Canyon de Chelly - Connections to Dine' bike'yah

When Deborah and I were sharing under the cottonwoods at the Thunderbird about how important it was to get back to Phoenix and the Valley for the completion of her Landmark Advanced Course, we decided to visit the Visitors Center and see how much of the Canyon we could see from above. Here we were first greeted by a younger Henry man, dressed in the garb of a National Park employee whom I asked about the Henry that is the silver smith. Soon Gary Henry appeared who shared his story about Ansel Adams and photos of his Mom and sister in a book a friend got in the UK. Here Deborah, Gary and I chatted about his work as we negotiated a purchase. I felt really grounded here watching the film, Canyon Voices that is shown to all visitors. Grateful I got a copy of the 21 minute DVD to share with friends and family back home.

Gary Henry and me outside of the visitors center. The beautiful silver and turquoise art for wearing, reminds me of the work that the Glessner grandparents picked up for Peg along the Santa Fe. When I wear it, I feel connected to my ancestors and this wonderful land and people. Thanks to Susan Weaver for giving me a copy of The Navajo Nation, a visitors guide by Patrick and Joan Lavin 2008 that I read prior to this trip. It has a great overview of culture, history and some of the language. Ya' a't e'e'h (hello) A he' hee' (thank you) were the only ones I tried. It is a tonal language like Mandarin Chinese, both beautiful to listen to and I am aware that I am an early learner.

Younger Dine' vendor with his rock painting art on the south rim of the canyon. He was telling some of the stories of his people here.

Overlook for the White House where visitors can be seen on a tour below.

More of a close up view. Some of the trees were introduced non native species that are now being cut back according to the dad I was talking to.

Here a Dine' father was supporting his son to walk the 1 1/2 mile trail to take water to his grandma who lives below. He pointed out her dwelling and the sheep. Fun to think about returning in cooler weather and perhaps camping in the area.

Painted Desert to Canyon de Chelly AZ

Here is one of the stops explaining the geology of the Painted Desert on the road in the Petrified Forest National Park.

The colors of the desert changed all along the route as we travelled north.

Here is the adobe looking overview where once the Fred Harvey crew served 35 cent beers overlooking the Painted Desert. The flag was flying half mast today as we learned Senator Byrd had just passed. This perhaps was one of the sites the Santa Fe and Fred Harvey concessions visited during the era of the Indian Detours.

Inside the building is some if the Hopi art that still adorns the walls. Sadly the National Park Service does not serve any food these days.

Here is a photo of how the building was built first from the petrified trees and later, according to the story in the Park literature, the WPA or CCC groups of the 1930's covered the original work to look like standard local adobe. This is some of the exposed work on the side that faces west down below.

After a quick stop at the Hubbell Trading Post we stopped at the Thunderbird Lodge inside Canyon de Chelly National Park where we spent the night. Here, below the cottonwood trees in a refreshing morning breezed we shared coffee and stories with folks who were lining up to take the tours into the canyon. I chatted with the Dine' guides about the best ways to make the trip back to Phoenix for our Tuesday night commitment at Landmark Education and here we decided to drive the south rim and take a scenic drive through the reservation to Holbrook and then to Flagstaff on our way back to the Valley.

La Posada in Winslow to Painted Desert AZ

Deborah and I drove directly through the night after the Landmark Advanced Course directly to Winslow. Here is how the gate facing old Route 66 to the south appeared when I awoke Monday morning.

Here is the original front door to the La Posada when most folks came from the Santa Fe passenger service from the south. This Mary Coulter architectural gem as been nicely restored and Paul a linguistics educator from Pittsburgh PA who was raised in the area and a young man from eastern PA whose dad and granddad have been in the railroading business shared stories with me prior to having my wonderful breakfast.

Ah the great food and coffee served in the Turquoise Room at the La Posada by the modern equivalent of the Harvey Girls. Wonderful ambiance and service. Remindful of the "good old days" of the Fred Harvey system and the Santa Fe of the early 20th Century.

Here is the garden by the west wing of La Posada that was a great oasis surrounded by hollyhocks.

While walking through the Turquoise Room I met George Welsh and his mom, Verna, here with her walker pictured with Deborah Aurianivar my friend who lives in Phoenix. Verna was one of the original Harvery Girls who moved from rural Kansas to work here in 1939. She met her husband here and stayed in Winslow. Grateful for the living history we continue to co-create.

Here I am living out the lyrics of the Eagles "Standing on a Corner in Winslow Arizona" with this attractive musician in bronze with the woman in the pickup watching. interesting this is now an important tourist attraction from the famous 70's music.

We then drove east to the south entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park. Here are some of the big tree fossils next to the visitors center. I learned that the Petrified forest is a sub part of the Painted Desert which covered a wide cresent in the desert here. My grandparents and their trips on the Santa Fe and visits to Phoenix planted the seeds for my curiosity.

Trip to the Phoenix Desert - Intestinal Fortitude and Desert Connections

I started my journey with an event at the downtown Phoenix Convention Center where I rep'd Master Supplements to Nurse Practitioners for three days with Pat "Patty Boy" as he calls himself, Whalen. He is here sharing his story about the stomach acid protection of the sodium alginate matrix that Master Supplements has patented to get the probiotics and enzymes safely through the stomach acid for delivery into the duodenum. Here Patty Boy describes the session he did three weeks ago with the holistic doctors in Arizona showing the Metagenics product, as the white solution and the Theralac capsule still protected. The bottom line is that 2-4 logarhythms of active Lacto and Bifidobacteria are lost in the stomach where a competent acid protection system digests the bugs in most yoghurt and other products. The sodium alginate matrix unfurls in the small bowel to release the sticky lactobacilli to create an active biofilm of the "good guys". Fun being here and connecting.

Here is the Westward Ho, similar to the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis as it was built at the end of the 1920's and was the tallest building "back in the day". My Glessner grandparents stayed here back in the heyday, I sense until the 1950's. A famous place where a lot of movie stars stayed. Now it has been converted into sr citizen homes. It is right on Central Ave just north of Central Phoenix on the light rail to the Heard Museum. I took this photo in the 110 plus degree heat which is standard here this time of year. Everyone talks about the weather here and no one does anything about it! :-)

Here is the outside of the Heard Museum where I enjoyed a tour with a local Yuma woman which is a tribe along the Colorado River. She guided a tour along with a Caucasian woman through all the tribal home displays. Very inspiring beginning to my trip here.

Spring Gardening in Green Minnesota

Here is the home Karen Anderson and Eric Wickiser in MInnetonka where I have been a gardener since 2002. It has been a joy for me to watch plants and learn from them here. Ligularia, Primulas, Pedicites from Asia with their big leaves. It has also been joy to share in some of these plants with other friends who have gardens around the Twin Cities.

Lady's Mantel, with the beaded water on the leaves is a successful plant in Karen's garden here along a mulched path.

Here is one of the red rocks in the garden with one of the Japanese primroses that do so well here in the wooded part of the garden. It has been an honor to be Karen's gardener here for the past 8 years, nurturing and sharing this space with these wonderful plants.
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This year my friend Rob Senden had a vision to create gardens in his sub urban yard in Crystal. Together we roto tilled and he carried in mulch from the city of Maple Grove to create a new bed for the plants. Here are the younger plants we put in as a team. I am grateful for the support of my first business partner in Wopida Group, Xiaosong for his support bringing the plants from the Winsted Grey Schmidt farm into the city this spring and planting the eggplant and pepper. Hot hungarians! . Inspired by the younger energy who sorted the some 30 flats, Jamie Wellik and his daughter and an elder, Eric Wickiser as well.

Here is the triangular garden I helped Amy Brown plant in the back of Jesse's home in St Cloud. A community garden of sorts, Sue Weaver also has contributed plants for this plot. Herbs like cilantro, basil along with eggplant, tomato and all. I heard from Amy yesterday that a hail storm has stripped off some of the leaves. Ah the resiliance of the plant people.

1929 Post Cards Gallup to Winslow Arizona

When my mom, Peg and I talked the last years of her life, she spoke fondly of her trips to California on the Santa Fe with her parents. Here is one card mailed from Ashfork, March 11, where Harry C Glessner, my granddad, wrote to Inez, his wife "They had no cards of the hotel - it is just as pretty as ever. Next stop Winslow. Harry" White Linens in Gallup NM. I sense they saw only what the Santa Fe and the Fred Harvey folks in the 1920's marketed for them at the time. Gives me a sweet connection to another time when people connected on the trains.

Sent from Ashfork, March 11, 1929 to MIss Margaret Glessner, Grey Gables, Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio "We are very near this now. Next stop Winslow. Dad"

Sent March 11, 1929 to Mrs Harry C Glessner, 204 Glendale Ave S, Findlay Ohio "This hotel is the one that was slightly noisy - They start a new hotel in April, which will be the finest of all. It will be on the other side of the track. Harry"

Here is the personal note sent to Peg, AKA Margaret Glessner on the same day after going through Winslow. I will be returning to Winslow this month to stay at the remodeled hotel that Susan and Paul already recommended this year. Hope to capture a photo there! Grateful for the family connection here.

Chinese Medicine at Jane and Don's Wedding

My Chinese Medicine Woman and good friend, Deborah Aurianivar flew in from Arizona on Thursday to support Jane, Don and me in the wedding process. Here she is with Don Roden at Mear's Park supporting the flow of the practice for the ceremony.

Here are Jane and Deborah at the Rehearsal dinner in St Louis Park at the Marriott Irish Pub Friday night.
It was so great for me to have her be there Friday with us to set up the mood and physical space for the ceremony.

On the wedding afternoon, Deborah supported me in bringing snacks for the wedding party as we waiting for photographs.


Here she is with Kiana, Eliza's second daughter and Jane's second granddaughter.


On the wedding afternoon, Deborah supported me in bringing snacks for the wedding party as we waiting for photographs. Very comfortable to be with, here she is on the right, talking with Julie who is Jane's longest childhood friend from Michigan City Indiana and her daughter who is moving from the Twin Cities to Indianapolis soon!


Deborah made a connection with Xiaosong "Steven" Liu as well. Here are Deborah and Steven together who were both a great support to the wedding party and family at the Wedding in Mear's Park. Thanks, Xie Xie for being part of the family you two!