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September 08 Watching My Organic Garden GrowThe month of September is a time that is all about enjoying the fruits of Summers labour. Here I would like to share with you the before and after photos of the changes in my garden and a link to an album of close-ups of what I grow.. I buy no plants or starts. Everything I grow is from seed. Many are started in the Greenhouse. June on the deck is very bare looking but by August the flowers are blooming.
I also mix some flowers and vegetables in containers on the deck. June August
Finally a look at the Garden May I started work in the Garden. July was growing slowing.
Due to my cooler nights my garden is very slow growing. I use companion planting and can have one vegetable found all over the entire garden. I love the effect and naturalness of mixing it all up and flowers here and there. August plants start to really grow. September reaching it’s peek.
Here is a corner part of the Garden where 2 previous beds had been combined into one. Most my beds are raised 4 foot wide. June the area is ready to plant. September a bed of beauty.
Aside from the soil that has only organic matter added to it, we keep a drum of manure tea always near by for extra boosts during the summer. After harvesting potatoes the chicks get a special treat of exposed worms.
Now lets look at the progress in the Greenhouse. Late April I start seeds in the Greenhouse. June tender plants remain till after frost.
July I continue to grow in pots here. September the plants will grow here for months to come.
I hope you enjoyed the growth in my garden and greenhouse. With organic gardening it is a labour of love Love of the earth, love of our bodies and Love of the natural beauty God gave us. Click on the Album below to see up close all the organic vegetables, fruits and berries that I grow outside and in the greenhouse. So to Everyone Good Morning…… Good Afternoon…… Good Night……. Whatever it is to you… Photos & Words by Here I Am/Carrie
August 30 A Fencing We Will GoA fencing we will go, a fencing we will go, Hi Ho the dairy Oh A fencing we will go…… Well many of you have heard me make reference to being busy often with fencing this past summer. So here are the results… Most of the work had to be done with a hand post pounder as we were on hills and through the woods. Here we had to install a gate along with the new fencing.
Often the ground was so hard a hole had to be broken open before even pounding a post in. With only about 7 posts left to hand pound I had an injury and hubby had to do the work himself. Pounding post. Rails and barbwire finished. In the flat area we were able to use the pounder attached to the tractor. This area we used all rails as we plan a corral. We thought we were done at this point with installing the new fencing, but soon realized the old fencing in our big field needed repairs and replacing. So our job site moved down to the big field.
All posts and corners here had to be replaced as they were so loose.
We had lost much of our fencing over the years at this point where it crosses the creek. Between flooding and beaver dams the level changes constantly taking out much of the bank and eventually about 20 feet of our fencing. Now new secure fencing crosses the creek. The sticks in between the wires are called stays. I had to replace all broken ones thru-out the whole big field. Each strand of wire had to be secured to the stay with tire wire. This ensures the cow can’t pull the wire apart and slip though. The wrists get very sore after awhile twisting the wires for hundreds of stays. Pounding posts sometime required some special engineering. We both actually had to stand in the tractor bucket to pound this one.
This area a few years ago was under 3 feet of water and had done a lot of damage to the fence posts and stays, so all had to be replaced. This was just this past week and it was very hot again. But pleasant working near the creek. Its so nice to have this all behind us now and get on with other projects. We had some delay this summer as hubby cracked some ribs back in late June and was out of work commission for 4 weeks. But since he has been able to work again we also mixed and pour concrete for footings for a carport. Now have to get the saw mill going to cut lumber for the carport. We also replaced 2 big picture windows in the house. Harvesting of different things have been keeping me busy in between helping with all the other work. We had a few light frosts but now have hot days and warm night. I will be busy all of September with gardening, canning, freezing and drying stuff from the garden. I will be dedicating the month of September to gardening blogs as there is much to be shared that has already taken place and just haven’t had time to blog about. There is a feeling of change in the air even though we will continue to get hot days for a few weeks yet. However our nights should be getting below freezing soon when the skies are clear. My time here on the computer will still be limited for visiting until the nights grow longer. So to everyone wishing you a Good morning Good afternoon Good night Whatever it is to you.. Photo & Words by Here I Am/Carrie
August 15 Life’s Mountains, Meadows, Lakes
Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain.
An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind,
but many beautiful things are to be observed from each new vantage point.
Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment;
and the views from the summit
will serve as a fitting climax for the journey. Author of all previous words –Harold B. Melchart-
Life’s Journey Author –Here I Am/Carrie- As life’s journey continues with it’s climb up the mountain
Your emotions sometime don’t flow straight
They can become foggy, obstructing your true path.
But always keep your focus on that mighty mountain and our creator.
Soon you will find your way through the fog again.
Seeing the healing powers of nature
and the mountain you need to climb
that will bring you to the glory of what life is….
That we are not alone in our journey, but surrounded by our creators presence always… I hope you feel his presence and blessings in your life…
All photos taken on my journey through the North Cascade Highway 20 in the State of Washington.
So to everyone Good Morning….. Good Afternoon…. Good Night… Whatever it is to you… Photos by Here I Am/Carrie
August 01 A Day of Enchantment on the Path of NatureAs the day dawns, the sun filters through the mist rising from the river. My soul feels the energy as the light spreads from that which it touches.
New bridges to cross, rivers to follow and forests to explore..
This is my journey down the path of nature.
Where trees so green touch the sky. Looking down as I walk by. Treading lightly on their toes, crossing bridges the trail still goes..
I follow creeks and feel the flow.
Of Natures intricacies everywhere I go.
I sit and ponder…
This green web of life
Where one is connected depending on the other. Living together in balance A vision we ourselves all strive for. As the day ended rain fell where needed
Bringing new life so that the bridges you cross take you to new experiences the rivers you follow soon flow in your veins and the forests you explore reveals its’ secrets….
My journey here on the river was at Howard Miller Steelhead Park and the forest at Rockport State Park . Both on the west side of the North Cascade Scenic Highway 20 in the northern part of the state Washington. May everyone be as blessed with such beauty in nature… To Everyone Good Morning….. Good afternoon….. Good Night…. Whatever it is to you.. Photo & Words by Here I Am/Carrie July 23 Cooking with Carrie Vegetable Soufflé
Looks like I have put in cottage cheese and mushrooms, kale, eggplant and onions. Be creative try whatever you have fridge or what is in the garden. I always go with different ingredients. Beat in 4 egg yolks
Fold into mix Pour into buttered soufflé dish.. Bake 350 for 30 min or more. I love my little oven which uses way less power then a great big oven. Ready when light and golden and tooth pick comes out clean when put in. Simple light cooking for a harvest summer or fall meal. Add a salad fresh from the garden to complete your light meal. Simple meals are necessary with a busy life. I am off on a little trip to go to a wedding. Will have time when I get back to catch up visiting again. I have had to do a lot of research on the internet regarding some interests I needed information on which has limited my visiting again. But when I can I will try to get by and see everyone. Simple meals and simple life Hope everyone is enjoying healthy eating. Wishing you a Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Night Whatever it is to you Photo & Words by Here I Am/Carrie July 10 Lilies and Life
As we bob thru life, ripples of our surrounding effect our every being…
We try to remain rooted to that which holds us steadfast and secure. Sometimes we just float free watching life pass by us.. Suddenly we glimpse something that draws us back. We examine closely and soon feel that which caused us to pause.. We become the light of our creator We Smile… As the sparkles reflect off us onto others Who may now pause to become a part of a life thought to only drift.. And know that we are not alone on this big lily pad but surrounded by the light of all that is love.. Sparkles May the light of love surround you… May it keep you afloat May your soul be anchored to that which Sparkles…
To Everyone Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night Whatever it is to you.. Photo and words by Here I Am/Carrie July 05 Wild Friends at the RanchThis year I was blessed with wildlife hanging around the house and beaver ponds far more then normal. Well not all was a blessing. The deer has eaten the tops off all my fireweed, but has only nibbled here there on my flowers. But that is ok as it has allowed close viewing of her new baby. The marmots were under our deck and shop and were devouring my plants around the house and deck. Without a dog here the wildlife is moving in. Unfortunately the marmots had to be dealt with that were under our buildings and deck. There are still many just at the rock slide across our front drive. Down by our bridge , they are digging huge holes so they have to go also. Does anyone know if marmot is good eating. I know they only eat grasses and hibernate from almost August till May here. Lazy buggers. I would prefer to put them in my freezer if they are any good. May just have to try one soon. I have also seen over the years here moose, cougar, mountain goat, and lynx of which I have photos, just not so good but will add a wildlife album some day soon including them. So onto the Wildlife viewing. These are all taken with my new little camera which still doesn’t have the best zoom, but I tried to use my tripod as much as possible to get clearer pictures. Momma deer eating my fireweed that normally blooms so beautifully. She hung close for a few days. Then I spotted why she was hanging close by. I was so thrilled These were just behind our woodshed a day later. They are not the clearest photos as I think I was so excited to have them so close. I was changing every setting on my camera hoping for a good shot. Mother got tired of me being a little to close so her and babe wondered off. Soon they were appearing in the field down below. The little one would run all over and poor mom following it every where he explored. They still come up around the yard but always by the time I go get my camera and put it on the tripod they have moved on. They have a good life here with lots of grasses and bushes near creek. Bear and 6 geese confronting each other at the end of our field. The bear had been hanging around a few days there. It was a stand off at this point. Then the bear turned and went back in the bushes and the geese headed back to the creek. As many of you know I have lots of beaver ponds around me. But it is not easy to get photos of these wild guys. I have spent many years pulling beaver dams open by hand about this time of the year to drain the fields to be cut for hay. I know 1st hand the amazing engineering that goes into the construction. But the beaver has gotten the better of us, we are no longer haying those fields and are allowing nature to take its course. I have found the habitat they are creating has become home to many new fowl and fish.
Here are some new ducks to the area and have made this there home. As I look into your eye… I wonder what you see… Ripples and Reflections of the world around me…. We had 2 sets of geese nesting and unfortunately something had destroyed both nests. The goose on the log I had surprised down by the beaver pond. Instead of flying away he just hung as low as possible while I walked past him. I had tried for years to get photos of the heron and this day he was just below my deck so I could set up the tripod right there and take a few shots. Mr Marmot… What can I say… I took this out my window he was on my deck.. At the rock slide where they belong.. What’s Wildlife without a few squirrels. The one on the right is very pregnant.
Here is the wildest creature that roams the area. The women of the woods.. I miss the extra time during the winter months I had for visiting my space friends and putting poems or even create them with my photos. But winter was the time to sit for hours, read, recharge and reflect on life. Now I am busy just living it. Summer is in full swing. Friends, Family, a little fun and creating those projects I dreamed up during the winter. For those of you experiencing your winters or ever so hot summers and it drives you indoors, do take those moments to reflect on the blessings you have and share them with others. So to Everyone Have a Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night… Whatever it is to you… Photos & Words by Here I Am/Carrie June 26 Spring Gardening in the GreenhouseLets take a tour at what I have been up to in the Greenhouse. Well the work started about the 1st week in May. It should have begun early April, but we returned home from the Salton Sea late this year due to our cat Wildflower disappearing. We had to finally leave without her. She has been spotted a few weeks ago at our neighbours down there, eating and drinking at night. They tried to catch her, but no one can get near her. Last I heard they were going to try and trap her. I told them to just leave her alone as she would spook to much and would never come back. She has access to food and water. So I have not heard any news for awhile now. We wanted to drive back and get her, but its a 3 day drive there and if she isn’t around when we arrive, we won’t have time to sit around hoping she shows up. She is a survivor , I pray she hangs in till we can get back down there next winter. So lets go in the Greenhouse.. I began my work with laying out all my growing pots and place the seeds packets in them. I use all kinds of different types of starting pots.
Next I fill the pot with #1 sunshine mix after it has been wetted well. I have a work bench I use while filling the pot and planting seeds.
I save most my flowers seeds each year and plant my own annuals and hanging baskets. This year due to working on our fencing I did not get very many started . When I am ready to fill the bigger pots that I transplant to grow stuff in I mix my soil with compost, cow manure, chicken manure and all left over soil from last years pots then add about 3 inches #1 sunshine mix to the top. I do my mixing just outside the greenhouse area. I like to make sure the mix is very wet also. Next I cover the growing flats with plastic to heat them faster and hold the moisture longer. Care has to be taken not to heat them to much and kill the seeds or later the seedling when they came up. During my work in the greenhouse I always have a beautiful view over our fields, creek and sometimes wildlife. Soon life begins, but the work is only half done. Many have to be transplanted to bigger pots, containers or the garden. Here are my final plants to be grown in the greenhouse for the summer. I have varieties of winter squash and many types of tomatoes.
I also grow egg plant, summer squash and many different peppers.
This is a very special pepper that is blooming already and has a pepper started. Last winter when all my plants in the greenhouse died one night when we didn’t start the stove. There was one pepper plant that was still alive. I just left the plant in the greenhouse over the winter by itself and with no other heat but the sun. What a miracle when we return from the south to find the plant still alive. All that was left was a green stem. So I cut it back a bit and added some organic fertilizer to it and it start growing again. What a treat as I will be getting peppers from it months before my new plants start producing. You can be sure I will save the seeds from this plant as it has harden it self already. There is actually another on in the same pot that is much smaller. We have a new guardian in the greenhouse. Some friends had an old stuffed eagle they were going to throw out. It looked terrible and torn a bit. My husband brought it home. He shampooed and blew dried it. So now no mice would have chance in there. Well we don’t have mice but he watches that none get thru the door when I have it opened while working outside.
Hope you enjoyed my planting of seeds in the Greenhouse. I will keep you posted on how things are growing in the greenhouse. Meanwhile I will be posting soon on getting started in the garden outside which was also done in between fencing. So all is done except more stays added to the wire on the fencing, which I do a little every few days. Also of course now the weeding starts and all the yard work as well as more summer projects. Check out my new album on my main page if you are not there, showing my yard, flower beds and more.. I change this album at least every other blog so don’t miss checking it out occasionally. I have so many photos to get posted. I have been blessed with seeing wildlife here as we still have no dog. So I wanted to get a post on that soon also. Big Sigh….Its been hard work for 2 months now its nice to take the time to get another blog out. What I do has so much more meaning when I can share a part of my life that helps me stay connected with our earth and nature. God has blessed me with beauty all around. Its hard to feel or see sometimes when I feel down, too tired or just get overwhelmed with all the work that has to be done here. But when I feel a break and the flowers start to bloom and walk in the yard I can’t help but be lifted in spirit and thank the lord for enabling my husband and I to have worked so hard over the years to create a paradise of our own. Wishing everyone those moments when God gives you glimpses to makes you want to keep hanging in there. So to Everyone Good Morning………. Good Afternoon……… Good Night………… Whatever it is to you… Photos & Words by Here I Am/Carrie June 03 Staying Active Mountain BikingThe awakening of spring here had caused my energies to rise again so decided it was time to take a break from gardening, greenhouse work and pounding posts for fencing. Somehow we only manage to get out mountain biking once or twice a year. I love it but taking the time out and leaving the property always bring intentions to a halt. But this time the day was sunny and cool and decided to just do it. The 1st half mile going up hill we thought our lungs would burst. We had to push the bikes often as it was uphill going. We stopped and had to catch our breath many times at the beginning. The areas we passed thru consisted of old growth, to very new growth, to logged this past winter. Ponds and standing water were scattered throughout our journey. The climbs came in short spurts then would level out allowing us to cover ground quickly. The skies thru out trip was always changing with dramatic strokes of clouds. The beauty of a pond was often tucked away just beyond a row of trees next to the trail. We reached our destination in 2 1/2 hours. A warming shack for skiers in the winter. By this time I was beaming as I had made it. 20 lbs over weight and 51 years old. I felt great. Cob webs had cleared from the lungs and no pain in the body yet.
We decided to take a different route back and took a wrong turn and had to double back adding a extra 5klm. Finally we found the correct trail. We were making good time as a lot was going down hill now. After almost 3klm I stopped and realize my camera fell off the bike. The euphoria of my accomplishments on my great ride came to a complete halt as I turned around without any question and headed back up the mountain. Pushing the bike again for long stretches. I had to back tract almost almost 2 1/2klm and was now not a happy biker. The determination I had to get back to my camera was amazing considering I was getting tired. Its like nothing else mattered at the moment. The loss of my camera actually got my adrenalin pumping to make the trip back up the hill where I located it laying on the ground. Now we were ready to descend the mountain again. The thrill of going fast downhill and plotting your course thru rocks and ruts reminded me of downhill skiing the moguls. Problem though my eyes aren’t what they use to be, so picking my course was a bit difficult as it was often a blur coming at higher speeds. But I never miss a chance to stop a catch the beauty of some wildflowers which were scattered on the hill side. Almost back to the car where you come to a point where the view stretches out in front of you ending a perfect day filled with a good workout. We did over 30klm. The awakening of life around me increased my energies that day. May any new roads you choose to explore be filled with love, laughter, healthy living and the beauty of nature. May you always take the time to rest and take a good look at life around you. Breath In……..Breath Out………
Stay Active …… Stay Healthy …… So to everyone hope you have a Good Morning….. Good Afternoon…… Good Night…… Whatever it is to you… Photos and Words by Here I Am/Carrie May 21 We are all Buds of lifeAs the buds of spring emerge. We are reminded of a chance for new beginnings as we journey thru natures world of life, rebirth and death.
For many, their essence lays deep within their roots.
A Blackness may descend around them.
They feel only the coldness of the world. So they curl into a ball and disappear for while.
But the warmth of God’s hand is always there to reach out.
Bringing new light pulling the essence back up from our roots.
We explode with the beauty of life around us .
But sometimes in the world exists a disease and the beauty of what was is taken from us.
We struggle…Some survive to awake each day trying to live again.
Some return from there dark time to live with the light of God in them.
Some can no longer live.
But are taken to where the warmth of Gods hand will enable them to live for all eternity.
We are all buds of life…. Weather Healthy, Diseased or Dyeing.
Reach for the light of love and your lives will always bloom weather here or beyond.
The light of God’s love continues to bring new buds of life…… Hope your life is budding with love Have a Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Whatever it is to you Words & Photos by Here I Am/Carrie May 12 New Camera New View on NatureMy new camera gives me a new view of nature. I didn't go out and buy a bigger camera as I know a lot of people would like to see me use. I take photos as a hobby to add something creative in my life and keep it simple. If I had better equitement I would feel the need to push myself to new horizons in photography that I just don’t have the time for in my life right now. The simplicity of what I have brings me so much joy just to share what I see or how I view what I see. Someday I might get serious about it, but right now I have other things that keep me very busy not allowing the time and dedication I would required of myself to take it to another level. Right now everything is baby steps…. So lets start with the specs on my new baby. Nothing to fancy but offers much more then my old one. Introducing my New Baby to the left. That’s the old girl on the right. I'd had nothing yet picked out. Just was in a store and saw the new one picked it up and it felt right and it was on sale for 139.00. Same story when I purchased my old one, also same price 4 years ago. Picked them both up and they felt right. Just like that. So the old girl had taken most the photos you have seen up to this point except the last couple posts and some I have yet to post. The new one has many more abilities and manual setting I can use. With poor eye sight I love the bigger screen on the new one, but don't like the visuals on the buttons and the small dial I am finding a pain to turn also the on/off button isn’t so quick to find and hit. My old one was just an ease to change settings with the dials and buttons. Easy to read and manoeuvre. I can still use my xD picture cards from the old camera also. The old girl was built solid. The new girl is very petite and slim. She fits in my pockets and her battery lasts a long time. She can go into sleep mode while I am walking from place to place. My favourite thing is I can get really close now with the macro and actually stay focused on my subject. Also with the image stabilization my zooms are a bit better as well as the close ups. I can spot focus. Love that.. So good bye to the old girl who's had here body slammed to the ground a couple of times, but always So I hope with my new camera I will be able to take you closer and more clearly into how I view the world. From the little details in life… To the budding beauty in spring….. Trying something new Bird Watching I have been seeing so many photos out there of birds. I had to give it a serious effort. So I set my tripod at my window with this view to the bird feeders. It is about 10 feet away. Set my new camera for looking thru glass and began swinging the camera around and zooming in. Well with some serious trials I finally got the hang of it and manage to catch a few. Lets see what we have here at the feeders during this shoot. Evening Grosbeak Western Tanager Stellar Jay I think a Skylark Pine Siskin (Finch) Brown Headed Cow Bird The challenge is on, with time can I improve catching this shot. Or was this just luck with my little camera. Rufous Hummingbird I have geese nesting just below our deck. The nest here is just in the center of the photo, sitting on top of a beaver house. Not much of a good zoom but Here’s the male near by Here’s the female on the nest I am going to try and get closer to her for better photos. I also discovered another goose on a nest near our beaver pond. This is the 1st year we have ever seen geese nesting near our house or vicinity. We have look forward to this for many years. So I hope everyone is enjoying what ever season is upon them. To Everyone I wish you a Blessed Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Night Whatever it is to you Photos and Words by Here I Am/Carrie May 05 Wild Friends at the Salton SeaBack at the ranch, but I promised a glimpse of wildlife I view at the Salton Sea. I don't have many that are presentable due to not having a powerful zoom. Here are a few that are ok, but found one little guy who let me get within a few feet. This lizard is not such a little guy. He is almost a foot long. He was as curious about me as I was of him. This snake was hiding under a rock I had moved. Most of the creepy crawly stuff doesn't come out till it gets real hot, so I don't get the opportunity to see much in black widows spiders, scorpions or rattle snakes. Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail. We are still hopping but a rabbit of a different sort. The famed speed demon of the desert. Jack Rabbit
Here are two very fast desert feathered ground dwellers who can take to the skies if necessary. The Roadrunner and the Desert Quail. Moving down near the Salton Sea, the array of bird life is amazing. This is where one really needs a nice zoom lenses. Salton Sea is known for its abundant flocks of Pelican. These beautiful birds are a sight to watch when soaring in formation overhead. Hope you enjoyed meeting some of my wild friends at the Salton Sea. We have arrived back North to our home in British Columbia Canada, unfortunately without our cat Wildflower. I have grieved the loss of that cat so many times over the years, always thinking when she disappeared that was it. So I haven't given up hope on her return yet. She still may show up at our lot and neighbours have food for her and a friend has offered to try and catch her and take her home, where she will care for her. Life will be very busy for a while at the ranch settling in, getting stuff growing in the greenhouse and preparing the garden. Bulbs are only just coming up and perennials are just peaking thru the ground. I have already planted one bed in the garden though. The project list is growing every day. We have a pair of Canada geese nesting just below the house on a beaver damn in the creek. I can see it from the deck. But lack of zoom, photos not so good yet. But will keep trying . Hope to catch the babies when they hatch. This is my busiest time of the year so I may still remain a bit scarce but will try and get a few visits in each night to try and catch up on what’s new with everyone, I am very thorough about catching up when I do get to your site I tend to go back a few blogs. So much time can be spent at each one. I feel a stirring in me for some kind of change. Must be the menopause I think I am finally in. Anyway that topic is a blog all in its self and someday when I think I am finally back on top of the mountain, I hope to be ready to share. Till then I am still climbing, but the journey has gotten easier. So to everyone Keep Climbing your Mountains with God by your side and have a Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Night Whatever it is to you. Photos and words by Here I Am/Carrie April 22 Looking Closer at the Big PictureIt's a rough and prickly world out there. Lets all take a closer look to find the beauty that's still in it. Many in the world only see ugliness and feel unhappy about the future. But when one takes a closer look, beauty and love is still out there to be seen and felt when one opens their mind and heart to it. Never be quick to judge the world, a country, a race or an individual. For most when we really look closely their inner beauty and love are sometimes hidden behind a prickly exterior. When the spines are removed. There often lies a soft sweet heart. Everyday I hear of or witness small acts of kindness or meet someone who has so much energy to share. They may choose to care about helping people, animals, plants or the earth they walk on. For every human that can care about even one of these things help connect us all. Find enjoyment in one or all of these. God created it all for us so we could enjoy life here and learn to love under all circumstances. Don't always just look at the big picture and be discouraged.
Look closely and find a detail that shines a light in your heart. We all view life differently. Learn to find a part you can view with beauty and love. Then share it with others. Find something to care about. Anyone with a keen eye may have noticed some close ups I was unable to get before. I have a new camera. Nothing fancy just another small pocket size. But gives me so much more then my previous one. I will let you know all the details in a later blog. Also in one of the photos you may have seen my shadow with camera on a mono pod. Another new addition to my photo taking. This had been suggested by one of you in your comments. My memory is not so good as to who it was and I can't check my past comments yet, but thank you. It is a great addition to my walks and taking photos. I am still here at the Salton Sea and have been caught in a hot spell. Temperatures in the motorhome reach 110F. and 120F outside. Our return home has been delayed due to Wildflower our cat has disappeared. Good morning Good afternoon Good night Whatever it is to you Photos and Words by Here I Am/Carrie April 06 Desert ScenesFrom the low desert surrounding the Salton Sea in California to the higher desert near Congress Arizona. You will see stark hillsides where vegetation struggles to survive to lush deserts in the higher elevations. Many photos are from past years as we have been busy with work on our lot doing landscaping instead of exploring the area or taking new photos. I love doing the landscaping as it allows me to be creative in another way with rocks, plants and colours that use little water and can survive the harsh summer climate here. Also my body absorbs many hours of happiness while working in the sunshine. Where ever we are we are always working hard. Our recreation has just been enjoying the beautiful views from our property and watching the birds, rabbits, quails, roadrunners and other small wildlife during our leisurely meal times. I have been trying to get more wild life photos here but without a tripod everything comes out blurred and when I try to get close they run or fly away and a breeze seems to always be blowing when I try to take close ups of flowers. So for now I share with you scenes of a very still desert. We start high above the Salton Sea where the landscape looks barren dead. Vegetation has to struggle to survive but even with expose roots this ocotillo lives to become part of the beauty of the setting sun. Many see only stark barren hills here, but I see colours, textures, rocks, interesting formations, plants and most of all small canyons calling out for me to explore, I am always excited about what I will find around the corner or when climbing out to the top knowing some beautiful view await to be seen. Here lies the balance, a desert flower in bloom. God gives beauty and colour even in what seems to be a barren area when viewed at a distance. Still higher yet above the Salton Sea in the Anza Borrego State park the landscape will comes alive with colour when all the right conditions of rain at the right times take place. Many cactus may not have blooms on them, but their beauty lies in there unique shape which is always more beautiful silhouetted against the fading light of a sunset. In the desert where little water is the ocotillo survives where little else can. In some areas near springs or creeks lush wild groves of palm trees can be found. The contrast and beauty in both help bring a balance to the desert. Here near Congress Arizona you will find a more traditional looking desert as more rain falls here. Here in the spring rains can turn everything green as a mountain forest. The landscape of this desert with its rocks, cactus and views would needs no changes. This is natural landscaping at its best. Below the prickly untouchable cactus lie the soft petals of spring flowers. In this scene I look up and see the beauty God gave the desert all in one place. The rock formations, shrubs, cactus and flowers all set below a vibrant blue sky with those big puffy white clouds. Our journey ends as the moon rises over Joshua trees in the higher desert. I hope you enjoyed the desert scenes that are in complete contrast to my world I normally view up in British Columbia, my mountains, valleys, creeks and lush green forest. I am blessed with the life to experience both of these worlds. As many of you know I don't have Internet access down here at the Salton Sea so have not been able to keep on up my visits or respond to invites or messages. I tried to visit as many people as I could last time I posted while visiting my parents using their Internet but had to keep it short as I was there to visit my family not space friends. I apologized to many of you I missed visiting who I normally visit regularly but time ran out. I am not even going to try visiting any more while down here. When I do get a chance to upload my new blogs I have time for little else. So I will try and catch up with everyone in May after I have had a chance to settle back in up North. I also apologize to anyone who has sent messages or invites I am not ignoring you, but have been unable to even view them and will also respond in May. So to everyone Good Morning.........Good Afternoon..........Good Night........ Whatever it is to you Photos by Here I Am/Carrie
March 14 Salton SeaThe dawning of day brings to the Salton Sea a beauty only reflected by a jewel that sits in the middle of an otherwise dry and cracked desert basin. The sea occupies the lowest portion of a structural basin called the Salton Trough, a seismically active valley that lies at the southern end of the San Andreas Fault and marks the northern extent of the Gulf of California Rift Zone. Millions of years ago this area all lay below the waters of the ocean. Throughout its 10,000-year life span, Lake Cahuilla, which since 1905 has been known as The Salton Sea, has had a tough existence. The meandering Colorado River changed course numerous times over the centuries filling the Salton Sink area. Then silt would build up on the Colorado closing the flow into the Salton Sink. The lake would over years dry up till the next flood. The lasted being in around 1904. The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. It is the 3rd largest saline lake in the nation. Its surface elevation is 227 feet below sea level. The average depth is 29.9 feet, its deepest is about 50 feet. The Sea is approximately 35 miles long and at it widest about 15 miles. It sits surround by San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains to the west, the Orocopia Mountains to the north, and the Chocolate Mountains to the east. During the 60's and 70's the popularity of the Salton Sea for recreation and fishing was at its highest. Due to the drying of the Sea the salinity is increasing to levels that will soon no longer support wildlife which the sea and surrounding area is rich with. So begins the controversy over the sea. Should it be allowed to die a natural death as it has over thousands of years or should the government step in and try to save the Sea. Many come to this area and are blind to the beauty that is here. They only see dying fish, birds and a brown murky water. But as in all things natural there is a beauty to be found when the mind is open to see it. Let me share with you the beauty I see at the Salton Sea. The shores of the sea are full of textures and patterns The Sea itself full of colour and reflections As the twilight begins the pastels immerge Soon the monster and maiden of the Sea will only be dark figures With every passing moment as the sun is setting to the west I always look to the east and south over the sea as the pinks and purples come aglow Never turning your back to any direction as the colour is all around you To the north where the mountains seem to meet the Sea the clouds always create a brush stroke of beauty to add to the scene As the moon rises casting a light of beauty so ends our day at the sea I hope you enjoyed the beauty of the sea as I enjoy it everyday while staying here in the winter. Next blog I hope to share with you the beauty in the desert here. I am still having difficulties with being online. After uploading my last blog and taking care of some E-mails and business, I was just going to start visiting everyone then the connections and speed came to a grinding halt again. The wheel just kept spinning when trying to go to a new sight. So I had to give up. But I have learned I should be able to do more from about 8am til 9am in the morning, after that time I can forget trying to get online. I have not even been able to read any comments or greetings that have been left at my space for 3 weeks now. I have messages and invites that I have not been able to get into to even look at. Hopefully this time I can get caught up with everyone. Till Then............. Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Night Whatever it is to you....... Photos by Here I Am/Carrie March 04 Snowbirds Trip South 2009Join me for a quick glimpse of our scenic journey from BC Canada to Salton Sea California. Our journey started with a few days delay due to wiring problems in the motorhome. Once on the road we had blue skies and clear roads the whole 4 days we took to drive south. All photos were taken by me out of a moving motorhome with sometime very dirty windows. So if you see some spots they are not ghosts or any special phenomena.
Passing thru a near by valley which was once booming during the gold rush.
Just after crossing the border into Washington we always enjoy this scenic area We always drive south by way of going down the east side of Nevada. The elevations are high but the roads are straight and little traffic. Below is my favourite I love the effect of the blur I got from the moving vehicle. This photo is completely untouched. The shading and colour is amazing as well as the scene. Just one of those shots that when I was able to view it on the computer I was amazed at the effects I had achieved with just a snap of the camera. Once into California the sunsets are always amazing. Also finally no more snow after almost 3 months of seeing it. Desert here we come... Just before reaching the Salton Sea we pass thru a shortcut we always take thru a small canyon that is so beautiful and scenic. Coming out of the canyon it opens into the Coachella valley which is also home to the famous Palm Springs at the north end of it and the not so famous Salton Sea at the south end. In Between it is full of golf courses, country clubs, resort areas and agricultural areas. We are about 1/2 hour south of all this. In a quiet desert area which has only slowing started to grow in the last 5 years.
First sunset at our lot where we stay with our motorhome. This is not the actual sunset but off to the side. From our lot when the sunsets the colour is different all around you. Looking over the sea to the east will always give you pastel colours and looking over the mountain where the sun sets will always give you fiery reds and black. I have many past photos of the sunsets in the Salton Sea in my album Sunrise to Sunsets if you would like to view more. Just go to photos First morning here at our lot on the Salton Sea which is located in the southeast portion of California. There is much history to the sea which is actually a lake but is salt water. I will try and get more info on it later. Hope you enjoyed our journey south. I am having trouble getting decent high speed access to the Internet. The library here is way behind times and is so slow, also will not allow me to plug my lap top in while there. My last try there I spent 1 1/2 hours just down loading a few updates that only take about 10 minutes at home. Also was not gonna wait the 15 min to go on the Internet. So I may not have much time to get around to visit by the time I get all this uploaded. But I think of you all daily and there are some of you who are always in my prayers. Once I know I can get all this up and working will try and get you more updated about life here and the contrast in photos compared to my mountain home up North. So to all of you Good morning Good afternoon Good night Whatever it is to you.... Photos by Here I AM/Carrie February 11 Happy Valentine with Fun, Friends and FireWishing all my friends a Happy Valentines with Fun, Friends and Romantic Fires. My web site has been transformed for Valentine. Be sure and check out my main page to see the new look. My heart goes out to all the folks in Australia with the devastation of fires that have taken so many lives. Please let my fires be not a reminder of sadness, but of the warmth and beauty that it can create... Photo below is doing what I love doing with photos, playing around. This was my first attempt in trying to get the flame inside the candle holder. If I had more time I would have redone it completely with clean edges and proper erasing. But no time today so I share my 1st try with you........
Sharing an evening with friends heading to the Bon fire location... All the snow and a plastic cover had to be removed and area stomped around the burn pile....
It was near full moon that evening giving us a second show watching it come up...
No fire ever starts right away. So the contest began who could get there side going first. Blow.....Blow........ Suddenly with one big whoosh....... The flames shot into the air.......
Everyone had to step back as the bright heat expanded beyond the flame...
Just enjoying the warmth of beauty of the flames.... Flame of Fireby Here I Am/Carrie My heart is all aflameBurning brightly everyday Filled with the fire of love it follows the path you lead me Where our souls will meet joining for all eternity The heavens will open when we rise together Our hearts glowing brightly lighting our way We found real love in the Flame of Fire.... Another day of love comes our way. Be sure and keep the feelings burning brightly thru out the year.
This will be my last post from the North, as the goose is flying South for a couple months very soon. Yes I am a snowbird. I hope to be able to continue to post my life and photos, as well as visit all my friends here. So if you don't see or hear from me for awhile, know that I am sending you all my love and enjoying the warmth of the sun. So to Everyone Wishing you all a Heart Felt Happy Valentine photos and words by Here I AM/Carrie February 04 Blue Winter ReflectionsTake a glimpse of a world mirrored with my thoughts. Journey with me as I search the depths of my minds reflections. Ok now I am already making myself laugh at such heady words coming from me...
In the Blue of the Day... I see reflections of a world fill with Hope Peace Beauty and Love
In our real world that is not always what we see or feel....
So we stare into the deep pools Looking for answers that already exist...
We must learn to be filled with a joy to Live a Life Our Creator so gave us....
To feel Love Even in the darkness moments
The World is what we make of it... What you see is merely a reflection of who we are......
We are the Keepers of Our Bodies and Our Planet.... Disrespect for either is disrespect for our Creator
Care for your Earth and she will care for you......
Care for your Body and your Body will give you strength to Care for Others
Care for Others and God will Smile
When God smiles our Spirits will Soar....... Care to Care *************** To All My Friends Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Night Whatever it is to you Words & Photos by Here I Am/Carrie
January 29 Winter in BloomWho says there are no flowers or buds to be found in the dead of winter. The blooms of winter can suddenly appear one morning, often to only disappear by the afternoon. Come with me for a walk thru my winter gardens. View the elusive winter blooms and buds of new growth.
Loaded with the growth of new white petals and leafs.....
Water plants also sprout during the winter with delicate growth....
So loaded with the heaviness of winters blossoms and leafs
Ever so delicate as the 1st cherry blossoms in the spring.....
From a wild profusion to a delicate tiny blossom.....
Like the new spring ferns that come up in the forests floors.....
Sprouting through the fences with the glory of winters growth....
A single rose in the summer has its beauty.... But none compare to the beauty of this chrystal blooming stock......
Here there everywhere the fields where blooming with wild winter blossoms..
Like a bulb that sprouts in the spring this ice flower grew overnight....
Blooms of every kind sprouted through out the area.....
When sun glistens thru these blooms of chrystals no summer flower can match it beauty....
Enjoying the beauty of a single plant or the profusion of many...
Chrystal Buds Of Winter
The warms rays of the sun are slowing melting the elusive winter bloom....
Lilly blooms of the winter.. ..There delicate petals afloat on a ice field of blue... So you see the flowers and buds are not only in summer but also in winter. But they are elusive and require just the right weather to bloom. Just like the desert flowers which require all the rights conditions to bloom. Hope you enjoyed your walk thru my winter garden of blooms and buds..... So to all my friends Good morning......Good afternoon......Good night...... Whatever it is to you... Photos by Here I Am/Carrie January 25 Building Dreams The Greenhouse Part 2Come take a tour of the inside of my greenhouse. If you haven't seen Part 1 it is the previous blog to this one. It includes photos from breaking ground, stages of building and blue prints. A tour of inside of my Greenhouse When you enter the greenhouse from the 2nd floor you are in the screen room and bar area. I use the room for drying my herbs for teas. From the screen room there is a small deck overlooking the valley. It is way to hot to sit at in the summer without an umbrella. But great in spring, winter and fall. Upstairs what was originally suppose to be the workshop area. It has now been converted to our party room or guest area. Complete with full kitchen. 70% of all our building material is recycled, used or produced from something off the property. All the kitchen fixtures and parts of cupboards are from an old motor home we retired and stripped down to the van part with deck and sold that. We still only have plywood floors in this room. My husband wants to finish them but then trying to keep the clean will be a chore. Plus its a place no one has to take there shoes off in winter or summer, making it great for parties and get together's when people are running in and out. A big problem also was where the stove pipe from below came up in the middle of the floor. So we just curved with brick to go around the pipe protecting it and created a bigger kitchen counter work area. My husband made all the bar counter tops from birch from our property and most of the cabinets were made from the beetle kill pine off our property which they call denim pine because it has a blue hue of colour in it. The dining and living area. Our TV is kept down here in the greenhouse. We have no TV in our main house. Makes watching TV a more planned event instead of just watching it all the time. Down stairs. This room was originally to be the chicken coop. That never happened. It was built out for a guest bedroom which has the full length windows with a view of the valley and stars at night. The head board is a fireplace mantel from the same house the bricks all came from. Here is where our only heat supply comes from and is our Sauna all in one. The wood stove has a 24 hour burn that we bought 2nd hand. This room is completely surrounded with concrete block or brick. In the sauna sitting area cedar tongue and grove is over the concrete blocks. From the sitting area in the sauna during the day there is a window that looks out past the growing area windows giving a view of the valley. The bathroom area is just outside the door of the sauna. It also is completely inside the brick and block area. Greenhouse Growing update Back in December when the temps plummeted on what was weeks of cloudy days we did not light the stove for a few days in a row and I lost most the tomatoes plants and damaged the peppers way to much. But I left all the fruit on and it is now January 23rd and I am still harvesting tomatoes and peppers. We are having cold temps again but with sunny days which warm the greenhouse back up to about 60F or 15C. Daytime outside temps are about 23F or -5C, while nighttime temps have been about 5F or -15C. We never have to start the fire under these circumstances. We do start it a couple times a week for watching TV or taking a sauna. Recent Harvests This set of photos were taken end of October before I lost my plants to a freeze in December. These below were taken about 2 weeks after they got to much cold. I had cleaned off all the dead leaves, leaving mostly just the fruit that seemed unharmed. I also moved the plants away from the windows and up against the brick wall. Something that I should have done earlier, the plants might have survive. The photo below is turnips greens I dug up from the garden. As you can see the cold didn't effect it at all. I also have some swiss chard that is thriving that I also dug from the garden in the fall. So even in January I am harvesting fresh greens. I just cut them with scissors and it grows back. The bowl of vegetables are what I harvested right after the plants got to much cold. As I said earlier I am still harvesting although the vegetables are now much smaller in size. So ends my tour of one of my dreams come true. I have always felt it is very important for people to find some way to supply their own food. In today's world you can never count on or trust the food supplies that are out there. They are either contaminated or suddenly your supply is cut off due to economics or nature. I have always aimed for self-sufficiency in my way of life. Hope you enjoyed my tour of a dream come true...... Wishing everyone a Good Morning....Good Afternoon....Good Night.... What ever it is to you.... Story and Photos by Here I Am/Carrie |
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