And Speaking of Rocks...
I mentioned in the last post that we had collected rocks from here, there and everywhere, many of them finding an unusual home in the low desert. What a surprise if, four hundred years from now, a passing geologist should happen to notice one of our rocks and quickly ascertain that it originated far from Borrego Springs. He would never be able to uncover the whole truth about how it came to be in this vicinity!
Rocks do tell stories. Archaeologists can trace movements of early people by many methods...one of them being rock arrowheads and tools. Rock amulets have been found far from the source of origin, again, telling a story of trade between early people. Rock paintings tell the story in a different way. Our rocks, too, have many tales to spin...
Rose quartz chunks from South Dakota were taken from a defunct mine. Bright white quartzite was given to us from the manager of a quartzite mine near here. Lava rocks from Long Valley outline a garden bed. A small circle of white rocks of descending sizes represents a full day of collecting in the warm waters of Lake Mohave and stands out starkley against our granitic soil. Dark green rocks came from beaches near San Simeon, as did a group of banded gray rocks containing letters which spelled out our name. ( THOSE took a long time to collect! ) We have obsidian from Nevada and the Salton Sea. We have "lucky rocks". We have rocks from outer space. We have rocks from almost every state plus Canada and Mexico. Not what you would call a collection. What you would call a recollection. How we love them all!
Desert Gardening
Desert gardening...what a pastime. Natives anxious to attack with thorns, stickers or burrs - earth always thirsty - critters always a step ahead of you - dainty moths turn into hungry caterpillars - coyote eats up part of the irrigation system - birds sample one fruit at a time - gopher pops up unexpected . Yet the first carrot, pea or tender piece of lettuce, the first lime or lemon of the season, the first cactus bloom , the first bright green mesquite sprig, the first bud on a plant...all give such a feeling of delight and satisfaction. Not to be traded for anything else! (JGP)
Super Addiction
When I started the blog, I thought a few words now and then would suffice...WRONG!
A strange pattern is emerging. Seems that guilt has stepped up to bat. Now, if I don't post every few days I FEEL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MY FIX! I wonder if other bloggers have noticed this same phenomenom.
The Borrego Dragon Fable
IN THE EARLY DAYS, coyote walked many paths. One day, as he was pursuing his travels, he came to a very wide valley. Others warned him as he approached the valley, " You must not enter this place...NO ONE who has entered has ever returned. It is a bad place, guarded by a giant dragon, who kills all who try to pass through. To continue your journey safely, we strongly advise you to go the long way...around this evil place." Well, coyote listened, for he was very smart and often heeded good advice. However, coyote was also lazy and was often prone to use shortcuts. He figured the valley would save him a lot of time on this particular journey. He looked carefully and saw nothing much to alarm him. He decided to enter and pass through the valley. At first, he noticed nothing amiss. However, as he traveled deeper into that still, quiet place, he thought to himself, "This IS an unusual valley, for sure...I see no movement of any type and I am getting to feel a bit strange about this place." He did notice, however, some tall straight trees which had lost all their leaves and made the place look barren, indeed. OH,NO...he also noticed, under the trees, piles of old BONES... and the more he looked, the more bones he saw. He said, " I sure see a lot of bones, but I don't see any dragon...I'll bet he no longer lives here." And, with that, he heard a thunderous voice which echoed over the valley..." HAH, COYOTE! You should have listened to the advice...You are in my mouth, which IS the entrance to the valley!" Oh,oh, caught in a trap. But coyote is smart and moves quickly...as he heard Dragon's first words, he raced to one of the dead trees and, with a mighty yank, pulled it from the earth. He wedged the tree between the Dragon's jaws and as he did this, many animals of all kinds came running forth...pumas, bears, mountain sheep and more...even the smallest animals, gnats, flies, tics, bees and more...lizards, snakes, toads, salamanders and more...all ran from the Dragon's depths to freedom. Coyote watched as Dragon's jaws closed upon the sharp tree stake. He soon died and from that time to this, many of those same animals live here, in this place...and from time to time, many of the old bones and pieces of the dead trees are found here, in this very valley!
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