My visit to Crete (Greece’s largest island) was mystifying for many reasons. One of the well-known landmarks in this legendary island is the Samaria Gorge which is reportedly the longest gorge in Europe. We did not hike the gorge on that trip but I would like to return to Crete someday and hike it with my husband and Boy Scout sons. My relative, a native of Greece, has hiked it three times and has led school groups through it as a volunteer for the Red Cross. I interviewed my charming and lovely relative about her expertise on the Samaria Gorge.
What inspired you to hike the gorge? Describe the terrain.
I hiked it three times; once with the Red Cross team escorting 15 secondary school kids. I enjoyed the scenery changes going down. At the end of the 13 kilometers it becomes very difficult because you walk on large stones. There’s a lot of animals and trees. You see the water coming down from the mountains and the huge rocks over you. The change in scenery was the most exciting thing. You go down many steps made out of stones and have to be very careful because there are many accidents that occur. Broken hands, broken legs….It’s very hard to get out of the gorge if you’re hurt. They use small donkeys. (Other animals can be seen along the landscape.)
I’ve heard they use helicopters, too.
Yes, they do. Many hikers are from Europe—Belgium, France, Switzerland….and they want to explore more of the gorge, so they get off the path. This is extreme—it is not an easy gorge. You must follow the directions of the leaders.
Did it require special training to hike the gorge?
No, but you must listen to the training information before you go on the trail. You need the right shoes. People think they can wear sandals but you need good hiking shoes.
How long did the hike on the gorge take?
6 1/2 hours, 7 maximum with 2-3 stops and a snack. You get time to relax and take pictures. You can’t stop anywhere because others are behind you. The paths are very narrow and dangerous. There are many avalanches and you can hear stones falling. They tell you to not turn your head up when you hear the rocks. Some people want to see where the stone is coming from. You have to protect your head.
Is it free to hike the gorge or is there an admission price?
It costs 5 euros but it’s free for schools.
Did you encounter dangers or accidents?
One lady sprained her ankle going down because she wasn’t wearing the right shoes. Good shoes with the proper toe is important.
Do people camp there?
In the middle of the gorge, at the 7th kilometer, there is the Samaria Old Village. Once a year, they have celebrations and people camp during the night and have liturgy during the day. It was a very nice moment. I think the churches were called Agios Nikolaos, St. Irene…–they were small churches. After the 13 km in the gorge, you walk 3km more to end up in Agia Roumeli village with a marvelous beach.
How has this experience enriched your life?
Oh!–I experienced many different feelings! I was very scared in the beginning that I wasn’t going to complete it in 6 hours but I did it in 5 1/2 hours. Going with the school kids make it quicker because they are running and it was dangerous and we were trying to hold them back. You feel like you are in a different country—I couldn’t believe I was in Greece. I met a lady while volunteering for the Red Cross and we’re still close friends since that time. I was so full of happiness that I managed to go through the gorge. We made so many friends because we were trying to help others. It was a unique experience.
A friend of mine has an interesting artistic life on many levels. She is an artist, a painter, a homeschooling mother and also a soap maker! She and her husband collaborate on various artistic projects. This natural and earthy beauty is an expert on natural living. I interviewed her about her soap making business since I am a customer and a fan of her products. They are appropriate gifts for so many purposes–hostess gifts, housewarming gifts, birthday gifts, teacher gifts, congratulatory gifts, etc. They are handy, easy to wrap and give a nice presentational appeal. The homemade artistry of it makes it a personal and conversational gift and product. When I stored them as gifts during the holidays, they made my room smell so good!
What inspired you to start this hobby turned business?
Bascially, years ago when we lived in Kentucky, my daughter had eczema. I tried treating it with coconut oil but nothing worked. We tried over the counter products before we went to the doctor for prescribed creams. One day, I grabbed a prescription cream for eczema that the doctor gave me. Her skin worsened with the use of the prescribed cream so I began researching ingredients and then moved onto natural solutions. Several of the ingredients were harsh synthetic ingredients. I began to look at my cleansers and what I can use as soap. My daughter was crying with whatever we tried. There was a soap maker in Bardstown, Kentucky which is a beautiful town. The soap maker was known for her craft. She is a precious woman and she informed me so much. She started making soap for the same reason as I did. She was an inspiration and told me how to get started. Her soap was the only thing that soothed my daughter’s skin and we began to notice healing.
I was scared of the lye because it can burn and sting. I research ingredients so I was nervous about the lye since I had little kids around. I shied away for years but when I got to Tulsa, I had more room in my house to work with the soap making. I watched tons of videos on youtube. I use organic, botanical and sustainable earthy-ingredients… as well as Non-GMO, whenever possible.
How do you pick the scents and fragrances?
I tried many combinations before I found what I liked. I come up with my own blends and let them sit a little. Autumn Trail was very “piney”. As it cures, it begins to change.
How long does soap take to cure?
It depends on the formula and group of oils. Some can take 4-8 weeks. 2-3 weeks is the shortest amount of cure time. I test the ph balance with little strips before I sell them.
Are the blends in a kit?
I play with the essential oils and decide how much I want. Lavender and patchouli,etc….
Do you have a favorite blend?
I really like Lavender and Colloidal Oatmeal.
How long does each batch take you?
3 hours but if everything is together and ready to go, it can take 2 hours. I’ve had situations where I didn’t have the right amount of items. I have molds that I use. Each batch I make fills 2 five pound molds. I have to triple the supply for busy seasons.
Where is your most remote customer so far?
Foley, Alabama and Kentucky.
Describe how this craft has been enriching.
I have enjoyed each step…..it’s kind of like a meditation. To watch the “saponification” process—the bubbling up, pouring it in, cutting each bar which is different….the layers of colors and different swirls in each bar always amazes me. As an artist, I’m always enlightened by that. Like life, we can do a little bit of planning but it might turn out better than how we planned it to be!
There were requests for follow up stories about my father after I posted “Jumped Ship and Landed in ….Tulsa!” (on this blog). His experience in the Merchant Marines embodies everything about travel and adventure. Here’s another chapter in that story. This is what my father told me…
In 1957 in New Orleans, two ships collided at midnight. I was on duty. Everyone was alert. I remember many bats gathering all over the ship. We stayed two days until better weather came. This collision was covered in the newspaper.
“November 30, 1957, the SS Ellin and SS Claiborne collided….The Coast Guard said Friday it will investigate a ship collision on the Mississippi River and dense fog about 11:55 PM Thursday 13 miles downstream from New Orleans…No injuries were reported but both cargo vessels had deep gashes in their bows…Neither ship took on water as the damage was above the waterline….Involved were the one-year-old SS Ellin 16,000 ton freighter of Liberian registry and the Waterman 15 ship corporation SS Laybourne AC 2cargo ship…The Ellin, according to Captain Michael Worden present at the Texas Marine transport company Inc. agents Alan was anchored in the thick fog…The Claiborne ran into Ellin’s bow….” (cited in newspaper article above)
He explained the mechanics of what happens when they hit rough seas or hurricanes, too.
When a propeller comes up, we have to slow down the engine. When the ship goes down, we closed the steam…when it goes up, we opened the steam. This went on for four hours. If you miscalculate, the engine goes too fast.
Did you ever regret being in the Merchant Marines?
Daddy is the one carrying the boxes
No. I was lucky I never got seasick. Lots of guys vomited. A couple of times, we had the icon of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) for hope to save us.
Tell me about some of the dangers and disasters.
There was a time when the captain had his family posing for a picture and a wave came up and picked up the three year old boy. He fell in the ocean. We stopped the ship, turned around in big panic and confusion. We found him but he was dead. This was on a trip from Iran to London.
Another time, the assistant cook went to dump trash and he fell in, too. We never stopped that time…nothing…just “goodbye.” The waves are so bad and you have to hit the waves a certain way. You can’t always turn back.
On another ship, (going from San Francisco to Curacao) our propeller hit a whale and damaged the propeller. It took two months to sail because the propeller was going so slow. You can’t change ships in the middle of the ocean. From San Francisco to Curacao, in the Los Angeles area, we had to go to Norfolk for repairs. We saw the whale with blood all over it.
What are the ports like? Which were the most exciting?
We found places to eat good food or buy things. The islands and the ports in the Caribbean were the best—Curacao, Colombia, Venezuela…The worst port was England I guess because there was no sunshine or good food.
Which country had the best looking women?
When you’re on a boat for a month and come out, every woman looks good. (chuckling). Brazil, I guess.
When you left the Merchant Marines and moved to Tulsa- what was your first job there?
Shortly after the ships collided in New Orleans, I left the ship and went to Tulsa to visit relatives, get married and started a new life there. I worked at the Tulsa Hotel overseeing the boilers. They had two boilers and had to run both to keep up. There was steam for laundry and the air conditioning. An engineer at Wonder Bread (where your mom was working) told me about that job at Tulsa Hotel. Around that time, immigration officers came to our house to deport me. Your mom told them I was working at the Tulsa Hotel. She called our priest (who was my uncle) and said, “Kosta’s in trouble.” The priest came to my work to intervene. The immigration officers told me to go to the immigration office in Dallas. I did and then went on to Toronto to fix my papers and entered the states legally through the Detroit office.
What would you have done if they deported you?
I would’ve gone back to Greece. But by leaving Greece in the first place to join the Merchant Marines to help support my mother, sisters and younger brother back home, I wasn’t drafted. In Greece, everyone has to go to the army at 20 years old.
his mother, sisters and younger brother
Why is it called “Merchant Marines” ?
We transported merchandise. (the merchant part). A “marina” is another word for a “port” (the marines part). A better term for it is “merchant mariners.” The Merchant Marines was very educational. On some legs of the voyages, we traveled to 7 countries or so. In later years, fewer people signed up for it because they didn’t want to do that type of work. But, it was a good opportunity and a very good financial opportunity for helping support my family back in Greece.
Some friends of mine are a military couple. I don’t know many military couples and I am intrigued by their sacrifice and appreciative of their service. This gorgeous couple has an incredible bond and a beautiful, romantic story about their marriage….especially during his service in Afghanistan. When I first heard of this story, I immediately thought of a specific Greek myth of Odysseus and Penelope. I interviewed them about their inspirational story involving travel and love. There were other personal and poignant details interwoven into this story having to do with military life, sacrifices, friendships, and lost loved ones which will remain part of their story’s inner layer. The main message is shared here.
When your husband was deployed, I heard of a “pledge” you made until he returned safely. Can you describe the inspiration behind this?
When my husband was first deployed in 2003-2004, to Afghanistan, none of us knew what to expect. It seemed like the Wild West over there but thankfully everyone in the brigade came home and no one was killed. On my husband’s second deployment, however, there were several causalities and with each one I heard about, I started to feel really out of control about the situation. My husband’s battalion was operating in one of the most dangerous provinces at the time. I didn’t think he was going to come home and I started to fear a knock at the door about my husband.
At that time, I was going for a hair appointment and canceled it because I thought, “the only thing I can control at this moment is my hair.” When your world seems to be spinning out of control you latch onto anything that gives you a little control and growing my hair out was my control. I decided to let my hair grow and to only cut it when he returned home safely. Cutting my hair would represent a new chapter in our lives. A chapter that didn’t involve me feeling helpless and in a constant state of fear.
Ten months later when he came home safely, we went together and I cut my hair. That hair cut was like no other hair cut I had ever had in my life. It was emotional to say the least.
the big hair cut!
From the beginning I knew I wanted to donate my hair to those affected by hair loss from cancer.
…from their wedding in Greece
Did you donate the hair to Locks of Love?
It was Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I donated 12-13 inches of hair.
(writer’s side note): It reminds me of the Greek myth of Penelope and Odysseus. In the myth of Odysseus, while he was at war, his faithful wife wove a burial shroud for his father. She put off suitors by telling them that she would not consider remarriage until the weaving was complete. Secretly, each night, she unraveled her weaving so that it was prolonged for 20 years…..in the hope that she would be reunited with Odysseus. The myth conveys the message of sacrifice, patience, faith and feminine virtue.
I don’t remember doing it for anything other than one of his favorite things about me is my long hair. It was like a tribute to him as well as to give the hair away as a sacrifice. Not just to cut if off for no reason but to give it to someone who has health needs and feel that their beauty was something that they could control in their life. (with the wig made from her hair.)
Do you consider it a “tama” ?—(Tama is a Greek word for a promise made in faith, sometimes in a votive offering. Usually for a miracle.)
Yes! absolutely!
He has been in the military for fourteen years now. I don’t know how we made it through everything—the divorce rate in the military is high but I’m an Army brat so I guess I’m used to that lifestyle. Most of all I think it’s the deep love we have for each other that has bonded us together even when so many miles separated us. This life has made us stronger.
Once it was all over, I could have just trimmed the hair but I decided to cut it all off. Because of the sacrifice we made, I wanted someone else whose health and beauty was sacrificed in illness to have something to feel in control of their situation…the wig made from my donated hair.
What inspired you to get involved with Camp Agape?
I first heard about it from my spiritual father, Fr. Tom. I’ve always had a soft spot for underprivileged kids or those who are struggling with illness or abuse. The concept behind the camp is what drew me in. This will be my fourth year to attend as a counselor .
What is the concept behind the camp?
Camp Agape NW provides an all-expense-paid, weeklong, overnight camp for the whole family of a child with cancer. Camp Agape gives children with cancer a chance to feel normal, siblings a chance to feel special, and parents a time to be together. There is a 1 to 1 ratio for every child meaning every child has a full-time buddy and playmate that never leaves him for the entire week. The buddy is there waiting when the child wakes up and stays with him until it is time to go to bed. The camp is free of charge for the child with cancer, the parents or legal guardians, and all siblings.
There are several locations but the one I volunteer at is in the Northwest, outside of Seattle in Gig Harbor which is on the Puget Sound. Families may attend a maximum of two years for each child that is fighting cancer. It is hard to believe, but there are families that have more than one child that is fighting cancer, so they can attend an additional two years. They only other circumstance where families can attend more than two years is in the event of a relapse.
Do the campers have to be from a particular religion?
It’s for all denominations.
Describe the preparation, itinerary and how it revolves around the concept.
We want the child with cancer to feel normal. The directors and nursing staff prepare the counselors on the kids’ needs before they arrive. Specific things for their physical needs, like how to handle their ports, any special conditions to be conscientious of, etc. are covered ahead of time. But we don’t want to focus on that–we just want them to feel normal. The rest of the family is treated extra special. We have just about any kind of food or snack you might want available all day. This includes a full milkshake and smoothie bar, coffee/espresso bar. They can have as much as they want. We try to pamper the parents. They can get haircuts, massages, take naps or do whatever they would like.
The camp operates under the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco and is run locally by the Ladies Philoptochos society. There is a local executive board that prepares for the camp year round. The camp directors and clergy that are on site are a combination of Orthodox and Protestant Christians, working side by side. I love that !
As I said, we try to make the siblings feel special and the campers feel normal. For parents, it is time for them to relax and reconnect as a couple and a family . Many couples are emotionally and financially strained but I’ve noticed that the families never seem to act like victims or whiners—they’re very positive and resilient – as are the kids . Some have had to move residences for their child’s treatment. Some are paying for two house payments.
The siblings also really suffer when the families have to pick up and move and many times take a backseat in order for the sick child to be cared for properly. This can cause guilt and anger. Some siblings physically and emotionally regress due to the stress. This week gives them a chance to forget about all of that and have fun.
What are the dates of the camp session? Describe the program and staff.
It’s the 3rd week of July. There are approximately 120 staff members or counselors . There is usually a 20 family maximum with a waiting list. We also have back up counselors because if any counselor gets sick, they have to be pulled from the program. We can’t run the risk of the campers getting sick. We also have a waiting list of families. In the event one of the campers blood counts drop or become ill, those familes unfortunately have to be pulled at the last minute and the next family on the waiting list is notified. We have even had instances where the campers got sick and counts dropped while they were at camp and the entire family had to leave. It is heartbreaking to see the disappointment on their faces.
All of the counselors and staff sleep in tents and the families sleep in cabins. The counselors are ages 18-25 and then we have 5-6 of what are called ” concierge counselors “. We (concierge counselors) oversee 2 entire families and around 10+ counselors and are there to get the families anything they might need from extra blankets, special meals, laundry services – whatever they need.
There is always a theme for the week. In the weeks I’ve been there, the themes were: Lion King, Back to the Future and Minions. We decorate the dining hall every day according to the theme. The entire week we make each day special with games, activities and costumes revolving around the theme. We have skits, races, arts and crafts, kayaking, fishing, swimming, intertubing. One day, we go to the local YMCA to use the pool for the kids. We have soccer matches. During Back to the Future week, we even had the DeLorean car. Each evening we all gather under a big tent and sing songs, dance, karaoke, bring in bands, watch movies. It’s non-stop activity.
dressed as Rafiki from The Lion King
Do you get updates from them? This must be hard on you emotionally when you get attached to the campers.
Yes, we all stay in touch. Some of the counselors like myself are located in states pretty far away. Thankfully through social media we can stay connected. One thing that I think is very special is that the families, counselors and staff get to know each other at camp and stay connected and support each other year round and become lilfe long friends. Through treatments, changing diagnosis, ups and downs, they stay connected.
It can be very difficult at times, but I have become a stronger person by knowing these families. Their lives are emotional roller coasters and some of them live life in constant fear of a relapse. But to watch these kids and families who are fighting for their lives keep moving forward, one day at a time, is incredible. These kids are resilient and so mature for their age. Most of them have fought their way through things that the rest of us will hopefully never experience. There have been several years that I knew I might not see that child again. It is extremely difficult at the end of the week to say good-bye. But I remember what my spiritual Father always tells me – “If you give them one good day–go with that because that is one good day that they might not have had.”
How do you “regroup” when you’ve come home?
It’s an adjustment. There is a very peaceful and content feeling that stays with you for awhile. After watching what these families are dealing with, my life is easy. For three weeks or so just about nothing bothers me . But then the stresses of daily life set in and it can be very easy to lose sight of what is really important. It is important for me to do a reality check!
How has this experience enriched your life? How have you grown from it spiritually?
The biggest thing for me is that I’ve never been exposed to terminal illness in my family . I have learned not to take anything for granted. Most of all, I have learned that there are just some things in life that are beyond our control and we can’t fix it. But we can still love and support each other the best we can. I have been enriched not only by the familes, but also the amazing counselors and staff. When you’re in that close of an environment with 18-25 year old counselors, you’d expect them to talk and gossip about things like young adults their age do….but when we gather at the end of the day to regroup, it is the exact opposite. I t’s 45 minutes of twenty-somethings (20 year olds) praising and supporting each other !
The word AGAPE, I never understood until I went there. It means total unconditional love…and it’s there.
A few years ago, we met a talented, smart and lovely girl . On top of being a stellar student and young lady, she intrigued all of us because of her unique background as a child who grew up in Greece (from other ethnic backgrounds) but had embraced Greek culture and religion. Amidst her busy schedule as a college student and ballerina, she did this interview with me.
Why did you live in Greece?
My father had visited Greece and fallen in love with the country before he met my mother while studying art in Japan. He had connections with the foreign arts community in the islands, so after my parents married, they decided to move to Greece. A few years later, I was born.
How many years did you live there?
My parents and I lived on Tinos until it was time for me to start school, which they wanted me to do in the U.S. But between the ages of 5 and 14, I spent the summers, and sometimes the Christmas holidays, on Tinos.
Panagia church in TinosThessaloniki
What excursions or museums do you recommend?
Having lived on a tiny, largely unheard-of island, I would recommend going off the beaten track and hiking on Tinos or some of the other Cyclades islands. If you’re looking for something more standard, definitely visit the Acropolis Museum in Athens—it’s phenomenal.
What were your favorite memories of your time there?
My favorite memories all involve the sea. My mother used to take me to the beach every day during the summer, where we would spend hours swimming, building sand castles, and sunbathing. My dad and I often snorkeled and explored the tide pools, where I would look for hermit crabs and tiny fish.
Tinos harbor
How would you describe the perfect Greek meal?
The perfect Greek meal is always eaten outdoors in the fresh air. I would prefer a quiet meal of mezedes (octopus, taramosalata, and fava are my favorites!) either at a small café on the beach or somewhere in the hills with a view of the sea below.
Describe a custom that you observed there. Did you incorporate any of their customs back home?
My parents and I wish each other “kalo mina” at the beginning of every month. This habit seems trivial, but it does show how little things from daily life in Greece have become such an engrained part of us.
writer’s side note: (“kalo mina” means “good month”–“let’s have a good start to our new month…”)
Tinos is an island known for its pilgrimages. This island located in the Aegean Sea is known for its miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary that is housed at the Panagia church. As a sign of respect and devotion, many pilgrims crawl on their hands and knees from the wharf to the church which is approximately 800 meters. I have seen this twice when I visited Tinos. People with various ailments gather there to pray and touch the icon for its healing powers.
You converted to Greek Orthodoxy. Can you explain what inspired this process?
I hesitate to say that I “converted” to Orthodoxy because I grew up amid the religion and have never been a part of, or felt connected to, any faith but Greek Orthodoxy. Although my parents are not Orthodox, they often took me to services during our time in Greece. Participating in feast days and other Orthodox rituals is such a natural part of life in Greece that it was easy for us to do so. Eventually, I decided that it was time to formalize my connection with Greek Orthodoxy by being baptized—and this was something that I always expected would happen.
How did your trip to Greece this past summer enrich your life? Describe any experiences that made you grow spiritually.
This summer, I spent six weeks in Thessaloniki as part of a history seminar offered by my university. In some ways, it was a new experience because I had never been to northern Greece. However, it also felt like a homecoming, especially because I had not been to Greece for several years before this summer. The college experience is generally one of wandering, trying new things, and discovering new interests—which is good, but it can also be disorienting sometimes. In Greece, I felt reconnected to myself. I also felt truly happy for the first time in a long time. One of the summer’s most extraordinary experiences was visiting the Timios Prodromosmonastery, which is in a secluded mountain area just outside Thessaloniki. The monastery is beautiful not only with regard to its natural surroundings, but also in the sense of peace which pervades it.
a monastery in Thessaloniki
Describe the vibe of the culture?
I feel that almost everything about Greek culture expresses a simple, genuine love of life and one’s neighbors. Although I’m not Greek, the community in which I grew up on Tinos embraced me as one of its own. Greece has this free, lively atmosphere that has always made it easier for me to live in the moment and to not fixate on things that I can’t control.
My high school friend and I share some important things in common. We graduated from the same high school. We were teachers together at our alma mater. Our first children were in the same grade at our alma mater. Now, we are approaching the empty nest with hobbies that have become opportunities. My enthusiastic friend has a natural beauty and spirituality that enhances her passion for horses and equine photography. I interviewed her about her love of traveling to Colorado for a family tradition and her equestrian life journey.
Tell me about your equestrian history. How did you start this journey?
I grew up riding but took a 20 year break to go to college, get married and have kids. When my daughter got into it, it resumed again. I didn’t want to push her into it. At first, she wanted to pursue gymnastics and just do cartwheels down the barn. But in third grade, she said, “Mom, I’m ready.” And I jumped and jumped hard! You have to do it all the way; not halfway. We got a horse we could both show and both share. We still have him and he’s retired in our backyard. That’s Fox… I would never sell him. (Pictured below is Zeke. His real name is SLR Executive Privilege.)
He’s the one that really got us going. Once we started going together—it took over us. It’s a passion. We love it. It’s something we did together and we still do together.
Who got you into riding?
My parents totally got me into riding. We’d ride at the barn at Southern Hills (Country Club). It was so gorgeous.
Southern Hills
Then, the barn burned down. We rode those horses every week. It was devastating. We got an Arabian, showed Arabians and took a break but then got into Morgans. It’s a little more family oriented and it’s more of a family breed. Arabians are very competitive.
in Arabian costume on her Arabian horse
That was the 70’s-80’s. I showed horses up to my junior year in high school and then stopped. I took it back up with my daughter when she was ready.
Tell me about Colorado. I see all these gorgeous pictures of your trips there.
It’s my favorite place in the world. It’s in Creede, Colorado which is a little mining town—really fascinating. The ranch we go to is 4UR Ranch (it’s a brand). My family has been going there for 50 years and my kids are the fourth generation to go. I used to go up there with my grandparents. It’s the same place… looks the same…and has the same barn. It’s mostly a fly fishing place but equestrian, too. The Lone Ranger movie was filmed there two years ago. That’s where all of us have learned how to ride…..my kids, my nephews.
I see pictures of these reunions you have in Colorado…?
That’s Pagosa Springs. We ride up in the high mountains! I mean, high!–We see animals, bears,….it’s just 7 girls taking off for the entire day. We have a gun just in case. It’s high country.
Do you ever have to use the gun?
No. But I’ve seen bears and I’m scared of the mountain lions. I brought my horse, Fox, and rode him up in the high mountains. He did so well! I wasn’t sure how he’d do in the mountains but he was fine! We go every summer for about two weeks. I want to see every part of Colorado! It’s my favorite place in the whole world. I go for a week with the girls and then spend one week with my family at the ranch. Colorado in the summer….wow!
Many Tulsans retreat up there in the summer—especially August it seems, to get away from the heat.
I never want to come home when I’m up there!
How did you get into equine photography?
It was interesting….I bought a camera, took pictures of my barn and gave them out as gifs. I took pictures at Morgan Nationals. Morgan Horse magazine saw my pictures on the internet and hired me. Arabian Nationals head photographer asked me to be on the team. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be a part of that! It’s such an honor!
Did you have to do any special training?
I study photography a lot at home. I’ve read every book. You can’t wing it. Photography is hard….the settings, etc. My friend was my inspiration. Digital camera photography, photoshop and editing is really the huge part of it. I can take millions of pictures but it’s really the editing and really bringing it out that captures the story. I want someone to look at my picture and just really feel like there’s a story behind it. I want people talking about it.
What camera do you use?
Canon 5 D. I also like Nikon. I use Adobe photoshop and I like iPhoto because it’s simple. It’s about cropping and colors. I can sit for hours and edit pictures….I love it! I was in charge of candid photos for the Morgan Horse show. I got to capture the candid moments when they came out of the ring and had just won. It was so much fun….I could do that all day!
What is the name of your photography?
Photos by Laurie
Tell me about your titles that you’ve won. I’m fascinated with that.
I have won (so blessed)…2 reserve world national titles in the Morgan horse. In 2010, they turned off every single light in the coloseum and I got to go into the spotlight. I could relive it every day! In 2012, my daughter and I both won.
My daughter won the Gold Medal–the ultimate prize. It’s called the Western Seat Gold Medal. I won the Western Pleasure Amateur. We’re not the pros, but we own the horses….show the horse. Showing horses means riding them. I go once a week to OKC for Zeke, my Morgan stallion. My amazing horse trainer, Kelly Kraegel is in Guthrie. I’ve been riding with her barn, Cottonwood Creek Ranch, for 6 years. Stallions are wild, powerful and ungelded. It’s crazy for someone my age to ride a Morgan stallion. Usually you buy one and geld them.
Why is that crazy and unusual? Are they dangerous?
He’s young. He’s super powerful. I love that—the challenge. I’m never afraid of any horse. My daughter is the same way–there’s no fear whatsoever in her.
Have you ever fallen?
Yeah, I”m sure I have…we both have….but you get back up. When we go to Colorado, there’s a pasture, a valley and mountains everywhere…we both take off on a dead run—like you see in the movies and we just take off! It’s the feeling of the freedom, the rush and excitement of it. She’s always by my side when we do things like that.
I can imagine what you mean. I’ve galloped before and in my mind it feels like I’m racing. But I don’t even know how fast I’m going…..and it’s the most amazing feeling.
When you just take off and let go of the reins….you’re holding him but letting him go as fast as that horse possibly can…..(sigh).
What has this mother-daughter bond (with the horses) done to enrich your life?
It has brought us so incredibly close. I’ve literally enjoyed every stage of her life growing up because when she was little, I was the mother…then we showed together. Now, she’s like my best friend and when we take off to Colorado together…it’s hard to explain that bond …what a hobby can do. I have it with my son, too, and he’s my biggest fan. With my daughter, we both understand the bond. She’s just a natural. We can look at each other when we’re on a horse and we know exactly what the other is thinking……we don’t have to communicate.It’s hard to explain. My husband is the best horse show dad….he zips up my chaps, puts on my numbers and is always so positive. I always look for him in the show ring. It’s a great family sport! But I couldn’t have this without Him…I give God all the glory.
www.4urranch.com
Click on link below to order the book, A Magic Carpet Ride by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley.
My creative and lovely friend makes chic and casual jewelry. The designs range from simple to intricate and go with everything in your wardrobe it seems! I interviewed her about her hobby turned business. The items are versatile, well priced and accessible to purchase.
What inspired you to start making jewelry ?
I needed a navy necklace to go with a dress for a wedding. I kept making them and people really liked them. They asked if I could make them jewelry… and it took off!
Where do you get the stones?
Most are from Chicago or Dallas. I’ve ordered some online.
How long does each bracelet or necklace take to make? (there are also earrings)
It depends. Some necklaces can take two weeks. 15 to 20 minutes per bracelet but some can take one hour (like a necklace.)
What are the stones?
Freshwater pearl , jade, labradorite, amethyst and colored stones. (she puts pieces of suede dangling from them and other medals or dangling designs.)
What is the price range?
Items range from $8-$120 (there are little kids’ pieces, too) I can customize orders, which I love to do! Bracelets are $10, $20, $35, $40 each. Necklaces range from $20 on up.
I don’t make items that I won’t wear. If I”m not sure I love the [pink] bead on this necklace, for example, I wear it to see what people think. If someone loves a jade, I can find a similar color and do custom orders. Some people like the big stones, some like smaller.
What is the significance of the St. Matthew medal on some of these pieces of jewelry?
That one has Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on it and it’s Franciscan. I love crossess ;everything started out being crosses. I went to my niece’s baptism a while ago and she had a jewelry party when I was out there. I took a few cross things and everything sold and people said, “we need more crosses!” I like crosses . It makes me feel good inside.
I wish I would’ve known about this before I had to shop for a girl’s or woman’s gift. How do people contact you (when it’s not in stores)?
My dynamic, spirited and lovely high school friend has an interesting family tradition . Every Thanksgiving, she makes the trip (with her family) to return to our hometown and join her family in a candy making tradition. One year, I went to her aunt’s house to observe this unique family bonding activity and visit with her and our other best friends from high school. I have always been interested in her committment and passion about this tradition and I sensed it was more about the family bonding than anything else. I recently interviewed her and her mother about the origin of this tradition and other details. It involves traveling back to our hometown to keep the tradition going. Polly, Julia, Bambi, Ray, Fawn, Graham and Lexie, Tevis, Foster, Ray, Clay and others are participants in this wonderful tradition.
How did this tradition begin? (my friend’s mother answered) Whose side of the family is this?
My grandmother, Gertrude Boreing, was a friend of Mrs. Russell Stover. There are 4 generations of us ladies with the name “Julia Tevis”. I’m Julia Tevis Narz, my mother was Julia Tevis Boreing, my daughter is Julia Tevis Lee and her daughter is Julia Tevis Hills.
My friend’s relatives wrote the following background information about this tradition. While visiting a relative at the hospital, they met the person who inspired the candy making. This is an excerpt from the history that my friend’s relatives, (Bambi and Judy) recorded in 1997.
“While in the Kansas City hospital, our grandmother Gertie became friends with a hospital volunteer who taught Gertie how to make candy and gave her The Art of Home Candy Making. This lady, Mrs. Russell Stover, eventually owned a local ice cream and candy store that grew to be the Russell Stover candy that is available throughout the United States.
At first Gertie made candy only at Christmas time. During The Depression, Easter candy was unavailable and consequently Gertie made the hand dipped chocolates at Easter. Originally, Gertie used a hatpin to dip the centers in chocolate. Our mother took up the candy making tradition and dipped the centers in the chocolate by hand. By the late forties, candy making had become a family and friend tradition at 1248 Royal, our childhood home in Louisville, Kentucky. In its heyday, over a dozen people made several hundred pounds of candy the first week in December.
Mom and Dad made the fondant in November. Dad ordered the supplies under the name Royal Candy Company. Uncle Ray cooked the buttercreams; Ann Townsend rolled the buttercreams; Aunt Dorothy made the chocolates and raspberries; Aunt Sen made the montevideos; Vivian cupped the finished chocolates; Lucy cleaned and chipped chocolate and Mother dipped. The rest of us pitched in as needed. We made buttercreams, raspberries, black walnut, chocolate, coconut, truffles, Brazil nuts, montevideo, fudge, nut tops and chocolate covered cherries. After our dad died in 1981, we moved the operation to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It would not be Christmas without candy. Our candy has touched the lives of hundreds of people. There is a smile in every bite.”
Was “Tevis” a surname?
Yes.
How old were you when you started getting involved in the tradition? (question directed to my friend)
from the day I was born! It comes with the package….all of the family comes to make candy; the husbands, the kids, etc.
What are your fondest memories of the tradition?
(My friend answered) Making butter creams while the others are rolling balls, other dipping…just being together. Mom dipped the chocolates and all the children are given jobs.
(My friend’s mother answered) The kids take over when the elders weren’t doing so well dipping. There’s a definite talent to handling the chocolate. It makes a mess and the chocolate has to be a certain temperature. Now it’s easier because they’ve improved chocolate over the years.
It is a family tradition for so many generations now and it’s just known that it’s part of the deal. The husbands and kids get involved. You make your Thanksgiving vacation around it.
Any funny stories or mishaps?
Mishaps are minimal because today the chocolate is so good.
How has this tradition enriched your life? What have you learned from it?
(My friend’s mother answered) This was started with my grandmother who was an artist and became friends somehow with Mrs. Stover. They got to talking and Stover gave the recipes. She may have given it to others but they thought it was too much work. You have to have the right equipment, double boiler, marble, and big rigid spatulas. There’s no way to scrape up hard chocolate without those special spatulas.
What are the names of the candies?
The Butter Cream
Raspberry Cream
Montevideo (Vanilla Fondant wrapped around almond and walnut paste)
Fudge dipped in chocolate
Raspberry Jam in Fondant
What we learned about ourselves and our family is that no matter what, no matter where you live, no matter what your financial situation is or if you’ve had a baby…you stick to candy making. Grandfather was just insistent that you “Get here and help your mother.” Back then, my parents had (hired) help, too. Even as little kids, we were involved in some way. The paper cups would stick together sometimes (the pleats and edges). The children would make sure each cup was individual. Everyone pitched in. Every generation came up with the same funny idea and didn’t know it had been thought of before….the kids would joke about making balls of clay all the same size and putting chocolate around the clay balls and put them in someone’s candy box. The adults always put the halt on it.
The tradition is passed from mother to daughter.
Their cousins in Louisville, Kentucky still carry on this tradition there, too.
How long is your list of candy recipients?
I don’t know how many pounds we make now. I know it was ten pounds of fondant.
Is there a special quote that comes to mind about this family tradition or family philosophy that comes to mind?
“If each piece of candy isn’t the right size, it’s a redo!”
My history-loving brother and my adorable nephews went on a guys trip in 2011 to England and Scotland to hike Hadrian’s Wall. I interviewed my driven and handsome nephew about his experience on this trip.
What inspired you to travel to England and Scotland to hike Hadrian’s Wall?
My brother had just graduated from college and we wanted to go on a boys’ trip. It’s not something you do often. We had been to England but not Scotland. We wanted to do something not overly touristy and to discover new things. It was my dad’s idea and his friend had done it.
What did your trip itinerary involve?
We arrived in London and drove to Hadrian’s wall. The first two days we walked 13 miles a day. The wall is in England, not Scotland and it used to be the northernmost border of the Roman Empire. Hadrian commissioned to build the wall to keep the barbarians from attacking Roman settlements. It’s considered, “the Great Wall of England.” Contours Program (from the travel agency) set up our stays at bed and breakfasts and transported our luggage for us. We only needed backpacks. It was perfectly set up. We walked along the wall and there were different historic sites along the way:
military barracks
ancient pagan ritual grounds
museums along the wall
Did you experience any problems walking it?
It started raining a bit but overall it was very pleasant. In July and August, the temperature was in the 70’s. I thought it was perfect.
Did you do any training for it?
Nothing out of the ordinary. My dad and brother did some extra walking ahead of time.
Describe the vibe of the culture.
The (Scots and Brits) people were overly welcoming, kind, pleasant and went out of their way to help us.
Did you observe any customs there and did you incorporate any of them back home?
We noticed how much everyone is communal at the pubs. There’s no technology there (phones, TVs), and they spent time enjoying each others’ company. That was different from America. I’m trying to incorporate that back home by not being on my phone as much when I’m out and trying to give people my full attention.
What did you learn about yourself on this trip? Did you grow spiritually?
I learned that I really enjoy hiking. 13 miles a day could seem daunting but it was enjoyable!–the fresh air. I grow as a person whenever I experience new things and cultures. I want to take a trip every year if I can. To learn that your way is not the only way in life and that we can all make improvements is important. There’s not only one way to skin a cat.
One of the well-known landmarks in this legendary island is the Samaria Gorge which is reportedly the longest gorge in Europe. We did not hike the gorge on that trip but I would like to return to Crete someday and hike it with my husband and Boy Scout sons. My relative, a native of Greece, has hiked it three times and has led school groups through it as a volunteer for the Red Cross. I interviewed my charming and lovely relative about her expertise on the Samaria Gorge.
You see the water coming down from the mountains and the huge rocks over you. The change in scenery was the most exciting thing. You go down many steps made out of stones and have to be very careful because there are many accidents that occur. Broken hands, broken legs….It’s very hard to get out of the gorge if you’re hurt. They use small donkeys. (Other animals can be seen along the landscape.)
www.impanahrantou.blogspot.gr/2012/05/blog-post_10.html
