Desert Lady Diaries

Marilyn came to the Mojave in 1948 at the age of 14. Her younger sister had some health issues that doctors thought would be helped by the clean, dry desert air - Marilyn thought her parents had brought her to the end of the world. Settling at Smith's Ranch trailer park, Marilyn's father was the Caller for the weekly square dances at Smith's Gymnasium. After completing school, Marilyn married, raised three children and went into the workforce, informing her husband, "I want my own social security." Marilyn exemplifies the 'you just get it done' desert spirit. From construction tools to jeweler tools, food service and sporting goods, adobe rehabbing and oil painting, Marilyn has had a very full and varied life here in the desert. She left once for a short period of time - and came right back to this place she calls home. In this interview she also reveals why she feels women grew the Morongo Basin and why "women rule". Smith's Ranch Drive In Smith's Ranch History

How does a native Norwegian, who lived on a houseboat in London come to live in the desert? In this episode Tonelise talks about her first experience in the desert, to which many of us who are here will relate. Upon arriving, Tonelise got involved in the community to meet her neighbors. We also talk about the silence, living in harmony with the wildlife and the challenges and rewards of being a vintage experience on-site Airbnb host. Her guests have ranged from musicians to people facing their fears about the dark. Tonelise also talks about her knowledge of Tarot, handed down through her family and how she uses Tarot as a tool to coach people. Her site is below, which will require Google Translate. Mentioned in this episode: Tonelise's Tarot Coaching Site Tonelise's Unique Desert View Airbnb Tonelise's Magical Desert Get-away Airbnb

Mari Collier, Author As a young girl, Mari & her mom traveled to Arizona because of Mari's health and after several summers traveling back to Iowa, the whole family eventually moved. After a number of years in the Pacific Northwest, with 130+ inches of rain a year, Mari and her husband moved to 29Palms, joining their daughter. In this episode Mari talks about her early writing in school and for the local newspaper in Audubon, Iowa and how she ended up working for Nintendo. Mari also let's us in on a bit of her writing process. Her science fiction books can be found on Amazon, Kindle and at Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree. A member of the Desert Writers Guild of 29Palms, Mari also writes for the Old Schoolhouse Journal, a publication of the Old Schoolhouse Museum, where she also volunteers in the Library. Mentioned in this episode: Mari and her books on Amazon The Old Schoolhouse Museum on Trip Advisor 29Palms Historical Society Space Cowboy Books Joshua Tree

Gayle's family moved to the desert when she was four years old and they got a bit of a chilly reception... it snowed! In this episode, Gayle reminisces about exploring in the desert and a few of the festivals and events for which people traveled for miles to attend. Even after two moves away from the desert, Gayle says she always knew she was coming back. She and her husband, Tom, were married in her parents front yard in 29Palms (old timers and the California DOT spell it: Twentynine Palms) and they now own 'Ink and Steel' their tattooing and piercing business in Joshua Tree. Gayle is involved in the Joshua Tree community serving on the Joshua Basin Water District Citizens Board and regularly attending Municipal Advisory Council and other meetings. A less than comfortable tattoo experience ignited Gayle's interest in becoming a tattoo artist, but being a tattoo apprentice, especially as a female unrelated to her mentor, was a challenging experience. She offers some helpful hints to help you have a great tattoo experience. Gayle and Tom also operate an Airbnb call The Cactus Patch. Mentioned in this episode: Hi-Desert Start Article about Ink & Steel Ink & Steel on Facebook Gayle on Instagram The Cactus Patch on Facebook

Born in Pennsylvania, Barbara came west to California after graduating from art school and met a man, who she eventually married, who brought her to the desert for the first time. Since then, Barbara became fascinated with this place and two places in particular: Giant Rock and the Integratron. In this episode, from her 30 years of research, Barbara shares information about local legends and the spirituality of this particular area of the desert. We also talk about the 'myth' many visitors to the desert seem to have these days of the desert being a wide open, wild, wild west where anything goes - we assure you - that is not the case. Though this area does still carry the spirit of freedom and ingenuity in the face of necessity, it is very much a community where people live and should be treated that way. In the photos above, Barbara is on the right - on the left, is me, standing in front of Giant Rock - Barbara tells us about seeing the rock 'whole' and her experience there with the rock after that large piece broke off in February 2000. Mentioned in this episode: Barbara's Giant Rock Facebook Page Giant Rock Project Website Fantastic Photos of 1950's Giant Rock from LIFE Magazine Integratron The number 33

Jasmine is a desert native - born in Indio and raised in Wonder Valley. With neighbors far apart, Jasmine grew up playing in the desert with her sisters, finding abandoned homesteads and playing hopscotch on their concrete pads. With a high school graduating class of just over 100, Jasmine credits social media with her ability to track down or stay in touch with some of her fellow classmates who floated in and out of the school due to a parent in the military. In this episode, Jasmine talks about the many changes she has seen growing up here, from a growth in population, to road improvements and retail offerings. Jasmine says there were times growing up when she wished she lived in an area with more 'fun', but looks back now, grateful her parents chose to make their family home in Wonder Valley, instead of Orange County. An admittedly shy kid, Jasmine speaks about following her sister into community theater and how she feels it has changed her. Jasmine is active in theaters in the Hi-Desert and 'down the hill', in Palm Springs. Jasmine on Instagram Jasmine on Twitter Palm Canyon Theatre Black Mirror on Netflix

Cheryl has been living in the desert since 1991, having grown up in St. Louis and literally dancing her way to New York City in the 1970's and eventually to Los Angeles and the Mojave. After the Sawtooth fire took her cabin near Rimrock Ranch, Cheryl wrote about her experience which eventually gave way to the creation of an always sold-out semi-annual fundraising event called 'Desert Stories', now in it's 11th year. In this episode, Cheryl talks about the inspiration behind Mil-Tree, a non-profit organization that brings veterans and civilians in the community together to experience healing and understand through art. These workshops include everything from making paper and then using that paper to hold the writings of participants, accompanied by spoken word to the creation of 'Sanctuary', an earth-bag construction project that included the construction of the structure as well as the creation of the metal works and ceramics adorning this place of reverence (go to Mil-Tree.org to see the video). Mil-Tree's upcoming workshop 'Moving the Memories', is close to Cheryl's heart, being a dancer. Mil-Tree partners with Diavolo Dance and Arts Connection of San Bernardino County to present a two-day movement workshop and presentation lead by Diavolo Architecture in Motion for veterans, active military and the community. (March 31 to April 1, 2018). Though initially devastating, Cheryl likens the tragic loss of her first desert home to that of a phoenix rising, which gave way to a transformation of her creativity. Mentioned in this episode: Cheryl's Website Mil-Tree Diavolo Dance The Lotus Eaters, by Tatjana Soli The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien War and the Soul, by Dr. Edward Tick

Jenny is a walking miracle... with the help of prostheses. Jenny became extremely ill in early 2014, which resulted in losing parts of her legs and use of one of her hands. Jenny truly believes it was her community that kept her alive. Jenny began writing about her experience during her recovery and those reflections are now a book, "Held Together", filled with poems, prose and essays about a village coming together, suffering together, celebrating together, and falling in love together. You see, the book is not just Jenny's writing, but that of her community, as she's asked them to contribute their perspectives of this experience as well. In this episode, Jenny talks about falling asleep on the first trip to the desert and going from the 'green' of northern California, to what appeared to be 'the moon' and wondering who would possibly live here and what they would do with their time. Prior to her near-death experience, Jenny came to live in the desert in 2000, on the condition it would be for one year. The partner she arrived with has long since left, but Jenny remained with her daughter and opened a storefront for her herbals and tinctures called Grateful Desert, where you can find everything from handmade soaps, to chocolates, to locally poured candles. Jenny has left and come back, in many ways, and is ever grateful to be back among the community that kept her and her family held together. Mentioned in this episode: Grateful Desert Held Together Fundraiser

Tami comes from Texas and a family of fourth generation cattle ranchers. She came to California in the '80's to raise her son, first in the low desert, then Tami made a move to the Hi-Desert alone. In this episode, Tami talks about how she literally stumbled upon assemblage art, picking up random metal and other objects on her daily walks and started making art with them. Not knowing anyone in the community to which she'd moved, she read and studied the Hwy 62 Art Tours guides to meet local artists and get inspired. Up until a few months ago, Tami operated the 'I Heart Joshua Tree Gallery' in the Joshua Tree Sun Alley Shops, where she loved connecting with the people who came through. Though still making art, she's left retail behind and is embarking on a new way of showing and selling her art as a new vendor with the weekly Palm Springs Village Art Fest. She and friend Bob Rufer host their monthly 'I HEART Myself' Improv Class at Rainbow Stew in Yucca Valley (call 760-774-2553 for more info). Tami says, "The desert taught me to embrace self-care and that I am resilient. I am strong. I don't care what everyone else is doing. I do me!" Right on, Tami, right on! Mentioned in this episode: Tami's Work on Etsy Tami on Instagram Tami's Art on Facebook Highway 62 Art Tours The Power of Now, Eckart Tolle

After a class at CalEarth learning earth bag construction in the hopes of using it to build a home of her own someday, Lindsey was talking to a friend who had land in the Mojave she was looking to sell. Lindsey bought the land and established Wonder Valley Domes. The goal of Lindsey's project is not only to build her own affordable superadobe home, but to build free art studios out of sand bags and earth. In this episode, she talks about acquiring her living quarters, Winnie the Winnebago and how a dating app turned out to be a tool for recruiting volunteers to help dig, refine and sculpt the domes. Lindsey talks about the logistics of living in a place with no running water or electricity and the ingenuity that comes from the lack of these modern conveniences. See a video about Lindsey and the domes here. Mentioned in this episode: Wonder Valley Domes Instagram Lindsey's Amazon Wishlist CalEarth helpx.net