Emese Fromm

Happy Earth Day! We should celebrate Earth Day every day, we should do everything in our power to protect our mother Earth, our home in this Universe, and all creatures in it, every day. But in a society where everyone is constantly rushed, when we have too many things on our minds, too many things we worry about, by designating one day a year for awareness about our planet, we give ourselves a reason to remember and remind others, to take action, however small. And maybe we can keep the momentum going for the whole year and beyond. This year's Earth Day theme is Planet vs Plastic. We've been trying to eliminate at least single-use plastic - or at least reduce its use - for years. On a personal level, too, but I've noticed it on larger scale in most places. And I noticed more and more products stopped using plastic containers, from laundry detergent (try the detergent sheets, I've been using them for years, and they work), to solid shampoos (the one I use actually makes my hair healthier, it' not only about eliminating plastic), and so much more... and choices besides single-use plastic bags in most stores I shop (we are behind here in AZ, but slowly getting there, too). Join me in making a commitment to do our best to help reduce if not fully eliminate plastic waste, and keep doing it, making it a lifestyle. And since we are all travelers here, I'll share a post I wrote a few years ago about ways to celebrate Earth Day on a road trip. Link in the first comment. Also, check Earth Day 2024 website to learn about things you can do to help today - and every day.

Wildflowers in Austin... The total solar eclipse wasn't the only highlight of my trip to Austin... We had a few days of constant rain - the kind of rain I don't see in the desert, so I absolutely enjoyed it, too. However, the best part of visiting Austin in April was the perfect timing for the wildflowers in bloom. We've seen them everywhere, from roadside green spaces to trails along the Green Belt, but the most beautiful wildflower show was - naturally - at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Garden #austin #wildflowers #austintx #ladybirdwildflowerpark #ladybirdwildlifecenter

We were in Austin during the total solar eclipse... the thick clouds that covered the sun most of the day parted for short moments now and then during the eclipse; they even allowed us to see the totality for a few seconds...

I'd like to encourage everyone who reads posts they like - be it mine or anyone else's - to let the author know you appreciate their efforts! A kind word of thanks goes a long way. I've had the site for a few years now, and while it has grown for a while, lately I was ready to delete it... I've had some issues with it, and wasn't sure I wanted to continue. About a month or so ago it just disappeared - I was told it got hacked.. why would anyone want to hack my humble site, was beyond me, but I got it restored, although I wasn't sure I cared enough, after all, no one seemed to be reading them anyway... But I switched hosts, so now I am with GreenGeeks - a huge positive change! They are so much better than my old host was, on many different levels - and I get to boast that my site is eco-friendly. However, it still seemed that I was just writing for no one. Yes, I have site views, supposedly people stay on my site long enough to read full articles, but that's only statistics, it may or may not be true. However, the other day, I got a note from a reader, thanking me for publishing my stories, and asking me to continue. One of my stories inspired his family to follow my footsteps, leading them to the adventure of a lifetime! That short note of gratitude made my day! We do what we do because we love it. But those of us who publish, we write for an audience, we want people to read our words. Otherwise we would just keep them hidden. So we appreciate it when we hear back from our readers! We want to know you read our words, we want to know you enjoy them and maybe get inspired by them. That's what keeps us going. So, thank you to those who reach out and let us know we touched them, or helped them in some way! And I'd like to encourage everyone who reads posts they like - be it mine or anyone else's - to let the author know you appreciate their efforts! A kind word of thanks goes a long way.

When we finally made it to Tikal - a few weeks ago - I felt that none of the Maya ruins I've seen before compares to it. Or to the experience of visiting it... and it's not just about the ruins, as spectacular as they are. The wildlife encounters, long walks through the tropical rainforest added to the experience; it all left me in awe. New post with detailed guide based on our recent experience in the comments. #tikal #tikalruins #tikalnationalpark #tikalguatemala

Enjoying spring in the desert along the Ocotillo/Sidewinder trail combination loop in the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve ... #phoenix #phoenixarizona #phoenixaz #SonoranDesert #sonoranpreserve

Happy Spring! Spring is a season of renewal, a time when nature awakens, showcasing a vibrant tapestry of colors, scents, and sounds. Blooming flowers surrounded by the soft humming of bees, and flitting colors of butterflies, the symphony of birdsong, the fragrance of blossoms, the fresh green of grass, the sight and sounds of newborn animals, and the touch of a warm breeze are things we all enjoy outdoors in the new season. No wonder people all over the world have celebrated spring since ancient times. Spring traditions and celebrations are common around the world, in every culture. Many of these celebrations have their roots in ancient times, and kept the traditions sometimes intact, often changed throughout centuries. We might not celebrate the equinox the way ancient cultures did. However, almost every culture celebrates the beginning of spring, even if it doesn’t always coincide with the actual day. Some cultures even start their New Year in spring. In many Christian-based societies, Easter replaced the traditional welcoming of spring. Still, it is often mixed with older, pagan traditions to this day. A few years ago, I asked several bloggers from different backgrounds to tell me how their culture celebrates spring; I learned a lot from their stories, and published them in a post. Happy Spring, no matter how you celebrate it! *post in comments* #spring, #springtraditions

Today - or tomorrow, depending where you are - is the spring equinox, also known as vernal equinox, marking the first day of spring - from an astronomical viewpoint. Although we think of it as a day, the equinox is in fact a moment, this year occurring at 11pm EDT (acording to the weather channel), which in Phoenix is in fact tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20th at 3am. Equinox is a Latin-based word, meaning equal night (aequivalens = equal, nox = night). It denotes the moment when day and night are the same length. In the Northern Hemisphere the vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring, while in the Southern Hemisphere it marks the beginning of autumn. People have noticed and celebrated the vernal equinox since ancient times. Some cultures even erected monumental structures to showcase the event. One of these structures is the Temple of Kukulcan, or Castillo in Chichen Itza, where you can see the shadow of the serpent-god kukulcan descending the stairs as the sun sets during the equinox. Of course, the phenomena doesn’t happen only on the actual equinox, but also a few days before and after. Several years ago we were visiting Yucatan shortly after the spring equinox, and we saw this shadow right before the archaeological site was closing. Here is a photo I took, and you’ll find a post I wrote about it in the comments. #SpringEquinox #springequinox #chichénitzá #chichenitza #kukulcan #kukulcanpyramid