Off the Grid

When I need a break, mainly from my 4-10 work week, 

I like to get away from my daily life and escape into nature.

I think I have posted my adventures many times but, there is always 

a space that I have not explored.

It has been several weeks now that the "swede" and I jumped in 

the convertible Jeep and drove down to Kanab (Utah).

 It's about 4 and half hour ride.

We didn't take any camping gear, it

was too cold for me to tent it in April.

We stayed in the Best Western Hotel (Kanab).

(I would go back)

Below are some of our adventure shots hiking the

 Coyote Butte in Vermilion Monument just on the

 border of Utah and Arizona.

Be sure to pick up a permit to enter into this area, you must

 have 4 wheel drive, it is back country.

Ha Ha, this picture is deceiving..
we are standing way in front of the sign.
The camera is sitting on the back fender of the Jeep

This area is really remote from the highway,
 it was worth the trip to see what nature and wind
can do with all the airborne sand.

Wide view of the sand dunes

The swede surfing the wave..

Layers swirling sandstone.

Wind weathered sandstone.

A moment of  contemplation of the wonders of this earth.

This area was where the swede surfed and I sat in the sand pit.

Sitting in a sand pit

A fun find in this area, I call them; worry sandstones.



-This quote sums up why I love to go off the grid.

 Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to 

play in and pray in, where nature may heal and 

give strength to body and soul.

John Muir

Fresh Crisp Linens

My ironed linen napkins.
It took me an hour and a half to do this many linens. 

1800's women ironing linens for the hotel & restaurant industry.

Armand Desire Gautier

 Picasso's version than Boilly's lovely maiden.

烫衣板

Ironing Board in Chinese

 I really like ironing, I know, it is passe...but it is relaxing for me and

 it takes me back to my childhood when I first learned 

to iron pillow cases and table clothes and napkins.

 If you really want to see MORE ironing art click here. 

This blog is full images.

Yellow-Lemon

lem·on n

1. a yellow or, in some climates, green oval citrus fruit with a thick fragrant rind and sour juicy flesh

2.  the tree with glossy almond-shaped leaves and spiky branches that bears lemons. Latin name: Citrus limon

3. a pale yellow color typical of the rind of a ripe lemon.

Also called lemon yellow

This is my favorite treat to get a Starbucks, but paying $2.25 a slice,

 seems a bit pricey and so I thought I would google

 a "knock off recipe to satisfy my lemon tooth craving.

The real Starbucks lemon pound cake

STARBUCKS LEMON (knock off) CAKE

1 box  lemon yellow cake mix

1/2 cup olive (vegetable) oil

4 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

8 ounces sour cream

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Icing

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3-4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

~

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray 2 loaf pans generously with cooking spray.

2. Place all cake ingredients in no particular order into stand or electric mixer, beating until well combined, about 1 1/2 minutes. Divide cake batter between two prepared loaf pans spreading evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes before removing loaves from pans.

3. To prepare icing, place powdered sugar into a large bowl. Drizzle in lemon juice stirring until smooth and thick. Should be a good drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over cakes and let set for 20 minutes for a firm icing. Otherwise slice while still wet if desired.

Makes about 24 slices

Here is my cake.
 It is so yummy, my family loved this so 

much, I think I will make it again!

Happy Spring!

Mid Wifery

I am way past my child bearing age, and I couldn't have a child even if I had all the plumbing 

(of which I don't anymore).

But since I am a woman and a mother, I am interested in the

 birthing process, it is one of those miracles that seem to stagger the mind, 

because, of the hazards that it could bring to a woman.

I have started watching a BBC series called; CALL THE MIDWIFE. 

(you can check it out by clicking the title.)

These are the nurses that are the midwife's

These women are all very caring, there is not one

 that is the bad girl or the villain. 

It is an old fashioned story, tenderly written.

Here is a saying that started one of the episodes that I really 

liked enough that I had to listen over and over again to copy it exact.

Health is of the greatest of God's gifts, but we take it for granted,

 It hangs on a thread as fine as a spiders web and 

the smallest of thing can make it snap, 

Leaving the strongest of us, helpless in an instant,

 Hope is our protector and our love the baluster. 

...now onto episode 2

Easter Time

 For the next two weeks, the world will be focusing on the 

the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I  have learned by watching the seasons and preparing to plant my gardens 

 that the earth goes through this

incredible re-birth during Spring.

I believe that it is because God our Heavenly Father 

and Mother wept for their son during this moment in 

the earth's history that their tears brought a re-birth to the world.

"For God so loved the loved the world that 

he gave his only begotten son. 

-John 3:16

I love the art of the Resurrection.

 Here are a few images that really 

tell the viewer a sacred story.

(I apologize for not knowing the authors.)

He is not here for he has risen..

-Matthew 28:6

Luke 24:1-12


I feel so very blessed to be a disciple of Him.

Tribute to Ireland

Today is March 17, 2013. 

In the US, we celebrate this day as St Patrick's Day

It is a day that I have been apart of and celebrated for 40 some ott years. 

I am not Irish nor do I know of any Irish ancestors. 

I like to wear green and indulge in some basic Irish foods on this day.

I just finished reading this book.

Mary Robinson was the first woman to become Irish President.
Mary served in the United Nations as the High Commissioner for Human Rights
She has established the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice

I really recommend reading this book if you like history, if you are a human rights activist.

Here are some very special and noteworthy quotes from the book.

*Note: I have taken these quotes and statements from
her book, there might be some small discrepancies.

We constitute a human family;
Instead of allowing diversity of race and culture to become
 a limiting factor of human exchange and development,
we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential
 for mutual enrichment, realizing that it is the interchange between
great traditions of human spirituality that offers the
best prospects for the best human spirit itself. (human family)
~
The power of human rights is the idea that all people
 are born equal in dignity and rights.
But it's an idea that doesn't have an enormous army behind it.
Its an idea whose effectiveness depends on people
themselves believing in it, taking it up, and being willing to defend it.
-Dorothy Q. Thomas
~
 Realizing Rights
Everyone should realise that he or she has birthrights of human rights-
(Countries that have signed up for (Click to the blue link to read that declaration.
 The  Universal Declaration on Human Rights) 
-should realise those rights by implementing and Respecting them.

Women's Rights

If women are empowered to earn an income, or benefit from 
a minimum protective financial safety net (if not in a position to earn..)
children will not go hungry.

Women need not have power over men; but to themselves.

Women Activist + Feminist =STRONG
(affirmative connotation)


People whom Suffer

They are begging us, you see, in their wordless way,
To do something, to speak on their behalf,
Or at least not close the door again.-Derek Mahon
They need our action, not our tears, our practical
downright, problem solving help. Not our wordless horror.

Our prayers, our pleas.... to listen-to bear witness.

Climate Change

Mary asked African villagers; " isn't  this just a bad patch of weather?"
The villagers answered; " This is different,...this is outside of our experience ".
(What is outside of our experience? estimated two hundred years ..
some ott yrs of words being passed down from one generation to another generation. )
Impacting the Horn of Africa
2011: 1.3 billion people out of the worlds population of 7.0 billion
 have no access to electricity, they rely on kerosene & candles, wood, 
coal, animal dung for cooking and heating.

I really feel that I can do more as a citizen of the world.
Here are some of Mary Robinson's suggestions:

Click on any of the below websites to learn more

1 Million Women-Global Alliance for Waste pickers

WIEGO-
Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing

Women's Learning Partnership

ICRW-International Center  for Research on Women

*Let me know if you participate in any organizations that helps women.

Thanks for reading and thank you Mary Robinson
 for your passion to help others.

Melanie

Poultry, Hens, Chicks

The "swede" and I are what you could call urban farmers. 

Even though we are in our "fifties" we still dream about having a plot of land 

(5 acres or more) to have a sustainable lifestyle.

(I did say; in our dreams...)

We have been raising and nurturing our four hens for 

the past year, they have brought us joy when we go out to retrieve the 

brown eggs they have laid for our consumption. 

Our chicken coop

They LOVE to eat!

Egg laying nest

Horray...they did their best work today!