Backwoods Babble

So, the other night when I was supposed to be working on a history assignment, I had this thought.  Why am I not making more of my own stuff?  As in, why am I spending all this money on hair care products (most of which do not help as advertised), toothpaste, body wash, etc.  So, again instead of working on my history assignment (sorry professor) I posed this question on my personal Facebook account,   I have been tossing around the idea to try making my own beauty products (shampoo, etc). I know a few of you out there do this already, ideas on recipes?? I was surprised, though I guess I should not have been, at how many responses I received and I started thinking that perhaps this crazy plan might be worth trying.  Then I saw this documentary on Netflix called No Impact Man about this guy who decided to try and eliminate his carbon footprint and take his family along the for the ride.  My family is not as supportive as his, and honestly I do not see myself as that dedicated.  I wo

It's blogging time! That time of the crazy week when I should be working on about 80 other things and I decide to blog instead.  I must say that the last few weeks have literally sucked the creative energy right out of my body, it's been a scary and kinda dull place. Lots of big things in the works after finals.  Plans.  Lots of plans.  Possibly moving plans.  Not to my cottage by the sea though I still haven't given up on that. But moving to other places not too far away plans.  Perhaps even plans about new places to study and learn. I do not love moving, but there is something really exciting about planning to move that I am perhaps a little addicted to.  I guess it was about time, I have been here a year after all - hah! It is fabulous that my summer break is so close, my garden needs me, my sketchbook is lonely, and my camera has not been out for awhile.  A giant stack of books to read, just because I can. And, sleeping in; at least the possibility of it. I boug

A few days ago my mom and meandered through our favorite wildflower looking loop.  It took us past Badwater in Death Valley, but sadly there were not any flowers in the park yet, at least nothing to get excited about and actually stop the car for.  There were a few little beginnings, and LOADS of creosote is in bloom already, so I am hopeful that we should have a decent bloom this year.  We also have had alot of rain (for here anyway) and it seems to have arrived at the right time, so fingers crossed that we start to see more and more. On our loop home, we did find several lovely spots to pull over and take some shots and even saw some of the Desert Five Spots, which are one of my favorite flowers. The cactus are also on the very beginning of blooming and we saw evidence of alot of blooms just ready to burst.  THAT is going to be amazing and I hope I am able to get out and snap more of them over the new few weeks. I am also looking forward to more clusters along the roads like th

This last weekend I went to a free workshop about the medicinal and edible foods in the Mojave Desert.  It sounded great, but I was disappointed that some of the information was just wrong.  I think my recent Anthropology classes may have ruined these presentations for me for ever.  I just kept hearing my professor in my head saying, "WHAT!?!?!?"  Total bummer. Maybe I can figure out how to turn that voice off the next time around? The presenter was nice and enthusiastic (though she did mention several times that this was her first presentation which kind of turned me off as well).  So, I couldn't say that I would go again without finding out more about who will be giving the presentation the next time around.  And, it was so windy that I didn't really get any good pictures - uber bummer! I also discovered this weekend that I am definitely not a desert rat.  Sunburned in about a half hour, with ridiculous quantities of sunscreen AND not mostly in the shade, sigh.

Is there too much on my plate? One can never have enough olives right? I've been on this journey this year to try and simplify and de-clutter and focus on the things I love the most, but I wonder if perhaps I have tried to put too much on my plate and that it is contributing to my lack of motivation. I saw the title to this post   at the blog, Life as a Mom, and it asked me, "Are You Putting Too Much on Your Plate?" and it made me stop and ask myself, "Am I? I don't know.  Maybe I am." I do have a lot of activities.  I am a full-time student and part-time Math tutor.  I have a garden and alot of other interests.  I am going to be in my first art show soon.  And, I never seem to have enough time to pursue them all.  So, perhaps I need to think about a new plan, and focus on fewer things. But... But... Yeah, it's not going to be pretty. Some random thoughts before my weekend adventures.  This weekend, I'm off to a workshop on edible foods o

Today, as I started reading through a few posts of people I follow, I noticed a theme, it's beginning to look alot like spring!  And, those who are not yet lucky enough to see the little blossoms peeking out from leaves and sprouting out of gardens seem to be longing for their own signs. Spring time in the desert is my favorite time of year.  We turn off the heat, open the windows and I start sneezing, but I don't care.  There is nothing I love more than fresh air wafting through an open window.  Well, except fresh air wafting through an open window carrying the salty smell of the ocean, but that is a completely different dream.   I have been posting daily pictures for several days on my Instagram feed (it's over there on the right).  The daily changes in the garden and the backyard are so amazing.  I have been noticing the quail are starting to search for nest sites, and cannot wait to see the gazillions of quail babies and the chaos that comes with them in the backya