

One hot day, we navigated Sulphur Creek for 5 miles of twisting turning canyon including slot canyon areas where we had to wade in the creek, waterfalls that we had to climb around and encounters with the occasional hiker.  It was a one way hike so when we arrived at the visitor center in Fruita, Utah we tried to hitch a ride back to our car up the highway.  No luck....until two hikers we had met in the canyon saw us walking along and gave us a lift.  There's a little red car with angel wings on it on the map - that's them - our guardian angels.  It was very hot and the walk would have been exhausting considering that we had been hiking most of the day in Sulphur Creek.  


Fruita Utah is beautiful  It is a old town once settled by Mormon pioneers and is now managed by the park service.  The campground is situated in a beautiful green valley with orchards.  It has to be one of the prettiest campgrounds we've stayed in.  However, due to the fact that we were there over Memorial Day weekend, it was way too crowded.  We would like to go back sometime in the fall.  Here are some pictures.

Wind was a factor during our stay in Capitol Reef National Park.  In Fruita we were protected by the trees, but before we went to Fruita, we stayed in a private RV park in Torrey.  Our site was a good one with fantastic views but the wind was too fierce.  Here is a picture and as you can see, we had a wonderful red mesa to look at each day.  But, the wind..............

One day we decided to drive to Boulder Town and drive on the BurrTrail and Notum-Bullfrog roads.  While crossing over the mountains to get to our destination in Boulder Town we encountered snow on the high pass but not enough to stick to the road.  Once in Boulder Town we ate at a wonderful little cafe called Hell's Backbone Grill.  It sat in a cool green oasis of flowers, grasses and tall trees.  The food was great.  After relaxing there, we drove through some lovely scenic areas that would eventually take us back to our campground, particularly on the Burr Trail portion.  The Notum-Bullfrog road was rife with washboard ruts and we were relieved to eventually get off of it.  Washboard roads are rough on cars.


A hiking trail just above the campground led to a fairyland canyon called Co Hab Canyon.  There were pockets in the rocks and old trees and we were so glad that we decided to climb the steep winding path that led to it from our campground.  It was like nothing we have ever seen.  

Our trip ended in Moab where we had a good time, as usual.  At one point, we were heading home and suddenly decided to go back.  It was Merle's idea.  So, we went back and stayed another two nights.  That's the fun of being free and easy.  I guess free isn't the exact word because it did cost us, but it was worth it.

Tucson

January 2012

When we travel, I bring my set of watercolor paints along and my little travel watercolor book.  I painted the picture above while staying in Tucson at MiCasita.  MiCasita was booked through Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO).

It was a trip planned a few months back when we were anticipating the usual cold winter that ensues during the month of January in Colorado.  However, when we left for the airport, the forecast for our front range area said  the day ahead was to be sunny and would reach a high temperature in the mid 50's.  

When we arrived in Phoenix from where we would drive to Tucson, we had to wear our jackets because it was cool.  Not as cool as at home, but cooler than we had anticipated.  Nevertheless, the sight of saguaro cactus never fails to make me feel warm and happy.  Actually, I love all of the wonderful southwestern vegetation.   Cactus are so architecturally appealing.  I have a few small varieties in my home and was wondering if I could grow a saguaro in the family room.......I'd be pretty old before it got to a reasonable height.  One foot in 15 years and 10 feet in about 75-100 years.


Here's the bike I rode some while there.  Rather different from my more sophisticated road bike at home.  It was called a "La Jolla Cruiser".  I adjusted the seat for my long "legature" (my own word) and oiled the noisy chain with virgin olive oil.

Day One:  Pima Air and Space Museum.  A plethora of planes. A jumble of jets. Husband went ape over it all.  Me, not so much, and so after about an hour of looking around, I left him there to ogle the goods.  I drove back to MiCasita and hung out, drank iced tea and started my little painting.

Day Two:  Sabino Canyon.  A delightful place, a sunny hike, lunch by the stream - we sat on a big warm rocky slab - and then back to MiCasita.  At this point, Husband discovered the loss of his cell phone.  After a call to notify the visitor center about it and a return call when someone turned it in, it was recovered.  Next morning he drove to get it.

Day Three:  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum......desert landscapes and a zoo....sort of. Most of the animals were hiding so we didn't see a lot of those.  The aviary was interesting and we did see birds.  The hummingbird aviary was probably the best part.  It was the first time either of us had ever seen a hummingbird nest - so, so tiny.  Watching people trying to capture hummingbirds on their camera phones was entertaining.  

This was our last day so once back to MiCasita, we packed, ate and went to bed early so we could wake up at 2a to drive the two hours to the Phoenix airport for our 6:30a flight.  In the future, if we decide to visit Tucson again, we will fly directly into the airport there.


Note:  you can click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing.