A Pint Low

I haven’t donated blood since the first part of the year, but I am a pint low now! The local blood bank had a mobile unit out in our neck of the woods today. Hubby and I took advantage of this convenience, along with a lot of other people. It was a happening place!

If you haven’t donated blood in a while, please consider this as a gentle reminder to do a kindness for a stranger.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Ready, set, go! It is time for the next segment of the Southwest USA trip we took back in April! The destination is beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park.

Located in southwest Utah, this park is renowned for its unique geology. The limestone rocks has been transformed by erosion and rain over the years to create bizarre shapes, including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires known as “hoodoos”.

At elevations between 8000 and 9100 feet, it was a challenge for me to breathe and do anything strenuous during our stay. Even walking slowly gave me a slight headache and a dull feeling in my chest. Knowing our physical limits, we did not bring hiking gear (boots, hiking poles, etc.) for the myriad of trails leading into the formations. However, we were quite content to stay on the comfortable trail along the rim. The views were nothing but spectacular!

We were able to see the rock amphitheaters at sunset, sunrise, and mid-day. The beauty was incredible. In contrast to the rest of the trip, it was cold! We set an early alarm to see the sunrise and were able to take some incredible pictures. But we paid dearly for our enthusiasm because it was a windy 14 degrees. Brrrrr! Even wearing our polertec jackets, we only lasted about an hour before we retreated back to the room to thaw ourselves out with lots of hot coffee. (That white stuff in the picture below is snow.) The bitter cold didn’t last for long, and the day soon warmed up.


We stayed right inside the park in one of the historical cabins of Bryce Canyon Lodge. Our room was charming and comfortable, and the large rock fireplace kept us toasty as night. Our rooms were literally just a couple hundred feet from the rim, near both Sunrise and Sunset Points. In the opposite direction, we walked over just a little way to the main lodge for our delicious meals.

This is one place we would love to visit again, spend more time, and see the park thoroughly. Perhaps we could take a horse ride down into the canyons because the vantage point from there is totally different than at the rim. The shuttle bus season had not started yet, so we were limited to see a few locations on foot and with the tour bus. But we saw enough of this unique park to know that it is truly a special place.

Once we arrived at Bryce Canyon, we thought it was our number one favorite on the tour. But we soon changed our minds when we got to the next stop: Zion National Park. And that location will be the final chapter of my traveling adventure tales! You won’t want to miss that post!

Photo Challenge: Numbers

Time for the latest Brenda Photo Challenge! The subject is Numbers, picked by the current challenge hostess, Karen M. at Loved and Engraved.

Handmade Numbers – Below is a section of a needlework sampler that I completed in May 1995. (No, my memory is not that good. I read the label on the back of the frame.) This is one of three of the Garden Samplers, Book No. 45, by The Prairie Schooler. The chart was issued in 1994 and now out of print.

Those are little peas surrounding the top part of the sampler and framing the cross-stitched numbers. The set of three samplers hang in our upstairs hallway. I love the early Prairie Schooler designs because of their folk art appeal.

Timely Numbers - This is a close-up of our grandfather clock in the great room. It was handmade by hubby’s uncle (who has since past away). A master woodworker, Lawrence enjoyed making clocks and was also an antique clock dealer. The dial and works are from Germany, and he made the case out of black walnut. The wood was from a 100 year old tree that was in the front yard of his wife’s childhood home.

Monetary Numbers - With all of our household budgets under scrutiny these days, I had to include a money photo! We have a few coins and paper money left over from our trip to Ireland in 2001. Shortly after that journey, Ireland converted over to using the Euro. How can you resist the charm of that nun on the five-pound note?

Summer Squash Recipe

We have a lot of produce coming in now from the garden. Look at this overflowing basket! We can’t eat it fast enough.

Farmer Jim wants to show you the size of the baby eggplant. Isn’t it cute?

In case you are getting tired of eating fresh summer squash the same old way, here is a different way to fix it.

OVEN FRIED SUMMER SQUASH

2 medium yellow summer squash and/or zucchini, cut crosswise into 3/8-inch thick slices
2 Tablespoons bottled Italian salad dressing
¼ cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
3 Tablespoons seasoned fine dry bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat a 15” x 10” x 1” baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Place squash in a self-sealing bag with salad dressing. Seal and gently shake. Add cheese and bread crumbs. Seal bag and toss lightly to coat. Arrange breaded squash slices in a single layer in prepared pan. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 10 servings.

First Blogging Award

It was a pleasant and unexpected surprise to get my first blogging award! Thank you, Karen (Faith of a Single Mom), for honoring me! I am so glad to hear that I have touched your heart with my ramblings. I discovered you through the photo challenges, and I’ve been enjoying your blog and sage messages.

When I first started my blog on January 1 of this year, I worried about two things:
#1 – I wouldn’t have anything to say.
#2 – It wouldn’t be interesting, so nobody would read it besides me.

My worries appear to be unfounded, LOL. I am thinking of new topics every day and taking more photos. I have met some incredible people along the way, and extended my views and interests. It is a wonderful pastime. I do mental cartwheels when I get comments and feedback. It is encouraging to know that my writings and photos touch people and perhaps bring a little bit of joy to their world. And, comments motivate me to keep my blog interesting and inviting.

I am supposed to pass the award on to seven others, so on with the festivities!

Made in Heaven (Donna) – Thank you so much for finding my blog and being such a faithful reader and commenter. You have been a huge supporter and helped keep me going. Your “hugshugs” never fail to cheer me.

Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joys (Lana) – I adore your folk art creations, and your blog reflects the beautiful spirit within you. You are a Tennessee treasure.

Knits and Pics and Favorite Things (Cindra) – You are a new blogging friend who I have met through the photo challenge. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement that you have given me. I love how you are branching out with your photography and extending yourself.

Loved and Engraved (Karen M.) – I’ve met you also through the photo challenge, and you have been a great supporter. Your blog is where beautiful words come together with beautiful photographs. It is quite an inspiration.

Vintage Primitives (Blondie) – Your North Carolina tales never fail to delight me. Your spicy humor and wise common sense jump right off the blog pages. I can tell that you are never bored with life.

Joan's Journeys (Joan) – You are another journey gal, and I am glad to have met you through the photo challenge. Your posts and photos make me want to pack my bags and head out for more traveling adventures.

Remodeling This Life (Emily) – I found your blog months ago and have been a faithful reader ever since. I love to read about your life journey, a mom of a young family and who deals with life challenges head on. You are wise beyond your years.

OK. So here are the rules, blogging princesses: Put the logo on your blog. Put a link to me (who awarded it to you) on your blog also. You need to nominate seven other bloggers for the award and put links to them also on your blog. Finally, leave a comment for those you've nominated - so they know they've received a special award!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together,
There is something you must always remember.
You are braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem,
And smarter than you think.
But the most important thing is,
Even if we're apart,
I'll always be with you.

(Winnie the Pooh)

Stung by a "Wasper"

I’ve always called them "waspers". Let me tell you, they are nasty little creatures with no redeeming virtues!

I went down to the convenience store to get the Sunday paper. When I came home, I went through the breezeway between the garage and house, bounding up the back steps. As I got to the back door, BAM! That critter stung me right on the tip of my left middle finger. (No picture will be posted for that!) It happened so suddenly, I didn’t even see it coming.

I yelped and hopped, swatting at the mean ol’ bug! He wanted to hit me in the thigh too! I invented some new dance moves and luckily made it inside the door with just one sting. I was reduced to tears, nonetheless. Golly gee willikers, it smarts! I’m nursing it now and the throbbing is easing off. Hubby found a huge nest lurking between the posts of the back porch railing. About a dozen and a half of those critters are now history.

That’s the first time in my life I have ever been stung (knock on wood). Ah, life in the summer, out in the country!

Glen Canyon Float Trip

It is overdue for another chapter in our Southwest USA adventure! Up next is the glorious float trip down the Colorado River. We enjoyed a peaceful 15-mile journey that started at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam and ended at Lees Ferry, Arizona. It was not a whitewater trip, involving screaming or wet underwear! We’ll leave such fearful voyages to others.

After traveling through the long and spooky tunnel to the base of the dam, we walked down to large, motorized pontoon rafts. We quickly departed and were soon staring upward at the vast sandstone cliffs and soaking in the amazing scenery. We could not have asked for better weather. Our river guide provided a lot of information about geology and Major John Wesley Powell’s exploration history. Quite frankly, I was more “in the moment” of enjoying the serene rafting experience, waving at friends in another raft, watching the fishermen, and taking some pictures.

We made a landing about halfway through the trip, and walked up a short trail to see some marvelous petroglyphs. The carvings were so primitive and precious!

After our brief stop, we continued on to the famous “Horseshoe Bend” area of the river. (Do a Google search for images taken from the bend’s overlook.) It is a popular place to take pictures from the canyon rim, but we had the unique opportunity to enjoy it at the bottom.

The landscape started to change dramatically as we approached historic Lees Ferry. As we left our rafts, we saw others getting ready for their whitewater trip down to Grand Canyon. No, thank you! I would rather have a peaceful rafting trip any day!

I hope you enjoyed this little jaunt! There are only two more chapters to go, so you will have to check back later for more incredible scenes. The next adventure will be Bryce Canyon National Park!

Fresh Basil Pesto

Our pot of basil is growing wonderfully, so hubby decided to whip up some fresh pesto. Here is a nice recipe for creating this tasty Italian sauce.

FRESH BASIL PESTO

2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1 clove garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground blackpepper, plus more to taste

~2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bake the pine nuts on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Watch to make sure they don’t burn!) Cool.

In a blender or food processor, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper until finely chopped. With the blender still running, slowly and gradually add enough oil to form a smooth and thick consistency.

Transfer the pesto to a medium bowl and stir in the cheese. Season the pesto with more salt and pepper to taste. Before adding the pesto to cooked pasta, add just a little pasta cooking liquid to help the pesto coat the pasta.

Notes: Fresh pesto will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, stored airtight. Store pine nuts in the freezer to prevent them from going rancid.

Noah’s Ark Stitchery - Kangaroos

I finished up another Noah’s Ark stitchery pattern as part of a block-of-the-month series – the kangaroos! This wee block is smaller than shown on your computer screen. It measures 2-1/4 inches square. So the stitching is tiny.

Lynette, a talented needle art designer from Australia, is graciously providing the free patterns on her delightful blog, Lynette Anderson Designs. I have a convenient link for you located on my right-hand navigation bar.

I am running a few months behind on my stitching. The block for the kangaroos was presented in June. I will be making the cows (May) and elephants (July) come to life next!

Summer Politics

I had planned to present another chapter in our Southwest USA adventure by now. I’m sorry, folks, but I am a bit distracted. We are currently embroiled in some pressing local and state issues during this political summer. My apologies for being a bit tardy!

I intend for this blog is to be lighthearted and fun, with a tiny dash of philosophy about life. We all need to have a little bit of frivolity in a world that comes up short in this trait! So I won’t bore you with the details. In addition to the time devoted to these issues, we are also taking care of the acreage, gardens, and landscaping here at Greyhavens cottage. I have some other posts already prepared and will be adding those instead this week.

Perspectives in the Life Bumps

A dear friend down in Houston, Texas, sent something to me today that I feel the need to share further. We get down in the dumps now and then because life isn’t going smoothly enough to our liking. (Raising my hand up very high.) But then, something comes along to put it all in perspective and reminds us that we need to look at the inevitable life bumps differently. It is time to turn the rock over and take a look at it from a different angle.

Some of my sweet readers have probably figured out by now that I am conservatively-minded. If you are not of the same persuasion, that is quite OK. (Life would be dull, indeed, if we were all alike.) To experience a poignant and profound perspective about cancer, I invite my readers to temporarily put aside any political viewpoints and read this compelling article by Tony Snow, who just died today.

Photo Challenge: Patriotism

Time for the latest Brenda Photo Challenge! The subject is Patriotism, picked by the current challenge hostess, Karen at Faith of a Single Mom. We didn’t attend any 4th of July celebrations this year, so I am presenting pictures from my personal archives for this challenge.

Furry Patriotism – Our old pooch, Buddy, was the epitome of the all-American dog. He was a Belgian Malinois with great European lineage and lazy ears. True to his breeding, he was smart as a whip, energetic, dignified, and always ready to serve and protect.

On July 4, 2000, I interrupted one of his gleeful outdoor romps to take a snapshot of him in front of a patriotic garden flag. He was five years old at the time and had a mountain of energy. He was rather impatient when I gave him the “sit-stay” command. Just behind me, to my right, was his large plastic ball, his favorite toy. See how he leans to the right and his eyes are NOT on me or the camera? He’s staring intently at the ball, ready to go charge it, and insanely bark at it in his doggy bliss. He was vibrating from excitement and whimpering his impatience. Good, old-fashioned American impatience.

It was a quick snap. One nanosecond after I said “all done”, he was no longer visible through the camera lens. ZOOM, off to play!

Handmade Patriotism - We have a lot of Americana folk art as part of our cottage décor. This is a stitchery that I created two years ago, coffee-stained, and fashioned into a mini-quilt. I stitched dark red seed beads around the picture border, added some star-shaped stitching in the background, and placed star pottery buttons at the corners. This patriotic folk quilt is hanging right next to my desk in my home office.

Historic Patriotism - We have visited Portland Head Light in previous vacations to Maine, and we couldn’t resist seeing it again during our 2006 New England trip. This historic lighthouse is located southeast of Portland, in the town of Cape Elizabeth. George Washington commissioned its construction and appointed its first keeper. Operational since 1791, the light has steadfastly helped protect the ships coming into Portland harbor through the years. Portland Head Light is one of the most photographed lighthouses in America.

Garden Bounty

As always, Farmer Jim is working hard this year to tend to our veggie gardens. He reports that the rows of corn in the lower garden (the far back yard) are coming along nicely and several large watermelons are growing down there. Meanwhile, the upper garden (in the side yard near the house) is already yielding fresh veggies every day. Here is this morning’s bounty picked by Farmer Jim: tomatoes, peppers, okra, summer squash (including a weird co-joined one!), and cucumbers.

Summertime eating, mm-mmm, good!

Glen Canyon Dam

Ready for another chapter in the Southwest USA tour? The journey continues on to Glen Canyon Dam.

Glen Canyon Dam is the reason for Lake Powell’s existence. It is an impressive and grand structure, with a crest length of 1560 feet and stretching 710 feet high. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the dam provides water storage and electricity for the region. It was dedicated in 1966, and there was a lot of controversy at the time about it flooding the Glen Canyon. We got several looks at it: from the Highway 89 arched bridge just outside of Page, from the air, and at its base near the powerhouse.

Before going on our raft trip down the Colorado River, we were transported by a bus to the base of the dam through a spooky 2-mile tunnel. The tunnel was built in the late 1950s to help build the dam and move in equipment for the powerhouse. At various intervals during the dark ride, we saw bolts of light where side tunnels had been cut to the canyon walls (for removal of rock).

Once we got off our bus, we donned hard hats for our walk down to the dock for boarding the rafts. We had to protect our noggins in case of something falling from the bridge overhead. I guess it would help muffle any large bonking noise upon impact, LOL!

Come back and visit later to see some pictures from our raft trip down the Colorado River and ancient petroglyphs!

4th of July Remembrance

Thank you to the brave American men and women

who fight for our freedom and keep us from harm!

Happy Birthday to Hubby!

If you live to be 100,

I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day,
So I never have to live without you.

(Winnie the Pooh)