Stopping in Bridgeport

We have been driving through Bridgeport, CA on our way to all points North, mostly Carson City and Reno, NV, for many years. One of those picturesque mountain towns that you always say you want to stop in but seemingly never do...until I made a point of going there for the day. We made it our destination and had a wonderful day exploring and meeting some nice people and learning more about local history.

Bridgeport is the Mono county seat and has been since 1863. It's most distinguished landmark is the County Courthouse, Victorian in design, and built in 1880. It is the second oldest courthouse in the state of California to still be in use.

Our first stop of the day though was behind the courthouse, the Mono County Museum. It is located in the old Bridgeport schoolhouse in the picture. It served as the local school from 1880-1964. It was great fun to see everything from real hobnail boots to beautiful Victorian dresses. Farm implements, barb wire collections and even a rare portable, folding bathtub! History of the local, determined pioneer families and surrounding mining towns of Mono as well as an entire room devoted to an amazing Native American basket collection. Beautiful examples of Paiute and Miwok basketry collected by Ella Cain. Ella Cody was born in Bodie, an infamous mining town, and became a teacher there in 1900. She married Victor Cain in 1904. She amassed a striking collection.

After the museum tour we headed over to the local cemetery as I like to look at memorial carvings and it gives you an added look at the local families and where they came from. Stones sometimes have a lot of information on them and the carvings have a language all of their own. I'll touch on that in another blog as it is really interesting.

We then headed out through Bridgeport Valley, miles of pasture with cattle grazing, large old family ranches, and irrigation ditches. Bridgeport was originally called Big Meadows! Of course we stop here and there to take pictures of surprised cows. We passed the Hunewill Circle H cattle and guest ranch, a family that has been in the area since the 1860's. (There was a large Hunewill family plot at the cemetery. ) The road winds up into the Humboldt-Toiyabe National forest and the majestic Sawtooth range looms ahead. Our destination was Twin Lakes. We had no idea there were so many cabins and homes around the lakes as well as resorts. It was beautiful. I'd like to go back and spend time just exploring this whole area.

In the Sierra you just don't know what you are going to discover next. Yes we have an abundance of natural beauty here but to really get to know an area is to delve into the history and those who came before. To truly appreciate what we have now you need to witness the contributions, the hardships and the lives of the people who made it possible.

Aliveness

In his book, "Reflections from the North Country" , Sigurd Olson has a chapter titled "Aliveness." He comments on how so many people seem to go through life with little or no happiness or zest for living... with little hope or enthusiasm. Sigurd was an ecologist and conservationist, a professor and writer who dearly loved the outdoors and the Quetico-Superior region of Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. This particular book was first published back in 1976 by Knopf, a book and a man that is very wise.

I have been coming in contact with more and more people who seem to be suffering from emptiness and just the plain old blahs! People who are trying desperately to fill the void in their lives with stuff and the pursuit of more stuff and/or busy-ness for the sake of being busy. People who find no joy in living and feel they have nothing to look forward to. Why?

I believe that in order to be alive, to live an inspired life one must be aware of their connection to the natural world every day. Our lives are interconnected with every living thing on this planet. Our choices and our thoughts affect other living things and each other. There is extraordinary beauty all around us every day. How can anyone look at a hummingbird and not be awed by their beauty, their ability to hover in the air, the speed in which their wings flutter, their own joy!? Walk around your neighborhood and see the colors and variety of flowers, trees and bushes; watch the sunrise or the sunset and the way the changing light changes the scene minute by minute; feel the grass between your toes or the smoothness of a water polished stone from a creek; smell the earthiness of the woods, the saltiness of the seashore or of a fresh rain; listen to the birds singing in the morning or the crickets chirping at night; reconnect with the natural world that is all around you and celebrate that you are able to appreciate and Be apart of it.

In order to be "alive" we must be inspired. To be inspired we must look for new ways to learn and experience life. We have senses to help us add depth to our daily experiences. Use your sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch to connect. Use your instinct and your knowing as well. The old adage "stop and smell the roses" is more true than you know. When we are inspired everything and anything is possible. Be adventurous, curious, seek your true essence enthusiastically and celebrate your Aliveness!

Life in the Round

A finch has built a nest in the wreath that hangs to the right of our front door. I must admit that I didn't even notice her building it until one day when I went out I startled her and she flew away. I looked at the wreath where she had been sitting and to my amazement there were branches nestled between the artificial berries and silk pansies. On further investigation 3 little eggs as well. So now we either use the back door or gently go in and out of the front door. I can see her from my bedroom window sitting diligently upon her eggs.

In my much used "Animal Speak" book by Ted Andrews it says that when finch shows up in your life everything will become "amplified." We will have more opportunities to meet people from all walks of life, have more varied experiences in general and life will just get more active. Also I can't help but also see the symbolism of three eggs. Three is the number of increased creativity and new beginnings and of seeing things in a new way. I can see the changes already; the new people coming into our lives; my creative juices are flowing, and I have been more sensitive and intuitive.

Momma finch also chose a circle in which to have her nest. I get it Universe and thank you. I am so grateful for our conversations!

Convict Lake

Convict Lake is one of our favorite places in the Sierra. Just a couple of miles off of highway 395 to the west through a cleft in the Sherwin range.

You pass the camp ground, the store and Convict Lake restaurant and a pack station and then around the bend and it comes into glorious view. Surrounded on three sides by some of the oldest rocks in the Sierra it is very dramatic. You can drive out to the western shore and park under the trees and listen to the birds singing. You can grab a fishing pole and head out on the lake on a boat or you can hike around the lake. Have lunch at one of the many picnic tables set here and there. Just enjoy!

Everybody always wants to know why it is named Convict Lake...well in 1871 a gang of criminals broke out of the Carson City, NV jail and a posse chased them all over the countryside finally ending up at this lake. A gun battle pursued and a Wells Fargo agent by the name of Morrison was shot and killed. The mountain towering to the west of the lake is named for him. The rest of the gang was eventually hunted down and hanged in Bishop and it was forever after known as Convict Lake.

In 1951 Hollywood shot a movie there called "The Secret of Convict Lake" starring Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, and Ethel Barrymore. It was shot there but the story was fictional and had nothing to do with the real story. It was also a location for Star Trek: Insurrection; and the opening shots of How the West Won as well as a site for commercials.

I love to bring a picnic and a good book and watch the magpies that frequent the area. There is a calming atmosphere to this place that helps me to relax. Maybe it is the sound of water lapping against the rocks on the shore or the wind in the trees, or the smell of wild roses or all of the above surrounded by the beauty of the mountains.

Mules, Mules, and more Mules

Over the Memorial Day week Bishop, CA hosts Mule Days which it has been doing for the past 41 years. It is all about, you guessed it, Mules. People come from all over the United States to compete in over 180 events, to sell mules, to get together with other "mule" people, learn about mule handling, walk in a mule parade, go to dances and barbecues and just have a good time. Never have I seen so many mules at one time in one place.

It seems that I know quite a few people who are very involved in this event and it is a huge undertaking that attracts on average 30,000 visitors. A great boost for the local economy as well!

I went the first two days when most everything was being set up and getting started as I had to work the rest of the holiday but I met some great people and mules, like Sweet Melissa in the above picture. Now I am not sure but I think Sweetie was actually a ham in mule clothing because when I asked her if I could take her picture she struck a pose!

There were great vendors selling everything from saddlery to western furniture, kettle corn to corn dogs, and wonderful artists like Marye Roeser a long time Sierra Nevada local who is a wonderful water color painter capturing scenes of the Sierra mountains and lakes and of packers and mules. She and her husband Lou owned and operated a pack station for many years. There is also a Mule Museum in the works.

It was a completely different side of Bishop that I have never seen and a big part of the local history and color. A great time in my own backyard!

Wildflowers

These incredible lupines were down on Division creek south of Big Pine, CA.

If it wasn't for a neighbor I would never have found this glorious spot. We drove down the other day and went west on Black Rock Springs road and then turned onto a dirt road heading up Division creek past an old hydro-electric plant built in 1908. The lupines follow a dry creek bed up the mountain forming a ribbon of blue and purple. Beautiful banks of lupine

undulating in the wind (which got to be quite strong that day) the fragrance intoxicating! Interspersed between white granite boulders and other flowering bushes there were bright red splashes of color from Indian Paintbrush, large pink thistles with multiple flowers on large 3' stems, and any number of other wildflowers that I do not know. On the hillsides above there were wide bands of pink bushes, carpets of yellow and in one instance a lone pine tree surrounded by a large carpet of lupine. It was a dramatic picture.

Near the top I looked out on the valley far below...tiny cars and trucks heading north and south on 395. As the drivers speed by do they even notice the colors, the clouds, the birds flying over head? Oh what they are missing. I felt blessed to have found this beautiful spot.

Beauty is everywhere if you take the time to look and it is so nurturing and nourishing to your soul. No matter where you are you can find a special place. I guarantee you will feel recharged and renewed...I did. Stop to smell the flowers.

Alabama Hills

We decided to drive down to Lone Pine the other day to see the wildflowers. I had never stopped to see the Alabama Hills either so we spent the whole afternoon exploring and it was awesome with these awesome rock formations.

Apparently miners back in the 1860's named their claims in honor of the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship, and eventually the area became known as the Alabama Hills. Then in the 1920's Hollywood came to town and all sorts of movies were shot out here. As you drive around there are markers telling you what movies were shot in the particular areas. There is "Movie" Road and the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and various other Westerns were shot out there. If you stop at the visitor center in Lone Pine you can get a map but I found it to be rather confusing. Never-the-less it was fun to try and find all the rock formations with names like the BullFrog, The Spooks and the Baboon. There are a few arches too. What is nice is that the whole area is really accessible either by car, on foot or bike. The rock formations are incredible; more rounded and flowing in contrast to the rigid, sharp rocks of the Sierra above. There is an arch with a heart shaped hole in the center

We decided to keep climbing and and drove up to Mt Whitney portal. What a view and the summit of Mt Whitney is 10,000' above your head!

On the trip down too there were acres of Desert Gold wildflowers that were in bloom as well as a lot of other flowers that I am still researching but they were beautiful and just added to the day. It was a great day.

Route 6

Sometimes there is history right under your nose and you don't realize it...Route 6 was one of these recent discoveries. On my way North out of Bishop on the way to Big Trees Nursery in Chalfant, about 12 miles, I pass this sign,"Provincetown, MA 3205 Miles . I have passed this sign for years and it always brings to mind the many summers spent driving up Route 6 through Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts on family summer vacations. I'll never forget my Dad cursing the engineers who built the highway, especially through Rhode Island and it got to the point that he would rather drive 100 miles out of his way just to bypass the road as it went through Providence! I remember going in circles on Route 6 in Providence and announcing from the back seat that I believed we already passed this or that which just added to the stress my father was already under! Rhode Island is notorious for its signage problems.

Every year we went to Cape Cod on vacation. We'd stay at a hotel in Hyannis and then drive up and down the Cape going to different towns and beaches every day. Eventually we would drive all the way up to Provincetown for the day. I remember the sand dunes, the wide beaches, collecting grasses and shells, lobster and clam chowder. They were great days.

What I never knew was that Route 6 is the longest U.S. Transcontinental Highway. It is also known as the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway," and passes through 14 states. The first part of the highway was built in 1925 and extended from Provincetown, MA to Brewster, NY. Then they extended it to Erie, PA and by 1931 it went to Greeley, CO. In 1937 it passed through Bishop, CA and came to an end in Longbeach. In 1965 the Longbeach to Bishop segment was decommissioned.

To get a state by state look at Highway 6 go to a great site, "Route 6:The Longest Transcontinental Highway." They have alot of pictures and history. http://www.augustana.edu/.

Over the course of my life I have traveled on both ends of this grand highway. It makes me feel rather philosophical...am I at a crossroads in my life now? What is around the next bend? The past and present; what's up ahead and what is now behind and out of sight. Our family has always had a bit of the wanderlust so I guess it is just in my blood. As they say it is not about the destination but rather the journey.

Signs of Spring

Glorious Daffodils! Is there any other symbol of Spring that is as beautiful and happy than a daffodil? Their little trumpets raised towards the sun announcing that warmer weather and longer days are not so far away. The daffodils in the picture welcomed you to the Antique Hotel store in Big Pine, CA on highway 395. I found a sweet Ross Originals pottery vase of a bird perched on top of a branch. Just large enough for a bloom or two and the perfect find on a Spring themed jaunt.

The Sierra Nevada mountains are all covered in white but the lower foothills all have a tint of green. Tufts of grass are coming up by the side of the road. We decided to get out of town and headed south early. The Eastern California Museum in Independence is just setting up for the Inyo County Pioneering Women:Faces Through History, exhibit. It officially starts at the museum on March 27th and goes through September 6th. These amazing, strong women helped to carve out a life for themselves and their families in the Sierra. There will be lectures and exhibits celebrating women throughout the Sierra from Ridgecrest to Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes to Shoshone (a place I admit I have yet to visit). The stories and lives of these women are inspirational. The program is being organized by the Eastern Sierra Cultural Heritage Alliance. Bravo!

We love exploring as most of you know and that is part of our "Blooming Where You are Planted" philosophy. Get out there and learn about the history of the place you call home. See who came before and blazed the path. Spring symbolizes new beginnings and hope, creating and newness!

See your environment through new eyes no matter how long you have lived there. Look for signs of Life!

Seed Catalogs and Planting New Ideas

I love this time of year...still in the grips of winter but the seed catalogs have arrived. I can sit with a cup of tea and start dreaming and planning for the new year. Seed catalogs are inspiring and I always get carried away. Last year I think I planted 13 varieties of tomatoes (multiples of each) and honestly it was too ambitious. After living at 8,000' for 9 years I was so ready to have a real garden again that I over did it. Not being used to the new environment challenges of living on a Mesa didn't help.

I started off great though. Seedlings all lined up in the windows of the house all being lovingly cared for and nurtured. They started off so well. Heirloom tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuces, and herbs. Every thing transplanted well and plants flourished, fruit set and then... nothing. Nothing would ripen. The weather was hot, cold, hot, cold, blistering hot. Then the baby tomatoes started disappearing; chipmunks were having a smorgasbord. They were small enough to squeeze themselves under the chicken wire. My tomatillos were lush. Huge plants loaded with flowers and nothing but flowers for most of the summer. Where were the bees? Then all of a sudden they were heavily laden with fruit and then I thought I'd have them coming out of my ears. Then we had an early frost and they were gone... all gone. It was so sad. I think we ate three! Oh the woes and joys of gardening.

However along with the seed catalogs comes the renewed sense of hope for the future. You learn from your mistakes, you get a bit more realistic, you rearrange, regroup and set your dreams higher.In that sense gardening is a reflection of life. You don't necessarily get rewarded for all your hard work but in the end you know you tried and the journey is more important then the end results anyway. You have a sense of accomplishment for all of your efforts and when you are rewarded the taste is sweet. There is nothing like a home grown tomato, warm from the sun, eaten right on the spot.

Some of my favorite seed catalogs are Bountiful Gardens out of Willits, CA. which is a project of Ecology Action. All of their seeds are open-pollinated and untreated and never genetically modified.

Another favorite is Gourmet Seed International & Italian Seed in Tatum, New Mexico. What a variety! If you can dream it they probably have it.

The picture above I believe was a Russian heirloom variety Anna with oxheart shaped tomatoes.

Plant the seed of inspirition today!

Beauty is in the Details

There can be beauty in the details that go unnoticed if one does not look closely enough, like in the picture of yellow leaves on a stone walkway after a rain. The pattern and color contrast was so beautiful and so simple that it caught my eye. It was actually taken in a sculpture garden in Houston, Tx. which in of itself was a wonderful place. It didn't matter that it was raining off and on. The rain added to the beauty that day. The air was soft and fresh and the sculpture was wet and glistening. Angles of green lawn crossed by dark walls, plantings of trees that offset the sculptures and framed them. A meandering path that led to new "discoveries". Some of the art wasn't the art at all but the natural beauty that surrounded the space.

When I walk out on the Mesa I look for interesting rocks, animal tracks in the dirt, color changes of the plants in the different seasons. We had some snow not long ago and the tracks of birds and small animals made interesting patterns in the snow. Ice formations that form on the banks of a mountain creek in the winter, rock formations, clouds in the sky...all add layers of beauty to our day if we take note.

This morning I went out in the backyard and the telephone line and trees were full of birds all singing merrily. I filled the bird feeders with seed and the bird bath with water and went in and within a few moments they descended to have breakfast. Even though the sky was gray and overcast there was an uplifting feeling to the morning. I felt energized today and I was up early.
In town I noticed the first patch of daffodils in bloom that I had seen this year. Spring is nearly upon us... or at least teasing us. I had to bring flowers home and picked up a couple of bunches of alstromeria, Peruvian lily. They are beautiful and long lasting and fairly inexpensive.

With the hope of Spring around the corner comes feelings of renewed hope for the coming year. A time to think about what you want to accomplish, your dreams and aspirations for the new year. Make one of those goals to notice and appreciate the small things that add beauty to your daily life...the details.