tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41578053037440441912024-03-21T19:28:08.372-07:00My SoapboxA collection of my rants, raves, idle thoughts, and obsessions.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-90598421251325120232010-10-10T15:57:00.000-07:002010-10-10T15:57:13.921-07:00Facebook games, cancer, and my mom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">A few days ago a friend of mine posted a link to a blog at Politics Daily about the Facebook "cancer" games that have been going around. You know, where women get a message to change their status to the color of their bra or <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/07/facebook-wants-to-know-where-i-like-my-purse-heres-where-they/">where they put their purse</a> using suggestive language all in the name of cancer awareness. I have to say it made me think a little deeper about how helpful that actually is, how silly it is, and how damaging from a Christian perspective, which is not the subject I wish to discuss today. The word cancer brings many of my family to mind. My father has so far survived malignant melanoma. My maternal grandfather died of the same lung cancer that took my mom. Both my grandmothers survived breast cancer in an age when that was hard to do. My paternal grandmother did eventually die of stomach cancer. Then there are the numerous aunts and uncles who had some form of cancer or another, many of whom succumbed eventually. But the one I think of most at the mention of cancer is my mom. Maybe because she was the closest to me to die of cancer. Maybe because I was only 22. Maybe because my sister, younger than me by four years, and I were her only caregivers at a time when our peers and friends were all in college where we only wished we could be. Beyond that, my mom has been in my thoughts a lot lately for many reasons. November marks both her death and her birth and I frequently think of her most often this time of year. It's the start of the holiday season. My sister just got married and I was aware of a big hole in the festivities that would have been filled by Mom. I have a four year old that is going through a trying stage and I want to talk to my mom about what to do. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">This is why Donna Trussell, author of the these blogs, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">struck a nerve </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">in her blog on the <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/11/my-bra-color-me-furious/">bra game</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">She has ovarian cancer which is overlooked in awareness campaigns and is much deadlier than the more common breast cancer we hear so much about. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">She talks about "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cancer envy – wishing you could trade in your bad-stat cancer for a more benign variety – is known only to those with personal experience with this dreadful disease.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">" She probably meant those with<i> </i>the disease since that is her perspective, but I think it can be applied to family, close friends, and caregivers too. My mom died of lung cancer, not a "womans" cancer and this caused some problems in her care. Not with her doctors, they were great, but with my mother's, sister's, and my education. Early on we contacted the American Cancer Society on the advice of my mom's doctor for support and to educate ourselves about the type of cancer she had. To say they weren't helpful is an understatement. They sent us 30 miles into the country for a support group when we lived in metro Denver because they said it was the one closest one to us. Anyone that has cared for a seriously ill person knows what a huge investment of time and energy just daily living takes. After work and life, getting to this support group was incredibly difficult. We were in <i>Denver</i>, not some little town without resources and they tell us to drive to the sticks for help? Then we turned to them for help when our itty bitty sub-basement apartment (all a 22 and 18 year old caring for a cancer patient without health insurance could afford) developed a severe flooding and subsequent mold</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">problem which her doctor said was unhealthy for someone with LUNG cancer (duh), they told us they were very sorry but they had no suggestions for us. But what does this have to do with cancer envy? We contacted the ACS several times for resources or information on my mother's particular cancer. Each time we got transfered to multiple departments before someone would take pity on us and send us some pamphlets and booklets in the mail. This happened at least three times and </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">every time</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> they sent us information on breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer as though the only cancer that concerned a woman was in her "woman parts". This infuriated me. In every instance the ACS failed to listen to us and our needs. This from an organisation that claims to have insight into the special needs and concerns of cancer patients and their families. As you can see, even after more than 14 years this still sends me into orbit. I refuse to support this organization and will tell anyone within earshot why they shouldn't either. Go ahead, check them out with some of the charitable rating services. You will find many of these stories. I never did get a chance to research her cancer and I wonder how it affected her care. Were there questions we should have asked if we had more information? Were there treatments we could have pursued? We could not be an advocate in mom's care because we lacked information. I kept thinking it would be so much easier if she had a "womans" cancer. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I would have had more help and education than I could handle.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">o this day, the sight of millions of pink ribbons for months on end gives me a disquieting left out feeling. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I understand what drove this obsession with awareness of cancer specific to women. Once upon a time our male dominated medical profession spent much less time researching and treating those cancers. But that was long ago and it's time we remembered that women can and do get cancer in all parts of our bodies. As Donna stated in her blog, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">But don't color me pink. Or teal [the color for ovarian cancer]. I want a new color. I want a rainbow. We use the word "cancer" for what is probably a thousand different diseases. The segregation and disparity in funding between types of cancer is absurd. Name any cell in your body, and you've just named a chance for mutation and cancer – at any time, for any person."</span></span></div>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-78022792391653810372010-04-16T12:13:00.000-07:002010-04-16T12:13:57.370-07:00CreativeLiveThanks to a member of a photography group I belong to, I found this site, <a href="http://creativelive.com/">CreativeLive</a>. Based out of Seattle, they offer online classes in a variety of subjects although it looks like photography is the mail focus. If you watch the classes live they are free, if you would like to watch at another time or keep the lessons for later use, you may purchase the course. I signed up for a couple of courses. A 10 week Fundamentals of Digital Photography course and a 3 week Creative Eye course taught by <a href="http://www.artwolfe.com/">Art Wolfe</a>. The Fundamentals course is $79 while the course is running and $129 after it is over. A price will be listed for the Creative course once it has started. I'm excited to learn and grow and maybe end some frustration. I'm not sure I can attend all the courses or that Calissa will let me listen to the whole thing, but I'm gonna learn something! It looks like they have portions of the class available for viewing on the site too. I watched the first 10 minutes of the Fundamentals course and wish I could devote the time today to the rest, but chores must be done.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-45280055104122706662010-02-25T10:44:00.003-07:002010-02-25T10:59:10.208-07:00My beautiful, amazing daughterBeing a mother is both the greatest joy and largest stress of my life. I'm sure all you parents out there totally understand. It's way beyond what I ever imagined. It's a gift of amazing proportions, one I thank God for though not often enough. Today especially I am reveling in her capacity for learning and creativity. This morning, one of my hair clips rolled under my king sized bed just out of my reach. I asked Calissa if she could reach it. At first she said no, then told me she would try. She scoped out the situation very seriously and then ran around to the other side of the bed. I assumed, probably because this is how I would do it, that she would crawl under head first and grab the clip. Nope, not her. She rolled over on her belly, stuck her feet under the bed and scooted back until she could scoop the clip up on the cup of her feet and the scooted back out, clip in hand so to speak. One of the things I've been teaching her recently is to clear her place after meals. Usually she just dumps her dishes in the sink or puts them on the counter. After breakfast today, she picks up her bowl and spoon, opens the dishwasher, and puts her spoon and bowl pretty much where they belong. She then comes over to me, asks me if I'm done with my bowl and when I say yes, puts them in the dishwasher as well. I'm sure that in time, I'll have to yell and scream and threaten awful things to get her to pick up after herself. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy my little helper.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-9764095463525898032010-01-09T12:09:00.002-07:002010-01-09T12:19:06.375-07:00LP RECORD MIRRORS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://data.uncommongoods.com.edgesuite.net/images/product/18229_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 200px;" src="http://data.uncommongoods.com.edgesuite.net/images/product/18229_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is such a cool idea for a music lover of an age to remember records. You can choose from several styles of music. At a whooping $175, it might be better to look into a DIY option.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?source=related_ug&itemId=18229">LP RECORD MIRRORS | Music, Mirror, Records, LPs, Music-Lover, Vintage, Jeff, Davis, Mirrors, Home | UncommonGoods</a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-6073107780884638932009-08-28T18:36:00.006-07:002009-08-28T21:24:47.448-07:00Some favorite photos<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I'm good at finding photos I love (and I mean LOVE!) on the net and losing them again. Today, I came across a few I've been searching high and low for as well as some new ones.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This photograph just draws me in. I could stare at it for hours. I want to be on that ridge with the wind whistling around me, feeling the sand nick my skin, as the sun sets. It has a lonely, almost apocalyptic feel, yet peaceful and only slightly melancholy. I just love the quality of light. Shot by </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://corneveaux.com/blog/">Jason J. Corneveaux</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/11002521.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 250px;" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/11002521.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This another one done by Jason. Again, it's more surreal, but I find it playful.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/12484760.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/12484760.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >This is a new favorite. I actually gasped when I saw it. It won Panoramio's First Prize in Scenery and no wonder. I'd give up toes to be able to take pictures like this, maybe for just one picture like this. Taken by <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/user/2073583">FWWS</a> in the Ukraine, you can see more of his work on his Panoramio page</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >. Trust me, this is </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >not an isolated instance of great talent. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/23591855.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 164px;" src="http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/23591855.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />And now I have to go find a photograph I lost while tracking down all the links for this post.</span></span>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-20934352709308228202009-08-15T11:43:00.003-07:002009-08-15T12:05:08.717-07:00Maia Waye art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.22797697.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 399px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.22797697.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I came across this artist on etsy and am in love with her gourds. They are unfortunately out of my price range, but her prints are not and they are impressive as well. Pyrographed gourds are decorated with burn marks and then colored. This process is time consuming and exact, requiring great skill. These are two of my favorites, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10554772">Momma's of Africa</a> above and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12412400">Tutankhamun with Scarab</a>. I would love to have these to drool over in my home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.28884557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 500px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.28884557.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Her prints are stunning as well. Rich and vibrant with an inner harmony. Below are <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28670964">Triangle Sun and Water</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27122041">Planet Shared</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.82865571.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 552px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.82865571.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.77669370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 278px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.77669370.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For more of Maia's art visit her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5647594">etsy shop</a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-64739996863462570892009-06-22T10:09:00.004-07:002009-06-22T11:13:25.776-07:00This is why my blog is called the soapbox.<br /><br />I live in an unincorporated area of Pinal County just south of Phoenix. The post office recently decided to change our zip code as it is one of the fasted growing areas in the state, if not the country. Or at least it was until the housing market fell apart, but the point is that there are a TON of people down here in a zip code that is just very full. There are people that are very upset with this, but that is not my issue at the moment. My issue is that for years, a segment of the people down here have wanted to incorporate into a town. I haven't made up my mind about this, I see advantages (a library closer than 45 minutes) and disadvantages (the taxes to fund the library). So just last week I start getting emails about a changing the name of the area at the same time as they change the zip code. The first email I recieve is about how a county supervisor is changing the name without input from the community, that this is being railroaded through without our say or knowledge. This concerns me, as it should. Next I get an email about how the supervisor and post office have decided to extend the deadline for this name change to allow for community involvement. Great! So far I'm right where they want me. Not thinking about WHY we need the name change, or who is asking for the name change, but just glad I get to be a part of it. But as the days go by and a I get a couple more emails about the process of choosing the name, I begin to lose my sheep status. I start thinking, what is the point of this name change? Is it the post office asking for a name to go along with the new zip code? Was it just an opportune time to create an identity apart from Queen Creek? Is it the first step towards incorporation? I start researching. I look at all the emails I've recieved. I look at the website of the Greater San Tan Area Coalition, the group that is co-ordinating this name change. I email them myself when I cannot find a reason specifically stated in all of this.<br /><br />On the Greater San Tan Area Coalition"s website, I read several times that their goal is not to incorporate, but only a way of banding together to voice our wants and needs to the entities that control the area, Pinal County, Queen Creek, etc. The emails state this as well, including the reply to my own, which says "The name change is to give an identity to the unincorporated northeastern section of Pinal County - nothing more nothing less. This is not about incorporation or annexation or anything of the such. Simply an identity... ". Sounds good so far. However, I don't think that is the truth.<br /><br />The news is stating that this is a step towards incorporation. I look at the items the GSTAC are concerned about. Protecting open space, attracting business, creating a plan for shopping and residential areas, traffic control, amenities (I assume this means a library, maybe a recycling program, a fire department, etc). These are all goals that require incorporation. An open space plan would require an environmental impact survey as well as an overall plan for our area. Where are the housing developments going, the shopping centers? That requires decisions on traffic control, new roads, etc. This kind of planning costs money, lots of money. Amenities cost money. How will they get that? A tax of course. But how? If we continue in to be an unincorporated part of Pinal County, how will the county tax us and not other areas. Can't use a sales tax. You might be able to create a special zone, a difficult proposition. Most likely we would have to incorporate. Only a city government is capable of providing the resources needed to accomplish the goals stated by the Greater San Tan Area Coalition.<br /><br />Which brings me to the problem. The Greater San Tan Area Coalition is lying. They are trying to start the process of incorporation without our consent. They are telling us this is only a designation on an envelope, but it not. They want us to feel like a group because we will be more likely to behave like a group apart from Pinal County and Queen Creek. It is manipulation, plain and simple. My concern at this point is not whether a town of Bella Vista or whatever the name becomes is a good idea. It is how we are getting there and how can I trust those that are setting themselves up as the political entity to create this town when they lie right from the first step. As for the why, I never got a straight response, but I think it's obvious.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-41907120652144847862009-06-17T09:40:00.004-07:002009-06-17T10:35:30.670-07:00ref-useI love interesting shelves. I find them full of imagination and spunk. These shelves are fit the bill nicely. These eco-friendly shelves are from <a href="http://www.ref-use.com/home.html">ref-use</a> and made of plywood that was on it's way to the dump. They have a line of tables and chairs that are very cool as well.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dirtyshelves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 398px;" src="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dirtyshelves.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-17112686106492611492009-06-13T13:04:00.002-07:002009-06-17T10:36:00.793-07:00PerfectNo more stealing mommy's stuff and spraying cleaner everywhere! Maybe :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/Features/parenting/learn/1005_my_first_cleaning_st.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 176px;" src="http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/Features/parenting/learn/1005_my_first_cleaning_st.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/learn/feature/familyfun123-toddler-helpers/familyfun123-toddler-helpers7.html">Houselhold Cleaning (Chores for Kids) - and More Great Family Fun Party Ideas</a><br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Audra/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" />Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-23443482352186525102009-05-01T11:23:00.003-07:002009-06-17T10:36:21.071-07:00My wonderful daughterI thought it was about time to update everyone on Calissa's doings. Her pretend play has taken a big jump in the last couple of weeks. She has discussions with her toys and stuffed animals, which is really cute. I love to see how she learns from her environment. As with most families, dinner is a time to catch up and discuss our day. Yesterday, the batteries in Calissa's music box needed replaced and at dinner she told her dad how her music had "broken". She is learning her numbers. As with most 2 year olds, she only gets the concept of one and more than one, but she is learning to recognize the numbers as symbols. She had taken her train tracks completely apart and I was putting them back together yesterday morning. Part of the track is a short spiral to a bridge. As I was putting this together, she pointed to it and said, "Look, it's a six." A couple of weeks ago her grandpa gave her a toy with the alphabet and numbers 1-10 on it. This has several modes, counting, learning the letters, associating words (horn goes with H), and spelling. I'm not real fond of the spelling because it's not something Calissa can do yet, so it gets very repetitive and you get the wrong choice noise. This is Calissa's favorite mode. Even when she gets really frustrated (she knows the wrong choice noise, and what it means), she won't let me turn it to another mode. I have a feeling she will be asking me to spell things for her soon. I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with her. We also had to put catches on her closet door and lock up all of her books at night. She started getting up after we turned off her light, getting a book, turning the light back on, and reading. So we started not just turning off the light at the wall switch, but on the lamp as well. It took her two nights to figure that out. This makes me very curious about the role genetics plays in this. I used to do the same thing, taking books to bed. I'm sure that much of this is typical toddler behaviour. The natural byproduct of a curious and active mind paired with a desire to put off sleep. We buy her lots of books, and read to her often, so I'm sure nurture is also a big part. I wonder how she can be so much like Ivan or I in some regards. Genetics has to be a part of this. She isn't emulating me. I read before bed, but she is already asleep. Or am I simply ascribing a normal behavoir to taking after a parent? For all I know, toddlers of non-reader parents do the same thing.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-24373173768706340142009-04-21T18:57:00.003-07:002009-05-01T11:22:57.209-07:00I need this!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aplusrstore.com/photos/small/aqua_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 60px;" src="http://www.aplusrstore.com/photos/small/aqua_4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Clocky - The Alarm that Runs Away! Literally, hit the snooze and Clocky jumps off your nightstand in search of a hiding spot. My luck he would end up under the king size bed where I can't reach him, but I doubt I'd go back to sleep. My brother would HATE this, which makes it the perfect gift! I found it at <a href="http://www.aplusrstore.com/product_detail.php?show=product&pid=229&cid=70">A + R Store</a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-91989511249344237572009-04-20T14:35:00.002-07:002009-04-20T14:37:55.802-07:00Another from Lifeshop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lifeshopcollection.com/images/products/rattan_043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 720px; height: 486px;" src="http://www.lifeshopcollection.com/images/products/rattan_043.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.lifeshopcollection.com/view.php?product=49da7e863b89e"></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-63358659114656410022009-04-06T22:30:00.001-07:002009-04-06T23:22:25.460-07:00African Gardens | Gallery | Cowfiles.com - Send a Cow - Free lesson plans and teaching resources about AfricaThis site has a gallery and instructions for building many styles of keyhole gardens, as well as bag gardens. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.cowfiles.com/gallery/african-gardens">African Gardens | Gallery | Cowfiles.com - Send a Cow - Free lesson plans and teaching resources about Africa</a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-10612353792033563652009-04-06T22:13:00.007-07:002009-04-07T00:06:47.083-07:00Keyhole Gardens and Herb Spiral<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdrmwdAu1NI/AAAAAAAAAB4/eBrrTamr1mk/s1600-h/African_Gardens_Lesotho_keyhole_garden.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdrmwdAu1NI/AAAAAAAAAB4/eBrrTamr1mk/s320/African_Gardens_Lesotho_keyhole_garden.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321819629787469010" border="0" /></a><br />I just ran across these garden styles tonight and I'm so excited to try them!<br /><br />Keyhole Gardens were started by the charity <a href="http://www.sendacow.org.uk/">Send a Cow</a>. They are a raised circular bed with a compost and water system in the center. An open wedge allows access to the compost and water reservoir as well as the inner area of garden. This style not only allows someone that can't, or in my case, doesn't want to bend over or kneel on the ground, but this is also an incredibly efficient method of gardening. It allows a whooping 64% of the garden area to be cultivated. A typical square bed uses only 24% once access around the perimeter is accounted for. Additionally, the top of the garden is sloped allowing a greater garden area than a flat garden. Want more? Of course you do! Having a center area for compost means it's all in one place. If space is at a premium in your yard, you wouldn't even need a separate compost pile. And for my use, it would be easy to add an umbrella for shade simply by sinking a PVC pipe into the ground near the center of the wedge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdrrMvmI8xI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZdQmlxsZag8/s1600-h/herb+spiral.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdrrMvmI8xI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZdQmlxsZag8/s320/herb+spiral.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321824513859056402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo courtesy of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">amberdc</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">flickr</span>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">license</a> applies</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.gardeningtipsnideas.com/">Gardening Tips & Ideas</a> says, "The herb spiral is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">permaculture</span> gardening method that uses nature to its full potential. Gravity allows the water to seep through the levels meaning that the plants at the top get full drainage while the ones at the bottom may reside in a simple bog. It also gives your herbs shady spots with varying degrees. The herbs that need full-sun can be grown in those positions while more shade loving plants can be located on the opposite side." Again, this method of gardening allows for greater soil surface area since you are dealing with a slope. Veggies and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ornamentals</span> would be neat too. I think I may use it for succulents as well. You could get really fancy with this. Add a fountain to the top, or a bird bath, or just a landscape light. <span style="font-style: italic;">Endless</span> possiblities!Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-38554323687182601772009-04-06T16:36:00.003-07:002009-04-06T18:04:13.066-07:00Makes you go hmmm..My sister sent this quote to me a while ago, and it keeps coming up in conversations. <br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">Owners of capital will stimulate working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism. — Karl Marx, 1867<br /></span><br />It's really stuck in my brain. I wish I knew what I could do something about the situation it describes. Scary that Karl Marx, father of communism, laid out (simplistically) the financial and political situation we are in now. Scary this was in the making 150 years ago. Scary nothing was done. Scary that there seems to be no suggestions to rectify the financial situation without exacerbating the political situation. I like Obama for many reasons. My main concern with him is his socialist leanings. Throwing money at major bankrupt corporations and then requiring government ownership even in a small part is just to close to communism for me. It gets us much farther down that slippery slope than we should be. As for saying it's temporary, yeah right. So was the federal income tax after WWII. It was supposed to go away as soon as the financial situation at the time was resolved, which was our war debt. <br /><br />As bad as it might make things for many people, I really think that we should let the market correct this. Let capitalism do it's job. Let those companies die and new healthy companies grow from the ashes. The majority of workers would find new jobs with the new companies. The time between would be awful for everyone, but in the long run I think that time would be shorter. A healthy company will be able to overcome the situation better than a sick company that must be propped up for years before any real improvement is seen. Just give the money we would use to bail out old decrepit companies to new, more vital companies. <br /><br />This is too fearsome of a possibility for many people, so perhaps we can find a middle ground. Only give certain of those companies seeking bailouts a <span style="font-style:italic;">small</span> loan, enough to pay the very basics for a short amount of time. If they can make changes in that time, maybe give them one more small loan. If not, bye-bye. You had your chance. <br /><br />What kind of criteria should we have for choosing which corporations get this loan? The willingness of the VIP's or high paid employees give up bonuses and luxury benefits should be one. Maybe a bonus could be offered once the company was back in the black for those employees that that stayed with the company through the bad times. Would those same people consider a deduction in salary? What kind of changes at what cost would be necessary to make the corporation a viable business again? How vital is this company and are there other corporations in the same industry being evaluated? If so, how does it compare? Let's take the auto manufacturers for example. If GM agrees to restructure their employee compensations by eliminating bonuses in excess of say $10,000 (this would not penalize the average worker), bring the benefit package for the top earners to the same level as the rest of the employees packages, as well reduce the salaries of those individuals, as well as make necessary changes to their business model, then that is the company we should help out. If Chrysler makes only token concessions in reducing the exorbitant compensation packages of high earners and instead fires half the admin and manufacturing employees, then maybe they aren't the company to back. Government has to look at this as an investor would. What company is most likely to succeed the soonest. Unlike an investor, it should not become a part owner, it should not own stock, or in any way become a part of that company. Perhaps that company could be taxed at a higher rate to repay the loan once a certain milestone is passed (ie-a number of profitable quarters, a certain amount of time), or simply a re-payment of the loan. Will people be hurt if the company not bailed out fails? Of course. But how many will be hurt when we find ourselves in 20 or 30 years with major industries owned by the government? We know how that works out. Government cannot run a business, the methods are all wrong. <br /><br />Another thing I find scary is the potential for abuse by so called "civil servants" of the congressional kind. How many Congressmen and Senators will buy up shares of a company that the government has a stake in, and then use the combined power of both shareholder and legislative body to make a gazillion dollars? Or blackball other advances and competitors? How will that affect the affordability and availability of fuel efficient vehicles? On corporate pollution? On other evironmental considerations? On any other progress? <br /><br />The possiblility (I believe certainty) that abuses will occur out way any benifit we would see in the next few years. We would be selling our national soul to the devil.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-42709127064476918252009-04-06T12:00:00.004-07:002009-06-17T10:37:00.200-07:00Paper artI've also become enamored with paper art. It can be incredibly detailed and complex. The patience and skill that you would need to complete something like this piece by artist <a href="http://url/" target="http://www.helenmusselwhite.com/">Helen Musselwhite</a> leaves me a bit in awe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/oh-how-i-love-thee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 471px;" src="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/oh-how-i-love-thee.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bird-styled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 682px;" src="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bird-styled.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-45288635472884562882009-04-06T11:34:00.005-07:002009-04-06T12:21:15.217-07:00Some more great designI've been neglecting design blogs I follow for a bit as I concentrated on gardening research. Today on design sponge, they had a sneak peak at the home of Jeremy Mcelewain, a designer with <a href="http://URL" target="http://www.colortheory.vpweb.com/">Colortheory</a>. They have a custom chandelier that is just beautiful. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdpP-ncp-dI/AAAAAAAAABw/6TDVMA_bS4Y/s1600-h/orange+chandelier+room+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdpP-ncp-dI/AAAAAAAAABw/6TDVMA_bS4Y/s320/orange+chandelier+room+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321653846851320274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdpP-Q76Y9I/AAAAAAAAABo/RV_BitzAgnc/s1600-h/orange+chandelier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/SdpP-Q76Y9I/AAAAAAAAABo/RV_BitzAgnc/s320/orange+chandelier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321653840808403922" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the house is nice too. The colors are soothing, but not boring. The design is simple and uncluttered but not barren and cold. A wonderful mix of rustic, formal, traditional, and modern. It gives me a feeling of a beach house. I can imagine myself lounging with a good book, maybe in a hammock. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/jeremypeek1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px; height: 594px;" src="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/jeremypeek1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/jeremypeek7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px; height: 712px;" src="http://assets.designspongeonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/jeremypeek7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-72960074941938618252009-04-03T10:59:00.003-07:002009-04-06T12:20:46.316-07:00Stanford Cactus GardenThis is a beautiful video of a cactus garden at Stanford University in California. No stretches of gravel or decomposed granite here. This is a real GARDEN, with a lushness that many people don't think you can have in a cactus garden. I could hang out here for hours. Nice music too. <br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MQmnE9_VI6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MQmnE9_VI6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-7129668902320867082009-03-26T15:59:00.002-07:002009-04-07T00:10:28.736-07:00I'm green!I wish my tank looked like this. Not just the composition (fantastic! dramatic, calming, with a real sense of depth and height), but the health of the plants.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/ofiles/privacy_L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 631px; height: 338px;" src="http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/ofiles/privacy_L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />or like this, so deceptively simple!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/ofiles/cleanlines_L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 171px;" src="http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/ofiles/cleanlines_L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Instead, it looks like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/ScwKYy3KwdI/AAAAAAAAABY/F1KjVw4Gtak/s1600-h/IMG_0588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/ScwKYy3KwdI/AAAAAAAAABY/F1KjVw4Gtak/s320/IMG_0588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317636681104015826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And my plants look like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/ScwPtF-CFzI/AAAAAAAAABg/4-5YOTVq1LU/s1600-h/sword+algae.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mg6As1XNlak/ScwPtF-CFzI/AAAAAAAAABg/4-5YOTVq1LU/s320/sword+algae.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317642527388604210" border="0" /></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-2450990092422222972009-03-24T15:05:00.005-07:002009-04-07T00:09:47.890-07:00Very coolI just love this chandelier! So romantic and soo facinating. Just imagine the light it casts!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.48779312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.48779312.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=cat3_gallery_20&listing_id=18486212"></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-73502470338111431632009-03-01T14:46:00.002-07:002009-04-07T00:11:12.435-07:00Coolest house EVER!!<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GEUMVDEBea4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GEUMVDEBea4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-32532261773987911562009-02-26T12:15:00.005-07:002009-02-26T12:58:12.325-07:00GardeningI've been yearning for a garden for months now. I waste so much time online looking up plants, learning about low desert gardening, finding neat little ways to do things. I love DIY solutions. I really don't see the point in buying something I can make. I save money, learn a new skill, and it's so much more satisfying! I also hate to throw something away that could have another use. So today I came across some very neat things right up my alley. Anyone's alley really. They are simple ways to make your own pots for the garden. No special tools or skills required!<br /><br />The first are newspaper pots. You can purchase a wooden form to make these...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.burpee.com/images/en_US//local/products/detail/B85852.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 253px;" src="http://www.burpee.com/images/en_US//local/products/detail/B85852.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />or use items you already have, a glass, soda can, or soda bottle with the top cut off and black & white newspaper. If you want a bigger pot, just use a bigger vessel to wrap your paper around. Here is a video from eHow with directions. She creates a pot in 3 minutes! This is so easy you can do it in front of the TV. She suggests taking the newspaper off when you plant the pot since the newspaper may not decompose fast enough, most people leave it on tho. I think it depends on your gardening conditions, and how many layers of newspaper you have in your pot. If you do leave the newspaper on, make sure it is completely buried so that it doesn't wick moisture away from the seedling.<br /><br /><embed id="mediaPlayerContainer" flashvars="id=03KqeOEbyC4T0biEJW06IW97wS&partnerId=3&pwidth=404&pheight=352" scale="noscale" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="window" menu="false" loop="false" allowscriptaccess="always" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" style="" name="mediaPlayerContainer" src="http://www.ehow.com/flash/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="404" align="TL" height="352"></embed><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ehow.com/video_1745_create-seed-starting.html">How to Create Seed-Starting Pots From Newspapers</a> -- powered by eHow.com<br /></div><br />There are lots of different ways to make your pots, some are more complicated than others.<br /><br />The other idea I came across is using 2 liter soda bottles as mini green houses. Again very easy, and all you need is the bottle, scissors or knife, soil and seeds.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFJ9V_rOMcO-XR-2Ir1cSqx-E3Q29TIKtWA0PWEhGKFwSR1tV3wlBY7ag6sY9zX2RhPpmwIvd2qLidqwCviL0_A01cJMYanzqB1PMZT3fKRoyKJEMfTsEkll0V7Dtye6zL7zkxNoop24y/s1600/Home+Made+Green+House+pic1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 666px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFJ9V_rOMcO-XR-2Ir1cSqx-E3Q29TIKtWA0PWEhGKFwSR1tV3wlBY7ag6sY9zX2RhPpmwIvd2qLidqwCviL0_A01cJMYanzqB1PMZT3fKRoyKJEMfTsEkll0V7Dtye6zL7zkxNoop24y/s1600/Home+Made+Green+House+pic1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />You can find instructions for this at <a href="http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/2007/01/seed-starting-ghetto-greenhouse.html">MrBrownThumb's garden blog</a>. Here is an idea for turning the bottle on it's side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/41612850_d116c1fe4a.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/41612850_d116c1fe4a.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-25236049050895728892009-02-26T12:08:00.002-07:002009-02-26T12:15:43.110-07:00Update on catI'm late on this, but just in case someone is actually reading this, I should let you know what happened. A few days after that post, our beautiful Ebe disappeared. She likes to go outside (supervised of course), but doesn't wander off. That day was beautiful and my daughter and I were on the back porch. Ebe came out with us. I saw her cross in front of the back door while I was inside for a minute. When I went back out, she was gone. I looked all over for her with no luck. Even if she escaped the back yard, she would probably have just laid in the sun on the driveway. Like I said, she isn't a wanderer. My hubby and I think she wandered off to die. We will miss her terribly. She was a great cat, full of personality, loving, and until this illness, never sick a day in her life.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-18740131539410869092009-01-21T11:55:00.002-07:002009-01-21T12:05:21.856-07:00My CatMy hubby and I have a 14 yr old domestic cat named Ebe. She's a great cat. Full of personality and attitude and love and mischief. She's always been really healthy. Until just after Christmas. She's losing weight, sleeping more than normal, not eating as much, sitting and laying funny, and is very, very snuggly. We had a bunch of blood work done, but it only told us what wasn't wrong. She doesn't seem to be suffering from any infections or viruses, her kidneys and liver are fine, and her thyroid is normal. That leaves us with some sort of digestional disorder. To determine what kind, we need to get an ultrasound done at around $500, which we don't have. I've tried to get insurance for her, but she's too old for all the but the ones that take the most advantage. I don't know what we are going to do. My vet in Colorado would let us run a balance, but our new vet here in AZ won't. It's a shame, cuz in a few weeks we would have the money. I'm sure if we don't do something fast, we'll lose our sweet kitty. The whole thing is keeping me up at night.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157805303744044191.post-58164131752037338852008-10-22T10:41:00.004-07:002009-06-17T10:37:37.184-07:00Camping in Oak Creek CanyonSo Ivan, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Calissa</span> and I went camping this last weekend in Oak Creek Canyon outside of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sedona</span>. I've always wanted to go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sedona</span> and I will most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">definitely</span> go back. I could spend a month just going through the artist galleries and studios. And several more months exploring the area around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sedona</span>. I could shoot thousands of pictures in only a few days. The scenery is amazing. The colors are gorgeous. If you are driving down I-17 from Flagstaff, do yourself a favor and take a detour through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sedona</span>. It's worth the extra hour or two.<br /><br />This is only our second camping trip since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Calissa</span> was born. I was looking forward to the fresh air and lots of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">exercise</span>. I was really hoping that I could break the insomnia that has plagued me since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DD's</span> birth. Two plus years is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> of not sleeping. Although I did get to go on a couple of short hikes (or walks), they were solitary and not nearly enough. On the first I went to the bottom of the canyon to hike along the stream. It was gorgeous and relaxing. I enjoyed being able to have some uninterrupted photography time, but other than the climb up and down the hill to camp, it wasn't really a workout. The second hike was also along the stream but farther up the canyon in a flat area. Again, wonderful, but not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">exercise</span>. I slept pretty well while camping, but the insomnia returned as soon as we got home.<br /><br />We came home a day early due to some noise problems at the campsite. The site we were at was located just off the road, which ended up being much busier than we expected. A very popular trail was located just up the canyon from us as well as several resorts. When we set up camp on Wednesday, the campground was pretty empty. By Friday afternoon it was busting at the seams. The sites had an 8 person, 2 vehicle max. The group next to us ignored that rule. By Saturday, we were in the middle of a veritable tent city. There were probably between 35 and 50 people congregated in one site. They had spread out their tents as more sites became available, but they still had 5 family tents in the site to our north, 4 in the site to our south, and 2 in another site adjacent to the northern one. I also think they had another site just across the road in the campground. It was obviously some sort of family reunion. For as many people as they had, they were pretty quiet. They weren't blasting music, or shouting, or acting up. But that's still too many people. I go camping to get some space, some peace. Our tents ended up mere feet away from each other, our kitchen just steps from one of their circles of chairs. The worst part was that general courtesy regarding boundaries was ignored. The kids ran in and out of our campsite with no admonishment from the adults. The older folks also walked back and forth between our tent and kitchen area. I shouldn't have to stop and wait for traffic to ebb in order to walk from my stove to my tent. The kids continued to get bolder as they realized there were no restrictions being enforced to the point that when we laid down to take a nap (which turned out to be impossible) on Saturday afternoon, they continually came up to the windows to peer in at us. A camping family reunion is a wonderful idea. But this was not the place for it. There was a group camp site they could have reserved, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">KOA</span> nearby, or even one of the resorts. At the very least they should have gone to a campground where they could have gotten several sites right next to each other. There were places available like that. The rangers did nothing to enforce the rules either, several came around on Friday and Saturday. So we forfeited our last nights fee and left. Next time, we will stay in one of the bigger campgrounds where we can get away from the road and rangers are there all day to handle issues like this.Audrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911266968744167859noreply@blogger.com0