I thought I would share some more pictures of the beauty of the park.  Karla has an awesome digital camera and took lots of pictures that I downloaded as well.  I LOVE digital!  We took hundreds of pictures that we wouldn't have if we had to pay for the film and develping costs.  If you don't yet have a digital camera, they are worth the investment to get the best you can afford. 

This first shot is of Steve and Mike inside the base of a medium-sized Sequoia tree.  The Sequoias have a very thick, spongey bark that protects them in fires.  It feels very strange to the touch.  As you can imagine, to live to be 2,000 years old, these trees have seen many, many fires sweep through the forest. 

The hole that they are standing in is caused by fire burning too long at the base of the tree.  The tree won't die as long as the thin cambrian layer that is between the bark and the core of the tree is intact and can still feed it.

The tree on the ground in front of them fell to the earth earlier in the past century.  A tiny, tiny natural spring undermined the roots and brought down a giant.  You realize just how tall they are when you walk the length of the tree as it lays on the ground!  The wood of these trees is quite brittle and not useful, which makes the logging of them that was done in the 1800's especially tragic.

There are some of these trees that are totally hollow at their base and are cave-like, yet still survive.  They are pretty amazing creations.  There is a tree in the Grant's Grove area that is on the ground and was hollowed out by loggers.  The men used fire to burn out the insides so that they could use it for shelter.  It hasn't changed in more than a hundred years… no rot, no bugs, no decay, amazing! 

I don't know what these red plants are, but they have and intense red color that stands out against the green of the forest.

They are so bright that you can see them from a hundred feet away.  These were growing alongside the road.  Do any of you know what they are?  If you do, I'd love you to leave a comment telling me.  (Cheryl B. "Angeland" found out that they are called "Snow Flowers."  I believe that they are a type of fungus)

I'd like to encourage those of you with young children (or grandchildren) to consider taking them camping.  Often women just "hate" camping, it's dirty, it's hard work, etc.  But this is one of those things that can mean so much to your children that I encourage you to go past your own discomfort and choose to enjoy it for your kid's sake. 

It's so funny that we can spend huge amounts of money on expensive vacations that our children hardly remember, and spend almost nothing on a camping vacation that they'll never forget!!!  There's just something really wonderful about exploring together, discovering interesting things in nature and running, jumping and playing in the great outdoors (mosquitos and all!)

Some people feel that they have to have expensive RV's or trailers (they're nice if you can afford them) but camping equipment is very inexpensive and can even be borrowed from friends that have it.  For the cost of a tank or two of gas, the food you would normally eat at home and the minimal daily camping rate at your local State or National Park you can create priceless memories that will last a lifetime.  

This final picture is of the dogwood that grow at the base of the Sequoias in Redwood Canyon.  They are so beautiful.  The picture of the tree doesn't capture the glow of the white blossoms against the shadows of the forest.  This was taken near dusk and the light was quite low.  Oh well… you'll just have to come see for yourself!

Whether you camp or not, take some time to explore the beauties of nature that are all around you!  Also, for those of my readers in the United States, take time this weekend to think about those who have paid the highest price to protect us and to keep the dream that is America alive for the next generation.  Though we are not perfect as a nation, we are a nation that cares about those weaker than ourselves and our soldiers have laid down their lives for many other nations in the world.  If you have a veteran in your life, take time to call him/her and thank them for their service.

Have a great Memorial Day!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

To have a friend that you are "soul sisters" with is such a special joy and blessing, and my dear friend Karla is all that and more.  However special that friendship is, add to that the fact that the four of us (her husband Michael and my husband Steve) are every bit as close as couples as we are as girlfriends.  Wow!  What an amazing gift their friendship is.

We drove up to Hume Lake Christian Conference Center on Thursday.  This is the lake and us sitting on the lawn enjoying the scenery and catching up.  There were the three benches in a cluster that we settled into and talked for an hour or more!  The first shot is Karla, then Mike and then Steve and I.  We spent a couple of hours there showing them around the facilities and introducing them to our dear friend Floyd Cornford (see next photo of Floyd and Steve).  If you have read my blog from the beginning you will remember Floyd lost his wife Kathy on June 10th of last year to breast cancer.  Floyd is the friend that we spent Valentine's Day with so that he wouldn't be alone.  The four of us were also dear friends and we all miss her deeply. 

Those of you that pray, please pray for Hume this weekend, there are 8 high school football teams at the camp (over 400 young men) many of them without fathers and from the inner city that will be at a football camp there. 

The coaches mentor these young men and step into that father role in amazing ways.  On average 50-75 young men will meet the Lord for the first time and half will recommit their lives.  The long term impact on their lives is incalculable.

On the way to Hume Lake, we stopped in to Grant's Grove, the home of the 3rd largest living thing on earth, the Grant tree.  Then we took them down into Redwood Canyon where you can walk directly among the trees in the largest Sequoia grove on earth.  The dogwood are blooming there and that part of the park is uncrowded and mostly undiscovered.  Here's a shot of a Giant Sequoia that is digitally compiled from 3 photographs.  The couple in the foreground were just there, she was somewhat handicapped so they we walking quite slow and I liked having them for the perspective.  These trees range up to 310 feet in height and 40 feet in diameter!  There is no way to adequately convey how HUGE they are.  Mike was a logger in his earlier life and the largest diameter tree he felled was 12 feet, he was in a state of constant amazement.  The tree to the immediate left of the couple walking was planted in 1949 and is 58 years old, these trees grow very slowly over long periods of time and most huge ones are over 2,000 years old.

We convinced them to stay one extra day (we hog tied and tortured them until they gave in!)  We went to a delightful dinner theatre in Fresno called Roger Rocca's and saw "Fiddler on the Roof."  It was a fabulous production… who says small towns can't have culture?!  The only problem with living in the mountains is we didn't get home until 1 AM.  So after a slow start this morning they're off for the second half of their journey and the next visit will have to be ours to their place.

If you have a chance to be out of doors this weekend, take time to drink in the beauty of God's creation and thank Him for being such a wonderful artist.  There is no greater beauty than that of the world He gave us to enjoy and take care of.

Have a great and SAFE Memorial Day Weekend.

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

My dear, dear friend, Karla Dornacher (www.karladornacher.com) is also an artist, author and speaker.  She is coming to visit me tomorrow with her husband Michael.  All four of us are great friends and have so much fun together that it's like a long slumber party when we visit!

You can tell my warped sense of priorities in that I've spent all week cleaning up my gardens, and am only now thinking about my house.  But you know someone is a great friend, when you don't have to worry at all about your house when she comes to visit (well, maybe you sweat a little tiny bit about your bathrooms ).  Because you know she's coming to visit you, not to inspect your cupboards!  We'll talk way too late into the night.  Last time when we visited them at their Washington State home, Michael fell asleep first in his lazy boy, Steve lasted about an hour longer and then drug himself to bed.  The two of us talked until about 2 AM like a couple of teenagers!!!

So, if my posts are a little light over the next few days, IT'S ALL KARLA'S FAULT!

God is totally rearranging Karla's life.  She's beginning to move from artist/author to author/speaker as the focus of her life and ministry.  I have heard her speak several times and she is amazing.  She's deep, she's funny and she speaks profound truths with great simplicity that penetrates the heart.  If your women's group at church is having a retreat or a meeting that you plan to bring a speaker in for, you will not be disappointed.  She speaks with depth of experience, knowledge of God's word and a passion to make a difference in women's lives. 

Karla is working this year on living "A Year to Remember." Which has meant taking time to evaluate her life and activities and let God change her and fully direct her path.  "Living on purpose and with a purpose," has become a focus for her own life and I sense perhaps she's learning so that she can help the rest of us along the journey too. 

Part of that process is this two-week trip with no set schedule or plans, just meandering and enjoying each other's company and the Lord's direction.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  She's working on finding her focus, letting go of those things in life that are good ideas, but not the best and seeking where she can best be useful in the Lord's hands. 

I'll make sure we take lots of pictures and will post them here.  We'll take some next to the giant Sequoias so that you can see how really, really, really big they are.  They're the ONLY THING IN LIFE that you can see as a little child and then as a adult and will still seem as big to you as you remembered!  Have a great day!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts 

I used to describe Michelle Allen as the daughter of my dear friend, Karla Dornacher.  But now I describe Michelle as MY friend.  She is an amazing artist, business woman and absolutely hilarious to boot.  Well… Michelle is in China working with her factory to produce a line of ceramics and resin products that are just awesomely cute and fun.  Her art is like nothing you've ever seen and yet so warm and charming… We especially love her coffee themed items!

This morning, Michelle shows a picture of a new clock that she's custom designing (probably for a catalog company) that's really fun.  Her clocks have fun little pendulums like a mouse dangling from a cat's mouth trying to get away. 

She's been blogging each day from the factory and you simply MUST see the toilet facility… simply unbelievable… I suggested to Michelle that they "upgrade" their facilities at their company for the employees.  EEeeeeeewwwww!

Michelle is working on her website and when she gets it completed I'm going to feature more of her art.  I love getting to know other artists… they bring beauty to my life.  Thanks Michelle for sharing your trip with us.

To go to Michelle's blog click on the photo and a new window will pop up and take you there.  She's also always listed in my Blogroll in the column to the right.

I'm going to finish my quilting fabric today I think — I HOPE!  Perhaps I can give you a sneak peek after it debuts at the Quilt Market the first of May.  Have a great day!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

We woke up this morning and were relaxing with our coffee and news when our power went out at about 7:00 AM.  We called the electric company and found out it wouldn't come on until around 4:30.  If it hasn't happened to you lately, you just can't believe what being without power is like now in the internet age!!!!

I wandered around not knowing what to do with myself… I'd wander into my studio to check out my blog… reach for the computer and realize, no power — no computer!  It was so quiet.  I would reach to turn on the TV or the radio and realize, no power — no connection with the outside world.  Suddenly I realized that I had important emails out and no way of answering them if someone sent me a response.  It's always a little unnerving when you can't receive emails because the people that depend on email expect that you will get them!  No power — no connection with work.

We have a well that pumps from almost a 1,000 feet underground and up our hill 350 ft. to the house and we have no holding tank, so no power — no water!  Fortunately, we keep 5 gallon buckets of water around for the ummmm how can I delicately express this, taking care of necessary bodily functions.

Well, one of the great things that came out of this day is that I cleaned 2/3rd of my studio!  I can actually see white countertops and there's an entire 40 gallon trash can full of "stuff" ready to be hauled away. 

I also read 4 or 5 magazines and actually enjoyed them (rather than skimming images for trends, colors images and then tossing them into my resource pile).  It was an amazingly relaxing, slower paced day, one that reminded me a lot of how life was almost every day twenty-five years ago.  I realized that I'm not certain that technology is always improving the quality of our lives unless we master it rather than the other way around.

I am often a slave to my email.  For example, when I came back on line this afternoon there were 114 emails waiting for me!  Talk about stress!!!  Most of them were from two discussion groups that I belong to, but still each had to be read at least the title, sorted through and some responded to.  Only a couple required a physical response.

I came to a radical conclusion today, maybe a no technology day one day a month might go a long way towards feeling more rested and relaxed… that and  cleaner studio.  Only if the power doesn't fail, I'm not sure I have the emotional strength to "pull the plug" on my own.  How about you?!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts