I'm Stumped!

Last winter, I visited a stump deep in the forest to leave a white quartz. (Click "stump" in the archives.) When my friend, Mary, came to visit in the spring, I showed her the stump and the quartz - where I'd go to think especially of her and hope for her safety while she was in South America.  Now she and her husband are traveling again - this time to Australia and New Zealand. They'll return in April to their home in AZ.

A few weeks ago, when I went to the stump - the quartz was gone! Had it been pushed out of the stump by a curious squirrel?  I dug in the snow at the stump's base but couldn't find the white rock. My little Granddaughter, Amanda, thought maybe a Fairy Girl who loves quartz may have taken it secretly to add to her collection. (Amanda collects rocks, so she knows their strong lure.)

Well, I'm not sure about the Fairy, but today I went to the stump to add two more treasures - another quartz with pink flecks and a Blue Jay feather. I've had both for many, many years - I used them as writing prompts when I taught. Children would hold them, stroke them, and sometimes flick the bird feather softly against their cheeks (for inspiration).

 

The feather is a little worse for wear,

but I feel that just adds to the possibility of it's Magic.

Lucinda thought each was a fitting

talisman for the stump.

As an extra precaution against a rock-loving Fairy,

I wrote a little message on the quartz.

With snow on the ground,

the stump was hard to find.

I followed Coyote's tracks

through the deep and shadowy woods.

 

Finally, these teeny tracks led me to the spot.

Can you see the 3  Faces?

The middle one is upside down.

I put the blue feather in first

and secured it with the quartz.

Soon snow will filter through the hole

in the top of the stump and cover both.

Only I and perhaps a Fairy Girl

will know they are there.

Be safe my Friend!

The Escalante Wilderness, UT

The Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument
is a remote region in southern Utah
which covers 1.9 million acres.

While staying in Boulder, Utah,
we explored some of the nearby
canyons, plateaus, and mountains.


Early one morning, we hiked
through Calf Creek Canyon.

In late November, it was cold enough to

form frost on some of the bushes along the creek.

 

The trail was sometimes carpeted with leaves.

But mostly, it's a sandy, desert landscape.

Cottonwood, Pinyon, and Juniper trees

as well as Willow bushes

flourish near the creek.

Snaky roots reach toward the water.

Canyon walls of Navajo sandstone

form amazing  natural sculptures.

High on the cliffs are niches

used as shelters and granaries

by the Fremont and Anasazi People.

Over a thousand years ago,

they farmed in this box canyon.

 

Grain was stored high on the canyon walls,

possibly to protect it from rodents.

Pictographs tell an ancient story.

We speak in hushed voices

as befits a sacred place.

We are insignificant compared to

the scale of the rocks

and the span of history.

I enter this small cave.

Framed by the cave's window,

my husband is just a tiny dot in the landscape.

Finally, at a fork in the trail,

we hear the sound of cascading water.

In a shady grotto,

we reach the end of the box canyon.

Lower Calf Creek Falls is our reward.

Calf Creek tumbles 129 feet

down the slick rock cliffs.

Pooling in a sandy basin,

it flows out of the canyon,

finally joining the Escalante River.

Ice glazes the rock.

It feels at least 10 degrees colder

as water sprays in the shade

of the canyon walls.

We met only a handful of people

hiking the Calf Creek Trail.

It is about 6 miles round-trip.

With stops to take photos and have a picnic,

it took us 4 hours.

We enjoyed complete solitude at the falls.

Soon winter will make

this land inaccessible.

The Escalante wilderness is

a pristine, magnificent, awe-inspiring

National treasure!

We hope to return in the spring.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City in Contrasting Images:

Stately

City and County Building

Ultramodern

 

Metropolitan Library

Historic

 

Eagle's Gate (1859)

Whimsical

Bike Rack Sculpture

Religious

 Mormon Tabernacle

Secular

Salt Palace Convention Center

Busy

 

Center City

Quiet

Antique Row

Manicured

Meditation Garden

Wild

City Creek

Salt Lake City blends

Old

and

New

As different as

Night

and

Day

The Wild West
meets
The Twenty-First Century:

Salt Lake City

We're celebrating 2 Birthdays on November 23 -
Live and Learn is one year old.
My Husband is also a bit older...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eat lots of Pumpkin Pie!

Hello from Lucinda B. Rabbit! (Bonus Recipe)

Dear Friends,

It's Lucinda B. Rabbit!

We're leaving Salt Lake today -

It's been exhilarating but exhausting

for a Rabbit in the city.

Have they never seen Rabbits?

I'm thinking I might need an agent!

I don't have all day,

so I'll try to be brief.

Many people have asked for the Orange Bread recipe.

It is only fair to tell you -

Barb is a terrible cook.

The original recipe is actually from
another blogger who is a fabulous cook.
I am posting the recipe here

and giving full credit to Hildred of Day by Day.

If you visit her, tell her Lucinda sent you!

I'm off now to try and find some carrot juice.

All this rich city food is making me crave veggies!


Orange Muffins

recipe by Hildred

In blender whirl
an orange cut into quarters,
1/2 cup of orange juice,
1/2 cup of raisins,
1 egg,
1/2 cup of oil.

Mix this gently with
1 and 1/2 cups of flour,
1 tsp baking soda,
1/2 tsp salt,
1/2 cup of sugar,
combined in separate bowl.
Into a 350F oven they go for about 20 or 25 minutes.
A lovely light muffin for tea time.

Barb's variation for Orange Bread
use 2 eggs
Fold these 3 items into the mixed batter:
cranberries may be substituted for raisins
nuts may be added (about 1/2 cup)
1 T grated orange rind
sprinkle top with cinnamon
Bake in 2 large or 1 large and 2 small loaf pans.
Small about 30 minutes
Large about 40 minutes.
(use toothpick to test)

Drizzle with orange glaze:
Approximately 3 T confectioner sugar
mixed with about 1 T (or less) orange juice.
(You can poke holes in the top
of bread so glaze seeps in.)

PS  In case you haven't met me before,
please do NOT use
the "B" word when referring to me.

I do enjoy reading your comments!
Bye for now...

Lucinda B. Rabbit

Where the Wild Things Are - My World

Minus temperatures through the night

 

create a brittle dawn.

A bit of blue peeks from the clouds.

Lehman Creek  is sluggish from the cold.

A small fox comes to peer in my window.

It gazes up at me when I go outside.

Its partner relaxes nearby.

They both watch me intently.

They are unafraid.

Finally, finding me boring,

they return to the forest.

I wish them good hunting

on this cold day.

Meanwhile, I might take a little break...

this orange bread,

warm from the oven,

smells delicious!

We're leaving on Wednesday for Utah

to celebrate my husband's 65th birthday

and hopefully have some adventures.

Lucinda is begging to come along.

We'll see...

Meanwhile, visit some other worlds here:

My World