Save the Monarchs!!!

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Today's post is a PSA (public service announcement) from McKay about monarch butterflies.

I got a text from her a couple days ago with a link to buy some milkweed seeds along with "We need to help the monarchs, you should plant some!" I love my sister's love for the insect world. She and I both have the same earthy love for plants and nature, except hers is more of a bohemian/hippie love, and lately mine is a redneck/homesteader type love.

Her love comes in the form of diligently misting her indoor orchids and house plants, hunting rhino beetles in the dark, the gorgeous colors of a moth's wing hatched before her eyes, memorizing star constellations, and the smell of summer night air.

While I have been busy with my vegetable garden and planting flower bulbs, McKay has been busy planting flowers along a cliff-side, preparing a place to keep her new Italian beehives this Spring.

When I got her message about the milkweed seeds and monarchs, I responded that I would totally buy some seeds to plant, and would she mind sending me some more information so I could blog about it?

So, my fellow proper mountain women, here is McKay's info on the plight of the Monarch, and what you can do to help them:

MONARCHS AND MILKWEEDS

by McKay

Every year thousands and thousands of monarchs migrate across North America to Canada. The journey they take is one of the most beautiful miracles Mother Nature lets us witness.

Starting in Mexico they fly to Canada, and then all the way back again. There is many amazing details about this trip, but one of them is that not one butterfly takes the same journey! The monarch flies as long as it's life will allow, and then lay it's eggs and die. Then, a new caterpillar is born...

and after it transforms into a butterfly, it takes flight, and continues the journey!

 

When all is said and done, it is a total of 5 to 6 different butterfly generations that complete this trip.

No one knows how the new butterfly knows where to go, yet they always make it back home to Mexico.

Beautiful!

 

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Yet the only plant, the ONLY plant that the caterpillars feed on is the milkweed. In it's time of eating it quadruples it's size and needs the energy for the flight.

Because the fields are being torn down, because shopping malls must go up, the milkweed plant is becoming more sparse. And the numbers of monarchs are going down too.

So do your part! I am!

Grab some organic milkweed seeds and spread 'em!

They are perfect for the Utah weather, and they grow almost anywhere.

Also, if you are a mom, planting milkweed seeds is an amazing summer activity. Raising plants, playing with aphids and ladybugs, watching for eggs and caterpillars is a great way to introduce kids to the incredible world of insects.

Let's help keep this treasure alive!

Peace and pine trees,

Whitney and McKay

PS. A growing tip: you will get aphids, there is no way to avoid it, but don't worry, they won't bother the caterpillars. If you want a healthy organic way to get rid of them buy yourself some ladybugs.

PPS. McKay says if you want any info on how to spot butterfly eggs, or how to keep away predators, she is happy to help... simply leave a comment below.

Paper Dolls by McKay

Originally posted on McKay's blog on Jan 14th, 2015:

I read this thing (I call it a 'thing' because I don't know if it was a study someone did, or just a lecture someone gave. Hell, I don't even remember where I read it...), A university had observed and followed the life of high school girls, and watched how social media had an effect on them. They called the trend these girls inevitably became in-wrapped in the "paper doll syndrome" due to only being viewed as 2-dimensional, and everyone of them looking and acting alike.
 
They found that with these girls, the more they were involved in social media, the lower their self esteem would fall, regardless of the amount of attention they received or didn't receive. And as their self esteem would fall, their anxiety would rise.
 
Some girls more so than others, but the three factors were all the same - the more involved in social media - the lower the self esteem - the higher the anxiety.
 
Now I realize that a group of dramatic hormonal girls is not a great thing to gauge yourself to. But the principals are true, and I think there is some of that high school girl that still lives on in me, I think we are, in a way, all high schoolers at heart. I feel the insanity of being involved in social media; comparing, exaggerating, coloring a life for yourself that is whatever you want it to be.
 
The cure to all of this was quite simple... hobbies!
 
They found that if any of the girls would invest time into hobbies that it would have the exact opposite effect on them. It built up positive self esteem and lowered anxiety. Isn't that wonderful??
 
Now, I don't know how involved I am in social media...
Ok, I do...
I feel like I am watching a train wreck sometimes of people and their stupid instagram accounts. Posting offensive stuff and then being offended when someone is offended.
Posting outfits, and where to get all your outfits.
Outfitting your outfits.
Posting personal crap, real personal things that make other squirm.

There are no rules, no restrictions about the topics that you can so carelessly throw away, and I can't look away sometimes, it fascinates me. And while I hate the crazy, there is a lot of good that can come from blogs and instagram (notice how I don't say facebook?).

But I feel like whether or not I am consumed in the filth, or actually using it in a positive way, I feel like the advice to pursue your hobbies is a great advice.

So, short story long- the base of my New Year's Resolutions... Condense. Find what makes my heart stir, make things simple, and jump on it.

14 days into the New Year is a perfect time to start my resolutions, right?

1. H O B B I E S

Stop being a baby and spend the money to go to EVERY exhibit at the Leonardo and make the money worth it. Are you kidding me? I live so close the place and they have amazing exhibits, who cares if it is 20 bucks a pop!? I got the money!

Water coloring. That's all. I just want to dabble in it... just for fun.

Bees. I've talked and dreamed about this one forever, this year I have time and money for the hobby, so why not? What the hell am I waiting for?

2. M I N I M A L I Z E

I knew of a man of many hats once, he was charming and carefree and I can't tell you a single thing he owned other than his dog and his truck. He would drive head first into a hobby and when he grew tired of it he would sale everything and start at ground zero, with new ideas. It was scary, but at the same time I felt this sense of freedom being around him when there was nothing holding him back.

Don't let my STUFF define me.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY'S FOCUS - (I really am just writing notes for myself at this point)

THINGS
Throw it all away! (I don't really know what that means)
Why is my desk drawer packed full of stuff?
Why do I have a desk? I don't sit at it.
-Goal- fill two trader joe's bags a week with stuff in my room to toss.
My mom said it best - "if you haven't touched it in a year, throw it out!"
And I need to find a system to withhold the amount of stuff coming in too. (that will be later month's focus)

MEDIA
Treat my phone as a land line once a week. Leave it home.
Leave my phone plugged in charging across the room when I sleep. (this will prevent late night instagram browsing and watching a seinfeld episode "real quick" before bed) (also, I think this will help the cellphone waves not to fry my brain as I sleep, that can't be good to sleep with my phone so close to my head, right??? It's not good for the bees, it can't be good for me!!... who's to say?)

3. B E   K I N D

This year, or these past few months rather, I feel like my mind is functioning differently. With the overwhelming show of love at my birthday. With the sorrow felt at a life cut short at a beautiful funeral. And in contrast to the feelings of embarrassment and stupidity for stupid choices I've made. I just feel like it is so important to show people love, to be kind, to be positive. Life is too short not to forgive.

(I have more bullet points on this one, but they are a little more personal, and I choose not to share them)

ANYWHO, I like to hear people's goals, it inspires me... so these are mine this year ((along with my mom's roll-over gaol from last year for me - to have babies (plural), can't give up on that goal - this might be the year!!)). Hope you are inspired to improve little things too. Also, I feel more accountable now having written them out.

I am reading Russell Brand's new book and he just inspires me in every way, everyone should read it.

By small and simple ways the world is shifting, in and out of seasons, in and out of trends and fashion, it changes ever so slightly and we sink into it, allowing the world to mold us into whatever it wants, so I strive to be more aware and in small and simple ways make my world the way I want it.

(thanks for sharing McKay, this is uplifting and well-timed)

A Proper Modern Mountain Woman: McKay Orton

Better Know a Proper Mountain Woman: McKay Orton
McKay works in a restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. I love how she lives her life. When she isn't working long shifts on her feet at work, she is playing, creating, seeing, and doing. She is curious about everything and can figure any puzzle out. If you get a chance to hang out with her it will be a good time, she is the queen at making any moment a good one. And because she is my sister, I was lucky enough to ask her these ten questions face to face in her adorable avenue apartment:

1. Where is your favorite outdoor refuge where you live right now?

Well, I want to be cool and say my favorite outdoor place is somewhere among nature, but I really love downtown. In the city you are surrounded by people you don't know and at the same time you feel secluded in a way. I walk to work and I feel like it's empowering seeing all the business people and tall buildings. People who are working, going to important jobs, and they built these tall buildings... it makes me think that I can do anything. The hustle and bustle of the city, street performers, people creating things and doing things... it's inspiring.

2. What do you do to feel creative? What is your creative outlet?

To feel creative I make a trip to DI (Deseret Industries). My creative outlet is to just create things, whether it be with my hands, sewing something, painting something, or creating a website or cool blog post.

3. What is your favorite mountain? 

I like the one that frames the mouth of AF Canyon. I think it looks like the guy from Star Wars... the one with the big hood, the imperial guy... it looks like he is laying dead on the mountain. And that mountain also means I am home.

4. What would you say is a mountain that you have conquered in life?

I thought traveling to Thailand, and traveling to Laos on my own was a big accomplishment for me. I remember writing a blog post after about what I felt, sitting in the airport at the end, ready to fly home, and I had this feeling of "I did it" and it wasn't until that moment that I felt that I could do it. There was scary points along the way, trying to catch buses, not knowing where our next night was going to be... traveling alone is pretty intense in a foreign country. And if I thought about it as a whole it would be overwhelming, but it was just step by step, we took things as they came. And then I was sitting at the airport and I thought "that just happened, I did that."

5. Is etiquette important to you? 

Yeah, especially because I work in a restaurant. I think about it all the time. I think it shows a lot about someone's character, I think it shows a lot about love towards people. I think if you are showing etiquette in a restaurant, you are showing respect to the server, you are showing respect to your date. It is a selfless thing to do. I see so many people who aren't respectful, who aren't kind... and I always think "what happened to you? why didn't your mother teach you?" or I think "I am going to write a note to your mother, she would be sad to see the way you turned out."

6. What do you do to feel motivated when you are feeling lazy, or you feel like you are in a rut?

I will call a good friend, or find someone who is motivated, see what they are up to. Sometimes it is okay to be in a rut and admit that you are lazy. I sleep in till noon all the time, but I am a really hard worker. It's okay to have a lazy day where you don't accomplish much. Because sometimes creativity needs a break.

7. What daily routine do you have to help you feel more feminine or more like a proper lady?

I don't really have daily routines, but every time I get out of the shower I don't get dressed right away. I really enjoy the skin I am in, my curves and my soft skin make me feel very feminine, and sometimes clothes take away from that. I also love having my hair down, it makes me feel like a lady.

8. What is your favorite fingernail polish brand and color?

My favorite is from OPI, I don't know the name but it's this really pretty green and blue.

9. What is your favorite song that you've been listening to?

This changes daily for me. Whenever I find a song it's constantly on repeat. I have been going through a Lana Del Ray phase the past couple of month, but it just switched over to "take me to church" by Hozier.

10. What new hobbies or skills are you currently pursuing? 

I dabbled for one day last summer with fly fishing... and I really want to get into that this summer.

Do you ever feel nervous about trying something new?

Yeah, but that's half the fun in trying something new!

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Peace and pine trees,

Whitney (& McKay)

Other posts you may like:
Better Know a Proper Mountain Woman: Kyra Miller
Better Know a Proper Mountain Woman: MJ Dehart
Better Know a Proper Mountain Woman: Laura Leavitt
Other Proper Mountain Women Shout Outs
the Proper Mountain Woman Creed

Old Letter From McKay

(classic card from mckay on her mission, Nov. 2006)

Inside of this card pictured above, this is what mckay wrote:
"Oh Whitney, remember when we used to hang out?! Cause I don't. We both just HAD to serve The Lord, sheesh... But it is weird how quickly time moves, we will be old spinsters soon... I can't wait to be a spinster, eh?
I was thinking --> When my mind turns to thoughts of my future I picture myself living in a grass hut, I have to make it happen. Do you realize that our past 4 generations were born and then died in Utah?! -- and they call Toronto the melting pot because SO many different people have come to call this their home. I love the people of the world -- I have to see the wonders of the world! So yeah, I don't know why I write this, don't tell mom that I will raise her grandkids in hammocks in South America and she will never see them, eh?"

She used "eh" a lot because she was serving in Canada.

I loved running into this card last night! Especially with her Thailand/Cambodia trip coming up in less than a month! I'm glad she's making her dreams come true!

Also, McKay, I hope that this interpretive dance mentioned above has it's debut performance at the upcoming talent show. I guess I have 2.5 weeks to get some geometric shapes pulled together, Max has a fog machine.

Summer 2010

one of the best photo's taken this past summer:

I can't believe October is here in T minus 2 days.

October is my favorite.

(I miss that hat)

Insta Care

Sam thought he broke his finger last night slam dunking basketballs. I guess his finger got caught in the rim and messed up his middle finger. It was all bloody, and the bone looked disjointed. Sam came home and told me it hurt real bad, and went in the bathroom and popped it back into place. Just to be on the safe side, and because I have been needing a visit myself, we went in for a check-up at the insta care.

 

They were way nice, and instead of making us pay to admit sam, the nurse just looked at his finger and suggested it probably was only dislocated. Gave him a little cast thing for FREE and told him if it doesn’t get better he probably chipped a bone and may need to actually get it looked at.

I admitted myself, and felt pretty stupid that I was in there just for this weird sore on my arm. But really, I have had this sore since at least September of 2007 when I first noticed it, something must be done!

this picture was taken in new york  after the connor oberst concert. sam has the x's on his hands, and right above my green wrist band you can sort of see the weird little sore.

 

The nurse asked me about the bump on my arm, and I told her my dilemma. I told her my other quack of a doctor gave me some cream for it and it didn’t help, and that my sister (mckay) had even performed surgery on it… nothing has worked.

Nurse:  oh, is this sister of yours a nurse?

Me:  no, I just had her cut it out with an exacto knife, and then it grew back.

Nurse: didn’t that hurt?

Me: yeah, it hurt like crazy.

Nurse leaves, doctor comes in.

Doctor: Let’s see what your sister has cut into you. (he looks at it) There is a cyst in there, you are going to need a biopsy to get it out.

Me: Are you sure? My sister didn’t see anything in there when she cut it open.

Doctor: And just what sort of medical background does your sister have?

Me: um… she’s good with blood. Should I just have her have a go at it again?

Doctor: Well since the last surgery obviously failed, I recommend you calling your normal doctor and having him remove it.

Me: Okay, sounds good.

And that's that. Thanks insta care!

Chinese New Year

 

this is mckay, she broke her wooden spoon chasing out evil spirits.
chinese new year gets more intense with each passing year, I think my mom is steps away from ordering us full on costumes to wear to dinner.

Sisters, Sisters and Best Friends

(I love this picture from Austria)

Friends come and go. Which is why I am lucky that this one is bonded to me with everlasting ties, whether I like it or not.

McKay once taught me how to tell if someone picks their nose just by looking at their nose hairs. She is full of good information like that. 

I like how I feel when I am around McKay, I can't explain it. It's like we are telepathic. We can be in the same room with loads of people, and we can look at each other for a split second and die laughing because we have told each other the most fantastic joke. 

When she was down last week from Logan, one her friends asked me what two people I would take to a deserted island with me. Two people is harder than just one, or three. Threesomes can be tricky. My answer was Mckay and Ken Adams. I'd choose McKay for a lot of reasons: she's good with an exacto knife and blood, finding weird plants and bugs to eat, and sleeping in hammocks. Ken because we would have to work at keeping him happy and alive, which would be fun and entertaining. And then if he died, we'd eat him.

Jet Lag

guten morgen!
just ate a fabulous hostel breakfast here in austria. nutella is all the rage here.

tom mark and i got up at 5 am because we couldnt sleep. tom raced cars on facebook, mark did some man excercises and I read wuthering heights. then we all read until breakfast was served at 7. i am loving this trip. venice was so fun yesterday. and now i get to drive the volvo to church.

we are safe and happy. and mckay has never been so funny. really good jokes.

MP3s Are My Favorite

I think it is the cutest thing ever getting an MP3 through gmail.

So, McKay and I decided that we are going to start a new little music club where we send each other an MP3 each day and a reason why we are sending it. It's perfect because each day I am in the mood for something else. McKay and I listen to such different stuff, I feel like we will get a lot of variety.

Then I was thinking that we could start a bigger club, with about 6 members. And each person could have a different day of the week to send music.
me = Mondays
Tom = Tuesdays
McKay = Wednesdays
Kaylene = Thursdays
Dad = Fridays
Lily = Saturdays

(or if more people are interested, we can double up on days)

Wouldn't that be a happy little club?