Aloe come in all shapes and sizes.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Kids
We had our first school group yesterday. 153 Third Graders, their teachers, and several parents for each class. There are five volunteers so each of us got one class ( about 35 students). I was dreading it to say the least. They arrived in three school buses about 10am ( 15 minutes late.) All five of us leaders were standing out front waiting. We had spent two days preparing the subjects and the demonstration foods for the event.
I was the third person to get a class. I identified myself, and had them follow me away from the chaos. We walked a short ways to the bathrooms so that the kids could "start out fresh". when they were finished, I told them my rules: " I am always at the front. When I raise my hand you need to be quiet. Use your inside voices even though we are outside. Don't pick any flowers or plants."
There were five stations, four of them were plant related and along the arboretum paths. The fifth station was in the children's learning center where we do more of a classroom type activity. The whole program is to get kids outside and to let them learn more about their environment. It's actually a great idea.
The day went much better then I had anticipated. I didn't use my notes as much as I had thought. Oddly enough, it was fun. You feel like you have great power when you are walking from one location to another with 35 kids following you. Such power and influence.
I was the third person to get a class. I identified myself, and had them follow me away from the chaos. We walked a short ways to the bathrooms so that the kids could "start out fresh". when they were finished, I told them my rules: " I am always at the front. When I raise my hand you need to be quiet. Use your inside voices even though we are outside. Don't pick any flowers or plants."
There were five stations, four of them were plant related and along the arboretum paths. The fifth station was in the children's learning center where we do more of a classroom type activity. The whole program is to get kids outside and to let them learn more about their environment. It's actually a great idea.
The day went much better then I had anticipated. I didn't use my notes as much as I had thought. Oddly enough, it was fun. You feel like you have great power when you are walking from one location to another with 35 kids following you. Such power and influence.
Fun as it was, I was happy to see them head for the picnic area and their lunches.
Lunar Eclipse
The clouds allowed us a pretty good view of the event. I got a photo with my phone and enlarged it just a bit.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Progress Report
Randa and I have been at Boyce Thompson Arboretum for 20 days. The learning curve has been steep, but we are used to cramming information into our brains for the first weeks, so it is ok. Both us us have given our first general tours. I had 21 visitors on my tours yesterday, half of them were from Canada. Guiding folks around this place and showing them this interesting and beautiful place is fun and actually, easy.
We have settled into a routine, sort of. The boys get me up about 6 ish. I try to postpone it but we are usually walking the trails of the park by 7am. It is peaceful walking around before the park opens at 8 so we are virtually by ourselves. The boys love it because interesting smelling spots are everywhere. I need to be aware of where the dogs are putting their noses because most of the plants here have barbs or spines.
General tours are at 11am so if we are the guides, we are there to greet visitors about 10:30. The general tour takes about 2 hours. It makes a circle around the park but only hits the high spots. There are many, many other paths winding around the garden.
Ice Plant
We have settled into a routine, sort of. The boys get me up about 6 ish. I try to postpone it but we are usually walking the trails of the park by 7am. It is peaceful walking around before the park opens at 8 so we are virtually by ourselves. The boys love it because interesting smelling spots are everywhere. I need to be aware of where the dogs are putting their noses because most of the plants here have barbs or spines.General tours are at 11am so if we are the guides, we are there to greet visitors about 10:30. The general tour takes about 2 hours. It makes a circle around the park but only hits the high spots. There are many, many other paths winding around the garden.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Mother Rain
The weather prediction was correct. We had rain last night. It started as we were getting into bed about 10 and lasted 12 hours. Another Oregon evening. It is still gray and foggy.
The Tohono O'odham people called the winter rains "Mother Rains". Quiet, steady, nourishing. The rains of late summer were called "Father Rains" violent, loud, sometimes destructive. We have enjoyed two Mother Rains since we have arrived. We feel welcomed.
The Tohono O'odham people called the winter rains "Mother Rains". Quiet, steady, nourishing. The rains of late summer were called "Father Rains" violent, loud, sometimes destructive. We have enjoyed two Mother Rains since we have arrived. We feel welcomed.
Pickett Post Mountain
This is the prominent feature in the area.
The plaque explains how it got it's name.
Friday, January 4, 2019
Nevada
This is the landscape of much of Nevada. Wide open spaces. Long vistas. Great examples of erosion
Thursday, January 3, 2019
The Adventure South Sunday Dec 30
After a good night's sleep, we were on the road before 9am. It helps when you don't unhook the night before. Drove the 100 miles to Vegas. It is over 40 miles drive north to south through there. Traveling on Sunday meant no rush hour traffic but there were plenty of vehicles buzzing by us as we drove the speed limit through town, stopping at the south end for fuel.
On the road again south, still on 95, into California, onto I-10. East to Needles and then south again on 95 to Hwy 62 to Parker, AZ. Again fuel and back at it. My phone said it was 200 miles from Parker to Superior so I decided, rather than stop for the night on the west side of Phoenix, to push on all the way to Boyce Thompson.
We called our contact there and they said that we would not be able to get into our rv spot but we could dry camp in the parking lot until the next morning. Lots of traffic in Phoenix, which was no surprise, but we buzzed right along. Arrived
at BTA about 7:45. Met our new friends, put the legs down on the trailer to stabilize it and went to bed. The next morning we were guided to our spot here and got set up. As we were settled, I was watching the clouds gathering in the west. WE got done just in time because the rain began as it was getting dark. It rained that night and most of the next day. A good old Oregon rainy day. We woke
up to snow on Picket Post Mountain which is just to the south and east of our location. It's is good to be stationary for a while.
On the road again south, still on 95, into California, onto I-10. East to Needles and then south again on 95 to Hwy 62 to Parker, AZ. Again fuel and back at it. My phone said it was 200 miles from Parker to Superior so I decided, rather than stop for the night on the west side of Phoenix, to push on all the way to Boyce Thompson.
We called our contact there and they said that we would not be able to get into our rv spot but we could dry camp in the parking lot until the next morning. Lots of traffic in Phoenix, which was no surprise, but we buzzed right along. Arrived
at BTA about 7:45. Met our new friends, put the legs down on the trailer to stabilize it and went to bed. The next morning we were guided to our spot here and got set up. As we were settled, I was watching the clouds gathering in the west. WE got done just in time because the rain began as it was getting dark. It rained that night and most of the next day. A good old Oregon rainy day. We woke
up to snow on Picket Post Mountain which is just to the south and east of our location. It's is good to be stationary for a while.
The Adventure Resumes Saturday Dec 29
Finally, the new axle was installed on Friday afternoon, the brakes hooked up and the rig was ready to go. So, one week after we drove away from our house in Canby, we resumed our journey south.!!!
South on 395 through Reno, exited 395 at Carson City, east on Hwy 50 to Fallon, and then south on US 95. Hawthorne, known for the worlds largest ammo depot and the US Naval Underwater Submarine Warfare School (no joke).
This is what much of Nevada looks like.
Another 100 miles brought us to Tonopah. Not the end of the earth, but you can see it from there.
If you look in the distance, at the base of those bigger mountains in the distance is the mining town of Tonopah. Not much, I'm afraid. We stopped for fuel about 4 pm and it was 33 degrees and going lower, so we continued another 100 miles on to Beatty, Nv. It is several thousand feet lower, (Tonopah is at 6000 ft) so the temperature was much better. Spent the night at the Space Station RV park. It's an ok place but nothing "spacey" about it.
South on 395 through Reno, exited 395 at Carson City, east on Hwy 50 to Fallon, and then south on US 95. Hawthorne, known for the worlds largest ammo depot and the US Naval Underwater Submarine Warfare School (no joke).
This is what much of Nevada looks like.
If you look in the distance, at the base of those bigger mountains in the distance is the mining town of Tonopah. Not much, I'm afraid. We stopped for fuel about 4 pm and it was 33 degrees and going lower, so we continued another 100 miles on to Beatty, Nv. It is several thousand feet lower, (Tonopah is at 6000 ft) so the temperature was much better. Spent the night at the Space Station RV park. It's an ok place but nothing "spacey" about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)