Celebrating my first published poem at the Old Town Book Fair in Fort Collins

A Poetic Inventory of Rocky Mountain National Park was released this week! For those of you who are new to my blog and may have not read my previous post about the project, this is an anthology of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry that celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of the national park and the writers who love it. Each piece in the book is named after a different species found in the park. This project was launched in conjunction with the Bioblitz Festival that took place in August 2012 at Rocky Mountain National Park. Jim and I attended this festival and took part in the species inventory count of invasive plants. The poem that I wrote for this collection was about the invasive plant we found the most of that day- Wooly Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Invasive plant species are often spread or introduced into unoccupied areas by vehicles, humans, and animals along travel routes. We found most of the Wooly Mullein plants along the roadside.  I used this bit of information as inspiration for my poem. I liked the idea of comparing the seed of the plant to a hitchhiker, hence the name of my poem The Silent Hitchhiker. 

Wooly Mullein- The Silent Hitchhiker

I had pre-ordered my copy of the book at the first fundraising event for the project back in March so when I received the email from the editor that the book was ready for pick up I could not wait to get my copy! I had the option of having it mailed to me, but I decided I would rather pick up my copy at the Wolverine Farm Bookstore in Fort Collins. I wanted to see the shop and I liked the idea of picking it up in person from the place it was published. It worked out great too because this weekend happened to be the 2nd Annual Old Town Book Fair in Fort Collins. I saw that there would be book sales, a giant Scrabble game, and beer- I was sold! :)

It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day for a book fair! As soon as we arrived I admired the charm of the Old Town Square: large concrete planters with colorful flowers, cobblestone streets, artistic fountains and sculptures, pubs, and a variety of specialty shops. I noticed strings of white globe lights in the alleys around the stores and restaurants which I bet makes it look magical at night. There were a few tents lined up- some with beer and some with books for sale. We spotted the Wolverine Farm stand and took a quick peek inside. I already knew I would be buying an Old Town Book Fair t-shirt once I saw they had them and that the logo design included a hot air balloon. We got directions to the bookstore so that I could go pick up my pre-ordered copy of the anthology. 

So pretty!

The bookstore was just around the corner from the fair. We entered and immediately breathed in the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The bookstore is located inside of a coffee shop. It is a cozy shop with very friendly and passionate staff members. All of the money generated from book sales goes directly to funding Wolverine Farm publications and toward literary outreach programs, which I think is great. I made my way to the counter and spied the copies of the Poetic Inventory. I leafed through it and the first thing I saw was that it was dedicated to all the creatures in the park. This made me happy inside.  Then I found my poem. Seeing it in print was another happy moment for me.  With my book in hand, and a big smile on my face I was ready to play that giant Scrabble game at the fair!

The bookstore entrance

Love the cover art!

My first published poem

I am so proud to be a part of this anthology which celebrates the beauty of one of my favorite places to hike and which includes work from so many talented authors and poets!

I am a word nerd! I love reading, word puzzles, and games- especially Scrabble. I have been playing since I was a kid. My aunt Kathy is a pro who taught me q letter words without a u such as "qat" and "qis." I have been playing online for years now with my longtime family friend Gary who is also a word genius. In the beginning he beat me pretty much every time, but now with the wisdom I have gained from his game, I actually win every now and then! :) When I saw that giant Scrabble board I immediately thought of my aunt and my friend. They would have loved it and I knew I had to make them proud! 

Game on!

The giant board was made out of cloth and painted exactly like the official one except that the colored tiles did not have printed on them "double letter score" or "triple word score" like they are on the regular game board tiles. There was a key on the side explaining what each color tile represented though. However, I did not need this key! I know those colors well. The game tiles were large wooden squares with the letters and point values written on them just like the original game. However, another player and I  did notice that the letter "K" was given the value of only 1 point and it is normally worth 5 points. I could see I was playing with at least one other Scrabble nerd! There were 4 teams. Jim and I formed team Jumble. Jim picked the name and I knew he picked that name because every Sunday morning we do the word jumble puzzle in the Sunday Denver Post. (I told you I was a word nerd)! My opponents were teams Something, Team Rage, and Team Whatever. Both kids and adults played and we had a great time.  My crowning moments included a double word score on the word "quilts" and playing the word "arm" on a triple word score while making the words "ha" and "joker" in the process. I ended up coming in second place. It was a pretty close game and I think I played well so my aunt Kathy and friend Gary would have been proud. Most importantly I had a great time!

This was a great play! I get some oohs and ahhs from the audience :)

Word Nerd Heaven!

Final Scores

We bumped into Charlie, the editor of the Poetic Inventory a couple of times at the fair. I told him we were having a great time and that I picked up my pre-ordered copy of the anthology. He informed me that as a contributor I was entitled to a free copy of the book as well. Awesome! I proceeded back to the Wolverine Farm stand first to buy my book fair t-shirt and also to look for the event poster. I loved the whimsical hot air balloon design. I was told the posters were available at the bookstore. Back to the bookstore I went! I got my second copy of the anthology. After some searching, the sweet girl behind the counter was unable to find any of the event posters in the back to sell to me so she took one of the wall and gave it to me. I think she knew I loved it so much. I told her I was super grateful and was planning to frame it.

My new favorite T-shirt :)

I framed the poster and it is hanging proudly on the wall next to my bookshelf. Thank you so much to the kind bookseller for giving this to me!

We were making a final stroll through the town square and stopped to listen to Charlie read his poem from the anthology aloud on the main stage. He spotted me in the audience clapping so when he was done he asked if I would want to read my poem. I said sure! At the last fundraising event I did not read and I told myself that if the opportunity presented itself for me to do it I would not be a chicken. The microphone was adjusted for me and I read the "Silent Hitchhiker" to the small audience that was listening. It is a short poem and I know I read it fast because I was a little nervous, but I did it and it was a great feeling! :)

Charlie Malone, the editor of A Poetic Inventory of Rocky Mountain National Park, reading his poem about Ermine

My first reading :)

Jim and I made a final stop at the Blind Pig, a great little pub in Fort Collins. Jim had beer and I had a Sangria Fizz- Prosecco, St. Germain, and fruit. It was delicious and refreshing after a day in the sun! We shared a plate of queso fries and made a toast to my first published poem and first reading- a proud moment indeed. :)

Sangria Fizz- yum!

Wolverine Farm Publishing is a wonderful non-profit organization with great values like promoting literary culture and educating people to save the environment. I am so happy to be a part of the Poetic Inventory of Rocky Mountain National Park. I have met lots of wonderful people and have really enjoyed attending all the events associated with this publication. I will participate in as many of them as I can in the future!

Literature with teeth

If you would like to learn more about Wolverine Farm Publishing Company or would like to order a copy of A Poetic Inventory of Rocky Mountain National Park check out their website: http://www.wolverinefarm.org/

Ghost Ranch Hike: Chimney Rock Trail

Jim and I spent last weekend in Santa Fe. Some of you that have been following my blog may remember that this little road trip was planned shortly after we went to the Denver Art Museum in April to see the traveling Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit. I wanted to see the beautiful New Mexican landscapes she painted with my own eyes. Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu is about an hour north of Santa Fe. This is where Georgia O'Keeffe spent many summers painting and it where we went to hike last weekend.

The drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu was gorgeous. I knew we were in for something special as we headed deeper into the red rock canyon and approached the towering wooden Ghost Ranch sign. We stopped to take a few pictures at the entrance and then headed down the dirt road toward the welcome center. We went inside to check in and find out where the trailhead was located. There are three hiking trails at Ghost Ranch: Chimney Rock, Box Canyon, and Kitchen Mesa. I had done some research prior to the trip and really wanted to do the Chimney Rock Trail, which happens to be the most popular one. The trail climbs from 6,500 to 7,100 feet and is about 3 miles round trip.

Beautiful drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu!

Entering Ghost Ranch

Before heading on the trail we stopped at our car to change into our hiking shoes, put on our hats and sunglasses, grab our water, and cover ourselves in sunscreen. The temperature was well in the 90s and there is no shade in the desert so hydration and sun protection are key. We were ready to begin!

Chimney Rock

When we got to the Chimney Rock trail there was a box that contained trail guides for hikers and in return, a sign asked for those who took one to make a small donation. Jim emptied his pockets of all the change he had and made a deposit and we got our guide. It was a handy reference as it advised us to look out for numbered stakes on the trail for the best views and it had resourceful information corresponding to each stake number. It was like having a personal guide. Jim carried this booklet and it was clear he would be the official trail guide on this journey. I would look out for the stake numbers and he would read to me from the guide. Of course, Jim had to insert his humor on the tour naming each stake number after a different kind of meaty steak. He would say something like "ahhh, steak #7- a fine 6 month aged porterhouse." He got a chuckle out of me every time. We learned a lot about the geology of the area and the plant life from the guide.

Anthill made by harvester ants. Plants are absent from the hill- the ants comb the surface and eat, remove or destroy any seeds or seedlings they find.

Cholla Cactus- the stems are folded like an accordion.

Rounded sandstone cliffs of the Entrada Formation- fossil sand dunes from the Middle Jurassic Period

Straight over the stake are capped pinnacles called hoodoos. They consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements.

Here the printed trail guide told us that the small cliff above is the Todilto Formation. Here the Todilto is dark, thinly bedded limestone rich in organic matter that has only been partially decayed. We were instructed to pick up a piece, break it open, and smell the aroma. It was very faint, but it smelled like sulfur to us.

We saw many ancient Juniper trees- the oldest of these trees have survived several centuries growing in an environment of high winds, extreme temps, and aridity. I had to stop to hug one! :)

Pedernal by Georgia O'Keeffe

As we made our way toward Chimney Rock, which we could see in the distance, we also had a great view of the Pedernal behind us, a very distinctive mesa that was the subject of many of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. She  once said "It's my private mountain, It belongs to me. God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it." After her death in March, 1986, her assistant, Juan Hamilton, carried her ashes to the summit and cast them to the wind. So a promise was kept. 

Cerro Pedernal, Georgia O'Keeffe's mountain

Cerro Pedernal is behind me

I can see why Georgia O'Keeffe was so inspired to paint these landscapes. The colors were beautiful. The deep red clay, the, gray, purple, pastel green and salmon colored silts, and the pretty blue sky make up the perfect palette for any artist inspired by nature. I admire those who can paint and draw- I can barely draw a stick figure! I did participate in a form of art on this trail though. Someone had started a small cairn (man-made pile of stones) with 2 rocks. These are usually intended to mark a path, a territory, or a specific site. I think this one was constructed to mark the site of a live Pinon tree, the state tree of New Mexico, because many of the pinons in the area have died due to the Bark Beetle. I added 2 more smaller stones to the top of the cairn. Stacked or balanced, cairns offer moments for reflection. They are meant to last. I hope this one stays there for years to come and that others will add on to it!

Love the colors-gray, purple, pastel green and salmon colored silts

To the left of the boulder you can see the Pinon tree. In front of the boulder you can see the cairn that someone made out of two rocks. I added 2 more to the top after this photo!

Trail art! :)

This was a very peaceful hike. It was quiet on the trail with the exception of the occasional neigh from the horses back at the ranch or the chirping of birds around us. We saw some hawks flying overhead and we paused to watch them soar. We only encountered a couple of other hikers at the very end of the trail. We had the pleasure of meeting a man named John at the top. He was by himself so he asked in his perfect British accent if we would take his picture. Jim said of course. Then he reached into his bag and grabbed a stuffed red lobster toy to pose with for the photo. I asked him for the story behind the lobster because of course I had to know. He found it in his girlfriend's mum's basement and when he or his girlfriend are traveling alone they bring the lobster and take pictures with it. He said it was much like the traveling gnome in the movie Amelie- which is one of my favorite movies of all time so I loved this idea. He said his lobster was international as he has traveled far and wide. He let me take a photo of the lobster and he took the same picture right after me because he said- "oh he does look rather cute posed like that." I really liked meeting John and his international lobster.

Hawk we watched soar above us

The international lobster! :)

The views at the end of the hike were breathtaking. In the distance you could see the Abiquiu Reservoir, Cerro Pedernal, Polvadora Peak (a dormant volcano in the North Jemez Mountains), the Chama River, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and of course the Chimney Rock. We took a bunch of photographs with my camera and with our phones. In fact my phone has a little crack on the screen because when I handed it over to Jim to take a picture of me to send to my parents I let it go too soon. Jim didn't catch it in time and it hit a rock. The phone still worked so I didn't mind. Jim felt really bad about it and kept apologizing. I told him no worries. I think my phone has more character now and when I see the little crack it will remind me of this hike. Always stay positive! :)

A cool breeze came through as we sat up there. It felt great after hiking in the extreme heat. The wind really picked up at one point and it was a very spiritual feeling that both Jim and I felt- almost like the wind was a gift from mother nature to us for making the trek to see this special place. We enjoyed a snack, the cooling wind, and took in the stunning views. A large black bird was flying overhead and I could not tell if it was a raven or a crow. I lost sight of it and then it flew up from the large canyon below us and right over our heads. It was really a sight to see! Another couple was sitting on the rocks on the opposite side of us and I knew they saw the bird too so I asked if they knew what kind it was. The guy responded "a crow" in a real snarky kind of way. I looked at Jim and muttered "gee thanks" under my breath. We mocked his nasty way of saying " a crow" on the hike back to the car and I think it will forever be a funny joke to us. Anytime I see something and say "do you know what that is- I know Jim will reply "a crow" in that same tone. Not every person you meet on the trails is going to be friendly but you can still make the best out of an unfriendly interaction. :)

The "crow" flew up from this canyon. It was awesome! However, based on the size of the bird I am pretty sure after doing some research that what we actually saw was a raven.

On our way back down we saw my cairn was still there which made me happy. It would be neat to come back here in a few years and see it was still there. This was such a beautiful and special hike. I love that we saw art in a museum in Denver and then drove 7 hours to the very place the art was created and saw the land that inspired the paintings. It all came full circle when we took in those breathtaking views. It was quite the journey that I would love to take again in the future!

A tribute to the house I called home

28 years ago my dad and my grandpa built the log home I grew up in. I was barely 4 years old but I still remember watching my dad lay the stones in the living room that would line our walls behind the fireplace. I remember the cabinets and drawers being installed in the upstairs bathroom. This house would be my home for the next 20 years.

 

 

 I knew when I started school that my house was special because when my friends would come over they all thought it was so cool that I lived in a log cabin. I never saw it as an exotic home before that. It was just my house. It was a big house with a big backyard and a pond. My grandparents lived in the happy yellow house next door and my best friends were my neighbors. It was the perfect place to grow up.

We enjoyed our backyard year round. In the fall we raked leaves in large piles so we could jump in them. In the winter we built snowmen and snow forts to play in. In the spring we helped plant vegetables in the garden and watched the baby geese grow up. In the summer we swam in our pool,  caught frogs and turtles in the pond, and we even camped out in our tent at night. We always had fun. If I close my eyes and picture my backyard I see the red picnic table next to the big oak tree, my dad mowing the lawn on his tractor, my mom hanging our towels to dry on the clothesline, and my sisters and I with nets running around the pond. It makes me happy to remember it this way.

We hosted many family gatherings and parties at our house and everyone always ended up in our kitchen. It was cozy- red and white checkered designs and a beautiful bay window overlooking the pond that my mom would decorate with garland and lights year round. Growing up we ate dinner as a family every night around our small kitchen table. It was important to my parents that we all sat down together for at least one meal.  I think it helped shape who we are today as we all have a passion for food and a strong sense of family values. I appreciate this now more than ever.

Our finished basement was another entertaining place to hang out. We had a projector and 2 huge surround sound speakers so we could watch movies on our giant wall. This was a big hit with our friends. I remember when Apollo 13 came out on DVD my dad watched it numerous times and I swear it sounded like the shuttle was taking off from our basement! The whole house shook! My sisters and I often spent the night in the basement sleeping together on our pull out sofa watching movies all night and eating popcorn or whatever snacks my mom would make for us. It was the best!

Our bedrooms changed over the years. I shared a room with my big sister until we got to the age where it was no longer cool to share a room. She moved into the bedroom my dad added in the basement and stayed there until the year she moved to Colorado. She was the first to move out of the house. I remember waving goodbye to her in the driveway as she drove away in her Jeep until I couldn't see her anymore. I ran down the 13 stairs to her bedroom where we hung out together often, and cried my eyes out. I have never been good at saying goodbye. A few years later my grandpa passed away which was one of the hardest losses I have experienced in my life. My amazing grandma moved into our home shortly after that.  I gave her my room upstairs and took my sister's room in the basement. I love that I got to live with my grandma for almost a year in our house. I was the next one to leave.  I moved to Florida to finish school and to live with Jim (my boyfriend then, my husband now). It was my turn to be the one pulling away from the driveway, but I was still balling my eyes out. It was my first time living on my own and away from my family, my house, and everything familiar to me.

I came back as often as I could to visit. I loved coming down Grove Avenue and pulling into our familiar driveway every time. There were always happy faces to greet me. In 2008 Jim and I got married and even though we lived in Florida we decided to have our wedding in Illinois so everyone in our families could attend. I had my wedding photos taken in our backyard. People asked me when I came back where my beautiful pictures were taken and I was proud to tell them it was my home. 

More moves took place in 2012. Jim and I made another cross country move from Florida to Colorado- one that I am very happy we made! My little sister moved out of the house into her own beautiful home about 25 minutes away from my mom and dad. I was not there to witness her moving day but I know it was an emotional one for both her and my parents. It was just my mom, dad, and grandma left. Not too long after my little sister moved out my grandma became real sick. It was a battle she would not win. She passed away in November 2012. It was another huge blow to our family.  

My parents made the decision that it was time to move on. Their ultimate goal has always been to make it out west. After years of helping my sisters and I follow our dreams, it is time for them to focus on their own. It was not easy but they put our house up for sale at the beginning of the year. It is no surprise to me that it took less than 6 months to sell. They have maintained the house beautifully. Today it was my parents turn to say goodbye. 

I wish I could have made one last trip back, but maybe it is for the best. I will always remember the house the way it was when my family lived there. I loved everything about our log cabin, but it was the people in it that made it home. I love you Dad, Mom, Alyssa, and Kristina! Fare you well 1118 N. Grove Ave. You will always have a special place in my heart.