Perhaps you've noticed the small, brightly-colored birds hanging out in the valley this spring. They have a red-orange head and face, a yellow body and a black back and wings. They're actually male Western Tanagers. And they seem to be everywhere this year. Begging the question, why?
I decided to call my local newspaper, and ended up leaving a message for the editor I worked with on the hiking articles from last year. I said something like, "Hi, with all the Western Tanagers in the valley this year I thought you might want to do an article on why there are so many. A lot of people have been talking them. I don't have to write the article, but will if you want me to. Let me know."
Well, the editor called back and said, go for it. (With the deadline being the next evening.)
Long story short, I got busy and sleuthed out the answer to why there are so many Western Tanagers in Utah this year. The article printed today in the Outdoors Section. Here is the online link:
http://news.hjnews.com/features/outdoors/article_3fcc0e24-6fe4-11df-9f6f-001cc4c03286.html
The Bridgerland Audubon Society also has an article on their website written by Holly Strand of the Stokes Nature Center up Logan Canyon that explains the phenomenon as well. You can read it here:
http://www.bridgerlandaudubon.org/wildaboututah/100603westerntanager.htm
All in all I really enjoyed being in the birding element for a few days. It was nice getting updates from Utah Birdtalk about the sitings others were having across the state.
Happy birding!
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Friday, June 04, 2010
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I'd die without air conditioning!
I don't know about you, but I don't like the summer heat. I walk the dog in the morning (the earlier and cooler, the better) and then try to stay indoors the rest of the day. Most evenings, however, there is work to be done out in the yard or garden. Mostly Hubby does the outdoor stuff, but tonight I'll pick green beans for the first time this season.
Coming up in August I'll be creating a website to sell copies of Unle Ken Hansen's little book, "Don't let the stuff you leave behind destroy your family." It contains a great way to equitably divide the personal effects of an estate among siblings. Unle Ken has sold or given away over 1,000 books, and I'd like to see what the wonders of the internet can do to keep even more families happily together once their parents pass away. When I get the site up and running, I'll be sure to post an entry with a link. (BTW, does anyone in my neck of the woods have experience creating a website? The last time I created one was back in 2000. Help!)
Yesterday I took an hour or so and culled past posts from this blog for possible inclusion in a book manuscript. I told Hubby my title might be something like, "Thoughts of a Mormon Housewife." He said that he didn't think that would sell very many books. (Thanks, Honey.) So here are some alternate titles. Tell me which you think might entice someone to buy my book.
Love Handles: It's not how we look, but how we love that matters
Temporary Serenity: A Mormon Mother's Quest for Contentment
Lemonade: Making the Most of Life's Lemons
I'd Like to Die Laughing!
Actually, now that I've written those titles, I want to write each one of them. Hey, as long as I'm talking about rejected book titles, I have another one that's been shot down. I've been thinking about writing something along the lines of, "Patience Please! (Pretty please)." I have a friend, I'll call her Linda, who thinks that I should bag writing a book about patience. "No one wants to read a book on patience," she said. "They're either already patient, or they don't want to be patient." Which is probably good advice. Besides, I've yet to acquire a book's worth of patience. And who knows exactly when that will happen.
Enjoy your air-conditioning. (I will be!)
Coming up in August I'll be creating a website to sell copies of Unle Ken Hansen's little book, "Don't let the stuff you leave behind destroy your family." It contains a great way to equitably divide the personal effects of an estate among siblings. Unle Ken has sold or given away over 1,000 books, and I'd like to see what the wonders of the internet can do to keep even more families happily together once their parents pass away. When I get the site up and running, I'll be sure to post an entry with a link. (BTW, does anyone in my neck of the woods have experience creating a website? The last time I created one was back in 2000. Help!)
Yesterday I took an hour or so and culled past posts from this blog for possible inclusion in a book manuscript. I told Hubby my title might be something like, "Thoughts of a Mormon Housewife." He said that he didn't think that would sell very many books. (Thanks, Honey.) So here are some alternate titles. Tell me which you think might entice someone to buy my book.
Love Handles: It's not how we look, but how we love that matters
Temporary Serenity: A Mormon Mother's Quest for Contentment
Lemonade: Making the Most of Life's Lemons
I'd Like to Die Laughing!
Actually, now that I've written those titles, I want to write each one of them. Hey, as long as I'm talking about rejected book titles, I have another one that's been shot down. I've been thinking about writing something along the lines of, "Patience Please! (Pretty please)." I have a friend, I'll call her Linda, who thinks that I should bag writing a book about patience. "No one wants to read a book on patience," she said. "They're either already patient, or they don't want to be patient." Which is probably good advice. Besides, I've yet to acquire a book's worth of patience. And who knows exactly when that will happen.
Enjoy your air-conditioning. (I will be!)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Socks (Free-write from 5.28.09)
Socks have a way of sneaking up on me, hiding there under the dust ruffle of my daughter's bed. There's another pair, dirty and inside-out, beside the grass-stained shoes Loula Belle wore to mow the lawn.
I wonder if socks started the game of hide-and-seek. I can almost hear some ancient, befuddled housewife mumbling to herself, "Now where is the match to this sorry black sock?"
If I were a sock, where would I hide?
At the bottom of a sleeping bag that will soon be stuffed and stored until the next camping trip.
Wadded up at the toe of a soggy snow boot.
Tucked under the covers at the foot of the bed.
Hidden in plain sight at the back of the drawer containing clean and sorted socks.
Or, just maybe I'd start a game of Sardines and slide between the wrap-over cushion at the end of the couch. As one end fills with fellow dingy and worn siblings, some would need to hide together at the other end of the couch.
Those sardine socks stayed hidden for years. I only found them when we sold the house. Needing a better grip when moving the couch, I slid my arm into the wrap-over sanctuary. There were almost a dozen socks. Which, by the way, no longer even fit the boy who had hidden them there.
Did the invention of modern laundry methods increase the amount of missing socks? Or did socks go AWOL before the introduction of the electric dryer?
In societies and cultures that wear only sandals, what goes missing instead of socks? Are there even societies that don't wear socks? Are there mothers somewhere who have never even seen a sock?
If such a place exists, I just might consider moving there.
I wonder if socks started the game of hide-and-seek. I can almost hear some ancient, befuddled housewife mumbling to herself, "Now where is the match to this sorry black sock?"
If I were a sock, where would I hide?
At the bottom of a sleeping bag that will soon be stuffed and stored until the next camping trip.
Wadded up at the toe of a soggy snow boot.
Tucked under the covers at the foot of the bed.
Hidden in plain sight at the back of the drawer containing clean and sorted socks.
Or, just maybe I'd start a game of Sardines and slide between the wrap-over cushion at the end of the couch. As one end fills with fellow dingy and worn siblings, some would need to hide together at the other end of the couch.
Those sardine socks stayed hidden for years. I only found them when we sold the house. Needing a better grip when moving the couch, I slid my arm into the wrap-over sanctuary. There were almost a dozen socks. Which, by the way, no longer even fit the boy who had hidden them there.
Did the invention of modern laundry methods increase the amount of missing socks? Or did socks go AWOL before the introduction of the electric dryer?
In societies and cultures that wear only sandals, what goes missing instead of socks? Are there even societies that don't wear socks? Are there mothers somewhere who have never even seen a sock?
If such a place exists, I just might consider moving there.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Blogging is a guilty pleasure!
Here are the things I should be doing:
Writing up an entry from the Friends of the North Logan Library for May's North Logan Newsletter.
Typing up the Young Women acitivies for April to post on the bulletin board.
E-mailing those activities to Sis. Robinson for the ward newsletter and Sunday bulletin.
Distributing the new food items for our 72-hour kits. (We rotate them at General Conference in the spring.)
Taking a nice long walk with the dog.
But what am I doing instead? Blogging! And it feels great!
As you've probably noticed, I haven't been a very consistent blogger lately. But I'm getting the feeling that I'm about to make a comeback.
Earlier in the week while walking the dog I saw a young cat on a porch spying on a flock of house finches twittering in a nearby bush. I wanted to write a poem about it. I WANTED TO WRITE! It's been far too long since I've wanted to write. Just for fun. To stetch my flabby neurons and get them firing again.
Because, here's the thing, I love to write. Sometimes as I'm going about my day I find that I'm thinking my thoughts as a mental composition -- rearranging words, adding a little more description. The grocery list and weekly menu is no longer enough. I need to return to blogging.
It just feels good!
Writing up an entry from the Friends of the North Logan Library for May's North Logan Newsletter.
Typing up the Young Women acitivies for April to post on the bulletin board.
E-mailing those activities to Sis. Robinson for the ward newsletter and Sunday bulletin.
Distributing the new food items for our 72-hour kits. (We rotate them at General Conference in the spring.)
Taking a nice long walk with the dog.
But what am I doing instead? Blogging! And it feels great!
As you've probably noticed, I haven't been a very consistent blogger lately. But I'm getting the feeling that I'm about to make a comeback.
Earlier in the week while walking the dog I saw a young cat on a porch spying on a flock of house finches twittering in a nearby bush. I wanted to write a poem about it. I WANTED TO WRITE! It's been far too long since I've wanted to write. Just for fun. To stetch my flabby neurons and get them firing again.
Because, here's the thing, I love to write. Sometimes as I'm going about my day I find that I'm thinking my thoughts as a mental composition -- rearranging words, adding a little more description. The grocery list and weekly menu is no longer enough. I need to return to blogging.
It just feels good!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Overweight Housewife Hiking to Health
I sent the following write-up to the features editor of my local paper. I'll let you know of they print it. (Keep your fingers crossed.)
---------------
Everyone has a claim to fame. Mine is that I’m Google’s number one overweight housewife. Meaning, if you type the terms “overweight housewife” in a Google search, my blog will be the first result listed. I should be embarrassed about that, but I’m not. Something in my personality makes me perfectly willing to look bad if it will help someone else feel better. For example, when I end up at the grocery store without my hair done or make-up on, I put a big smile on my face and tell myself that I’m making someone’s day. When other women see me, I just know they’re going to feel a whole lot better about themselves.
I’m bringing my strange sense of altruism to the pages of this newspaper. This year I’m planning to go on two showshoe/hiking outings each month in training to climb the Wellsville Mountains in early September. Basically I’ve subscribed to the idea that things which don’t kill you will make you stronger. Or at the very least, they’ll help you drop a few pounds.
My journey to the top of the Wellsville Mountain range started with a little hike up Green Canyon. I chose this hike first for two reasons. One, I’m familiar with it. I’ve done it before. And two, it’s fairly easy. I didn’t want to keel over from a heart attack on my first outing.
As I pulled into the parking lot at the mouth of Green Canyon, I could see three women just starting to snowshoe up the hillside trail. A couple cars up from my parking spot another woman seemed to be converting a bike trailer into a ski trailer. I’ve never seen anyone pull their child behind them up the canyon while they cross-country skied. Just the thought of it made me break out in a cold sweat.
While my sister and I waited for my friend Tina to arrive, I checked the contents of my fanny pack: two bottles of water, three plastic bags for collecting doggy doo, a hat, gloves, wallet and small emergency mirror to be used for flashing sunlight into the eyes of search pilots sent to rescue our party of hikers should we somehow lose our bearings and become lost. All appeared to be in order. Moments later Tina arrived, and before long our all-female group of three hikers and three dogs headed up the trail.
We left the snowshoes in the truck and trudged cheerfully up the packed, icy slope. The dogs alternated between racing ahead and charging straight back at us. Every time they ran at me I’d stop for a second and brace myself for impact. Four knee surgeries are enough for me, thank you very much. I wasn’t about to let an exuberant dog disable me at the beginning of my hiking career.
From time to time we’d stop for a breather and a little water. My dog, Annie, continued trying to get her new found friends to engage in a little dog-wrestling in the snow, but had no takers. Tina told us the story of how Senator Bob Bennett’s office came to her rescue when she kept getting the run around from the U.S. passport application people. Time flew by, and after almost an hour my knees spoke up and told us it was time to head back down the canyon. They continued to complain as we made our way back to our vehicles.
It was just one hike, but already I’m feeling stronger. Not physically, per se, but mentally. I’m proving to myself one hike at a time that being an overweight housewife with a bum knee can’t stop me from living a healthy life.
---------------
Everyone has a claim to fame. Mine is that I’m Google’s number one overweight housewife. Meaning, if you type the terms “overweight housewife” in a Google search, my blog will be the first result listed. I should be embarrassed about that, but I’m not. Something in my personality makes me perfectly willing to look bad if it will help someone else feel better. For example, when I end up at the grocery store without my hair done or make-up on, I put a big smile on my face and tell myself that I’m making someone’s day. When other women see me, I just know they’re going to feel a whole lot better about themselves.
I’m bringing my strange sense of altruism to the pages of this newspaper. This year I’m planning to go on two showshoe/hiking outings each month in training to climb the Wellsville Mountains in early September. Basically I’ve subscribed to the idea that things which don’t kill you will make you stronger. Or at the very least, they’ll help you drop a few pounds.
My journey to the top of the Wellsville Mountain range started with a little hike up Green Canyon. I chose this hike first for two reasons. One, I’m familiar with it. I’ve done it before. And two, it’s fairly easy. I didn’t want to keel over from a heart attack on my first outing.
As I pulled into the parking lot at the mouth of Green Canyon, I could see three women just starting to snowshoe up the hillside trail. A couple cars up from my parking spot another woman seemed to be converting a bike trailer into a ski trailer. I’ve never seen anyone pull their child behind them up the canyon while they cross-country skied. Just the thought of it made me break out in a cold sweat.
While my sister and I waited for my friend Tina to arrive, I checked the contents of my fanny pack: two bottles of water, three plastic bags for collecting doggy doo, a hat, gloves, wallet and small emergency mirror to be used for flashing sunlight into the eyes of search pilots sent to rescue our party of hikers should we somehow lose our bearings and become lost. All appeared to be in order. Moments later Tina arrived, and before long our all-female group of three hikers and three dogs headed up the trail.
We left the snowshoes in the truck and trudged cheerfully up the packed, icy slope. The dogs alternated between racing ahead and charging straight back at us. Every time they ran at me I’d stop for a second and brace myself for impact. Four knee surgeries are enough for me, thank you very much. I wasn’t about to let an exuberant dog disable me at the beginning of my hiking career.
From time to time we’d stop for a breather and a little water. My dog, Annie, continued trying to get her new found friends to engage in a little dog-wrestling in the snow, but had no takers. Tina told us the story of how Senator Bob Bennett’s office came to her rescue when she kept getting the run around from the U.S. passport application people. Time flew by, and after almost an hour my knees spoke up and told us it was time to head back down the canyon. They continued to complain as we made our way back to our vehicles.
It was just one hike, but already I’m feeling stronger. Not physically, per se, but mentally. I’m proving to myself one hike at a time that being an overweight housewife with a bum knee can’t stop me from living a healthy life.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Great Hiking Plan
Here's the general plan for upcoming snowshoe/hiking outings. I've got dates assigned for each outing and will be happy to e-mail you the detailed plan if you'd like to join me for any/all of the hikes. My e-mail is: hansenchristie@yahoo.com.
January
Mouth of Green Canyon / Bunchgrass to White Pine Creek Trail
February
Blind Hollow Trail / Jardine Juniper
March
The Wind Caves / climb to the reflectors on the East mountains
April
The Crimson Trail / Preston Valley to Beirdneau trail
May
Green Canyon to Mt. Elmer trail / Willow Creek to Little Cottonwood Creek loop
June
Richards Hollow trail / High Creek trail
July
Bloomington Lake / Tony Grove to Wood Camp Hollow
August
Mt. Naomi / Cherry Creek Canyon trail
September 12th
The Wellsville Cone via Deep Canyon trail
And here's the pitch I e-mailed to the Herald Journal this morning. Think they'll go for it? (I'll let you know.)
--------------------
Dear Editor (personalized, of course)
This year I’m planning to go on two showshoe/hiking outings each month in training to climb the Wellsville Mountains in early September. I’ll be blogging about this experience but also thought that your readers might enjoy reading about the hiking exploits of a fairly average overweight homemaker.
I’m using my 2004 edition of Cache Trails as a starting point but also plan to utilize the folks at the Cache Ranger District and USGS maps.
Last year you featured the fitness stories of three men who were trying to lose weight. As a HJ reader, I found it personally motivating. Maybe my quest to conquer the Wellsvilles could serve a similar function for other readers. I’m referring to the Wellsville hike as my personal Everest, and the great thing about making them a part of a fitness goal is that I can look out my window and see them every day. Believe it or not, I’m even open to tracking my weight and fitness stats in the pages of the Herald Journal. (If Oprah can share her weight on national television, I can share mine in my local paper.)
This may be a good fit for your Health page or Thursday’s Outdoor section. I’m open to either option and would be happy to provide you with twice-a-month articles and photos. Of course I also realize that reduced frequency may be an easier fit for your editorial plans.
Let me know if you’re interested.
January
Mouth of Green Canyon / Bunchgrass to White Pine Creek Trail
February
Blind Hollow Trail / Jardine Juniper
March
The Wind Caves / climb to the reflectors on the East mountains
April
The Crimson Trail / Preston Valley to Beirdneau trail
May
Green Canyon to Mt. Elmer trail / Willow Creek to Little Cottonwood Creek loop
June
Richards Hollow trail / High Creek trail
July
Bloomington Lake / Tony Grove to Wood Camp Hollow
August
Mt. Naomi / Cherry Creek Canyon trail
September 12th
The Wellsville Cone via Deep Canyon trail
And here's the pitch I e-mailed to the Herald Journal this morning. Think they'll go for it? (I'll let you know.)
--------------------
Dear Editor (personalized, of course)
This year I’m planning to go on two showshoe/hiking outings each month in training to climb the Wellsville Mountains in early September. I’ll be blogging about this experience but also thought that your readers might enjoy reading about the hiking exploits of a fairly average overweight homemaker.
I’m using my 2004 edition of Cache Trails as a starting point but also plan to utilize the folks at the Cache Ranger District and USGS maps.
Last year you featured the fitness stories of three men who were trying to lose weight. As a HJ reader, I found it personally motivating. Maybe my quest to conquer the Wellsvilles could serve a similar function for other readers. I’m referring to the Wellsville hike as my personal Everest, and the great thing about making them a part of a fitness goal is that I can look out my window and see them every day. Believe it or not, I’m even open to tracking my weight and fitness stats in the pages of the Herald Journal. (If Oprah can share her weight on national television, I can share mine in my local paper.)
This may be a good fit for your Health page or Thursday’s Outdoor section. I’m open to either option and would be happy to provide you with twice-a-month articles and photos. Of course I also realize that reduced frequency may be an easier fit for your editorial plans.
Let me know if you’re interested.
Monday, September 15, 2008
I'd Like to Buy an Alphasmart Neo
Don't look now, but I'm starting on a book -- "Too Young For a Journal: Earliest Memories From My Mormon Childhood." It may never get published, but I hope my kids and family enjoy reading it.
In an effort to write more, I'd like to buy a used Alphasmart Neo. I'm watching a couple auctions on ebay at the moment. I've heard wonderful things about the Neo. It's supposed to be a real boon for writers. And I am a writer. I am a writer. Yes I am!
If you know of anyone who would like to sell a Neo, let me know.
Note: I may post some of my book on this blog.
In an effort to write more, I'd like to buy a used Alphasmart Neo. I'm watching a couple auctions on ebay at the moment. I've heard wonderful things about the Neo. It's supposed to be a real boon for writers. And I am a writer. I am a writer. Yes I am!
If you know of anyone who would like to sell a Neo, let me know.
Note: I may post some of my book on this blog.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I finally finished this project . . .
This is a 4x6 piece of masonite that I turned into a chalkboard with magnetic metal tiles. It's hanging in the craft room. Someday I dream of my craft room becoming my home office, where I'll write charming books for children and adults. (I'd have to use the room as my office because my books would sell so many copies that I'd need a home office as a tax write-off. I'm dreaming big here.)
In fact, this board could be used as a writing device. I could post photos or magazine scraps of people who are stand-ins for the characters in the book I'm working on. On the chalkboard I could draw a map or houseplan or barnplan to help me stay grounded in the locale of my latest writing endeavor.
Until my dreams of fiction writing take off, this board will be where I stick up fabric scraps and sketch designs for bags and totes that I make from old levis. Or I could let the kids play hangman. Or post funny quotes. Or just doodle for fun.
What would you use a chalkboard for?
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Column-writing dog needs your help . . .
Annie is going to write a newspaper column, but she needs your help. You see, she's preparing sample columns of "Annie Investigates" to send to prospective papers. What we're looking for are quirky questions that Annie can investigate and answer. Questions that children and adults will want to know the answers to.Annie is currently working on writing up her findings to the question, "Where is it polite to burp after dinner?" Another topic that has piqued her curiosity is how the cyclists on the Tour de France relieve themselves during the grueling race. (Annie loves bicycles!)
If you've got a question that you've always wanted to know the answer to, send it to Annie courtesy of this blog or my e-mail address. We'll do the investigating.
(We'll also let you know when we've got Annie's proposal packet ready, and you can send us the contact information for your hometown newspaper so you can read every tantilizing article.)
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