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Juanita Rides The Sky

As part of the memorial to Gary’s mom I painted an old carousel horse in her honor with symbols from her Cherokee heritage.

Meet” Juanita Rides The Sky”

Gary’s mother Juanita , born in 1925, was raised with her 100% Cherokee Grandmother living with the family. Grandma Root shared a bed with her and told stories to little Juanita of nature, lore, and her own past on the Trail of Tears. Juanita listened to Grandma Root’s stories every night. She believed that everything in creation contained the Creator’s spirit and must be cherished and respected. Juanita and her mother, Dolly, were artists. Juanita often painting Kachinas and other southwestern art, giving it away to all her friends or leaving her art as part of a wall or house they moved away from. The symbols on the horse represent things about her and things we shared.

The base color is turquoise. Juanita worked in a fine jewelry store and sold Turquoise and silver jewelry. She had great knowledge of the gemstone and enjoyed meeting all of the artists symbolized by the jewel on the horse’s right thigh. Some of our outings were to Silversmiths and she would identify the artist, the origin of the turquoise and the value. Blue was her favorite color and above the hooves is darker ombre.

The lightening bolt is a symbol that the warriors would paint on their horses legs to give their horses speed.Once when she was staying in a cabin in Sedona, she decided to ride her scooter back to her place. Her scooter has two settings; rabbit and turtle. She turned it on rabbit and rode off so fast in the wrong direction with Gary and I running after her. She LOVED to go fast. She loved adventure. The Lightening bolt signifies both.

One of Juanita’s favorite pastime was to find shapes in the clouds represented on the horse by the various cloud symbols. I remember riding in the back seat of a car with her on the way to Tombstone. After identifying many animals/people/shapes in the clouds, she leaned over to me and said “Honey, I think that cloud looks like a…” and proceeded to show me her middle finger. We laughed until tears rolled down our cheeks.

G’s red right hand print on the rear is the symbol of safe journey and the spiral in the middle means home. Safe journey home Juanita.You are safe now lovely woman.

There is a sun symbol that represents the Cherokee Sun Myth which the the when sun shines on the faces of the Cherokee people they smile. The symbol below it in black is also a type sun symbol but signified the four directions of the earth

There’s even a blanket to keep her warm. The feathers are representative of her love of birds and animals. She could sit for hours identifying birds for me. From the time she was a little girl she made pets of wild animals wherever she lived. One time it was a skunk family with a mommy, daddy and 8 babies who followed her everywhere (much to G’s dismay as it was at his Lodge).

The back of the saddle has her name written phonetically in Cherokee alphabet. Many people don’t know that the Cherokee had a written language and published newspapers. Grandma Root’s childhood home was a two story house on a river which they were taken from to be relocated to the reservation. (Actually more than once as they ran away from the reservation back home again.) The first symbol that kind of looks like an I = Wa sound. The lower case fancy h=Ni (long I sound) Fancy W=Ta. There is no long E sound in the Cherokee language so it is wanIta. Note to the English Language: Isn’t it odd that the word phonetically is not spelled phonetically. Shouldn’t it be foneticly.

The red symbol on the rear is the Cherokee symbol for Love. Our love for this tiny little 4’9″-90 pound woman was immeasurable. She had the most melodic laugh and we would do anything to hear it. I miss her voice every day.

The hand on the shoulder represents life and the crossed arrows represent friendship. Juanita gave second chances to so many young children. She was a foster mother to 57 foster boys over the years.(Not a typo, really was 57!) She gave them a second chance at life and was a friend when they needed one.She was my friend too and oh how I miss her beautiful soul.

The lines below the thumb on the hand represent spring which was always her favorite time of year. They also represent crops. Every time we had a plant that was dying I would take it to her. She would talk to it, love it, and it would flourish. She would call me and say “that dying lily you gave me has two blooms on it now!” Of course it does.

“Juanita Rides The Sky” was painted with love for a beautiful spirit. It symbolizes a tiny little woman who’s mark on this world was huge. She believed the Great Spirit/Creator was in every living thing. I hear her voice so often and feel her spirit everywhere.

Ride to the sky Juanita. You are free!

Juanita Lorraine Kirk August 8th 1925 to September 9th 2015.

Juanita the teen years and at 90 years eating shrimp cocktail, having a Tecate beer, and wearing her hat sideways.

P.S. The Coca Cola base came with the horse. I made it bright and new instead of antique looking because of something she said to me once as I was wheeling her about at a restaurant in her wheelchair…

Me: “Nita, this is Tom Mix’s suit he wore in the movies. Do you want to see it?”

Juanita: “No, I saw it when it was new”

The Making:

Two Cents

Some mornings when I buy a 79 cent Giant Diet Coke it costs either 94 or 96 cents with tax depending where the Circle K is located. Not a big deal, and I probably wouldn’t have noticed, but the phenomenon of how various clerks give me change very entertaining.

My experiment started on accident when I noticed that when the soda was 96 cents the clerks were reluctant to dig out the four cents change. I thought it was just that one clerk, but NO! It’s almost all of them. I hand them my dollar with delicious anticipation waiting to see what they will do. They look at me with their hand in the drawer, like I’m going to say something. “Keep the change?” Not likely.

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donation Sometimes they hover over that clear plastic charity box. I proudly stick my hand out every time. There is usually an awkward pause followed by no eye contact. (Like they are ashamed of me for keeping my own change). Now when it comes to 94 cents they whip out the six cents and even if they are giving me six pennies they slam that door shut and offer me

“have a nice day”.

penny

It’s scientific; my two cents matters.

Cheap Date

They had me at cheap date. The Arizona History Museum advertises “cheap date night” on Fridays 4-8 admission is $3 so why not?

AHS-facade (2)

Interesting stories of Southern AZ including a wonderful mystery. It seems in 1924 a man discovered a cache of lead artifacts of Roman design that have been dated 700-900 AD along Silverbell Road about seventy some inches underground. The mystery surrounds who put them there and if there actually was a Roman colony in AZ. It would be believable if it weren’t so improbable. Still the iron crosses and swords are beautiful and mysterious.

The various cultures that shaped Tucson are all represented.Hohokam, Tohono O’odam, Mexican, European, Irish and Chinese. Some of the exhibits are displayed exactly as the items were found. Pottery, a Chinese fish plate, part of a china plate from England, all together. The museum is like a walk back in time.

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There is even a full scale mine tunnel to walk through.Well… I ran through because I don’t do dark tunnels. Especially after the museum proprietor told us how two people were hanging out in the “mine”near closing time and they accidentally were locked in. He warned us not to get lost. Apparently it was a real Night at the Museum. .He CLAIMED he came back and let them out. There was just a lot to see and we spent about 2 hours exploring.

Time to wander down University Blvd. to find an interesting place to eat. Thank goodness the wind was blowing so hard ahead of the storm because we soon smelled the smokey goodness of Red’s Smokehouse and Tap Room. Try it? Why not?

REds

Real Smokehouse BBQ…AMAZing. The meat was delicately smokey and delicious. Craft beers on tap too. Great combo. Pleasant atmosphere and you can watch the cooks handle their meat.

FullSizeRender (3) — At Reds Smokehouse University Blvd. Tucson, AZ.

During dinner the sky opened up and the roads turned into rivers. We ran through the summer rain laughing and puddle splashing. Notice in the picture below there is no one out on foot. Water is about shin deep. car

Now then, G’s hat is made of cactus fibers. We soon found out that when it gets wet it smells like it was made from armpit hair mixed with dried pea baby food. Unfortunately it was a pungent armpit hair dried pea hat ride home. Worth it though because he makes that cactus fiber hat look GOOD!

Goodbye Sweet Toe

funny-feet-faces

I have gone fifty plus years before I knew anyone who had a toe cut off and now I know three. My mother, Josephine, is the most recent. She had the “this little piggy had none” toe cut off her right foot. As a diabetic she always knew it could happen and I have to say she took the best care of herself, but the little toe just gave up. Her new nickname is “Nine -Toe-Jo”. I wanted to keep the toe and have a goodbye ceremony for it but they just don’t allow people to keep body parts anymore. I say “anymore” like I have knowledge that this was the previous practice…which I do not. I did get to whisper goodbye to her appendage the night before the be-toeing. “So long little one,shhhhh”. (Be-toeing should definitely be a word. Like beheading but with toes). I had an idea it would ceremonious to send the toe to the stratosphere tied to a Mylar balloon, like a final goodbye to the heavens. The thought of the toe falling from the sky landing in someone’s backyard in Lordsburg, New Mexico or some such place made me smile…Ok I know…gross… so no. I found a passage in the Bible which tells of be-toeing. Apparently King Adoni-bezek cut off his captured enemies thumbs and toes regularly. Once he was captured his captors cut off his thumbs and toes as punishment. Who knew be-toeing was such a thing?

Red Handed

I am working on a memorial art project as a tribute to G’s mom who passed away last year. I find him outside and tell him I need a hand. To which he begins a slow clap escalating to bravo and well done.

“No, I mean your ACTual hand. I need to paint your right hand red.”

G: “Can’t you use your own hand?”

Me: “It’s for your mom, it should be your hand.”

G: “I have a cut on my right hand.”

Me: “We can put liquid New Skin on it.” (which he lets me do)

G: “HOLY CRAP THAT BURNS!!! It’s got alcohol in it! …. SMELL THAT!”

It smells like alcohol.

(I know I shouldn’t be laughing but NOW he is gyrating around while swirling his right hand. When I ask him what he is doing he says;)

“I told you there was alcohol in it, my hand is drunk.”

What drunk hands can do

Look what drunk hands can do!

…”and out of the smoke comes a tall handsome man with a dusty black coat and a red right hand.” Peaky Blinders theme song. Been singing it all day

Solar Cooking

Today the great smell of Chili Verde Meat filled the air as the sun cooked a 4 pound roast to mouthwatering goodness.

Solar Oven made with found materials: Wood Box, glass top, metal box with 1/2″ Styrofoam between metal and wood.The box is mounted on a BBQ grill stand. The mirror is hard to see but has 2 black clips on top which hold it. Mirror can be angled to pinpoint into pot and accelerate cooking. Being on wheels we can change the angle with the sun.

This is a picture of the first of many solar cookers we made about five years ago all from recycled or found materials. We are still experimenting with design. For example, I painted the inside of this metal box black thinking it would make it hotter. I soon found out that while black does create heat, cooking with the sun does not simply use heat to cook.

sunshine

The science: The UV light rays enter through the glass and then coverts to infrared light rays. Infrared radiation makes molecules vibrate in the food, releasing energy as heat. The glass lid traps the energy and the food cooks. I have to say that the texture of the meat is different than cooked in an oven, crock pot or smoked. Once we cooked our Chile Verde this way it became our favorite.

Any slow cooker recipe works. We even throw frozen lasagna in the solar oven and it is cooked perfectly when I get home from work. I haven’t been able to bring myself to cook raw chicken yet. The temp gets to be around 250 and even though the science states that UV light rays are doing the cooking, I don’t trust it for chicken.

We have found that a great UV accelerator that works in our solar oven and actually I think would even work in a cardboard box. We recently installed a Solatube skylight in our home. The bright reflective tube was too long so we cut off about 18″. I think this is standard and one might be able to ask around to Solatube installers to ask if they would donate the excess. I am going to try that on my next one. The discarded piece is just large enough to encircle a crock pot insert and works efficiently.

There are a lot of different types of solar ovens out there. You Tube has a lot of how to instructions. We had fun trying to round up materials in our yard or off of Craigslist free. We use it year round and things don’t really cook much faster in the summer, but it sure makes a great way to keep the kitchen cool.

P&G

While freaked out riding shotgun on the wrong side of the car flying down the motorway in Great Britain, making small talk, I asked the driver (my niece) why they don’t have rest stops? She points out the numerous cars stopped on the side of the road and men in “the stance” with their back to the motorway. She says “men are lucky, they can just stop whenever they want here, it’s a thing”. Somehow I think that privilege is international.

trees

Which brings me to the daily occurrence of me caching G in the same stance in various locations outside our house. Sometimes I can just see his head and shoulders above the backyard wall as he looks off to the distance, but I know. He looks at me as sweet and innocently as you can imagine, blinks a few times and says “What?”. Sometimes he doesn’t even try to hide and stands on the 2 foot retaining wall on the side of the house. It’s a better view of the city there.

Since Tucson had the water shortage and a BEAT THE PEAK campaign, G points out that he is saving 3.25 gallons of water each time.( He’s thoughtful like that). One day an animal exterminator got to talking about desert predators, specifically the coyotes that were jumping our 6′ wall. The expert claims to keep coyotes away one should pour urine of any kind around the perimeter.He went on to say where one could purchase urine. I knew as soon as the words left the exterminator’s mouth that G was thinking “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!” Securing the perimeter has been his goal ever since.

I have to say that although there are many coyotes on the property, we haven’t seen one come near the so called perimeter. He is very proud of this fact. Our backyard babies like the quail and rabbit population has boomed. Thanks to G’s particular talent they now have a safe haven for all. He’s like a hero.

Corny Shenanigans

I was determined to do something out of the scorching AZ sun this weekend so we planned to go to the Sweet Corn Festival at Apple Annie’s in a much cooler Wilcox, AZ. My expectations are high.

We set out early stopping a the convenience store near our house. G stayed in the car. I returned a few minutes later and the man from the car next door just stared waving as if we were old friends saying goodbye.

I wonder out loud what that was about, to which G says “He is admiring an awesome couple who are going to get CORN!

Soon we are at Apple Annie’s eating a butter dripping ear of sweet roasted corn and buying a “baker’s dozen” for $5.00.

I am not sure why we bought so much. I guess we just got caught up in the spirit of the festival.

On to the Orchard for lunch and pick a few peaches.

They serve burgers and homemade pinto beans and we had a lovely picnic among the peach orchard. Bonus- you a wooden coin to take to the bakery which gets you a piece of homemade pie. WARM PEACH PIE. (I am making yummy noises with slits for eyes. I could be crying it tastes so good. )

The farm is not far from the highway but along the way lie a few abandoned buildings that the desert is trying to take back.

I am sure we are going to get snake bit because we had recently seen this sign obviously put there by the Rattlesnakes;

Time to get back on the road. We soon notice the Amerind Museum just off Dragoon road and swing in.

The collection of pottery and artifacts are amazing and complete but the real treat was the building itself. Once it was a residence and has beautiful woodwork, Thick adobe walls,arched windows and many southwestern features. We were not allowed to take pictures and I am not sure it is worth the $10 fee as it didn’t take long to see the collection. However, there is a picnic area behind the museum that is well taken care of up against our favorite Dragoon Mountains with majestic rock formations.

You know me and rocks.

By now we are thirsty and remember a Saloon we passed along the way. What a find! Triangle T Guest Ranch is amazing!

What a wonderful discovery here in Southern Arizona! We will be frequenting the RV spaces or even for a fun destination to ride the Harley and stay in one of the casitas! I see a party in my future…

The Saloon is refreshingly cool as you walk through the swinging doors and stride up to a bar that wraps around a GIANT ROCK! (I have always dreamed of having a giant rock indoors).

Hope, the bartender, entertained us with stories of the property and discussed the unique art on the wall. She even performed a little magic trick/puzzle with a couple of horseshoes on a chain. We enjoyed Hope’s antics and she’s part of the reason we will revisit.

After a few cold beers it was time to go. Full of Hope’s stories, thoughts of Apple Annie’s farms and the history of the old west we climbed back in the air conditioned car. Off we went with PIE in our tummies, cool beer on our lips, and a trunk full of peaches and corn.

A very good Southern Arizona Day.

Day Trippn’ Arivaca

When deciding on a day trip in Arizona in July, two things come in to account. The first is how am I going to stay cool and the second is why are we going away from shade and a pool? Nevertheless, Fourth of July weekend requires some effort at a road trip. Not willing to join the hoards of people escaping the heat to NORMAL places like the mountains, or a California beach, we chose to just take a picnic to the sunny shores of Arivaca Az. Perhaps it is a few degrees cooler…so maybe 99.

We quickly grabbed our always-packed rock breaking/gold panning backpack and the always packed picnic backpack (the second of which literally only has a blanket and a first aid kit ) . We fill the ice chest with fruit and water, water, and more water (along with 2 water filled camel packs) and head out to Subway to get a foot long.

We parked facing this sign at a fast food restaurant next door:

WE WILL NOT REFUND ANY FOOD THAT HAS BEEN EATEN!

OKAY! Good to know. I am wondering WHY they need a sign that lets their patrons know they won’t refund any food that has been eaten. There must be a story there. Also, the two women in the car were very worried that I was taking their picture so I tried to crop them out. Your welcome paranoid ladies. (Sheesh makes you wonder what they are hiding right?)

Forty minutes later we were on Arivaca Rd and ran into a random goats crossing.

Why does the goat cross the road? To get to the udder side.

It seems the goats wanted a Fourth of July getaway also. Probably. So many goats.

Soon we were in beautiful downtown Arivaca:

4th Street? Never found 1st, 2nd or 3rd. I think they just started with 4th.

On to the shaded Buenos Aires Preserve just to the southwest of town. Lots of shade, beautiful breeze and wildlife.

Not sure if these are edible. Pretty though.

No water remains after the rain. It’s OK it makes it easy to collect things the water washed up.

There is a very camera shy red bird here. Trust me he is!

We even managed to find these white flowers;

The water must have rushed by very fast as it uprooted many trees. It’s a win for us as we collect interesting root wood for projects;

This tree fell all the way across the river. Check out how tall the root ball is! G is holding my new favorite piece of wood pulled from the bowels of the roots.

We saw a lot of evidence of migrants. Water bottles, backpacks, jackets, trash. Which could explain this building:

Sign says Border Patrol can’t enter without a warrant. Interesting place!

Well we had fun,saw lots of wildlife and managed to stay cool. However, nothing could be as cool as this sign.

Happy 4th of July to all.

Do You Want Fries With That?

Tonight we are crispy from hanging out at home by the pool. Neither of us wants to cook so we are ordering a pizza. We remember that just a few weeks ago we were in pizza heaven in Italy and started scrolling through the pictures. Found this gem:

Yes she is making a very large pizza with French Fried Potatoes on top MMMMhmmm. (Sling blade voice). We didn’t buy souvenirs on our trip. We decided before we went we would take a lot of pictures instead. Scanning through them now bring back the feelings, the smells, the unique sounds. Some of the choices the artists made for their statues make one wonder what they were thinking.

I am sure there is a story why this woman is checking out his bum.

I wonder why many warriors are portrayed naked. Personally if I was going into battle I would want my soft bits covered. Apparently later on when sensibilities became more conservative, some of the boy parts were broken off. SUPPOSEDLY to hide them and protect young minds. Personally I think they were taken as souvenirs. In any case those that were left were covered with leaves by a more conservative crowd. Also NOT protection. Perhaps that’s why the artist decided to insert something different into his sculpture below:

Just a guy in a sheet. Is that a fish?? In any case we enjoyed the subtle way the marble was molded to make the fabric seem translucent. I really like to get close and look at the hands and feet. Artists spent a lot of time on tendons, veins, and nails.

Nowadays we get this:

No leaf on that apron.

Back to the pizza, I loved the thin crust veggie covered pizza of Italy. I’m ready to go back. G still likes the ol Meat Lovers hand tossed (but no fries on top for us).

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