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Our journey as a big group has just ended. We are in the parking lot waiving our final goodbyes to our new friends. They will be boarding one of the small planes soon to fly back to Kilimanjaro airport. I wonder if the runway is smoother than these Serengeti roads. We really don't have much idea of what our adventure today will be. We have a new driven Solomon - they call him King Solomon. He was actually the guide who found the black rhino the day before. We realize as we pull out of the parking lot that our game drive will be in the Serengeti. For some reason I was thinking we were going back to the Crater. Solomon drives us directly to this amazing little watering hole where there a lot of zebras getting a drink and cooling off. He points to some lions just off in the bushes. One of them is stalking the zebras. We watch with great anticipation as she makes her way down through the reads. The zebras sense her presence and start running. She strikes to soon and they all get away. Solomon tells us she is young. He can tell because she still has some faint spots on her fur. The inexperience cost her a nice breakfast. We watch for a few more minutes and then drive on. He takes us looking for a leopard. We wind around on the way to the leopard and find another pair of lions resting near a tree by the road. We watch them for a bit and then make our way down the road. Shortly he stops again and points to a tree in the distance. There is a leopard in the tree with her gazelle "breakfast" dangling from a branch. She had a good morning. We watch for a few minutes before driving on. Further down the road we see a hyena walking along with a gazelle hanging from her mouth. Solomon explains that the hyena has probably gotten the gazelle from a cheetah. Cheetahs are afraid of hyenas. Lots of buzzards are hanging out waiting for their turn in the food chain. We watch while the hyena eats a little and then abruptly gets up and starts heading off in to the grasses with the food. We are trying to figure out why. Then we suddenly see why. Up ahead in the distance we see a lion walking toward us. She is coming to take the gazelle from the hyena. She makes her way over to the grasses where we saw the hyena disappear. We can't see the action but the grass is moving around busily. Suddenly the hyena comes sulking away - no more gazelle. Lion is king of the Serengeti. The Cheetah makes the kill, loses to the hyena who loses to the lion and eventually the buzzards will get some too. Well that's part of the circle of life here.
We continue driving around looking for lions but the afternoon is bearing down on us. It is very dusty and we are getting tired. We eat our box lunches and start to fade. We find another lion of in the distance near the Kopje's but she isn't moving. We watch for a while but then start to make our way back to the back entrance/exit. We stop for our check out procedure and grab a few beers and some chips. After knocking back and beer John, Sierra and Monique seem to dose off and on while we make our way back through the Olduvai Gorge. I nod off a few times myself. I am tired. Its a long drive back and the road is even dustier than I remember. I have my buff pulled over my face for a good portion of the day. As we make our way back up the Crater road we see a Land Cruiser that has been in an accident. It looks like it rolled over the edge. There are lots of people standing around but it looks like it has already been taken care of and the occupants have already been taken away. The front glass was broken so I hope they were not injured badly. No way to know though. After another couple of hours we are out of the Crater area and back on the road to Lake Manyara. This was the area of the Iraqw people (see earlier blog entry). Finally we make a left off onto a dirt road. There are a number of shacks along the road side and I joke to Monique and Sierra that they can have the one with the roof. I guess its not really nice to make a joke like that when so many in Africa have such poor living conditions. We round a corner and arrive in front of our lodge surrounded by lush trees. It is a very peaceful looking setting.
Again the porters take our bags. We are escorted to a two story building with a thatch roof where are rooms are next to each other. We each have a balcony. Ours looks out on to the Lake down below in the distance. It is a salt water lake and still pretty even though much of it is dry right now. We decide to meet for drinks at 7. A shower is definitely in order to wash off all the dust from today. I think this was the winner in terms of dust but then that's probably not true. Summit day was probably the winner in terms of dust, well, who knows, there is so much dust here every day could be the winner!
All cleaned up John and make our way down to the bar a little early. It really is a beautiful setting here. Would have been nice to stay here for a day or two. They have a bicycle excursion in to town or an option to tour with a local farmer. Too bad we don't have more time. I feel like I am watching the last sands go through the hour glass. It is almost over. We enjoy the gentle night breeze with a glass of wine. The bar and restaurant are open air with a full view of the Lake Manyara Park below. It is so relaxing sitting here talking about our trip and how much fun we've had. Sierra and Monique arrive and we toast each other and the day. This was our best day on safari with the ballon ride to start and the action of the lion hunting and seeing the leopard and hyena. We've seen it all and didn't feel so rushed today. It was more relaxing. We talk a little about plans when we go back home. Monique has a dream for a neuro-wellness center which I love! We talk about it and how great it would be to have them in Colorado. I am keeping my fingers crossed but either way I want to help them make it happen no matter where it is.
Its getting late and we decide we better get to our table. There is a huge buffet with lots of choices. I try lots of the different salad options and some fish for dinner. John goes for the pasta! Much of the food has an Indian flare to it here as well. There are also lots of fruits and various desert choices. We eat way to much and drink more wine, lingering because we just don't want the night and the trip to end. We had decide on a 9 o'clock departure to get ourselves back to the Arusha Hotel in time to get bags and get to the airport. Walking back to the room we hear singing in the bar area so we stop and grab a seat. What looks to be some sort of gospel choir is singing and dancing. Their voices are beautiful. As we are sitting there I lean over to Sierra and say how cool it would be if they would sing the song from the mountain - Jambo, Jambo. Just then they start singing the song. I can't believe it! Its miraculous. Just like the entire trip. What a way to end the night. I am trying to upload the video to youtube. Will add a link if I get it figured out. We decide it is time to turn in. We make our way slowly to our rooms. We don't want to say good night. Its gone by all too fast but I am so glad we had this extra day with Monique and Sierra. It has helped us unwind.
Sweat dreams of Africa. One last time.
Friday, August 19, 2011
More Lessons from the Trail
It had been over 3 weeks since Kilimanjaro and I was really anxious to get back out and do some hiking. We've been so busy since we got back that it just hasn't fit the schedule. John was going to be out of town over the weekend so my hiking companion wasn't available. I decided I couldn't take it anymore I was going for a hike on my own on Sunday. My daughter was worried about me going out early in the morning alone but I assured her I would be okay.
I decided to take a trail I have done many times before training for Kili. Carpenter Peak is just 30 minutes from the house and its a good elevation gain (1,200 feet or so) over 2.6 miles. I could get there at 7 and be back before Mary Mac even woke up to worry about me. So I took off at 6:30 Sunday morning.
It was a beautiful sunny morning. On the road south to Roxborough Park where the trailhead begins I saw a half a dozen hot air balloons filling up for the morning ride along the foothills. It reminded me again of the balloon ride in Africa and took me back for just a minute or two.
At the trailhead there were just a couple of cars in the lot. This looked to be a very solitary morning, just me and the beauty that Mother Nature had to offer. There were two rangers talking as I headed up the trail so I figured they would come looking for me if I didn't come back - maybe. There are mountain lions in this area and early morning is one of the times you have to be concerned the most.
I started up what should have been a familiar trail but it was quite different than the last time I climbed it over 2 months ago. After we left for Africa Denver had had some very heavy rains for about a week and a half. The rains had taken a toll on the trail. There was now a deep rut down the middle of the trail making it uneven and harder to navigate. The rains had also exposed new rocks and roots as obstacles in my path. This got me thinking again how the trail can teach us about life. Even the most familiar things are always changing. That's just life. Sometimes forces will work on our lives, like the rain, and bring change. As I looked at the new rocks and roots in the trail I wondered about the first word that came to mind - exposed.
Exposed - adjective
1. left or being without shelter or protection
2. laid open to view; unconcealed
3. susceptible to attack; vulnerable
This is often how we feel in our lives when the rains come through a push us to change. We are uncomfortable, vulnerable, laid open. But that wasn't how I was feeling about the changes I have had in my life over the past year so I tried to think of another word to describe the changes in the landscape. These new rocks and roots hadn't been "exposed", they had been "revealed". Surprising what a different connotation has than "exposed".
Reveal - verb
1. to make known
2. to lay open to view, display, exhibit
I liked that word much better for this purpose. I do feel over the past few years I have been going through some great changes. As a result I have slowly, slowly started to reveal the real me that's been hiding inside. Starting to remember the things in life that truly give me joy. I don't have to be that persona that I was all those years in the business world. Not that some of that isn't who I still am, it just doesn't define me anymore and I don't let it mask the more vulnerable side of who I am. Today's Lesson #1 from the trail - life changes and will lead you to reveal new aspects of yourself as a result.
I continued on up the trail toward the peak. Some of my favorite parts of the trail are where it meanders through the tall pines. Its a bit cooler there and I love to hear the winds blow through the trees. There is a bench in one of these sections dedicated to "N. Michael Staritzky, September 12, 1941 - May 21, 1995" by his wife. The inscription reads, "Walking adds so much to life. We walked Roxborough this afternoon. It made life worth living. It is easy to put aside your problems when you are walking hand in hand with someone you love." I don't know who this man was but every time I walk past the bench it makes me smile and think of him walking hand in hand with his wife through these same woods. Lesson #2 - leave something behind that will make people smile and think of something wonderful
Just past the bench there is a sign for a trail that breaks off to the south - Elk Valley. We never took this trail on our training hikes because the name made us think it wouldn't be challenging enough and we needed to get our elevation in. I paused at the trailhead for a minute and decided to "take the road not taken". I have always loved Robert Frost's poem and it came to mind as I turned up the trail through the trees:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
So on I walked up the path I had never taken. It occurred to me that I really prefer walking on trails I have never been on before. For one thing I don't know how long it is going to take me so I can really worry or wonder about how much longer its going to be. I can just enjoy the scenery and lose myself in time and place. I made my way up through the woods and out in to an open section of the trail as it made its way south. Just then I turned a corner and THIS magnificent view revealed itself.
I think about how I would have missed this particular perspective if I had taken the same path I had taken every other trip to this park. Sometimes we just need a new perspective but its hard to get off the trail we are on so that we can SEE. I like taking new trails because I don't always want to know what's ahead. I want the surprise on discovery which is so hard to find in today's world. Then I thought again how the trail teaches us about life. Our life is like taking a long winding trail through various landscapes. We never really know what is ahead of it us. There will probably be obstacles - fallen trees, streams to cross, rocks, roots, animals, wind, rain, thunder and lightening. There will be darkness and there will ultimately be light and majestic views like the one I just saw. Imagine how pointless life would be if we new exactly what was around every corner, if we knew every road we were going to take before we took it. Sometimes the obstacles we hit are what make us realize how much sweeter life is. Just like the inscription on the bench above. I imagine that he probably had cancer or something like that but that obstacle made him appreciate the perfection of walking in the woods with someone he loved. So often we take those things for granted when we don't have any obstacles so to speak.
Lesson #3 - take the road not traveled every once in a while and take a moment to stop and savor the newness of what you see and appreciate the beauty of who or what is right next to you.
I walked on along the trail to its end where a sign said that the ranger house was 2.6 miles back. A gentle breeze had started to blow and it was helping to keep things cool despite the fact that the sun was now over the mountains and creating some heat. About half way back I realized I had to go to the bathroom but I didn't really feel like squatting in the woods. Funny I was used to doing that all the way up Kili but I wasn't in the mood for a squat! I picked up my pace to make it back to the ranger station faster. As I scurried along I realized that I was missing alot because I was in such a hurry. This is a good parallel for life as well.
Lesson #4 - you can't really enjoy the scenery if you are in a hurry. Slow down and enjoy (you might have to detour behind a bush first). Don't let life fly by without noticing it!
I made it to the ranger station in the nick of time passing only 3 other hikers on my way back. The park really was ALL mine that morning. I stopped for a moment to be thankful for how blessed my life really is. Sometimes I can't believe how great life really is.
I decided to take a trail I have done many times before training for Kili. Carpenter Peak is just 30 minutes from the house and its a good elevation gain (1,200 feet or so) over 2.6 miles. I could get there at 7 and be back before Mary Mac even woke up to worry about me. So I took off at 6:30 Sunday morning.
It was a beautiful sunny morning. On the road south to Roxborough Park where the trailhead begins I saw a half a dozen hot air balloons filling up for the morning ride along the foothills. It reminded me again of the balloon ride in Africa and took me back for just a minute or two.
At the trailhead there were just a couple of cars in the lot. This looked to be a very solitary morning, just me and the beauty that Mother Nature had to offer. There were two rangers talking as I headed up the trail so I figured they would come looking for me if I didn't come back - maybe. There are mountain lions in this area and early morning is one of the times you have to be concerned the most.
I started up what should have been a familiar trail but it was quite different than the last time I climbed it over 2 months ago. After we left for Africa Denver had had some very heavy rains for about a week and a half. The rains had taken a toll on the trail. There was now a deep rut down the middle of the trail making it uneven and harder to navigate. The rains had also exposed new rocks and roots as obstacles in my path. This got me thinking again how the trail can teach us about life. Even the most familiar things are always changing. That's just life. Sometimes forces will work on our lives, like the rain, and bring change. As I looked at the new rocks and roots in the trail I wondered about the first word that came to mind - exposed.
Exposed - adjective
1. left or being without shelter or protection
2. laid open to view; unconcealed
3. susceptible to attack; vulnerable
This is often how we feel in our lives when the rains come through a push us to change. We are uncomfortable, vulnerable, laid open. But that wasn't how I was feeling about the changes I have had in my life over the past year so I tried to think of another word to describe the changes in the landscape. These new rocks and roots hadn't been "exposed", they had been "revealed". Surprising what a different connotation has than "exposed".
Reveal - verb
1. to make known
2. to lay open to view, display, exhibit
I liked that word much better for this purpose. I do feel over the past few years I have been going through some great changes. As a result I have slowly, slowly started to reveal the real me that's been hiding inside. Starting to remember the things in life that truly give me joy. I don't have to be that persona that I was all those years in the business world. Not that some of that isn't who I still am, it just doesn't define me anymore and I don't let it mask the more vulnerable side of who I am. Today's Lesson #1 from the trail - life changes and will lead you to reveal new aspects of yourself as a result.
I continued on up the trail toward the peak. Some of my favorite parts of the trail are where it meanders through the tall pines. Its a bit cooler there and I love to hear the winds blow through the trees. There is a bench in one of these sections dedicated to "N. Michael Staritzky, September 12, 1941 - May 21, 1995" by his wife. The inscription reads, "Walking adds so much to life. We walked Roxborough this afternoon. It made life worth living. It is easy to put aside your problems when you are walking hand in hand with someone you love." I don't know who this man was but every time I walk past the bench it makes me smile and think of him walking hand in hand with his wife through these same woods. Lesson #2 - leave something behind that will make people smile and think of something wonderful
Just past the bench there is a sign for a trail that breaks off to the south - Elk Valley. We never took this trail on our training hikes because the name made us think it wouldn't be challenging enough and we needed to get our elevation in. I paused at the trailhead for a minute and decided to "take the road not taken". I have always loved Robert Frost's poem and it came to mind as I turned up the trail through the trees:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
So on I walked up the path I had never taken. It occurred to me that I really prefer walking on trails I have never been on before. For one thing I don't know how long it is going to take me so I can really worry or wonder about how much longer its going to be. I can just enjoy the scenery and lose myself in time and place. I made my way up through the woods and out in to an open section of the trail as it made its way south. Just then I turned a corner and THIS magnificent view revealed itself.
I think about how I would have missed this particular perspective if I had taken the same path I had taken every other trip to this park. Sometimes we just need a new perspective but its hard to get off the trail we are on so that we can SEE. I like taking new trails because I don't always want to know what's ahead. I want the surprise on discovery which is so hard to find in today's world. Then I thought again how the trail teaches us about life. Our life is like taking a long winding trail through various landscapes. We never really know what is ahead of it us. There will probably be obstacles - fallen trees, streams to cross, rocks, roots, animals, wind, rain, thunder and lightening. There will be darkness and there will ultimately be light and majestic views like the one I just saw. Imagine how pointless life would be if we new exactly what was around every corner, if we knew every road we were going to take before we took it. Sometimes the obstacles we hit are what make us realize how much sweeter life is. Just like the inscription on the bench above. I imagine that he probably had cancer or something like that but that obstacle made him appreciate the perfection of walking in the woods with someone he loved. So often we take those things for granted when we don't have any obstacles so to speak.
Lesson #3 - take the road not traveled every once in a while and take a moment to stop and savor the newness of what you see and appreciate the beauty of who or what is right next to you.
I walked on along the trail to its end where a sign said that the ranger house was 2.6 miles back. A gentle breeze had started to blow and it was helping to keep things cool despite the fact that the sun was now over the mountains and creating some heat. About half way back I realized I had to go to the bathroom but I didn't really feel like squatting in the woods. Funny I was used to doing that all the way up Kili but I wasn't in the mood for a squat! I picked up my pace to make it back to the ranger station faster. As I scurried along I realized that I was missing alot because I was in such a hurry. This is a good parallel for life as well.
Lesson #4 - you can't really enjoy the scenery if you are in a hurry. Slow down and enjoy (you might have to detour behind a bush first). Don't let life fly by without noticing it!
I made it to the ranger station in the nick of time passing only 3 other hikers on my way back. The park really was ALL mine that morning. I stopped for a moment to be thankful for how blessed my life really is. Sometimes I can't believe how great life really is.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What does your Garden say about you?
This question occurred to me earlier this week as I was walking the neighborhood trail that loops behind the houses. There are three gardens that are visible from the trail. One of them, of course, is mine. The other two are tended by two of my gentleman farmer neighbors. Each of our gardens is distinct and I learned a few things about myself through examining these gardens and what they have to say. I imagine your garden, if you have one, says something about you as well.
I wrote this question down in a little book I carry around with me so that I could think it over and maybe write about here. My daughter picked it up and read the question, "What does your garden say about you?" She laughed and said, "Chaos! That's what it says about you."
She's right. My garden is a mess. Not just my vegetable garden but my flower beds too. I could make some excuses about having been in Africa for a good part of the summer but that's not really why my garden is chaos. Its because I planted it that way. I've had a habit of "mixing" my plants together. I think they call it companion planting but mine probably wouldn't be considered a good organized companion planting scheme.
I planted some peas in one bed and sprinkled lettuce seeds in the same bed. That would have been fine except the arugula seeds overtook the bed and were interwoven with the savory that reseeded itself from last season. The peas are past their prime and mostly dried up and brown now. This bed needs a bit of work!
My flower beds have been taken over by reseeding sunflowers, dill, chamomile and run away mint plants. The sunflowers have almost reached the height of my back deck. There are hundreds of them. I would say it looks awful except the birds love it so much I can't bear to pull them up. Every morning I go out and the song birds are having their breakfast. In the afternoon my bees are dancing around collecting the pollen. How can I get rid of the chaos when it brings such life to my backyard? But then that's how I get in to trouble - justifying chaos. I could have the sunflowers in a little more order and still be feeding the birds and the bees. They don't have to be taking over my yard. This parallels my life in a way. I let too much of a good thing take over and then I become stressed.
Back to the veggie garden - I planted onions in with my asparagus and that still looks pretty good, except for the solitary bean plant down in the corner. I am not sure but I think that came from a bean that reseeded from last year because I didn't plant any beans there. At least not on purpose.
My strawberry/raspberry bed went haywire. For some reason all the strawberries IN the bed died but all the runners outside and along the base of the bed have taken over the walking path. I hate to pull them out so I just leave them to run wild. The raspberries are outgrowing the space and probably should have been planted outside the raised beds along the fence line anyway. Oh well.
My "tomato" bed is a wreck. I can't get rid of the "blight" so all the tomatoes are anemic and not really producing. On top of that I surrounded them with peppers, lettuces, carrots, onions and a squash plant or two here and there. This is what really made me raise the question in the first place.
Walking past my neighbor Michael's garden I quickly see that it is all very orderly. The onions are all in square surrounding the bed. Then there are nice rows of squash two rows on each side of the square. Then there are two rows of tomatoes in the center. The rows are evenly spaced, no weeds, no stray growth and each plant is evenly spaced. The plants look robust, especially the tomatoes. Michael is a pretty organized fellow. I can tell he knows what he's doing. He's British. I always think of the Brits as orderly and organized whether or not its true. I think I can learn some gardening from him. My chaos isn't working for me.
This started me thinking whether or not there was "chaos" in other areas of my life that might not be working for me. I think there is. I am in a period of reexamination - jettisoning things that cause me stress and aren't working for me while reorganizing my time around those things that I enjoy and that ARE working for me. This is a continual challenge for me as I have a tendency to let my attention be drawn away when distractions are presented by friends, family or business opportunities. I like to learn and do new things which is great but it can be a problem if not kept in check. I am going to characterize some of these things as weeds that shouldn't be growing in "my garden" and focus my attention on the seeds (projects,work,activities) I want growing. I am going to plant fewer things but give them space to flourish.
My next garden revelation came from my neighbor Justin. His garden is organized in a less linear fashion and very well maintained. He has lots of nice hoops and nets for protection and beautiful dark rich soils in mounds along the fence line. He always seems to be expanding and branching out in to new areas which is something that obviously appeals to me. I stop to talk to him and find out about his latest project. He put in some terraces down the right side of his back yard and he was standing there staring at them. I walked up to the fence line and asked him what he was doing. "Planting grapes. But it take two years to get the soil ready so I am just looking at the dirt right now." I tried to plant grapes once but I didn't do any soil preparation at all beyond putting a little fertilizer and compost in the hole. Maybe that's why they died after the first year. So this gave me some more food for thought. Justin is an avid researcher. He works on a neighborhood committee with me and he had proven to be quite the researcher for our cause. It made me think about my own approach to new things. I have a tendency to research but only up to a point. I am not someone who needs ALL the information to make a decision. Take my bees for example. I got the idea I wanted them. Read up a little and the next thing you know I have two hives. They didn't survive the first winter but what I learned in the process I have taken on to improve my process with my two new hives. They are thriving. I am a learning in action sort of person. But maybe I need to add in a little more planning before the learning in action takes place. Maybe.
So my garden has revealed to me some of my shortcomings or need I say "areas for improvement". Is this just part of who I am or can it be improved? Will I always have some element of chaos or can I keep up my plan to jettison those things that aren't serving me?
In the meantime, I think I will continue the chaos through the fall by throwing in some more peas and lettuces.
What has your garden revealed to you?
I wrote this question down in a little book I carry around with me so that I could think it over and maybe write about here. My daughter picked it up and read the question, "What does your garden say about you?" She laughed and said, "Chaos! That's what it says about you."
She's right. My garden is a mess. Not just my vegetable garden but my flower beds too. I could make some excuses about having been in Africa for a good part of the summer but that's not really why my garden is chaos. Its because I planted it that way. I've had a habit of "mixing" my plants together. I think they call it companion planting but mine probably wouldn't be considered a good organized companion planting scheme.
I planted some peas in one bed and sprinkled lettuce seeds in the same bed. That would have been fine except the arugula seeds overtook the bed and were interwoven with the savory that reseeded itself from last season. The peas are past their prime and mostly dried up and brown now. This bed needs a bit of work!
My flower beds have been taken over by reseeding sunflowers, dill, chamomile and run away mint plants. The sunflowers have almost reached the height of my back deck. There are hundreds of them. I would say it looks awful except the birds love it so much I can't bear to pull them up. Every morning I go out and the song birds are having their breakfast. In the afternoon my bees are dancing around collecting the pollen. How can I get rid of the chaos when it brings such life to my backyard? But then that's how I get in to trouble - justifying chaos. I could have the sunflowers in a little more order and still be feeding the birds and the bees. They don't have to be taking over my yard. This parallels my life in a way. I let too much of a good thing take over and then I become stressed.
Back to the veggie garden - I planted onions in with my asparagus and that still looks pretty good, except for the solitary bean plant down in the corner. I am not sure but I think that came from a bean that reseeded from last year because I didn't plant any beans there. At least not on purpose.
My strawberry/raspberry bed went haywire. For some reason all the strawberries IN the bed died but all the runners outside and along the base of the bed have taken over the walking path. I hate to pull them out so I just leave them to run wild. The raspberries are outgrowing the space and probably should have been planted outside the raised beds along the fence line anyway. Oh well.
My "tomato" bed is a wreck. I can't get rid of the "blight" so all the tomatoes are anemic and not really producing. On top of that I surrounded them with peppers, lettuces, carrots, onions and a squash plant or two here and there. This is what really made me raise the question in the first place.
Walking past my neighbor Michael's garden I quickly see that it is all very orderly. The onions are all in square surrounding the bed. Then there are nice rows of squash two rows on each side of the square. Then there are two rows of tomatoes in the center. The rows are evenly spaced, no weeds, no stray growth and each plant is evenly spaced. The plants look robust, especially the tomatoes. Michael is a pretty organized fellow. I can tell he knows what he's doing. He's British. I always think of the Brits as orderly and organized whether or not its true. I think I can learn some gardening from him. My chaos isn't working for me.
This started me thinking whether or not there was "chaos" in other areas of my life that might not be working for me. I think there is. I am in a period of reexamination - jettisoning things that cause me stress and aren't working for me while reorganizing my time around those things that I enjoy and that ARE working for me. This is a continual challenge for me as I have a tendency to let my attention be drawn away when distractions are presented by friends, family or business opportunities. I like to learn and do new things which is great but it can be a problem if not kept in check. I am going to characterize some of these things as weeds that shouldn't be growing in "my garden" and focus my attention on the seeds (projects,work,activities) I want growing. I am going to plant fewer things but give them space to flourish.
My next garden revelation came from my neighbor Justin. His garden is organized in a less linear fashion and very well maintained. He has lots of nice hoops and nets for protection and beautiful dark rich soils in mounds along the fence line. He always seems to be expanding and branching out in to new areas which is something that obviously appeals to me. I stop to talk to him and find out about his latest project. He put in some terraces down the right side of his back yard and he was standing there staring at them. I walked up to the fence line and asked him what he was doing. "Planting grapes. But it take two years to get the soil ready so I am just looking at the dirt right now." I tried to plant grapes once but I didn't do any soil preparation at all beyond putting a little fertilizer and compost in the hole. Maybe that's why they died after the first year. So this gave me some more food for thought. Justin is an avid researcher. He works on a neighborhood committee with me and he had proven to be quite the researcher for our cause. It made me think about my own approach to new things. I have a tendency to research but only up to a point. I am not someone who needs ALL the information to make a decision. Take my bees for example. I got the idea I wanted them. Read up a little and the next thing you know I have two hives. They didn't survive the first winter but what I learned in the process I have taken on to improve my process with my two new hives. They are thriving. I am a learning in action sort of person. But maybe I need to add in a little more planning before the learning in action takes place. Maybe.
So my garden has revealed to me some of my shortcomings or need I say "areas for improvement". Is this just part of who I am or can it be improved? Will I always have some element of chaos or can I keep up my plan to jettison those things that aren't serving me?
In the meantime, I think I will continue the chaos through the fall by throwing in some more peas and lettuces.
What has your garden revealed to you?
Up, Up and Away - Serengeti Balloon Ride
We woke up before the wake up "call" came to knock at our door. We were tired but anxious to get to the balloon ride. It didn't take us long to repack. After two weeks of packing up your stuff every morning you get to be an expert at getting it done quickly. As we start for the lobby one of the porters shows up to carry our bags. We are the first two from our group in the lobby. There is another couple waiting for the balloon ride as well. There are coffee and cookies on a small table but I decide not to have any since there is no bathroom on the balloon. The rest of the group gradually drifts in to the lobby half awake. There isn't a lot of talking.
One of the drivers from the balloon company comes and tells us we will be going in two groups. He will take two cars and then come get the others. Somehow we don't end up in the first group so once again we are waiting. It seems like I have done an awful lot of getting up early to wait around while I have been here in Africa - its that patience thing again. I think it is at least 30 minutes before the cars come back to get us. We load in to the Land Cruiser and head out. There still isn't much talking going on. I am in the front (again - car sick precaution) so I can see out the front into the pitch dark. As we drive down the road a civet (nocturnal cat) crosses the road in front of us. I see an owl and a hyena. I think everyone else is asleep. As we are getting closer to the balloon area there is a faint bit of light on the horizon. I am worrying that we will miss the sunrise from the balloon. It seems like it has taken us forever - by now it is almost 6 and we got up a 4. Just then we see 4 cheetahs to the side of the road. We are in a hurry though so we don't stop to look very long. Finally we make it to the balloon launch site. There are 3 balloons filling up with hot air. Ours is the last one. There was one more car behind us but we don't see it anywhere. We get out of the car and mill around. We are starting to get excited now. The other balloons are filling up quickly. We soon realize we aren't going to get any instructions until the other car shows up But there is no sign of it and nobody telling us what is going on. Patience again!
Finally it is getting too late , they tell us our other car is having some sort of engine trouble but another car is going to pick them up. They rush us over to the balloon for some hasty instructions. Balloons are loaded with the basket lying on its side on the ground. We have to climb in from an awkward angle but we manage. John and I climbed in one of the bottom sections facing up at Sierra and Monique. They were both a little wide-eyed and uncomfortable with the situation.
The balloon was filling with air and starting to tip the basket up. The balloon staff on the ground were holding it down but their was some question as to whether or not they could hold it much longer. Still no car with the others. I was thinking how awful it would be to miss the balloon ride at the end due to car trouble. Lori was in the missing car and I was feeling terrible that she might not make it after all she went through to put the trip together. We were about to float off the ground when up pulls the car. Mayhem ensues! A few are rushing toward the balloon but some seem to be in no hurry. They don't understand the urgency - the balloon only needs one gust of wind and it will take flight without them. They are being rushed over to the basket. One by one they are hoisted up over the tall sides the basket. On our end Mickey, Susie, Jeanne and April managed to tumble over the edge and in to their compartments. April was half asleep and not feeling too well but she managed. Down on the other end Lori and Neil made it as well. And we were off!
The other two balloons were out ahead of us dotting the sky. The sun had risen by this time and was casting some shadows from the balloons on to the ground below. It was a beautiful morning. We floated along in complete serenity. Amazing after the chaos of waiting for take off. Its just the most magnificent feeling being in a balloon looking over this wide open space - not a house, pavement, car, airplane - nothing in our way.
Almost immediately we spot the four cheetahs that we saw earlier from the Land Cruiser making their way through the grass. They are small from our vantage point but I can still see and feel the grace with which they move through the tall grasses. In no time at all we are past them and on to the first hippo pool. This is really something compared to the hippo pool in the Crater. I think there were maybe 4 hippos in the Crater but here there must be 20 or more! It looks like a dark bumpy island. There are even a few out of the water walking around. We drop down for a closer look quickly drifting by and floating toward some elephants.
The elephants get a little unsettled as we approach. Our balloon captain (from Indiana no less) tells us that the balloon emits a frequency we can't hear that is similar to what elephants use to communicate so the balloon disturbs them because they don't know where it is coming from. He lets some more hot air into the balloon so we rise up further from the elephants. I look around the balloon and everyone has a huge smile on their face. This is just so amazing. I have always wanted to go up a balloon but really THIS is the only way to do it! Spectacular.
We drift along for about an hour looking at wildlife and taking in our last breath of Africa. This will be the final day for most of our group. We are staying for one more day. He puts the balloon down alongside one of the "roads" not far from where they have our breakfast set up. We pile out of the group and then gather with the rest of our group from the other balloon while they pour us champagne and one of the captains tells us about the tradition of drinking champagne after a balloon ride. You can see the video I shot of him on YouTube if you search under Serengeti Balloon Ride.
After a multiple toasts, photos
we made out way to the Land Cruisers and up the road the breakfast. They had two beautiful tables set for us under and acacia tree. First we stopped at a table by the roadside with a glistening copper bowl and giant pitcher of water for us to wash our hands. Again - everything was first class - perfect! Well, except for the bees. There were bees all over the place trying to climb in our glasses and drink our champagne. Of course, they don't bother me because I am a bee keeper. I know that they won't bother you if you just ignore them. But Inez was deathly afraid of them. So much so that she had to go back and sit in one of the trucks while we ate. I felt terrible for her but I know how it is because my daughter Lindsay would be the same way.
With our champagne they served fresh fruits, then sausages and I think eggs. I forgot to write it all down. I do remember the champagne was flowing for most of the meal so that's probably why I don't remember all the food. It was wonderful though. I do remember that. There were also two portable toilets again with curtains around 3 sides and a sign on the back that said, "Loo with a View". Think they cater to the Brits maybe?
Our time together was drawing to an end and I was starting to get sad. We got back in the trucks for the ride to the airport and switching luggage. All but four of us would be boarding the planes back to Arusha and on to home or other travels. What a journey. We said our goodbyes hastily in the parking lot. This was probably better than something prolonged. I was all choked up seeing it come to an end. What an amazing group of people. I know we'll be connected for the rest of our lives but THIS moment in time was stamped with something special. Something that words can't even describe. It just had feeling permeating through it every day. I have struggled much of my life to let myself go and really feel the emotions that are right there. For the first time on this trip I did that every single day and it felt good. I can't even begin to thank Lori and my companions for showing me the light to living a life full of Joy! I have experienced that joyous feeling every day since we parted - sometimes remembering them but sometimes just in noticing the small things in life that give me joy. This I relearned on the trip. Sante my friends! Sante Sana (spelling may not be correct)
One of the drivers from the balloon company comes and tells us we will be going in two groups. He will take two cars and then come get the others. Somehow we don't end up in the first group so once again we are waiting. It seems like I have done an awful lot of getting up early to wait around while I have been here in Africa - its that patience thing again. I think it is at least 30 minutes before the cars come back to get us. We load in to the Land Cruiser and head out. There still isn't much talking going on. I am in the front (again - car sick precaution) so I can see out the front into the pitch dark. As we drive down the road a civet (nocturnal cat) crosses the road in front of us. I see an owl and a hyena. I think everyone else is asleep. As we are getting closer to the balloon area there is a faint bit of light on the horizon. I am worrying that we will miss the sunrise from the balloon. It seems like it has taken us forever - by now it is almost 6 and we got up a 4. Just then we see 4 cheetahs to the side of the road. We are in a hurry though so we don't stop to look very long. Finally we make it to the balloon launch site. There are 3 balloons filling up with hot air. Ours is the last one. There was one more car behind us but we don't see it anywhere. We get out of the car and mill around. We are starting to get excited now. The other balloons are filling up quickly. We soon realize we aren't going to get any instructions until the other car shows up But there is no sign of it and nobody telling us what is going on. Patience again!
Finally it is getting too late , they tell us our other car is having some sort of engine trouble but another car is going to pick them up. They rush us over to the balloon for some hasty instructions. Balloons are loaded with the basket lying on its side on the ground. We have to climb in from an awkward angle but we manage. John and I climbed in one of the bottom sections facing up at Sierra and Monique. They were both a little wide-eyed and uncomfortable with the situation.
The balloon was filling with air and starting to tip the basket up. The balloon staff on the ground were holding it down but their was some question as to whether or not they could hold it much longer. Still no car with the others. I was thinking how awful it would be to miss the balloon ride at the end due to car trouble. Lori was in the missing car and I was feeling terrible that she might not make it after all she went through to put the trip together. We were about to float off the ground when up pulls the car. Mayhem ensues! A few are rushing toward the balloon but some seem to be in no hurry. They don't understand the urgency - the balloon only needs one gust of wind and it will take flight without them. They are being rushed over to the basket. One by one they are hoisted up over the tall sides the basket. On our end Mickey, Susie, Jeanne and April managed to tumble over the edge and in to their compartments. April was half asleep and not feeling too well but she managed. Down on the other end Lori and Neil made it as well. And we were off!
The other two balloons were out ahead of us dotting the sky. The sun had risen by this time and was casting some shadows from the balloons on to the ground below. It was a beautiful morning. We floated along in complete serenity. Amazing after the chaos of waiting for take off. Its just the most magnificent feeling being in a balloon looking over this wide open space - not a house, pavement, car, airplane - nothing in our way.
Almost immediately we spot the four cheetahs that we saw earlier from the Land Cruiser making their way through the grass. They are small from our vantage point but I can still see and feel the grace with which they move through the tall grasses. In no time at all we are past them and on to the first hippo pool. This is really something compared to the hippo pool in the Crater. I think there were maybe 4 hippos in the Crater but here there must be 20 or more! It looks like a dark bumpy island. There are even a few out of the water walking around. We drop down for a closer look quickly drifting by and floating toward some elephants.
The elephants get a little unsettled as we approach. Our balloon captain (from Indiana no less) tells us that the balloon emits a frequency we can't hear that is similar to what elephants use to communicate so the balloon disturbs them because they don't know where it is coming from. He lets some more hot air into the balloon so we rise up further from the elephants. I look around the balloon and everyone has a huge smile on their face. This is just so amazing. I have always wanted to go up a balloon but really THIS is the only way to do it! Spectacular.
We drift along for about an hour looking at wildlife and taking in our last breath of Africa. This will be the final day for most of our group. We are staying for one more day. He puts the balloon down alongside one of the "roads" not far from where they have our breakfast set up. We pile out of the group and then gather with the rest of our group from the other balloon while they pour us champagne and one of the captains tells us about the tradition of drinking champagne after a balloon ride. You can see the video I shot of him on YouTube if you search under Serengeti Balloon Ride.
After a multiple toasts, photos
we made out way to the Land Cruisers and up the road the breakfast. They had two beautiful tables set for us under and acacia tree. First we stopped at a table by the roadside with a glistening copper bowl and giant pitcher of water for us to wash our hands. Again - everything was first class - perfect! Well, except for the bees. There were bees all over the place trying to climb in our glasses and drink our champagne. Of course, they don't bother me because I am a bee keeper. I know that they won't bother you if you just ignore them. But Inez was deathly afraid of them. So much so that she had to go back and sit in one of the trucks while we ate. I felt terrible for her but I know how it is because my daughter Lindsay would be the same way.
With our champagne they served fresh fruits, then sausages and I think eggs. I forgot to write it all down. I do remember the champagne was flowing for most of the meal so that's probably why I don't remember all the food. It was wonderful though. I do remember that. There were also two portable toilets again with curtains around 3 sides and a sign on the back that said, "Loo with a View". Think they cater to the Brits maybe?
Our time together was drawing to an end and I was starting to get sad. We got back in the trucks for the ride to the airport and switching luggage. All but four of us would be boarding the planes back to Arusha and on to home or other travels. What a journey. We said our goodbyes hastily in the parking lot. This was probably better than something prolonged. I was all choked up seeing it come to an end. What an amazing group of people. I know we'll be connected for the rest of our lives but THIS moment in time was stamped with something special. Something that words can't even describe. It just had feeling permeating through it every day. I have struggled much of my life to let myself go and really feel the emotions that are right there. For the first time on this trip I did that every single day and it felt good. I can't even begin to thank Lori and my companions for showing me the light to living a life full of Joy! I have experienced that joyous feeling every day since we parted - sometimes remembering them but sometimes just in noticing the small things in life that give me joy. This I relearned on the trip. Sante my friends! Sante Sana (spelling may not be correct)
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