TULELAKE SEGREGATION CENTER (and my Christmas prayers)
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
(Matthew 6.31-34 ESV)
I needed to read this quote this morning funny how things come to me just when I need them!
My prayers this Christmas are that we as a nation discard our religious, racial and gender prejudices. My Prayers are that people teach their children love for others instead of hatred and intolerance. Prayers are that the fear and paranoia people are feeling is soothed by the knowledge that God created all people and creatures on this beautiful planet. Each and every person, animal and plant in the world is of Gods creation, serves its own unique purpose and should be treated with the utmost respect even if we deem it to be an annoyance.
SUNSET AT TULELAKE
You can see the flocks of birds leaving the Wildlife area
Where the clouds meet the land is where the LAVA BEDS are.
LITTLE BIRD SANCTUARY IN CRESCENT CITY
I had a hard time photographing this as it is between two parking lots one is for a dry cleaner/bakery and the other a fast food restaurant. I had to crouch and aim to avoid building and cars and garbage dumpsters!
There are tons of birds here but only one photo came out halfway in focus…
THE BEST VETERANS MEMORIAL….EVER…
This wonderful memorial is set below Mt. Shasta and is an experience like no other….in an area that caters to every disingenuous religion man has ever thought up this is just a place that was created with good intentions and no agenda. No matter your personal feeling about war and politics the agenda is left on the side of the road. Its a place for those to honor, reflect, release, heal pain suffered by all affected by war. It is a short hike to the memorial and if you are crippled or disabled you can drive …but I recommend walking…your mind has a chance to quiet and reflect you become more open to the energies of each sculpture. People who drive in basically disrupt the serenity of the place…they play their stereos…and quickly look at the sculptures before jumping back in and leaving never fully getting the full effect…but then maybe that is for the best!
When I first brought my mother here she was angry…angry that I was making her walk (she is not crippled) complaining and carrying on….then as she reached the first sculpture
She became even angrier…carrying on about THE GREATEST GENERATION…and what a bunch of lazy, ungrateful, cowards subsequent generations have been!! She just released so much anger with each sculpture and had her own interpretations of what the sculpture had intended….like any good piece of art they invoke emotion with meaning exclusive to the observer. There is nothing wrong or right about it…the experience is owned by the heart of the individual…
Something that strikes me having been here quite a few times is the artists use of the hand in gesture…most of the figures are open…which is such a healthy position…but the hands seem to plead,search, reach, pray, and caress in agony and healing….
This is the beautiful Mt. Shasta in the background which adds to the atmosphere of the memorial
This figure should have a folded flag in her hands….none of the flags were present…either because of theft or for the winter…I’m not sure.
this is the road to the sculptures…quite suitable for walking and wheelchairs…
More tomorrow…
Oh and here is their website LIVING MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN It’s easy to find and they have directions on their site!!
BEST VETERANS MEMORIAL…EVER….II
Continuing into the sculpture garden you come across mini memorials for individuals
in the center is the main sculpture and the others radiate on little paths from this one entitled THE WHY GROUP
Once again the arms are out stretched and below one comrade is catching another as they fall wounded. A lament to the heavens…
My mother went ballistic when she saw this and the title…in her mind the figure on top of the obelisk was enraged at Jane Fonda and other anti-war protesters during Viet Nam…she had her own script of the curses the figure was telling the heavens…We grew up not being allowed to watch Jane Fonda her name was a curse…nor were we allowed to watch MASH… When Jane Fonda became popular again with her exercise videos my mom joined the craze and purchased her tape…now that this Afghanistan/Iraq stuff is going on she is back to hating Jane Fonda…and God forbid a parent complains about their children dying in war for the military industrial complex….THEY KNOW WHEN THEY SIGN UP FOR THE MILITARY THAT THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DIE!!!
So much anger….it distresses me greatly as my views are the opposite….I’m more of a defensive sort of girl…no reason for war unless we are attacked…the only actions should be done by the U.N. but of course nothing remains uncorrupted in politics and the U.N. is reduced to a board game.
It doesn’t help that my Dad was one of those old school military types who thought the younger generation were a bunch of whining sissies….in addition to the fact that my father could spot a fake Viet Nam vet from a mile away….not a lot of sympathy for soldiers…if they aren’t doing well…they should quit whining and pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
In my opinion war is just bad all around and the effects ripple across generations…and its easier to succumb to hate than have the courage to heal….just look at how many people still fly confederate flags…
My camera batter died in the middle of this and I switched to film…I got it developed yesterday but still need to scan them…the journey continues in a day or so….
POW-MIA AT THE BEST VETERANS MEMORIAL….EVER….III
The first time I visited this memorial just turning down the path not even seeing the sculpture I got goosebumps….tears in my eyes….and later when I brought my mother…even she dropped the drama…and instead focused on those who suffered those who this sculpture is dedicated. Luckily I always have an array of crosses…coins…heart shaped rocks to leave here…if you have nothing to spare walk into the desert and find a pine cone or a rock….piece of wood….
Luckily I always have an array of crosses…coins…heart shaped rocks to leave here…if you have nothing to spare walk into the desert and find a pine cone or a rock….piece of wood….or just sit on the bench and offer a prayer.
COMING HOME/ALL WOUNDED VETERANS/THE NURSES….FROM THE BEST VETERAN’S MEMORIAL….EVER IV
The next sculpture in the LIVING MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN is called Coming Home…once again the drama is heightened by the beautiful Mt. Shasta in the background!
and the use of hands dominates the sculpture…
This is called ALL WOUNDED SOLDIERS…but out of all the sculptures was getting the least amount of sunlight. While the subject is missing a hand the intent of the artist is to honor all types of wounds…physical as well as those to the heart and mind…and once again a hand reaches to the heavens!
And if you walk into the desert you can find the sculptures of nature
This speaks for itself!
And here is a more recent memorial honoring an individual.
REDWOODS (Walker Road)
I never tire of the Redwoods been going there every month for about five years now…sometimes twice a month! Like all landscape forest or field it is constantly changing and never the same twice. This hike is from a bit ago but since I came back from Montana. I was exhausted but needed the exercise. My favorite breakfast place(Continental Bakery) in Crescent City was closed that morning so I grabbed a large coffee from a gas station and headed for the nearest trail. It was very early….not a soul around I found a bench and just sat and cried….stress from before and after vacation trying to get work done then get caught up again. I’m like a toddler when I don’t get my required sleep I get grouchy and have meltdowns!! At 45!! You can ask any member of my family!! Throw in pre-menopause and its a damn good thing I live alone!
It was a good morning and after the release of tears I had a lovely walk even with the lack of sunshine. Its harder to take good photos when the sun is hiding.
Of course I was delighted when I ran into one of my slug friends!
While it was over a hundred in Medford the fog had rolled in the night before and was now clinging to the trees….I took my sweet time in the Redwoods enjoying the cool.
FERTILITY OFFERING??
I did a double take when I saw this on the trail on my way down…MY THAT LOOKS LIKE A PENIS….
It was….couldn’t believe I missed it on the way up the trail!…
No…I didn’t take it home!
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL 4
Need to finish putting up these photos of my Redwood hike BEFORE I left.
This is the horse camp
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL 2
Oops I forgot to put this post up….I started these before I left and didn’t have time to queue them up before I left.
Cougar scat? All hair…To think that is all that is left of the squirrel or bunny that was eaten. Never mind my own fondness of jerky…
Charcoal in a burned trunk from a lightening strike…a common site in the Redwoods since the trees are so old and have weathered many a storm.
still heading up hill…I was actually in much better shape than I thought I was. I really didn’t need a rest on the way up sometimes I use taking pictures as an excuse to rest! But not this day…although I did stop quite a bit….most was just for the five second shot…
This is the canopy above…
and this is what it looks like with my zoom!
Pretty sure that this is a cougar track since I didn’t see any other scat on the trail…of course I forgot my tape measure…
Still braved the trail…more to come..
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL3
These are photos from before my trip to Montana. My hike in the Redwoods. I meant to have these all ready to post before I left but didn’t have time. So my blog was neglected for a week +….
Here they are..
I came across this clearing that turned out to be a little seasonal pond…
this hole scared me….went to get a closer look….
then I noticed these tracks that could have only been made by Gumby and Pokey
ok not the best photos but you should have seen the tracks in person….and as for that hole I encountered this sign on my way around to see them….got the hell out of there….
the trail was all up hill until I reached the camp
still going up…
AMAZING TREE ON LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL
The photos still don’t do this tree any justice…it is not only the biggest tree in its surroundings but the branches are HUGE…many have broken off and are bigger than the surrounding trees. Its a big jumbled chaotic beauty with the branches jutting out at all angles. I’m not just a tree hugger but a tree kisser!!
LITTLE BALD HILLS TRAIL
Guessing this is another consequence of spending most tax dollars on war , loaning out money at near zero % to companies who declare socialism is evil except when it applies to them…anyway the road to Stout Grove the “crown jewel” of the Redwoods was closed due to bad road conditions….
There was scant parking and people had a difficult time turning around on this little one lane dirt road. Since I have been visiting the Redwoods (last five years) each year I see how trails are let go..not fixed in a timely fashion or not fixed at all if it is not a popular trail.
I’m wasn’t headed for Stout Grove but this trail I have never been on.
Little Bald Hills climbs up and up and transitions from Redwoods to Jeffrey Pines. A guide says there are 22 native grasses, more than 100 flowering species, 5 manzanitas. This is the only trail in the Redwoods that allows bikes and horses.
You can be sure that by the time I turned around a bit after the wilderness camp I wished I had a horse to ride back down!!
truly I never get tired of hiking in the Redwoods….and depending on the time of day where the sun is shining its a different experience and different opportunities to take photographs.
Along most trails in the Redwoods are these wood benches with dedication plaques for those people who helped save the Redwoods. It was quite an effort as you can imagine most of the Redwoods were already cut down by logging. I can’t imagine the disconnect of putting a chainsaw to one of these beautiful, majestic trees….Like cutting off one of GOD’S fingers…and never a thought about it.
more to come….
GILLEM BLUFF TRAIL
this is a trail that tells the history of Gillems Camp. During the Modoc War the U.S. Army camped here for seven weeks what looks to be a strange place to camp this was once near Tule Lake which could provide food, and water for drinking and bathing. They could also travel by boat to the Army’s eastern Post at Hospital Rock.
This is the location of the original cemetery that once held 30 soldiers killed in the Modoc War.
According to the National Park guide this circular “corral” was used to hold a Modoc prisoner. Of course it was a bit taller back then.
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