Whirlwind of a ride pretty much sums up our trip, although looking at the words now, I see that I am putting it to you mildly. To kick off our two-week motorcycle road trip from California to Colorado, brother-in-law’s bike wouldn’t start. It was a few expletives and a slammed tool box lid later before...
Kindness comes in many forms: a smile from a stranger, a heartfelt compliment or an unexpected subscription to High Desert Journal. I was perplexed when I first saw the journal as I couldn’t figure out how it made its way to my mailbox. I thought, who would have sent this? It wasn’t until a day...
A month or so ago my fellow knitters threw a birthday party for me. Betsy brought a delightful cheese plate, Shannon made a to-die-for vegetarian moussaka, Angie made a fresh garden salad, Lisa provided gourmet bread and Karen baked a decadent Texas sheet cake. As we sat in front of the fireplace, eating and chatting,...
Last week I had to make the very difficult decision to put down my dog. My family rescued Max seven years ago from a facility that had taken him from an abusive situation. When he came into our lives he was underweight, incredibly nervous and had allergies. Our entire family welcomed him with open arms...
I mentioned in my last post that a friend of mine has been ill. I have always admired her for being an amazing mother, a giving friend and a successful business woman. And now, I admire her for being a fighter against one of the most feared diseases among women: breast cancer. From the time...
I needed inspiration in the creativity department. I needed a new look. Actually, my blog, which is an extension of me, needed a fresh look. So, I asked a friend if he could design a new logo for nature-drunk.com. He was was crazy busy and couldn’t swing it, but he recommended his friend Matt Briner...
Have you ever met someone and immediately knew the two of you would become friends? That’s how I felt when I met Rita. Rita manages the cabin and property where I stayed while vacationing in Colorado a couple of years ago. I had just arrived and was getting settled when she walked up the steps...
When I was eight years old, I asked my mom for a pottery wheel. After much begging and pleading, she bought the wheel and I set up shop in the small dusty room adjoining our garage. It was summer then and I had three school-free months to perfect my craft. I had visions of making...
I sit atop a knoll, overlooking the original homestead of my late great-grandparents Charles and Clara Wiening. Maggie, a sweet border collie sprawls out under the canopy of a maple tree, panting and chewing on a stick that has nearly disintegrated under her drool and sharp teeth. The rush of water flowing through the irrigation...
When you care for someone’s garden, you get a glimpse of the depth of that person. You find a new appreciation for who they are and discover what is important to them. That awareness makes you feel closer to the one who has created the special space. My sister asked me to keep an eye...
