There Are Monsters, And Then There Are Monsters

Blake Smith gets serious...

This week, in a brief essay, Blake Smith, host with Karen Stollznow of Monster Talk - The Science Program About Monsters departs from his usual format.

Smith speaks cogently and concisely on the importance of critical thinking - skepticism - in our current political climate, which is marked by a surreal foray into alternative facts and blithe accusations of fake news.

I've enjoy Monster Talk for many years now, but I've never been more proud to be a fan of its thoughtful co-host.

Give this brief but excellent talk a listen.

Refinishing An Oak Table Top

The punchline "So far so good" comes to mind...

Original finish represents some 25 years of battering and bruising, scratches and scuffs, topped off with some recent water damage...

Citristrip applied (the orange stuff containing no MEK)

Stripper scraped off and residue removed with mineral spirits.

Mineral spirits dried.

Sanded with 120 and then 220 grit 

Minwax penetrating stain Golden Oak 210B applied and left to soak in

Stain rubbed back

First coat of Minwax Helmsman spar urethane clear satin.

Next, the sanding between coats.

And the second coat.

Then let it dry.

Put the extension back in the loft and my dining room table is back in service...

Spare Time Plus Peregrine Books

Equals unplanned purchases...

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly, is for Cassandra, but don't her; it's a surprise.

Consider Phlebas, by Iain M. Banks

Alexander to Constantine: Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, by Eric M. Meyers and Mark A. Chancey

Lucy M. Lewis: American Indian Potter, by Susan Harnly Peterson

What Is There To Do In Northern Arizona?

Asked an old friend planning a vacation...

Discard your preconceptions of saguaros, cattle skulls, and scalding sun.

I love Prescott year round, where there are any number of hikes and bike paths in and around town. There's a mess of shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants here too.

As you enter the third youngest state in the republic from the north Monument Valley is awesome - culturally and geologically, as is Canyon De Chelly along the eastern border.

South of Canyon de Chelly is The Painted Desert and The Petrified Forest. West of there on the way to Flagstaff via Interstate 40 is Meteor Crater.

In Flagstaff Lowell Observatory is worth seeing and there are a mess of restaurants to try.

If you haven't been to The Grand Canyon that's easy to fix (and should be). There some fine accommodations there but you'll need to book stays in the park well in advance.

Some will be intrigued by Gunsite Academy in Paulden.

As my posts on FB and my blog suggest, we've been looking into the archaeological pre-history of the Four Corners region.  There's a loop of sites in the Verde Valley we've seen most of called The Sinaugua Trail.  There is also Agua Fria, Black Mesa, Tonto, and others...

Between Verde Valley and Prescott is the former ghost town of Jerome and a winding scenic drive through the Mingus Mountains.

As for points south... Even though it's crazy hot in the summer, a visit to Tucson should include at least a half day at the Pima Air and Space Museum.  Haven't gotten down to Tombstone yet, but folks say its worth a visit.

Best of all, if you stay long enough you will meet fine friends...

Another Day In The Past

The pre-history of the Verde Valley is a never ending attraction...

Sunday morning saw us at the cliff dwellings and petroglyphs at the  Honanki Heritage Site, another home to the Sinagua people from 1150-1350 CE. We passed last Sunday's Palatki Heritage Site on the way in.

On Sunday afternoon we ascended Sacred Mountain north of Camp Verde.  Atop the mesa we saw the remains of a 50-60 room pueblo.  The V-Bar-Heritage Site we visited last weekend is a mile or so to the northwest.

Unlike cliff dwellings, the Sinagua pueblos have had no protection from the elements.