a walk into the past

A WALK INTO THE PAST
one of the highlights of our trip to southern utah
is that the owner of this mcr place mr db knows the area so well
he knows the history of the area probably better than folks
who have lived there all their lives
especially when it comes to the anasazi indians who
loved in the canyons where the ranch sits
they lived for miles and miles in those cliffs
in the ad 1000+-
then they just poofed disappeared
they were there when the mesa verde ancestral puebloans were there
in southwestern colorado
probably the best known sites in that area

mr db has been exploring this area since he was a kid
and has developed a love and appreciation for the area and
its history

because of this knowledge and respect for the land and its
history
the local landowners allow him to explore their properties

we the ogd and my wife she and the wwoofers get to benefit by
going on long hikes with him to areas that no one really knows about

some sites he has discovered have stimulated archaeological evaluation
of the sites

how he found these places on those cliffs and then remembers how
to get them is amazing to us
our hike was 5-6 hours long
but was well worth it

we drove down the canyon for several miles
then off the road we went down a dirt road
which stopped
now i was skeptical even though we had done this last year
and was amazed at what we saw

we werent disappointed again this year

now we left at noonish in the middle of the day when the
temperatures were in the low to mid 90s
luckily the humidity not like austin is low so the heat is more
tolerable
it reminds me of the high dessert we lived in while in college

luckily we carried a lot of water in our back packs
walking at a good pace not too fast
i think mr db was use to moving faster when he is with
younger folks or by himself

ok so i got real hot but i kept up my water intake as i went
since ive seen a lot of folks in my career with heat exhaustion
severe leg and muscle cramps from dehydration
plus
we took our time took some breaks under shade
especially those small caves in the cliffs
man i could live there

i did think a lot as we walked across the canyon floor
up the canyon walls thinking how in the hell did those
anasazi indians live here
water food was sure a problem
there is a river that runs through the canyon
but its dry part of the year with areas where the
water is present

i think they mainly ate corn and beans called anasazi beans
which i am able to buy at our local supermarket
they have a good sweet flavor and dont have to be cooked as long
as other beans
and what my wife she likes is they produce less you know what
flatulence

we hiked up to this small area where the petroglyphs were
and dogs hank and jack took a break
it was amazing at times they seemed to know exactly where
we were going

i did share some of my water with hank the ranch dog

then we climbed up to the tower rock where we are told you can
stand and see four states-utah colorado new mexico arizona
my wife she and i didnt make it to the top
but we came close
there was a jump from one rock to another that was an
upward jump i didnt want to do

you cant really appreciate it in this picture but there is a dwelling
under the left side of the large tower rock

then off we went across the valley to the other side of the
canyon
up the wall of the cliffs
i was wondering whattheheck are we looking for
then seemingly out of the blue
or turquoise

we saw this long row of petroglyphs along the cliff wall
how did they get up there to do that

there was the area where they ground their corn
you could see where the rock has gotten smoothed out
they decorated the work site carving pectros in the rock

then there was what i called the peace symbol one
my favorite one of course

then the large tourquoise petroglyph that stood out over the rest
the final destination of the hike
worth all the effort

good job again mr db

as we made it back to the truck i put the mouthpiece of
my camelback in my mouth and as i began to suck in the
remaining water all was left was air
good timing on my part

i survived the hike
but
in the end it was worth it

when we left that last day
we took a deep breath
i even climbed up on the roof and looked around the ranch
took in its beauty
thought of all the new friends we met
our interactions with these interesting folks
and
realized that people would actually pay to spend five days here
to do what we did
and
we got to do it all

we are ready to return already

the organicgreen doctor

hope on the range

HOPE ON THE RANGE
once we got our key situation straightened out
off we went on our trip to the oasis mcr vineyard and orchards
the name and location ill not give out since like i wrote before
i dont want people to know where this place is

we loved the drive on the way there through the desert
and hills with the colorado mountains in the distance

we lived in the high desert in southern california while
attending college so we have an appreciation for the desert
you can only have if you live there and study that environment
like i did as  a biology major

its where i learned to capture and hunt down rattlesnakes
much to the chagrin of my historian brother who was a
roommate at that time
he had many a sleepless night knowing that there was a cage of
rattlesnakes in his living room

after a 10 mile torutuous drive down a dirt road that drops
2000 feet we made it to our destination at 5000 ft elevation
a meca in the desert

we were able to stay in this cabin while we were there
the daytime temperatures were in the 90s and the nighttime
temps were in the 50s
its off the grid being on solar
no ac was needed since its nestled under the trees
at night a cool breeze came through which reminded me of
sleeping with the windows opened in santa barbara
and getting that ocean nighttime breeze

the mcr is off the grid totally
the power comes from solar panels that is stored in batteries
which provides the power for the ranch

the cabin where the wwoofers stay is also solar powered

whats a wwoofer  you ask
its stands for
world wide opportunities on organic farms or
willing workers on organic farms
www.wwoofusa.org is the link for the usa organization
so who are these folks

the ones we  worked with were all young folks

an ohioan college student who just graduated and waiting to enter
americorp for a period of time before moving on with his life

a young couple who recently hiked the appalachian trail
and are from north carolina

an idaho college senior a business major who is doing her internship
at mcr
she plans to do peace corps after graduating before she enters
the business world

a philadelphia student who has done 1-2 years of school who is not
sure whathe wants to do in life
hes taking a pause for now before he moves on

a student from florida a senior who wanted to see a different
part of the country before she hits that last year of school
she just returned from europe earlier this summer

all have a love for the outdoors
they like hiking rock climbing
they work 30 hours a week
in return they get room and board
they have two days off each week
many take a day of rest
but commonly mr db the owner who is only slightly older than they are
will take them on long hikes to places that only he knows how to get there
to see the anasazi indian ruins
or
like some do they do hiking in that part of southern utah
and southwest colorado
its also close to a lot of national parks
even the grand canyon is not that far away
a delightful group of kids

after spending the five days with them we always feel so refreshed
and
we do feel good about the youth when you work beside them
hike with them and just sit around at night talking with them
hours together
you realize yes on yes there
is hope for the future

the organicgreen doctor

eventually 5 great days

EVENTUALLY 5 GREAT DAYS
two years ago we made this trip
we liked it so much we decided to return for more

last year we had planned to return but the trip was
canceled because of my ruptured disk
the injury that can humble you if its bad enough
and makes you appreciate your health even more

we had two concerning events happen to us on the way
that you know could have been signs of bad things to come

first as we were leaving texas into new mexico heading north
to albuquerque
i noticed a band of clouds forming to the west
you know out there you can see for miles and miles

as we drove farther away things got darker
the raindrops started falling lightly
the kind that are big but just make big spots on the dust
on the car
then as we got farther along it all seemed to be behind us
with the sun ahead of us as we heading north

looking through the cars rear view mirror the sky was dark
if you live in the midwest of south
you recognize those clouds
they were so dark they were black
back over clovis new mexico where we had just driven though
when
we felt this kaboom the car seemed to shift some on the road
i thought a big sonic boom had hit us
looking north as we were traveling it was so clear
dark behind us

after arriving a few hours later we found that when watching the
local news in alburquerque that tornadoes had hit all over the place
where we had just driven

later in texas we had a friend stay at the country n
she likes it there
its quiet
theres plenty of veggies readily available for eating and
lots of fresh eggs for breakfast
also her horse is kept at the next door neighbors ranch
so it all was a good deal for her
until
the storm hit

our house has a metal roof
the rain sounds so soothing on it when it hits the roof
but
if it hails
it scares the bigievies out of you
just ask my wife she as she has been known to huddle in our
brick shower made of recycled brick from an old farm house
a perfect storm shelter

my understanding is that she our friend got in the shower with
a margarita and the newspaper and rode out the storm
problem is the electricity went out for 12 hours
a rural problem some of you are familiar with
which made for an interesting night at the country n
with no electricity no ac and
no lights as we had taken all our flashlights etc with us

the one tornado a few miles north was this one above 

family lifted by tornado inside house near the country n

the other tornado even closer a mile or two away west of here
lifting this new house up with all four family members in it
and dropped house and folks 100 yards away
a wizard of oz moment not in kansas but in texas

after these storms
things settle down for our trip

we got up early the next morning
had a good breakfast good fresh shower our coffee and tea
loaded the car
carefully packing the car just right
for our much anticipated arrival in southern utah at the organic vineyard orchard
and ranch
where we would interact with the wwoolfers
do long hiking into the hills looking at anasazi indian artifacts
and working on the ranch
along side the other wwoolfers doing pruning of grapes

so we were all packed
my cup of coffee in hand
fresh bottles of water
my wife shes asmiling face with her hot green tea
ok we said lets go and get to the wonderland

wheres the keys
dont you have them
no you had them
smiles all gone
oh we have that lockbox key stored away on the frame
so
i looked under there
she looked
i looked
she looked
no keys
well i said 30 minutes later
we have our triple a card i just renewed it
lets call them to break in for us
i was dirty hot sweaty and not in a good mood
of course we know who really locked them up right
my wife she wasnt smiling
she said wait a minute
lets try one more time
down she got with her fresh white shirt now quite dirty and black
and sweaty
her hands looked like some kid who had been playing in the dirt box
she dug around
then since her hands are smaller she found the ledge on the bumper
where i had put them when we had our bumper repaired

there next to my computer case in our trunk
set the car keys
of course right where she put them right wink wink

we were both worried that things would not go well for the
rest of the trip

we were wrong
more tomorrow

the organicgreen doctor

summer soltice, chickener, lebron

SUMMER SOLSTICE
today is summer solstice
the first day of summer
the days start to get shorter starting today
thank goodness

we wish we were in santa barbara for their summer solstice celebration
they have every year
think mini mardi gras celebration
last year we were getting ready for our older sons wedding there
and got to go to the solstice parade

when we were touring the anasazi indian ruins we came upon
a anasazi calender laid out on the top of a hill
and one of the markers marked the summer solstice

the indians knew then about the solstice
our friend db has been to the site on summer solstice and has
verified that the marker is accurate with an archaeologist

lets celebrate summer solstice even if you cant be in santa
barbara today because
here come the dog days of summer in texas

CHICKENER
i am a chickener
if you are a chickener you know it
if you would like to be a chickener and live in central texas
i suggest you go to this talk on raising chickens by carol ann
from boggy creek farms this weekend at the natural gardener

here is a blog she wrote on the lecture
read it
she is a witty writer as well as an excellent organic gardener and
chickener

join the chickener movement

LEBRON
lebron jamess performance last night reminded me of michael jordans
performance that time when he was ill with high fever but still
had a fantastic game

near the end of the game lebron overcome with leg cramps went
back in the game and scored a three point shot that may have
helped seal the game for the heat

ive seen athletes with severe leg cramps
heck i get them all the time especially at night
as they are a side effect of the aricept (donepezil) that im on
i cant imagine playing basketball with one of those things
my leg feels like someone beat it with a baseball bat the
next day

he should have been drinking gatorade to stay hydrated
hope he recovers enough to play tomorrow night
as he desires this nba championship
maybe the naysayers will quit whining about him now

severe dehydration that causes muscle cramps has the possibility
to cause a rise in muscle enzymes from damaged muscles which
can overload the kidneys as they try to filter out those enzymes
the athlete can get kidney failure from this
the secret is to stay hydrated before and after games

bet he got ivs last night
good luck on recovery today

the organicgreen doctor

the ruins

THE RUINS
today we got to tour old ruins with our own knowledgeable
tour guide db (the 20+ year old friend who owns the ranch
where we stayed)

he not only knew a lot about the ruins and their history but he
also had the respect for them that people need to have when
they visit these historical sites

most of these sites were a few miles from the ranch
we were able to access them by truck and hiking
we spent several hours looking at these sites
jack and the ogd looking at the cave houses



















these anaszi indians (ancestoral pueblo people)
lived along the canyons of this area
with some dwellings in the cliffs
sometimes in the mid 1000s they disappeared
where did they go
some think drought drove them away
maybe invading nomadic indians
they are not sure
some think they are the ancestors of the pueblo indians

at the end of the day after visitng these ruins and listening to db
we have a good grasp of the history of these indians and a
respect for their society

thanks db

we topped it off with a tour of a nearby museum that had intact
pottery and other findings from years of collections
the museum tour was much more meaningful after doing
the canyon tour with db

on the day we were leaving there was a cattle drive where a neighbor
was moving his cattle to another grazing area and had to come
through the ranch
felt like we were back in time watching the cowboys herd those
cattle down the road

(notice how blue the sky is there)

db plans to build a house in one of the caves above
his ranch house

a nearby neighbor has built his own house in the cave on his ranch
its the ultimate green house
solar panels
well insulated by rock on all sides except the front which is
south facing-gets solar warming in the winter
an almost constant temperature is present from the cave effect
the water source is from a well that is only 30+ feet deep

yep the ultimate green house
those anasazi indians taught us something didnt they

the organicgreen doctor