Category Archives: Travels

The Road

Arizona

Sonoita Vineyards near Sierra Vista in southern Arizona, not far from the border

Do you see this as a lonely road? Would you welcome a week or a month on this hill, camped in the vastness, opening yourself to the sky and seemingly endless horizon? On the other hand, would you soon long for trees to break the sameness and provide a relief from the inevitable Arizona heat? Would you walk the road to there and back, exploring the world beneath your feet, or would you use it to escape into the city or suburb?

The 35th Annual Blessing of the Vineyards

For those of us who love an excellent glass of wine, it makes perfect sense to pray for a healthy crop of grapes, doesn’t it?

For more than three decades, wine enthusiasts have gathered in this little corner of Arizona, just a breath away from the Mexican border at Nogales, to ask God’s blessing on the vines of Sonoita Vineyards. The vineyards began in 1973 as an experiment by a soil specialist at the University of Arizona who discovered that the soil here is similar to that in the Burgundy region of France. You can read more about Dr. Gordon Dutt, founder and original winemaker at Sonoita Vineyards here.

Yesterday, my friend and I took a day trip into Southern Arizona to tour the winery, sample one delicious wine after another, and join in the prayer and thanksgiving.

After Scripture readings and a brief encouraging sermon, the clergy led the procession through the vineyard.

After Scripture readings and a brief encouraging (and at times entertaining) sermon, the clergy led the procession through the vineyard.

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts." ~Psalm 104

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”           ~Psalm 104:14-15

The blessing was delayed for a few minutes while we waited for the cowboys.

The blessing was delayed for a few minutes while we waited for the cowboys.

Sunday Post: Unforgettable

DSC_0122Unforgettable? I’m 62 years old, and I have a lifetime of unforgettable moments; I had not truly appreciated that fact until I started to look for images to post for Jakes’s Sunday Post.

I now realize that I am blessed to have had far too may unforgettable moments to post on this blog.

Unforgettable: the first time I opened the blanket to touch Baby Elle’s little toes three years ago. (“Image by Mona” … nope my son/her daddy took this shot.)

Unforgettable: All of the incredible moments I am fortunate enough to spend with her as she grows into a remarkable little girl.

Valentines Day 2013
Her first birthday
Christmas anticipation
SEPTEMBER: Elle
Elle with her first gift from me.
A little flair on the piano.
Sparkling Beads, Bracelets, Princess High Heeled Slippers, Princess Crown, and ATTITUDE!
Covered in chalk dust, she laughs out loud as Daddy stands by.
10 months old

Unforgettable: If you’ve followed my blog for any time at all, you know that I spent the past two summers working and playing in China, part of it trekking about by myself. The first summer, when I was 60, I took a night-train from Shanghai to Beijing alone and toured the major sites with an English-speaking tour group. The second summer, I spent a week alone in Shanghai. This might not be that remarkable to those of you who are seasoned travelers, but it is quite UNFORGETTABLE and remarkable for me because this was my first time out of the United States.

My 1st day as tourist in a foreign country.
Forbidden City: He works with the female to guard the entry into the buildings
Forbidden City: She guards against evil
Dragon in Yuyuan Gardens, Old Shanghai
Tea House in Old Shanghai
Just passing the time in the Hutong
The Great Wall at Mutianyu was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century upon the foundations of the wall built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550-77).
Of course, it is impossible to get on or off the wall without passing through the corridor of vendors. I laughed with them as we haggled over the price of silk jewelry bags and chopsticks.
Shanghai in mist
Shanghai at night
Feicheng: Street vendors
Feicheng: They giggled as they took our picture.
Our workshop participants 2011
Workshop participants 2012

Unforgettable: An invitation to dinner in a private home in Feicheng, Shandong Province, China. What’s even better is that we were allowed to “help” in making the dumplings.

The dough is twisted into a thin rope while the filling (made of chives, mushrooms, tofu and other ingredients) is prepared.
She kneaded the dough the same way I do when I make bread or biscuits.
The rope of dough is chopped into small pieces.
Shaping the very thin dough into circles.
This is what the dumplings should look like.
My American colleague in the background
You can see the plates of finished dumplings with the other delicious dishes. The women waited until we were finished before sitting down to eat.
Here I am (the white American in the middle) with our colleague’s sister (on left) and his wife. They gave me the embroidered cloth that is on my shoulder. They said it’s to protect my clothing, but I think it’s too pretty for that purpose and I’ll wear it on a special occasion.
The son brought tears to our eyes as he played so beautifully after dinner.

New to Word press? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in my Weekly Competition to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in 2013 Lucky Snake Event. (It’s the Year of the Snake!) Everyone is welcome to participate, if your blog is about photography,Video, Graphic Artwork Or Writing.

1. Each week, Jake provides a theme for creative inspiration. Show the world based on your interpretation what you have in mind for the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Sunday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. Subscribe to jakesprinter so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS. GET THE BADGE FOR YOUR IMAGE WIDGET….

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Make sure to have the image link to http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ so that others can learn about the challenge, too.

Posted in: Sunday Post

Sunday Post Challenge: HOPE

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I’ve heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

~Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers — a Cactus Wren perched on Saguaro Cactus
Hope is enjoying life.
Hope is getting a new life.
Hope is dancing with the girl you love.
Hope is having fun and hanging onto the thrills of life, knowing that there are bumps and possible crashes ahead.
Hope is sledding in the desert, hoping that you slide safely to the bottom, enjoying the ride.
Hope is giving and receiving a vase of red roses.

Yesterday, while taking pictures at the picnic, I learned that hope comes from enjoying life, spending time with other people, giving time, sharing laughs and struggles.

Thank you to jakesprinter for another inspiring challenge. If you haven’t visited his blog, step on over; I think you’ll enjoy it.

water-dragon-poster1-1

It was a good day, eh?

IMG_1739Today, for a full day, I got to do exactly what I want to do…I took pictures. For the past two years, I have been the official volunteer photographer for The Great Canadian Picnic in Phoenix.

We have a tremendous community of Canadians in our desert…and the population grows, of course, during the winter months.

This annual picnic began 61 years ago to provide a sense of home to homesick Canadians. From the website The History of The Great Canadian Picnic:

In 1953, when Vic Wallace’s job at the Wallace Lumber Mill brought on acute asthma, his doctor advised him to move to a drier climate or his life would be cut short. So Vic, his wife, Reta, and their two daughters moved from Thamesford, Ontario, Canada – a small rural village 15 miles east of London – to Lynwood Street in downtown Phoenix.

Reta, Vic, and other expatriate Canadians arrived in Phoenix when the only things many had in common were respiratory ailments or arthritic conditions. To counteract the isolation and homesickness that sometimes troubled new arrivals, Reta and Vic started the Canadian Social Club of Greater Phoenix, bringing together newcomers who would otherwise have gone it alone. During the 1950s and 60s, it was a vital source of exchange, support and referrals for families who had relocated to the Valley.

IMG_0447The Royal Canadian Mountie looks out of place in the desert, doesn’t he? This gentleman was an absolute delight to photograph.

Travel Theme: Walls

How could I pass this one up? I was fortunate to walk on THE WALL two years ago on my solo trek to Beijing.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century upon the foundations of the wall built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550-77).

The Great Wall at Mutianyu was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century upon the foundations of the wall built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550-77).

Before my once-in-a-lifetime visit to this testament to the determination of man, I did a lot of research and saw images of breath-taking vistas and panoramas of the wall snaking across the mountain ridges. However, that was not my wall. My wall was shrouded in mist…a mist that turned into the most awesome thunder and lightning storm I’ve ever experienced. At 3 PM, the black sky was punctuated with flashes of brilliant light that revealed torrents of rain.

An hour before the skies opened and Zeus let loose with his thunderbolts, I was lost on top of the wall. YES! I was alone and lost, standing at a Y in the wall, not recognizing a single brick or stone. To my relief, I was saved by young tourists from Northern Europe who pointed the way to the tram. Oddly enough, I was not afraid, only bemused, thinking, well, if I die, at least I’ve had this incredible adventure. I did not, however, welcome the idea of spending the night alone, huddled against the cold on the top of the wall.

Click on any image for a better view and description. 

Imagine the hands that labored to build these steps on the top of the mountain, a half-day hike from the base.
This man allowed me to take his picture if I bought his postcards. It remains one of my favorites.
The steps are narrow and sometimes steep because the wall follows the ridges of the mountain.
Watchtowers, spaced two arrow shots apart to leave no part unprotected, were signal towers, living quarters, and storerooms.
Of course, it is impossible to get on or off the wall without passing through the corridor of vendors. I laughed with them as we haggled over the price of silk jewelry bags and chopsticks.

As I am putting together this post, Billy Joel’s song toys with my memory. Why not? Here, for your enjoyment, is one of my favorite artists:

We could have gone all the way to the Great Wall of China if you’d only had a little more faith in me

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

“Do you have a photo which invites the viewer to look beyond? Are there hidden depths in the background? Is the focal point just a framing for the rest of the picture? If it’s not clear why we should look beyond, tell us! “

Hutong Doorway

Hutong Doorway

Last summer, I traveled from Shanghai to Beijing by myself and spent five days visiting the ancient sites. My favorite tour was in the Hutong area, the ancient neighborhoods of narrow streets and courtyard residences. Stop for a moment with me and look beyond the worn threshold.