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May 24th Memorial Day – More Than A Three Day Weekend

Memorial Day is upon us, a lot of you will be hitting the highway to go camping, fishing or traveling to friends’ homes. You might be planning a big get together with family and friends or just decorating the graves of loved ones. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and remember the reason we celebrate.

Did you know that all Americans are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day? That’s right, wherever you are during your festivities, please take a minute to honor and remember our country’s fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

No matter how bleak things look, I still believe we live in the greatest nation in the world. If you don’t feel the same, maybe you should reconsider your locale. I can say that because I live in the greatest nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Be Safe and Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged camping, freedom, hiking, lives, Memorial Day, remember, Weekend by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Mar 20th The Spring Equinox is almost here!

Sure enough, according to scientists, astronomers and people who know these things, Spring Equinox will arrive at 12:15 p.m. EDT, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. You wouldn’t know it here in the Colorado Rockies there are still big wet snowflakes blanketing the tulips and daffodil plants that should know better than to stick their tender green sprouts above ground this early. The good thing, when the sun comes up after a coating of snow over night its gone in a matter of a couple of hours.

Did you know Vernal Equinox is another name given to the Spring Equinox or called the March Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere the March Equinox is referred to as the Autumnal Equinox. If that isn’t confusing enough, when September rolls around (I am in no way hurrying the seasons) the equinoxes are switched – the Northern Hemisphere experiencing an Autumnal Equinox and the Southern Hemisphere having their Vernal Equinox. What is the equinox you ask? Well…the equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator.

Whether you call it Spring, March or Vernal Equinox, it brings a plethora of traditions and rituals including more sunlight hours, which makes me happy. I love to watch new life sprout after the dreary, brown last days of Winter. Don’t you? Easter for Christians falls the first Sunday after the full moon subsequent to the Spring Equinox, which this year is April 16th. Others celebrate the Spring Maiden or Goddess who watches over the emerging flora and fauna, a reminder of earth’s fertility. Still others have traditional dances and hunts to celebrate the arrival of Spring.

Another sign of spring is the Crocus who is famous for bursting forth and blooming when it’s cold outside, even through a blanket of white snow! This brave little flower can help banish nightmares and generally infuse your dreamscapes with a cool serenity. Because Crocus reminds us of vibrant beauty even in the most wintry landscape, it’s also considered a harbinger and symbol or happiness. Saffron actually comes from the stigmas and styles of a variety of Crocus. Bet you didn’t know that!

As the snow melts, the thirsty ground sighs with relief soaking up the much needed moisture. Boy howdy we need the moisture this year. Hope springs eternal for the promise of warm sunlit days that awaken the budding flowers and bring spectacular color to our world. Happy Spring everyone! Are the early spring flowers like Crocus, Tulips, Daffodils poking up through the ground yet at your house?

Do you have all your camping reservations set? I have a few, circumstances beyond my control curtailed some of my camping reservation dates, gotta get those six months from the date you want to camp, or you’ll be out of luck.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged camping, Crocus, Easter, flowers, snow, Spring, Spring Equinox, Tulips by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.

Aug 22nd Adventures of a Dog, a Bird & a Turtle

Our first indication an adventure was afoot was our fifth wheel trailer is parked in the driveway, rather than wherever it hides. Excitement mounts as our humans drag clothes from the upstairs closets to the trailer. Next the delicious aroma of food is carried out. I sure hope we get some of whatever it is. Oops gotta make a pit stop out back and grab a couple of favorite toys to take. Be right back.

There she goes, that silly dog. What if our humans sneak out the front door while no one is on guard. Guess it’s up to me. I’ll just move over to my other perch and keep an eye out. Thump, thump, thump a human with a basket of goodies comes bounding up the basement steps. “Hey guys don’t forget my freshly made breakfast s and frozen dinners.” Pop! The fridge opens, containers of my food are tossed in the basket, yep we’ve trained the humans well. Whew… we’re all set. “Hey wake up Sammy. It’s time to go.”

“What… who… where?” Sammy turtle peeks grumpily out of her shell. “I better get out and play this camping trip. Last time I was stuck in my travel home the whole time, just because it rained. Our humans need to carry a shell with them. Besides a little water ain’t going to make them rust or melt.”

“Oh hush,” says Taco the parrot. “They got our travel homes and Mystic’s leash. It’s time. Oh, yum, I’m getting dinner in my travel home, must be a longer trip. Yippee!”

Thwack. The dog door closes after and exuberant Chow dog rushes in. “Are we ready?” With a bang, our human drops the dog door panel in place and locks it. Then he bends down and hooks the leash to my harness, grabs Taco’s travel home. “Hey, where’s Sammy?”

“Already gone. She’s in the trailer.” Taco says around a beak full of food. “You know she gets car sick if she rides in the car.”

Loaded in the truck, my head out the window, Taco’s carrier hung in the other window, we’re off. Other vehicles wiz by, birds fly overhead and wow something smells good. “Hey why are you rolling the window up. We’re not going that fast.” I plop down in the seat with a grumble and watch out the closed window. Miles and miles go by till we reach a mountainous area, with lots of trees. Pass through the ranger’s tiny house in the middle of the road. My window is back down, I hear a bugling sound, wait… WOW what is that beside the road looking at me?” Sniff, sniff, whine, whine, woof.

Human says “Leave it Mystic.”

Aww that’s no fun. “Taco, did you see that.”

“It’s an Elk, saw it on the Discovery Channel. Told you to stop chasing squirrels and watch my television.”

“Taco that’s boring. No smells and doesn’t run. How am I supposed to chase it? Whoa, chipmunk.”

“We’re here guys. Rocky Mountain National Park,” the humans chorus. “Out you go.” Humans carry the Taco’s Travel home into the fifth wheel and hook up my leash. “Hike in ten minutes.”

*** Yep, we just broke all the writing rules ever written. We can do that because we are a dog, a bird, and a turtle on an adventure. ‘Yes, I got out, see pictures above and right,” said Sammy.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged box turtle, camping, Chow Chow, Eclectus Parrot, Elk, hiking, Rocky Mountain National Park, RV, RVIng by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Jun 20th Camping- Colorado’s Mueller State Park

After promoting the spectacularly-fun and successful release of my fifth book, A Warlock’s Secrets, second in the Demon’s Witch Series, which culminated on June 14, 2017, it was time for Mueller State Park, and a camping trip to reset my circadian timing, it was off just a skoosh! Spending quality time with family, friends and pets (yep took our parrot, Taco, Chow dog, Mystic, and Sammie the box turtle) can recharge your mental and physical batteries. Besides you sleep better in the great outdoors. It’s a proven scientific fact, you know.

Our absolutely excellent camp site was toward the back of Mueller State Park up on a hill with lots of room to roam! The sunset was fantastic, setting the azure sky ablaze in orange, red and yellow fading to purple and blue fringing the few scattered high clouds. We didn’t get any sunset pictures because hubby and I were at the star-gazer program in Mueller park’s visitor center’s parking lot! Dang it! Knowledgeable individuals set up several telescopes for us to see the stars. Saturn and its moons were breath-taking. The speaker told us to follow the arc to Arcturus, the fourth brightest star in the night sky, and drive a spike to Spica. It’s a star mnemonic to remember the stars locations. LOL And of course we located the popular Ursa Major and Ursa Minor better known as Big and Little Dipper and several other constellations. Astronomy is one of several interests my hubby and I share.

The next morning, after letting Sammie out for a bit, we hiked the newly opened to dogs trail starting at Grouse Mountain Trailhead. We were pleased to discover nearly a month into the trial of dogs on the trail at Mueller, the path was pristine, no trash, and no uh…mmm… deposits left by canines. The sign-in sheets at the trailhead were overflowing with signatures of people from all over the country enjoying the beautiful scenery with their dogs.

After a fun day of hiking, we cooked hot dogs and brats, plus baked beans over the campfire. No the beans didn’t fall through the grates; we put them in a pan. LOL Then we sat back and listened to the chirping crickets, scurry of possible foxes or deer in the underbrush, and the far off yips of coyotes, as we roasted marshmallows for s’mores. In the star strewn sky, the Milky Way along with several of the constellations was clearly visible. We even spotted a few satellites zipping across the sky and one falling star. Star bright, star light, first star we see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. Made a wish. No wonder camping is good for you!

Sunday was Father’s Day, Mystic and Taco attempted to assist hubby in preparing breakfast of fried eggs, cinnamon rolls, hash browns and orange juice. Yup, he likes to cook while we’re camping, so I let him. Then it was time to pack up and return to the cement jungle. Sigh.

Upon arriving home, we discovered a baby wren stuck in our backyard porch light. Hubby got out the ladder, dismantled the light fixture to release the little bird to its noisily awaiting flock and parents. So glad we got home when we did, poor little guy was scared to death.

Well, there you have it… our adventures of Father’s Day weekend. I hope you all had a great Father’s Day. Check back next week for more adventures! LOL Have a great week!