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The Family Tree
Thought for the Month: The SunTree Traveler
By all accounts, the Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend at Faywood Hot Springs was a time of great fun. This was partially due to fantastic weather and (barely enough) food to satisfy the SunTree appetites(?). Of course, the soaking pools were the reason that we were there. They were, as usual, wonderful. I started by saying "by all accounts" because I was not there myself. I have to rely upon the several members who called to let me know. I am unable to give any specifics on the weekend (my comment on the food was from my imagination, but I think that it might contain a morsel of truth since it was developed from ingredients of past events, tossed with fresh information seasoned with the knowledge of the participants attending and slow-roasting that with a marinade of their culinary talents as demonstrated many times over), so I will go on to relay some news of interest to the SunTree family.
I realize that it may seem that the Jardin del Sol event is almost two months off, but we need to make plans for that sort of event and reserve the appropriate camping and meeting facilities as early as possible. Waiting until the last minute will result in this event being cancelled. I am unable to tell you much about Jardin del Sol since it has been ten years since I visited the place (no, I did not make it there the last time that SunTree visited). I understand that there have been many upgrades and improvements to the facilities since then. SunTree members who have visited there enthusiastically report that it is a very nice place to hold a SunTree visit. Very nice facilities and very nice people at the club.
We have to send a thank you to our continuing supporter, Bev Price of the Arizona Wildflowers. We also need to thank Elon at Faywood Hot Springs for mentioning us to Michael Cooney, a writer for Nude and Natural who wrote the article starting on page 57 of the current issue. Nicky Hoffman at The Naturist Society was very helpful in this effort and certainly deserves a thank you as well. By the way, our club photo never made it into this issue. I think that the reason can be easily understood if you look at the other photos in the article on Faywood. Apparently, they wanted a photo of normal-looking people enjoying themselves in the soaking pools. I am sure that the photo editor at the magazine was afraid that our picture was too much like what one would find in a glossy fashion magazine with well-toned professional models. That did not fit into the everyday on-the-street nudist image that they were looking for. There are several benefits to being a participating club with The Naturist Society. I will not include them in this newsletter, but will be happy to discuss them with you in the future. I will also be happy to tell you of the work of The Naturist Education Foundation and the Naturist Action Committee. If you are already a member of The Naturist Society (I was a member for several years prior to joining SunTree. Currently, I am a lifetime member, though I do not think that category is still available), you can renew your membership through SunTree. If you are not a member and want to join, that can be handled through SunTree as well. There is no requirement for SunTree members to join The Naturist Society.
Seanmhar go Naomh Padraig La If you are not fluent in the Northern Celtic Language (specifically Irish Gaelic), the greeting above actually refers to the Wednesday prior to our annual Green Weekend at the Stubbs in Alamogordo. To those who are offended by what they consider to be a religious greeting, the greeting may be substituted for the more political "Erin go bragh" Now that I have muddied the water, stir up your favorite dish of green pea soup, green enchiladas, corned pork with green beans with green onions or whatever your culinary imagination may come up with and bring that to the potluck in Alamogordo. Note, if you paint yourself green for the occasion, please use a permanent dye rather than a body paint, which may come off in the hot tub. This tends to be one of our most popular club events. Round up your leprechauns, grab your shillelagh and travel to Alamogordo for 20 and or 21 March. Be sure to give the Stubbs a call to let them know you will be there and what you plan to bring to the potluck.
This month, the five brightest planets of the solar system have planned a parade across the sky for us. They plan to line up along that imaginary line which Earthlings like to call the ecliptic. Even little Mercury will put on a show this month. It should be a great month to have your head above the clouds. I guess that I should not mention the close visit of the moon with the planet Saturn on 1 March, since I have not even gotten this newsletter in the mail yet and it is already the first. Sorry about that I have a very good excuse for the lateness of this newsletter, but I forgot what it is. You will be able to see Jupiter in the early part of the month. In the first week of March, Jupiter will be at its maximum brightness. It will be rising in the east about sunset. If you have a telescope or even a pair of binoculars, you probably will be able to see its bands of color while it is at its brightest. Even with a small telescope on a tripod, you might be able to pick out the four moons. Good luck. Venus has apparently, finally, gotten over her irritation at Mars showing her up last year. Now she is growing brighter every night. She is in the west at sunset, but each night she is higher in the sky until at the end of the month, she will set almost four hours after sunset At that time, she will be spectacularly bright. She is an aid to finding Mercury (who really needs help) after 14 March. Look into the western sky after sunset. Find Venus high above the western horizon. Now let your eyes track a path slowly toward the left-over brightness from the sun which has already set. There will be a "star" in that late twilight glow. Only one will be there, and it is not a star, but little Mercury glowing for all he is worth. You will be able to see him starting around 14 March, but he gets higher and higher. The best nights to look are any clear night from 20 March to the end of the month. Way up higher in the sky, almost to the smoke-hole will be brilliant Saturn who is still exhibiting the full show of his rings to us Earth-bound folks. You may remember from last month that he is in the constellation of Gemini (you know those twins that we talked about, Castor and his dim twin brother Pollux). Early evening is the best time to see Saturn. It will set around 2AM. Even though I am too late to let you know about the moon meeting with Saturn on the first, I can tell you that the moon has an appointment with Venus on 24 March. I hope that settles your irritation with me. Now about that parade. It will happen in the late part of the month. Mercury, Venus, then Mars (not too bright this month), Saturn and Jupiter. Because Mercury likes to go to bed early, the best time to see this parade is while Mercury is still up in the late twilight. To help the celebration of the SunTree Green Weekend in Alamogordo, we have scheduled spring to begin at 9:49 on Friday night before that weekend. That is when the Sun crosses the equator on its way to a summer vacation in the northern hemisphere. The Vernal Equinox is the traditional beginning of Spring Skiing in the United States.
© 2004 SunTree Travel Club - Site updated Summer 2008 |
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Faywood Valentine's Day
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