CEDARHILL

The anniversary of the Pioneer Fire

This month is the anniversary of the Pioneer Hotel Fire which destroyed the Hotel and the Globe Theater in 2005. Work is underway to rebuild a new 4-plex theater which is slated to open later this year. This one is built largely of concrete block and steel and we are all looking forward to having a theater back in town.
Bobby Hollis just launched his new website , which at this point, gives the schedule for the Drive-In Theater, but holds promise for more movies this fall. See: HollisCinemas

Mother's Bearded Iris

Spring has arrived and the iris are blooming. This bearded iris is one of my mothers which she transplanted several times, over several moves, so that it could arrive in Arizona. It's funny, the things we leave behind us which bring joy to others. Every time I look at these iris I'm reminded of mothers ability to set anything in the ground - willy nilly- and look forward to seeing what sprouted. She cared none for grand design, grabbing opportunity where it presented itself. She was willing to buy iris - sight unseen- and wait for what popped up. Sometimes...it was a bearded iris.

 The key to her success I think was that she kept planting.  

  

A new theatre...coming soon

Construction of a new theater downtown began in earnest at the end of January. Semis loaded with concrete block, big earth moving equipment, concrete trucks and lots of man power decended on the site two weeks ago and the walls are going up with amazing speed. It is good to see work like this happening at a time when it seems America has slowed to a stand still. 

This new theatre, on the site of the old one, but even bigger, will house 4 screens and undoubtedly will bring much more activity to the Downtown than we've had in the last four years since the old theatre burned down along with the Pioneer Hotel.

I'm working the Hollis family to maintain a blog for the theatre during construction - and before they launch a website sometime next year. Check it out  Hollis Cinemas

    

Snow Arrives in Globe

  

In the last 24 hours the Globe area has gone from 70deg highs during the day, to an angry heart-pounding rain last night where the wind actually blew over my 200lb ceramic planter with a jade plant.
I always walk the perimeter of the house when these big storms come in to see that everything is "holding". I was able to pull my jade plant out of the dirt, and it is now sitting in a bucket of dirt in the kitchen, awaiting gentler,kinder weather. I did lose my umbrella which was lifted from its stand and thrown agains the concrete wall on the East side. It appears beyond repair.

It was alittle erie the way the wind blew and the rain pounded against the west side of the house in big sheets coming off the roof. And then.....about 1am, everything got very quiet. The wind stopped and big snow flakes started falling. It snowed for about 6 hours and bent many tree branches to the ground, although I saw no broken branches.  Temperatures are in the 40's, but with the wind - it feels like 20.
good thing I still have my carharts from all those Kansas winters of feeding livestock in -15 degrees.
30 years later, they are still in my closet for days such as this.

Here is the old Red Roan which used to be a local bar of some renown. It is still standing, but quite unsafe and may one day have to be torn down. This would be a shame though. It is just one of the many buildings which make Globe's downtown like none other.

Whitehouse.gov

Sarah Palin should take note of the President's all-new website for the Whitehouse. Here are crib notes regarding just what each branch of government does....and the powers granted to each. You don't have to guess anymore. It's right there on the web in one place - under a heading: WHITEHOUSE.gov.

How simple is that!

Not only is it informative and entertaining - it makes accessing information easy. one of the sections which is music to me is the one on how to use Freedom of Information Act, and Obama has already sent out a notice to all government agencies that they should work to comply.... not sabotage efforts of reporters to report on the business of government at all levels.

Palin and others who have been challenged by things like what are the duties of Vice President and how much power does the legislative branch wield in certain matters, can now simply log on to whitehouse.gov. Drat, if Obama had only launched this earlier she might have done better on those tricky questions!

The site has both a serious and an entertainment aspect to it, including a great review of all 44 presidents and their BIO's. Plus slideshows of past presidents at work. Not to mention a blog, and a weekly video address. It is not that I am so taken with the technology as the clear intent by the Obama folks to communicate. To enter into a dialogue. To engage the interests of 8year olds in their Nation's History. To educate us all in in what it means to have a participating democracy. The emphasis being on participation and the expectation that you can't participate in something you don't understand and if you don't have the facts. whitehouse.gov seems to be a good step in setting up the groundwork for that.

The new site was launched the minute Obama took the oath. Not bad eh!Whitehouse.gov

A new day indeed for America and even with all the bad news out there, I find reason to smile
everyday as I watch the strides the new adminstration is taking to reverse the Bush Years.

Christmas Party with the Acers

 I got back from spending a few days with the Acers in Kingman. Every year they have a huge Christmas Party at their house the weekend just before Christmas and everyone comes in for it! Sarah may have come the farthest, driving from North Carolina with her Wolfhound, but Cassie flew in from Boston, and Jim's old friend Neil came in from Denver. The Party was a hoot - complete with Santa Clause - of course...but I think I enjoy the morning after the most where we can sit around the Kitchen and kibitz ..
Paula bakes like my Aunt Mary used to do and there is ALWAYS good stuff in her kitchen! I missed the opportunitiy to take photos of the 8 alpacas in the back yard, and the lot of 20+ exotic chickens, but it takes me back to our years at St. George where animals, kids, friends and family mixed....
Made me want to start alittle flock of my own exotic chickens this spring. I may. I'm still looking at the MacMurray catalogue. Mcmurray If the day-old baby chicks could survive the shipping (they ship directly to your postoffice) and the first month of not getting snatched by the cats.... they could probably do quite well here.
Another tradition with the Acers is shooting on the morning after. Yes.... really shooting with multiple kinds of guns. A good friend is a marksman and gives good advice and training on all kinds of guns. I shot a couple hand guns and a couple rifles - whose names escape me now...THe little plink plink of bullets hitting the ground seem so harmless. Until you see the piece of steel they hit. It was interesting.But I think I'll stick with the chickens.

The Barometer of being Human

I got to shoot a friends pregnancy this last week and it reminded me of why I'm grateful to have picked up photography in the last three years. Yes, I played with a camera for years growing up, but to have the professional lenses and some experience which make a shot like this possible....and the access to the host of photography resources to produce the shot. Well...that has been a bonus. Thank goodness for those. They have made all the difference in capturing shots which are important to me....and others.

And this shot reminds me of something else. That there is hope in the future. That this couple is glad to be bringing a new life into this world. That we all have a role to play in making a better life for those who come after us. I'm researching an issue which involves manipulation and power and I'm reminded that only we - only I - at the point of impact.....can hold the line and say to the world: THIS is what is wrong - or right. 

The birth of a child makes you reconsider all that you hold to be sacred and relevant in this world.

Its a good barometer of "human-ess." And a guiding light for our own character.

Because, I suspect, the things we are willing to accomodate or overlook in our own lives, we would not want for the new life about to be born. It is for this life - and those surrounding it -that we struggle to be better people and more responsible citizens.

I pray for more conscience.

Getting along

  

If only the world could get along.  

Hurricane Hannah separated these tiger cubs from their mom and they were placed with a rescue organization in South Carolina. Here they were placed in the capable mothering arms of Anajana who has raised other leopard and tiger cubs.

Yes we can...and did!

My friends Karen and Greg Gotto - up front- were part of a small, but very determined group of parents who spent nearly a year in putting together a huge playground for the local kids. it is similar to what Jim Acer and his group did in Kingman. Huge Effort. All volunteer. A national group which provides the blueprints and matching grant money...gives incentives for local groups to raise thousands of dollars and gather hundreds of volunteers to help build this amazing thing in two days. Makes me wish I was a kid.. but luckily they built the slide wide enough for big people. We all tried it out!   They had hoped for 160 volunteers on day one - and about 40 showed. STILL.... they did it!  Jennifer Werrell (back row, dark jacket) with 2 small children at Copper Rim spearheaded the whole project and "got er done." HERE, is a photo of all the kids of the parents who were working that day.... 

    

Making History-Obama 349

 

 O K OK OK!, so it's maybe wrong to be singing Happy Days are here with two wars, terrorist lunatics both home and abroad plotting against us and a financial crisis that is wrapped around the world, but Happy I am today! I'm taking a moment to bask in the sheer stunning justice of an Obama Presidency and letting worry stand to the side while I enjoy feeling good again about being an American and hopeful for our Country.

HAPPY< HAPPY<HAPPY<HAPPY.... Yes I am!

Obama's "Yes We Can" reminds me of mothers mantra "Yes, Yes you surely may!" The magic in these phrases is in their ability to lift up, to encourage, to assure the other party that someone Believes in Them!. While at the same time...making that person responsible. Puttin THEM into the equation of their own success. It seems true leaders and wise mothers know this.

I am grateful that my life has been and will be informed and enriched by both.

The headlines begin to tell the story. "Exit poll shows wide, deep support for Obama".  He cut across gender, education and income divides with John McCain pulling even or ahead among pockets of wealthier and conservative voters. He won with an overwhelming lead. 

Around the world - Praise for Obama    Washington Post

  " From Paris to New Delhi to the beaches of Brazil, revelers said Obama's election made them feel more connected to America, and that America, after years of strained-relations, seemed suddenly more connected to the world."    ... "It makes me feel like there is a future that includes all of us."

AMEN 

And just for the record so my blog-archives can keep it: Here are the numbers.

US PRESIDENT:  Electoral College      349 Obama  to  147 McCain

                            Popular Vote           52%            to      46%

                                         62,680,702                 55,542,743

US SENATE  picked up an additional 17 seats

US House of Representatives  now has 251 seats

Even in the RED state of Arizona, home to John McCain, Obama garnered 45% of the vote or 850,702.

Well friends and family.... It is a NEW day in America. Hallelujah!