Crystal Trio

A bunch of us took a little trip to Tucson last night and saw the "Crystal Trio"- three men from Siberia who play crystal glasses, pipes and flutes. The performance was at "Sea of Glass"- one of the venues owned by Avalon Ecovillage/Global Communication Community Alliance. The performers have an equivalent to a PhD in music and have studied music almost exclusively since childhood. They originally specialized in the accordion until they became interested in the crystal instruments. They played Brahms, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, as well as Disney songs:) and perform all over the world. They also have classes and performances for kids. I checked out their instruments at the intermission:) Jasmine slept thru the entire performance. At least she got it subconsciously! I spent most of the day in the Jr. High and High School. They asked me to teach a Comparative Anatomy class - which was kind of fun:)

Day 4

For the past couple of days I've been working in the garden transplanting trays and trays of little celery sprouts into bigger pots, then observing in various areas of the schools. Today I toured the Global Law Firm, Global Media Communications, Soulstice Medical Clinic and Soulstice Hospice, Off the Path Art Gallery, and Sacred Treasures store--all in Tubac and all owned by Global Community Communications Alliance/Avalon Gardens. Then...in the afternoon, I worked in the dairy goat barn. We organized, cleaned and labelled all of the medical supplies for the goats, as well as developed a new teat dip and wash to eliminate the chemicals. Later, Jazzy and I got a private concert because we were invited to watch one of the bands..VanGuard..rehearse:)

Back at Avalon Ecovillage this week...

Jasmine is enjoying going to school on her "spring break":) Their school is a bit different and much more enjoyable. Yesterday I was introduced to all of the horses, and learned that they have a vaulting program here. The girls learn gymnastics on horses. A special saddle is involved with handles like on the men's pommel horse in gymnastics. They then learn various gymnastics moves while the horse is moving in a circle. After that, I worked in one of the greenhouses transplanting seedlings. My back is sore. Today, I spent the morning in the middle school while they did math and language arts , then the afternoon in the dairy barn and grain milling area. I haven't been in a milking barn since vet school. They make all of their own cheese, kefir, yogurt and everything else here. The refrigerator is as big as a double wide trailer and is full of more eggs than I've ever seen in one location, cultures of every kind for each of the different kinds of cheeses and yogurts. They also have a huge barn full of wheat that needs to be milled. The new milling machine isn't working correctly, so we had to do an experiment to see how much it was milling compared to how much it was supposed to be milling. Right now I can hear Jasmine and a bunch of other kids playing "drums" and singing - actually screaming. Back to the garden for me right now.

Avalon EcoVillage Sustainability Seminar

Jazzy and I just returned home from a 4 day seminar we attended on "Sustainability". Amazing place- 225 acres and expanding, many types of housing consisting of straw bale, regular construction that was already there when they purchased the land, and domes. The brand new domes are for adults only- dang it!! Avalon is the largest and longest lasting ecovillage in the world. They grow literally everything that is eaten there, with apparently a few exceptions depending on the season. The soil is constantly being naturally enriched with compost and crop rotation. Literally everything is recycled and reused- including the grey water that is used for flower gardens. The main water source is the aquifer, but each building has a large rain water catchment system. There is even a beautiful "bath house" inside of a green house. Water is stored under the building and heated by way the solar panels. The environment is tropical in there! Many artists live there who create art out of just about anything. They have several bands of musicians, some of whom travel, a law firm, alternative medical clinic (Soulstice Clinic) with only one doctor (so far), a hospice, two recording studios due to all of the musicians, a theater that they rent out to various groups, a hotel or two in Sedona where they used to be located, many many seminars on various topics from organic gardening, water conservation/issues, spirituality, etc. They also have therapy horses for "troubled teens and adults", an upcoming radio station, various media outlets, a CSA (community supported agriculture) where they sell excess fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market in Tucson, and many other businesses I am not remembering at the moment. Their school is run by the most amazing evolved teachers I have ever met. Everything is run and owned by the "members". Members run from age 1 to 81. There are quite a few "elderly" people who live there, middle aged, many people in their 20's, and only about 20 children right now. It is a 6 month to 1 year process to become a member. It was a fun and interesting 4 days! Each house has a name. This is the main house where the seminars are held. I cannot remember the name of it. Jasmine stayed in the "Inner Reflection House" when she wasn't in school. A few of the green houses for the new seedlings. They also have a LARGE new house for aquaponics which is under development, two huge catfish ponds, a food forest, citrus trees, a goat farm with around 100 goats right now. The milk is used to make kefir, yogurt, and meat :( There are hundreds of chickens used for their eggs and meat. A couple of the older kids are on the "butcher team". These are the newest domes. Very beautiful and elegant inside. The domes also have basements!!! Here is the living area of one of the new domes. Outdoor stage for musicians and other performers. Jazzy is the little blue dot. The little guest house where Jasmine and I stayed.

Cicue de la Symphonie at Mesa Arts Center......

Mesa Center for the Arts Phoenix Symphony and circus performers flying above them. We went for Gadiel's 9th birthday!

Valentine's Day and Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.....

Between Brenda, Grandma, and me- it was Christmas all over again!! We spent all day at the Scottsdale Arabian show...from early morning to around 6PM. It was my 21st year straight! Our diet today was the worst it's been in a very long time- ice cream, pop corn, candy....nothing healthy all day long:( We watched the kids classes pretty much all day and walked around the "shopping area". One of the booths had little horses that you could ride by pushing up and down on the stirrups with your feet:) We spent some time there! Watching the show! Jasmine wanted me to take this photo of the winning Arab Costume Class horse and rider 18 yrs and under:)

Ham Test and Chinese New Year

Most of the day we spent in far east Mesa at a Ham Radio Club at their practice meeting -taking the Ham Test- which I passed:). I spent many months memorizing totally irrelevant factoids about electrical circuits, laws and "safety"- among other things. They made me do my first transmission to the head of the Club (Dave) who was home sick. I had no idea what to say to him. I bought an el cheapo little radio, and now all I have to do is figure out how to use it- a whole different level of learning. It will take a few years, I'm sure. Tonight is the Chinese New Year celebration at Mesa Center for the Arts where Chandler Children's Choir will be performing! Waiting outside before the performance:)