Author: melindalouise@hotmail.com

It was a sometimes challenging year… sometimes wanting to cry, sometimes laughing hysterically, sometimes just wanting to check out. But looking back—not at the political or environmental—my life is joy-filled, sweet and beautiful. My partner Steve and I are now in our 16th year together, we are in pretty good health, and we love our little home and our gardens—our sanctuary.

We started the year meeting Yellowstone friend Jackie in Southeast Arizona. We went to watch the Sandhill Cranes who winter at Whitewater Draw.

While down there we visited the Chiricahua Mountains. What a beautiful geologic wonderland!

In February, the Desert Botanical Garden’s amazing “Toward 2050” exhibit opened — a labyrinth with many hundreds of handmade “flags” from people all over the world. Organized by Phoenix-based textile artist Ann Morton, the project looked ahead 25 years in the future of our environment. Walking the labyrinth I was mesmerized by these beautiful textile pieces …

In March Steve had the opportunity to join his brother Jeff for a Caribbean cruise. While in Florida, they visited Yellowstone friends Jay and Cindy who work in the Big Cypress Swamp, part of the Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida.

Meanwhile, I visited Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA) with one of our Sunday Docent friends Renee (who is also a BTA Docent). Ending our time together with a lovely lunch in Superior.

Also in March, I was startled in the early-morning hours when a nearby trash truck took out the utility pole (and our electricity for hours!) while trying to empty the dumpster! Oops!

Also in March, sister-in-law Debra won First Place in the baking contest for the South Texas State Fair! Needless to say, we’re all quite proud of her.

The Desert Botanical Garden exhibit last year for orchids paid off for us.  In April Steve and I each won an orchid at our monthly volunteer meeting! That was a nice surprise … and I had just the perfect spot for them! ❤️

Also in April we visited the Tempe Center for the Arts’ “Return of the Force” exhibit, an interesting take on Star Wars from the Navajo perspective. We loved it!

Our home gardens have had another year to mature and have been putting on some beautiful shows of color this year.

Our summer garden was amazing. Our cactus just kept putting out the most beautiful flowers.

Even in the heat of summer we kept up our early-morning walks along the Salt River (near Tempe Town Lake from the Tempe Marketplace). Starting before sunrise, it was always such a lovely, peaceful way to begin our day.

I finished up my first weaving in over 50 years! It was nice to get back to more fiber arts after such a long time. Also more contemplative slow drawings and some small handmade booklets. Creating certainly helps with the craziness

After the Docent season ended in May, our Sunday team had a fun get-together at our wonderful Day Captain Susan’s home.

In July we visited family in Boise then headed to the coast for an awesome trip along the coast. Headed first for Astoria, Oregon for a few nights, ending the day with a scrumptious dinner with a view.

Next day we traveled over the bridge into Washington to see the lighthouse, then back to Astoria and a visit to the Maritime Museum.

From Astoria, we headed south with wonderful walks along the beach and tide pooling . . .

Throughout the year we attended many protests . . . in Phoenix, Flagstaff and even in Boise. Being with everyone was fun and so very heartening.

Also throughout last year we had many wonderful get-togethers with our Yellowstone family of life-long friends.

Decorated our home for Christmas . . .

Helped with the Desert Botanical Garden’s Luminaria . . .

And ended the year celebrating our anniversary with my sister Marian and her husband Dick at their home in beautiful Sedona. All in all — given everything going on here and around the world — it was a good year full of love, joy, and friendships.

Toward 2050: “Take steps towards humanity’s challenge to address climate change.” This new exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix is a creation of Arizona-based fiber artist Ann Morton. It’s a labyrinth lined with literally thousands of flags created by almost 700 artists from all over the world: 46 states and 10 countries. 

Each flag is a wonderful piece of art made of repurposed fabric (cotton, silk, rayon), old clothing (one I saw was part of a sweatshirt), and scrap material.

The artists used embroidery, knitting, hand and machine stitching; hand painted and botanical printing; fabric collage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The labyrinth was designed to inspire reflection on how our climate will affect us over the next 25 years.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the creativity and hoping it gets people thinking more about what we—as individuals and communities—can do to make a difference.  It’s at the Garden until June 1st.

https://dbg.org/events/toward-2050/2025-02-11/

It was the early 70s when I last did any weaving. I quit my full-time job (I was carrying a full load of night classes at Ventura College) to go to school full time. I got myself a job in the Plant Department at Lumber City (one of the early “big box” stores). I was in heaven! Ventura College is a beautiful campus on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. I was taking lots of art-related classes: photography, drawing, fiber arts. I loved all of it. At the same time I took California Native Plants classes and Art History, etc. I loved it all. As the saying goes . . . I was like a kid in a candy store. Trying anything and everything that interested me. I loved Ventura College and grew so much. I finally went on from there for my BA and MA, but Ventura College was always my “first love.”

So, why do I write of this? Now, over 50 years later, I’ve been enjoying getting back to exploring more creative expression. I began writing more almost 10 years ago now, which eventually led to my starting this blog: to have somewhere to put these written expressions. But over the past few years I’ve explored other creative expressions: mosaics, watercolor, collage, handmade books and . . . fiber arts. I’ve learned embroidery and using embroidery with fabric collage, but early last year I wanted to try weaving again. 

 

I decided to either make or buy myself another small hand loom. We made our own looms in the 70s, even including carding and spinning wool on our own handmade drop spindles.

But checking costs online for a small hand-held loom ($75-80!) there was no way.  I decided to make my own. I’d go to a second-hand store, get a wood picture frame and pound in a bunch of small nails evenly spaced across the top and bottom (to hold the warp yarn in place). Just like we did in those classes 50 years ago.

Then one day in early February 2024, someone put up for sale on the Facebook Marketplace a loom exactly like the ones I’d seen online for $75-80 — and she was asking only $5! What?!?Wow! I think this was meant to be.

So now here I am. Finally finishing up my first weaving in 50 years. I’ve enjoyed getting back to doing more creative projects over these last few years. It’s been fun getting back to those wonderful early years of creative expression while at Ventura College. I loved those days of sitting on the lawn looking out at the vast ocean and wanting to explore everything! I’ve continued a lot of that exploring over the years (rock climbing, parasailing, working as a tour guide in Yellowstone), and I’m grateful for that chance: always pushing through fears and doing it anyway. 

This year brought a range of emotions: hopefulness, exhilaration, and challenges; along with forgiveness and letting go of judgments (myself and others). The early part of the year started with a health challenge but is ending with joy and healthy promise.

I’ve been exploring creative outlets—nature journaling, handmade books, embroidery and, after 50 years, I’m weaving again.

 

It’s all fun, comforting and helping bring some peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a wonderful spring, replenishing and enjoying our gardens in their full beautiful color, with wildflowers, bulbs, cactus flower displays and veggies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was grateful for some much-needed stillness and tranquility. It was also nice to appreciate our home without having to prepare for being away in Yellowstone for almost six months. We spent many years living in Yellowstone—and loved it!—but it has been nice being home—even through one of the longest and hottest summers in quite awhile.

A road trip in April took us to Texas for the solar eclipse. On the way, we spent a few days with my youngest brother and his family, and then visited the beautiful hill country on the way up to Austin for a few days to watch the eclipse. Such beautiful wildflowers all along the trip; great fun. The actual eclipse day was beautiful, even though somewhat overcast. But nonetheless wonderful viewing. The previous eclipse we were able to watch was while working in Yellowstone and it, of course, was just as incredible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Austin and the eclipse we headed south and visited with my youngest niece on our way to San Antonio where we stayed right on the River Walk for a few days. While there we had a great reconnection with my high school best friend and her husband.

On our way home we stayed a few days near Carlsbad Caverns. What a fascinating place!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our 17th year volunteering as Sunday Docents at the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) and springtime at the Garden was pretty spectacular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In May we took my sister and brother-in-law to the Mesa Arts Center to see Doug Smith who brought the wolves back to Yellowstone in the 1990s. It was great to see him again and have a chance for them to hear Doug’s inspiring talk.

 

The end of May we attended the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s banding of bats. It was great fun.

 

 

 

We also had a chance to leave the heat of the Phoenix area and get away to higher elevations to enjoy time with my sister and brother-in-law at their home in Sedona.To also be with a wonderful Yellowstone friend who is now a State Park Ranger at Tonto Natural Bridge

 

 

 

 

and to spend time with dear DBG friends at their place in the high country as well (along with some great bird watching).

July brought a one-month long trip, beginning with a two-night stay in Ely, Nevada, and finally being able to take their train ride, pulled by a steam locomotive, up into the hills. We discovered the Ely train and museum in the early days of heading north on our way to work in Yellowstone. But we’ve never ridden the train as our stay has always been in early spring before the train started up for the season. This time though we visited in summer (when the train is running again after their winter hiatus). We were not only finally able to ride the train but before heading back into the station we stopped for an incredible fireworks display on July 4th!

After leaving Boise-area family, eventually making our way to Yellowstone, we first headed up into the mountains to visit McCall, Idaho, for a week-long stay at a timeshare we hadn’t taken advantage of for almost 10 years as we’ve been working summers in Yellowstone. It was a lovely time and beautiful weather. We also visited with a couple of friends from Yellowstone who now live and work in McCall. It was great to reconnect.

From McCall we made our way to Yellowstone for 10 days visiting our family of friends there and to enjoy the Park. Not to work; just to play and enjoy reconnecting with everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving Yellowstone, we went south down through Grand Teton National Park . . .

and eventually revisited the massively large aspen forest of “Pando.” The aspens at Pando are one great big living organism. It is an incredible place and quite beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then continued on to Bryce Canyon National Park, staying with two more Yellowstone friends working the summer at the Canyon. I was reminded what a beautiful place Bryce is—I hadn’t been there since the 70s. It was of course pretty spectacular.

In September we flew out to Illinois and had a fun visit Steve’s family, taking advantage of our time there to visit Morton Arboretum.

October brought cooler nights at home and new beauties in our garden, and then cooler days brought a chance to once again clean up our gardens and patio and enjoy being outside.

October also brought a new fall season at our “other garden,” the Desert Botanical Garden, with this year’s exhibit of “Light Bloom.” It was fun to reconnect with DBG friends that we hadn’t seen much of through the summer.

November was a fun birthday celebration month (77 years young!) and Thanksgiving. We enjoyed another one of Steve’s delicious turkeys and lots of leftovers. We also helped an “army” of DBG volunteers prepare for the start of Las Noches De Las Luminaria (The Nights of the Luminaries) by bringing out of storage and cleaning up almost 8,000 Luminaria bags, putting candles in the bags, and getting them placed around the Garden. Then Friday after Thanksgiving we helped light the candles on the first night of this special Luminaria season. It is so festive and this year is especially beautiful with the “Light Bloom” exhibit at night. So spectacular.

December we brought out holiday decorations and my sister and her husband joined us to attend Luminaria as members.

 

It was a magical evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year we’ve enjoyed wonderful trips to visit family, had great get-togethers and reconnections with many friends and, of course, more beautiful early-morning walks along the Salt River.

 

Now, as we come to the end of another year on the planet and head into our 15th year together, we are grateful for our lives together. Blessings to all and Happy Holidays!

 

It’s spring in Arizona and we’ve got a hummingbird nest in our yard! We’ve been putting out hummingbird food for many years. We’ve never found a nest in our yard though. Until this week! I’m so excited! We even have our spotting scope set up in my yoga/art studio to watch her and the nest. This is pretty special.

When time to make her nest, the female hummingbird will go around gathering spider webbing. She then uses that spider webbing to attach her nest to the branch, as well as to use in making the nest itself. She will lay two tiny eggs (which always remind me of a Pez candy). As those two eggs hatch and the babies start to grow, because of that stretchy spider webbing, that nest will go from round to more oblong to accommodate those two little guys as they grow bigger.

It’s spring in Arizona and we’ve got flowers! This is always such a beautiful time of year, and this year I’ve been so excited because I have Scarlet Flax and Desert Marigolds for the first time . . .

Lots of our Sonoran Desert native, the Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) . . .

And the cactus! Really showing off their beauty . . .

It’s spring in Arizona! May you enjoy your spring.

 

We arrived about a week before our check-in date of May 4th this year.

The Canyon Village was still closed and lots of snow.

Our first time out to Lamar Valley since last year’s floods. The Lamar River with lots of silt from the beginning of the spring melt off, being joined by Soda Butte Creek.

Finally checked in and made our way to Old Faithful where we live every summer. This is my eighth year living and working in our country’s first National Park.

This year, we had the opportunity to join our new guides in Gardiner (Yellowstone’s north gate area) for a tour of our antique vehicle collection by the head of interpretation, Leslie Quinn, who has been working in the Park going on 45 years. Something I’ve wanted to do for many years. Such fun!

Had a day off to explore the east side of the Park. The Lower Falls of The Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone still draped in snow.

The Yellowstone Lake . . . still frozen to about 30 inches! Usually begins melt off by mid- to late-May.

It’s been a fun season so far  . . .

This was another Grizzly mom and her three cubs on an early-morning day off. We were on our way up and over Dunraven Pass (near Mt. Washburn Overlook).

And . . . an interesting season. We had quite the microburst on the third day of my second 5-day Yellowstone Couples Adventure heading back to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Trees falling all around us and, once we finally made it to the Hotel, five Lodgepole Pine trees had fallen on the Sandpiper annex to the Hotel! Halfway through another wonderful summer in Yellowstone. Enjoying time to relax on some days off, but fun times with folks on our tours too.

Every spring I create a movie using photos and videos from our previous Yellowstone summer. Working as Driver Guides—and living at Old Faithful—for five months every summer is such a privilege. What a joy it is to drive folks all over Yellowstone—our country’s first National Park. I love showing them the incredible thermal features, wildlife, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and wildflowers.  And of course the beautiful historic lodges — my favorite of all being the Old Faithful Inn. This will be my eighth year!

Creating these movies over the years has always been a wonderful way to begin getting ready for our return.

So here is this year’s movie “Our Yellowstone Summer 2022” . . .  Hope you enjoy watching as much as I do producing it.

Since a little girl, I’ve enjoyed my birthdays and celebrate way before and  after!

This year’s a big one though . . . and I’m excited! I’m turning 75 years old this month. Exciting especially because I’ve finally realized two very long-time and major accomplishments: staying in a tree house and going up for a ride in a hot air balloon.

We left Arizona heading across the country generally along the old Route 66.

The further east the more brilliant the fall colors  . . . finally arriving in Hocking Hills, Ohio.

 Our sweet little tree house, the Safari, was cozy and nestled “Among the Trees.”

We left Ohio for Chicago and, while there, visited the Morton Arboretum and their Human+Nature exhibit. Exquisite!

Once back home in Arizona, we headed up to Sedona for another very special  birthday present . . .  a hot air balloon ride. Another dream I’ve had for many years finally accomplished!

And the special ones who provided this wonderful gift: my sister Marian, my dear Yellowstone friend Jackie, and my very special partner Steve.

I’ve had a pretty wonderful birthday celebration thus far . . . and my actual birthday isn’t for a few more days. I’m just beginning!

Another banner day! We watched otters. Took a ton of photos. Here are the three best ones.

Lots of bison.

Into the Park early on this blustery day, and what a day it turned out to be! While looking for ducks at one of the kettle ponds (left over from when glaciers covered the Park), we spotted a wolf walking by at the back of the pond! Looks like probably a first year.

As we kept heading east through Lamar Valley the snow started really picking up and we figured it best to turn around and start heading back.  All in all, a wonderful day in the Park. We saw Barrow’s Goldeneye, Eared Grebes, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, Osprey and Sandhill Cranes. Spotted only a few Bison babies (Reds) but they were on the other side of the  Lamar River, too far for any good photos. But some Pronghorn nearby and was able to get some better photos than yesterday. Some of them looked pregnant, so hopefully we’ll see some babies soon.

Another really wonderful opportunity was spotting not only two mature Bald Eagles (mated pair perhaps?) and an immature–all in the same tree.  That was fun!

And, on our way back to Gardiner (just inside the north gate where we’re staying until check in on Tuesday) we spotted Bighorn Sheep.

Now it’s back to the room and some reading/reviewing (getting ready for next week and back to work) before dinner with a friend tonight. Just another boring day in Paradise!