tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57502822996278941942024-03-13T15:41:31.379-07:00Mt. Hope ChroniclesHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comBlogger2407125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-14262257808932016762018-08-05T16:02:00.001-07:002018-08-05T16:02:40.708-07:00Go Back and Look<p><a title="Look @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43452598412/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Look @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/43452598412_f2a4749c47_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Pay attention.</p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-87685662239710853022018-07-19T18:51:00.001-07:002018-07-19T18:51:46.673-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 38: Triangulation Peak<p><a title="Triangulation Peak @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28615032697/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/28615032697_3c2be1fe30_o.jpg"></a></p><p>On July 2nd (wahoo, I’m caught up to early July!), my four kids, Holly, Ivy, and I drove to Triangulation Peak, unsure of what the weather would hold or whether we’d have a view.</p><p><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2016/06/triangulation-peak-adventure.html">When we hiked this trail two years ago</a> we had difficulties finding the trailhead, but we found it without problems this time around (though the road itself is rough).</p><p><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2016/06/triangulation-peak-adventure.html">When we hiked this trail two years ago</a> it ended up being one of our favorite hiking experiences, <em>even though</em> we were missing the two most exciting parts of the hike, Mt. Jefferson and Boca Cave. This year we had the mountain view and we visited the cave (a highlight of all our hiking adventures), but Triangulation Peak itself was less green and lush due to the recent fire in the area. </p><p><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2016/06/triangulation-peak-adventure.html">When we hiked this trail two years ago Lola was only 5 and struggled to hike to the top</a>, but she’s a hiking pro this year (though she hasn’t lost the attitude).</p><p>Below you can see some of the fire damage on the left. Can you see the child climbing on the rock in distance?</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784913264/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/42784913264_b2b56ae8a0_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We didn’t know until we hit the summit whether we’d be able to see Mt. Jefferson due to the clouds, but check this out. It was <em>right there</em>. I may have<em> wahooo</em>-ed. [“When was the last time <em>you</em> went wahoo?” “I’m <em>sure</em> I don’t know.” Ha!]</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784911654/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/42784911654_940bd2a344_o.jpg"></a></p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 44 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42596914845/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="800" alt="Triangulation Peak 44 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/42596914845_f68fa017f8_o.jpg"></a><a title="Triangulation Peak 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784912494/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/42784912494_fe01dfefd2_o.jpg"></a></p><p>This hike has a 360 degree top-of-the-world view like Iron Mountain, but unlike Iron Mountain it feels very remote, isolated. No platform built on the top of the peak for viewers. Just wilderness. I think I prefer Triangulation Peak. </p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28615031437/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/28615031437_bfd4739fbb_o.jpg"></a></p><p>After playing around and eating lunch at the summit we set off to find Boca Cave, not entirely sure where we were going.</p><p>We found what we were pretty sure was the trail and descended into the charred underworld. At least that is what it felt like. So much dust and ash. </p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 11 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43501299221/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 11 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/43501299221_3c505b7dc6_o.jpg"></a></p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28615027047/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1801/28615027047_c7a4427743_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Mt. Jefferson stayed in view as we descended the steep and slippery path.</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28615028537/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/28615028537_7954b1f6c3_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We rounded the corner, saw the looming rock formation, and then magicalness (as Levi would say). </p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 15 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784907954/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="1558" alt="Triangulation Peak 15 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/855/42784907954_47e1bea61a_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We stayed in the cave for a long time, savoring the novel experience. The kids did a bunch of climbing. I took a gazillion photos looking out of the cave.</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 14 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43501298161/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 14 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/43501298161_030614439f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Triangulation Peak 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784908934/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/851/42784908934_dda827914b_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Boca Cave was definitly one of the big highlights of our hiking adventures this year. </p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 17 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43501296241/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 17 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/43501296241_ce0968496b_o.jpg"></a></p><p>After quite some time we headed back up before we could head down the main trail.</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 18 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42596918155/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="800" alt="Triangulation Peak 18 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/941/42596918155_9fc4a5d2fc_o.jpg"></a></p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784910404/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/926/42784910404_ac495cab6c_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We enjoyed more views of Mt. Jefferson in the increasingly sunny day.</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 19 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43501295121/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 19 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/853/43501295121_f7790d85e4_o.jpg"></a><a title="Triangulation Peak 20 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42596917155/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 20 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/838/42596917155_18db2a2804_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We noticed the contrasting lush green and wildflowers on our way down the trail.</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 21 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43501293301/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 21 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/43501293301_df8140baec_o.jpg"></a><a title="Triangulation Peak 23 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29630457878/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 23 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1761/29630457878_44a6c6656f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Triangulation Peak 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42784914054/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/42784914054_98f61a0437_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Check out the spikes on the topside of these leaves!</p><p><a title="Triangulation Peak 22 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42596915835/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Triangulation Peak 22 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/42596915835_229dd5b2c7_o.jpg"></a></p><p><a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/triangulation-peak">Triangulation Peak</a> remains a favorite. Over 4.5 miles and more than 1,000 feet in elevation gain (though I’m not certain that includes the Boca Cave trail). </p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-77669329876901539292018-07-18T18:10:00.001-07:002018-07-18T18:10:12.027-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 37: McDowell Creek Falls (again)<p><a title="McDowell Creek Falls Sun and Swim @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28612081537/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="McDowell Creek Falls Sun and Swim @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/28612081537_8d1aebd0d2_o.jpg"></a></p><p>June 29th was my fifth hike at McDowell Creek Falls this year. It’s one of my favorite close(ish) locations, and I appreciate seeing the trail and falls in all different seasons and weather. This hike was sunny and warm and the kids were able to wade a bit. We took the loop twice, as usual. </p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-21346125049069913252018-07-18T15:26:00.001-07:002018-07-18T15:26:17.009-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 36: Horse Rock Ridge (again)<p><a title="Horse Rock Ridge June @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42779803314/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge June @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/42779803314_6f43564a98_o.jpg"></a></p><p>On June 25th I returned to Horse Rock Ridge for the third time this year. <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/07/52-hike-challenge-hike-25-horse-rock.html">The first was cool and cloudy</a>, but we still had a view. The second hike, Holly and I were completely in the clouds (we could hardly see in front of us as we were hiking). This third hike was hot and sunny! Lola, Holly, Ivy, Monet, Bella, Sophia, Christina, Sarah, Hudson, Houston and I hiked the 4 miles and 1,000+ foot elevation gain. </p><p>The grass was brown, but the wildflowers were beautiful. We had views of Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters at the end of the hike. </p><p><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43448656992/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/43448656992_95e68d6c70_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Again, we had the trail completely to ourselves. </p><p><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42591753105/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/42591753105_8fc9680eb9_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43448659062/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/43448659062_4ecf74d1e4_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42591751685/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/42591751685_536c6d79c7_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicle" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42779804294/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicle" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/42779804294_bdd1831446_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We finished off our hot afternoon with a swim at McKercher Park on the way home.</p><a title="McKercher @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42591744845/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="McKercher @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/42591744845_31f4954c4e_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-65686697320700364442018-07-18T14:57:00.001-07:002018-07-18T14:57:16.044-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 35: Iron Mountain<p><a title="Iron Mountain @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41687934370/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Iron Mountain @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/41687934370_e30ae09f6b_o.jpg"></a></p><p>On June 18th, we made our yearly excursion to the top of Iron Mountain [<a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2017/06/summer-school-iron-mountain.html">pics from last year</a>]. We tried to schedule it carefully. We wanted a clear, warm day. This particular Monday was supposed to be hot and sunny, so we started early. In the cold and rain. So much for planning. The kids and I were joined by Char and her kids, Sarah and her kids, and Holly with Ivy and Ilex.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/iron-mountain-trail">Iron Mountain</a> trail is only 3 miles, but it’s a strenuous 1,300 foot elevation gain. Straight up. Straight down. That tiny ribbon in the upper left of the above picture is the road where we started. </p><p>Even though our weather started out so cool and drizzly, we still had a great view from the summit. The Three Sisters are below.</p><p><a title="Iron Mountain Three Sisters @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41687932830/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Iron Mountain Three Sisters @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/41687932830_3ea64bfa3c_o.jpg"></a></p><p>And Mt. Jefferson:</p><a title="Iron Mountain Mt. Jefferson @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29624984708/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Iron Mountain Mt. Jefferson @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/29624984708_5e9605d818_o.jpg"></a><a title="Iron Mountain Lola @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41687933550/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Iron Mountain Lola @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/41687933550_632b724544_o.jpg"></a><a title="Iron Mountain Holly and Char @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43448189312/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Iron Mountain Holly and Char @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/43448189312_1ba0bc4ff0_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-9319887201919863982018-07-15T20:02:00.001-07:002018-07-18T18:11:48.476-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 34: Cascadia and Soda Creek Falls<p><a title="Cascadia and Soda Creek Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42721219534/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cascadia and Soda Creek Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/42721219534_649832397e_o.jpg"></a></p><p>On June 14th, Holly, Char, and I (no kids) hiked at Cascadia on a cool morning. We first hiked to the <a href="https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/cascadia_cave/#.W0v2f9UzphE">Cascadia Cave to see the petroglyphs</a>.</p><p><a title="Cascadia Cave @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42721218944/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cascadia Cave @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1807/42721218944_e092699123_o.jpg"></a></p><p>It’s really just an overhang, but apparently this was a spiritual place for two indigenous tribes. Petroglyphs were a first on this hiking challenge.</p><p><a title="Cascadia Petroglyphs @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42721217794/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cascadia Petroglyphs @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/42721217794_2e40c892a9_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We walked along the river for a bit. I love how the water has worn patterns in the rock. The wildflowers were in bloom.</p><p><a title="Cascadia @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42721220394/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cascadia @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/42721220394_44b845e568_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We then took the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/lower-soda-creek-falls-trail">1.4 mile out-and-back trail to the Lower Soda Creek Falls</a> where the water sprayed us and the sun peaked out while we picnicked. It was a rare adult-only hike, and we enjoyed our quiet time.</p><p><a title="Cascadia Soda Creek Falls Hike @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41629551270/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cascadia Soda Creek Falls Hike @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/41629551270_06a80533ca_o.jpg"></a></p><a title="Cascadia Soda Creek Falls Collage @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42721216924/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="1764" alt="Cascadia Soda Creek Falls Collage @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/42721216924_35f1b00b10_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-75269578995220630692018-07-13T07:12:00.000-07:002018-07-13T07:12:00.321-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 33: Marys Peak<p><a title="Marys Peak @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42657739784/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="800" alt="Marys Peak @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/42657739784_08df1b0d5f_o.jpg"></a></p><p>June 11th, hike 33.</p><p>From the parking lot near the summit, we took North Ridge Trail down, Tie Trail across, East Ridge Trail up, and then Summit Trail to the Peak for a total of about 3.5-4 miles. (A longer loop is shown <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/marys-peak-east-ridge-trail">at this link</a>.) This was our <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2017/05/summer-school-marys-peak.html">second time hiking this trail</a>, but our first this year. </p><p>I started the morning by whacking my head on the rear hatch of my Suburban and bleeding all over. That was the extent of the drama, however, and we (Char, Holly, and I with all our kids) had a gorgeous, misty, magical hike along the trail before the weather cleared and we had some sunshine and bright wildflowers at the top of the peak. </p><a title="Marys Peak 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325904502/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1808/43325904502_44762626cd_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 2 @ Mt. Hop Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42657738514/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 2 @ Mt. Hop Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/42657738514_4b4b6a383e_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42657737364/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/925/42657737364_3d447e8830_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325902082/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/43325902082_8a101f668a_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325901162/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/43325901162_7dc4581e96_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325899602/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/43325899602_62a7fc5b51_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42470251565/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/42470251565_b0ca042391_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325903152/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/43325903152_5c45e2c91f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 12 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42657735094/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 12 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/42657735094_09e53cfbde_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325896792/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1806/43325896792_27e3b48089_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 14 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42470247355/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 14 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/42470247355_31db2548d0_o.jpg"></a><a title="Marys Peak 15 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43325895802/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Marys Peak 15 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/43325895802_ab380e950c_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-22638481333160864102018-07-12T19:24:00.001-07:002018-07-12T19:24:35.735-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 32: Spencer Butte<a title="Spencer Butte 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41565394820/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Spencer Butte 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/41565394820_42690574d0_o.jpg"></a>
<p>[Hike #31 was homeschool day at Enchanted Forest with ALL the friends. <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2017/06/summer-bucket-list-enchanted-forest.html">We had so much fun last year</a> that we couldn’t wait to go back this year. The park was full of gobs of people we knew, the weather was perfect, and the day was everything we could have hoped for. Yes, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it a hike, but we were in the woods and we walked and walked, so I’m calling it.]</p><p>I was dragging my feet the morning of this hike, June 8th. Rain was in the forecast and I wanted to stay in bed, but my best friend convinced me that the two of us should zip down to <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/spencer-butte-trail">Spencer Butte</a> and hike anyway. I’m so glad she did! It ended up being a gorgeous morning.</p><p>I had been avoiding Spencer Butte because I knew it was a heavily trafficked trail (which I hate), but we were there fairly early and we took the difficult trail up to the summit. It was the most difficult trail we have hiked yet, ascending 700 feet in a rugged half mile. </p><p><a title="Spencer Butte 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41565396890/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Spencer Butte 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/41565396890_b4f88e6e77_o.jpg"></a></p><p>I think only one group of young people passed us on the trail up. </p><p>The trailhead sign had a picture of rattlesnakes, and I was a little paranoid about meeting up with one.</p><p><a title="Spencer Butte 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41565396270/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Spencer Butte 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/41565396270_b4e266084e_o.jpg"></a></p><p>We had a lovely view toward the top.</p><p><a title="Spencer Butte 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41565395620/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Spencer Butte 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/41565395620_1279aef52c_o.jpg"></a></p><p>As remote as the trail up had seemed, the summit was over-populated. It seems many people take the 1 mile moderate trail as an out-and-back hike rather than hiking the loop. On the way down on this longer moderate (wide and well-maintained) trail, we dodged people left and right. </p><p>And then it happened. A rattlesnake crossed the path in front of us. First snake, and certainly the first rattlesnake, we’ve seen on our hikes.</p><p>I’m glad we hiked this trail so we can check it off the list. I’m glad I spent a beautiful morning with my best friend. But I’d rather not hike this one again.</p><a title="Spence Butte 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41565397650/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Spence Butte 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/41565397650_13c1302992_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-85419883894255581202018-07-11T14:55:00.001-07:002018-07-11T14:55:22.693-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 30: Blue Pool<a title="Blue Pool @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43301551002/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/43301551002_a54b579fb9_o.jpg"></a><p>June 4th was our second time <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2016/06/places-to-play-in-and-pray-in.html">hiking this trail</a> but our first visit this year. The four kids and I were joined by Holly, Ivy, Char, McKinnon, Monet, Christina, Jake, Landon, Johnnie, Colby, and Hope. This time we hiked further (7 miles total). The weather was perfection, and Lola only cried for about 15 minutes of this hike instead of the miles and miles of wailing last time. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/tamolitch-blue-pool-via-mckenzie-river-trail">Blue Pool hike along the McKenzie River</a> is near Sahalie and Koosah Falls, where <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/07/52-hike-challenge-hike-26-sahalie-and.html">we visited</a> about two weeks prior. Unlike our visit last year, the waterfall was gushing into the pool, so we missed the glassy vivid blue water. </p><a title="Blue Pool 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43301133812/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/43301133812_de679bc559_o.jpg"></a><a title="Blue Pool 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42445919165/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/42445919165_9f874f0f6d_o.jpg"></a><a title="Blue Pool 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43301131382/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/43301131382_bd8d82da83_o.jpg"></a><a title="Blue Pool 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42445917715/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1825/42445917715_4a897ba391_o.jpg"></a><a title="Blue Pool 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42632983544/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/42632983544_0ec90afed6_o.jpg"></a><a title="Blue Pool 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42445916605/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Blue Pool 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/42445916605_aaacf21412_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-72278438888464991332018-07-05T00:22:00.001-07:002018-07-05T00:22:25.815-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 29: Point Defiance, Washington<a title="Point Defiance and Rainier @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42305848685/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Point Defiance and Rainier @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/42305848685_923a9519d4_o.jpg"></a><p>[Apparently I didn’t take pictures with my big camera for hikes 27 (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKz_NtHNuy/?taken-by=mthopeheidi">a misty and magical return to Horse Rock Ridge with Holly</a>) and 28 (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjNhJvPg3pt/?taken-by=mthopeheidi">a cool and overcast 4.5 miles on Mulkey Creek Trail with Char and kids</a>).] </p><p>On June 1st, I drove up to Puget Sound, Washington, to visit my friend Nicole. We spent hours hiking a leisurely 7 miles at <a href="https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/five-mile-drive/">Point Defiance</a>. I took few pictures because we spent most of the time talking and enjoying each other’s company (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjgAj8Agd0v/?taken-by=mthopeheidi">I have a couple more in Instagram</a>). We spent that evening with our friends Carrie and Jill and then spent the following day as part of their support team for the <a href="https://www.rainiertoruston.com/">Rainier to Ruston</a> relay race. Nicole and I may be very brave and attempt to run it with them next year. </p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-58021692720049138952018-07-04T23:57:00.001-07:002018-07-04T23:57:41.855-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 26: Sahalie and Koosah Falls<p><a title="Sahalie and Koosah @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/43209881821/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="829" alt="Sahalie and Koosah @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1824/43209881821_983d8eba81_o.jpg"></a></p><p>On May 18th, I took a leisurely loop at <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/koosah-and-sahalie-falls-trail">Sahalie and Koosah Falls</a> along the McKenzie River with Luke, Leif, Lola, Holly, Ivy, Drake, Jess, Char, McKinnon, and Monet. The weather was gorgeous (68 degrees and sunny), and the water was raging.</p><p>This was our <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2017/06/summer-school-sahalie-and-koosah-falls.html">second visit</a> to Sahalie and Koosah, but our first trip this summer.</p><p><a title="Sahalie and Koosah 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41399525450/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Sahalie and Koosah 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/41399525450_e62de97eff_o.jpg"></a><a title="Sahalie and Koosah 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41399524070/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Sahalie and Koosah 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/41399524070_4394795b1f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Sahalie and Koosah 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42491143854/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Sahalie and Koosah 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/42491143854_1ecfb85c83_o.jpg"></a><a title="Sahalie and Koosah 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42491142394/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Sahalie and Koosah 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/42491142394_3eb5d00e05_o.jpg"></a><a title="Sahalie and Koosah 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41399524630/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Sahalie and Koosah 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/41399524630_37645401d9_o.jpg"></a></p><p>Since we were already in the vicinity, the kids and I made a quick stop at Belknap Springs to visit the Secret Garden. It was also our second visit to the garden. [<a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2016/06/the-secret-garden-belknap-hot-springs.html">More pictures here</a>.]</p><a title="Belknap Springs Secret Garden @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28340388447/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Belknap Springs Secret Garden @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/28340388447_44fa2e6979_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-50295020305442210942018-07-03T22:18:00.001-07:002018-07-03T22:18:53.649-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 25: Horse Rock Ridge<a title="Horse Rock Ridge @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466986054/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/42466986054_3142b52777_o.jpg"></a><p>[Hike #23 was an afternoon in Salem at the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/minto-brown-island-park">Minto-Brown Island Park trails</a> and the waterfront. I didn’t have my camera with me. It was warm and the kids were whiny, so we didn’t walk as much of the trails as I would have liked.]</p><p>We’ve been hiking and hiking for the past month and a half, along with other activities. It’s about time for me to catch up on all the pictures. </p><p>We (my kids, Char, and her kids) hiked a new trail on May 16th, and it has become one of my favorites. <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/horse-rock-ridge-research-natural-area">Horse Rock Ridge</a> is about 3.5 miles (out and back) with a significant elevation gain (over 1,000 feet). The trail is quite steep in places. It begins in a forested area and then opens up for a fantastic view of the valley. The rock formations are great for climbing. The trailhead is difficult to find, but I love the isolation of this trail. I’ve been back twice since, and it’s rare to see anyone else hiking here. </p><p>This particular day was cool and cloudy (moody and lovely), but we were still able to see most of the view. We could almost imagine we were in Ireland with so much green. The wildflowers were just beginning to bloom.</p><p>Can you see the itty bitty kids up on the rock below?</p><p><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29313732538/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 1 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1825/29313732538_9fbafabd3a_o.jpg"></a></p><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466984904/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/42466984904_b8c131f751_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29313731928/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/29313731928_364e67781f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29313731108/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/29313731108_8fd3e98fba_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466983944/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/845/42466983944_bab2473bf9_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466982984/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/42466982984_cfa60b6aca_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/29313730238/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 7 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/29313730238_78487e9856_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466980294/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 9 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/42466980294_c397a04a82_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466979764/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/42466979764_0991efa301_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466981414/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1761/42466981414_63e9484930_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 11 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466978724/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 11 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/42466978724_ce26613a8e_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 12 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466978104/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 12 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/42466978104_f21e4ef29d_o.jpg"></a><a title="Horse Rock Ridge 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42466977284/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="594" alt="Horse Rock Ridge 13 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1804/42466977284_35a56bc694_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-75351559393242226472018-06-11T19:42:00.001-07:002018-06-11T19:42:07.868-07:00Cosmos and Classical Conversations Essentials (Writing)<a title="Cosmos and Writing @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42726472651/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="534" alt="Cosmos and Writing @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/42726472651_a4d175a6ef_o.jpg"></a>
<p>Previous posts in this series:<ul><li><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations.html">Introduction</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations_9.html">Math</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations_10.html">Grammar</a></li></ul><p>.</p><p><font size="5">“[S]ome artists look at the world around them and see chaos, and instead of discovering cosmos, they reproduce chaos, on canvas, in music, in words. As far as I can see, the reproduction of chaos is neither art, nor is it Christian.”</font> <p>[Madeleine L’Engle, <a href="https://amzn.to/2HC3cfb">Walking on Water</a><i></i>]<p>.<p>The art, the<em> cosmos</em>, of writing—this is where language (the 2018 <a href="http://www.parentpracticum.com/practicum/">Classical Conversations Practicum</a> theme), rhetoric (the third art of the trivium), and community (the third “C” of “Classical Christian Community”) all come together. <p><font size="4">Rhetoric (speaking, writing, creating, communicating) is incarnational, an embodied idea.</font> <blockquote><p>“[T]o paint a picture or to write a story or to compose a song is an <b>incarnational</b> activity.” [Madeleine L’Engle, <i>Walking on Water</i>]<p>“What’s the point of ideas if those ideas are never <b>made flesh</b>?” [N.D. Wilson, <a href="https://amzn.to/2y0Efu7">The Rhetoric Companion</a><i></i>]<p>“Rhetoric is a <strong>productive art</strong>, the principled process of making a product.” [Scott Crider]</p></blockquote><p><font size="4">Rhetoric is </font><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2014/08/the-trivium-instructions-for-living-life.html"><font size="4">an art of the trivium</font></a><font size="4">.</font><blockquote><p align="left">Grammar, Dialectic,<em> RHETORIC</em><br>Memory, Thought, <em>SPEECH</em><br>Naming, Contemplating, <em>CREATING</em><br>Finding, Collecting, <em>COMMUNICATING</em><br>Knowledge, Understanding, <em>WISDOM</em><br>What, Why, <em>WHETHER</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>We participate in the <em>Imago Dei</em> through these human activities.</p></blockquote><p><font size="4">Rhetoric is an art we practice in community with others.</font><blockquote><p>“Rhetoric is “the care of words and things”; that care is associative, <strong>a practice one learns—and never stops learning—in the presence of others</strong>, the ones you lead and are led by.” [Scott Crider]</p></blockquote><p>.<p>How does the art of rhetoric apply to the writing component (IEW) of Essentials? And how does it create a bridge to the Challenge program?<p><u>The Art of Rhetoric</u><ul><ul><li><i>Invention</i> (What)</li><li><i>Arrangement</i> (In What Order)</li><li><i>Elocution</i> (How)</li><li><i>Memory</i></li><li><i>Delivery</i> </li></ul></ul><p><u>Institute for Excellence in Writing “IEW” (Essentials)</u><ul><ul><li>Source Texts/KWO (What)</li><li>‘Structure’ (In What Order)</li><li>‘Style’ (How)</li><li>_______</li><li>Reading Papers Aloud</li></ul></ul><p><u><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/03/thoughts-on-lost-tools-of-writing.html">Lost Tools of Writing “LTW” (Challenge)</a></u><ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/08/5-common-topics-go-to-beach.html">5 Common Topics</a> (What)</li><li>Persuasive Essay (In What Order)</li><li>Schemes and Tropes (How)</li><li>_______</li><li>Presenting Papers</li></ul></ul><p>** IEW prepares students for Challenge by introducing them to structure and style. <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/03/thoughts-on-lost-tools-of-writing.html">Challenge students move on to LTW</a>, but they will use their IEW research essay skills for their many science papers in Challenge A and B as well as the story sequence skills for their short story in Challenge B.<p><font size="5">Essentials Writing (IEW)</font><blockquote><p><b>Order:</b><p><u>PARAGRAPH</u><p><i>Essay/Report</i> <p>Intro <br>Topics<br>Conclusion<p><em>Story</em><p>Setting, Characters<br>Conflict, Plot<br>Climax, Resolution<p>(Grammar concerns itself with the form of sentences, and we put those sentences together in writing to create the <em>form</em> of paragraphs, which then <em>form</em> essays and stories.)<p><b>Beauty:</b><p>Vocabulary<br>Dress-Ups<br>Decorations</p></blockquote><p>Order + Beauty = COSMOS!<p><p><font size="5">Writing Quotes</font><p>“In art, the Trinity is expressed in the Creative Idea, the Creative Energy, and the Creative Power—the first imagining of the work, then <b>the making incarnate of the work</b>, and third the meaning of the work…” [Madeleine L’Engle in the Introduction to Dorothy Sayer’s <a href="https://amzn.to/2sNTkdq">The Mind of the Maker</a><i></i>, which compares the making of art (particularly writing) to the Trinity in metaphorical terms. The Trinity being Book-as-Thought (Father), Book-as-Written (Incarnate Son), and Book-as-Read (Holy Spirit). Dorothy Sayers is the author of the essay ‘<a href="http://www.gbt.org/text/sayers.html">The Lost Tools of Learning</a>.’]<p>“The pen indeed is mightier than the sword, for it is in written word that we do most powerfully <strong>preserve that which is noble and expose that which is evil</strong>. And so in great part, the very future of society rests with those who can write, and write well.” [Andrew Pudewa of IEW]<p>“The <strong>discovered</strong> matter has to be <strong>shaped</strong>, given form. Organization gives form to the argumentative matter, providing a beginning, a middle, and an end to the small universe of the essay. The ordered substance must them be <strong>communicated</strong> through the medium of style, the words and sentences that carry the reader through that small <strong>universe</strong>.” [Scott Crider, <a href="https://amzn.to/2JtELGz">The Office of Assertion]</a> [Invention, Arrangement (structure), Elocution (style). Form! Order and Beauty! Universe = Cosmos] <p>“The study of rhetoric educates one in a particular liberty, the “liberty to handle the world, to remake it, if only a little, and to hand it to others in a shape which may influence their actions.” Through this “office of assertion,” the writer is a leader of souls… Rhetoric is “the art of soul-leading by means of words.” …<strong>Rhetoric is “the care of words and things”; that care is associative, a practice one learns—and never stops learning—in the presence of others, the ones you lead and are led by</strong>. Such soul-leading is a liberal power, one which in its finest and fullest manifestation is a form of love: the finest rhetorician not only loves wisdom, but also loves others who do so. The finest rhetor, then is a friend… The purpose… is to teach… how to live within such a community with words so full of care that they release the light of brilliance.” [Scott Crider] [Rhetoric! Words! Community! Loving thy neighbor!]<p>“Variety pleases. And a pleased reader is more attentive to an argument than a bored one, more likely convinced that the time spent inside <b>the cosmos</b> of your essay will be worth the time… A writer who fulfills his or her obligation to please the reader with variety persuades the reader that the reading is time well spend making the sun run.” [Scott Crider] [Beauty! Loving thy neighbor!]<p>“Play with words. Juggle them. Write them down. Roll in them. Bake them into cookies. Quote them. Remember them. And such richness in the vocabulary of discourse does accumulate.” [Wilson, The Rhetoric Companion]<p><br><p><font size="5">Why Liberal Arts?</font><p>“All liberal arts, in both the sciences and the humanities, are animated by the fundamental human desire to know, the fulfillment of which is a good, even if it provides no economic or political benefit whatsoever. An education for economic productivity and political utility alone is an education for slaves, but an education for <b>finding, collecting, and communicating </b>reality is an education for free people, <b>people free to know what is so</b>.” [Scott Crider] [The Trivium is for people who are free to know truth!] </p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-83407345215079581262018-06-10T17:58:00.001-07:002018-06-10T17:58:02.663-07:00Cosmos and Classical Conversations Essentials (Grammar)<a title="Cosmos and Grammar @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42722945101/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cosmos and Grammar @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1729/42722945101_2273d0e5c4_o.jpg"></a><p><b><u><br></u></b><p><font size="5">“Grammar is where God, man, the soul, thinking, knowledge, and the Cosmos all come together.”</font> <p>[Andrew Kern]<p>.<p><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations.html">COSMOS ~ Order and Beauty</a> <p><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations_9.html">Cosmos and Math</a><p>.<p><font size="4"><strong>We use LANGUAGE to think about and communicate IDEAS.</strong></font><p><font size="4"><strong>We use GRAMMAR to think about and communicate IDEAS about LANGUAGE.</strong></font><p>.<p>** Grammar prepares Challenge students for the study of Latin.<p>.<p><font size="5">Essentials English Grammar (Essentials of the English Language (EEL))</font><p><strong>GRAMMAR FLOW CHART:</strong><ul><li><em>Letters and Sounds</em> [The smallest building blocks of our English language are the 26 letters. Letters and combinations of letters represent sounds called phonograms. The EEL guide includes spelling rules and lists for at-home use, but they are not used in Essentials class.]<br><br></li><li><em>Words</em> [We use letters to create words. <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/05/words.html">Words are magic</a>! We use vivid and precise words to think about and communicate ideas clearly. Essentials students are introduced to and encouraged to use new vivid and precise vocabulary during the writing (IEW) portion of class.]</li></ul><blockquote><p>We might have a million words in English, but we have only <strong>8 Parts of Speech</strong>! (Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Conjunction, Interjection, Preposition, Adjective). <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/grammar#ref115403">Dionysus Thrax, a Greek who lived in 100 BC, was the first to categorize words into parts of speech</a>. This is not a modern idea, and it doesn’t apply only to English! Not only are there only 8 parts of speech, but there are only 2 main parts of speech (<em>noun</em> and <em>verb</em>) and the other parts modify and support them.</p></blockquote><ul><li><em>Phrases and Clauses</em> [We put words together to create phrases and clauses.]<br><br></li><li><em>Independent and Dependent Clauses</em> [Clauses contain both a <em>subject</em> and <em>verb</em>. We have two types of clauses. An independent clause contains a complete thought, and every sentence contains at least one independent clause.]<br><br></li><li><u><strong>SENTENCES</strong></u> [Sentences are the FORM of grammar!]</li></ul><blockquote><p>Every <strong>sentence has five parts</strong>. (<i>Subject, Verb/Predicate</i>, Capital Letter, End Mark, Complete Sense/Thought)</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>All sentences have <strong>structure</strong> (<strong>4</strong>: simple, compound, complex or compound-complex), <br><strong>purpose</strong> (<strong>4</strong>: declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, or imperative), <br>and <strong>pattern</strong> (there are<strong> 7</strong> different patterns, but every pattern contains a <em>subject</em> and a <em>verb</em>).</p><p>This means that we have 112 different possible combinations!<br></p></blockquote><p><br><p><font size="5">Grammar Quotes</font><p>“Grammar is based on the link between something that exists and something that applies to something that exists. God "exists." He called Himself, "I Am." He made us, putting us in the garden to steward it. As stewards, we need to know what we are stewarding, so he made us able to know the world we live in. The world around us exists as things that act or are acted on and have properties or qualities. In other words, the world is full of subjects with predicates. To know the world around us we must think it. When we think something, we always think something about it. In other words, the mind thinks subjects and predicates. Predicate comes from the Latin and means "to say about." <b>All thought and all existence revolve around the relation between subjects and predicates</b> (substances and properties if you like).” [Andrew Kern]<p>“Why is grammar fun and valuable? Grammar reveals to us the beauty and power of our own minds. <b>With only eight kinds of words and two sides (subject and predicate) of each idea, we can make the plays of Shakespeare, or the novels of Toni Morrison, or the poems of Elizabeth Bishop.</b> No system, so gorgeously elegant, could be expected to make such a language. Through grammar we see the simple form of our binary minds; in all of our sentences, however elaborate, we are making a predicate about a subject, and this reveals the meaning of clarity. For each sentence or idea, I must know both of these two things: what you are talking about, and what you are saying about it. For each paragraph of sentences, I must know what the paragraph is about, and what you are saying about it. For each essay of paragraphs, I must know what the essay is about, and what you are saying about it. A sentence, with its two sides, is a model of the mind.” [Michael Clay Thompson of MCT Language Arts] [<em>Form! Beauty!</em>]<p>“We study grammar because a knowledge of sentence-structure is an aid in the <b>interpretation</b> of literature; because continual dealing with sentences influences the student to form better sentences in his own <b>composition</b>; and because grammar is the best subject in our course of study for the development of <b>reasoning</b> power.” [William Frank Webster, The Teaching of English Grammar, Houghton, 1905]<blockquote><p><em>Why do we study English grammar?</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><em>1. Interpretation</em><p><em>2. Composition</em><p><em>3. Reasoning</em><p><em>4. God revealed himself in human language.</em></p></blockquote><p>“….God humbled himself not only in the incarnation of the Son, but also in the inspiration of the Scriptures. He bound his divine Son to human nature, and he bound his divine meaning to human words. The manger and the cross were not sensational. Neither are grammar and syntax. But that is how God chose to reveal himself. A poor Jewish peasant and a prepositional phrase have this in common: they are both human and both ordinary. That the poor peasant was God and prepositional phrase is the Word of God does not change this fact. Therefore, <strong>if God humbled himself to take on human flesh and to speak human language, woe to us if we arrogantly presume to ignore the humanity of Christ and the grammar of Scripture</strong>.” [John Piper, <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/free-ebook-reading-the-bible-supernaturally">Reading the Bible Supernaturally</a><i></i>]<p>“Language is the house of being. In its home man dwells.” [Martin Heideggar]<p>“Where language is weak, theology is weakened.” [Madeleine L’Engle, <a href="https://amzn.to/2xZxmJw">Walking on Water</a><i></i>]<p>“We think because we have words, not the other way around. The more words we have, the better able we are to think conceptually.” [L’Engle]<p>“We cannot Name or be Named without language.” [L’Engle]<p>“When language is limited, I am thereby diminished.” [L’Engle]<p>“I now regularly meet students who have never heard the names of most English authors who lived before 1900. That includes Milton, Chaucer, Pope, Wordsworth, Byron, Keats, Tennyson, and Yeats. Poetry has been largely abandoned. Their knowledge of English grammar is spotty at best and often nonexistent. That is because grammar, as its own subject worthy of systematic study, has been abandoned. Those of my students who know some grammar took Latin in high school or were taught at home. The writing of most students is irreparable in the way that aphasia is. <b>You cannot point to a sentence and say, simply, “Your verb here does not agree with your subject.” That is not only because they do not understand the terms of the comment. It is also because many of their sentences will have no clear subject or verb to begin with.</b> The students make grammatical errors for which there are no names. Their experience of the written language has been formed by junk fiction in school, text messages, blog posts, blather on the airwaves, and the bureaucratic sludge that they are taught for “formal” writing, and that George Orwell identified and skewered seventy years ago. The best of them are bad writers of English; the others write no language known to man.” [Anthony Esolen (author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2JHOCYE">Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child</a><i></i>), <a href="https://home.isi.org/exercises-unrealitybr-decline-teaching-western-civilization">Exercises in Unreality: The Decline of Teaching Western Civilization</a>]<p>“[Sentence diagramming] was a bit like art, a bit like mathematics. It was much more than words uttered, or words written on a piece of paper: it was a picture of language.” [Kitty Burns Florey, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2MeuZ8V">Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences</a><i></i>]Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-16921119337010964232018-06-09T11:13:00.001-07:002018-06-09T11:13:34.679-07:00Cosmos and Classical Conversations Essentials (Math)<a title="Cosmos and Math @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41796614665/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Cosmos and Math @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1735/41796614665_2c13797b1d_o.jpg"></a><p><br><p><font size="5">“Numbers are a map of the beautiful order of the universe, the plan by which the divine Architect transformed undifferentiated Chaos into orderly Cosmos.”</font> <p>[Michael S. Schnieder, as quoted by Stratford Caldecott in <a href="https://amzn.to/2HxPpGo">Beauty for Truth’s Sake</a><em></em>]<p>.<p><font size="5">Let’s continue </font><a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/06/cosmos-and-classical-conversations.html"><font size="5">our discussion of Cosmos</font></a><font size="5"> by exploring the ways in which it relates to math.</font><p><strong>Order + Beauty = Cosmos</strong><p>.<p>From Merriam-Webster, the definition of MATHEMATICS: the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformations, and generalizations. [<em>Whew</em>!]<p><a href="https://amzn.to/2HARGR8">Keith Devlin defines math</a> as “the science of <strong>patterns</strong>.”<p>Another source defines math as the study of <strong>relationships</strong> using numbers.<p>The quadrivium consists of arithmetic (pure number), geometry (number in space), music (number in time), and astronomy (number in space and time) [<em>Beauty for Truth’s Sake</em>]. <p><strong>Our focus in Classical Conversations Essentials is arithmetic</strong>.<p><u>There are only are 3 (three!) basic things to learn in arithmetic.</u> Everything else is just more complex combinations of these three categories:<p><strong>Numbers (8), operations (6), and laws (4).</strong> That’s it!<p>This is our FORM!<p><u>Math in a nutshell: “There are digits, you do things with them, and they follow laws.” Leigh Bortins</u><p>.<p><font size="5">Math as Language</font><p><b>Number symbols</b> are like nouns. They represent things. There are many ways to represent numbers. <p>39% 4.75 5/6 -92 IV <s>llll </s><p><b>Operation symbols</b> are like verbs. They represent actions.<p>+ - x ÷<p><b>Grouping symbols</b> make associations like punctuation.<p>( ) [ ] { }<p><b>Relation symbols</b> make comparisons.<p>= < ><p><b>Placeholder symbols</b> work like pronouns. They take the place of numbers.<p>X y a b ? __<p>.<p><font size="5">My Personal Focus for the Year</font><p>** Learn and use math vocabulary in class so that students are better prepared for math conversations in Challenge. [Dividend, divisor, quotient, addend, sum, subtrahend, product, etc.]<p>Ask students to <u>attend</u> to details and <u>name</u> what they know in math equations.<p>.<p><font size="5">Math Quotes</font><p>“[The universe] cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language.” [Galileo Galilei]<p>“The world is God’s epistle written to mankind. It was written in mathematical letters.” [Plato]<p>“The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.” [Euclid]<p>“Math teaches you to see what other people see. It teaches you to see what another author has written down. When we read, we don’t see the words ‘a’ or ‘the.’ Math makes you stop and say, I have to see the decimal, I have to see the exponent. Math is just good practice for being a human being who sees the world. Just think how an artist can see… shapes, colors. Our kids should see a math formula better, if someone would just show them. It is the same as artistic endeavors. If you can see the numbers, if you can see the operations, if you can see the laws, it will all change your ability to see complex ideas.” [Leigh Bortins]<p>“When I was a boy, we had to memorize the multiplication tables in the second grade, up to 12 x 12 = 144. Let’s set aside the fact that it takes a deal of intelligence and some ingenuity to accomplish that task. Forget that you would have to learn that anything multiplied by 5 ends in 5 or 0, alternately. Forget that if you were sharp you’d see that odd times odd is odd, and everything else is even. Forget the patterns showing up among the 2s, 4s, and 8s. Forget the nice progression in the 9s, with the tens digit gaining one and the ones digit dropping it: 09, 18, 27, and so forth. <u>What that memorization did was to free you up to become comfortable with numbers themselves, and <b>with the structure of arithmetic</b>. Once you had done that, you could play with numbers creatively</u>, long before you’d ever suspected the existence of algebra or calculus, with their toboggan curves and their infinite series and their radio waves, their transcendental numbers and the mysterious <em>i</em>, the square root of –1, whose existence we must leave to philosophers to determine.” [Anthony Esolen, <a href="https://amzn.to/2M779vP">Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child</a><em></em>]<p>“The study of mathematics should instill in students an ever-increasing sense of wonder and awe at the profound way in which the world displays <strong>order, pattern, and relation</strong>. Mathematics is studied not because it is first useful and then beautiful, but because <b>it reveals the beautiful order inherent in the cosmos</b>.” [from The Education Plan of St. Jerome Classical School, Hyattsville, MD, quoted by Thomas Teloar in <a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2012/08/the-purpose-of-mathematics-in-classical.html">The Purpose of Mathematics in a Classical Education @ The Imaginative Conservative</a>]</p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-24808409604718419492018-06-08T16:06:00.001-07:002018-06-09T10:02:48.796-07:00Cosmos and Classical Conversations Essentials (Intro)<p><a title="The Cosmos of Language @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/20755568332/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="522" alt="The Cosmos of Language @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5674/20755568332_5bcba4ddb3_o.jpg"></a>
</p><p>I was asked to lead a local <a href="https://members.classicalconversations.com/classical/programs/essentials">Classical Conversations Essentials</a> Academic Orientation this past month. I have spent three years in Essentials class as a parent and another three years as a tutor (and parent), but this was my first opportunity to lead Tutor Orientation at a CC Practicum. </p><p>
As I was preparing to lead the orientation and then spending time in discussion with the tutors and directors during the orientation, I was reminded (again) why I love Essentials.</p><p>It is the class in which students are beginning to play with <em>Cosmos</em>. They are learning FORM.</p><p>I’ve written about some of these ideas before, <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2013/08/notes-quotes-links-and-more-part-2.html">after speaking at the math practicum</a> and then <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/08/language-love-part-i-cosmos.html">as I was preparing to tutor Essentials the first year</a>, but I re-organized my notes to correspond with the three elements of an Essentials class: math, English grammar, and writing. I’ll be sharing these thoughts in a 4-part series, beginning with this introduction. </p><p>“Cosmos” is the thread that ran through the three days of training and connects all three class elements together.</p><p><em>Let’s begin here</em>.</p><p><font size="5">A cosmos is an orderly, harmonious system or “world.” The word derives from the Greek word “kosmos,” meaning “order” or “ornament.” Cosmos is diametrically opposed to the concept of chaos.</font> </p><p>While we’re at it, let’s look up the definition of <strong><i>ornament</i></strong>: (Merriam-Webster) <br>2a. something that lends grace or beauty <br>3: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society<p>Order. (Form. Structure. Truth.) Ornament. (Beauty. Harmony. Grace. Virtue.)<p><b>Order + Beauty</b> = World<p>(We’re really starting at the very beginning, here.)<p><strong>Genesis 1:1-2</strong> In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was <u>formless and empty</u>, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.<p><u>Formless.</u> And what did God do? Created form: separated light and darkness, waters and sky, land and seas.<p><u>Empty.</u> And once the form established, he filled the place with beauty: plants, stars, birds, sea creatures, animals, man.<p><strong>Genesis 2:1</strong> Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast <u>array</u>.<p>(Words matter!)<p><em><b>Array</b></em>: verb (used with object): <br>1. to place in proper or desired <u>order</u><br>2. to clothe with garments, especially of an <u>ornamental</u> kind; dress up; deck out.<p>And, as Leigh Bortins says, that’s how you teach <em>everything to everybody</em>. Figure out what the form is, and then you have all the content in the world to make it creative, beautiful.<p>Sentence forms <br>Latin ending forms <br>Math <u>form</u>ulas <br>The structure of story<p><em>You can put in whatever content you wish once you know the form. The content is what makes it unique and interesting.</em><p>.<p>In Classical Conversations communities, Essentials students are learning the FORM of three arts.<blockquote><p><strong>Math</strong>: Learning the Form of Numbers, Operations, Laws</p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>Grammar:</strong> Learning the Form of Sentences</p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>Writing:</strong> Learning the Form of Paragraphs (Reports, Stories, Essays, and Critiques)</p></blockquote><p>.<p><br>
<a title="Orient and Invite @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28807384178/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="761" alt="Orient and Invite @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/28807384178_e75cc9be28_o.jpg"></a>
<p><b><font size="6">Orient and Invite</font> </b><p>As tutor trainers, tutors, parents, and fellow students, we have the opporunity to “orient and invite.”<p><strong>Orient Our Tutors, Parents, and Students to Essentials and the Arts of Math, Grammar, and Writing</strong> <blockquote><p>Review Past Concepts</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Introduce New Grammar</p></blockquote><p><strong>Invite Our Tutors, Parents, and Students to the Conversation</strong><blockquote><p>Begin Dialectic Discussion in Class</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Point to Available Resources</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Continue Grammar and Dialectic Discussion at Home</p></blockquote><p>.<p><font size="6">May I invite you along on my learning journey?</font><p>.<p>“The reason you study math, science and art is so that your imagination will be filled with wonder and awe at the Creator of the most mind blowing project ever: the world. And whether you are learning to read music or playing an instrument, whether your hand is holding a pencil or gesturing in the theater, you are training yourself for the warfare of worship. You are teaching your body gratitude; you are teaching your soul thanksgiving. There is hardly an adequate evaluation of your progress, but the best grade you can receive is the outworking of a thankful heart. If you have truly learned Algebra, if you have mastered the story of Western Civilization, if you can tell me the names of the constellations that whirl about our heads, then you will do it with laughter in your voice, you will do it with joy in your heart and gratitude in your bones. <u>Worship is the point of learning because worship is the point of life</u>.” Toby Sumpter, in response to the questions <em>‘Why are you in school? Why are you reading this page? Why are you reading Mein Kampf?’</em> This is an excerpt from Veritas Press’s Omnibus III Textbook.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-82502398143082308902018-06-07T09:25:00.001-07:002018-06-07T09:25:51.594-07:00Family Vacation ~ Part 3 (Yosemite) [52 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 24]<p><a title="Yosemite @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42550307612/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1760/42550307612_974e84ea56_o.jpg"></a></p><p>I had never been to Yosemite, and I’ve wanted to visit for years.</p><p>Our family vacation was a little off-the-cuff. We made hotel reservations for Anaheim at the last minute, and had no definitive plans for the second week. I knew I wanted to visit Yosemite, but I couldn’t find reasonable lodging for our family of 6. </p><p>On Friday, Russ decided to extend our Disney park-hopper tickets one more day (five days total). So we checked out of our hotel on Saturday morning, spent the whole afternoon and evening in the park, and left Anaheim around 9 pm. We drove overnight to Yosemite, stopping to sleep a couple hours along the way.</p><p>We drove into Yosemite around 7 am on Sunday (Mother’s Day). My sister Holly had been there two weeks prior and had sent me detailed instructions on where to go and what to see and do. I followed them to the letter, and we managed to see much by 4 pm that afternoon, by which time we were DONE. We spent two hours driving out of the park (gorgeous!!), grabbed some food in Modesto, and splurged on two cheap hotel rooms for the night (ah, the joys of having a family of 6). I went straight to bed and stayed there until shortly before checkout the next morning. </p><a title="Yosemite Glacier Point @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796637760/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Glacier Point @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/40796637760_f6bddf9b7c_o.jpg"></a> <p>We started our Yosemite morning by driving to Glacier Point (above). Exquisite.</p><p>Then we drove into the valley (top photo, with a nod to Ansel Adams). </p><p>We took <a href="https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/bridalveil-fall/bridalveil-fall.htm">a short hike to Bridalveil Falls</a>.</p><a title="Yosemite Bridalveil Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796645230/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Bridalveil Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/40796645230_da29d36dbd_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Bridalveil Fall Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603295491/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Bridalveil Fall Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/42603295491_8aa7b57b29_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Bridalveil @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796648240/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Bridalveil @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1760/40796648240_b56a9b7c0f_o.jpg"></a>
<p>From Bridalveil, Russ sent me on a solitary hike. He drove the kids and we met up on the road near El Capitan.</p><a title="Yosemite Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603291221/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1749/42603291221_27b937fef2_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite El Capitan @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603293911/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite El Capitan @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1737/42603293911_c2b12de5ef_o.jpg"></a>
<p>We barely managed to find a parking spot and took the shuttle to the <a href="https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/lower-yosemite-falls/lower-yosemite-falls.htm">Lower Yosemite Falls</a> where we hiked the 1 mile loop.</p>
<a title="Yosemite Upper and Lower Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796632520/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="800" alt="Yosemite Upper and Lower Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1753/40796632520_a77cdca1ff_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Lower Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603292401/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Lower Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1750/42603292401_ee2709a4cb_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796639970/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Falls @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1748/40796639970_1321235d07_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Cook's Meadow @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603294591/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Cook's Meadow @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1731/42603294591_c82e6e37dc_o.jpg"></a>
<p>Then we rode the shuttle to the strenuous Mist Trail near Vernal Falls. We only <a href="https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/vernal-fall-footbridge/vernal-fall.htm">hiked to the footbridge</a>, but that was a mile of <em>straight up—</em>seriously the steepest incline that I’ve hiked. And then a mile back down. </p><a title="Yosemite Mist Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796635340/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Mist Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1753/40796635340_f502b390fb_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Vernal Fall Footbridge @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42603289611/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="1186" alt="Yosemite Vernal Fall Footbridge @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/42603289611_a9ee803b0f_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Wildlife @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28730210288/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Wildlife @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1741/28730210288_7ba9959e3c_o.jpg"></a><a title="Yosemite Down Mist Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796642930/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Down Mist Trail @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/40796642930_4c862f9cb2_o.jpg"></a>
<p>By then we were DONE (since it was our 7th day of walking a TON and we hadn’t had much sleep the night before), so we rode the shuttle back to our truck and left. But we enjoyed many gorgeous views on the way out.</p><p><a title="Yosemite Valley View @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40796630910/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Yosemite Valley View @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/40796630910_a612099f63_o.jpg"></a></p><p>I’m looking forward to returning and spending more time hiking and exploring.</p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-31493140551798235172018-06-06T16:32:00.001-07:002018-06-06T16:32:26.607-07:00Family Vacation ~ Part 2 (Universal Studios and Harry Potter)<a title="Universal Studios @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725701328/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/28725701328_e813af13a5_b.jpg"></a>
<p>After spending a beautiful two days at the Disney parks, we drove over to Universal Studios on Wednesday. The kids had never been there, and we had been looking forward to Harry Potter World. </p><p>It was a gorgeously sunny but cool day. The park was only open for eight hours, so we spent the first and last part of the day in Harry Potter World and midday in the rest of the park. We didn’t have time for the backlot tram ride, but we spent a couple hours repeatedly hopping on every ride on the lower lot without any lines. </p><p>Lola was a fantastic sport all week. She walked without complaint, stood in line without complaint, and rode every ride with excitement whether it was the little kiddie train ride in Fantasyland or the Tower of Terror (Guardians of the Galaxy—my least favorite ride in the three parks) or The Mummy (my favorite ride in the three parks—a short but fantastic mix of Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, and California Screamin’ (which, incidentally, was closed while we were there)). She’s completely fearless and old enough to go in the single-rider lines, so we took advantage of those all week. </p><p>Most of my pictures were taken in Harry Potter World. It was fantastic.</p><p><a title="Universal Studios Hogwarts @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725697908/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Hogwarts @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/28725697908_eeca1a4eec_b.jpg"></a></p><p>The kids went on the rides multiple times without much of a line anywhere. The rollercoaster is so stinkin’ short that I wouldn’t want to wait in line for it, but it was great fun without a line. </p><p><em>Magical</em>.</p><p><a title="Universal Studios Ollivanders @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725694358/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Ollivanders @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1721/28725694358_60414c02d1_b.jpg"></a><a title="Universal Studios Ollivanders Interior @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725693158/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Ollivanders Interior @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1731/28725693158_5cbec31012_b.jpg"></a><a title="Universal Studios Owl Post @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725691808/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Owl Post @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1757/28725691808_3e82e4d214_b.jpg"></a><a title="Universal Studios Owl Post Interior @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725691008/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Owl Post Interior @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/28725691008_3135ed8bde_b.jpg"></a><a title="Universal Studios Butterbeer @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41879775414/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Butterbeer @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1737/41879775414_f4a96c4f1d_b.jpg"></a></p><p>We all enjoyed a mug of butterbeer. Isn’t the skyline dreamy?!</p><a title="Universal Studios Harry Potter @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/28725699458/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Universal Studios Harry Potter @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1741/28725699458_7fc47a64c2_b.jpg"></a><a title="Universal Studios May 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41879773554/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="1133" alt="Universal Studios May 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1729/41879773554_f5ca283d1d_o.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-29856736479996694862018-06-05T13:55:00.001-07:002018-06-05T13:55:40.424-07:00Family Vacation ~ Part 1 (Disney)<p><a title="Scovel Family Vacation 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42596887261/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Scovel Family Vacation 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1750/42596887261_41d5b01078_b.jpg"></a></p><p><strong>April and May were an absolute blur.</strong></p><p>April was full of end-of-school-year activities. Easter, Teen Pact (Levi), CC Practicum Speaker Training (me), Memory Master proofs (Leif), Mock Trial (Luke), Robin Hood Ball/English Country Dance (Levi), hiking (lots), movies, work (Levi), swim meets, end-of-year celebrations, and more. </p><p>Luke and Leif had a piano recital on the 29th. My mother-in-law (on cello) and I (on flute) joined them for one song. </p><p>Russ left the next day for a week-long business trip out of state. During that week of single-parenting, we had a plethora of appointments and things on the to-do list. I also had to get the boys to swim team practice every day since Levi was helping the assistant coach while Russ was gone. </p><p>We spent all day Friday at the <a href="https://wingsandwaveswaterpark.com/">Wings and Waves Waterpark</a> at Evergreen with a HUGE group of friends. Russ coached and the boys competed at an all-day swim meet on Saturday. Levi and Luke attended an English Country Dance that evening. Russ and Luke and Leif returned to the swim meet on Sunday while Levi headed to work at the YMCA. </p><p>Then Sunday evening, at 7:00 pm, Russ arrived home and we almost immediately left and drove 15 hours to Anaheim, California. After driving all night, we pulled into the Disneyland Park and spent the entire day there. <em>Because we’re crazy</em>. </p><p>We stayed at our <a href="https://www.portofinoinnanaheim.com/">favorite hotel</a> (because it has reasonably priced family suites that sleep 6). It’s within “walking distance” of the park. And walk, we did. And walk. And walk. For seven days straight. Five in Disneyland (and California Adventure), one in Universal Studios, and one in Yosemite. No days in between. Two over-night drives. <em>Because we’re crazy</em>.</p><p>I took almost no photos with my big camera at Disney. My phone and Instagram have made me lazy. Unfortunately, my phone doesn’t have a very good camera. But it is what it is. </p><p><a title="Disney 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41877907214/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Disney 2018 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1757/41877907214_af06eb8fd6_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Three years ago, after our last family trip to Disneyland, <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/01/why-disneyland.html">I wrote a short blog post about why we visit Disney</a> (when many other people loathe the idea). This year, I knew that this might be our last opportunity to visit as a family. Levi is working as a lifeguard, and his schedule is getting more complicated. Both Levi and Luke will be at the high school next year (yes, I’ll be sharing about this huge adjustment as soon as I can get the blog post written), so we won’t have flexibility during the school year. Luke will be old enough to lifeguard next summer, so our family schedule will be even more chaotic. Everyone was at the perfect age this year, and we desperately needed some fun together time. It was everything I’d hoped it would be. More in the next couple blog posts.</p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-7913041570840738162018-05-26T18:51:00.001-07:002018-05-26T18:51:33.669-07:00Words<a title="words @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/42375616661/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="words @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1746/42375616661_9b791d3307_b.jpg"></a><p><font size="5">Language is magic.</font><p>If I say a word, an image or idea from my mind magically appears in yours. For instance, I can say (or write) the word "house," and the image/idea of house appears in your mind. But the house in your mind may look very little like the house in mine. What if I add vivid modifiers to the word house? With each modifier, the image in your mind more closely resembles the one in mine. Brick. Two-story. Colonial.<p>Alternatively, I can replace the word house with a more precise noun, the definition of which includes the idea of house + modifiers. Chalet. Mansion. Cottage. Yurt. Nest. Now a single word from my mind builds a vivid, precise image in yours.<p>Do you know how many words we have in the English language? Depending on the qualifications of "word," we have between 200,000 and a million words in English.<p><font size="5">We use language to think about and communicate ideas.</font> <p>The more words I know, the better able I am to think and reason abstractly. The more words you and I share, the better able we are to communicate, vividly and precisely.<p>Yesterday, my young son was feeling emotional about something. I asked him if he was concerned. He said no, that wasn't accurate. Stressed? Distressed? Worried? Apprehensive? On edge? No, those weren't strong enough. Panicked was the word that best communicated his emotions.<p>Give yourself the gift of language. Give your children the gift of language. Give your community and culture the gift of members who can communicate with others in a vivid, precise way. With knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. <em>And heaps of grace.</em></p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-66985882476579345352018-05-01T15:32:00.001-07:002018-05-01T15:32:27.502-07:00Limits and Liberty ~ Chapter Three: You Cannot Have It All and Having It All Doesn’t Equal Happiness<a title="Do, Be, Have, Know It All @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27964671018/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="404" alt="Do, Be, Have, Know It All @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/27964671018_e1a9687437_b.jpg"></a>
<p>Today’s contemplation of libery and limits is a long one. If you haven’t read the previous posts, you may want to <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/04/oppression-freedom-and-toothpaste-aisle.html">start here</a> and then read <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/04/limits-and-liberty-chapter-two-golden.html">chapter two</a>.</p><p>Quite some time ago, I read <a href="http://www.oprah.com/sp/new-midlife-crisis.html">The New Midlife Crisis at Oprah.com</a>. It’s long. And relevant. </p><p><em>Let me sum it up for you</em>. </p><p>We (women in particular) have been sold a lie:</p><blockquote><p>“You can have it all, and having it all will make you happy.”</p></blockquote><p>At some point after that lie began, the ugly truth hit us.</p><blockquote><p>“You are obligated to have it all, and you will be judged accordingly. You will always fall short.”</p></blockquote><p>You must do it all, be it all, have it all, know it all. Everything is available to you so <em>no excuses.</em></p><p><strong><font size="5">Options became obligations became oppression, and now we’re coming undone under the weight of it all.</font></strong></p><blockquote><p>You have 20 local gyms. You have countless excercise programs on countless platforms to stream to your television. Heck, stream them on your i-whatever, so you never have an excuse. Any time. Any place. Any weather. You must always be thin and sculpted.</p><p>You have a gazillion anti-aging products and procedures to choose from. You are expected not to age.</p><p>You have a gazillion beauty products to choose from, and a salon around every corner. You should look like you just stepped out of one. </p><p>Bronzed skin in February? Check. Precisely straight, unnaturally glow-in-the-dark white teeth? Required.</p><p>You can have any career you wish. It had better be impressive.</p><p>All the stuff? All the activities and vactions? That’s what credit cards, loans, and mortgages are for. No excuses.</p></blockquote><p>Maybe, just maybe, we can shrug off the expectations. We can make a different choice for ourselves, self-limit, despite real or perceived judgment. But add kids to the equation? Mothers, in many cases, take a lion’s share of the child-raising obligations on their shoulders. Can we handle the judgment of others (including our kids) when we don’t provide or facilitate every possible opportunity for our children? </p><blockquote><p>Speaking of children… No one has an excuse not to have children. And no one has an excuse to have more than two. Boy and girl, preferrably. Hair combed. Clothes clean. Top of their class. Leader of the team. All the activities. Best schools. </p></blockquote><p><strong>And, by golly, now that you have everything, you should be happy. Because we all know that independence, money, beauty, things, and success bring happiness, right?</strong></p><p>A little over a month ago, I randomly stumbled on <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/2018/02/188983/stacy-london-managing-money-heartbreak">this raw-honest article written by Stacy London of What Not To Wear fame</a>.</p><p>It’s worth reading, but I’ll sum it up for you.</p><p><strong>Independence, money, beauty, things, and success don’t bring happiness.</strong> </p><p>Days before I read that article, <a href="https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/author/2804">Joshua Gibbs</a> posted the following on Facebook:</p><blockquote><p>"Money cannot buy happiness, but it can buy unhappiness."</p></blockquote><p>One day prior, also on Facebook, a friend posted quotes from <a href="https://amzn.to/2rfiTm6">Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari</a>.</p><blockquote><p>“In 2012 about 56 million people died throughout the world; 620,000 of them died due to human violence. In contrast, 800,000 committed suicide, and 1.5 million died of diabetes. Sugar is now more dangerous than gunpowder."<br></p><p>"For all humanity’s astounding accomplishments in reducing the worst sufferings, our happiness levels really haven’t changed. Actually suicide is a greater problem, especially in developed countries."</p></blockquote><p>I immediately grabbed Homo Deus at the library, and I’m riveted. For all of human history, we have battled three dominant problems: famine, plague, and war. Harari makes the case that we humans, in just the past few decades and for the first time in history, have transformed these “uncontrollable forces of nature into manageable challenges.” Now that human striving has conquered these dominant problems, we have a new agenda which includes immortality and happiness. </p><p>On immortality:</p><blockquote><p>“In truth they will actually be a-mortal, rather than immortal… So as long as no bomb shreds them to pieces or no truck runs them over, they could go on living indefinitely. Which will probably make them the most anxious people in history. We mortals daily take chances with our lives because we know they are going to end anyhow. So we go on treks in the Himalayas, swim in the sea, and do many other dangerous things like crossing the street or eating out. But if you believe you can live forever, you would be crazy to gamble on infinity like that.”</p></blockquote><p>On happiness:</p><blockquote><p>“On the psychological level, happiness depends on expectations rather than objective conditions. We don’t become satisfied by leading a peaceful and prosperous existence. Rather, we become satisfied when reality matches our expectations. The bad news is that as conditions improve, expectations balloon. Dramatic improvements in conditions, as humankind has experienced in recent decades, translate into greater expectations rather than greater contentment. If we don’t do something about this, our future achievements too might leave us as dissatisfied as ever.”</p></blockquote><p>Anxious and dissatisfied. <em>Not progress</em>.</p><p>I’m only about 50 pages in, and the book is littered with sticky tabs. I’m curious to read his conclusions. I may have to purchase this one so I can highlight and underline to my heart’s content.</p><p>Then another friend (on FB) posted a quote from <a href="https://amzn.to/2JLNwqT">Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig</a>.</p><blockquote><p>“The world is increasingly designed to depress us. Happiness isn’t very good for the economy. If we were happy with what we had, why would we need more? How do you sell and antiaging moisturizer? You make someone worry about aging. How do you get people to vote for a political party? You make them worry about immigration. How do you get them to buy insurance? By making them worry about everything. How do you get them to have plastic surgery? By highlighting their physical flaws. How do you get them to watch a TV show? By making them worry about missing out. How do you get them to buy a new smartphone? By making them feel like they are being left behind.</p><p>“To be calm becomes a kind of revolutionary act. To be happy with your own nonupgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human selves, would not be good for business.” </p></blockquote><p>I immediately purchased (ha!) Matt Haig’s book. It’s an overwhelmingly helpful and, in the end, hopeful book about depression and anxiety from someone experienced with both.</p><p>Just today, yet another friend posted this jaw-dropping article: <a href="https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2018/04/torches-of-freedom-the-anti-literature-of-advertising/">“Torches of Freedom”: The Anti-Literature of Advertising at Front Porch Republic</a>. </p><blockquote><p>“The object is to associate the sandwich with “freedom.” The technique is always the same: associate some salable commodity with some ineffable quality, preferably something deeply felt and visceral: love, peace, attractiveness, status. We cannot purchase freedom by the pound, but we can purchase sandwiches and cigarettes, and if the one can be associated with the other in our minds, it is not necessary to discuss the advantages of the product. After all, you can choose your own vegetables and select one of a dozen pre-packaged dressings. What more could freedom want?”</p></blockquote><p>What more could freedom want? Exactly. All those choices and we think they bring happiness.</p><blockquote><p>“This “new man” created by consumer culture can have anything he wants, except happiness; he must always be wanting and never be content, because contentment would be the death of consumerism. He must always seek his happiness in things rather than in persons, and then seek it again in some other thing; but he must never be allowed to become content; contentment would destroy the consumer culture...”</p></blockquote><p>What’s to be done? </p><blockquote><p>“Teachers of literature must train their students to apply the same techniques of literary criticism they learn in reading literature to their reading of anti-literature… “</p></blockquote><p>[Go read the rest of the article!]</p><p>I have a few ideas that I’ll be sharing in later posts, but I’ll share two counter-cultural links.</p><p>:: <a href="http://www.morningbymorning.org/2018/04/10/just-as-i-am-accepting-our-limitations/">Just as I Am: Accepting Our Limitations</a> by Jennifer Hesse (Jenn is a friend of mine and she posted this as a response to the Oprah article.)</p><blockquote><p>“Whereas human nature constrains our time, energy, and strength, God by his nature is eternal, infinite, and all-powerful.”</p></blockquote><p>:: <a href="http://rabbitroom.com/2018/05/the-economy-of-kindness/">The Economy of Kindness at Rabbit Room</a></p><blockquote><p>"The Kingdom of Christ and its economy of grace run deeper. When we offer the token of kindness to others, especially when they expect an exchange of money, we let them know that they have verged upon another land. Here, their money can buy nothing, but if they offer their need, they can dine on the richest of fare."</p></blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p><a title="Seneca" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40936690675/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Seneca" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/951/40936690675_f79bb81fce_b.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-90949295755027019552018-05-01T08:28:00.001-07:002018-05-01T08:28:47.046-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 22: Not as Planned<p><a title="Let Go @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40846726455/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Let Go @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/949/40846726455_ff2fabe4a6_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Our really ambitious plan was to park at Neptune Beach south of Yachats and walk to the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/cooks-ridge-and-gwynn-creek-loop-trail">Cook’s Ridge and Gwynn Creek Loop Trail</a>. After hiking, I hoped to enjoy a sunny afternoon of playing at Neptune Beach.</p><blockquote><p>First problem: Leif forgot his clothes and stuff in Russ’s car in Waldport.</p><p>Second problem: We lost Lola.</p><p>Third problem: The sun did not shine.</p></blockquote><p>Let’s go back to the beginning.<br><br>It was supposed to be beautiful on the coast this past Wednesday, and our best friends invited us over to Waldport to go crabbing. I’m not big on crabbing but I really wanted to get in a coast hike, so we made plans to meet up. Russ was going to go over early in the morning with two boys to go crabbing with our friends. Then I was going to arrive later in the morning. The women and children were going to head down to Yachats to go hiking while the men stayed to crab. Russ had to head back home around 1:30 so he could coach that afternoon. I wanted to stay in Yachats and play on the beach after hiking and Char was going to head back to Waldport to crab with her husband after Russ left. Then I would bring the kids back after we played on the beach. Isn’t that a great plan? <em>I thought so</em>.</p><p>My morning started out smoothly. I arrived in Waldport with the oldest and youngest at about 10 am. The crabbing crew boated in and Char and I headed out with all the kids. It was cloudy and cold, but I was sure it would get warmer.</p><p>Halfway to Yachats, Leif realized he hadn’t grabbed his bag of clothes in Russ’s car (though he somehow remembered to grab the ipads, <em>ahem</em>). That meant he had only the jeans he was wearing for the rest of the day. </p><p>We arrived at Neptune Beach south of Yachats, and I had no cell service. I had forgotten to take screen shots of the hiking info, but we managed to find the trailhead and get started. In previous years, Lola used to drag behind the rest of the pack and whine. A lot. But lately she has been full of energy and excitement and running in the lead. That’s usually better than dragging behind and whining. She was ahead of Char and me as we labored up a hill. The other kids passed us as the trail started downhill because running down is the best part (if you aren’t old). Then we came to two forks in the road (in quick succession) and Lola was nowhere to be found. The kids hadn’t seen her.<br><br>She knows to stop and make sure we’re behind her. She knows to stop at forks in the trail.</p><p>But that day she didn’t.<br><br>And we spent the next however long trying to find her. She’s been lost many times before (the joy of fearless, independent, curious children), but this time we had too many directions to look. We needed to stay in communication with each other without cell phones. And we needed people to stay at the forks in case she turned up. A lot of time passed and we couldn’t find her. It had never taken that long. We were so close to calling in search and rescue because we didn’t know how to procede. </p><p>And then Char found her. </p><p>Lola was running and didn’t notice the fork. Then she heard Leif calling. That meant we were right behind her and she didn’t want to lose her place in the lead, so she kept running.<em> Sigh</em>. (The joy of competitive kids.) But she sat herself down and waited at the next fork in the road until Char found her. </p><p>We had been running up and down trails trying to find her. Everyone was tired. No one was in the mood to hike anymore. So we hiked back to the cars. [I’m still counting this as a hike, even though we didn’t finish the trail and I have not a single picture to commemorate it!]</p><p>The weather was still cold and cloudy, so we just drove back to Waldport instaed of staying at the beach. Leif was able to get his bag of stuff from Russ before he left. We ate lunch and relaxed at the dock. </p><p>Then I drove all the kids up to Newport in search of a beach while Char and John stayed to finish the crabbing. </p><p>It was not warm. It was not sunny. But the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Leif, Luke, and Monet got completely soaked in the waves (insane). Lola had her suit on but only got her legs wet. McKinnon and Levi mostly stayed out of the water and enjoyed the rocks and sand. </p><p>Later we cleaned up and met John and Char at Mo’s on the waterfront for clam chowder.</p><p><strong>It was a special time with great friends, and now we have more stories to tell.</strong></p><p>[I did have a long chat with Lola about hiking rules, and she will stay completely in sight at all times for the rest of the year.]<br><br></p><p><a title="Newport 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41746130741/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/41746130741_3301912d78_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39938503690/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/39938503690_59ec4d1827_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41746131361/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/41746131361_e6c26109c7_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41028232484/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 10 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/982/41028232484_f7801160c6_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39938501500/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 8 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/954/39938501500_33a4b2df37_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39938502250/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 6 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/908/39938502250_216e7bbe6e_b.jpg"></a><a title="Newport 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39938502730/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Newport 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/864/39938502730_38c8de4b42_b.jpg"></a></p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-50651644209110010742018-04-30T11:21:00.001-07:002018-04-30T11:21:59.678-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 21: Return to Silver Falls<p><a title="Silver Falls Return @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40851478855/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls Return @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/906/40851478855_3d78c6d368_b.jpg"></a></p><p>[Hike #20 was a beautifully sunny afternoon with my four kids at Talking Waters on April 19th. This was our second “hike” of the year there. Next time I’ll have to snap a few pictures. I always post at least one picture of every hike on Instagram in “real time” if you want to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mthopeheidi/">follow along there</a>.]</p><p>On April 20th I returned to Silver Creek Falls. This time I brought family and friends and we had no snow. [<em>grin</em>] Holly and I added Char, Monet, and Jake to our crew. Plus Ivy, Levi, Leif, and Lola.</p><p>Luke, Monet, and Jake had mock trial that morning (Char, Holly, Ivy, and I were there all morning observing), so it was a <em>long</em> day! We hiked the same <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/02/52-hike-challenge-hike-11-silver-falls.html">4+ mile loop with 7 waterfalls that I hiked back in February</a>. </p><p>On our hikes lately, we’ve noticed so many new blooms. It’s fun to see the new life sprouting as the season changes.</p><p><a title="Silver Falls In Bloom @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40851481025/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls In Bloom @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/952/40851481025_9e78ba24d3_b.jpg"></a><a title="Silver Falls in Bloom 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41032897624/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls in Bloom 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/970/41032897624_c3483a3012_b.jpg"></a><a title="Silver Falls in Bloom 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41032898074/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls in Bloom 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/870/41032898074_afc62e368f_b.jpg"></a><a title="Silver Falls in Bloom 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40851479815/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls in Bloom 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40851479815_8a4878e891_b.jpg"></a></p><p>The kid crew:</p><a title="Silver Falls Hiking Crew @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41032898974/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Silver Falls Hiking Crew @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/960/41032898974_9ef22d59a0_b.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-58035007593089082922018-04-29T13:36:00.001-07:002018-04-29T13:36:40.274-07:00Classical Conversations | Challenge B | Mock Trial<p><a title="Mock Trial @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39941956950/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="638" alt="Mock Trial @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/966/39941956950_7b70ec0d8f_b.jpg"></a></p><p>I plan to share more about Luke and his Challenge B year in an upcoming post, but these are a few photos from Luke’s mock trial experience with his Classical Conversations class. The class was divided into prosecution and defense teams. Luke was assigned the role of bailiff for the defense team and prosecuting attorney with the prosecution team.<br><br>Most of the kids were able to attend and observe a high school mock trial competition early in their preparations, and a local attorney met with the kids to share his experience, answer questions, and inspire them. The teams met together outside of class for two months leading up to the mock trial competition. </p><p>Luke said this experience was his favorite class and activity of the year and he would consider joining a mock trial group in high school. That’s high praise from him. He also said he’d be interested in a career as bailiff. </p><p>Mock trial is an invaluable experience for these kids, and I am so proud of them!</p><p>Luke as bailiff:</p><p><a title="Mock Trial Bailiff @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/40850436935/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Mock Trial Bailiff @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/40850436935_f850c89567_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Prosecuting Attorney questioning his witness:</p><p><a title="Mock Trial Prosecuting Attorney @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/39941956350/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Mock Trial Prosecuting Attorney @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/39941956350_48845159d9_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Luke’s Challenge B Class with the judge:</p><a title="Mock Trial Team @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/41031794544/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Mock Trial Team @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/962/41031794544_cc70b82aea_b.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-45001442393964583772018-04-28T07:31:00.001-07:002018-04-28T07:31:06.324-07:0052 Hike Challenge ~ Hike 19: Return to Shellburg<p><a title="Shellburg Return 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877500958/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="688" alt="Shellburg Return 3 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/27877500958_44a21d12ce_b.jpg"></a></p><p>[Hike #18 was a <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/02/52-hike-challenge-hike-10-section-36.html">return to Peavy Section 36 Trail</a> with Holly, Ivy, Leif, and Lola on the gorgeous day of April 3rd.]</p><p>On April 9th, Holly and I <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2018/02/52-hike-challenge-hike-8-shellburg-and.html">returned to Shellburg Falls</a>. This time we brought Shannon and her girls, Rilla and Sweden, so we had all three sisters and all our kids (minus Ilex and Drake, who no longer live at home). </p><p>We had 66 degree weather, and the hike was delightful. </p><p><a title="Shellburg Return @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877501588/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Shellburg Return @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/27877501588_f165cb5e85_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Ivy and Leif love getting wet. Can you see them at the base of the falls in the picture below?</p><a title="Shellburg Return 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877501358/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Shellburg Return 2 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/980/27877501358_6578b6ef8c_b.jpg"></a><a title="Shellburg Return Greenery @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877499718/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Shellburg Return Greenery @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/824/27877499718_caa81a26ec_b.jpg"></a><a title="Shellburg Return 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877499988/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="531" alt="Shellburg Return 5 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/952/27877499988_57070e2692_b.jpg"></a><a title="Shellburg Return 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/32545271@N06/27877500438/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="578" alt="Shellburg Return 4 @ Mt. Hope Chronicles" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/27877500438_a6e919bbd6_b.jpg"></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.com0