Mar 17, 2012

The end of the journey (and yet the beginning)

Well as I sit tonite thinking about this miraculous journey Trace and I have encountered I am feeling very blessed and yet also unsettled. I am missing home so much. I have encountered many changes within myself along this journey and I know my family had encountered many changes while I have been gone. Life is about change and growth, and yet change is difficult...
I have never been one to skirt emotions or feelings and through many years of no voice I am also fairly open with my opinion. At times I need to rein in (especially if it hurts others) but most often than not it is good to speak up about life and thoughts. It's good to care about others and share hopes about a gentler life that allows us all to thrive and grow through business, relationships, and inner development. Each of us has something to give to the world around us. Each of us should try to honor what is brought to the table by all.
This journey has brought ideas for creative work inside me, for creative work through the coffee art house, and creative work while working with others. Where life is going to take me... I have no clue? I feel that each moment holds so many promises for all of us. When we are open to life people, events, and places fill us with answers... when we allow it to enter.
The most wonderful moments have happened during this journey when I have emptied my mind of all worries, and suddenly new thoughts, new people, and new visions rush in...
What a miracle life truly is.
I met a young lady tonite in Billings Montana. She waited on us at a local restaurant. She asked if we were from Montana and when we said yes, she replied I'm from Havre Montana. My mouth fell open and we grabbed hands with a big ass smile. You see I'm from Havre. When I asked who her people were she said a name that I knew well. I had grown up with them. Her dad was someone that we loved and remembered. He was in my brother Aaron's grade. I asked how he was and as I looked upon her, her eyes filled with tears and she told me  he had passed on last year.... We just held hands. ...Life is a blessing and we all need to touch one another...in some way..
Love to all

Mar 12, 2012

The Catwalk








Well off we went once again on a hike way back into tin buck too to view some wonderous sights and look at the history of this land called New Mexico... amazing. We went 63 miles west of Silver City to the Gila National Forest by Glenwood. The park has built suspension bridges of every kind way up in the air in the middle of the old mining country. I am a rock hound from the word go, due to a father who loved to  take us on outings digging in the earth, examining rocks, breaking them open and looking at the substances inside (minerals, precious gems, etc.) This country was full of every imaginable substance you could name. Mined for silver and gold, copper and turquoise. I know I will have re up my memory on geology again. We entered a box canyon which was filled with waterfalls and green blue waters pouring forth. The water is at a low level right now. People were fishing and swimming but during certain times of the year the water rushes through these canyons rising at levels that reach the catwalks and floods below. The bird life, butterflies, and the disedous trees were beautiful in this area. We loved every minute. We came upon crystals of varying sizes, spots of turquoise but soon ran out of town. Poor bosty was bushwalked and her feet were raw so we came back!




The Catwalk, a National Recreation trail along the canyon of Whitewater Creek, is a unique feature of southwestern New Mexico. Located five miles east of Glenwood (take Hwy. 180 to 174), it presents an always vibrant journey along a path reflecting the region's mining history. The canyon was used as a hideout by both Geronimo and Butch Cassidy.
The Catwalk follows the path of the pipeline built in the 1890s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. Workmen who had to enter the canyon by crawling atop the narrow pipeline named the route the "Catwalk."
In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the Catwalk as a recreation area for the Gila National Forest. The Forest Service built the metal walkway in the 1960s. Parts of the trail have been rebuilt several times since then due to the flooding of Whitewater Creek.

Mar 11, 2012

Gila National Forest






Well here we are again, in a semi-desert country, with dry air, snow on the ground here and there (but still in the 60s during the day) and wonderful vegetation everywhere. Silver City is where we are staying and we are exploring the Gila National forest. Amazing, old, history that runs so deep that it's difficult to comprehend, old mining roads (one lane at times) and it leads up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Now we were blown away here for you could actually walk into the dwellings and see how this tribe had lived... amazing. The Forest service guides and volunteers are there to help, answer questions and protect but you are actually inside the caves! We also took a 5 mile walk and soaked in the natural hot springs which are everywhere... wow, we will be back. I could go on and on about the history here. The native tribes from the pottery which dates B.C. right down to the Apache's history full of warfare and raids. ..Tomorrow we will be up in the air on a catwalk way over a gorge through old mining sites... 250 foot bridge over a 250 foot  drop in a canyon.
In the first picture above we were above the clouds!! In the second picture above you can actually see faces in the rock wall on the way up to the cliff dwellings.
Love to all and see you soon.
Annie

Mar 7, 2012

Senses

As I entered the island... heady rich aromatic smells of flowers, salt from the ocean, vegetation, decay of sea life, smells of food from all the eateries, fresh mowed lawns, humidity smells of heaviness and mildew..
Sights... of swaying palm trees, rich hues of flowers and brightly painted beach houses (little pink houses for you and me :0), birds in flight of every shape and size, golf like carts running up and down roads, sand blowing on the roads and in the air, mist covering certain areas, Whataburgers....ugh, brightly arranged tourist traps of giant sharks, fish, and other such creatures, brown skin and hats on many heads
I hear.... the ocean crashing at all times around the town, the wind whistling through the palms, tires spinning out, music playing all around (especially from Wednesday through Sunday), birds singing their wondrous songs, squeals of laughter from kids on the beach, helicopters flying over, airplanes dropping off parachutes, large ships coming in and blaring their horns, 
Many languages being spoken, many smiles being ushered, many hellos and good mornings, 

Mar 6, 2012

So you ask what all do they do on the beaches in Port Aransas (and we're not talking spring break here). We have seen so much and so many interesting characters here. One man who exercises everyday (so many seniors running, walking, biking, and exercising) was immortalized in a watercolor at the Art Center! He carries a stick on his shoulders with both hands running through and is a huge bear of a man. He's had surgery on his legs and is staying in shape along the ocean... what a sweetheart.
People are kite surfing, go cart sailing (with a kite), building sand castles, creating artwork (deep meaningful creations), and well you name it.
We are but specks of sand on this great big earth.. grains of sand apart shifting with the wind, the tides, and moon, and the sun. We intermingle and come across one another recognizing a smile, a certain look , a stance, a rhythm to the person that is vaguely familiar to our heart and soul. On this Island we have come across this phenomena several times. We have met old acquaintances, met new acquaintances and bumped into people knowing that this is part of a divine plan. You say you're in Texas and the state is this or that. I say we are on an Island where humanity coexists and survives amongst mother nature...much like the mountains we come from.. Life on the Island centers around the school, the bars, the churches, but mostly the people....It is simply put familiar.







Mar 4, 2012

Day of Sunshine

The birds sang freely today. It truly was the first day of complete sunshine... yes I know there is no snow here but it has been almost constantly cloudy and the wind is common on the ocean (both of which we love no matter). The birds and butterflies came out in hoards today with enthusiasm and harmony! We soaked it up and watched in wonder for birds truly are miraculous creatures with humorous actions and witty designs. They float, they scurry, they chat, they watch from all angles....
The fisherman were relaxed and we chuckled when one gave up fishing and decided let's just feed the birds. He did Mary Poppins proud I must say. It seemed as though Mary Poppins was in the air with children scampering about with squeals of laughter and kites floating everywhere (as I said the wind's average speed here is 11 mph on a good day). Then we have the comical dogs everywhere. Dogs are loved here in Port Aransas and they run, lunge, smell, romp in the sun and at times get away from their owner as we try not to giggle as all attempts to catch the creatures fails...



It's exhilarating  enjoying the life that surrounds us.

Mar 1, 2012

Each stage of our lives allows us to grow in many unexpected ways. I can reflect back upon a childhood of wonders where I moved freely through the land, doorways of wonder, sensing things from deep within the earth. It was pure pleasure to wander and breathe in every nuisance around me. There was a sensitivity of deep resolve to know more about the nature of the land, the people and the life forms that filled it. I was very aware of how old the land was that I laid my feet upon and often times laid my head upon at night. There were badlands to explore filled with bones, skin fragments and fossils which revealed puzzles of life before. This was treasure hunting at its finest. There were rocks to examine, break open and marvel at their beautiful nature inside....Makes me contemplate what you would find inside many things around us, even us as humans...would we glow from within or would there be many cracks and crevices that conceal the glowing interior?
From the beginning I knew I was different (as now I know we all are). The sad part of this is that as a child it's OK to be different, but as people enter our lives, school enters our lives, and survival patterns enter our lives this different approach often times feels like a label and we begin to lose our voice. 
Is there any one thing to blame, I think not. Our personal journey is richer, deeper and more fulfilling when the journey is filled with ups and downs, hills and valleys, sun and moon. 
My personal journey was often with wide open eyes sensing things through my skin, my touch, my ears, and of most importance through my fingers and eyes. Movement was very important to me, touching life was very important, and recreating what I saw through art became of utmost importance. 
At some of the stages of growth I felt as though this sensitivity was a disgrace, a dishonor and I was to tuck it in and toughen up..This  only led to more sadness from within. Then when sadness enters you are labeled with depression. I slowly found out through self journeys, through education, through some marvelous open people that I was never depressed just not allowing my voice to be heard. With this stage of growth my world expanded as large as the Grinch's when he felt love for the first time! Ever since I might stumble but I never look back...
There are so many vivid moments in my life that have made huge differences in who I am..
Becoming a mother and from your warm belly comes these creatures who are absolutely marvelous in every way..what a blessing, and then you get to grow with them, laugh with them, cry with them, 
Then comes moments of love, marriage, death, new jobs, divorce and so many moments that cause huge growth in us. We slowly begin to understand our parents and why they care and worry about us so..
I could go on and on...
But I have to say I love growing older (and no I'm not grown up), I love these stages of liking myself, of knowing I have so much to give and share...
Life is good, life is a blessing
I will continue to laugh, cry, share and feel every emotion from the tips of my soul... I will express