The BlogFrog

Check out my sidebar to learn a little more about The Blog Frog.  I think it might be pretty cool.  If you would like to, I would love for you to link your blog to mine.  Let me know and I will gladly post your button if you have one.  If not, thats cool, too.  I'm just glad that you stopped by and took a few moments to read my ramblings.  Be blessed...

Tour of The Yosemite Pioneer History Center at Wawona Part 2

Chris Jorgensen painting Wawona Tunnel Tree

This is our 2nd stop on The Yosemite Pioneer History Center Tour.   It is the artist, Chris Jorgensen's log cabin, called The Bungalow.   Mr. Jorgensen built his cabin in 1903 on the north bank of the Merced River across from the Sentinel Hotel in the Old Upper Village. The cabin was a one-story, one-room structure.  The gable roof was wood-shingled with the front decorative gable end projecting ten feet out from the front wall of the cabin which created a wonderful covered porch area.  The Bungalow was the third structure that Jorgensen built in the valley.  He had built an earlier cottage as a residence in 1900 as well as a separate painting studio.  Jorgensen would remain in this 2nd residence until 1918.

Photo by:  Daniella Thompson

 The cabin was locked up tight but I was able to take a picture through one of the side windows--sorry for the blurriness.

It appears that the National Park Service (established in 1917) may have had something to do with Mr. Jorgensen vacating his cabin in 1918.  It turns out that the NPS had spent a summer in what they felt were inadequate tent quarters in 1917.   Then in 1918,  Mr. Jorgensen suddenly "decides" to move out of his hand-hewn log home and the NPS moves on in.  I don't know, sounds kind of fishy to me.  What do you think?

Anyway, the cabin was made into a clubhouse for members of the National Park Service who converted it into a kitchen and a dining room.  This arrangement lasted until 1921 when the Yosemite Museum was established and took up residence there.  Mr. Jorgensen donated his extensive Native American basket collection to the museum in 1923 and upon his death in 1935 they also acquired 198 oil and watercolor paintings from his family.  The paintings were on display until 1966 when the museum was closed for use as administrative offices.  Unfortunately, since the closure of the museum, neither Mr. Jorgensen's paintings or his other collections have been available for public viewing.

In 1962 the Park Service moved The Bungalow to The Yosemite Pioneer History Museum in the mistaken belief that it was Mr. Jorgensen's painting studio.  Unfortunately, his earlier residence and the actual studio had been razed by the time they figured out their mistake.  Ah, the beauty of our bureaucracy at work.  Oh well, I think The Bungalow is a treasure and I'm glad it survived.

If Only these Stones Could Talk

This is the large rock formation above the bigger pond on the ranch.  Actually right now, it is not much more than a puddle, but when it is like this it is easier to move up into the rocks and see the caves a little better.  Although there is a rather grumpy badger that lives around here and one has to be careful not to run into him while exploring.

This rock formation is just amazing.  I can't even begin to imagine how long it has been here.

This is a picture from last year after the spring runoffs.  It gives you an idea of how tall the rocks are above you when you are down there near the caves.  This is such a special place.  It just has that feel to it.  I know I am not describing it well, I hope you have an idea of what I am talking about.  A special place that really speaks to you.  Where you feel connected to something much more than yourself.

Where is that special place for you?

There are signs all over that it has been enjoyed and utilized by many people before us.  These are some of the grinding holes we have discovered in the rocks out in front of this pond area:

When the water level is high and the water is flowing you can almost imagine one of the many tribes of Indians that populated this area camping here and going about their daily tasks.  These are three of the tribes that I know about:

 

The Chukchansi

 

The Miwok

The Mono

If only these stones could talk...can you imagine what they might have to say?

Looking at Witchy Datebooks & Calendars for 2010

I would forget my head if it were not attached to my body--seriously...I would.  I have to leave myself notes all over the place to remember things.  You know:  school field trips, meetings, dr.'s and dentists appointments.  If I can keep the information in front of my face for a few days then usually it's all good and I started thinking that maybe it would be nice to have this information in one spot that I could keep with me--I know--brilliant, right, LOL.  I have never had a planner or a day book before but I think that that would be just the thing.  So, I have been looking at a few and these are the ones that I am contemplating.  Any ideas...good or bad...about any of them?

7th House's Seasons of the Witch Daily

7th House's Seasons of the Witch Weekly


7th House's Seasons on the Wall 2010

Llewellyn's Witch's Calendar

Llewellyn's Witch's Datebook 

Llewellyn's 2010 Witches Companion: An Almanac for Everyday Living

Llewellyn's Astrological 2010 Calendar

We'Moon 2010 Datebook

Call of the Goddess 2010 Wall Calendar

Myth & Magick 2010 Calendar

Any that I've missed?  Please share...

Maudy

I have called my mother, Maudy, for as long as I can remember.  Why?  Well, I have no idea.  We're just weird like that.  My sister's name is Lindsey and I  have called her Leonard for years.  I think I got this habit from my step-dad.  He used to make up little names for everyone.  My first husbands made up name was Phantom--good one.

This post was not originally supposed to be about our weird family habits, LOL.  It was supposed to be about my mother and the fact that on January 10th, she will be turning 60 years old.  For some reason I am having a really hard time with this--could it be because it means that next year, I myself will be turning 40?  Oh, I dunno...could be...

Anyway, selfish idiosyncrasies aside, my two siblings and I have been trying to decide what to do for my mother's big day.  So far, we have decided that we want to surprise her with a weekend at one of the resort-type places up near the ranch and Yosemite and invite her sister down from Washington to share the day with all of us.

We had originally planned to have the shindig at The Wawona Hotel in Yosemite opened in April of 1879.

It is just gorgeous.  The whole feel of the place is just charming and peaceful.

The place totally reminds me of the resort in the movie Dirty Dancing.  I almost expected to see Baby come walking by...

Unfortunately, we found out that the hotel closes down in a couple weeks and stays closed until March or so for the winter season.  We were bummed!  My mom just loves the place and it would have been perfect.

Oh well, the search continues.  I'll let you know what we come up with.  And we better come up with something quick. 

Old Man Tree

This is Old Man Tree.  He has stood in this spot on this ranch for many, many years.  He watches over things around here.  He has seen and heard many things.  He ain't talking, though.

New Moon

Have you seen it yet?  I went with a group of girlfriends (we all went to see Twilight together, too) last Tuesday night.  We waited for the craziness to die down a little bit--as in people camping out in line.  I mean, ya, I like the Twilight series but it is too damn cold to stand in line for 24+ hours to see a movie. 

I was a little surprised that the movie had just come out the Friday before we saw it and by Tuesday the theater was actually pretty empty.  I was a little nervous that maybe that was saying something about the movie and that we were about to be really disappointed.  The first movie was okay.  It was neat to see the book brought to life--but it could have been done so much better.  I was pretty happy when I heard that there was going to be a new director for New Moon--and then when I found out that it would be the guy who directed The Golden Compass I was stoked. 

I don't want to give anything away for those who have not seen the movie--or read the books--but I have to say, New Moon was head and shoulders above Twilight.  And, I am and always have been Team Edward...but...damn!  Jacob is HOOOOTTTTT!  (and yes, I know I am being very cougarish right now)  I was finding it very hard not to root for him during the movie. 

Have you seen the movie yet?  Well, what are you waiting for...go on...you know you want to...LOL