Gators in the Gallery

Posted on October 17, 2013 by waterhigh

(Okay. This is not about Forrest Fenn‘s book tour, but certain things just remind me of his backyard “pets”!)

Now showing—

Gator Jowls

Artist, photographer, poet, naturalist Susan Van Wassenhove illustrated her book of poetry by making 19 finely-detailed quilts. The book The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades was inspired by her sojourn in Florida and is published by Boyds Mills Press.

Her next collection, poems and photos of butterflies….

The traveling quilts can be seen here:

English: Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alma mater of—

Ronald Reagan on the Eureka College Football Team 1929 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Florida Everglades (touristamerica.wordpress.com)
Sea Level Rise Swamping Florida’s Everglades (livescience.com)
USDA To Test New Trap To Catch Everglades Pythons (wctv.tv)

In the Plaza with My Ancestors

Posted on October 14, 2013 by waterhigh

A thought from the 19th century that resonates today, courtesy of Eddie Two Hawks.

Thank you, Eric Sloane

Posted on October 10, 2013 by waterhigh

Ferris Wheel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

No, I haven’t solved the TTOTC poem, but I will forever remember which way high pressure and low pressure systems circulate in the northern hemisphere!

I can see it spinning.

Wildflowers (Judy Collins album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels . . . .I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,

From up and down and still somehow, it’s clouds’ illusions I recall . . . .

Dizzy now. Where’s that Dramemine?

English: Eric Sloane, circ. 1983, La Tierra, near Santa Fe, NM (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On a side note:

What Direction Does Earth’s Center Spin? New Insights Solve 300-Year-Old Problem.

So. Is North still North?

Both Sides Now (Clouds) (maverickphilosopher.typepad.com)
Spotlight: Joni Mitchell (woodstockwardrobe.com)
Katy Perry: I’ll turn into Joni Mitchell (contactmusic.com)

If You’ve Been Wise . . . .

Posted on October 8, 2013 by waterhigh

“To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Video of the Day – Kayaking Down a Drainage Ditch

Posted on October 4, 2013 by waterhigh

Water High???

Disclaimer:
I wouldn’t recommend doing this without a helmet. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend doing this at all.

ren3gade

Looks like fun.

I don’t think paddles are meant to be used on rock.

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Spectacular Blaze

Posted on October 4, 2013 by waterhigh

A young Amish boy on his way to work

A young Amish boy on his way to work at 4:30am looking at the light show on Fuller Road in Easton, Maine. The image was captured by 61-year-old photographer Paul Cyr

Happy Ending and Good Luck

Posted on October 4, 2013 by waterhigh

Check out the money tree photos.

FabFourBlog

“The art is not in making money, but in keeping it.” – Proverb

Good news arrived in the Lake District; you were all right and I got my money back from the bank! 🙂 What a relief, so it became a happy ending after all. 🙂

“Subconsciously, don’t you think everyone believes in angels, fairies, magic and happy endings?”, Siri and Selma asked their beloved Master as they flew into this funny looking tree yesterday. “Of course”, Master answered, “there’s always a strong desire for hope and hope attracts magic, doesn’t it?”

We were hiking near the Aira Force at Ullswater and our bookfayries led us to a money tree wrapped in hammered coins inside an enigma. How did it begin and why? Who hammered in the first coins? Did they hope that their spoken wishes would be granted? And by the way, who remembers to bring a hammer and coins…

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I Know You’re Out There Somewhere, Somewhere . . .

Posted on October 3, 2013 by waterhigh

Now playing on a continuous loop in my head—

The Moody Blues

Oh, yes, I know you’re out there somewhere, somewhere, somewhere,

Oh, yes, I know I’ll find you somehow . . . .

They’re playing in Peoria next Monday. Yay!

The Best of The Moody Blues (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Next up:

Once upon a time

In my wildest dreams . . . .

Forrest Fenn’s Treasure Chest

The Moody Blues Launch Fall Tour (myq105.cbslocal.com)
‘The Thrill of the Chase’: Why Forrest Fenn sparked a treasure hunt for $3-million worth of gold and artifacts (news.nationalpost.com)

Let’s call this non-partisan, please

Posted on October 2, 2013 by waterhigh

I hope this link works—

Honoring the guardians:

Our local heroes (Quad Cities) are scheduled for tomorrow!

Spc. James Phillips, 249th Eng Battalion (Prime Power), assists World War II veteran Vernon Bolstad as he arrives at Reagan National Airpor from Minnesota as part of the Honor Flight Network to see the National World War II Memorial. http://www.army.mil/armylife/veterans/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Honor Flight Veterans Refuse To Take No For An Answer (youviewed.com)
America… Where we barricade off our heritage (xbradtc.com)

Book Signings & Fireside Chats (Updated)

Posted on September 27, 2013 by waterhigh

Twelve hundred miles, twelve hundred miles, ….

It’s too far too walk. Or drive. Or fly. Just to get my new TFTW book signed. I can’t fault the shipper. They were expedient. Prompt. Speedy. Only the book flew out of there before Mr. Fenn could sign it.

I’m jealous of you New Mexicans, Coloradans, Arizonans, and others who live within a couple hundred miles of Santa Fe. Don’t it make my brown eyes green.

Forrest Fenn. Douglas Preston. Michael McGarrity. Details for you lucky ones who can mark October 22nd on your calendars —

http://www.collectedworksbookstore.com/event/forrest-fenn-too-far-walk

And now, the blues. Folk music, rather. I’m also going to have to forego the chance to have a glass of wine with Forrest and to hear Bob Haworth of The Brothers Four and The Kingston Trio, (am I old enough to remember? almost, maybe) in front of a cozy fireplace in the lounge at the Inn and Spa at Loretto!

The Inn and Spa at Loretto (Photo credit: Jim Nix / Nomadic Pursuits)

Details: Monday September 30th from 6 to 9. See Stephanie’s blog Chase Chat for the invitation to bloggers.

Also, Tuesday, October 1st from 5-7 (you’ll need to RSVP). Visit Dal’s blog, Thrill of the Chase, for the actual invitation from Forrest Fenn/Charmay.

My RSVP —- Regrets.

Where will I be? Twelve hundred miles NorthEast by East (–ish). Flyover country. The Midwest. Flat lands.

I plan to start a campfire. (That would be about 6 or 7 pm CST. Hmm. Still daylight savings time? Whatever.) I’ll crack open a bottle of wine. Put on some folk music. Watch the blaze.

Warm waters blazing a trail down my cheeks….maybe.

My feet are wet from thinking this thing over. . . [See/hear Blue Umbrella lyrics by John Prine.]

Any Midwesterners so inclined may join me in spirit. Can you play guitar?

Five hundred miles, five hundred miles, oh Lord, I’m five hundred miles away from home.

Trove Of Mich. Folk Music Unearthed In Archive (npr.org)
Discovering John Prine: A Memoir of My Muse (awaywithwordsblog.com)
The man who buried his treasure in a poem (telegraph.co.uk)

A very very very bad frog joke

Posted on September 26, 2013 by waterhigh

A Australian Green Tree Frog (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For grins and giggles:

A very very very bad frog joke.

(I realize that this may be lost on you millennials… just pass on by.)

Jumpin’ Jack Flash! Mick Jagger to be a great-grandad? (q13fox.com)
Sticking under Wet Conditions: The Remarkable Attachment Abilities of the Torrent Frog, Staurois guttatus (plosone.org)
In pictures: Colourful poison arrow frogs and other rainforest rockstars invade Museum of Nature (metronews.ca)
Tiny Frog Swallows Sound (guardianlv.com)

Perspective

Posted on September 23, 2013 by waterhigh

The prior blog referenced Forrest Fenn’s rescue in the jungle of that “conflict overseas”. *** He was shot down twice during his service.

To gain some of Fenn’s perspective on those experiences, see his writings on his blog @ Old Santa Fe Trading Co.com, and in his book The Thrill of the Chase. Maybe there will be more in his latest book, Too Far To Walk, which is being released this week.

*** “the conflict overseas” from Sam Stone by John Prine, one of the great singer/songwriters.

Fair & Square (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I had the opportunity to see Prine at Chicago’s Earl of Old Town ( & other folk legends—Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc) back in the day, and also last week when he “played Peoria”.

Forty years on, Prine’s lyrics still resonate. For example, Paradise:

Chorus:

And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away