Nature Looking Glass

Although I have visited natural wonders from the time I was a child, they never cease to awe me with the raw beauty and power they hold.

I spent 2 1/2 hours in the car on the way and 2 1/2 hours returning to see the Petrified Forest of Eastern Arizona along with the Painted Desert. Here is a brief description of the area I visited and what happened naturally to create the awe-inspiring scenery I was lucky enough to cast my eyes upon.

"Petrified Forest National Park contains the petrified remains of 225 million year old trees from the Late Triassic. Surrounding the petrified wood are millions of years of deposition, uplift, and erosion, creating the Chinle Formation. This rock formation creates the red hues of the Painted Desert and the blue tones of the Blue Mesa region."

-http://www.nps.gov/pefo/naturescience/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm

There is a pull off area where visitors can check out the petroglyphs of old. I found this more than interesting as I have been studying linguistics in my Master's program and this type of early writing was a part of my studies. It is always amazing to see the things I learn about. It somehow makes the learning more tangible, more of a reality.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Long petrified tree laying on its side.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Dad, brother, sister, and I being PETRIFIED in the Petrified Forest.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Petrified wood (I took this picture and later discovered that there is a face on it).

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Arizona landscape, it looks like another planet.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Jumping high in the Petrified Forest.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

The Painted Desert has so many layers of color.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Taking in the view in the Painted Desert.

From Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

Beautiful sunset and a winter tree.

Nature continues to stun me with its beauty. It is not our own, as humans to control, it is there so we can join in the ever-present moment of now, enjoying and learning from all that comes. The natural world has much to teach us, if we only listen, if I only listen. From all that nature gives me, I hope to give back and find some way to reciprocate the relationship I am so lucky to be a part of.