You Are Welcome Here

It has been confirmed that CM will be letting go of all their consultants as of August 31.  They have plans to launch a new company hopefully in November. Our hearts breaks for all the wonderful CM Consultants. Because we know if the tables were turned we would be devastated. The scrapbooking and card making industry is a place where your customers and fellow consultants  become part of your family. Memories matter and relationships are born that last a lifetime. Many of the CM Consultants have been in the business for many years  and have made CM their sole source of income. If that is you, you have my deepest sympathy.  I'm sure that you may have feelings of hurt, of anger and of resentment. We want you to know that Close To My Heart has many similarities and products. If any of my CM friends (customers or consultants) would like more information on our products or joining please let me know. CTMH is 100% debt-free, is completely stable and well-established and we would love to WELCOME YOU into our family!!  For more information please contact me. Again my heart goes out to all of you.
HUGS  Barbi

Day 8 - Thursday 4/15/10 Red Rock Jeep Tour

This afternoon we were picked up by Michael, our driver/guide for our Red Rock Jeep Tour. We choose the Old Bear Wallow Tour. This tour takes you on the early stagecoach route along Schnebly Hill Road through Bear Wallow Canyon just below the Mogollon Rim to enjoy stunning views of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon 2000 feet below. This was also the old route from Flagstaff to Sedona. We went to a place that is called Merry Go Round because of the rock formations. There you will find a tree that was used in Elvis' movie Stay Away Joe. It is the scene in which Elvis is chase the two girls around the tree. Of course I had to have our picture taken here (these are the bottom two pics on the right). You will see by the sampling of pics I have posted that this is a gorgeous area. It is from here that Walt Disney got the idea for Thunder Mountain,the picture of his inspiration is the top right pic.

Day 8 - Thursday 4/ 15/10 Early Morning Ride

Well our day began early this morning, I bet you all are wondering what we did today that would get us out and about so early and what would we be doing that would surprise you all..............................

Well we were picked up at 5:20 am this morning by Mark our pilot. Now you may be asking yourself, pilot of what? We have already flew in a plane, a helicopter, and a biplane. So whatelse might we be flying in????

Mark had already picked up two other couples, one from British Coloumbia and one from New Jersey. We proceeded to pick up 2 other couples, one was from Florida, and a mother and daughter. Then were driven out to where we were to meet up with the others. In all there were to be 35 of us counting 2 pilots, Mark and Marky Mark, oh and 6 crew.

Now it was time to start setting thing up for the flight. Out came the ............................................
baskets, then tarps, then the balloons. Yes, you have it. We are going on a Hot Air Balloon ride. Can you believe it???? Me with my fear of heights, going a hot air balloon. Wow the setting up, what a site to see. I never knew that they had ones so large; ours will have 16 in it counting the pilot, and the other one will have 19 counting the pilot. Mark will be out pilot, and Marky Mark will pilot the other one. There are only two companies in this area that are licensed in this area to go close to the red rocks, and they are one of them.

The basket has 5 compartments, 1 for the pilot which is in the center then 2 on each end. Once the balloons were 3/4 full they had 8 people get in while it was still on it's side. Which is actually easier than climbing in once it is up right. We were choosen to get in while it was on its side. We got into one of the top compartments with me getting in first then Kevin. We were then laying on our backs until the balloon was up-righted. Once the balloon had enough air to right its self the others climbed in. The balloon had been anchored to the front of the truck and the crew members that had been helping the other balloon take off came over and helped hold onto ours after releasing it from the truck until Mark was ready for take off. This was one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had. Our ride lasted between 1-1 1/2 hours floating up and around the red rock cliffs and the Sedona Valley. At times we could see our balloons shadow on the red rock formations. It is amazing how by pulling on a couple of ropes they can turn the balloon around. Because of the winds we didn't end up landing where they had planned the the crew had to move their location. We ended up landing on a dirt road. The landing was very smooth. They then laid out tarps over some of the near by trees and cactus so that they would not hurt the balloon. It is amazing watching them take it down and pack it up. We then went to a park for a Champagne & Mimosa Picnic including muffins and fruit. If you ever get a chance to take a Hot Air Balloon ride, I reccommend that you do so!! Barbi

Day 7 - Wednesday 4/14/10 Hopi Reservation

First of All Sorry but this is Kevin this time and there will be only two or three pictures, as we were not allowed to take any pics today. We went to Hopi Mesa Villages on two of three Mesa's. From the road at the botton it was difficult to see them on the top. If they did not have windows you would never know they were there. We went to the third Mesa first which is where our guides (Donald Nelson) Mother was born. Did I say that the villages are still occupied, yes there are still people living there, some of the villages have decided not to have modern conviences, such as water, sewer or electricity. They have to drive five miles to get water from the Veterans Center and drive it back up in containers. In the old days they had to walk down the mountain nad get water from the natural springs, about two miles, carring the water back up hill all the way. Oh that was the womens jobs by the way. There are more than one village on a Mesa, one village may be up to 200 yards long and the another starts 25 feet from the last building. One may have water, sewer, electric, while the other does not. It was up to each village to decide for themselves. The first village we went to was Oraibi, where we went to Geraldine's house to see her works of art and be told how she makes each piece of the potery she makes. Wow what a job, she uses the same methods as her grandmother who taught her. She uses certain clay type soil and rocks, not only for the making of the pot but also the paint is made from certain rocks or plants. The black color is from spinach. Cook it for a long time on open fire, then place the mixture on a curved rock where she then rubbed it with a rock until it produced bubbles, then it was ready to use. The are no paints used, all natural from the earth. She was such a sweetheart that we bought a pot from her and ask if we may contact her in the future. She said yes of course with a big smile, then began to write her phone number and address of the paper bag she put the pot into. Like I said what a sweetheart, I think she really would love the get a letter from us and she will. Barbi made the comment that she would love to learn how to do this, dear grandma Geraldine said come back and I will teach you sometime, I truly think she meant it. She is retired now never did find out what she did. Most of the people that live on the Mesa works real jobs elsewhere. Children are bused to public schools now on the reservation, used to be taken to a boarding school and returned in the summer. The hopi people did not like this much. Oh Guys cover your eyes a minute! The Hopi are a matrearchial communty, the women own everything and I mean everything. The own the land the house and even the children are under her direction and her clan, the father have basically nothing to say about the kids or much of anything else. They are the protectors of the tribe and the spiritual leaders, they work the land and get jobs to support the family, as far as the family goes thats it. The children are members of the wifes clan and are taught by her clan members not him or his clan. Ok Guys you can come back now. Then we walked over to another house where a man was making Katsina (english Kachina). Little wooden dolls, the first dolls a child would be given upon birth, that the child would use during teething because the local medince man would soak the wood (cootonwood root) in something that would help with the attitude of the children during the teething process. The wood is very soft and very very lite. We bought one of the dolls and while we were talking he said the was a cerimonial dance in June. I said I would love to see this, he response was well you are welcome to come back and witness it. I told him I love to learn about different cultures and his response was to invite us back and stay with him during the weekend of the celebration. I told him I would love to , He began writing down his telephone and address to keep in touch. I later ask our guide if he truly meant it or just being nice because we bought something. Donald said no that he was very serious, but they not often do that. Then we left and went to the First Mesa. There were three villages on this one, we went to the second and third village. Same type homes nad supposed to be the second oldest indian village that is still active in the NOrth american continent. One village the second one had water and sewer and electicity but the third did not. Althought the did have a water faucet and teh very end of the second village to get their water. They also had a building that was the shower room for the entire third village at the end of the Mesa. That was all they would allow. Most used propane to cook and heat yet some used coal to burn for heat as it gets very very cold in the winter, sometimes it does not get above freezing. The homes are very small and sometime two generations live there. When the parents die the oldest daughter takes over ownership of all the families land and belongings. When they get married the man goes to live with her parents. Remember the men own nothing. the female is the blood line that continues not the fathers. They also believe that the woman should live with a man before getting married, to make sure they can get along if not he leaves and goes back to his mothers. If there are children during this trial period, it does not matter because they belong to the mother anyway, he just leaves and has no responsibilty at all to her or the kids. If after a trial time they believe they can get along the marry. Sound good guys ? LOL If you meet muster you get to marry her and still be nothing! LOL. We did not talk to much on the last MEsa or buy anything we were getting pretty tired by then. Oh yea they have what they call KIVAS to hold secret cerimonies and the women are not allowed in there for some. They have a doorway that leads straight down and is a really big hole in the ground via a ladder with a roof over it, but there are times the women use it and the men are not allowed in. Some all are welcome. Some of the homes have long since fallen down and just left there, because no one can even take a rock or a piece of wood from the site, for the do not own it, so if the woman who owns it leaves and builds a home somewhere else the rock and rubbles just stays there untouched by anyone. Some have been there for many many years. Some of these homes were built 1600 years ago, it was like stepping back in time. Very interesting and informative, especially with a real Hopi as a guide. After walking there and learning all that we did we can say it was a hard life. all crops were planted in the flatland at the bottom of the Mesa where they had to walk a long way to get to and work the land. They had to carry all the rocks that they built their homes with up to the top of the mountain. Why did they live clear on top of the Mesa? Easy to defend, besides being very hard to see from the bottom since all the dwelling were made of the rock the Mesa was made of. They were a peaceful tribe and clear on top of the Mesa, they could defend easily but they just wanted to live in peace and on top of the Mesa hidden in plain site they could do just that live in peace, but at a great cost, for eveything had to be carried up the hill to survive. Oh how high was it about 1500 feet above the valley straigh up, no paths no roads. Oh and I also got the opportunity to talk with and shake hand with the Chairman of the Hopi Nation, this is something every few outsiders get to do. Tomorrow we are going to do something that I think will shock many if not all of you! Tune in next time same time same channel.......Bye Kevin and Barbi. opps the Hopi way would be Barbi and kevin he he he byeeeeeeee.

Day 6 - Tuesday 4/13/10 Bi-Plane Tour

Upon returning from the Grand Canyon, we then set out with John for a ride around the Sedona Valley and surrounding area in one of Red Rock Bi-Plane Airtours. This was something neither Kevin or I had ever done. I must say it was a lot of fun. We got to see up close the world famous Cathedral Rock. We also saw Bear Wallow Canyon, Mount Wilson, Boken Arrow, The Fin and many others. This is a ride I would highly recommend.

Day 6 - Tuesday 4/13/10 Sky Safari Grand Canyon Tour

Wow what a day we had. We started out from the Sedona airport with another couple, Tom & Ostenesia, and our pilot Harold at about 8 am and flew almost a hour to the western rim of the Grand Canyon. Where Harold handed Kevin and I off to Tony our Helicopter Pilot while he took the other couple out to the Sky Walk. Tony took us and two other couples on a ride down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. There we met up with Frank who was to be our pontoon drive and guide for a short float on the Colorado River. Then it was back to the helicopter and Tony for a ride back up to the Western Rim where we met back up with Harold. We found Tom & Ostinesia and went for a bus ride out to Guano Point where we has lunch prepared by the Hualapai tribe. Then we toured that area and saw where they filmed portions of different movies. Then we rode the bus back to the plane for our trip back to the Sedona airport.

Day 5 - Monday 4/12/10 Verde Valley Railroad

Monday afternoon we went to the Verde Valley Railroad Depot in Clarkdale where after checking in, we had lunch at the Copper Spike Cafe. We were on the Wickenberg car which was a First Class car. We were served champagne and appetizers by our waitress Judy. There was an open-air car behind us that we could go to to take pictures and there was a tour guide there name Fermin who was very knowable and showed us many things we would not have seen on out own.

This historic route is between two national forests and adjacent to a national wilderness area, and follows the upper Verde River. We passed by acient Indian ruins; over fortified trestles; past a monocline fault and through a manmade, 680 foot tunnel on our 4 hour journey from the mining town of Clarksdale to the Perkinsville ghost ranch and back.

Two FP7 locomotives,only two of 12 remaining in North America, are the muscle that pulls the nenovated passenger cars of the Verde Canyon railroad.

Thanks to Fermin, I was able to get pictures of a current bald eagle nest, as well as many other wonderful pictures.