Scenic Sunday

Since I couldn't decide which of these I liked the best, you get a double view from Point Imperial at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona this week. It was a nice clear day, it had been raining so the ground was wet and the colors were vibrant. Did you know that the full name for this place is The Grand Canyon of The Colorado River? I learned that this week--I never knew that before.

For more photos of Scenic Sunday, click here.

Hiking The Cape Final Trail

I am don't normally have Wednesdays off, but this week I traded days off so one of my co-workers could spend time with visiting family members. Since my friend, Gaelyn from Geogypsy was also off, we decided to go for a hike.

(The beginning of the Cape Final Trail)

When she asked me where I wanted to hike, I had originally suggested the Arizona Trail. The part of the Arizona Trail that goes from the entrance station of the North Rim to the developed area is 12 miles. She thought was too ambitious for me, and she was very right. I don't know what I was thinking! So, we hiked the 4 mile round trip of the Cape Final Trail instead.

(A Horned Toad hiding in the pinestraw)

We got started bright and early at the crack of 10:00 a.m., and got to the trail head about 11:00 a.m. To get there, you drive up the Cape Royal Road until you see the sign. There is a small dirt parking area there. We got out of the truck, and tried to take pictures of ourselves, but my camera didn't do so great. Finally, we were on our way.

(Fire burned a hole between the trunks of these two Ponderosa pines, but they are both still living)

The trail starts off on a gentle incline, through Ponderosa forest. It is rocky, which makes walking a bit hazardous until you get used to it. Although I took enough water with me this time, I think I wore the wrong shoes. Next time, I'll wear my work boots for the support they give.

(the view from the edge where we ate our lunch)

And speaking of water, it was a hot, dry, windy day out there. I was surprised by the number of visitors who were out there hiking with NO WATER AT ALL! People were out there hiking with children, carrying NO water, no food, no nothing.

(amazing!)

The views up here are some of the best in the canyon, but I say that about every trail I go on. I keep telling people, "I can't see it enough!" Every eyefull of this place is gorgeous.

(More ponderosa forest)

After eating lunch, we started hiking again. The trail turned to the right, and went up and down through ponderosa forest again. We didn't meet many people on this trail, unless one of had to use the bathroom. But, every time I started to go visit Mrs. Murphy, I'd see someone coming down the trail.

(Gaelyn on the edge.)

At last, we made to the end of the trail. The views up there, again, were amazing, gorgeous, fabulous, every way you looked was a new and different wonder!

(precariously perched pile of rocks)

There were quite a few people up at the top. We had to step around people to get to the view points. We rested some more, and took lots of pictures, before turning around to hike back.

(Notice the layer in the rock--Gaelyn says it an ancient algae layer. I say gorgeous!)

We walked out on top of this overhang, which is where Gaelyn is standing near the edge in a previous photo. I still can't get my head around how all these layers were formed.

(Me on the way down, at the Cape Final sign)

I have heard lots of people say they are afraid of heights, but I am not. I love going close to the edge and looking over. Last year, I was talking to a visitor, who said it was not that she was afraid she might FALL, it was that she was afraid that she might JUMP! I had never heard that before. So, if it were you, would you be more afraid you would fall, or that you would jump?

Remember Whensday

In July of 1985, my kids and I went to Stone Mountain for the day. We picnicked on the lawn in front of the carving, went swimming and stayed for the laser show. It was the second time we went there. The first time was when my son, Seth, was about three years old. He was so scared that the giant rock was going to roll over on us that he couldn't eat his lunch!

For more Remember Whensday photos, click here.

MMMMM, Look At That Sandwich!

Isn't it beautiful? For most people, having a sandwich for lunch, dinner, a picnic, or even for breakfast is just another humdrum, ordinary day. They can walk into any burger joint, restaurant, or sandwich shop and order a ham and swiss on rye, or a Ruben, or a tuna salad sandwich, or a hamburger, and know they can eat it with no problem at all.

But, for those of us who are gluten intolerant or who have Celiac disease, that is not the case. We order a baked potato, or a salad "hold the croutons", or a "hamburger no bun", and sit there and watch as our friends and family enjoy that delicious bun or bread in the form of a sandwich.

Most of you won't ever know what that is like, or even think that it is a problem. And you probably don't even think about it. You see us sitting there eating our salad or potato and think that is what we really WANTED to eat. But being able to eat a nice, delicious sandwich would be soooooooo nice!

And the reason I bring this up is because I know there are companies out there who make gluten free hamburger buns and gluten free bread. How hard could it be for a restaurant or hamburger place to get some, and keep them in the freezer. The buns or bread can be thawed in a gluten free microwave, and then toasted in a gluten free toaster, as needed. Heck, I do it all the time at home. I would GLADLY pay the extra cost of the gluten free bun or bread, even if it was $2.00 per serving, just so I could have a sandwich when I am out with FabGrandpa.

So, next time you are in a sandwich or burger place, ask them if they have a comment card or form. Get one, fill it out, and tell them you want your gluten free friends to be able to eat there with you. Suggest to them that they should get some gluten free buns and bread, and make a little effort to feed the rest of us! Let them know we expect to pay more, and that we will come to their place of business instead of the other places, just because we'll be able to get a sandwich there. Ah, a delicious gluten free sandwich. MMMMMMMMM.......

Oh, and YES, that is a homemade gluten free sandwich in the picture.

That Darn Palpable Mass!

Back during the winter when we were in Phoenix, working at the Christmas tree lot, I had that worrisome palpable mass on my arm. I went to the doctor a couple of times, and had an ultrasound done, and nothing happened. The doctor I saw said they didn't see anything wrong.

Well, my arm swells up and hurts if I use it. Try not using one of your arms for a day and see how frustrating THAT can be.

The day a couple weeks ago that I cut all the strips for the quilts I am making, I had to use my left arm to push down on the ruler and fabric to make sure it didn't move. That night, my arm hurt again, and swelled a little bit.

Then last Friday, when I was working at the entrance station, I had to "walk the line". That is where one of us goes out and walks down the line of cars, answering visitors' questions, checking ID's and passes, and handing out guides. I was holding a stack of guides in my left arm while doing this. That night, my arm was swollen and hurt like a toothache! I'm talking about a pain that a beer and two shots of tequila didn't touch! This is getting to be very bothersome.

So, I was referred to a doctor in Flagstaff and made an appointment for July 21. I will be taking my ultrasound pictures with me, and hope that this new doctor will be able to figure out what is causing this to happen.

I really am not worried about it being cancer, because if it was a cancerous tumor, it would be there all the time. I think it is a cyst, that flares up when I do something to irritate it, like USING MY ARM! So, stay tuned, for the continuing saga of The Palpable Mass.

Scenic Sunday

Friday afternoon at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. There was a thunderstorm rolling in, with heavy dark clouds and lots of noise. We sat outside waiting for the rain, but only got a few drops!

For more Scenic Sunday photos, click here.

Remember Whensday

This photo is not the best ever made, but it is of me and my daughter, Becca in April 1989. She was the only girl in Girl Scout Troop 147 who wanted to go backpacking. I found a council sponsored two day trip hiking the Appalachian Trail near Cleveland, Georgia. We went to two evening training sessions, where they taught the basic things we needed to know about hiking, and gave us a list of what to bring.

I was a little apprehensive about it because I was not the most athletic person even way back then. But, I hiked for two days, carried my own pack and part of tent, and even climbed down a root ladder about 80 feet! Our guide got us lost, and we wandered around for a couple of hours in mountain laurel that was taller than me. We finally got to the place we were supposed to be to meet our ride back home. I was really proud of myself, but alas, this is the only picture that survived.

To see more Remember Whensday photos, click here.