Winter 2012

A year has past and here we have winter again. We had our traditional Christmas at Red Horse Farm.
Now I am planning to go to Texas, to visit Irene and Michael and get away from our wintry weather.

Southwest 2011

I've spent wonderful six weeks in the Southwest, taking Road Scholar programs in Sedona, visiting Grand Canyon in it's snowy winter attire, admiring beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, riding Verde Valley train, visiting Montezuma Castle, where its Indian inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.

While in Phoenix, taking photography workshop, we were taken again to Sedona, clad in snow, then to Superstition Mountains photographing majestic saguaros against the setting sun.

We strolled in the Phoenix Botanical Garden with it's multitude species of cactuses, agavies and other species of the Sonoran Desert.

Sedona-Grand Canyon

Here I am in Sedona, Arizona, taking Road Scholar program "Sedona and Grand Canyon. After a flight from Madison, WI I arrived in Phoenix,  greeted by old friend Florian. I then took a shuttle to Sedona. Had delightful conversation with Lynne, the shuttle driver. Following day we've taken a trolley tour to Sedona with its Red Rocks.

Next trip south

Another year has past, another cold and long winter in Wisconsin make me want to get away.. I am getting a Spring fever. Time to go South! I've contacted my friends in Phoenix, discussed with my daughter Irenka and now my plans are finalized. I am leaving February 5th and fly to Phoenix to spend some time with my old friends, with whom I came to America sixty years ago! Lots of memories!
While in Arizona, I'll attend two Road Scholar programs, then I'll fly to Austin to spend comfy time with my dear daughter and I let her plan how to fill my time there. I am looking forward to bask in that southern warmth and maybe in that southern cuisine.

Trip South

So much has happened this winter since I left Madison.

So far we had copious amounts of snow and the records low temperatures.

As in previous winters, it would be good idea to escape the Wisconsin's winter and go South.

Spin-In 2010 is a good incentive to go to Destin, FL . I have not been there for the past four years. It would be great to meet again my weaver and spinner friends " from our good old times" and revive the craft which I've neglected in the recent years.

And at the same time, get that Florida's warmth and sunshine.

I've contacted the photographers friends, whom I've met in Wisconsin's Elderhostel photo workshop last Fall. " Whenever you will pass Birmingham, please stop by". So, I did.

Joyce and John showed me a true "Southern hospitality" in their beautiful and comfortable home.

It was pouring rain, when I snapped this picture.

Continuing my journey I drove through the torrential rain toward Pensacola, Fl. I arrived at Joan's place in the late evening, warmly greeted by Joan and Bunny, my dearest friend from our spinning days. She also braved the long drive from Rhode Island, to attend Spin-In and stay for a while in the South visiting our common friends. While waiting for my arrival, Bunny prepared a delicious tilapia wrapped with the zucchini slices and served with copious amounts of baked veggies.

In the morning I went into the garden snapping photos of the beautiful camellias.

Getting away

The winter of 2009/10 isn't any gentler then the previous ones. It's time to get away. As every year the Spinners from the southern states and beyond get together In Destin, Florida "to provide time for spinners to visit with old and new friends, expand their knowledge of their craft trough sharing, and to generally just relax,have fun and do what they love the best.
It is also an opportunity for spinners to exhibit the items which they have made using handspun yarns.
2010 challenge: "Sock It To Me". This will be special show and tell on Saturday morning. Only requirement is that some part of it be made of handspun or relate to spinning.
RANDOM NONSENSE: Skits, songs and other nonsense are encouraged.
I am almost packed. AAA helped me to plan my route. I plan to stop somewhere in southern Illinois or Kentucky for the first night. I've been invited by Joyce and John whom I've met on the photography workshop in northern Wisconsin, to stop for overnight in Birmingham. "Be sure to bring your photos" was an enticement.

Wisconsin's Indian Summer

I believe that Mother Nature tries to compensate for the cold and wet summer. We still enjoyed a beautiful display of "Indian Summer" and we managed to gather a bountiful crop of tomatoes, which Jane processed into tasty and healthy tomato juice.
We didn't have too much luck with our potatoes. They showed a great promise, but some ground animals liked them as well, thus decimating them to some degree.

Visiting again the enchanted New Mexico

Abiquiu, Sept. 10/2009

I woke up @ 5.00 AM, to anxious to sleep. Another trip, another adventures. Jean will pick me up to take me to Van Galder bus, which in turn will take me to the Amtrak station in Chicago.
"Southwest Chief" will take me to Santa Fe and from there I'll go to Abiquiu, NM to immerse myself in the photography workshop given by Elderhostel.

Going to the Sun road

On Tuesday we headed to Many Glacier Lodge, built in 1914 by Pacific Railways.On the way we stopped to photograph Jackson Glacier, which, as we were told wilt be gone in the next 23 years.
On Wednesday we had to get up at 4 AM to drive to the mountains, then walk up to the top to catch the sunrise over the mountain top. It was spectacular!

Glacier National Park

Now that the gardens are established with planted potatoes, onions, tomatoes and more veggies planted by Jane in the lower garden I could take off on some exciting trips.
This time I chose to go to Glacier National Park.
I boarded Amtrak in Columbus, WI and arrived in Whitefish, MT. the following day late evening.
Next day I've met the other Elderhostelers in the Hybernation House to attend our photography program:"Tripods at Timberline"
Steve, our Instructor, introduced us to "Principles of photography, stressing the "Art of seeing".

SPRING ON RHF

AFTER SOME DELAYS AND UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER SPRING FINALLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF GIVING US PLENTY OF WORK.
THIS YEAR STAS' PLANNED HIS UPPER GARDEN BY DESIGNING WIDE ROWS TO SEED WITH CLOVER, THUS ENRICHING THE SOIL AND TAKING CONTROL OF THE WEEDS.
THE IDEA WORKED WELL. WE PLANTED 2 1/2 ROWS OF POTATOES (WITH OUR OWN SEED POTATOES FROM PREVIOUS YEAR) AND ONE LONG ROW OF ONIONS.
AFTER MOWING STAS' TILLED CLOSE TO THE PLANTS AND JULIA RAKED AND HILLED THE PLANTS WITH THAT FRIABLE SOIL. SOOKIE WANTED TO BE IN THE ACT, BUT HAD TO BE DIVERTED TO HER OWN ANTICS.

Cajun Country - Lafayette, LA

It was truly a fun week. I learned Cajun dancing, delighted in Cajun cuisine, (was introduced to boudin sausage), and beautiful and mysterious bayous, with its flora and fauna. Being in a company of fellow Elderhostelers and especially my daughter Irene was additional plus of this great adventure.

The Spring has arrived!

The birds are here! It must be the Spring! But this year I am going South to take Ederhostel's workshop" Wildlife and culture of Louisiana's Cajun Country" in Lafayette LA. My daughter, Irene, will join me there to take the second week of" Digital Photography & Unique Beauty of Louisiana". Alligators will greet us there in the Atchafalaya Basin swamp, as well as egrets and other southern birds.
It should be exciting!

Spring around the corner?

The bitter and cold winter is hopefully loosening its grip. Some people experienced the hardships, but some found joy of winter sports like working kites on Lake Monona. Children didn't seem to mind the cold weather sledding on the hill in our neighborhood.
I am finally ready to go South. I've registered for the Elderhostel's programs in Lafayette, LA.
I'll hope I'll get a "good shot" at the alligators and the birds in the swamps of Atchafalaya Basin.

Back to my old blog

I have not written for the longest time. The time slips so quickly, even faster, as you get older,or rather, as the time goes by, you get slower.
I just read my daughter's in law, Jane's her new blog: www.redhorsefarm.com, where she mentions about my blogs, which are:juliasjournal2007.blogspot.com and where I've written about my travels and our family cook book: under "www.potocki.blogspot.com".
I've just reviewed the recipes and comments, of my dear friends from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida as well as members of my own family.
There are some changes in our lives: my dear daughter Irene, who was so instrumental in initialing these blogs, have moved to Austin, Texas.
Her husband, Michael, put his roots there pretty soon, by being the finalist in "Hatch chile pepper" recipe book.
Jean, became a wonderful mother of the two sweetest boys, thus making me a Greatgrandmother.
My dear daughter in law, Jane,has her blog: www.redhorsefarm.com
introducing her new venture into Salish looms and her Llamas, whose fibers she uses for spinning and weaving on those looms.
Now,that Christmas is approaching, I have to go to our family's cook book: potocki.blogspot.com to review my own recipes,which I need in preparation for our special day called "Wigilja". I will provide that special red beet soup, called "barszcz" and have all members of our expanding family to lend the hand in making those "pierogi" . We have to make several stuffings, since some members of our family are vegeterians.
The beets were grown with tender, loving care by Jane in her garden at Red Horse Farm . Of course, the garden was also tended by Jane's other half, that is Stosh, who was tilling, disking and raking with the help of his tractor and applying the rich llama's manure, to have organically grown produce.
I will return to my "travels" blogging, but meanwhile you can view my photos in Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/12181644@N00/sets. Julia

Pecos River

On the way to famous Judge Bean Park we stopped by the tallest highway bridge over the Pecos River. There was no one to take our memento photos, so we set our cameras on the time setting, having fun to snap it in time.

Big Bend N.P.

I have visited Big Bend N.P. before, but this time it was especially meaningful to me, since my dear daughter Irene shared my enthusiasm and joy.
The lengthy train ride, arriving in Austin in the middle of the night did not dampen our spirits. We took off following day toward Del Rio,TX.
Our first visit was historic Seminole Canyon S.P.

On the way to Texas!

Spring finally arrived and the daffodils are smiling. Tomorrow I'll hop on the Amtrak to meet my daughter in Austin. Following day we will drive toward Big Bend National Park stopping to photograph interesting places like Seminole Canyon State Park and Judge Bean historic place, as the time will allow. Then Big Bend - with all its beauty and majesty.

Back in Madison

My dear travel companions, now that I am back in Madison and getting ready to go to Big Bend N.P. with my dear daughter, Irene, I will close this travelog to pack and get ready for my next photo adventure.

I will complete and edit my Costa Rica photos when I come back. Meanwhile you can click on the link: "My Trip to Costa Rica"on the right side of this page. Julia

Iguana, frogs

Resplendent Quetzal

Joan was quick to spot this magnificent Resplendent Quetzal

Tropical birds