Northern Arizona Mountain Living January 2018

Call today to schedule your consult and show your legs off again this summer!

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Undergraduate- University of Maryland- B.S. Program Biological Sciences, Summa Cum Laude • American Board of Internal Medicine – Board - Certification in Interventional Cardiology • American Board of Internal Medicine – Board - Certification in Cardiovascular Diseases • American Board of Internal Medicine – Board - Certification in Internal Medicine

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Expertise and Special Interests Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Andrew Atiemo is a talented clinician, teacher and author. He has recently joined the exceptional team of cardiologists at Mountain Heart. Dr. Atiemo is also the co-founder of Heart, Mind and Soul, LLC – a health and fitness company. After completing his medical education at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Atiemo trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Harvard teaching hing hospital. His passion for cardiology led him to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland where he trained in general cardiology and interventional nal cardiology. During his time

at this world renowned center, Dr. Atiemo performed over 400 heart catheterizations and authored publications in several peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Atiemo is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.

Dr. Atiemo is also a member of the American Academy of Phlebotomy. When not working, Dr. Atiemo enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Where wellness and prevention are primary to your health At Northern Arizona Healthcare Medical Group – Flagstaff, the doctors, nurses and other experts at our primary care practice work together to keep everyone in your family well.

With same-day visits and extended hours, we’ll fit right into your busy schedule.

Call 928-913-8800 to make an appointment.

Open 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

107 E. Oak Ave., Ste. 201, Flagstaff

Creating healthier families…together

NAHealth.com

EDITOR'S NOTES

A world-class education is right in your backyard!

It’s not too late!

Limited K-12 seats still available

Apply today!

Learn more at BASISflagstaff.org 6

Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

Welcome 2018!

W

ith December’s issue, we were stunned that our cover call to “Let it Snow!” wasn’t taken up by Mother Nature. Yet, just as we were putting this issue to bed, a dusting of tiny snowflakes fell on Flagstaff. Hurray!

A bit of the white stuff finally came in December.

Another December occurrence is the marriage proposal. Apparently, the most popular days to pop the question are Christmas Eve and Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and of course Valentine’s Day. With so much love in the air, we turn this month to couples that are beginning to plan their celebration of a lifetime with an update on the wedding scene in Northern Arizona. The big themes are the spectacular locations, simple yet refined arrangements and design and bringing more authenticity to the celebration. You may not be in the market for a wedding, but surely someone you know may be. Pass this issue on; Northern Arizona is the perfect setting for the big day.

We’re also excited about the art exhibits and shows coming this way in 2018, and January has a few not-to-be-missed events, including the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra’s concert featuring American violinist Andrew Sords. Check out more that’s happening in About Town on page 7 and in Playing Favorites, page 41.

In The Arts this issue, we look to the written word and a creative writing professor who earned a 2018 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. What does that mean for her and her students? Find out starting on page 29.

Thank you for reading Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine. We hope to bring quality content and interesting features to you this year, and invite you to reach out with your comments and suggestions.

Happy New Year!

Nancy Wiechec nwiechec@azdailysun.com

Calendar

ABOUT TOWN

Favorites of the month from the area’s abundant offerings in art and entertainment

20-21

SEDONA VEGFEST

Sedona Performing Arts Center, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

Veg out in Sedona for this two-day celebration of plantbased eating with experts in nutrition and lifestyle, health care, environment and animal welfare. Cooking demonstrations and exhibits will showcase products, services and information on plant-based whole food living. Tickets are $15 to $50. healthyworldsedona.com

9 9

OPENING ART SHOWS

Coconino Center for the Arts, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Two art exhibits run concurrently at the Coconino Center for the Arts Jan. 9 through Feb. 10. Arrangement for a Silent Orchestra, a painting and video show by Flagstaff artist Julie Comnick, explores the gradual dissolution of culture in contemporary society. A Choctaw Story of Land and Blood, works by Prescott artist Karen Clarkson, examines the effects of past governmental regulations on Choctaw land and people. Both are on view in the center’s galleries Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. An opening reception for the public is Jan. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. flagartscouncil.org

26

ONGOING SNOWBOWL CARLOAD DAYS

Arizona Snowbowl, every Thursday through March 1 Everyone in the car, up to five people, skis or rides for $149 total.

Covers lift tickets only. The deal must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance. www.snowbowl.ski

FSO & ANDREW SORDS

Ardrey Memorial Auditorium, Northern Arizona University, 7:30 p.m.

American violinist Andrew Sords joins the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra for its third Masterworks concert of the season. Sords will perform Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in the concert that also features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 and Acadia Fanfare, a contemporary piece

by U.S. composer and conductor William C. White marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Acadia National Park. Purchase tickets through the NAU Central Ticket Office. www.flagstaffsymphony.org/tickets.php january18 namlm.com

7

“People are looking to have the place tell the story,” said longtime wedding photographer Cameron Clark of Cameron & Kelly Studio in Flagstaff. “And more and more they’re bringing photographers to that place.” Sites once known only to locals, now have a popular following through Instagram and other social media. Places like Page, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend have become “destination spots for elopements and encore weddings with the popularity of Instagram,” she said Some couples choose Northern Arizona for their wedding because they have a connection to the place. They may have grown up in the area or attended Northern Arizona University. Or, they may have just seen beautiful images on Facebook or Instagram and were captivated by the scenes.

Cameron & Kelly Studio

Red Rock Backdrop Prior to the age of social media, Sedona became known worldwide for its spectacular red rock formations, and the town, the greater Red Rock area and Oak Creek Canyon continue to draw engaged couples from across the country and abroad.

“We do a lot of destination weddings with couples coming from as far away as Europe, but very few local weddings,” said Wendy Umstattd, who oversees Agave of Sedona, a relatively new arrival in the Sedona wedding scene.

Agave of Sedona has hosted 75 to 100 weddings annually in the four years it’s been in business, but Umstattd said the venue is already revamping its space to accommodate larger guest lists and more local interest. “We want to make things even more exciting and popular for people to book with us.”

Agave’s Ceremony Terrace overlooks panoramic views of red rock features. Its terraces along with two ballrooms and a kitchen were designed especially for nuptials with outdoor-indoor experiences. One thing Agave does not offer, but can be found at exclusive wedding venues like Enchantment, L’Auberge de Sedona and Amara Resort and Spa, is overnight room accommodations. january18 namlm.com

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Mountains and Forest Further north, the San Francisco Peaks and surrounding ponderosa and aspen forests keep calling engaged couples to the Flagstaff area.

Taylor Smith, a catering sales manager at Forest Highlands Golf Club, said most couples choosing Flagstaff for their wedding come from the Phoenix area. “For them it’s like a destination wedding, but it’s only two hours from home,” she said. “They want a forest wedding with a wonderful peaks view.”

Forest Highlands, which hosts 15 or more wedding a year, hopes to draw local and statewide interest with its first bridal expo on Saturday, Jan. 20. For a $10 fee, brides and grooms can grab a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and peruse the offerings from venue directors, florists, designers, bakers, photographers, caterers and more.

The majority of couples getting married in Arizona choose to do so outside, and although the Northern Arizona scenery can please with gorgeous views and environs, Flagstaff lacks the resort-style accom12

Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

modations found in Sedona and metropolitan Phoenix.

“The Flagstaff market is a challenge because there are no true resorts here,” said Clark, who has worked with clients inside and outside of Arizona. But on the plus side, there are about 20 venues in Flagstaff to choose from at varying price points, said Jessica Young, meetings and events specialist with Flagstaff’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. World-renowned Lowell Observatory as well as the historic Weatherford Hotel can host a couple’s day to remember, she said.

Popular outdoor venues include Forest Highlands, Arizona Nordic Village, Arizona Snowbowl and the Arboretum at Flagstaff. But wedding and event designer Kim Duncan said there are other options that are not as well known, like the Gardens at Viola’s, a country setting located south of the Fort Tuthill County Park.

Duncan said couples celebrating their wedding in Northern Arizona tend to resist most trends, seeking unique experiences that incorporate family customs, heritage and simple elegance.

Jacqueline Rose Caughey of Jacqueline Rose Cakery in Flagstaff said she’s seeing more couples opting for more simple weddings and cakes.

“We’ve seen a decline in the more elaborate showcase cake with couples going more with styled cutting cakes and cupcakes to the side.”

It’s both simple and practical, and yet the cakes retain their quality as edible art, she said.

Meg Brooke Photography

Photography Meg Brooke Photography

Floral Blooms & Baskets

Locat ion Arizona Snowbowl

Rentals Classic Party Rentals

Planner and Designer

Linen La Tavola Fine Linen

Kim Duncan Design

january18 namlm.com

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Photography Tangled Lilac Photography Locat ion Shoshone Point Planner Grand Canyon Wedding Packages

Elopement Favorites Elopements remain ever popular in Northern A rizona, and even though they are by nature somewhat spontaneous, elopements require some planning, especially when it comes to securing state or national park permits, a marriage license, a celebrant or off iciant and a photographer. Thankfully there is a market of planners, event coordinators and designers happy to help do the busy work. And, even more exclusive resorts are taking note of a continuing trend. A creek-side elopement wedding with a custom chef-inspired dinner for two starts at $2,800 at L’Auberge de Sedona.

The Grand Canyon has long been a spot for couples to profess their love and their I dos, but to hold an overlook ceremony a permit must be obtained from the National Park Service. Marriage ceremonies can be held at the Rim Worship 14

Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

Cover story continued on page 16

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2

1

Tying knot? the

Plan the perfect wedding with local e xperts 1 Bouquet: Sutcliffe Floral 2 Venue: Forest Highlands Golf Club Photography by Hanna Rose Grey

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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

3 Rings: Jeff Karl Jeweler

3

GIFT IDEAS FOR GUESTS

LOOKING OFF THE

REGISTRY T

here’s certain to be a gift registry for most couples planning a wedding.

But if you’re the type that wants to surprise the recipients, then here

are some ideas that would make for a great gift for the newlyweds.

Cork Globe This stand up piece with push pins will delight travelers and guests alike. The first pin will mark their honeymoon. A definite conversation starter down the road as a couple continues their journey together.

Croquet or Horseshoes Set Starting a life together means starting a lifetime of family gatherings, barbecues and dinner parties as well. A great wedding gift is an outdoor game that the couple will be able to use at these events.

Cast Iron Cookware Often, cast iron pans are passed down from generation to generation because they are durable and full of memories. Help your friends start a new tradition by gifting them a set of cast iron pans. Not only will they be able to create delicious meals, but they will also be able to share the pans years down the road.

Amazon Echo or Google Home There is no better gift than the gift of convenience.

These at-home digital assistants have really taken off, so newlyweds might be ecstatic to receive one.

Once set up, these units can be used to order pizza, play music and secure the home from intruders.

Top Shelf Bar Tool Set, $49.95 from CB2

Pendleton Blanket Pendelton has been making beautiful quality blankets in the U.S. for more than 100 years. One of their

durable heritage blankets or quilts is perfect for cuddling on cold nights.

Deluxe Scrabble Board Game night is one of the best family traditions of all time. Enhance the newlyweds’ game night by giving them the deluxe edition of Scrabble. The mahogany board has a built-in lazy susan to keep the game (and the fun!) moving right along.

Pendelton Return of the Sun blanket, $299 from Pendelton.

The Lego Wedding Set Why not encourage your friends to get creative together? This cute, wedding-themed Lego set will give them the opportunity to do just that. Lego building night just might become a regular event in their family.

Monthly Cheese Subscription One great idea for a wedding gift is a gift that keeps on giving, such as a subscription box. If the couple are foodies, consider getting them a cheese subscription box that will let them try something new every month for the first few months of their marriage.

Wine Box Set Sometimes, you just need a glass of wine, and your newlywed friends are bound to feel the same way. Look for a wedding themed wine box that designates wine for a quiet night in, wine for a celebration and wine for their anniversary. They might break the bottles out sooner, but it’s the thought that counts. january18 namlm.com

23

MATTERS OF TASTE

Crema in Cottonwood

Enticing stop for coffee, drinks, all-day brunch

By Gail Collins

D

estination weddings have become more routine, but the experience is anything but predictable.

Especially when it comes to a world-class destination like Northern Arizona with its rusty red rock backdrops, San Francisco Peaks majesty or small-town charms, like Cottonwood.

The city has put itself back on the map with a determined decade’s thrust via the wine industry. Supporting businesses sealed the deal by recreating a main street with eateries, artisan shopping, tasting rooms and an upscale hotel. Such a destination can provide an enchanting spot to tie the knot or for any other romantic reason.

The Tavern Hotel, built as a grocery in 1925, was renovated in 2011 and opened 30 new luxury rooms last fall. With spa facilities and elegance in mind, the boutique hotel aims for an unforgettable experience. Try one of its special getaway packages, such as the Sip & Stay; Date Night in Old Town

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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

Photography by Kerrick James

with champagne, chocolates and roses; or the splendor of a rail excursion through the Verde Canyon. The property is one of several owned by the Haunted Group, which focusses mainly on eateries in Jerome and Cottonwood.

Crema Craft Kitchen + Bar feeds Tavern Hotel guests and the growing throng of visitors, who know a good nosh. With its quirky container bar and shaded patio, plus nonstop brunch, Crema is an enticing and solid choice.

“We offer fresh, wholesome cooking,” said Michelle Jurisin, executive chef and owner with husband Eric. “We’ve introduced Cottonwood to the best, where food is as beautiful to cook as it to see as it is to taste.” Organic choices, healthy oils and sustainable products are the norm. Tanner Wakefield, an Arizona Culinary Institute grad, runs the kitchen focusing on low salt and food’s full f lavors.

Named for the cream that forms on a perfect espresso, Crema uses a specialty blend of coffee beans from Corvis Distributing in Prescott.

“We provide drinks for the same price as elsewhere, but we use the highest quality ingredients,” said Jurisin. Crema uses only organic milk or soy, almond, cashew and coconut milk, as one desires. If you’re still toasting from the night before, a prosecco mimosa served with a sugar stick will do the trick, or try a haunted bloody Mary. The meal-in-a-glass incorporates Titos vodka with chili-rubbed, Applewood-smoked bacon, and an egg for a spicy, sweet sipper.

Michelle married her native New England and the Southwest with Providence tacos that are filled with lobster, local chorizo and signature bacon, topped with poblano crema, january18 namlm.com

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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

Photography by Kerrick James

pico de gallo and arugula. Michelle’s mother made egg pancakes bursting with berries, and Crema’s crepes ref lect her recipe.

“What is cool now are really classics,” Jurisin said. Leftovers are incorporated into the daily frittata, an Italian omelet. “It’s really peasant food and appeals to all.”

The breakfast potpie fills puff pastry with veg and meat, covered in chorizo gravy and served with three-cheese potatoes.

Mix and match opportunities allow any dish to be served with fresh fruit skewers instead. The Monte Cristo sandwich combines beer-battered chicken with gruyere and country ham on eggy sourdough—surprisingly light. Or consider jumping off the deep end for red velvet waff les and chicken with housemade mascarpone and maple syrup.

Michelle attended a retreat on mindful eating, which is echoed in the menu. “Nothing is off-limits,” she said. “We’re most happy when we have the best balance in life.” She is earnest that good food isn’t cheap, yet it need not cost a fortune.

An example is porridge of quinoa and oats, plus banana, seasonal berries, scratch granola and house maple syrup for $9.

Further evidence is the farmer’s chopped salad—spring greens loaded with grilled chicken, black beans, roasted corn, avocado, cotija, tomato, cheddar, green onions, chili-glazed bacon, pepitas and cilantro-lime dressing. Or build up brunch with a protein bowl of warm maple-glazed sweet potatoes, chicken breast, egg whites, quinoa, roasted peppers, spinach,

Photography by Kerrick James

tomatoes, red onion and feta. Chilaquiles of braised pork, roasted Hatch chili, over-medium eggs, black beans, poblano crema, pico de gallo, cotija and corn tortillas can fill the biggest hole.

When it comes to sweets, there is a case of them. Classic is cool, remember, so go for the gooey cinnamon roll. The rich, tender, buttery pinwheel of spice slathered with homemade mascarpone and bourbon icing is enough to share.

Eric and Michelle Jurisin met at a bar in Cottonwood and bought it 15 years later. It’s called Nic’s after their daughter, Nicole, who also works for the Haunted Group. “The small things are still important,” she said about food, or was it love?

Maybe, eating good food with good people builds the best relationships.

Crema Craft Kitchen + Bar is located at 917 N. Main St. in historic old town Cottonwood, and is open daily 7 a.m.-2 p.m., (928) 649-5785, cremacottonwood.com. january18 namlm.com

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I

n a graduate fiction writing workshop at Northern Arizona University, professor Jane Armstrong dedicated an entire class to the business end of writing so students would leave with some practical know-how. But because Armstrong avoids the business part of writing, including social media networking and promoting, she invited a fellow colleague more immersed in that world to lead the discussion. As students strategized about which journals would most likely accept their work, Armstrong gave some seemingly impractical advice: Submit to the publications you love, no matter what the chances are of being accepted. Armstrong’s suggestion was a crucial reminder that artists, who often beat rejection to the punch with self-imposed limits, should be bold in creating and sharing their work.

With the National Endowment for the Arts recent announcement of its 2018 Literature Fellowships, it turns out that Armstrong

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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

followed her own advice. Of 1,700 applicants, Armstrong was one of only 36 recipients of the prestigious award. Much like her students, she doubted her chances of success. When informed she’d won, she replied in her typical candor: “Are you f---ing kidding me?”

Both personally and professionally, Armstrong is a bold person. She can be seen on campus wearing fun dresses with bright yellow tights and European eyewear. She is known for her honest feedback and snacks in writing workshops, and she doesn’t hesitate to try new things like acting in local theater. But this boldness took a hiatus several years back when she shopped her novel to agents and, despite initial interest, got 60 rejection letters in return.

“I made the mistake of thinking the world was ready for my novel just because I finished it,” laughs Armstrong. “I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

After that experience, Armstrong

continued to teach, but gave up writing for years. Even though that saved her from another possible rejection, she says, “I was so disgusted with myself for not writing.”

Determined not to let more time go by, Armstrong contacted noted creativity coach Mark McGuinness who helped her reconnect writing with play and fun.

“We want to be writers, we love writing, but we always push it away,” says Armstrong on letting the pressure of succeeding impede the joy of writing.

And as Armstrong stopped worrying about what the outside world thought of her work, the outside world took note. In 2016, she and painter Christopher Kane Taylor won a Viola Award for Excellence in Storytelling from the Flagstaff Arts Council for their collaborative exhibit Aphasia: Neurological Disorder in Text and Image. Armstrong has aphasia, a disorder which, ironically, affects the production and comprehension of speech and writing.

or magical.

"It’s not glamorous

It's just showing up every day to write something down and having faith that something will congeal."

Armstrong wrote a series of personal essays about dealing with aphasia, imbuing them with her signature humor and candor. Taylor then paired those essays with a vivid set of painted canvases.

“The Aphasia exhibit turned a corner because people connected to exactly the work I wanted to do as a writer,” says Armstrong.

Just one year later, Armstrong is now an NEA fellow—one of the most prestigious accomplishments for artists—for her personal essays on ancestry and lineage. Searching through her own ancestry, Armstrong was amused to learn she was related to European royalty, a far cry from her humble upbringing in Florida.

When asked about her desire to write about ancestry, she says, “It taps into a universal interest. People want to know, ‘How does my family affect me? How am I shaped by these people from whom I’ve inherited genetic material and behaviors?’ ” Armstrong’s essays blend hundreds of years of facts about her own lineage with fiction.

“This is beyond a family history or family tree,” explains Armstrong. “[I want to] imaginatively engage those lives that are in your history and how they touch you and build who you are.”

Armstrong emphasizes that even though she may be related to such figures as Constantine or the Duke of Normandy, she’s engaging with the fanciful side of ancestry.

“It’s amusing that people take [ancestry] so seriously. It’s a highly unstable story,” says Armstrong of the tendency to rewrite historical details such as birth dates, marriage dates, and paternity, among others.

Because many of Armstrong’s ancestors were from Britain, she will likely use part of the fellowship money to continue her research in Western Europe.

Until then, Armstrong will keep reminding her students that stories need a plot and not just “a quirky character or pages of wonderful detail” and she will also continue to write, despite the unexpected pressure of her recent award.

“Any kind of attention is scary. I want to be back alone with my sentences,” says Armstrong, stressing the solitary, workaday nature of writing.

“It’s not glamorous or magical. It’s just showing up every day to write something down and having faith that something will congeal.

Which it does.”

Take it from her.

Pieces from the 2015 exhibit Aphasia: Neurological Disorder in Text and Image by Jane Armstrong and painter Christopher Kane Taylor.

january18 namlm.com

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T

he wheels spun, but the Jeep didn’t move. Stuck.

My first thought was: “This is tragic.” Panic threatened. My friend Kiril Kirkov glanced ahead at the sandy two-track road with concern.

I looked around. The rising sun painted the sky in pinks, oranges, yellows and purples that nearly mirrored the buttes and plateaus below it. Birds sang. Bees buzzed on the remaining junipers and brush still clinging to the last vestiges of fall. The universe hummed under coyote yips echoing across sandstone expanse. I calmed down and knew everything would be all right.

A trip to White Pocket in the Vermilion Cliff’s Wilderness does well to fill adventure lovers, photographers and hikers alike with a sense of awe … but make sure you have the right transportation.

Unlike “The Wave” sandstone formation in nearby Coyote Buttes, permits are not required to visit White Pocket. So Kiril and I set off with an aim to shoot as many photos as we could during a late November weekend.

On the way there, I realized the importance of having the right vehicle for the job because sandstone formations, with time, weather, wind and water, eventually become sand again. The last nine miles of the journey definitely require a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle. We arrived at the trailhead to White Pocket about an hour before “golden hour,” when the light is softer and details fill the dreamy landscape of pillowy sandstone.

According to geologists, the twisty, turtleshell, stretched-taffy formations are the result of water and pressure before the formation was set in stone. The formation can easily be hiked several times during the course of the day, giving new views to the slot canyons, peaks and slopes of White Pocket and of the far-off vistas of Utah’s fabulous geology to the north.

Kiril and I scurried over the uneven terrain to find shots before the sun set and the light faded. After dinner back at the Jeep, we strapped on our headlamps and headed back out to the formation for some night photography. The light from the half-moon January18 namlm.com

33

Our only complaint, if you could call it that, was that clouds filled the landscape with a glow that made what was already surreal were sparse the first two days. We were missing the drama clouds and strange in the light of day even more odd, as though we were add to the sky. Ironically and true to form, clouds arrived on the day visiting an entirely different planet.

The next day was filled with multiple expeditions to different areas of our departure. We had already packed up and steeled ourselves for the gut-gripping trek out. of White Pocket for something different, I gunned the engine over the sand. something unusual, but truth be told, the IF YOU GO: A quarter-mile into the journey, I spotted entire area fits the bill. We strived to find White Pocket, Arizona debris on the two-track road and feared it something “other than the obvious” and From Flagstaff, take Highway 89 north to would do damage to my Jeep. I stopped. repeated another night session of shots of Page and make a left at the Highway 89A And that was all she wrote. the starry expanse of the universe without turnoff toward Lee’s Ferry and Jacob Lake A nice gentleman from Kanab was the light pollution of civilization to affect past the Vermilion Cliffs. Before climbing kind enough, for a pricy hourly sum, our images. the hill to Jacob Lake, make a right at House to drag us out of the sand. I have since Jackrabbits scurried through the Rock Road (decent dirt road) and continue learned a few things about traveling on sand and brush. Trees for shade were north to Pine Tree Road (less decent dirt sand: Don’t ever stop. And, to get out scarce. Pockets carved into the sandstone road). Once on Pine Tree Road, you will of it requires a jack, under-inflated tires, left indications of the presence of water. eventually come to a ranch camp. Stay left cardboard and more.

Small, stunted junipers lived sparsely and and travel about nine miles over loose, We made it back to civilization frugally in little nooks and crannies in deep sand that requires a high-clearance without further incident and carried the formation. There wasn’t much shade vehicle with four-wheel drive. There is a with us memories that will last the rest to be had during the middle of the day. If nice parking area for White Pocket on the of our lives. Without a doubt, we shall left. Total miles: About 175. Time: about 3 you go, be sure to bring a hat and lots of hours, 40 minutes. return. sunscreen.

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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine

MIND & BODY

By Starla S. Collins

aking resolutions has been a New Year’s tradition since ancient times. Two of the most popular promises among the Babylonians were to pay old debts and return borrowed farm tools. Since then, people have continued to make resolutions, and many have had a tough time sticking to them. Even the sincerest resolutions often fall by the wayside in just a few weeks or months.

Come June or July, they are as distant as a summer snow storm. Then, as holidays come and go, we find ourselves setting the same resolutions all over again.

Why do most of us share the same resolution experience? We set them; we attempt to keep them; we let them fall by the wayside; we feel failure; we do it all over again. Seriously, fewer traditions bring a sense of failure like New Year’s resolutions.

The primary reason most New Year’s resolutions fail is because we focus too much on what we “should”

do. Whenever “should” is involved in a decision it is usually in response to an expectation of others—spouses, parents, friends, coworkers, society. And most lists are written in negative tone. We attempt to fix what is wrong with us. It is our do-better-next-year list, a reminder we really should get our act together!

But really, don’t we already know we should eat healthier and exercise more, pay off bills, save more money, volunteer more often and complain less?

Yes, we know we should; therefore, should is not enough to keep us on track and create lasting results.

This year, instead of setting the traditional list of New Year’s “shoulds,” let’s trash the list and start a new tradition that will serve us better and help us get where we want to be. No more resolutions, instead ask yourself a few questions and jot down your thoughts from this outline or create a similar one for yourself.

january18 namlm.com

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Illustration created by Kraphix - Freepik.com

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