Love this!

One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’

The old Cherokee replied simply, “The one you feed.”

Addy took Opal for show and tell.

Ice Bucket Challenge

Jill Williams challenged me.  I did it in honor of Janet's son Wade.  I challenged Mike Wood and Ken Rand. 

Crinoid Skeletal Debris

We explored a beautiful encrinite (a rock dominated by crinoid skeletal debris) exposed near Mount Carmel Junction about a 15 minute drive from our house.  The little star shaped fossils are extremely tiny but really cool.  The star shapes make up the stems of a sea plant.  I have determined that Addyson and I need a microscope to properly inspect our new finds!

Technical Info below:
The Middle Jurassic Carmel Formation, named after Mount Carmel, is well exposed in this area. Crinoid fossils are abundant in this unit, forming an encrinite in places. Crinoids have pentameral symmetry and here the stalks have broken down into tiny, individual star-shaped fossils (columnals). The crinoid is Isocrinus nicoleti, the first cosmopolitan crinoid reported from North American Jurassic strata (Tang et al. , 2007).

Isocrinus nicoleti is one of only three crinoid species known in the Jurassic of North America. (The others are I. wyomingensis and Seirocrinus subangularis.) Tang et al. (2000) showed that this species migrated into southwestern North America by moving southward through a very narrow seaway for thousands of kilometers. I. nicoleti had long stems and relatively small crowns, so it left us zillions of the columnals and very few calices. These washed into large subtidal dunes creating the cross-bedded encrinite.

Addy's first day of FIRST GRADE!

Awesome Slot Canyon Hike

My friend Rachel knows all the secret hikes around Kanab and Kane County.  She took a couple of us on a slot canyon canyoneering type hike this morning. The weather was perfect not too hot not too cold. 

These are my favorite obstacles.

Rachel our fearless leader went first.

Then me.

going...

still going

Luckily Rachel grabbed my hand

one last hoist

I think I got it...

Thank You Jesus!

Rachel helping another friend

Just happy I made it through

Really Fun!

Addy

More Florida photos

Mary and Brian Nagle Cruise to Europe

Mary and Brian's excellent, 26 day adventure began in Ft. Lauderdale aboard the Ruby Princess.  

Yes, we cruised on the "Love Boat" and it was great! We enjoyed stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Portugal

Bilbao, Spain and Paris before landing in Southhampton, England and the second leg of our British Isles 

Adventure.

The Guggenheim was amazing!! Was desperate to see Frank Gehry's titanium creation in Bilbao

filled with modern art with some pieces (The Spider, Eye, Puppy and the Tulips) on display outside.  

Well worth the price of the ticket.  

Lisbon was a nice surprise - sunny, pleasant and beautiful city gardens, tree-lined boulevards, the famous

black and white tiles.

Rain in Paris but we didn't care because we were in PARIS!!! A leisurely lunch, cruising down the Seine River 

on a Parisian Bateau with music and wine.  A stroll down the Champs Elysee (did I mention we took a fall???) 

maybe a little too much wine. Ha.  Not to worry, several bystanders rushed to help us up and it makes a great

story. 

Ireland was the goal, especially Cork, as our maternal grandparents were natives.  Saddened by the Starving

Statues along the river that symbolized the Potato Famine when a third of the population (one million people)

starved to death.  Very sad.  Blarney Castle was impressive but we passed on kissing the Stone.

In Dublin we enjoyed a pub crawl and walking city tour that included Trinity College.  Lots of people out and

about apparently due to the high unemployment. Heard quotes of both 14% and 25% unemployment.  

Again sad. Nice people.  Pretty countryside.  Lives full of unending challenges. 

On to Scotland and Inverrary Castle and Gardens.  Beautiful.  Sadly, the Lord of the Castle was away the day

we visited as he usually greets visitors.  Stopped at a little village on Loch Lomond on the way.  Charming.

Inverrary Castle and the Piper were featured on Downton Abbey series.  Lerner and Lowe stayed at Inverrary

Castle while creating the music for "My Fair Lady" and there is a picture of Audrey Hepburn on the piano

they used. 

Cawdor Castle was lovely, charming and inhabited.  I could happily live there.  No photos allowed in any of

the Castles due to damage from flashes so I mainly took pics out the windows. 

If you are a Campbell or one of the few original clans, I suggest you visit.  Those with Scottish names were

treated "royally".  By the way, watch for possible Scottish "break" from England by vote this September. 

Searched for the Loch Ness Monster on our trip to Urquhat Castle, a ruins on the banks of Loch Ness.

No sitings.  Interesting stop with video and a breath-taking reveal of the ruins and Loch at the end of the talk.

Stopped at Orkney, an island on the north shore of Scotland where German subs hid during the war and

were purposely scuttled when they had to surrender. No trees grow there because of the constant winds.

By the time we arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, I had succumbed to a respiratory virus that took hold of the

ship and we were quarantined the last 4 days.  Had to pass on a much anticipated excursion to Honfleur, France

a quaint fishing village and artist magnet.  This would be our last stop but by that time I was just interested

in being well enough to board the plane home.  

Happy to report that by the time we boarded our Virgin Atlantic flight I was well enough to enjoy

the 10 hour flight home.  

We are now looking forward to our next Transatlantic cruise.  This time the Mediterranean :)

 Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain

Lisbon 

Bermuda - Horsehoe Bay

i

Cawdor Castle Garden

Urquhat Castle on Loch Ness

Urquhat Castle 

Cawdor Castle

 Scottish Piper at Inverrary

Inverrary Castle

 Gardens of Inverrary Castle

Blarney Castle 2014

Louvre

Paris