{Desert Life, Revisited}
Snow geese migrate south over the Mojave Desert this time of year. They come down from Canada via the Pacific Flyway, en route to Mexico. Montana gets snow in June and Joshua Tree gets snow geese in September. One could choose her home by axioms of natural phenomena.
Cholla, wadi, mesa, yucca. Words we no longer use, desert words. Words that stay in your mouth after you say them.
Mormon tea. Cactus wren. Spanish daggers. Compound names, modifiers loaded with the history of the west.
You go out, you wear boots, you are accompanied always by dogs. There are rattlesnakes in your garden, shotgun shells in your linen closet, persimmons on your kitchen counter. In this way you know yourself when you are living in the desert.
Pictures from Joshua Tree, California, 2008-2010.
Snow geese migrate south over the Mojave Desert this time of year. They come down from Canada via the Pacific Flyway, en route to Mexico. Montana gets snow in June and Joshua Tree gets snow geese in September. One could choose her home by axioms of natural phenomena.
Cholla, wadi, mesa, yucca. Words we no longer use, desert words. Words that stay in your mouth after you say them.
Mormon tea. Cactus wren. Spanish daggers. Compound names, modifiers loaded with the history of the west.
You go out, you wear boots, you are accompanied always by dogs. There are rattlesnakes in your garden, shotgun shells in your linen closet, persimmons on your kitchen counter. In this way you know yourself when you are living in the desert.
Pictures from Joshua Tree, California, 2008-2010.
It was your blog that inspired me to visit Joshua Tree. After years of seeing so much cool stuff about it I knew it had to be a stop-off on my recent epic American road trip. And I'm so glad, I think it was one of my favourite places on the whole trip. Sleeping under the stars and watching the desert sunrises was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
You are a poet, Lily.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe it's been a few years since Joshua Tree. Can't believe I've been reading your blog that long. If ever I live in the country (in the dessert), I hope to find a community as amazing as the one you found there. Though I have a suspicion your nature had a lot to do with that.
My partner and I sought out blogs of folks who were experienced with doing what we are about to do... How rewarding it is to find you folks, who seem very similar to the two of us. We dropped all of our belongings off at a good will, sold both of our cars, bought a scamp and a jeep and are spending the winter with her parents remodeling the scamp and saving... leaving out from Oklahoma City to the Pacific Northwest. Joshua Tree will see the Shrimp Scampi family.... two folks standing 5'2" and a scamp... LOL
ReplyDeleteLoooooved this post! It's true, you are a poet! The car window photo is extremely excellent as well. I'll take one!
ReplyDeleteLily, every time I read a new post of yours, it is a necessity to go back and read past posts. Your writing sucks me in and I can't look away. You have a way with words, my dear. Makes me nostalgic for the home of Joshua trees, yucca plants, sand, and mountains made of boulders (being from the California desert myself). The bigBANG studio continues to be my favorite blog on the internet.
ReplyDeletethese photos are incredible, Lily!
ReplyDeletei still say mesa and yucca, just sayin ;) I grew up on the mesa, sagebrush grew fiercely and when it rained it smelled of the earth. When the sun sets it turns the mountains blood red, hence the name Sangre de Cristo. Oh life in the desert.
ReplyDeletei love those photos, vivid...
ReplyDeletePlease take me to the desert with you. K thanks. xo
ReplyDeletei'm ready to go anytime :)
ReplyDeleteIt was your desert loving ways that drew me to your blog. Think you'll ever return?
ReplyDeleteI love caling the desert my home. Some days I think about leaving, but it's hard to imagine a life without mesas and cholla and pinon and desert words... yikes!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. Just love.
ReplyDeleteOh man....I have the desert in my heart always, although I've never had rattlesnakes in my garden or shotgun shells in my linen closet. I have had persimmons occasionally on my kitchen counter so I guess I'm on my way.... Love your writing. Love your photography.
ReplyDeletexo
cortnie
p.s. The post about your visit with your friends who had the water tank pool was the first one I ever did see and was the one that sealed the deal of my being your fan. xo
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ReplyDeletewhat i wanted to say was...
ReplyDeletesometimes you bring the beginning of tears to my eyes and i can't always explain why.
phew!
Beautiful! The words, the images, everything, as always.
ReplyDeleteplease write a book!! I would purchase it and literally devour every.single.page.
ReplyDeletejust gorgeous, Lillette
ReplyDeletecorgyyyyyyyynnnnn ears!! I like how we just corgyn it up, plural or not.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 12? Doesn't look a day over 5.
<3
ReplyDeletewhen i look at these shots, i can't help but miss something i never even had...
they're all beautiful photos, but something about that doggie makes my heart just thump
ReplyDeleteplease come back.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your life in Joshua Tree-- it helped my hubby & I decide to live there for the next 3 months after he was offered a contract position at Hi-Desert Medical Center. We can only hope that our experience there will be as magical as yours was.
ReplyDeleteDo you show your work anywhere in the area? We'll actually be renting a house from the owner of Red Arrow Gallery & I've already hooked up with a new gallery in Palm Springs. Would love to hear your take on all things artsy in the area!
Stunning stunning stunning. Stun-o-rama; stun-a-moo. As le boyfriend contemplates a job possibility in Joshua Tree, your photos -- as always -- make me feel all *hells-yeah!*
ReplyDeleteOh Lily, thank you for the trip to my beloved Hi-Desert!!! I do love it so.....the vistas that go on forever, the sunsets, the people and most of all the smell!!! I love the smell of the desert!!
ReplyDeleteThought you would appreciate this link to a party held by Bobby Furst! Held last weekend, Ann
http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/san-bernardino/bobby-furst-pagan-fancy-dress-ball.html
the yellow trailer with the storm clouds and that bird's nest are some of my favorite photos you've ever made. amazing, lily.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying this space immensely and these photos are a vicarious holiday! The corgi made my heart seize up - we had one who used to lie on the floor just like that. beautiful!
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ReplyDeleteIt is your stunning blog.I like so much the Joshua tree.... I'm enjoying this space immensely and these photos are a vicarious holiday! The corgi made my heart seize up.
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