Nazca Lines

I just finished the book, "Evil Star," which is a sequal to the book "Raven's Gate" by Anthony Horrowitz, and part of the setting takes place in the Nazca Desert, in Peru. I thought this was so fascinating, that I had to add it to my blog. Here is a website that talks more about what the Nazca lines are. One of the most interesting things is that you can only see the pictures and lines from the sky. This one of a monkey is my favorite. This map of the desert shows the placement of several geoglyphs. I saw a few videos on youtube about geoglyphs, one even showing geoglyphs in many different locations around the globe using google earth.

Jack London's Mentor: Joseph Smith, Jr's Niece

I was at a DUP (Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers) luncheon with my mom last year and they were reading about pioneers in California.  One of the stories they told (and you can find it in one of the books on their website) was about Ina Coolbrith, who was born Josephine Donna Smith. She was the daughter of Don Carlos Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith, Jr.  After the death of her father, and because of severe persecution, her mother made her promise never to 
reveal her true identity.  It wasn't until later years, after her death, that one of her Smith cousins (I can't remember which one) revealed her true identity.  

Ina Coolbrith was the librarian who inspired Jack London and also poet George Sterling.  If you can get your hands on the book sold by the DUP, it is a very interesting saga.  You can find more about Ina Coolbrith on the internet.

Vinegar Painting

Okay, I admit it, I hate painting.  Even though I love watching craft shows (like Carol Duvall), I can't stand it when the painters come on and say how easy it is to paint. It may be easy for some, but to me, it's not only difficult, but boring.  But vinegar painting actually appealed to me.  I was surprised and pleased with my reults.  Unfortunately, I have one more piece of furniture in my garage that is only halfway painted.  There aren't enough warm months in the year to work out in my garage on these types of projects. Click on the photo to see my layout up close, and to find out what I did to create this look.

Chupa Cabra

If you have ever been to South America, you may have heard of the Chupa Cabra.  Translated, it means "goat sucker."  When I was on my mission in Brazil, I remember the story of the Chupa Cabra being printed in the newspaper.  One lady, in all seriousness (and I should say, also acting a little scared), said to me (in Portuguese), "Look at this creature!  What a horrible beast!"  She was fanning the front page of a newspaper at me with an artist's interpretation of what a chupa cabra looked like.  I had to suppress a laugh.  I was thinking "What a horrible drawing!"  I told the lady that I didn't believe the story one bit, and it was not an actual picture, but someone's drawing.  There could actually be a chupa cabra, but there is little evidence that it actually exists, much like the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland and the Sasquatch in the forests of the Northwest.  Of course, It took sixty-seven years from the time the Giant Panda was "discovered" by Westerners until its live capture. So some animals are able to evade capture for decades.  See a chupa cabra on YouTube.

The Mystery Tribe

I read this article in the National Geographic a few months back that caught my interest.  A man named Waldo Wilcox had guarded hundreds of acres  of Fremont Indian ruins for over 50 years, leaving bones and artifacts literally untouched.  It is the best preserve of Indian ruins ever discovered.  You can read more about them here.  Also, here is an interview with Waldo Wilcox.