nature

Ants

“That same summer I went on a day trip to a large forest in western

Nigeria with six other people in a pickup truck. The trip to the forest

was pretty uneventful with the usual bickering between friends about

the problems with transporting orchids. At one point, I was watching

everybody gathered around a tree stump discussing the orchid growing

on it when suddenly I realized I was being eaten alive by army ants.

Army ants have pincers instead of front legs. These carnivores can

devour a lizard within seconds. The ants crawl up your legs inside your

pants (unless you are smart and tuck your pants into your socks) and

when they reach the thigh or pelvic area, they latch on. And they hurt!

You can’t just brush them off; you have to actually pull them off. I had

to completely take my pants off to fully get rid of them all.”

Read more about my Africa adventures in Echoes of a Global Life. Available through: Amazon.com – Bookshop.org – Barnesandnoble.com –

Postcards from Hawaii

Honolulu 1978. “Concrete Necklace” that seems to continually grow, but will never obliviate – majestic Diamond Head.

March 1990

Aloha
We hovered over this in an helicopter in 1986 and it’s still going! We are not going this year – but that’s about the only thing that has not changed. Some changes breaking the heart. Sigred and I are “up Kula” – very like our old home – chilly. No newspapers – no TV – so just hope the rest of the world is ok.
Aloha, Katherine

Lava rom Kilauea Volcano meets the sea at Kupaahu, not far from Kalapana Black Sand Beach, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Kihel, Island of Maui

January 1967. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head – Waikiki Beach is the hub of Hawaii’s vacationland and Diamond Head is her most famous landmark.

This beautiful waterfall took its name from many rainbows seen when the sun catches the mist below the falls. It is located in the Wailuku River State Park Hilo.

1990
Blow holes in Hawaii can be found on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. Huge ocean swells crash against the shoreline and surge into a lava bubble with a hole in its roof, crating huge geysers. They can be very dangerous. Photo: Carl Shaneff 

Postcards from Montana

Magnificent Mt. Gould and the Garden Wall are the backdrop for Lake Josephine. Less than one mile hike, or a short boat ride, take the visitor to the beautiful lake, one of 250 in Glacier National Park. The unique flower, Beargrass, is a member of the Lily family, and can be found in nearly all areas of the park.

Jackson Glacier. Visible from “Going to the Sun Highway” – the glacier was once part of the ice area of famous Blackfoot Glacier. It lies between Blackfoot Mountain and Mt. Jackson (10,023 ft). Sixty such glaciers still exist in the park

Built more than a century ago, Glacier Park Lodge is located on the east side, just inside the boundary of the park. Sixty immense timbers which were probably 500 to 800 years old when cut, were used in the construction of this imposing lodge. the huge 40-foot long timbers supporting the lobby are Douglas Fir, while those used to support the verandas are cedar. At the time these enormous timbers were set in place with their original bark still intact, the Indians dubbed Glacier Park Lodge, ‘Oom-Coo-La-Mush-Taw” The big Tree Lodge.
Artwprl bu Barbara Mitchell

Lewis and Clark Trails in Montana. In 1805-06, Lewis and Clark’s ‘Corp of Discovery’ went through present day Montana with the primary objective of finding a waterway from the East to the Pacific, and along the way documenting flora and fauna, and meeting area inhabitants.

The Holidays

That time of year again. I spent Christmas Day watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Seems to be my new holiday ritual. I always see new things in it. This year I paid particular attention to the landscape since I have just been to New Zealand. I did recognize some of it. That was fun. Of course it always ends well which is another plus.

This year was pretty eventful. I went to Mexico in January. Enjoyed the good food in Oaxaca. I was surprised by how hot it was, though. Oaxaca is at 5000 feet and I would have thought it would have been cooler in January but not so. Did some traveling around the countryside and saw some ruins and some textiles and some art. All good.

I was called for Jury duty. One boring day of sitting around and then nothing more. Big disappointment. I was hoping for a juicy trial.

May took me to Miami and Key West. Another hot one. Nice to see the ocean and old friends.

In August I went to see Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This was where Frank Lloyd Write lived and worked. He was quite the eccentric. It is a beautiful setting.

At the end of August my book came out but I had to postpone my launch until December. The launch went really well and I am pleased with the book. You should read it!

In October I went to Fiji and New Zealand. Wonderful trip. I had to go to Fiji because my father always said it was his most favorite place to visit. I would concur, it was pretty great. And New Zealand was beautiful plus I got the bonus of seeing a couple of old friends.

November was my son’s wedding. It was a lot of fun and I am happy for him.

I have three book ideas I am working on. Actually I think I have narrowed it down to two. It is kind of slow going but as the days get lighter so do I. The brain is churning away.

Looking forward to Florida, Spain, and Belgium in the new year. And who knows what else. Anything can happen!

I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year!!

Postcards from Colorado

April 2000

Rocky Mountain National Park. Sky Pond and Taylor Glacier. Colorado hikers on the Loch Vale Trail are awarded close up view of Taylor Glacier reflected in the frigid waters of Sky Pond. Photographer – Ron Mauer

Bear Lake, Long’s Peak in background. An easy drive and a vacation wonderland to remember.

Bear Lake in Early Fall, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The golden Fall color of mountain aspen highlights the ever changing beauty of Bear Lake, nestled beneath 14,255 foot high Long’s Peak.

View of the Gore Range, Vail, Colorado

Mt. Ypsilon (13,307 ft.) and Mummy Range as seen from the High Drive in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Ypsilon from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Pillars of Hercules – illuminated at night in South Cheyenne Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The roadway to Seven Falls passes between these gigantic rocks, and they as well as the entire canyon and the falls themselves, are lighted at night during the summer season.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Broadmoor Hotel mirrored in the lake, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Internationally famed resort hotel with every recreational activity imaginable.

View from Trail Ridge road, a few miles below Timberline, looking toward the ever snowy Mt Ypsilon, with Y-snow formation. (Estes Park, Colo. Vicinity) Photo by Ted and Lois Matthews

San Francisco, California

We flew from Christchurch to Auckland to San Francisco on Air New Zealand. It was a comfortable flight but miserable. Very long and I can’t sleep on airplanes. I got this amazing shot out the window. My friend told me the glass was tinted to that kind of burst my bubble.

I spent a few days in San Francisco mainly going to art museums and hanging out with friends.

We took the ferry to Angel Island. We were hoping to go the Immigration Station museum but they had just changed their hours so we got there too late. Next time. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed it anyway.

East Coast of New Zealand

We had planned an overnight at Mt Cook or Aoraki but the road was closed so we stayed an extra night in Dunedin and made an early start the next day. On our way to Christchurch we stopped in a couple of small towns.

At Lake Pukaki we could make out Aoraki in the distance. Aoraki can be translated as “cloud piercer”, an apt name as it is usually hidden by clouds.

Mt Cook

We had lunch at Lake Tekapo and then crossed the plains into Christchurch.

It’s a mural!

Dunedin, New Zealand

Drove through several small towns on our way to Dunedin on the east coast.

Baldwin Street in Dunedin claims to be the steepest residential street in the world; it reportedly averages 1:3.41 (16.33° or 29.3%) for 161 meters but its maximum is claimed to be 35% for an unknown distance. My friend in Auckland said that when she was at University people would ride down it in trash bins. Apparently somebody got killed doing that so it is discouraged.

The train station is lovely.

Dunedin is home to the only dental school in New Zealand. It is commemorated by molar statues by the sea.

The road to Mt Cook was closed so we ended up staying an extra day in Dunedin. We were then scheduled to go on a boat excursion to see some wildlife but that too was cancelled due to bad weather. We did spend a lovely afternoon at Larnach Castle at the end of the Otago Peninsula. The castle was built by William Larnach and completed in 1874. Larnach had several personal and professional setbacks including the loss of his first wife in 1880, his second wife in 1887, and his favorite daughter in 1891. In 1898, he shot himself with a revolver. The property has changed hands several times since then and is now open to the public.