Artwork: Young Hoop Dancer

 My latest artwork, "Young Hoop Dancer." Polychromos color pencils. Apache Junction, Arizona ©Melissa Enderle

Although I've been a part of my family's Yellow Bird Dance group since I was a toddler, performing in front of audiences with the hoop dance is something I've only done in the last few years. It takes a lot of coordination and practice to get those hoops into the different formations such as a butterfly or eagle while at the same time doing fancy footwork, accented by the jingle of bells attached to my sheepskin leggings. Everything– the formations, facial expression, movement, and the homemade costume– has symbolism. My ancestors created the hoop dance to be part of a healing ceremony, but for the past 30 years, our dance group has used a form of the hoop dance to share a bit of our culture with others. I can't grasp as many hoops as my older brother, papa, or uncle, but I'm feeling much more confident with my form. In a couple of weeks, we'll be heading to the Heard Museum for the annual World Championship of Hoop Dancing. Native American groups from all over the country will be competing. My papa, who has used 40 hoops in one dance, is a five-time world champion. Last year I got 2nd place in my age division. After today's performance, I think I can get first place. Wish me luck!

See more of my artwork on my website www.melissaenderle.com, on Flickr, or my Artwork Facebook Page.

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Presenting a Print to Teton Ken

This week I attended Teton Ken's lecture on the Lost Dutchman, held at the Superstition Mountain Museum. As promised, I brought a print of the color pencil drawing I had made of Teton and his sidekick, Daisy. Teton Ken had already seen the original last March, which was shortly after his heart attack and the deadly rattlesnake bite for Daisy. 

When he saw me, Teton warmly greeted me, remembering my name. He was tickled that I had brought the print and said that it would be displayed in his dining room. Since Teton didn't have his reading glasses, I read the story I wrote about him, which was affixed to the back of the print. A small gesture of kindness for a man who has brought happiness to so many.

Mary (the burro he had with him today) was more interested in the protective tissue surrounding the print, taking a brief break from gnawing on the wooden column of the shed to try and sample the new object. Teton was quite protective his new piece and put it in a safe place.  

If you're in the Mesa/Apache Junction area of Arizona, be sure to visit Teton Ken at the Superstition Mountain Museum.  He is often there during the weekend, offering rides to kids (young and old alike) on his burros. 

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Running Cactus

Although the Petroglyphs were the star of the show, this cactus just off to the side caught my eye. To me, it looks like the cactus is a running figure. Certainly the most "active" cactus I've seen!

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Down the Path of Yesteryear: Teton Ken and his Burro

My latest artwork, of Teton Ken and his belated Daisy, set against the magnificent Superstition Mountains. If you are in the Apache Junction area of Arizona, be sure to stop at this gem of a museum. Teton Ken will be lecturing about the Lost Dutchman and his mine on January 4, 2018.

Down the Path of Yesteryear: Teton Ken and his Burro. Color pencil ©2017 Melissa Enderle

Them there mountains have been such a big part of my life. How many times have I meandered up the narrow paths of the Superstitions, flanked by jumping cholas, saguaros, and the occasional Palo Verde tree. Daisy has done it so many times that she can navigate nearly by herself–great for feller’s eyes like mine that get cloudier all the time.

In my younger years, I used to do some prospecting up in them thar hills. Them’s years are over, both for me and these rocks. Not as quick as I used to be, I stick to the path. Less of a chance to encounter a rattler or bobcat, but they still are here as well. That’s why I carry this gun. Done for the day, I’m ready to head back into town. A cold beer sounds good right now. And some oats for ol’ Daisy. 

See more of my artworks at www.melissaenderle.com 

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A Walk Through the Desert Wildflowers at Catalina State Park

I timed my trip down to Arizona this spring so I could see the desert wildflowers. The area had received ample rainfall this winter, so the flowers were happy. We took a drive about 1 1/2 hours away and visited the Catalina State Park near Tucson. 

I was surprised to see how green much of the park was. The leaves of many of the trees were emerging, and grasses of different sorts looked very fresh - unlike the wild grasses near Apache Junction which have already dried up. The creek going through the park definitely helped.

In addition, the area was dotted with various wildflowers, in various intensities of yellow, white, orange, red, orange, and blue. Some were so tiny and appeared to be very fragile. They reminded me of some of the tundra flowers higher on a mountain.

Some of the flowers played hide-and-seek, peeking out between the cacti. Many of the cacti themselves were beginning to blossom as well. I suspect that in a few weeks, rocky hills and mountains in this park will look very different yet again, with these fragile rainbows all dry and withered up, hoping to reappear next year.

See more of my photos from Catalina State Park on my Flickr Site

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Teton Ken and Daisy: Color Pencil Artwork

Below is the latest artwork I have completed, a color pencil drawing of Teton Ken (formal name of Ken Eddy). I met Ken and his burro Daisy at the Superstition Museum, where he was very willing to pose for me and chat. Gleaning information about Ken was far easier than most of my subjects in foreign countries, where language and/or time was a challenge. 

With my grizzly beard, worn leather hat, gun, and mining gear saddled on ‘ol Daisy, I certainly look the part of a gold prospector. Yessiree, I can truthfully say that I have found a nugget or two, but nothing that would make me rich. I admit that I have been amongst the many who have gone up in these here Superstition Mountains searching for the fabled Lost Dutchman mine, but the greatest wealth I gained there revolved around enjoying the spectacular scenery. Leading some adult treasure-hunters and movie crews up the mountain also helped pay some bills and enabled me to purchase several burros including this here Daisy. I even acted as the ghost of the Lost Dutchman in a movie! On weekends, Daisy and I hang out here at the Superstition Museum, giving kids rides on my burros. I’m not sure who has more fun - me or the kiddos!

See more of my artwork on my website www.melissaenderle.com.

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I see you...or you see me...

While hiking on the Peralta Canyon Trail in Arizona, we spotted these longhorn cattle. Looking at the spread on their horns, I was somewhat happy to see that there were some cactus plants acting as a barrier between us. 

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Crested Saguaro - Cactus with Flair

While walking through the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix,  this saguaro demanded my attention. On the top of the main trunk was a fan-like protuberance. It stood so regally amongst the other plants in this desert landscape. When one of the garden volunteers came by, I asked him about this formation. 

This cactus, he said, was known as a crested saguaro. This beautiful, but rare occurrence, is still a bit of a mystery to scientists. Some say the cresting is due to a genetic formation; others suggest that it is a result of frost or lightning strike. Inquiring online, I found that there even is a Crested Saguaro Society. Its members have been documenting each crested cactus it finds. One passionate veteran of the society theorizes that the cresting is due to a hormone that causes the number of pleats on a cactus to go out of control, observing that some return to normal after years of cresting. Through the society's diligent tracking, they claim to have found over 2, 200 crested saguaros. 

Susceptible to frost and poaching, the crested saguaros are highly protected by the Arizona Department of Architecture. 

During my time in Arizona, I spotted only one other crested saguaro, located on a trail in Apache Junction near Meridian Drive.

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Sunrises (and Sunsets) of Arizona

With my time in Arizona setting like the sun, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate this post to its sunsets (and sunrises). Although I've seen some beautiful sunset(rises) elsewhere, the dramatic colors and frequency of such brilliant displays seems to occur at a much higher frequency.

So what causes these brilliant skies? When the sun sets, light shines through more of the atmosphere, when compared to when the sun is higher in the sky. The light is bent, refracted, and reflected from tiny particles in that atmosphere. A lower frequency results in more warmer colors. 

Beyond the basic science, what makes Arizona's sunset(rises) so spectacular? Due to less moisture in the air, the clouds here are much higher. Such higher clouds reflect more light, with dramatic colors. 

With reduced levels of pollution, more variation in visible light can be seen, particularly those vibrant colors at the far end of the spectrum. It seems that dust (and pollution) actually diffuses or scatters color, resulting in a dull or muted sky. 

The presence of high clouds also greatly chances the chance of  dramatic sunset. These higher (and middle) clouds help intercept unadulterated light. 

I like how the higher clouds in the photo above reflected the orange color, making it appear as if those clouds were on fire.

For those willing to get up earlier and deal with the cooler early morning temperatures, the winter and fall months provide rewarding painterly effects.

Boo - back to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin!

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The Saguaros of Arizona

If there was one symbol that defined the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, it would have to be the Saguaro. (Yes, that's me in the photo above, hugging the saguaro. Not something I'd normally do, but this one's base was decaying and had lost its needles). 

Here are some interesting facts about the saguaro. Although the cactus can reach up to heights of 40-60 feet (12-18 meters), it is actually rather slow-growing. In its first 8 years of life, the saguaro might only be 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm) tall. It often starts its life under the protection of an ironwood or mesquite "nurse tree." Once it begins growing, it absorbs the nutrients and water from the nurse tree, thus killing it. The Saguaro has a very shallow root system (4-6 inches), with one root stem going two feet. The root system typically is as wide as the height of the cactus. It can weigh up to 4,800 pounds (2,177 kg). 

A Saguaro typically grows its first "arm" at around 50-70 years of age. Up to 25 arms may be found on a saguaro. It first bloom appears around 30 years. At only around 125 years of age is it considered and "adult" saguaro. They generally die around 150-175 years of age, but may reach 200 years. Once the cactus dies, its interior woody ribs can be used to build furniture, fences, or roofs. 

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Petroglyphs of Superstition Mountain

On this beautiful December day, we went on a hike in the southwest corner of Superstition Wilderness, a short ride east of Apache Junction. The well-traveled path took us past a wide variety of cactus, shrubs, and rock formations. Still within the Christmas break, people of all ages were returning from a hike - a good indication that the trail's rating of easy-to-moderate was accurate. 

As we neared the Hieroglyphics Canyon, the rocks on the path became larger and some climbing was needed. The sounds of rushing water mingled with the squeals of laughter and excitement of kids who were enjoying splashing in the water.

The petroglyphs, etched into the rock by the Hohokam Native Americans who lived in the area from 500-1450 AD. The dark desert varnish patina found on these rocks made an excellent surface for carving the imagery. (Early settlers mistakenly called them hieroglyphics in reference to those linguistic symbols in Egypt, but they are in fact petroglyphs, or rock paintings)

Some of the lower rocks also contained more modern carvings– or should I say, graffiti. 

Any symbolic meaning of the petroglyphs has not been determined. I saw what looked like snakes, lizards, and goats.

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Texas Meets Arizona

The Superstition Mountains of Arizona are quite picturesque and have many hiking opportunities and of varying levels of difficulty.

Despite less-than-optimal weather conditions, we went further on our hike and were rewarded with some pretty scenes.

Near the end, we saw several longhorn cattle freely roaming about within the park lands. It made me feel like I should have been in Texas! I wondered what the process was for rounding up all the cattle - and what precautions the ranchers must take to protect themselves against those horns. Somehow, within all those prickly cactus and scrubby bushes, the cattle (who looked very well-fed) must find enough to eat. Gosh, if that would have been the Holstein cows we had on our farm in Wisconsin....

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Sandboarding down the La Paz Sand Dunes

On my tour of Laoag, my guest house friends took us to the La Paz Sand Dunes. This stretch of coastal sand dunes is an easy 15 minute drive outside of Laoag and spans for about 85 square km (52 miles) along the South China Sea. It is a popular site for films, both Philippine movies and Hollywood. Mad Max and Born on the Fourth of July both shot scenes in this coastal desert. 

Sand dunes can reach up to 90 meters (295 ft) in height, but are constantly changing due to variations in wind, currents, weather, sedimentation, and types of vegetation. 

In one area, adults and kids were sliding down the dunes on boards. It hearkened me back to my snow tobogganing and sled riding days on the glacially formed hills on the family farm in Wisconsin.

Jeeps and 4x4 vehicles could also be seen driving over the dunes.

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Copper Mine, Arizona

On our way back from Tonto Natural Bridge, we stopped by a copper mine site. The rocky, barren-looking landscape had been transformed into a terraced seating of the Roman theatre in Dougga, Tunisia. Set high on a neighboring hill, we could see through the fence at the visitor's viewpoint some of the goings-on below, but at a very safe distance. Massive trucks hauling loads of dirt made their way across the terraces and down dusty road ramps. Because it was a holiday, not much other action was taking place. A tire from one of the mining vehicles was displayed in the visitor's area, but now was enclosed by a fence. To get a sense of scale, adults could easily stand in the inner part of the tire.

Copper mining is a huge industry in Arizona. Over 60% of America's copper supply comes from this state. In 2007, 750,000 metric tons of copper was mined in Arizona, amounting to $4.54 billion dollars.  Byproducts of copper mining include silver, gold, and molybdenum. Native Americans once used copper minerals as a pigment for decoration and early Spanish explorers found copper, but it wasn't until the arrival of the railroad that copper could be mined profitably.  

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Roosevelt Dam and Bridge

Dedicated to then-President Theodore Roosevelt, the Roosevelt Dam was built from 1906-11. Located in the Salt River northeast of Phoenix, it was designed to help provide irrigation water and control flooding, the dam also generates hydroelectricity. This monumental project was one of the most significant factors contributing to the settlement of central Arizona. Originally at 280 feet in height and 723 feet in length, it  was considered the world's highest masonry dam. Its height was further increased to 357 feet following a massive reconstruction project completed in 1996. During the reconstruction process, the rubble masonry was encased with concrete, completely altering the appearance of the National Historic Landmark. No longer having the aesthetic character of the original dam, withdrawal of its historical landmark status was withdrawn in 1999.

Originally the traffic (Model T's at the time) drove over the top of the dam. Heavier and wider vehicles later necessitated a change.  The recent reconstruction project to the dam included the building of a bridge. Also named after Roosevelt, the bridge, spanning 1,080 feet, is the nation's longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge. 

The artificial lake formed by the dam was at one time the world's largest artificial reservoir. It felt a bit incongruous to see sailboats surrounded on both banks by desert lands. 

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Amber Waves of Grain

On an early morning walk by my parents' house in Wisconsin, I stopped to enjoy this view - a golden field of wheat, undulating in the wind, set against a brilliant, blue sky. Aside from the trees and grass, the scene reminded me of the massive Sahara Desert sand dunes in the southern part of Tunisia. 

Seeing such fields of grain is visible proof of God's bounteous blessings.

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Shadowebs

When walking through a small Banni village in remote Gujarat, I was intrigued by the shadows cast by an incomplete conical thatched roof. Many of the buildings (mud and concrete alike) in the Kutch region of Gujarat were flattened during the devastating earthquake in 2001. Many of the mud huts are being rebuilt using concrete. 

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Banni Women: of Sparkles and Spectrum

Muslim communities form a majority of the inhabitants of the Banni area. A few are from the Harijan (formerly called the “Untouchable” Hindu caste). Regardless, they are known for their bright colored clothing–probably as a response to the normally arid, hot conditions of the area. Here the women wore a type of blouse that was completely open in the back, with a couple strings securing it. Brilliant red, green, and yellow colors dominated. Their clothing was particularly heavily embroidered and sparkled in the sun as the light reflected off the mirrors.

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On the Way to the Banni Villages

Kutch police hut, where we obtained permission to enter Banni villages near Pakistan border

After a picnic lunch at a crossroads area where people could buy a few convenience foods, have a glass of chai, drop off people or cattle, and rearrange their loads, we drove to the northern areas of Kutch. This treeless area looked rather desolate and foreboding. The dull green of thorny acacia provided the only color against the dusty land. Dust devils spun around playfully.

A desert fox - a rare sighting

A Desert Fox raced across the road - a rare sighting. The road shimmered with heat. We were very thankful that our car had air-conditioning. To reach some of these villages, we had to obtain written permission from the area police. This was likely due to the proximity of the villages to the Pakistan border. As we got closer to the villages, we began seeing a type of role scrub plants that had moisture in it, and was consumed by grazing animals. We began seeing more boats, sheep, and the type of water buffalo that had very curly horns.

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