Desert Giants

Saguaro cactus are very slow growing. They only grow about 1/2" in the first year and to 1' in about 15 years. In 40 to 50 years, saguaros reach about 10' tall (and first begin to flower and produce fruit), and in 75 to 100 years they may sprout arm buds. A mature saguaro can soak up to 200 pounds of water during a rain storm. Their root systems are shallow, not really balancing the above ground weight. It amazes me that they last as long as they do.

On January 21, 2010 a strong storm hit our little desert town. The ground was saturated and softened from the torrential rains, the cactus were full of water and top heavy. Then the high winds hit. Sadly dozens of our saguaros were toppled. Here are a few of the lost ones.

This is what the inside of a saguaro looks like. I think it resembles a cut pineapple. When this multi-armed cactus fell the fence cut it in pieces......

Over 150 years old, this was a local landmark. Every Spring it was topped with blooms like a fancy hat.

But not all that fell were lost. This saguaro was lifted and replanted.
If you would like to know more about these giants you can check these sites;

Saguaro National Park http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/archive/sagu/Saguaro/saguaro.html

http://www.desertusa.com/mag08/june/stories/saguaro.html

Say What?

If you have read any of my blog you have probably already figured out that I have a junk-drawer mind. I really enjoy collecting bits and pieces of trivia that doesn't benefit much of anything except to amuse me. These bits and pieces also include a fascination for unusual words.

There are regional words that can be just as strange to our ears as made-up ones. Such as, bobasheely; a Gulf Coast word meaning a good friend, or goozlum; a sauce, gravy, or pudding....used in early 20th century Nebraska. These are found in DARE, the Dictionary of Regional English, which will be published next year. For more examples from this book check; http://dare.wisc.edu/?q=node/163

Doesn't bobasheely just roll off the tongue? But how will I ever work this into a conversation?

Read me a story

Are you a reader? I mean, a real, addicted reader? I confess that I am. If I don't have a book I have been known to read cereal boxes and jar labels in desperation. I have to have at least three books a week or I get the shakes. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little....but just a little. I can only blame my parents for starting me on this road. When I scored my first library card at age six..... I was hooked forever.

I always need new books. But it is hard to keep enough books on hand when traveling so I went searching for books to possibly down-load. I never would have guessed at the amount of free reading material available. Here are only a few of the sites I found.......

Audio:
The Librivox organization states that their goal is "to make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet." There are over 2,500 titles available on the site at present with more coming. Some are even available in French and German. http://librivox.org/newcatalog

FreeBooks http://www.freebooks.org/
1000+ Free Books, MP3 Audio Books

Print:
Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenburg.com/ is the place where you can download over 30,000 free ebooks, mostly classics,to read on your PC, iPhone, Kindle, Sony Reader or other portable device. No fee or registration is required, but they do ask that if you find Project Gutenberg useful,they would like you to donate a small amount so they can buy and digitize more books.

University of Pennsylvania

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/
with a listing of over 35,000 books.

Many of these are classics, how-to and self improvement books. But they fill a need until you find that next road-side ...dealer.

Enjoy.

nonsense

I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.....and that lets you laugh at life's realities.

Continuing changes...

In my quest of reinventing myself I am making an active effort to try new things. I have often heard of the fun involved with drumming circles. People speak of the relaxation, the spiritual calmness and the group togetherness.

Learning of a local drumming circle, I decided to check it out. The leaders brought a variety of drums and rattles. The main drum is what I am told is called a pow-wow drum. It is about three feet across and suspended from an x-shaped frame. It has a beautiful sound when struck. Four of us were playing it at once. One person leads off and the others try to match the rhythmic beat. I was mentally carried away with beat, it vibrated through my body leaving a "humming" feeling. This was FUN! Listening to one of the others playing a hand held hoop drum, I was fascinated by the sound. I made the comment that had to have one. Of course, I just planned on buying one somewhere.

The very next day I was surprised with the gift of a drum frame. It is steam-bent birch about 15 inches across and 3 inches high. This is nice...Oh-oh....I suddenly realized that this meant I had to make my drum! Not having ever seen one made and not having the circle's drums handy to check out, I searched the Internet for how-to hints, and found enough information to help calm my nervousness. Luckily, I found a local source for the raw-hide skin needed for the drum head. After worrying over it for a couple of days I finally just dove in and made the drum. I softened the rigid hide by soaking it in water for a few hours. Laying the wooden frame over it, I laced (tied) the hide to the frame with faux sinew. Not perfect but workable and I learned some things to pay more attention to on my next attempt of drum making. Oh yes, there will be another one.

TOP:

BOTTOM:
...showing the lacing holding the head in place. It also acts as a handle to hold the drum when playing it. The traditional lacing pattern is generally finished in an X but this six-pointed star pattern worked out better for me.

But all things considered, I am quite happy with the results.In the end, I decided to oil the skin instead of painting a design on it. The oil has made the drum head almost translucent and has deepened the tone.

See how the sun shines through it?

This style is one of the most basic of drums. Traditional skin drums made by some Native Americans are very close in design to the Celtic bodhrán as well as being similar to the frame drums distributed widely across northern Africa from the Middle East, and in instruments used for Arabic music and the musical traditions of the Mediterranean region.

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"The drum is the Great Spirit's favorite instrument. That's why we were all given a heartbeat..."~ Mano, Navajo Elder

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Here is some more info if you find that you are interested.

Shaman drum: http://www.beardrum.com/drumconstruction.html

Drum supplies: http://www.drum.com/

Making a simple drum: http://www.ihobf.org/download/Making_a_Drum.pdf

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
~~~Jack London

The Loneliest Highway

US Highway 50 running through Nevada is called the Loneliest road in America because of the extreme distance between the towns.

The state even brags about it!

In fact, the communities along the highway have put together a tongue-in-cheek “Highway 50 Survival Kit.” The kit contains brochures and maps of the places along the route and a special Highway 50 passport which travelers can have validated in the five largest communities (Ely, Eureka, Austin, Fallon and Fernley).

Validated "passports" can be mailed in to be redeemed for a "I Survived the Loneliest Highway" pin and a “Survivor” certificate signed by the governor.

I found that finding someone to stamp my passport was not always easy....I had to really search for some of them. But I found that was part of the fun as we roamed through the towns and shops.

Yes, it is true...the drive along this road is pretty lonely. But there is always something to see in the desert, you just have to keep alert. As you near the town of Middlegate, watch for the Shoe tree. I was amused when I came across this big cottonwood tree in a roadside gully hung with hundreds of shoes. I even saw a pair of roller skates and a water ski hanging among the branches.

From a distance the tree seems to be holding a crop of fruit or maybe sort kind of companion plant like the Spanish moss of the South.

But as you drive closer you realize your mistake and wonder; .....how? .....and why?

From the look of the huge pile of shoes on the ground under the tree, not everyone has the luck of making their footwear hook onto a branch. I tried to toss some of the pile of shoes back into the tree but it is harder to do than it first appears.

If you would like more info on this and other Highway 50 attractions, do some web surfing by starting with these links:
http://www.magazineusa.com/us/states/show.aspx?state=nv&doc=30

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/roadside/shoetrees.htm