ZUNI Dragonfly

The Visitor Center at Mesa Verde National Park has several pieces of Dragonfly jewelry on display.  I am drawn to the symbol of the Dragonfly, so I had to do some research on Zuni Dragonfly.

 Silver pieces on display 

at the Far View Visitors Center

To the Navajo and Pueblo Indians

the double crosses represent dragonflies

with egg sacks at the end of their tails.

Ask Zunis about Dragonfly and they will tell you that Dragonfly is the messenger who carries prayers to the Spirit World.


The double-winged form of Dragonfly is sometimes referred to as the "Pueblo Cross".

Dragonfly is recognized as a sign of water,
 which is where this remarkable creature lays its eggs.

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Where there is Dragonfly,

there is water.

Where there is water,

there is life.
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modern jewelry design

"The Boy Who Made Dragonfly" is a Zuni myth, recorded a century ago by Frank Hamilton Cushing.   from the Myth:

“I will paint your form on sacred things to symbolize spring and the spring rains that bring health to my people.  Your companion I will paint as a symbol of summer and the summer rains.”

Even today, the black, white, and red dragonfly arrives in the summer with the blooming of the corn.  He is followed by his companion, the green dragonfly.  Together they arrive with the rains, harbingers of life and good health for the spring and summer.

Dragonflies: connection to the afterworld, purveyor of dreams.

BYOB

BYOB...ottle!

Grand Canyon National Park will eliminate the in-park sale of water packaged in individual disposable containers by March 10, 2012. The waste associated with disposable bottles comprises an estimated 20 percent of the park's overall waste stream and 30 percent of the park's recyclables. 

Reduce, Reuse, Refill!

Free water stations are available throughout the park to allow visitors to fill reusable water bottles-which are available at all Grand Canyon Association bookstores!

Click here to view the press release, click hereto view the service-wide policy, click here to learn more about the voluntary reusable water program.

I think this is a great idea

and wonder if any of the other parks
 are doing the same thing.

Rockport Beach Park

Rockport Beach Park is a peninsula between Little Bay and Aransas Bay.

Entrance fee $4.00 day per car / $10 annual pass

Free passes available at the Chamber of Commerce

No charge to ride my bike into the park.

from their website:

"The Blue Wave campaign is America's first environmental certification for beaches.  The goal of Blue Waves is to promote public awareness and voluntary participation in maintaining clean and healthy beaches. Our Blue Wave beach is litter free, is handicap accessible, has public restroom facilities, picnic sites, children's play areas, swimming, fishing, public boat ramp and is a bird sanctuary.

Looking out over Little Bay

I agree that this is a very clean beach and because of this I stayed longer than I had planned. The only thing missing was either a concession stand, a vending machine or a drinking fountain.  I had a bottle of water and some snack bars, but did not have enough water with me. 

The birds waited at the fish cleaning tables

for scraps to be thrown to them

Needed to find something to drink before I rode home,

stopped at Sonic on the way back to the RV park
 for a Happy Hour half price limeade.

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I know that most of the bloggers do not like the new "double word" verification on comments, but I have actually been using it as a challenge. Looking really closely at the words and seeing if I can get it right on the first try.  I have been doing pretty good so far.

Beach, Desert, Forest or Mountains

 What do you prefer?

Right now, I vote for the beach. 

I moved away from the beach to a forest campsite for a week, 

and I am wishing that I was looking out over the water from my RV.

Although the warm weather

 along the Gulf is great,

 that's not the main reason.

The water and waves are soothing,

and I like walking along the shore.

I think it has something to do with

looking out over the water and

seeing open space and no end in site.

In the forest it is cozy,

but feels closed in.

I have always liked to be near the water.

Once looked into buying a lighthouse.

Thought I would end up retiring along

the shore of one of the Great Lakes.

Once we had a pontoon boat...

kept it at the Marina on the Illinois River.

Wanted to buy a small houseboat

but ended up with the pontoon.

Lakes, rivers, oceans doesn't matter.

I can't wait to get back to the beach.

Sitting by the water

H A P P Y    E A S T E R

Saturday, April 23     Tampa Bay, FL            
Still warm and sunny with a nice breeze

Went looking for places to sit by the water this morning. I looked at the maps and Apollo Beach is about 20 miles south of the hotel. I googled marinas in the area, put the address into my GPS and ended up finding Apollo Beach Nature Park near the marina.

I drove past gated communities and 'Do Not Enter' signs and went down a dead end road - the park was at the end of the road. There is no "beach", there are walking trails and a rocky steep shore, with 2 sets of stairs going directly into the water. With shallow water at the bottom of the stairs, I saw some people walking down into the water and some guys were standing in the water fishing with poles and nets. I didn't go into the water.  I just sat on a bench and enjoyed the view and the sound of the water and took pictures.

I drove around the area and found a sign for a boat ramp and I followed the sign to a County Park, there was a fee to get in and too many boats moving around the parking lot so I did not stay.

I looked at the maps again, and decided to take Hwy 41 North to Tampa, near the Florida Aquarium. The Aquarium is in an area near the cruise ship docks and other large shipping industries. A strange place to put a family oriented museum, but good for interesting pictures.  I parked in the Aquarium parking lot (the cheapest parking in the area at $6.00) but did not go into the Aquarium, it is $21.95 a person and I was there 10 years ago when my daughter lived in Tampa. I walked around behind the building to where a Navy Ship is on display, and then I walked around the shops and restaurants in the area called Channelside.

One of the restaurants is called Stump's, a place we had been to before. I couldn't go in today, they didn't open until 4pm. 

I had lunch at a Greek Cafe, the outside tables were right alongside a Carnival Cruise ship that was getting ready to depart, it was interesting to watch them load the luggage, etc. and listen to the announcements they were making. I like ships and water, but these ships are way to big for me, I like the small cruise ships that only have 200 passengers.

When I left this area it was too early to head back to the hotel.  I had been texting my daughter and she suggested Bayshore Blvd.  I headed to that road and followed the signs for a boat pier.  I found "Battery Point Park", a nice city park with a small restaurant, a boat launching site and a long pier for fishing. This park has a playground, picnic areas and trails along the water. The cruise ship that had departed the dock earlier had just floated by.  I stayed here for a couple of hours - walked along the pier, ate some ice cream and sat and watched the water and birds. 

It was time to head back to the hotel. I'll have to remember to follow the signs for boats when I am looking for a place to sit by the water. I'm not interested in sunbathing or swimming.  I just like to walk along the shore and sit and watch the water and ships and birds.

Water

How much water do you use?

I'm looking at a Class B+

with a freshwater tank of 39 gallons

Just wondering how long this would last?

(for one person)

Do you use bottled water for cooking and drinking?

Is a 6 gallon water heater enough water to take a shower?

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New vs. Used

 I'm looking at a new 2010 that is marked down

 because the 2012 models are on the lot.

I always felt that with new, you lose a lot with depreciation.

I like the idea that no one else has used it,

and that the water tanks have not sat empty

maybe getting moldy or smelly???

What's your opinion on this?