Soap Foam in the River?

This summer I noticed pockets of what looked like dish water suds pile up in different places along the river bank. The photo is of yellowish tinted frozen foam.

December's Temperament

The blessings of winter are all around when fat flakes of snow are falling. In the quiet hush of early morning with a hot cup of fresh brewed coffee, or tea held in both hands, my window view to the outside world is delightful.
It is my pleasure to provide a banquet for my feathered friends. My yard is a peaceful heaven, my table set with the prosperous bounty of autumn's delights, saved for such occasions.

The Mystery of Parallel Worlds

A woman once ask me, "Do you see and hear things other people don't?" I answered, "Yes." Of course I would like people to believe me, and yet I don't care what most people think of me as much as I use to. Maybe because I enjoy writing science fiction and fantasy stories where magic and reality meet, some people think I just make up everything from my imagination. The truth is, I don't.
While driving back to my cabin one afternoon, I felt intune, it was a beautiful sunny day. A nondescript pickup truck passed me going in the opposite direction. For some reason I took a quick look in the rearview mirror and then pulled to a stop. "That's not possible" I said to myself, as I grabbed my camera and took a photo. I walked around noteing my tire tracks and my footprints left on the dirt road, then got back into my truck.
When I was a little girl, my Daddy taught me and my brother David to be a pretty good trackers. I have to laugh while writing this blog post, "Who's going believe me that while driving on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, someone in a pickup truck from a parallel world crossed my path and left no tracks?" I guess those people that know me might believe me, and that's enough to help maintain my sanity when such things happen in my life. I'm really glad to be able to experience such phenomenon, and yet, I'm glad to have a good sense of humor which keeps me in balance  By-the-way, my dog Sarah was with me, and she hasn't said a word about the incident, if she ever does, I'm in big trouble.

Winter Wonders

It is the smallest of things that can bring beauity to a cold winter's day: a warm kitchen, the smell of fresh baked bread mingled with the sweet gift of colourful flowering Dutch bulbs, the sound of a friends voice calling from a far away country just to say they miss you. It is in those moments that time stands still, and you know that all things are connected in the magic life has to give.
So when the window edges grow frosty with ice, and a blanket of deep snow covers the mountains and meadows for several months, my kitchen is always filled with the delightful wonders of Spring.

Playing the Game of Evony

Several months ago I started playing an internet computer game called Evony, and I must say, for a time it was quite addictive, comsuming much of my time. Because I do not read code, I can only guess as to how it works. Of the many ways to play the game, I have found the main feature is, monitors discretion. Like a telephone operator, a game monitor is an overseer with the power to help or hinder by changing the parameters of the game, with the goal being to get non-paying players to open an account in order by gaming coins.
Evony may be a ruse for gathering information on individuals as well as piggy backing internet access for other uses, of course, that is only my personal speculation.

Evidence

Guess we all know who wares the pants in Captain Aye's family.
An everyday american hero, a friend and neighbor, a family man dressed in casual attire, and yet ready to step-up-to-the-plate when need.
Read about the weekend exploites of this reluctant but extremely good looking caped crusader. Here

Elegant Sheep Moth

While visiting my friends Doug and June Olberding, Doug pointed to a most beautiful Lepidoptera (the insect order of butterflys and moths) sitting on a sun bleached fence rail in their garden. At first glance, I thought it was a butterfly because of the colour and shape. On looking closer, I noted the feather fan shaped antennae and slightly thicker and fuzzy body. Butterflys are mostly brightly coloured, have thin smooth body shapes with round knobs at the end of their antennae. Moths have a tendency to be dull in their colouration, not so for the elegant sheep moth.
The latin name Hemileuca eglanterina has a nice ring when spoken outloud. This moth looks very much like a brightly coloured butterfly with such dramatic eye catching colours, I was surprised that I had never seen the species before. The photo I found to go with this post really doesn't do eglanterina justice. Here
After my wonderful visit with my friends, both of whom are retired and yet remain busy in their fields of interest. I drove home to do some entomology (the study of bugs and insects) research of the area where I live in Washington State. The thrill of seeing such a beautiful creature named hemileuca eglanterina is truly a blessing, as is the blessing of having interesting friends like Doug and June Olberding.

A Chance To Live

I know... two more mouths to feed, but I gotta try my best to feed them, and if they live, I'll set them free...on the otherside of the river. :)

Their eyes are not open yet and they seem to sleep more than the baby blue birds I raised several years ago. The little guys even kinda churp. I don't know nothing about raisin' baby field mice.

The next day or two should tell me if they're going to make it. I sure hope so.

...spirit must have a sense of humor, the mouse on my computer started acting up while writing this post...

I'm gonna name them, Winking and Blinking, the Nodie Brothers from Miss Joey's Little Shop of Magic and Mystery. I have to ask myself if this nursing job will cast a shaddow my reputation as a cold hearted, knife toten, bad ass. Oh by-the-way, baby mice stink, so it's a good thing I have some material left from braiding sweetgrass.

Hairy Mygalomorphs/Grammostola rosa

My new furry friend is named Lollipop. He's a good boy and ate his meal for today, a juicy grasshopper. After sinking his fangs into his food, he tucked it under one of his front legs and held it like a lunch bag. I was so proud of my little guy.
Good job, good job,
Good job, good job,
You know you did a good job, good job, good job.

Some times people fear things they don't understand, or they may have beliefs that need adjusting just a tad.
It is true that my friend Lollipop has a mean looking set of fangs and knows how to use them, but he's really quite gentle.
Just in case tho, I think I'll offer him another grasshopper tomorrow. He's rather lively this evening...dancing the tarantella around the kitchen. That boy really knows how to shake-a-leg, or two, or four, or more.
If you're not afraid, check out the below website for some interesting facts on tarantula husbandry.
http://tarantulas.tropica.ru/en/node/570#Bite

American Forests on the Auction Block

I'm working on a story about the terrorism of foreign owned corporate and capitulating U.S. government workers who have been planning to spray poisons on healthy forests. Most people don't know just how much of our nation's forestland is in the hands of foreign owned multi layered corporate companies.
Getting the information out to the public on what they are planning is the first step in save our Nations Forests from money hungry loggers and ranchers who want more grassland to feed cows.
I may be a nobody when it comes to speaking out as to what I see and hear, but I have to try. The planned spraying of poisons on large tracks of our nation's public and private forests for whatever reasons, (weed control, insect control, etc.) should not be in the hands of foreign owned corporations whose motivation and interests are short and long term (logging and beef production) capital gains.

If our country is to survive the buying of U.S. American forest property by rich foreign interest groups and individuals whose only concerns are profit and greed, our elected officials in Olympia and Washington D.C. had better get on-the-ball and make some policy changes if they want their children and future generation of children to have the opportunity to drink clean water and walk in our Nation's Forests. A foreign managed tree farm is not a forest.

The Lilacs of April

After surviving my first winter of twenty-below-zero weather in the mountains of Arcadia, it was the lilacs of April that eased my sorrow. A wild and over-grown stand grew along the fence of an old miners cabin. Built on a hill top in the nineteen twenties, it was the cheapest property in town at the time.
Spring was slow in arriving. My will to stay alive grew as I watched the many months of snow and ice melt day-by-day. A young neighbor said the town reminded her of the movie, "Dawn of the Dead". Maybe she was correct and we were the only two people not among the living dead. I think my friend was sent to help me fight the gloom-and-doom of apathy with her youthful vitality, caring nature, and love of life.
Two years later I was still holding on. I lost the cabin and moved to a cheap trailer park where I was the only resident. With not much to do other than seek truth and knowledge, the library became my home-away-from-home. There I met a most unusual teacher clothed in velvet lilac, the captain of a ship. I fought with all that was in me to stay alive, each day looking for some small thing to be happy about, needing only the smallest of hope to hold on to. I know somebody has already written, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." and yet it was a time, when my world stood still.
What happened to me that spring is the stuff science fiction horror stories are made of. Now my focus is to keep what sanity that was left to me, and to be grateful for my strength of character to survive in this world. And yes, I will always love, the Lilacs of April.

Summer Rain Makers

Cool and Breezy,

That's my early Summer style.

Rain makers over head,

Bring it on...no worries,

I'm free.

Ancient mountain smiles,

With blanket of green,

Wild flowers at my feet.

Bring it on...ever changing,

I'm free.

High on nature's beauty,

Growing to touch the sky,

Bright rivers flow to the sea,

Retain, reflect, remember me,

I'm free.

Graceful from the gloom,

My destiny the gift,

Who I am, a treasure.

I'm freedom's heart and soul,

Waving from a lonely pole.

Corporate Carnival Companies

Competent competition to survive,

For the furture, smart saving,

Protect,

Sparing ground and grove.

Clean water must flow,

Wild row believable,

Trust achievable,

Wings above in prayer.

Wilderness in corporate snare,

Net a trap undercover,

Jaws of man's greedy hunger.

Stealing water, mining sand,

Covenat eye's on golden trees.

Chief muckety-muck with ball point pin,

Signing papers, stealing native land.

Lady Justice sword in hand,

Lifting blindfold to stop and think,

Mother's blood flowing down mountain sink.

The scales of life tip, "women join the fight".

Fewer have the time to live.

Kindercare, where is mother grizzly bear?

For her childern tears.

Many men knowing are sowing,

Seeds of poison discontent,

Regament of fallen leaves.

In outer space the jamming,

Thoughtful junk falling to Earth.

Native myth of slammin fish,

Way upstream to freedom's thirst.

http://www.seattlepi.com/specials/mining/27129_juniors13.shtml

http://www.seattlepi.com/specials/mining/27324_jewel14.shtml

Native brave hearts say, let them sport hunt all the want, sell them high-fee big game tags. The Sasquatch and supernatural angry spirits here don't take kindly to greedy big wigs. Let them walk in the borderland's sacred forest if they have the courage to look death in the face.

When the wind blows, their nights will be filled with fear. Killing for fun, money, and excitement has a cold shadowing tag that drips in red, sweet with revenge. Best to play it safe, learn to walk in peace, hunt and shoot with a camera.

http://www.natural-resources.wsu.edu/research/bear-center/

http://www.nwf.org/cats/catsWest.cfm

http://www.conservationnw.org/wildlife-habitat/canada-lynx

http://wdfw.wa.gov/recovery.htm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004431717_websalmontreaty.html

http://wdfw.wa.gov/factshts/baldeagle.htm

Global Corporate Crimes/Leeching the U.S.

Name a country and fish, see what you find.







http://patagonia-under-siege.blogspot.com/2007/12/double-threat-of-cyanide-leach-mining.html
Baiting the local hook.
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/12/29/focus3.html
Just a little over-the-limit drain water... self regulatory... self testing (Testing dirty water for what? I would like to see that report.)
http://www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=1450
Know the U.S. Law
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-WASTE/2005/October/Day-25/f21267.htm
SUMMARY: Section 120(c) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Federal Agency Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket. The docket is to contain certain information about Federal facilities that manage hazardous waste or from which hazardous substances have been or may be released. (As defined by CERCLA section 101(22), a release is any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment.) CERCLA requires that the docket be updated every six months, as new facilities are reported to EPA by Federal agencies. The following list identifies the Federal facilities to be included in this twenty-first update of the docket and includes facilities not previously listed on the docket and reported to EPA since the last update of the docket, 69 FR 75951, December 20, 2004, which was current as of September 13, 2004. SARA, as amended by the Defense Authorization Act of 1997, specifies that, for each Federal facility that is included on the docket during an update, evaluation shall be completed in accordance with a reasonable schedule. Such site evaluation activities will help determine whether the Federal facility should be included on the National Priorities List (NPL) and will provide EPA and the public with valuable information about the facility. In addition to the list of additions to the docket, this notice includes a section that comprises revisions (that is, corrections and deletions) of the previous docket list. This update contains 3 additions and 12 deletions since the previous update, as well as numerous other corrections to the docket list. At the time of publication of this notice, the new total number of Federal facilities listed on the docket is 2,282.


Check the Aerial Map..."Fish Hachery Road"
http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_query_dtl.disp_program_facility?pgm_sys_id_in=WAD988471967&pgm_sys_acrnm_in=RCRAINFO
Formerly owned by a Federal agency(U.S. Forest Service) and now privately owned.
Who sold what to whom?
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-WASTE/1995/April/Day-11/pr-1.html
As explained in the preamble to the original docket (53 F.R. 4280), the docket does not include the following categories of facilities (note, however, that any of these types of facilities may, when appropriate, be listed on the NPL): • Facilities formerly owned by a Federal agency and now privately owned will not be listed on the docket. However, facilities that are now owned by another Federal agency will remain on the docket and the responsibility for conducting PAs and SIs will rest with the current owner. • SQG that have never produced more than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste in any single month and that have not reported releases under CERCLA section 103 or other hazardous waste activities under RCRA section 3016 will not be listed on the docket. • Facilities that are solely transporters, as reported under RCRA section 3010, will not be listed on the docket.
The current millsite debate arises on the heels of a recent battle in the long war
over the 1872 Mining Law governing mining on federal lands, which has evolved into
a stalemate between the law's critics and supporters. Earlier this year, the Interior
Department's decision on millsite acreage led to the Administration's denial (March,
1999) of an operating plan for the Crown Jewel Mine in Washington on the grounds
that the plan exceeded the lode-claim to millsite ratio. Opponents of the mine also
feared that the site would leach chemicals. Congress subsequently enacted a law (the
1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 106-31) to direct that
millsites and acreage for the Crown Jewel mining operation not be limited, that its
plan of operation be approved, and that other patent applications and plans of
operation for milling submitted prior to the law be given permits. (For more
information on the millsite debate and related issues, see CRS Report RL30310, The
Mining Law Millsite Debate.)
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-IMPACT/2004/April/Day-02/i7433.htm
How much was paid for what and to whom?
http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/help_all_programs.html#facility_characteristics
Still fishing.
http://www.commodityonline.com/commodity-stocks/Hecla-Mining-sued-by-EPA-on-Water-Act-2009-05-31-18251-3-1.html
Who owns What, and Where?
Call it sand and gravel?
http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_master.fii_retrieve?county_name=ferry&state_code=WA&all_programs=YES&program_search=1&report=1&page_no=1&output_sql_switch=TRUE&database_type=PCS
As a side note, first thy cut all the trees down, then they dig and leave a big mess and call it progress.

Memorial Day at the Track

Some of the Nation's political leaders put their heads together and decided that this year's Memorial Day Weekend festivities should include a Blast-from-the-Past event. A big "Thanks" to the National Guard for the used equipment donation.
Sad to say, President Obama was unable to attend because of security reasons. Press reporters ask the President if he had any comments. "I'm sure the event was real crowd pleaser. I plan to watch the taped video as soon as I get the chance" Obama looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after doing several laps in the White House pool. "We must remember that our Nation was built on Super Stock Car Racing and that has to change. The upcoming Tank Derby Days should be even more exciting. Small towns across the Country are wanting more bang for their money these days." Obama refused to comment on the rumor that his family and friends were scalping tickets. "Now is the time to hop to it, I've got work to do." he said with a toothy grin, "Have a happy holiday."

Fire Alarm/No Battries Required

Keeping up with the latest in innovative technology is high on my list of priorities.
My friend Willow has a rare sense of humor that never fails to make me laugh. When the clouds are gray as a passing sad mood. I never know what awaits me as I open one of her emails, and so, I thought I would share her fast-and-easy scientific fire alarm.
This device really works!
Although not currently approved by the Underwriters Laboratories for standard fire safety. We are hoping her new "hoppen poppen" fire alarm system will soon become more than just corny fad for the ultra rich.

Kermit's Comeback

"Ooh, I bet you're wondering how I knew about your plans to make me blue... heard it through the grape vine... so Miss Piggy back in town... Kurmit, she's not the only bogtrotten dame in the world. You've got to pull yourself together."

Some Things Have No Price Tag

Several days ago I was outside practicing my swing by whacking pine cones with me nine iron. Looking down the meadow valley I could see smoke bellowing up over the mountains. My first thought was, "I need a rake, this nine iron ain't doing a proper job of cleaning up the yard."

My neighbor Linda, who is a forest biologist said, "They're probably doing a controlled burn, and it got away from them."

I had been Googling satellite views of the area the night

before and had planed to go exploring up there for information on a story I'm working on. The next morning Sarah was whining to go for a drive (she loves to go exploring) so I grabbed the camera and we drove into town for supplies: coffee, half and half, brown sugar, tobacco, dog biscuits, and of course any news on the fire. We stopped by my friends Peter and Joann's for a short visit and I mentioned the fact that I didn't have a rake. While in the kitchen having coffee with Joann, Peter, dear man that he is, promptly found an old rake head and wielded a long length of pipe to it for a handle. He even sprayed painted it red! Dang! Am I blessed or what?

Driving home I decided to take a side road and check out how the "controlled burn" was coming along. Driving up the mountain I stopped to talk with a Forest Service crew. I introduced myself to Ben, a local who lives in Republic. He looked a little worried, but was very polite and answered all my questions.

It's a good feeling to know my countries forest are in the care of people like Ben. He's not the know-it-all college type with experience that only comes from books. I'm sure he, and others who work for the Forest Service take a lot of flack and judgemental criticism about the work they do.

Sarah and I drove home over the mountain and through the fire area. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, as control burns go, I would say, "Good Job" Ben, and those who are the guardians of our National Forests, "Thank You!"

As a side note, I did have to stop several times to pick up discarded trash left by people who have no respect for the natural beauty of our Mountains. The back of my pickup is full of: soda cans, beer cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, etc. I know the Forest Service crews are not hired to do "Maid Service", neither am I. So remember to clean up your own shit that you bring to our mountain home, other wise your children will never be able to enjoy the beauty of this country. There are forces here that don't take kindly to human garbage and disrespect of nature. Yes, there are guardians that only locals are aware of. The kind of things most people only read about and hear stories of. So please, think twice before carelessly tossing that empty can, bottle, or plastic container...or well...lets just say, in these mountains of, big EYES, big EARS, and BIG TEETH of the mythical Sasquatches, werewolves, ghosts and spirits, and a horde of other terrifying beings to frightful to mention, litter bugs are sometimes never seen again. Burp!

Monkey Mind the Lock

With a rainbow of colour to choose from.

1984 a key to the future?

Johnna's Bead Work

This is a sample of the bead work my friend Johnna does. I know the photo isn't the best, but her beading is. She also makes the best beer. I am blessed to have such a good friends as Johnna and Lou.

On a warm Summer's afternoon at the ranch, to sit on the porch with my friends while the cattle dogs keep a watchful eye and a several cats snooze, to look out on the breath taking view of the mountain with dozens horses and the longhorns grazing peacefully and share a few homemade brews while the barbecue waifs the mouth watering smell of roast chicken. "It don't get any better than that." as my friend Peter would say. (Peter smokes the best salmon I've ever tasted.) So I'm bragging, you would too. Good friends, good conversation, good food, and Johnna's home brew... Yahoo!

Guano for Sale

It wasn't easy being different than the rest of the kids at school. Most of our friends had parents who gave them money. My brother David and me had to be creative in earning our spending money because our parents couldn't give us what they didn't have. We would come up with all kinds of ideas on how to make money and have fun at it too. One of our favorite entrepreneurial adventures was exploring caves for bat guano. Exploring caves is called spelunking. How did we earn money spelunking?
We would gather all the bat shit we could find, scoop it up in gunny sacks, and sell it for fertilizer to a little old Italian man who lived down the street.
"I buya alla the guano you bringa me." he would say, and so he did. He had the best garden in the neighborhood. Heck, he had the best garden in the whole town. He would say to us, "You smart bambanos, you worka hard, you makea your parents proud." Sad to say I don't remember his name after fifty years, but I do remember his dark tan face, his sparkling eyes, and the way he always rolled up the sleeves of his clean white shirt just like my daddy did. David and I would take him a gunny sack full of guano and he would share with us the bounty of what he grew in his garden, plus a few bucks for spending money. Now that I look back on those times, I guess my brother and me wasn't as nearly as poor as we thought we were.

Janell Cannon's book, Stellaluna is a wonderful story about trying to fit in when you're just a little different than your friends. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=s5&oq=Stellalu&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GWYE_enUS248US286&q=stellaluna+summary

http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/e_read2/stella/merge.shtml

Being a fruit bat may not be easy, because if you're different, you may have to try a little harder than most.

Are Foreign Banks Raping America?

Is the United States of America just another piece of ass for the corporate big boys?
Forewarned is Forearmed








http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2009/04/william_k_black_on_the_prompt.html
http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html

http://www.countercurrents.org/gatto141008.htm

Momma WhoDo's Interview

Reporter Carry Crum from the Washington Post interviews Momma WhoDo Juju Bean at her castle fortress.







Momma: Being an Island Queen isn't as easy as it looks. Keeping an eye on me people is hard work.

Reporter: Is it true you had a relationship with Groucho Marks?

Momma: Where in the hell do you think he got the idea to smoke cigars and tell jokes?

Reporter: What are your plans for this week?

Momma: Well I sure as hell ain't going to the beach. Say, your kinda cute.

Reporter: Do you always smoke such big blunts?

Momma: Only when I'm working.

Reporter: Is it true you have an army of Zombies?

Momma: Where in the hell did you hear that? I run a legitimate operation.

Reporter: What do you think about the new U.S. tax on tobacco?

Momma: For lands sake, that was just a little April Fools Day joke me minions cooked up. I can't help it if people are stupid.

Reporter: Thanks for the interview Momma Who Do.

Momma: Any time cutie pie. I hear voodoo drumming, it time to dance.

Crunching Numbers

Clicking and clacking,
With wings a flapping,
Battered-
In hot oil,
Fried to a,
Savery golden brown.

In some parts of the world,
Markets daily fare.
Insects are,
Like potato chips,
Chrispy-
Chunchy-
Snacks.

Grubs squirm, humm hoppers,
Picking teeth and choppers,
With toasted ortho- claw,
Food,
Crawled from sea.

Odanàta,
Mantòdea,
Blattàriea run and hide.
Others,
Take it in stride.
Numbers grow,
And so the dough,
Humm!
Food for that empty feeling.

http://www.insects.org/entophiles/index.html

Pithy Pulp Fiction from the 1950's

Will the redhead bombshell win her position as top banana?

http://gunsinthegutters.blogspot.com/2007/06/it-rhymes-with-lust.html

Home Brew

The Pod People

Turning and turning,
Round and round,
Up and down,
The economic spin.
Where manikins play with dolls,
Flying high and feel low.
Spoon fed from digital tube,
A daily dose of crap,
Spewed from high above.
In the market locker,
Raw meat hangs from hooks.
Hungry greedy eyes, with-
Chicken chumming buckets,
Bait and switch, Buzzz suckers,
Watching to jump in,
The feeding frenzy on the floor.
Crooky cookey, chippy keys,
Many banking on the fall.
Fuck the smut idea,
Don't you think at all?
Plane and simple,
No puzzles please.
Fast bites drawing blood,
Under darkness cover,
Obsequiousness fade then,
Abrazos(hugs)the curve with cash.
Round and round,
Up and down
The economic spin,
Keeping it simple.
Hal-luci-nation,
Changeing au handshake,
To the kiss of death.
Painted faces,
Nip and tuck,
Piching caching,
Richer than the mass.
Pod people high,
The t-urning.
Demons and Angels
Underground earning,
My trust in love, and play.
Diving for the deep.
On the wheel of trading day.

Watching the Box

What is Love?

Dreams sent on wings,

Above food for what,

A thing called time.

Low landing alone,

On two legs still standing.

Many hearts singing,

Beating drums,

Empty time dreaming.

Writing,

Reading,

Watching,

Passing,

Full the cup of life.

Emotions in the Park

This photo by Diane Arbus sums up the pent-up emotions possible when life's problems seem a little unusual, or you've been cooped up in a cabin all winter and are anxious to get outside and play.

With Spring right around the corner, and much appreciated warmer weather, I'm looking forward to an explosion of blooming flowers when the snow finally melts. It's been a long Winter here in the mountains.

Stopped by my friend Aye's blog

http://ayesrandomravings.blogspot.com/, seems he's having his share of puzzling starter problems. I'm confident he'll have the situation fixed and running smoothly without popping a gasket, or pulling the pin.

Crossing yo Teez, Dotting yo iz

Argot-A distinctive way of writing or speaking... a unique vocabulary used by a particular class, profession, or social group.

Faux simplicity,

Pruned!

Is three enough?

Is six to many?

Reality!

Club members,

Address the ball.

Keep yo head high!

See the hook,

Dump fee,

Smack on the green,

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Plop!

In the cup.

"Eats shoots and leaves."

Crossing your Tee's

Persistent Perseverance Suited

While the Witches of Wüstland sat in council in a dark tent, Tortu of the Chelonia clan quietly listened from her perch atop a large rock outside. A single tear dropped from her eye to quickly evaporate in the desert heat. Tortu had learned not to shed many tears of precious moisture on her emotions in the forsaken wasteland of the southern regions. She tapped her claws on the bolder, thinking in rhythm as she listened to malicious rumors spueing from the evil witch Diadema. Yawning and torquing her neck forward to hear better, Tortu vowed to make Diadema pay for her lies.


Overhead in the turquoise coloured sky, white clouds moved slowly in the hot breeze. Two eagles of Haliaeetus cried out in agreement with Tortu's whispered vow. "Thank you my high flying friends."she said, "Your view point is always welcome." And again turned her head to hear better. Tortu could hear laughter in the tent where the witches sat in a circle around a pit of steaming hot rocks.

The evil witch Diadema had stopped talking, and now the brave mother named LittleThunder began to speak. "North, from the land of Fangrala in the forest of the Roux Ga Roux a message has come to me. Time and distance has no meaning in that forest. It is a place near to the spirit world where all calls are local." Waving her hand in a right-hand circle around the sacred stones glowing scarlet in the dark, LittleThunder smiled, and tossed her long hair braid from her shoulder playfully. "Now we will sing a song of healing for those brave hearts that are heavy with the responsibility of guardianship."

Tiny Iktome sat near the door across from LittleThunder as she sang. Iktome's many eyes and hairy legs danced as she dangled from a strong thread of spiderweb. Because of jealousy, Diadema reached out to kill tiny Iktome as she danced. LittleThunder grabbing Diadema's hand saying, "Here we respect life. Iktome dances for joy at our songs, let her dance in safety. You must not harm her. Do you understand me?" Wicked Diadema quickly pulled back her hand in fear of the power in Little Thunder's strong voice. All the council witches joined in as LittleThunder again began to sing the healing song.

Outside, Tortu sitting on her rock smiled as she listened. She could hear the small voice of Diadema join in the singing. Now Diadema's heart also began to heal form the jealousy she had carried, for she was beginning to learn from her many witch sisters. Tiny Iktome danced and danced, bringing much joy to those who watched. Above in the sky, the eagles of Haliaeetus soared. Their high pitched whistling crys brought a feeling of freedom to all those who were honored to hear them.

Typing with Style/Bedazzling Keyboarding

Is your day at the office getting kinda dull?
Are your fingers itchn' for something new?
Are you wrists achn' for energy?

Typing can be fun with these handcuffs. Sexy!

Showm' who's BOSS in the office.

Spring Forcast

She could hear the dogs yapping as sled crested a low ridge, fat flakes of snow fell in swirls blurring visibility. The wind cutting through the back of her parka felt like sharp knives. Not enough time to head for the treeline and hide. He was following her snowshoe tracks. The baby strapped at her breast whimpered, awakened by her quickening heartbeat and the smell of fear.

"Aho Mady. You need a ride to town?" His voice smooth and thick, like the oil in big metal pipeline she was following.

"My milk is drying up, I need to get some formula for the baby."

Her heart raced and she could feel cold beads of sweat run down her arm pits.

"You should have let me know Mady, I would have saved you the trip." Taking off a heavy leather mitten, his callused hand swiped at the wet ice that hung in trailing crystals from his mustache and beard. "Mady, it's dangerous to leave the cabin this time of year. Grizzles are coming out of hibernation, you should know that? Why didn't you take a rifle?"

"I wanted to travel fast and be back before nightfall. I was going to ask someone in town to give me a ride back to the cabin." Her lower jaw quivering as she spoke. Trying to keep her voice under control, she smiled not looking into the mans eyes. The dogs now snapping at each other and barking loudly, they jerked in their harness causing the sled to lunge several feet forward.

"Hold!" he yelled loudly.

The underlying quality of emotion in his voice sent uncontrollable shivers through the young woman. The baby's crying muffled inside the heavy down parka increased as she knelt to remove her snowshoes and climb carefully into the dog sled.

The snow had stop by the time the sled team reached the outskirts of the village. Someone was cussing, pulling on a snowmobile's starter cord for the umpteenth time. Idling smoothly, a small single engine plane sat on short newly plowed airstrip. Two uniform men with rifles began walking toward the quonset hut where the dog sled had just stopped. Patting the woman's shoulder roughly, the man leaned forward and ask, "Did you know the mail plane was coming in today?"

Mady shaking her head no, smiled in relief.

The Arrow of Washeshu

With her arms crossed tightly across her chest, Ualaxy shivered in a sudden rush of goose bumps. Her hair tingling, she said. "Something is coming this way."

"What is it you are feeling? You look as if..." The Loup Garou looking at the girl with is head tilted, twitched his nose, his big ears rotated as if listening intensely.

Whoosh... thump! Something had just slammed into the small cabins door. A quivering twanging sound, a vibration sending the Loup Garou to jump from his chair and rush to the door."

"Ohooo!" he said, and looked over his shoulder to see Ualaxy's reaction.

Ualaxy rocked back-and-forth slowly with her eyes closed.

"You are more important than I realised." said the shaking wolf.

Outside the cabin the singing of many wolfs filled the air.

"Okey dokey. We both must be brave hearted. Are you afraid?" he ask?

Ualaxy nodded her head answering yes.

"Are you brave enough to continue?"

Ualaxy nodded her head yes."

"Brave girl, I will call you, 'Brave Girl of My People." The wolfs eyes glowed in the lamp light and many tears filled his eyes. He smiled, looking at the girl with new respect.

"Are you just going to stand looking like a woozie, or are you going to open the door?"

The Loup Garou wolf took a deep breath, his nose sniffing the door up-and-down, and from side-to-side. Ualaxy heard him whisper something under his breath as he opened the door.

"Ahwooo!" he said. "It is a message sent from the high desert clan of the Washoe-Washeshu. Ahhh, from the lake of Ku-ya-pa. On your travels to this cabin, did you once stop by a strange lake?"

Ualaxy nodded her head yes.

"Umm. It seems you have a message from the Mothers of the Lake." With a shaking paw, the wolf carefully removed a strange arrow from the cabin's door. "Big medicine, this message." and walked to the small round table. He slowly placed the arrow on the table. His large tale twitched in excitement.

"Message? I see no message." said Ualaxy looking at the arrow on the table. "It just looks like an arrow to me. Where is the message?"

"I can see my job of teaching you is not going to be as easy as I first thought."

"Easy! You want easy?"

"All right now listen to me. We must read the arrow together." said the wolf, his voice now calm with a hint of kindness that only wolves possess. "There is a plant that grows in the southwest region of the western desert. The people of the Blackpool Kapern have destroyed much of the land where it grows wild." The Loup Garou's eyes searched the cabin as he stood close to the young girl. "Did you find a leather pouch here in the cabin?"

"Yes." said the girl.

"Please, will you bring it to me?"

Ualaxy stood up and walked into the small cabins other room where she slept. Under her bed of many skins, she reached for a small leather bag she had found along with the lamp and book. The bag was covered with many small beautiful glass beads that had been sewn into the leather. She returned to the living room and placed the pouch on the table in front of the wolf.

"Thank you." said the wolf. "Hump... big medicine, Please sit down and we will began."

Ualaxy gracefully sat down. Her hand slightly shaking.

"Little Brave Girl, you show big courage. The clans of my people have made a good choice in giving you such gifts. " And again the wolves eyes filled with tears.

"Ya ya, so now what do we do now?"

"We prepare ourselves to read the message of the arrow."

Sitting on a small table next to the cabin's window was a shell from Queen's Bay of the great sea to the west of Blue Bird River.

"Please, hand me that sea shell."

Ualaxy reached from her chair to the small table and handed the sea shell to the the Loup Garou. Carefully opening the leather pouch, he removed several dried leaves from the desert plant, and placed them in the sea shell.

"How did you know what was in the pouch?" ask the young girl.

"We call it intuition in your language, it too is a gift from the spirit world." said the wolf with a big smile showing his many white teeth. From the wood stove he removed glowing ember and placed in in the shell from the great mother sea. Ribbons of white smoke curled up from the shell as he placed it on the table. "Now only truth will be spoken between us. The Witches of Wüstland, the People of Washoe-Washeshu, and many clans will hear our words. We must choose our words wisely."

"I'm afraid." said Ualaxy. The air in the cabin now smelled clean with the odor of the white smoke that curled around them.

The wolf smiled. "Apparently you have been adopted by many clans because of your bravery. The Queen of Little Thunder Sea has tested you and knows your spirit guides to be very brave and yet full of fun. She will help you over come your fear. Excitement and fearful emotions feel very similar. Relax and have faith you are protected. Now, shall we read the messages of the arrow?"

Remember Paris

It was in April when I first met you. True love never dies. I remember the way you smiled as I sat down for a coffee in that little cafe in Paris. The night sky sparkling as bright as the street lamps along the boulevard, but it was your eye's that captured my heart. You were drinking an apéritif with your coffee, a Tia Maria wasn't it?

Remember our waiter, Alejandro Fernández, the foreign exchange student from Guadalajara?

He said, "Where I came from such nights are made for love." and he waved his hand in an arch across the starry sky and made me sit at your table, introducing us to one another as if he had always known someday we would meet. You were reading a book of my short stories, and when I reached in my breast pocket for my ink pen and wrote my name in your book, you looked shocked. We sat up all night talking, Alejandro supplying us with coffee and Tia Maria's. I still have that herringbone jacket, the pen I keep in a cigar box on my desk.

Whenever the night sky is aglow in starlight, and a sudden breeze kisses your cheek, remember, my love will always be with you.

Yo, Ray, Hand Me a Flashlight

Ya gotta love your job.

If you can't get in the front door, try the back door.

The more you look for shit, the more you find it.

Can you spell COLONIC Therapist?
Hello! Is anybody in there?



And a quoit from Jack Kerouac, "There is universal substance which is divine substance because where else can it be?"

The Army of the Darkness

The army of the Blackpool Kapern marched toward the polar arctic regions of Fangrala. The rank and file of each devil soldier being determond by its ability to distroy the native enviroment.

"We will rule the world of Fangrala and subjagate the barbaran animal tribes." Standing on a platform of ice, General Rex Gluteus Maximus dressed in black satanic satin and animal skins shouted to his army. His speech was clearly ment to invoke the passions of greed in his many demon warrors. Standing only five-foot-two, the Generals ghostly white fingers and long nails gripped the podium, is voice was loud and clear, and his drooling troops oggled him in the wonder of this magnificance. Lifting the rifle of Konyaku high in the air, General Rex Gluteus ended his speech with, "We will fight until all that free belongs to us, and all that is not free, we will steal." Roars of acceptance to the Generals speech echoed from the ice mountains that surrounded the demon army.

Standing on the ice stage to the left of the General's ontourage of bodyguards, stood the spy Ursus Wissenwert in demon disguise. She made mental notes of all that she heard and had seen. Showing little emotion at the General's forthright speech. She stood in the shadows, mind melding with the High Council of Vulpes. Her dangerous mission was to gather as much information as possible and return to northern regions of Fangrala.
"The threatening invasion of the demon army on the free migratory inhabitants of my planet must not succeed." she said through clenched teeth. She watched closely as the General and his body guards walk to several quonset huts made of rotting whale bones. The largest quonset hut used by Rex Gluteus Maximus as a command center and residence steamed with pitrid ordors. Maggots crawled over the remaining strips of rotting flesh that hung from the rib hut. Most foul of all was the hanging carcass of Ursus Wissenwert's friend, Ribbon Phobos. His mulilated body hung outside the hut as a trophy, a testament to Kapern Blackpool skill at killing innocence for the glory of riches. Ursus Wissenwert turned away from the crowd of demon soldiers and walked slowly away from the scene. The mind-link of the High Council of vulpes assuring her that the murder of Ribbon Phobos would not go unpunished.

Buffalo Chip Art

Tech's have been known to make the strangest things. When feeling creative, they even acid-etch minature art work on computer chips. I'll bet you a nickel, collectors are buying and selling buffalo chips.

A Slice in Time

“There are many evil forces at work in the Roux Ga Roux Forest that you know nothing about. This is the land of UFOs and Time Travelers.

I wasn’t always a werewolf you know.” The Loup Garou’s eyes, yellow wolf eyes, sparkled and glowed brightly in the light of the lamp.
“Please, I don’t want to get involved with what is going on outside. I’ve been through enough as it is. You have no idea of what I have seen, or what I’ve been through before finding this cabin.” The young girl bemoaned as she began cutting thin slices from a whole oven roast chicken that sat on the clean kitchen counter top. The faint sweet smell of rosemary and thyme mingled with yeasty odors of several fresh baked loafs of bread that also sat on the kitchen counter.

"My dear", said the wolf, "you are under the protection of many brave Fangrala warriors."

While in the process of preparing her unexpected visitor a rather large chicken sandwich. Ualaxy instinctively glanced at the mirror like reflection in the large kitchen knife she was using to slice the bread. When she held the knife at just the right angle, she could see over her shoulder. There, standing right behind her was a good-looking dark haired man. Lycanthrope! Ualaxy smiled now knowing the truth of it.
She turned quickly and walked into the living room. The wolf followed. Placing the carefully prepared sandwich on a small round table, she then poured two cups of apple cider from the crock pot sitting on the wood stove.
“Please sit down and enjoy your meal.”
“You don’t mind if I... wolf it down do you? Just kidding, I want to savor the flavors. Do you cook like this all the time?”

Showing a pearly rack of snow-white fangs, the Loup Garou grinned and went-to-town enjoying his carefully prepared food. He stopped several times to sip his cup of perfectly brewed hot cider. When finished, he smacked his lips in satisfaction and belched loudly. “So sorry.” he said, “I forgot myself there for a moment.”
Ualaxy laugh out loud. “No problem. I do the same thing when I’m alone.”
“Now shall we get started on translating that book you found?” he said.
“By all means.”

Placing the book on the table in front of the wolf, the girl then sat down.
“Ahem, this is a very ancient and valuable book of the Fangrala people. It is a book of exotic magic.”
“I could have told you that,” replied the girl.
The wolf raised one corner of his lip at the girl’s innocent, but stinging remark. He took a deep breath and continued. “This book must have come from the Pearl Mountains on the other side of the Blue Bird River. In those mountain are located many escape portals to different worlds.” The Loup Garou tapped a claw on the book. “I have seen many books of Fangrala, but never one of this value and quality. This book looks to be from the Royal Witches of the Wüstland Desert.”
“So what you’re saying is…” With her elbows planted firmly on the table while cradling her head in her hands, she sat pondering for several moments. “Ahem, the Royal Witches of Wüstland? Are they good royal witches, or bad royal witches?”
Again the wolf smiled. “A Royal Witch is a witch that has climbed to the highest summit in the Mountains, suffered the cruelest of evil’s hardships, looked death in the face, and survived the ordeal by spitting in the eye of Keres. They call it the Schmöker School of Life and Death, it's a very evil and secret society.”

"You didn't answer my question." she said rather sheepishly.

The wolf narrowed his eyes, twiched his long ears, wrinkled his nose and said, "Clever girl."

Outside, the wind began to blow and the snow shifted directions.

"Ahwooo... ahwooo... ahwooo..."

Ualaxy shivered at the mornful crys.

"My brothers and sisters are singing prayers for you." The wolf stood up quickly. "We must leave tonight."

"Are you nuts? leave for where? Why?"

"Magic is a foot. We must cross the Bluebird River and be on the otherside of the Pearl Mountains before midnight."

"Forgive me for sounding rude, but you must be crazy. How do you purpose we get there, fly?" Ualaxy sat back in her chair with her arms folded across her chest.

"Of course we're going to fly," said the wolf pointing to the old Oriental carpet on the cabin floor. "What do you think that's for?"

Blockhead Hans and a Pocket Full of Mud

How it works.
You Turkeys!
Sounds like, "Gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble-gobble.
Looks like, "Gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble-gobble.
Step outside and read the signs, you have "no" choice. He/she/it.
Are you listening to z radio?
Iz z TV turned on?
Are you feeling Browzy?
Chain, chain, chain...anchor.
Don't think.
Don't comment.

Magic Good Luck Charms

The photo shows some of the lovely Good Luck Fairy bracelets and earrings made by my friend Donna (Willo) who lives in Seattle.

Today I plan to take a few photos of the wonderful heart earrings Willo gifted to me, and maybe a few of my own Native and Fantasyland bracelets.

My friend Joanne is also creating some Delightful and Fun (necklaces) that I want to photograph.

I am very blessed to have such creative friends who are willing to share their knowledge of designing and making beautiful jewelery.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your days be filled with the joy of love,

Warm bear hugs and sweet kisses.

The Dragon's Stone of Fangrala

The Story Book is in the making.

The Land of Fangrula

Haven't been drawing much in the past couple of years, so my technique of coming up with an acceptable map to go along with my story is kinda rough.

Paper bags, and old envelopes work well for paper. Wish I had a decent ink pin to work with...oh well, I'm grateful for the one I have. Sorry the scan didn't come out nice and crisp with detail. To apply water colours to some portions of the map, I used a flared wooden match for a paint brush. Of course the story and map is just a first draft. I know there are many mistakes, but that's the magic of blogging, wysiwyg.
Most of all, I had fun making the map, and hope to draw several more of better quality.
Here is a list of several places listed on the map...
Brave Heart Bay
Elbow Point
Queen's Bay
Ruby Shoe
Two Heart River
Blue Bird River
Running Horse Mountains
Little Thunder Sea
Pearl Mountains
The Pit of Hellos
The Forest of Roux-Ga-Roux
Olson Caribou, and Longhorn of the North.
Now all I have to do is continue on with the story.