Joshua Tree National Park, CA

One of my favorite places in Joshua Tree is the Keys Desert Queen Ranch, located in the Northwest section of the Park, just outside of Hidden Valley. The old historic ranch is protected by the NPS and can only be visited with a Ranger led tour.
I have been on several tours and especially love the old trucks Keys collected. This Mack truck sits outside the ranch house, along with an abundance of rusting machinery, old tools and mining equipment. Bill Keys was quite an inventor and turned this broken down Fordson tractor into a table saw. Fordson eventually became the Ford Motor Company.

There is beauty in the broken things; colorful pieces of old glass, pottery and even our lives, humble though they be.

Bill Keys was the ultimate recycler and spent time roaming the desert, sifting through abandoned homesteads for anything he could use for the ranch. He even turned one old truck into a chicken coup, to keep the chickens safe from coyotes.

I love old cans, wood, and bottles; quite a collection here.
I love the way things just fall into place and create the most beautiful scenes; I know I am kind of strange.
The Desert Queen Ranch was built by Bill Keys in 1918, but he continued to add to the ranch until he died in 1969.

Throughout the years, wells were dug, and windmills, pumps and irrigation systems were installed. The wash was dammed behind the house to create a lake which was stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish.

Frances Keys was an amazing woman who loved desert life. She raised her kids and looked after the garden and orchard, selling any excess canned goods, fruit and produce to visitors.

Chickens, rabbits, cows and horses were all part of ranch life. The children did their share and continually helped with the ranch chores.

In 1943 a fight over water rights and roads broke out between Bill and his neighbor Worth Bagley. A gunfight resulted in Bagley's death. Bill turned himself in and despite his claim of self defense, spent 5 years in San Quentin before receiving a full pardon.

It must have been very challenging for Frances to run the ranch by herself, something I have learned from experience. In spite of the hardships, women are strong and we overcome, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

That would be me at the Ranch, appreciating my freedom, health and independence; gifts from my heavenly Father for which I continually give thanks.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Yesterday I drove up to Joshua Tree National Park and camped at Jumbo Rock. I woke up before sunrise to the yipping and howling of coyote resonating through the campground. After a few moments, the noise suddenly stopped. Up in the sky the stars faded into the gray light of early dawn. As the sun rose, a rosy pink glow reflected upon the sandstone, sky and clouds. This gorgeous canyon was directly behind my campsite. It was shear heaven walking by myself along the sandy floor as the canyon slowly came to life.
As I looked back towards the sunrise, the mountains in black silhouette sharply contrasted against the burning orange, red and yellow clouds.

At one point, layers of pink blanketed the dark hills. It was one of those moments in time that is forever etched into my memory; a moment of serene, natural beauty.

Erosion has contorted the rocky sandstone into a variety of shapes and sizes, some perfectly round, others square and angular.

This little desert fairy stopped to rest on a branch just long enough for me to take her picture.

Gambel's Quail run about the rocks, bobbing their funny little heads and chattering like prissy little girls.

Some things never change.

In back of my campsite there was a huge open area to wander about among the rocks, mountains and Joshua Trees. I found this one area where everybody and his brother left their mark with rock art. The rock tower above was actually very sturdy; who knows how long it has been there.
The Hopi believe that the spiral symbolizes the path we take in life's journey and the adversities we face along the way. We each have to walk our own path. Some days are very difficult; some days are fun and exciting; some days are just plain old days. Whatever we face, I believe it is important to live each day to the fullest, trusting God in the trials and enjoying each moment that comes our way. It can be done, trust me.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

On my way home from Zion National Park, I stopped at the Valley of Fire, in Nevada; a really cool state Park similar to Arches National Park. It is filled with weird rock formations, natural arches, canyons and Native American petroglyphs.

This formation is called the Seven Sisters, and is set apart from all the other formations. The powerful forces of wind and rain have eroded the sandstone into dinosaur shaped rocks, filled with strange little holes and tunnels.
This natural sandstone arch is slowly weathering away and may one day disappear all together. The campground I stayed at is just behind the arch and had some great campsites tucked away into the rocks.
The Petroglyph Canyon trail takes you back into a canyon filled with unusual formations, acacia trees, Native American rock carvings and Mouses Tank; a stream worn basin hidden in the rocks that trapped and held water.
Apparently a renegade Southern Paiute Indian used this canyon as his hideout, and after causing trouble, would escape into the canyon to hide in the secret caves where there was plenty of water to sustain him.
The sandstone is shaped in the strangest shapes, patterns, colors and textures. At first I couldn't even see the petroglyphs, but then I noticed them high up on the walls, carved into the dark parts of the rocks. They were everywhere. Sort of made me feel like I was standing on holy ground.

Zion National Park, Utah

My stay here in Zion National Park has been wonderful. Today my friend Dale and I spent the day exploring the park in the rain.
We hopped off the shuttle and took the Pairus trail along the river to photograph the Watchman. Clouds and rain created a mysterious atmosphere during the entire day.
At the Court of the Patriarchs, we followed the short trail to the viewpoint, then started climbing up the wet mountainside, far beyond all the tourists. We sat for quite some time taking pictures and watching the clouds move in and out of the mountains.
A pinyon pine cone; the pine nuts were a staple of the early Native Americans and have become my favorite addition to green salads and Jenny's homemade granola.

My dear friend Dale who stopped in to visit me at Zion; an excellent photographer, wonderful manager and great teacher!

It has been raining on and off all week, but today was the first day I saw the waterspouts. After we had coffee at the Zion Lodge, we hiked up the Emerald Pool trail, where Dale spotted the first waterfall.

From that point on, we spotted several more cascading off the cliffs; an unbelievably spectacular sight.

At one point we walked underneath the falls, guarding our cameras from the soaking spray.

Indescribable sublime beauty splashing down all around me; a perfect day even if I was soaking wet.

Kolob Canyon in Zion National Park, Utah

Several days ago I went hiking up in Kolob Canyon with Tom, my camping neighbor. The entire landscape was filled with a rush of color, texture and life; truly magical.
As I turned a corner and came upon this scene, a deep sense of contentment washed over me; an intense childlike joy that rose up like a bubble and burst into happiness. You can not improve on the Master Artist's colorful handiwork; I just take the picture and sigh.
Many people never see Kolob Canyon when they visit Zion. It is a 60 minute drive from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, but well worth the effort.

Color this deep and rich makes me feel very wealthy.
Here is Tom, the master at detail, a wonderful photographer and fellow hiker. Thankfully he was there to pick me up and save my camera when I tumbled and fell into the creek.

The hike to Double Arch Alcove follows Taylor Creek up into the Alcove. We must have crossed the creek 30 times, back and forth during the five mile hike.
“The National Parks represent the wildness inside us. they’re the place where we can be lonely where we can experience solitude; they’re a place we go to as refuge as sanctuary. It’s the place we go out to, to come back in. It’s the only place perhaps left in many people’s lives where that’s possible.” Gretel Ehrlich The canyon was alive with color; crimson red, yellow ocher, lime green, rust orange, burnt sienna and jet black.
I am in heaven, soaking up the essence of nature in this spectacular place.
Double Arch Alcove; a stunning alcove with desert varnish stained cliffs, lush vegetation and water seeping down the sides.

Taylor Creek and the hike out to the Alcove has become one of my favorite places.

Shortly after we arrived in the Alcove it started to rain. We huddled up with four other hikers and shared our food, swapped travel stories and watched the rain.

"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books." John Lubbock