Canyons and Coffee
Jun. 2nd, 2008 03:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebeccmeisterWell.
If I had more functioning neurons at the moment, I'd rattle off a lengthy recapitulation of the events of the weekend. As it is, my neurons don't seem to want to talk to each other much, so here are some highlights:
On Saturday, a bunch of my friends and I drove (or rode) up to Sedona to Oak Creek Canyon to go hiking. We got off to a bit of a late start, so the hiking only really began at around noon. The first section of the hike is along dusty trails through pine forests, and then the trail comes to an end at mile 3 and the REAL hike begins, wading along the creek bed. It was the sort of hike where pictures can't do justice to the experience (though they might reveal the amusing practicality of socks and sandals).
The most entertaining stretches were one section where we had to edge along a ledge while up to our knees in water (the rest of the creek bed would have required swimming), and a second section that did require a brief doggie paddle or breast stroke. Oak Creek was kind of a nice counterpoint to the Grand Canyon, because it was large and beautiful but the hike was mostly flat and not nearly so strenuous. Another favorite was a section where the creek fanned out across a wide, flat rock bed, and the water was only about six inches deep. The group had a good time skipping rocks across this stretch. The light was especially beautiful when the sun began to set.
On Sunday morning, I had a good time with the push-mower, mowing our expansive back yard. If left up to my own devices, I think I'd choose a yard without any grass, but given the effort required to transition to a non-grass yard that looks halfway decent, I'll settle for what we've got. Whenever I mow, though, I can't help but think about Wendell Berry's essay about the joys of learning to use a scythe to mow.
I have a feeling that my collection of gardening devices is going to expand over the next couple of months. I already have a pitchfork (yes, Mom, pitchfork and not potato fork), grass shears, pruning shears, a hand rake, a hand shovel, and a push-mower. But the pruning shears were a bit hard to use on some of the larger tree branches, and I'm going to have to round up some kind of branch-shredding device for the branches I pruned off. Mmm. I love gardening. Who knew?
Subsequently, R and I arranged to fetch a new (used) couch and loveseat from someone who is moving, and now suddenly our house feels a bit more civilized and settled, and we have a place to read and accidentally fall asleep. As an added bonus, it has a pull-out bed, so if you're looking to visit Arizona...
Finally, this morning, 'twas back to rowing among some of the glorious lights and colors of the hot Arizona summer. Sure, it's hot, but the colors are incredible. Oh yeah, and I should also mention that stuck-up coffee has arrived in downtown Tempe: a shop called Cartel Coffee served up a delicious latte for me this morning. If they have wireless internet, they could become a new favorite place for me to get work done, though they don't have many tasty edibles around.
And when all's said and done, that's a fairly comprehensive retelling.
If I had more functioning neurons at the moment, I'd rattle off a lengthy recapitulation of the events of the weekend. As it is, my neurons don't seem to want to talk to each other much, so here are some highlights:
On Saturday, a bunch of my friends and I drove (or rode) up to Sedona to Oak Creek Canyon to go hiking. We got off to a bit of a late start, so the hiking only really began at around noon. The first section of the hike is along dusty trails through pine forests, and then the trail comes to an end at mile 3 and the REAL hike begins, wading along the creek bed. It was the sort of hike where pictures can't do justice to the experience (though they might reveal the amusing practicality of socks and sandals).
The most entertaining stretches were one section where we had to edge along a ledge while up to our knees in water (the rest of the creek bed would have required swimming), and a second section that did require a brief doggie paddle or breast stroke. Oak Creek was kind of a nice counterpoint to the Grand Canyon, because it was large and beautiful but the hike was mostly flat and not nearly so strenuous. Another favorite was a section where the creek fanned out across a wide, flat rock bed, and the water was only about six inches deep. The group had a good time skipping rocks across this stretch. The light was especially beautiful when the sun began to set.
On Sunday morning, I had a good time with the push-mower, mowing our expansive back yard. If left up to my own devices, I think I'd choose a yard without any grass, but given the effort required to transition to a non-grass yard that looks halfway decent, I'll settle for what we've got. Whenever I mow, though, I can't help but think about Wendell Berry's essay about the joys of learning to use a scythe to mow.
I have a feeling that my collection of gardening devices is going to expand over the next couple of months. I already have a pitchfork (yes, Mom, pitchfork and not potato fork), grass shears, pruning shears, a hand rake, a hand shovel, and a push-mower. But the pruning shears were a bit hard to use on some of the larger tree branches, and I'm going to have to round up some kind of branch-shredding device for the branches I pruned off. Mmm. I love gardening. Who knew?
Subsequently, R and I arranged to fetch a new (used) couch and loveseat from someone who is moving, and now suddenly our house feels a bit more civilized and settled, and we have a place to read and accidentally fall asleep. As an added bonus, it has a pull-out bed, so if you're looking to visit Arizona...
Finally, this morning, 'twas back to rowing among some of the glorious lights and colors of the hot Arizona summer. Sure, it's hot, but the colors are incredible. Oh yeah, and I should also mention that stuck-up coffee has arrived in downtown Tempe: a shop called Cartel Coffee served up a delicious latte for me this morning. If they have wireless internet, they could become a new favorite place for me to get work done, though they don't have many tasty edibles around.
And when all's said and done, that's a fairly comprehensive retelling.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 02:35 am (UTC)Did your vermicomposter make the voyage with you? I suppose that with a real house you could go with a full outdoor composter now. My vermicomposter finally got some love after being five months overdue to re-bed. I think I have a total of five worms left, but we'll see.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 06:33 am (UTC)I might have to come sleep on your couch! I've been looking at airline prices and weekends.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 03:45 pm (UTC)