A Star Wars Fan's Hesitant Confession

I recently watched my first Star Trek film ever.  It was the one with the whales (why in the world was it whales, anyway?).  AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!  Yes, I am a Star Wars fan through and through and nothing can compare with John Williams' mind-blowing genius soundtracks.  But I have to admit that I could get into Star Trek a little bit, just to get more of Spock.  I have officially added him to my list of favorite characters of all time, and I've only seen one show with him in it.  But I can tell that I will like him a lot more once I watch some more, and I will because I enjoyed his character so much.  He's joined a high-standards list containing Sherlock Holmes, Gandalf, Treebeard, Han Solo, Brom, Qui-Gon Jinn, and many, many others that I cannot name right now because I can't remember them all.  Perhaps I'll just write up another post at some other time when I can consolidate and specify these better.
In any case, this is the confession of a Star Wars fan:  Spock is pretty cool.

Pets I Wish I Could Have

Hummingbird
Seahorse
Fruit Bat
Snow Leopard
Dinosaur
Dragon
Loch Ness Monster
Whale
Large, White, Chubby, Flying Koi
Butterfly, Praying Mantis, Honey or Bumble Bee, Moth

The Knotted Dragons

Allow me to introduce you to The Knotted Dragons

Smoky The First

variegated grey to black
a fast, middle aged leader


The Soft Pinky

skin of light pink with soft, bright pink spines
a surprisingly tough and patient guardian


Alexander The Tiny Green Turtle

covered in dark green
a small, young adventurer


The Shining Purple Beauty

scales of glimmering purple
a caring and brave companion


Susan the Gentle Blue

blue scales have touches of pink
a large and loving friend

The Pumpkin-Orange Shimmer

colored an orange that glimmers in the light
a quiet and mysterious day-dreamer

Nutmeg the Golden Brown

ordinary brown scales with a golden glint
a stunningly magical and clever common

Carmel the Green-Blue Chameleon

multicolored skin blends with surroundings
a true (though sneaky) warrior

The Purple-Pink-Night Chameleon

many-hued scales shift colors prettily
a mischevious and playful beauty

Most of these were crocheted by me, following this pattern (the other two are an original design):  Fierce Little Dragon

The Beautiful Books

I have some beautiful books that grace my desk at the moment.  Not only their covers contain beauty; their pages are full of art, too.  Literary art.  It inspires me to write wonderful things that others may someday enjoy and find inspiration from.

featured:
Sherlock Holmes Complete Works Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes Two Pop-Up Illustrated Short Stories Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Chalice Robin McKinley
Dragonology Pocket Adventures
The Hobbit Pocket Edition J.R.R. Tolkien
Hatching Magic Ann Downer
Colors A Baby Bug Pop-Up Book David A. Carter
Glitter Dragons Stickers

Happy Pioneer Day

A Series of Jokes

In my time in my home with my family (and may I say, we are a large family.  In numbers, not in size, mind you) I have come across a series of jokes that my younger siblings have created.  They are funny, they are silly, and best of all they are original.  I thought I'd share a few of them and bring some of them to life in pictures because they deserve all the props they need to convey their full silliness.

 To jump start this series I'll share what my sister told my brother earlier this afternoon:

brother takes the measuring tape from sister
Five-year-old sister - "I"ll threaten you!"
Fourteen-year-old brother laughs and runs to mommy - "guess what she just said to me?!"

May the 4th be with you!

I once told someone that my favorite movie was Star Wars
They were speechless
I suppose they didn't understand that a nice young lady like myself could be involved in something so utterly (in their mind) geeky.  I believe it is downright awesome.
To prove it, I semi-recently changed my computer background to a slideshow of epic Star Wars wallpapers and find it completely natural for my laptop to greet me with "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." and bid me farewell with "May the Force be with you" each time I use it.
My family is watching the original trilogy because of the occasion (today being the 4th of May, that is).  Not only is the music thrilling (you should read my 10 page paper on it sometime, John Williams is the man!) but the characters are loveable, the story is exciting, and you can't help but enjoy the science-fiction setting, gadgets, 'droids, starships, and lightsabers...never forget the lightsabers.  I absolutely love it!

Happy Star Wars Day

and

May the Force be With You Always!

 -Jedi Knight

Staghorn Fern

I first saw it at Balboa Park in San Diego California.

Here's my Picture of it, 2012

The Staghorn Fern

Here's the Internet's Picture of it

At the time I had no clue what it was, just that it was huge, alive, and crazy.

My next encounter was with a baby one, in the greenhouses, where I learned that they have two types of leaves.  One set molds to whatever it is growing in/on.  The other looks like normal leaves.  I also learned the name of it.  We were transplanting it while it was still possible and now it resides happily in a hanging basket.  At the time I was unsure of the identity match between the two plants that were so different in size.

Now I know.

ANother picture from Internet, this time in a natural habitat, I am supposing

Yet another pic from Internet of this gorgeously large plant...look it up for more exciting stuff

And that is all for today on the Monstrosity of Staghorn Fern

Old Music in a New Way

This is absolutely miraculous and beautiful.  I enjoy playing this piece of music on my violin, but hearing it played by a rolling ball on some wood is just something else.  Most interestingly this is not being played by a living person, it was set up before hand which makes it seem less possible.  I know it is a commercial, but please just appreciate the music box type of rendition of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by Bach.

Also, think of all the math and precision that was put into this! All that hard work to get it exactly right! Music really has so much of this in it! Very creative and well done, forest singers, well done.

Another Amazing Commercial

This commercial is just touching and amazing.  It inspires one to be a better person by making those around you happy.

The Amazing Feats of Hundreds of People Working Together

This is Ohio State Marching Band doing a Blockbuster show. I just can't believe how good this is!

And p.s. John Williams is the MAN!

AHOY!!

Mates, ye all have been transferrded to the reputable, or famous, pirate ship of Eloquence sailing for the one and only island in among the seven seas that has more treasure than treasure island itself:  the Isle of the Oaks.  A longstanding legend, this here oaks isle is.  The sailors of old used to sing their kiddies to sleep with dreams of gold, jewels, and treasure maps galore when they sang the tale of the Isle of the Oaks.  With giant trees that stretch taller than a tempestuous wave in a hurricane that come to life to protect their otherwise unguarded treasure and scare a sea-lovin' traveler more than a sea serpent ever could, this piece o' land is the death of any pirate that sets 'is dirty foot upon the shore.  It is told, by daring scalawags indeed, that the treasure lies out in the open, in one great pile in the center of the Isle, just waitin', glitterin', for some lucky feller to snatch it for his own trove.  Where the stories come from, none may say, but the voyage is ours, now, crew, and it is too late to turn back ... unless ye want to be thrown overboard for treachery and enjoy the company of the fishes tonight?  I thought not.  Welcome to the crew, mate, and a toast to yer courage.  Now, set the sails!  Let us be off, for the race has begun and the treasure awaits us.

Report: Sherlock Holmes

As the summer naturally concludes in the beginning of school and the cooling of the air an urge just as natural pushes to the surface, the need to look back on those happy times of blissful un-responsibility.  Summarizing is not at all satisfying.  One must actually wallow in the feelings that were once an everyday occurrence and daydream of that which was only recently a reality.
In short, I miss those months of June, July, and August, but only because of the half-fish and half-bookworm existence.  When I wasn't being a tree-monkey (better known as working on tree crew) I was swimming with my family and filling all the little holes of free time with reading.  The Library was a great friend and my goal of reading the complete Sherlock Holmes very nearly came true.  Still working on finishing up the stories has been very enjoyable as school has stolen my half-fish part and I believe that before this month ends I will have read all the easily accessible Sherlock Holmes works written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
This is what I wish to draw the reader's attention to, especially so since Sherlock Holmes has become my new favorite book character.  The stories are exceptionally entertaining when the witty and blunt Holmes comes in and reveals the seemingly magical solution to a seemingly impossible mystery.  But the most enchanting part of Mr. Holmes's character is his caring nature.  He is John Watson's friend to the end of the Earth and back again.  Wouldn't you love to have someone compliment you so much as to invite you, and even need you, on the most dangerous and active of adventures when you know that they have the most brilliant thinking mind ever to exist?  And to know that this super intelligence is wholly on your side and loyal to the highest degree is more meaningful than anything else.
Some of the best moments in reading Sherlock Holmes's cases recorded by Dr. Watson were the times that I had to burst out laughing, or keep myself from crying.  Holmes's humour came out at unexpected times, but it always surprised someone, that person usually being me.  And each of his witty remarks or teasing pranks, or flawless fooleries brought a smile to my face, because it brought out his human nature and, as Watson says many times in different ways, turns him into a real person and not just a thinking brain machine.
One moment of brilliance that Sherlock Holmes shares is actually inspiring, though he obviously puts the facts straight as they are in his such prideful way.  Quoting him, I wish to share one of the most striking points Holmes makes:
I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues.  To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers.
And so I conclude my raving on the admirable Dr. John Watson and the estimable Mr. Sherlock Holmes, both of whom have entertained me wholeheartedly and dearly and will forever live on in my mind as an example of great friendship, extreme bravery and fairness, and of those who wish for adventure for the sake of adventure.  Farewell for the time, and don't forget to check out a certain book from the library sometime soon.  You will never be able to put it down!

Pioneer Day

This day is why Utahns love the month of July.  Pioneer Day is a state holiday, meaning that all of us get the day off to celebrate our ancestors and heritage.  The history of Utah being settled has deep roots in the pioneers crossing the plains from the settled East to the desert of the West.  Indian country and the wild west didn't look like paradise to the early Latter Day Saints, but neither did cutthroat mobs and persecution.  It was a good thing those Mormons left when they did, because soon thereafter the Civil War began between the confederates and the union.  So in the mid 1800s hundreds of pioneers traveled across the plains, the mountains, and the desert to settle in Utah.  What a wonderful heritage to have, to be descended from those courageous men, women, and children.  Why not have a day in July to celebrate the wonderful valley they settled for us, to give us this beautiful life we have.  I get to live in the shadow of a mountain!  I don't go anywhere without seeing those monstrous earth-forms watching over me, protecting me, reminding me that God made the Earth for us to come here.  And God also helped those saints reach Utah safely so they could live here.  This is the essence of Pioneer Day.  Gratitude and our ancestor's Legacy.

President Monson's Pioneer Message 2013

Yellowstone the Beautiful

Old Faithful, mud pots, Bison, Lodgepole pines, hot springs, Grand Prismatic Lake, Mammoth Hot Springs and Minerva Terrace, Elk, Bighorn Sheep.
Let me tell you, great family reunion location!
The sights inside Yellowstone National Park are absolutely amazing, and definitely worth the trip.  I wish I could go back and spend days and days inside, seeing all there is to see and learning all the plants that grow there, and especially being able to photograph everything.  The things you see as you drive through Yellowstone are not exactly the normal sights you see when you drive through any forest.
Old Faithful was the only geyser I saw, but I want to go back and see the tallest one, Steamboat geyser.
On our way to Yellowstone we drove through and saw Mesa Falls, a gorgeous waterfall with an upper and lower falls area.  Being large, as most natural phenomena are, we could only see the lower falls from a scenic point.  To make up for that the upper falls had a boardwalk that took you right up next to the edge of the falls.  Reaching really far wouldn't get your hand to the water, but it might have gotten it wet.

My film camera was clicking away like mad, well, as mad as you can get when you realize how much it costs to develop the film, as well as to buy new film.  Perhaps I'll scan some pictures and put them up later, when they are developed.

Grand Prismatic Lake, aerial view from online.  See that boardwalk along the bottom edge?  That's where I was!  There was so much steam coming from the lake that it was hard to get all the colors in any of my pictures, especially that deep blue in the middle.  We learned that microbes living in different temperatures of water are what causes the colors, and blue is the hottest.

I Climbed A Tree!!

Yes, my new motto is "I Climbed A Tree!!" because I did.  And I loved it!  And I will be doing it for a long time!
I may even become an arborist just so I can climb trees for my job for the rest of my life.  Yes, this is a good plan.
So go climb a tree!

Spiritual Thought #some-odd

Legolas said, in The Two Towers, "Few can foresee whither their road will lead them, till they come to its end."

Lately many people around me have been realizing, or rather recognizing, that the Lord has charge of their life.  They cannot always see which way it is going in the moment, but our Heavenly Father knows.  He answers our prayers when the time is right for his plan.  Our timing doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter when we want it if that is contrary to what God knows is best for us.  Of course, our Father in Heaven loves us so very much and so he always has our best interest on his mind.  This means that what we want right now may not be what he has planned, and so we must be patient and trust in the Lord.  We need to know that the Lord is right, but we need not necessarily how things will work out or exactly what is going to happen.  Have faith and believe, have courage, and keep going.

Tree House

Someday I SHALL live in a tree house!

Tree House
by Shel Silverstein

A tree house, a free house,
A secret you and me house,
A high up in the leafy branches
Cozy as can be house.

A street house, a neat house,
Be sure and wipe your feet house
Is not my kind of house at all-
Let's go live in a tree house.

Earth Day

Trees are amazing things and you should hug, climb, and love your trees!
Imagine, they have been alive for longer than you and seen so much!  Trees are huge, and they are alive and growing, and they provide so much for us and a lot of other creatures.  If I could, I would live in a tree.  I would climb that tree every day and sit in it and read.

So in memory of our wonderful gift called Earth, please appreciate and love your trees!

So...

Your socks are untied!

April Fool's!