Chasing the Sunrise

It has been a particularly busy fall semester. I’m teaching a new class in an area I only have a minimal background. I haven’t felt this far out of my depth since I taught an introduction to natural resources class my first semester at Kansas State University in 1974. I was younger, more full of myself, and at the same time unsure. I have few of those feelings now. At age 66 I find teaching a new course invigorating, challenging, and just a little daunting. But it has been far more rewarding than I anticipated and just as challenging. I’ve put other projects on the back burner to try to stay what I call “15 minutes ahead of my class!” And I think I’ve been successful.

That all leads up to Veteran’s Day Weekend when I got to Friday I sensed I had a full Saturday where I didn’t have anything to do. Saturday morning came and I was still thinking teaching and writing. In fact, as I have found so often this semester, I was up early and today was no exception. At 4 AM my mind was whirling and so I was up and anticipating several hours of quiet with just me and the cat writing. Whisper, the cat, really enjoys laying across the top of my desk in front of the computer either relaxing or watching the cursor on the computer with great interest. I’m anticipating some day she will attack that poor cursor.

By 6:30 am I was busy writing and I knew we were having some cool (cold for Las Vegas) weather so I turned to my iPad and checked the weather. Of course the kids think my favorite TV channel is the weather channel - but not so much since we moved to Las Vegas. Anyway, I noted on my weather app that it had snowed out at Red Rock Conservation Area overnight. There is nothing more beautiful than watching the sunrise at Red Rock as the sun marches down the western Spring Mountains. And to have the potential for snow in the peaks was a bonus! I was a smidgen late getting out of the house and could see the sun rising over the east side of the Las Vegas valley and knew I had probably missed the march, but not the intensity of the new sun on the western mountains. Off I drove out towards Red Rock and was greatly rewarded for my efforts.

Watching the new sunrise, or in this case, the full effect of the early morning sun on the mountains is like watching a rebirth of beauty and brings great joy to my soul. If I watched it every day I might tire of it, but I only go out a few times a year - which always makes it spectacular. I’ve shared a few of my photos below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

This is a beautiful home out in Calico Basin and I love its colors and especially the Red Rocks directly behind it.

The Red Rocks along with the desert brush and more traditionally colored hills in the background are a favorite

I really thought the sun reflections and the break up with the texture of the rocks made this an interesting shot.
And then I played with it and added a little grunge.

Las Vegas, Rain, Grandchildren, Hiking

Dean, Lexi, & Ellen on the steps to
Calico Basin in Red Rock. The steps
are an exception and not the rule.

When we lived in the Midwest we loved a good rain and thunderstorm. Unless it was accompanied by tornadoes. The same is true in Las Vegas. The only exception is that our thunderstorms only occur 2 or 3 times a year. That makes them BIG events. Last week we had almost 3 full days of thunderstorms and heavy rain (heavy for Las Vegas). Because Las Vegas sits in the bottom of a bowl all the rain runs downhill to the lowest parts of town and gains some impressive speeds. It doesn't take much rain to create a flood. They say a 6 inch flow of water will move a car - a long ways. Most of us take our storms seriously knowing that there will be flooding, high water and the like.

Mix all that rain with a house full of grandchildren who want to go to the parks and play and it even gets more interesting. Fortunately that all worked out pretty well and there was enough dry time for them to have a great time at the parks.

Thursday was a moderately heavy rain day. We live almost right up against the mountain on the west side of town. Behind the mountain in Red Rock National Conservation Area, a beautiful area of mountains, plains, and enjoyment. Those mountains around Red Rock channel the storms and they tend to get heavier rain then we do.

Friday morning began with a beautiful sunshine and nice cool weather. I figured it was time to take the two big girls, Ellen and Alexis, and their Dad to Calico Basin. It is in Red Rock and about a 2.5 mile hike that takes 2 hours. It's all up and down and requires some bouldering. Both girls are big enough to engage in the bouldering, so we started out. At the gate I used my new $10 over-65 lifetime pass to national parks, recreation areas, and the like - You've got to take advantage of those over 65 deals!

I took the hike to Calico Basin for the first time last February with Tim. So I was familiar with the trail and knew what to expect. The first thing we noticed was that the rain had widened the channel (see photo). Some of the new cuts were 5 feet deep and looked like a knife had slide the soil away. There were also quite a few uprooted trees. Last time we walked up the wash and used that as our primary trail for about 30%f the hike. This time there was water in the wash so that meant we were climbing from the very beginning.

It was beautiful. The rain had cleared the sky. It was bright, the colors were magnificent, and the hike was refreshing! It was refreshing in February too, but a tad bit cooler that day. The girls kept up with a minimum of complaint and sometimes we had to ask them to wait for us! Well, me, not Dean, their Dad. There were spots where we crossed the wash and got our shoes a little muddy and our socks a little wet, but we lived through those experiences. They are part of the fun.

Ellen, Alexis, and Grandpa enjoying the beauty!

You can see the rugged beauty of Red Rock area, and the clouds that were
beginning to move in.

We even found hail left over from the storm. It wasn't a lot, but it was fun to find
in Southern Nevada.

We got to the top and looked at Calico Basin and saw about 3 feet of water in the bowl. I stuck with the girls while Dean went around to the other side to see the valley. Normally we go through the bowl to get the view of the valley. While all of this was going on we also recognized that the clouds were moving in and they were very dark. We decided it was time to scoot out of there as fast as we could, which isn't very fast when you are trying to be safe. Nonetheless we beat the storm. It just started to rain as we left, we got a little light hail, and later as we were driving on the main highway looking back we could see the rain coming down pretty good. We felt for all those folks who were out on the trail. We had a great time!

The Bake gang about half way through the hike!

Grandpa, Lexi, & Ellen celebrating!

3 Generation Photo - Part 2 (Wordless Wednesday)

This is our 2nd photo of three generations of McLean's. Tim should note that
I finally learned how to use my remove! Taken at Mesa Park in Las Vegas, NV
close to our home.

Hiking in Red Rock

A couple of weeks ago Tim was in town for the weekend. We went to Death Valley on Friday and on Monday before he left we got up early and went for a walk in Red Rock. It was Martin Luther King Weekend and we stopped by on Saturday afternoon and that was a bad idea. It felt like half of Las Vegas was present. Tim went on a short hike, but wanted to do more, so on Monday morning we took off. It was a cool and windy morning and we decided to take a moderate trail. I hate to think what a difficult hike would be like. I don't climb quite like I used to, but we took off on the short hike. It was a beautiful hike. For January the weather had been unusually warm.

We started off up the trail, which is a stream when it rains, and the trees were green and there was sand to walk on. As we went up the trail we began to get to the rocks. In some instances there were stairs that were obviously created by moving rocks around. They fit nicely into the environment.

Tim and I, however, sometimes had to find the trail when it wasn't so obvious. We got sidetracked by rock formations, beautiful scenery, and just plain curiosity. We took lots of photos so we didn't make good time, but it wasn't about making good time it was about enjoying the place and each other.

When we finally go to where the trail took us it was a deep bowl that obviously filled with water when there was rain. It wasn't real impressive from a beauty perspective, but from a geological perspective it was pretty. However, Tim and I thought there must be something better to see so we hiked a little bit further and all of a sudden we had a 270 degree ranging from Las Vegas around to all of Red Rock Conservation Area. It was the real frosting on the cake for a great morning.

We found our way back, although we got side tracked a couple of times and then got Tim to an airplane. It was a great morning.

Looking South East towards Calico Basin and Las Vegas
in the distance

I'm just overwhelmed by the beauty of this area. It is just awesome.

Wordless Wednesday

Reflections on a Family Week

This past week we were fortunate to have one of our Idaho families in town, all 7 of them with the grandchildren ranging in age from 5 months to 11 years. And what a fun time we had, from playing kickball in the garage, to exhausting themselves at what they call the dinosaur playground. The meals were noisy, the nights were short (or long depending on how you define a short night). In the end it was all fun. JoAnn and the girls made caterpillars and she can talk about that in her blog. This I do know, that the girls were so proud of themselves. They worked all week to create those caterpillars. Grandma let them pilfer her extensive fabric collection, she taught them how to make a circle pattern, how to hand sew (she has taught this before) the body and the helped them put it all together. Grandma always has a project for the girls.

Swinging is always at the top of the of fun and it's even better when Dad give you a big shove.

Of course, playground equipment is also at the top of the list along with swings, especially when you get to play by yourself.

And a friendly wave is a great "love ya gramps"!

And all too soon the week is over, the grandchildren and parents are off and back to work and school. We miss them, but we had so much fun that we know the memories are good.

Valentine's Day

We have had 42 Valentine's days together and for the very first time we left home to spend time together. We should have done it when we had 7 kids at home, but who could afford it then? After Church yesterday, yes we are good Mormons and made ALL of our meetings yesterday, we headed off for Laughlin, NV, about 85 miles from Las Vegas. We got a room on the 17th floor with a, and I quote, "Panorama Room" which means we had floor to ceiling windows and a view of the parking garage, roofs of other casinos, and the Colorado River.

We went for a walk on the river walk, unlike any other river walk I have ever been on. It goes along the casinos for a little less than a mile. There are water taxis, jet skis, dinner boats, and it's all on the Nevada side of the river. The east side of the river is Arizona and a timezone away.

We did the riverwalk and got all excited about the Dairy Queen sign. You all know I'm a sucker for Dairy Queen. Well, as it turns out, it was just that - a sign. We walked all over the casino it was next to and no Dairy Queen anywhere.

Later in the evening we went across the river to Bullhead City, AZ to have dinner. We had found a restaurant in the yellow pages (and I use that term loosely down here) with the name of Iguana Mexican Cafe. With a name like that the food has got to be great. As we were driving along looking for the place we passed one, but not the one I had inputted into the GPS. It looked like a greasy spoon, but we decided to keep on going. We finally got off the main drag and started down some dark side streets of trailers with pickups and cars parked out front. As the neighborhood deteriorated I finally caved in and said, let's go somewhere else. We had passed a Mexican restaurant on the way and drove back to it. The food was great even if it too was a little older. On the way in the restaurant I'm following JoAnn and the hostess and as I pass a table I see a colleague from 4 doors down (from the 5th floor at Beam Hall). I could hardly believe we had driven to Southern Nevada and there is a friend. JoAnn thought I had just gotten lost (again), but that wasn't the case.

We are off to see the sites today and then home for an early afternoon. Happy post-Valentine's day everyone.

We had Winter Last Week

Last week we had winter and monsoon season all in three days. It wasn't much of a winter for those of us accustom to midwest winters, but then, this being our 3rd winter in Las Vegas, we found it quite refreshing. The last 2 winters we have had a little snow at our house, but so far this year it has restricted itself to the mountains, which we can see from our home. I do love the snow and I love it even more from a viewing distance.

Just to give you a sense of how wintery it was here, and I use the term winter loosely, we had our 3 days of rain and 1.79 inches of official rain. We had another day of rain this week. The amazing thing is that we exceeded in 3 days all of the 2009 rainfall total (1.59 inches). It is an adjustment when you realize that 1.59 inches in a day in Indiana was not uncommon.

On Saturday morning, the first day after our rain I drove out to the Spring Mountains past the Red Rock Conservation area. I love going out at sunrise, especially when there are low clouds coming over the mountain. It almost looks like a waterfall or ocean wave cresting over the top of the mountain. As the sun crests to the east and I'm looking west at the mountains it touches the top lighting the top against the darkness of the rest of the mountain. There is a beauty I find difficult to describe as I watch the sun march down the mountain and bring life and beauty to it.

As the sun raises in the east it marches down the mountain in the west. Mixed with the clouds cresting over the mountains the mix of white, sunrise orange, , and gold of the rocks mixes to give a warm glow for the morning.

It's Winter and Christmas in Las Vegas

We are spending our third winter and 2nd Christmas in Las Vegas. Last year we were off to Des Moines, IA, but were still here for much of the Christmas season. However, this year it appears that I'm beginning to know when it is Christmas season and since I don't believe in Black Friday I have to figure it out other ways. Some of the things I have experienced this year include:

• Our neighbor turned his Christmas lights on the day after Halloween. I really thought that was just a bit tacky, but it is Las Vegas.
• Our other neighbor waited a week to turn his Christmas lights on. Both are just around the roof line of their homes, but still, they are Christmas lights.
• More lights - some terribly gaudy seemed to appear on almost a daily basis.
• Finally I was shamed into Christmas lights for our house (see photo). Forty-two years without outside lights and finally I broke down. Of course we are in Las Vegas so our front bushes are sage, but JoAnn says they look good.
• The radio stations started playing Christmas music 24-7 within a week of Halloween. If that's not the truth it sure feels like it.
• I had to wear a coat 3 days this week. That's a sure sign it is nearing Christmas. I haven't had to do that this early before.
• I woke up to snow on the mountains (and only a mile and 1,500 feet in altitude) and for me that IS a sure sign.
• The weather man talks about how cold it has been all day - 42 degrees. And I'm cold at that temperature. Maybe I'm finally becoming adjusted to the warmer winters.
• Tonight I drove home from Target in a blizzard - A Las Vegas blizzard. When the snow flakes are less than 24 inches apart we are allowed to call it a blizzard.
• Finally, our Christmas tree is up and the cat is eating it, and it's a fake tree.
• Oh, I almost forgot, we had our college Christmas party tonight. Being in the Hotel college I never got spreads like we get here. We have our own kitchens, our own chefs, our own conference center, the chef comes out and asks how it is, and the food was yummy. JoAnn says the shrimp and crab was outstanding. It was yummy as you only find in Las Vegas.

It's good to feel like Christmas - finally.

Fireworks in Utah, Baby in Idaho

Doesn't that sound good and a little bit later this morning we start the grandparent journey northward. First to experience fireworks (real fireworks, not the kind I cause) in Spanish Fork and then on Monday to see that new little girl (see photo in previous blog) in Boise. I know Charlotte is the reason we give to head north, but when we get a chance to visit 9 of our grandchildren in one almost straight line (with just a little curve west) you can't pass it up. What I haven't figured out is how to keep the line moderately straight and add Denver and Des Moines. I will keep working on a plan to achieve that.

And yes, this photo represents how I feel packing the car sometimes, especially when we traveled with 7 children.

Images From Nevada's Past

Welcome to Walking Box Ranch - The Home looking at the front entrance from the north side. The master bedroom is located on the 2nd floor and has the porch.

A few weeks ago on our way to Albuquerque, NM JoAnn and I stopped by an historical site called "Walking Box Ranch." I am helping on a project with the Public Lands Institute at the UNLV to work on a business plan. It is a historic ranch near Searchlight, Nevada built in 1931 and made famous by its owners, Hollywood silent movie legends Clara Bow and Rex Bell. Rex Bell was a cowboy who went to Hollywood and became famous. Today the ranch land has been restored to its natural state with some outstanding Joshua Trees up to 30 feet plus in height.

Back gate at Walking Box Ranch. If you look closely at the center and upper part of the gate you can see the walking box brand which looks like an old movie camera on a tripod. Pretty clever thinking. If you click on the photo it will open a window and show a larger view of this photo, or any other photo in my blogs.

Since we are relatively new to the desert the beauty of the Joshua trees was outstanding. The following description of the original property states, "The ranch is divided into two distinct sections: the 40-acre headquarters parcel, which comprises the historic ranch house and other ancillary facilities; and an undeveloped 120-acre parcel, which contains critical habitat for the federally-listed desert tortoise and more than 300 native species of plants and animals. The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit conservation organization, has conservation easements on both parcels for maintenance of the ecological and cultural integrity of the ranch." We didn't see any desert tortoise, but we saw a couple of might big jack rabbits.

The courtyard. I did not show the pool at the front of the photo. It is not in use. At the other end of the courtyard is the great room - dining area.

As part of the visit we had an opportunity to view the ranch site and especially the house. According to UNLV's public affairs office, "The ranch house is significant for being an uncommon local example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, a sharp contrast to other Southern Nevada ranch houses." It is a beautiful ranch house and has been kept up by different owners. JoAnn and I both enjoy visiting such places and when we can get a back door tour it is even more fun. Most of my photos from the ranch on are my flickr account and I have shared a few here.

The Great Room - Dining Area.

In the not to distant future Walking Box Ranch will be open for public viewing. It will be a lesser viewed site since it is off the beaten path, but when it is open it will be well worth the tour, especially if the house is open. If the house isn't open the desert environment will be a great visit. There will be plenty of interpretation on the site.

The Library. Originally it was the children's play room.

JoAnn and I really enjoyed it.

Out on the property there are a few good shots also. The wagon adds to the beauty of the site. It's hard to realize this was a working ranch with irrigation, hay, and cattle.

Beauty, Flowers, and Our Yard

One of the things I remember growing up in Abilene, Texas in the early 1960s, as a teenager, was when my Grandpa and Grandma Merriam would come to town with their Airstream trailer and park it along side our home on Dyess Air Force Base. We had lived in lots of different places by the time we got to Texas and we were not impressed with Texas. It was the panhandle, it was dry, it was hot and the wind was always blowing. We were accustom to more plush climates like Nebraska, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Guam. Texas, while it had its own charm, was a step down for green and beauty. We got sufficient rain we did not water our lawn. In those days there were almost no irrigation systems and Americans had not yet adopted the notion that every lawn had to be perfect.

When Grandpa would come to town he would walk out behind our home. We lived on the edge of the military housing area with an open field behind us that went on for a couple of miles. He would find beautiful small plants, collect them, arrange them, and then take photos. I was always intrigued by his photos and the effort he took to find beauty in what appeared to be a drab place. I learned from that.

Fortunately, we don't have to go far to find beauty in plants and flowers. We have added much of it to our yard with plants that flower on and off 12 months out of the year. We do miss our green grass, but we don't miss cutting it. Also, the cost of maintaining a lawn in Las Vegas is prohibitive. Some folks I have talked to suggest it costs more to keep a lawn than a swimming pool. I'm not going to try either.

The plants in our backyard along the wall are new. This does not depict our major plant area, but the butterfly bushes and center plant replaced African species with big spines that had no beauty. The plant in front is a Hesperaloe Parviflora and the flower spikes are over 6 feet tall.

Grandpa Merriam taught me to look at the small things as well as the big picture. I have previously posted on flickr some of our backyard plants. Yesterday and today I took some additional closeups and a couple of broader photos of plants in our back and front yards. I didn't pick these, since we have the opportunity to view them so many months out of the year.

Enjoy.

This closeup of the butterfly bush with a light background is really striking. We had butterfly bushes in Bloomington, Indiana, but never as big or as vibrant as these. We have no butterflies, but we have bees (big ones) and a steady stream of humming birds.

This plant is from a sage that grows fast, when you water it, and requires us to cut it back regularly. I love the mix of flower and plant center. It is a large plant in our yard, over 3 feet tall and equally wide.

This is from a sage that blooms every 3 to 4 weeks all summer and into the fall. The flowers are so delicate. You think that it is done blooming and then all of a sudden it is back again. And it does this over and over. It is like a new spring every few weeks. We really look forward to it.