Morning Haiku

I greet the morning
with a yawn to stretch my limbs
Birds chatter with glee
--Kamala

Rolling Art Projects

Cassie, our little whippet mix, has been riding in a front basket on our tandem for over a year now. She has accumulated over 1,500 miles by now (I'm a nerd and keep track of stuff like that). Oden joined our household back in February and has done a wonderful job of stabilizing our rescued, traumatized little dog. After attending the Southwest Tandem Rally where a couple pulled their 75-pound dog in a child's trailer we got the idea and wanted Oden to join in on our fun cycling adventures.

Child's trailer has soft, cloth  floor
with a 'seat'. 

Perusing internet shopping site, actual 'dog' trailer ranged $200 plus. The better ones were closer to $400. Being trapped in a budget, this was not the course we could take. So we set out and found a used child's bicycle trailer for $50 with the intent of converting it to a usable 'dog' trailer leaning to the design of the better trailers we saw on the internet.

Taking Oden out before the conversion showed us that he really was going to enjoy the excursions. We cut off all the original materials and began with the skeleton. Now, those who don't know me, let me give you some background. I've never sewed anything with a pattern. I really wouldn't know where to begin. But about four years ago, Charley and I purchased a 1972 pop-up camping trailer and completely redid it. By this I mean, we did the same thing. We stripped the trailer down to it's skeleton. While Charley reconfigured the bed, waterproofed the roof, I sewed a completely new canvas for the trailer: screened windows, clear, vinyl roll down, zippered windows, etc. I did not use the original for a pattern because I did not like the configuration. For a look-see follow this  link. I just had an idea and followed it.

So began this creation using re-purposed materials: a huge duffel bag (so large that if you filled it, you couldn't move it) and straps we save. Here are pictures of the results. We took the Oden out yesterday for our first (successful) test ride:

Back screened, zippered entrance
with reflectors

Front screen has clear window
which rolls down. Note wood floor.
Charley added side bars to protect wheels

Back flap, complete with pocket with
reflectors

Inside, both sides, have zippered pockets.
Floor covered in carpeting.

We're ready!

Whee! Wind in my ears!

Rapping Tapping

Sara gets my mind a rapping
With all her word tapping
Nature all around is humming
Wind is whirling, humming
Lake water is white capping
At the shores it is lapping
A nesting mama eagle
Keeping a dutiful vigil
Watches the world from above
This world I do love.
Thank you Sara!

Desert Breath

Spring winds, out here in the west

Some see as a bit of a pest

But the blowing sand

Lends a helping hand

Providing rough gyration

For tough vegetation

Spreading their seeds

For desert life to feed

Providing life anew

From desert breath that blew

To be fair

It cleans the air

From the desert it erased

All prints slithered and paced

Spring winds, out here in the west

Can sometimes be the best.

--Kamala

Meditations at midnight . . .

Om Mani Padmi Hum

Listen to the beat of the drum

Breathe in

Extinguish sin

Breathe out

Let out doubt

Dance all around

Release your frown

Om Mani Padmi Hum

Feel the beat of the drum

--Kamala Land

Haiku touring

Tough bicycle tours

Indures the soul to summit

Unconquerable

My soul sees spirit

Unknown to me unfolded

Cleansed and bare naked

My soul is shaken

To its very core open

For the world to see.

--KL

Heart Haiku

Born in the southwest

My heart dreams rocky mountains

Its breath blows my mind.
--KL