Lowlights Further/Free

It’s hard not to fall fast for those who croon us with tales of past loves and bitter sphere. We do not easily recall these tales but through headphone induced nostalgia. Further/Free is the edge that you find there between a tear and a sigh. It is an emotional landscape with its sparse melodies and guitar picking mend. It reminds you of old promises, or second chances -the kind that with a glance through this reflective medium induces fleeting happiness in this spinning ‘ole world.  This 3^rd release from the Lowlights was a warm and well crafted listen. Not surprising that Dameon Lee is a native of Albuquerque, NM with the sound seemingly between Sandia Crest and the huge blue sky.

Worms

DEC 09 Update: the worms sat all summer in their little tub and ate scraps producing the richest black soil. When weathering my beds I distributed this and the remaining colony. Covered with straw and voilà, we will see what spring will bring.

The worms are in!!!  And the trees have arrived…man, I have my work cut out for me!

It’s about darn time!

I know, I know…I have felt guilty for sometime about not recycling at our home.  I think this year we are tearing off the guilt band-aid and going for the gusto! It all started w/ the installation of our rain gutters…

WHAT you say? Rain gutters and recycling? And then you think about it, your head starts shaking – YES :) The 9.5 inches of precipitation that we receive in our zip code – that we can collect off our HUGE roof  is enough to start a large garden. The calculators we used estimated the water totals to be a bit over 9,000 gallons yearly. WOW> I started researching rain barrels decided to go w/ the Agua Fria, a 200 gallon rain barrel with polka-dot top from Desert Plastics. I also was able to p/u a 360 gallon barrel from them for cheap because of blemishes. We went w/ the Agua Fria as the temperature in Cedar Crest can get below freezing and we need these barrels to last….OK on w/ the story.

So, of course I needed to hatch a plan to use all this water….and this is where the FUN begins. We started a virtual garden at our house. First planning  where to put everything using excel as a visual tool , making sure we had enough room for our ideas. Then, we got online and ordered trees from the arbor day foundation (and became a member).

Then we started putting the plan into motion. First we moved Jordan’s 1969 Ford Truck and removed all the wood that had been at the bottom of the hill for EVER…and thoroughly cleaned up the space. A quick trip to Homo Depot where we bought posts, fencing, and wood posts for raised beds….we were well on our way. I got the posts and the fencing up this past weekend and will have the gates installed soon. (pics to follow!) I picked up certified organic seeds from Ferry Morse at the Depot and Lowe’s, and we are sprouting as we speak. The broccoli has already started to sprout…I am always amazed at the hardiness and tenacity of the tiniest of seeds.  Next we need to build the raised beds and get the compost. And we can hopefully have this done over this Easter Weekend. Stay tuned>>>but I’m not finished ;)

The 2nd line of recycling goes hand-in-hand w/ the garden, HOW  TO supplement the soil… Alyx suggested Worm Composting. We  are now waiting on the worms…3000+ which are on the way. Their bins are ready to be drilled – and we are ready for the loamy goodness. I have not done this before but it does not seem that hard. We have started saving veggie scraps for them and hope they arrive today! Ahh, the joy of composting.

So the 3rdline of defense…LOL, we have FINALLY started recycling all our glass, aluminum, paper, plastic, and cardboard. May the masses rejoice!

Please let me know how your spring plans are shaping up and give any tips on raised bed gardening.

Arizona or BUST!

I need my space! It gives me perspective and teaches me that we are more inter-connected than I acknowledge.

This year for my 44th b-day I took a road-trip to Arizona in late FEB. I visited Chiricahua National Monument and Saguaro National Monument, car camping along the way. It was a wonderful time of solitude, loud singing, and hiking. I realized how much contact we have now w/ cell phones. It ain’t what it used to be.

I took my colored chalks, a good book, and a couple of  Wes Anderson dvd’s. I cooked my meals on my camp stove and slept in the back of  the 4-runner…it was a wonderful time! I recommend a road trip. It clears the head.

My camp at Chiricahua

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The early morning view

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At the top of Massai Point

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In the canyon

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My camp in Tuscon

for my xmas cube

Here are pics of my cube….we won the competition

my cube

x-mas tree

Today I helped a friend take her holiday tree home and I NOW have officially caught Holiday Fever. It was a Fraser Fir from Lowe’s and was most beautiful.

Alyx (conceded;) and I wanted a fresh cut tree this year. Though we thought we’d wait until after the 15y/o b-day celebration this weekend to pick one up…I think after a quick call to my sweetie, and the gushing description – we’d pick it up tonight.

I can’t wait to see all our ornaments on the tree. Sweet Holiday goodness!! All this from sparklely light emitting from glass ornaments on the majestic basking fir.

And to all a good night.

Are you a winner?

win a ticket to see Beck in concert!!!!!!!

Current mood: optimistic
Category: Music

You have a chance to attend the Beck concert at the Kiva in SEPT w/ yours truly if you can answer these three questions the most creatively. Good Luck!

1. What is your passion in life?
2. When you think of our friendship what is your most treasured memory?
3. Where will you be living in the next 5 years?

p.s. you can send me your responses at a known email address if you would like.

haiku you

wrote a haiku for my friend and she headlined it

Lanyard with your name.
Noose dangles ever closer.
Full-time benefits.

my summer vacation – part 2

We like to get out and kayak. thank goodness Alyx and Jordan have a cabin that we can use as a jumping off point. We went up over the Fourth of July and had a wonderful time. Evan joined Jordan and made it really fun. Evan in now an honorary member of our family. here are a couple shots of the 400+ photos taken. Hope your summer is as great! We send our love. xoxo

Currently El Vado lake is now one of my favorite in NM.

My friend Hilari came too! I think she and AJ had a great time. We hiked to San Gregrorio Lake. It is spectacular.

We are planning an outing in the fall, please let us know if you want to come up and hang out!

Resurrection Fern -someone else’s words to cry by-

I cannot get this song out of my mind. Through the headphones in my cubicle it is most beautiful – makes me think of touring with Hazeldine, the Old 97’s, the Picketts and Whiskeytown on a leg of the No Depression Tour in 1997.

If you have not heard this CD you should run out and buy it – Shepherds Dog by Iron & Wine

here is a LIVE performance: resurrection fern

Sam Beam, from Iron & Wine

They are touring w/ the Swell Season and will be coming to Popejoy in Sept.

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Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of The Swell Season

hope to see you there!