Big Sur Pioneer Life

The large pear tree shown in the photo dates back well over a hundred years, and in spring it puts forth a fine show of blossoms, which later in the year yield small pears.  They are an old variety that is not ripe until it is soft in the middle, like jam.  Delicious!

The tree is in an area that was used extensively by the first known pioneer settler here, William Dempsey.

He set up near the year-round artesian spring, where the remains of a small spring house and some posts to contain livestock are still in place.

On the other side of the hillside area is an old apple tree which still produces abundantly.  A large fenced garden was raised,  plowed again and again, many years of rock removal having taken place.
The area can produce abundant amounts of food, although the frost season begins early there and ends late.

Pioneer life was full of comforting rhythms, although the challenges were great.

There was always something to do, whether looking after the livestock, tending the trees and vegetables, cutting firewood, splitting lumber from the nearby redwood trees, or making nails and iron parts by hand in a small smelter.  Tanning of leather from animal hides would give materials for many types of implements and for clothing.
Leisure time could be used in pursuit of making objects of beauty or in making music, reading or reciting from great works of literature, as was the custom in those times.
 
Constant vigilance was the order of the day, since the more resources were created, the greater the appeal to the wild animals near by.  Staying home to guard the food was really important!

The area remains wild in its essence.  Our own generation of pioneers had a lot of challenges, even with all the machinery we were able to use.  

A large population of deer in the area still use the trail that runs down the hill right next to the homestead area.  In autumn, great flocks of pigeons thunder into the skies  during their migrations.
Mountain life holds its own rhythms, which continue during this time, with new additions, yet it can truly be said that in many cases the old ways serve best.  Low technology such as drying fruit, using wood for heating, and solar for electricity, help to keep the feeling of serenity that the mountains offer as their greatest gift.  Making things by hand just comes naturally here.

I honor the spirit of the people who lived here before me, and learn from their examples.
Faith, perseverance, creativity, and adaptability, along with continual cooperation with nature, were the things they knew so well. It is my hope to carry forward the lessons they have for us.

Come and visit!
Four ways to visit me:


Youtube!http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E/

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

ww.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, a shop to showcase and sell examples of my art and fashion designs,

www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!

Mill Creek History

Mill Creek in Big Sur has a history of being home to the hardy and industrious. It was a haven for the native inhabitants of the area before the European arrival. A beach at the bottom of the creek has both easy access to fishing, and fresh water.

Further up the hill are rich oak habitats abounding in acorns, which were used for food. Wild greens grow throughout the year, and grasses which hold high nutrient value also grow profusely. In fact, these same grasses held many grasshoppers which could be harvested at the right time of year for a rich feast. Imagine, fresh fish, shellfish, grasshoppers and wild greens, along with acorn soup.

The people carried everything they owned with them, ranging from place to place finding fresh riches wherever they went..

The area became far more sparsely inhabited in the later years. Most of the native inhabitants were already gone by the tie the Europeans came. The reason for this is not yet known.
Spanish travelers along the coast held the Big Sur mountains in dread, believing they were home to malevolent spirits, and avoided them except for landfall in dire need.
Where they did land, they planted eucalyptus tress to be cut later for masts, and planted mustard. The yellow colors of the mustard flower let them know that they had been to that location before, serving as a beacon, visible even far out to sea.

Later, Mill Creek was populated by homesteaders and loggers. In the early twentieth century, there was a working sawmill in the bottom of the creek. Redwood trees were felled using six-or-eight foot long hand saws, and then cut into sections. Teams of mules pulled the sections to the sawmill, or in some cases the section was used to make hand-split lumber. Trees that had fallen in difficult positions were simply left where they had fallen.
The cabins and gardens of the homesteaders have vanished over time. The last traces of the sawmill were destroyed in the fire of 2008.
Some of the names of the pioneers are known.
The name of William Dempsey name lives on in the name of the place where I live, Dempsey Flat. He came to Mill Creek in the 1860s or so, and had been here for quite a while before he filed his homestead claim in 1896. His claim was witnessed by the Gomez brothers, who had a homestead on Chalk Peak.
Mr. Dempsey had over 500 fruit trees and 150 goats when he filed. That's why I know he had been here a while! Some of the trees he planted are still living and bearing fruit.
He would have been growing hay and also letting the goats out to range in the rich forest. he probably also kept pigs, and no doubt had a lot of wild game to eat.
There are wild turkeys, deer and pigeons abounding in the forest. It is unlikely that he left home very much, though, since the trip to King City was long and arduous. Perhaps he went down to the Mill Creek landing for the once-a-year delivery of flour and goods from San Francisco. In rough weather, the goods would simply be pitched overboard, and the people had to swim out to get the barrels, or wait for them to land.

The ways of the pioneers are inspiring. I live here in the mountain spirit, having seen the changes from having no telephone or paved roads, to these days of being on the Internet. Amazing! Yet some things are the same. The wind and rain, the cycles of the seasons, reminding one of the small nature of a human mind, and inviting further curiosity about what nature has to say, cause deep reflection to be a natural way of life..

Come and visit!

New! YouTube video: http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E

Three ways to visit:
http://www.bettyofbigsur.com, my web site, where you will find information about retreats and ways to experience the wildest part of Big Sur in comfort. Plan your ideal getaway!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, my online shop featuring items made by hand here in my home studio
http://www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a fun and fast checklist to learn more about Big Sur Retreat Camp, and get in touch with me to plan your time in paradise

Bird Songs In Mill Creek, Big Sur

Here in Mill Creek, spring has a special sound.  The migratory birds arrive in late April to early May, and morning and evening are layered with the songs of many speicies.

Woodpeckers, robins, wrens and finches come first, followed by jays, mockingbirds and doves.
Some nights the calls of nightingales may be heard.

Woodpeckers find many acorns here, and their creaking calls alternate with the sounds of them drilling holes in nearby pines.  they flash brightly through the trees, red and black and white.

Early mornings before the light begins to fill the skies, while the stars are still visible, are the times to hear doves.  Their soft cooing all around is a grand and soothing sound of peace and harmony.

At the same hour, wild turkeys call to one another seeking mates.  Late spring evenings are sometimes filled with the piping sounds of many birds all over the hills, sounding sequentially in ascending and descending scales.

And the owls also make their voices heard.  There are great horned owls which are sometimes of a huge size and live for many years.  Tiny elf owls also nest here.

Jays call out with wide ranging cries, sharp or open in the notes, depending on the message.

Hawks, eagles, and crows each have a say in things.

Some days a flock of finches or canaries will stop in, filling an entire tree with bright calls and beautiful melodies.

The occasional wild parrot comes through and speaks for a few days in sounds like those of a small horn.

Swallows nest here, hummingbirds, and many more kinds.  The season of bird song is magical and wonderful.

Come and visit!

Best wishes,
Betty


YouTube:
Welcome video

http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E/

Three ways to visit me:

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, a shop to showcase and sell examples of my art and fashion designs,
www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!

Discover The Wide Open Spaces Within You

The photo shows the small meadow within the huge forest, where I live.
Mill Creek watershed is very large, and this photo shows the southern portion of the divided canyon.

Southern Big Sur is a rugged terrain which holds many types of habitat.  Micro-climates, geologic variation, and unique small areas are characteristics which make the area a rich vein of inquiry for science.

The excellent possibilities for stargazing here are known to have some of the best conditions available for a long distance, with very little light from cities to dim the view of stars.

This canyon receives more rainfall than others in the area, and is green on the north slope with a deep hue that is not seen elsewhere.  Pines, madrone, oak and redwood are the dominant species, with sycamore in the moister parts of the forest.

The south slope is dominated by scrub species including sage, chemise, manzanita, and wildflowers in the spring.

The meadow serves as pasture for livestock and as a recreational area.

It is the largest piece of flat ground in the entire area, and yet it is here shown as a miniature.  The meadow is about two acres in size, and here is green  with fresh grass.

There are many ways to enjoy the wide open spaces of the South Coast.  One of them is to go for a day hike downhill from the meadow, toward the creek.  There is a well-established trail that will take you on a loop hike and you will see up close the redwood forest giants that live in the lower altitudes.

The vast panorama allows you to feel the energy of nature moving through in a very profound way that is so refreshing.  Thought processes move to a larger scale when we are in contact with natural forces that inspire us to a greater vision of our interior life.

If you would like to visit this wonderful and unique location, please get into contact with me using one of the following links.  I will make your visit as much like paradise as I can!

I have over forty years of experience in this area, and would be very happy to share what I have been so fortunate to experience.


Come and visit!

New! YouTube video: http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E

Three ways to visit me:

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, a shop to showcase and sell examples of my art and fashion designs,

www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!

The Top Quality in Your Life--Enjoy Flowers

Refresh The Top Quality in Your Life --Enjoy Flowers

The vase of flowers is a symbol of all the wealth of nature, brought indoors and arranged in its simplest form.  So refreshing and so fine an example of quality that seems to be put forth effortlessly, flowers speak to us in their own way.  The symbolic language of flowers was widely used in the Middle Ages by everyone, to express the feelings held in common by the masses, who could not read, and had no access to other forms of communication, often needing to say without words what they were forbidden to say out loud.

And flowers are sweet expressions of affection used by all.

Arranging flowers ia a great way to summon the same harmonies into your own life.  If you don't have access to flowers, you can always find illustrations of them.  Silk flowers are also a way to have the same energy visually represented.

This allows the spiritual beauty of the natural forms to be expressed in a new way, showing also the hand of human desires for harmony.  A cultural expression of appreciation, flower arrangement is an ancient art in many cultures.  Temples and churches feature floral displays, and every occasion of life is celebrated with flowers.

The vase is the symbol of the forces of affection being expressed in a spiritual way.  Add a few candles, and you have a display of harmony that soothes the inner being as few other expressions are able to do.  Flowers are of short duration in themselves, yet they express the eternal so strongly that they are held in reverence by all.

Wild flowers in Big Sur are a special treat.  When it's a good flower year, the hills are splashed with color as if someone had dumped out the paint bucket.


Come and visit!

New!  Youtube video: http://youtu.be/XmcVpeYVL3E

Three ways to visit me:

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, a shop to showcase and sell examples of my art and fashion designs,

www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!

Community and Hand Made Life

Community and Hand Made Life

This is my great-grandmother, Anna Nowak Novatne Horn, holding my grandfather, Alfred Sigmund Horn, in his dress-up outfit.  At that time, boys were kept in dresses until they were several years old.
The dress is of thin fabric covered with embroidery.

Three years later, at the age of four, the young man proudly showed off his new rifle!
People grew up fast in the mountains of Colorado.

The dress that Anna is wearing is made of several types of lace combined, and she is wearing an apron made of thin fabric with tucks and lace at the bottom.  Her high collar is typical of the attire worn by a young mother in those times.

The Novatne and Nowak families emigrated from Prague in Bohemia during the 1860s.  They were masters of wood carving, and textile arts, as well as other types of hand creations that were of high refinement and very much in demand for the homes of the wealthy.  The Novatnes were costume makers for the Vaudeville show business tradition in New York, as well as being active in the intellectual life of the region.  Anna spoke six languages.

The family traditions of art and wood carving held for many generations, and clans of artists lived together sharing their resources.  These types of community interactions formed the core of artistic life for generations in old Bohemia.

 There would be a large gathering each day at meals to share whatever had come to the family.  This tradition of sharing made sure that everyone had what was needed in life.  In this way, clans of artists made their way for centuries in whatever types of circumstances came along.  The table would be decorated splendidly with hand made linens and all types of ornaments, to assure everyone had a place among whatever wealth had been accumulated.

"There is a strength of quiet endurance as significant of courage as the most daring feats of prowess."....Henry Tuckerman

Anna's hardanger and silk embroidery are still very beautiful to this day.

Quiet Joy to Keep With You

Bamboo is one of the strongest symbols of inner peace. 
It has a quiet nature of simplicity that shows us the value of tenacity.

Light and resilient, it bends in the wind, and has a tensile strength greater than that of steel.

In the Far East, bamboo is revered as a building material, and multistory scaffolding is built of it rather than of steel.
Ten stories or more in height, the lashed structures will hold workers who are doing repairs on very large buildings whether new or of great age.
 
Large buildings are made of timber bamboo pegged and lashed together.  they are strong and withstand the elements for long periods of time.

This small stand of yellow-stemmed bamboo has a space inside it, since it grows outward in concentric rings.  Over the years the quiet space has been a fort and refuge for children and a tiny palace of the imagination.  It holds about four or five children at a time.

"The heart that is to be filled to the brim with joy must be held perfectly still."....Bovee

Taking the time to create that quiet space within so that you can notice the joy that is always there will bring you greater resilience and allow you to be at peace with whatever life brings to you.

It will allow you to prevail, also.  The ancient law of charioteers is,
"When the still heart is firm, fresh energy is victorious."

May you have both peace and victory today, and carry that quiet joy with you always.

Come and visit!

Three ways to visit me:

www.bettyofbigsur.com  My web site, where you will find information and updates about events and my work,

www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur, a shop to showcase and sell examples of my art and fashion designs,

www.retreatcampchecklist.com, a checklist about camping retreats, to let you know what is here, and let me know what you would like to have, and to do, in Big Sur!  Fun, quick, instant feedback!