We just returned from our yearly pilgrimage to Death Valley. It’s one of the places that just feel like home, and it isn’t springtime until we’ve found ourselves hiking up washes, looking for wildflowers. Bloom wasn’t too big while we were there, but I love the Park in all of its moods. We had days of wind, rain, and then glorious sunshine, and being rewarded with finding the treasure of sometimes almost microscopic flowers was always worth hours of hiking.
These photos were taken with my fish eye lens on my glorious Canon Rebel, and they have not yet been edited.
I recently returned from Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. It was a natural foods explosion! I have a bit of agoraphobia, so dealing with the crush of 50,000 people in one venue was a bit nerve wracking, to say the least.
That being said, I found many things to amuse me, despite what may have otherwise been crushing anxiety. Take this image for example -- we arrived at Expo early, so many of the vendors were still setting up their displays. The fact that they were behind glass bubbles made it feel like we were looking at a zoo exhibit -- don't feed the animals!
That amusement continued with cheesy experiences like hearing folk singers warble about the awesomeness of Larabars. Being sung to about a food product under a yellow sky and palm trees was surreal. Add to that the fact that I had to make myself very small to take this picture, and you begin to understand my experiences in SoCal.
Luckily, I spent most of my time in seminars, where evidently, the light was very green. I was a student for a long, long time, so it was close to my natural element. I learned fantastic, new things about QR codes, new trends in social networking, and how the Non-GMO Project is gaining momentum.
If only the crowds had stayed like this...
Plus, I got to look down at the participators below me, feeling safe and above it all (not really). The true crush of humanity was on the Floor, where vendors were hawking their wares. This was my first Expo, but I was told by my Charles (who was also there as the Patch's grocery manager extraordinaire) that the free samples were not like they used to be. Sadly, another indication of the current economy. Of the samples I got to experience, my favorite was a tie between a honey candy and Tanka Dogs -- omfg, if we had these in the store, I'd want hot dogs every day of the week. They were THAT GOOD. Mmmm... Tanka Dogs.All in all, it was a good experience. I'm definitely not in love with Anaheim. I found the home of Disneyland to be dirty and depressing, full of desperate homeless people and outrageous prices for bad food. It was good to see people who really believed in what they were doing. I learned a lot in a handful of days, and while many people were there with green washed products, others were there with the real deal, trying to make a difference.
This is a pretty hefty list, so even coming out of the gate, my Charles and I are quite aware that we may not get it all done, but here goes:
1. replace dry-rotten siding
The most important project of the year.
2. paint outside of house
I think I've finally decided to do gray with blue trim.
3. build a clothesline
I have the plans. I just need to do it.
4. build a firewood holder
We got more than we needed for this winter, so we'll
need to create something to store it for next winter.
5. purchase a storage shed
We don't have a garage or basement, so this is very
important.
6. purchase a carport
Our cars take a beating in this weather.
7. build a fence around 1/4 of our property
Bodie needs more runnin' room.
8. install baseboards in my office
Can you believe I haven't done this yet?
9. build the built-in shelves in my office
How I'll finally finish my office space.
10. paint bathroom
The previous owners painted it matte without any mildew
resistant additives.
11. repaint trim throughout the house
Again, the previous owners painted it matte.
12. repaint living space
We haven't actually changed any of the paint in the
house since we bought it.
13. purchase a new, Energy Star refrigerator
This is a must -- both for efficiency and for storage space.
14. replace the deck
This may not happen this year, but it needs to happen
soon.
15. build a pergola over the front door for shade
I just couldn't get into the sunshade look, and a pergola
will fit the style of the house as well as giving some
architectural interest to our box of a home.
16. purchase a new water heater
It's original to our '77 home.
and for my Charles' dad's house:
17. finish removing the rest of 35+ years of accumulation
18. gut & replace both bathrooms
Since we live 3+ hours away, we'll hire out for this.
19. replace carpet throughout house
Same as #18.
20. paint inside of house, including kitchen cupboards
So there's the list. Wish us luck. If nothing else, it promises lots of posts and a very busy year.
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