Thursday, September 1, 2011
And So We Arrive!
Sunday, August 28, 2011... We had a wonderful drive into Waynesville, NC and then on to the property. By all accounts, we drove over 3,500 miles..... More to come....
Nashville
August 27, 2011... We drove into Nashville almost in time to make the Grand Ol Opry, but a traffic jam kaiboshed the possibility. Instead, we stayed at the Indigo Hotel and loved it. Great rooms. Nice vibe in Nashville, but no photos! Tomorrow: HOME!
Cairo, Illinois
Aug. 27, 2011... on the way to Nashville... Here is another American city... er... town... er...hamlet... that flabbergasted us...
On the way from Missouri into Tennessee, we tried to take a detour from interstate 57 across the Mississippi and go through a small town to get in to Tennessee via a short stint in Kentucky. Only the bridge we wanted to take was out, so we ended up going over the Mississippi into Illinois and then heading south through Cairo, Illinois into Kentucky (get your map out!).
Cairo was immediately moving to us... energetically it held mysteries that we could not determine the origin of. Visually it was a devastated place that obviously had had a hey day...
Once with a population of over 20,000, it now has a little over 2,000 residents...and it looks more like this down street after street:
You can read all about it in one of the most fascinating accounts of history, we have heard of. Cairo.
On the way from Missouri into Tennessee, we tried to take a detour from interstate 57 across the Mississippi and go through a small town to get in to Tennessee via a short stint in Kentucky. Only the bridge we wanted to take was out, so we ended up going over the Mississippi into Illinois and then heading south through Cairo, Illinois into Kentucky (get your map out!).
Cairo was immediately moving to us... energetically it held mysteries that we could not determine the origin of. Visually it was a devastated place that obviously had had a hey day...
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| Entrance to Cairo |
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| Glory Days Gone By |
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| Once the 3rd Busiest Post Office in the U.S. |
Highway Humor
August 25, 2011... We just had to post this! It was hilarious. Here we are driving through the linear lines of Kansas, row after row of cornfields, straight lined highways and we got to this section of the interstate that went on as it is in the photo for a couple of miles:
Either it was a malfunction in the machinery... or it was the a reaction to the boredom of the linearness of the landscape OR... it was the last day of someone who had had enough of the Dept of Transportation....
Big Spring, Missouri
August 26, 2011... We decided to take a different route east rather than travel the interstate as we left Kansas and so we chose to go to a National Park and camp at Big Springs. This is a marvel of nature. It is a natural spring that comes up from the ground, BUT! it comes up at the rate of 280 million gallons a day!! BIG Spring! It also comes up in the most beautiful color as you will see from the photos.
It is a Karst topography. Here is a diagram that they had on display there...
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| Big Spring as it comes out of the ground |
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| Spring Water heading into the Current River |
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| Watercress growing under the spring water. Must be very pure. |
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| Stella and Prue |
We spent a beautiful night there at a quiet end of the campground. We swam in the Current River at Sunset and then ate a wonderful meal together listening to the crickets and watching the stars come out!
Hidden Gems
Aug. 25, 2011... Every once in a while you encounter a place that speaks to you in some way. Alma, Kansas was just such a place. Off the beaten path a bit on the way east to Topeka, it is located in an area of the state known for its limestone and for.... the Famous "Alma Cheese"! So we were given a little tour and learned about their products, bought some famous cheese and a little apple butter and continued our trip, further enriched by the contact!
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| The Side of the Truck Says it All! |
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| Frances and Prue Dig In! |
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| A Lesson in Alma Cheese! |
Kouns Street
Aug. 25, 2011... My brother Bill told me there was a street named after my great grandfather in Topeka.... Well, there is!
Ancestral Threads
Aug. 25, 2011... This is Charlie. My great grandfather is my namesake. He was the first Charles Wesley Kouns. I am the IVth (being named for my dad's brother, Charlie III who died at age 27. He brought his family to Topeka in the early 1900's. Along with his wife Carrie, he had two daughters Nellie and Sara. Their third child Charles W. Kouns, Jr., was born in Topeka.
I have long been curious about this man. As I was growing up, I tried to piece together a psychological profile for the reasons for some of our family's more dysfunctional patterns as well as seeing the qualities that were nourishing that were passed down. Going back in time beyond my great grandfather, who was born in 1854 was very difficult. But as he was a man of some notoriety, I could learn many facts about his life. But these did not tell me as much as certain decisions he made during the years.
His two daughters were musical phenomenons. Nellie played waltzes on the piano beginning at age 3. Nellie and Sarah had near mirror-voices and so when they were right out of high school, he sent them to Europe to study and train in music. This was not done in those days as life on the stage for women was considered negatively for moral reasons. As a result, they went on to be a famous singing duet all over the world in the 20's and 30's. This seems very visionary and courageous to me.
He worked for railroads most of his life. He began as a brakeman at age 17. He ended his career as General Manager of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, one of the largest in the country at the time. When I was younger, my grandfather gave me his gold pocket watch, which was a gift from his employees. At his funeral, 3,500 people attended and the entire railroad was stopped for a minute to honor his passing. This suggests he was deeply regarded as a good man who treated people fairly and honestly.
But perhaps the most telling thing I discovered about him was on this trip to his gravesite. I would like to share what is on his death stone. It is an amazing inscription.
I knew to approach in innocence and with no fear. A beautiful welcoming.
I have long been curious about this man. As I was growing up, I tried to piece together a psychological profile for the reasons for some of our family's more dysfunctional patterns as well as seeing the qualities that were nourishing that were passed down. Going back in time beyond my great grandfather, who was born in 1854 was very difficult. But as he was a man of some notoriety, I could learn many facts about his life. But these did not tell me as much as certain decisions he made during the years.
His two daughters were musical phenomenons. Nellie played waltzes on the piano beginning at age 3. Nellie and Sarah had near mirror-voices and so when they were right out of high school, he sent them to Europe to study and train in music. This was not done in those days as life on the stage for women was considered negatively for moral reasons. As a result, they went on to be a famous singing duet all over the world in the 20's and 30's. This seems very visionary and courageous to me.
He worked for railroads most of his life. He began as a brakeman at age 17. He ended his career as General Manager of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, one of the largest in the country at the time. When I was younger, my grandfather gave me his gold pocket watch, which was a gift from his employees. At his funeral, 3,500 people attended and the entire railroad was stopped for a minute to honor his passing. This suggests he was deeply regarded as a good man who treated people fairly and honestly.
But perhaps the most telling thing I discovered about him was on this trip to his gravesite. I would like to share what is on his death stone. It is an amazing inscription.
In case it is too hard to read: "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and let thy presence hush me. Still me, make a great calm within me, that I may be wholly hushed within myself - wholly reflect thee".
This loving, gracious, flowing phrase (source of which I cannot find on the web...anyone?) speaks volumes to me and calls to me so deeply. In the learnings I am experiencing these words are most appreciated and to hear them from my great grandfather, especially meaningful.
I left the cemetery feeling more of a sense of who he was and with an inspiration in my heart to continue my journey into peace.
When we arrived at the cemetery, these lovely creatures greeted us:
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Haven't we left Kansas yet, Toto?
Day 10 August 25, 2011... Ahhhh, the wonders of the drama of life unfolding. At first the theme for today was hurry up and wait but a deeper theme emerged over time.
We awoke to a Kansas sunrise in Salina
So far so good. We left the Marriot Courtyard about 8am but after 10 minutes we returned to pick up some items we left behind in our rush to get away early. Hmm, not an auspicious beginning. Another ten minutes later our yellow bumblebee began to miss so badly we had to stop by the side of I70. We checked it over, got in the car, restarted it and NOTHING happened!!! It would not start at all.
Charlie called AAA, who said they would call a tow truck but would give no indication of time. He thought he could do that too, so hung up, searched the net on his iPhone for tow companies and about 20 came up. He picked one to call and asked if they dealt with AAA. Her response: Hello Mr. Kouns, we are on the way to pick you up now. The driver should be there very soon!" Of all the towing companies, he had dialed the one that was coming to get them! Not 15 minutes later there was a AAA tow truck and we were on our way - back to Salina!!
All's well that ends well. It was a very interesting experience that lasted until about 2pm. First, we gave thanks that we were not miles in the middle of nowhere. Charlie noted that he "felt" we should go to the dealership but did not "listen" -- yet another of life's teaching moments to trust our intuition. But it gets better. First the Nissan dealership was close and the people very friendly and helpful and as we discovered very good and efficient and fair.
We sat for a couple of hours waiting - which on the face of it seems very dull - a Nissan dealership waiting room in Salina KS. Yet it gave us a couple of hours of reflection time, down time without needing to "get somewhere". We felt refreshed and settled by the time they came with the diagnosis. What came to us was the fact that we were trying to rush through the "dull" lands of the prairies - and felt somewhat pressured and anxious to "see as much as possible" without really being aware of it. Another reminder that richness in the moment is within - not without.
We were glad to hear that it was the distributor cap - not the driveshaft or the transmission which were all possibilities at one or another stage. So after a lunch at the local IHOP we got to in a Nissam courtesy car -- we were finally and happily on our way.
We awoke to a Kansas sunrise in Salina
So far so good. We left the Marriot Courtyard about 8am but after 10 minutes we returned to pick up some items we left behind in our rush to get away early. Hmm, not an auspicious beginning. Another ten minutes later our yellow bumblebee began to miss so badly we had to stop by the side of I70. We checked it over, got in the car, restarted it and NOTHING happened!!! It would not start at all.
We sat for a couple of hours waiting - which on the face of it seems very dull - a Nissan dealership waiting room in Salina KS. Yet it gave us a couple of hours of reflection time, down time without needing to "get somewhere". We felt refreshed and settled by the time they came with the diagnosis. What came to us was the fact that we were trying to rush through the "dull" lands of the prairies - and felt somewhat pressured and anxious to "see as much as possible" without really being aware of it. Another reminder that richness in the moment is within - not without.
We were glad to hear that it was the distributor cap - not the driveshaft or the transmission which were all possibilities at one or another stage. So after a lunch at the local IHOP we got to in a Nissam courtesy car -- we were finally and happily on our way.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Kansas!!
Day 9 August 24
We left the Historic Boulderado Hotel in Boulder about 9:30 and headed east! But first we wish to add a few photos from last night: Prue and Charlie studiously photographing the Art Deco Theatre from many angles and reflections.
The car continued to run well - ( whew!). Today was a d-r-i-v-i-n-g day. There were no notable occurrences other than the heat and the seemingly endless flatness. We travelled steadily through eastern Colorado - ranch country of rolling hills. We entered Kansas - which stretched for miles and miles .... and more flat miles of grassland, wheat crops, corn and grazing country.
ONE HUMOROUS NOTE: We think the flat prairie got to the highway workers putting down lines on the road. Either that or it was somebody's last day!!
Francis was noting how different the land is from Australia. Australia also has vast expanses of blue sky, flat topography and grazing lands -- but these are much poorer in soil and fertility. He was struck by the abundance of the US prairies - the rich soils, adequate rainfall and the sense of productivity.
We were hoping to get to Topeka which is towards the western end of Kansas, but we stopped just short. We are now in Salina still about 2 hours west of Topeka. We were planning to camp in a State Park but it was too hot - over 90 degrees at 7pm. Salina is a smallish town known for its manufacturing! despite its location in farming country. After a dearth of food all day, we found a sweet restaurant - the Wood Fashion Cafe - that served wild rice dishes with tofu and fabulous cheesecakes - all made with only locally grown ingredients. Quite a find after a diet of chips and coffee the rest of the day. Tomorrow we leave early for Topeka where Charlie's great grandfather Charles W Kouns was the general manager of the Atchison - Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in the early 1900's. We are planning to visit the libraries and museums to see what we can find about him.
Time for zzzzzzz. But before we sign off -- so many thanks for the emails and greetings we are receiving. We feel held by you as we travel.
In anticipation of another wonderful day tomorrow - we bid you each and all good night!
We left the Historic Boulderado Hotel in Boulder about 9:30 and headed east! But first we wish to add a few photos from last night: Prue and Charlie studiously photographing the Art Deco Theatre from many angles and reflections.
The car continued to run well - ( whew!). Today was a d-r-i-v-i-n-g day. There were no notable occurrences other than the heat and the seemingly endless flatness. We travelled steadily through eastern Colorado - ranch country of rolling hills. We entered Kansas - which stretched for miles and miles .... and more flat miles of grassland, wheat crops, corn and grazing country.
ONE HUMOROUS NOTE: We think the flat prairie got to the highway workers putting down lines on the road. Either that or it was somebody's last day!!
Francis was noting how different the land is from Australia. Australia also has vast expanses of blue sky, flat topography and grazing lands -- but these are much poorer in soil and fertility. He was struck by the abundance of the US prairies - the rich soils, adequate rainfall and the sense of productivity.
We were hoping to get to Topeka which is towards the western end of Kansas, but we stopped just short. We are now in Salina still about 2 hours west of Topeka. We were planning to camp in a State Park but it was too hot - over 90 degrees at 7pm. Salina is a smallish town known for its manufacturing! despite its location in farming country. After a dearth of food all day, we found a sweet restaurant - the Wood Fashion Cafe - that served wild rice dishes with tofu and fabulous cheesecakes - all made with only locally grown ingredients. Quite a find after a diet of chips and coffee the rest of the day. Tomorrow we leave early for Topeka where Charlie's great grandfather Charles W Kouns was the general manager of the Atchison - Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in the early 1900's. We are planning to visit the libraries and museums to see what we can find about him.
Time for zzzzzzz. But before we sign off -- so many thanks for the emails and greetings we are receiving. We feel held by you as we travel.
In anticipation of another wonderful day tomorrow - we bid you each and all good night!
Surrender
Makasha read us this yesterday:
"One must surrender oneself to what is beyond oneself. One must cultivate a deeper faith and vision focused on the divine and compel all parts of the being to accept the new orientation". Sri Aurobindo.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Day 8: Boulder, CO
August 23, 2011... The morning began with Charlie taking the Xterra to a shop to get it looked at. The verdict: clogged fuel injectors. The cost $24.00! So we shall see when we hit the road tomorrow! Then we had a wonderful breakfast with Frances and Prue. Their mission for the day was to explore the town, while ours was to meet with our friends Makasha and Katherine to discuss Imagine Learning and the Hummingbird Living School . On a previous visit, we felt guided to explore the creation of a new educational offering based upon our alignment around children.
On that visit, while the four of them sat in ceremony in a kiva, Charlie had had a vision of the four of them standing in a circle, holding hands. From the center of the circle stood a tall tree, with a branch going out to each of the four of them in the four directions. There was music and joy in the leaves when they moved. It was a sign to the four of them to plant a new seed together that would flourish into the tree. The key would be the quality of the connection between them.
On this trip, our purpose was to listen for what that seed might be. On the hottest day on record in Boulder, we sat in the shade of a porch at Star House (a remarkable place stewarded by Makasha and Katherine's friends, David and Leila Tressemer. We had a wonderful session that ended in the kiva with a closing ceremony. Makasha and Katherine are beautiful visionaries who had served others for many years and continue to advance ideas of a future that includes all of us. They also founded an intentional community (where they live) called Hummingbird.
We plan to continue developing our work together after we are settled in North Carolina.
The evening saw all of us get together for a nourishing dinner. It was a wonderful conclusion to the day. More to come, but here are some photos:
On that visit, while the four of them sat in ceremony in a kiva, Charlie had had a vision of the four of them standing in a circle, holding hands. From the center of the circle stood a tall tree, with a branch going out to each of the four of them in the four directions. There was music and joy in the leaves when they moved. It was a sign to the four of them to plant a new seed together that would flourish into the tree. The key would be the quality of the connection between them.
On this trip, our purpose was to listen for what that seed might be. On the hottest day on record in Boulder, we sat in the shade of a porch at Star House (a remarkable place stewarded by Makasha and Katherine's friends, David and Leila Tressemer. We had a wonderful session that ended in the kiva with a closing ceremony. Makasha and Katherine are beautiful visionaries who had served others for many years and continue to advance ideas of a future that includes all of us. They also founded an intentional community (where they live) called Hummingbird.
We plan to continue developing our work together after we are settled in North Carolina.
The evening saw all of us get together for a nourishing dinner. It was a wonderful conclusion to the day. More to come, but here are some photos:
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| Katherine and Prue |
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| Francis and Makasha |
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| US! |
Day 7: The Road to Boulder
Aug. 22, 2011... We were scheduled to meet our friends Makasha and Katherine Roske in Boulder for dinner, so we left Lake Jackson early in the morning and began the nine hour drive. Soon after we began to drive southeast across Wyoming, the Xterra began to show signs of problems. As we accelerated it would begin to shudder and balk - like the engine was missing a lot. The problem only worsened as the morning went on. We suspected we had taken bad gasoline, but there were other more serious possibilities as well, ie. the drive shaft, or the transmission. The biggest issue was that the land we were passing through was empty... literally empty for miles and miles. It was the Shawnee Indian Reservation.
We went for many hours nursing the Xterra along hoping we could make it to Laramie for repairs at a dealership. We had no cell service or 3G. It was exciting.
Finally in a small town called Rawlins, just about 50 miles from Laramie, we filled up with high test Phillips 66. We were determined to make it to Laramie where there was a Nissan dealership. Within a few minutes, the shuddering lessened and by the time we hit Laramie, it was running beautifully! So we decided to make our journey into Boulder.
We made our dinner with the Roske's and settled into a most wonderful conclusion to a very stressful day.
Here are some shots from the day:
We went for many hours nursing the Xterra along hoping we could make it to Laramie for repairs at a dealership. We had no cell service or 3G. It was exciting.
Finally in a small town called Rawlins, just about 50 miles from Laramie, we filled up with high test Phillips 66. We were determined to make it to Laramie where there was a Nissan dealership. Within a few minutes, the shuddering lessened and by the time we hit Laramie, it was running beautifully! So we decided to make our journey into Boulder.
We made our dinner with the Roske's and settled into a most wonderful conclusion to a very stressful day.
Here are some shots from the day:
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| Miles of this in a sputtering car |
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| More and More |
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| All of it beautiful |
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| Sunset over Boulder as we drive in |
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| Just as we got to dinner with Makasha and Katherine |
Day 6: Grand Teton National Park
August 21, 2011... The majesty of these mountains and pure scenic beauty are amazing. Only in New Zealand have we seen this type of powerful, statuesque beauty. The highlight of our time there came as we rented a small boat and traveled out onto Lake Jackson. It is a very large lake and the western shoreline is close to the mountain range. We were not allowed to land our boat, so we were content to cruise the shores at the foot of the mountains. We saw bald eagles, an otter and one lone moose taking his time along the shore line impervious to us - only thirty yards off shore. We spent an extra night in order to spend more time there.
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| Tetons in the Distance |
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| Sunset in the Tetons |
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| Redwood or Cedar tree in the evening Sun |
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| Bakd eagle drying his wings or selling black market watches |
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| Prue |
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| Stella and Francis |
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| Sunrise on Mount Moran |
The Moose Movie
Day 5: Yellowstone
August 20, 2011... We spent most of the day on the road driving south from Bozeman through Yellowstone National Park into the Grand Tetons. It was a much easier pace, so we stopped and took photos along the way. Yellowstone is huge! Miles and miles of wilderness to explore, but we stuck to the back road that led along Yellowstone River and into Yellowstone Lake. Gorgeous scenery. Beautiful drive.
An interesting aspect of the trip was the fact that whenever a bear, moose, bison, or coyote was seen, there was a mad rush of cars packed along the side road with cameras going ga ga at their presence. Somehow it seemed surreal, like we were in a zoo, a really big zoo. On the other hand it was exciting to see people so desirous to connect with nature, to move back into a part of themselves that is yearning to live a more natural, rhythmic life. It raised all sorts of questions to ponder as we drove by (not taking pictures).
From Yellowstone, we entered the Grand Teton National Park in the early evening and checked in to the Signal Mountain Lodge.
An interesting aspect of the trip was the fact that whenever a bear, moose, bison, or coyote was seen, there was a mad rush of cars packed along the side road with cameras going ga ga at their presence. Somehow it seemed surreal, like we were in a zoo, a really big zoo. On the other hand it was exciting to see people so desirous to connect with nature, to move back into a part of themselves that is yearning to live a more natural, rhythmic life. It raised all sorts of questions to ponder as we drove by (not taking pictures).
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| Pronghorn Antelope (stolen off a calendar!) |
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| petrified tree |
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| Yellowstone's gentle appearance |
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| Forest fires take their toll |
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| the beautiful Yellowstone River |
From Yellowstone, we entered the Grand Teton National Park in the early evening and checked in to the Signal Mountain Lodge.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Day 4: Bozeman and Lori Ryker
August 19, 2011... One of our reasons for pushing so hard to get to Bozeman was to meet with the architect, Lori Ryker. Because of family commitments, the only day she had to meet with us was the 19th, so we had to push to get in and we are so glad that we did. Lori is a unique combination of many wonderful qualities. She has a wonderful design sense, an extensive knowledge of sustainable building (she's written two books on the subject) and she is embracing a new direction in architecture that is more organic in nature. You can see her work at studioryker.com. She is also a passionate teacher of young people and in addition to teaching, runs a special studio for them every summer.
What we found so interesting in Lori's work, was not as much her architecture as her jewelry and this statement that she wrote in her introduction to the Artemis institute, a nonprofit she has founded:
This combination of spirtuality, design, and sustainability are the three elements we have been looking for in a partner to help us build Butterfly Farm. We asked Lori to think about how she would translate her jewelry design into architecture. Her jewelry design is flowing, intuitive, organic, lovingly crafted, beautifully designed. She thought the opportunity to explore this idea with us would be fantastic. She said that it was a direction she was looking to travel in but that none of her clients before this had asked for such a possibility. We will see what evolves together!! But it certainly felt like Lori was someone who would walk with us all the way through the process.
What we found so interesting in Lori's work, was not as much her architecture as her jewelry and this statement that she wrote in her introduction to the Artemis institute, a nonprofit she has founded:
This combination of spirtuality, design, and sustainability are the three elements we have been looking for in a partner to help us build Butterfly Farm. We asked Lori to think about how she would translate her jewelry design into architecture. Her jewelry design is flowing, intuitive, organic, lovingly crafted, beautifully designed. She thought the opportunity to explore this idea with us would be fantastic. She said that it was a direction she was looking to travel in but that none of her clients before this had asked for such a possibility. We will see what evolves together!! But it certainly felt like Lori was someone who would walk with us all the way through the process.
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| Lori and Stella |
Day 3: The Road to Bozeman
August 18, 2011...We broke camp early today by the river Malheur and began the long ride out of Oregon across Idaho and into Bozeman. All along the scenery evolved into one magnificent and huge valley into the next, framed by the mountains on both side all along the way.
Along the way in Idaho we visited the Craters of the Moon National Monument, a field of lava that runs for miles and miles. Nothing but broken cinders of lava that look like iron swiss cheese. Beautiful. You get the idea that this part of the world was not particularly friendly for many millions of years.
Eventually, we made our way to the Montana state line and began the drive into Bozeman. There definitely is a reason why so many people have migrated to Montana! It was just one amazing scene after another. Unfortunately we cannot post many photos for all to see, but it is amazing country.
Finally, after ten or twelve hours on the road, we walked into the Voss Inn in Bozeman.
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