...Way out there, in the middle of canyonlands, those stars glow like candles at night. Its a desert dreamers escape from a reality that plagues this sad, sad world...Cowlishaw
My Interests: Writing (I have included a few pieces in with my profile), Photography, People, Culture, Blogging, activism, getting to know others, etc.
"Blogger.com once asked me; Radio wire is often used to make bird nests. What station do they listen to?
The tunes of Mother Earth! - cowlishaw"
Music
Country Music, Native Music, Bluegrass, anything with a good sound. Anything that goes in harmony with nature. Anything that is uplifting. I like listening to music which carries a worthy message! Some notable musicians are Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, The Fenders, Burning Sky, John Trudell, Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam.
The drumming rain surrounds the little adobe this summer eve. In the morning the rising sun soaks the clouds in radiant light. The sun finally breaks from shadow, and dark golden light warms the window. Just before everything awakens, I take a morning stroll smelling the wet sage and creosote. The red rock landscape is burning fire red in morning twilight. Thunderclouds hug the mountains in the distance.
All these mourning doves have made their encampment around my quarters, enclosed by a few cottonwood. Around 8 or 9 P.M. a mourning dove flies into the door hatch and pokes its feathery head in. Another one follows, and they stay there for a while making their noise. Those pleasant birds are very charming to hear.
Tonight the constant rain awakens sensations of primordial desert. As the rain taps the roof, I think of the dawn and the dusk, and how thunderstorms travel the Colorado Plateau, always seeming to follow the sun into the west.
by Cowlishaw
Movies
A few notable movies I really like are; Rabbit Proof Fence, Empire of the Sun, Raising Arizona, Life is Beautiful, Smoke Signals, and many more... Any movie that shows the beautiful side of the human spirit, like Forrest Gump!
Some of My Dreams
I Dream of
cottonwoods gathered in river bottoms,
waving mountainous branches,
and knowing their wise spirits.
I dream of
sandstone canyons
and feeling the roaring of flash floods
and the thunder of rainstorms
I dream of
barren isolation,
of weaving through the deepest
interiors of the Colorado Plateau.
I dream of
constantly scouring the landscape on two feet,
beneath galactic clouds and blue sky.
I dream of
Creator's artwork of sprawling wastelands.
I dream of the furthest horizon.
I dream of
someday dying in desert seclusion.
Let the wildlife feed on my remains.
Let my bones bleach under sunrays.
From dust we came.
byCowlishaw
..
Television
I really like most television shows, but I don't watch very much T.V. Perhaps because I don't own a television!? lol. I really am not picky though when watching anything that is available. My favorite shows tend to be educational documentaries like Frontline, etc. I like watching C-Span, PBS, Discovery. One show I used to like earlier in my life was Star Trek. Oh, and X-Files! :)
...The mountains are the last things that are remaining old and undisturbed, but even now we are building things into them. I still can go in them, camp out and watch the stars; sleep and dream in the night by an old fire; and wonder some where else other than this realm of confusion. It truly is something simple, easy, and very righteous. It is being alone and hearing the voices of the past...Nate
Books
Many books by Native authors: N. Scott Momaday, Vine Deloria Jr., and Leslie Marmon Silko, and others. I also enjoy the poetry of William Butler Yeats, e.e. cummings, Robert Service, just to name a few. I also enjoy the classics like Moby Dick, Grapes of Wrath, and Heart of Darkness.
Heroes
Chief Joseph, Johnny Cash, Leonard Peltier, Those that defend the beauty of this world, All those warrior spirits that have come and gone, my Grandparents, My Mother, My Uncle Ben, My Brother Joe. And there are so many people who've influenced my life!
A Spring Desert Dawn
The sun is rising.
The dog's lying in the grass
listening to the crickets.
The roses are blooming
along with daffodils.
The wind swings them.
My orange cat's purring on
The window sill.
Wind whistles through
the window screens.
The sky is lighting up,
burning with
warm glowing hues.
Just outta bed, I
open the wooden door
and sit on the porch.
Chimes sing.
The air is full of
fine sediments
blown in
from the desert.
All Photography (except the jackalope pics & the historical images on this profile) AND Writings on this profile are by me. :)
I love to roam and travel the dirt roads of the Southwest beneath massive storm clouds... I dwell in the corners of God's Imagination...
My uncle calls me squeaky clean, but I am not always on that level. I try daily to become more human in a world of the dehumanized. My goal is to break the windows of everything I know and learn different ideas from others. That is called personal sovereignty. Growing up, I was taught certain things in school and by the status quo, but I am learning that things are not always what they seem. History is always told differently depending on the source. The truth can be very hard to find in America, and one has to sort through all the myths...
A favorite hobby of mine is chase thunderstorms in the summertime and watch the lightning. The Unknown is waiting for me out there and I hope to come face to face with it, someday.
My name is Nathan, I am 26. Just so you know, I have an interest in Native issues, but I am not indigenous. Deep down, I have a concern for human rights and equality. There are many beautiful cultures in the world and all deserve equal footing. My field of study is in Sociology & Anthropology. But my Major is Sociology. One day, I may relocate to somewhere in the Southwest to earn my Doctorate in Cultural Anthropology. But please don't refer to me as an Anthropologist!!! There is a dark history associated this field of study... In the past Anthropologists were deranged, ethnocentric, cultural thieving vultures! Today though, the landscape is changing, hopefully!?
My family runs a mining company, and we quarry a sculpturing stone known as Alabaster; it is a used to make carvings. The majority of our customers are various native artisans from around the Southwest. Most of them are Navajo (Dine). Many of our customers have been with us for over 2-3 decades. It is probably where my interest in culture was kindled. But I try my best to learn respect and be respectful... and be sensitive to many different facets and complexities of life and human nature.
For the past 2 years I've been a professional wilderness/tour guide in the Grand Canyon and a full-time ranch hand. My job entailed 12-15 hour work days and meeting people from all over the world. The ranch was 85 miles from the nearest paved road. Later on I worked for a company giving tours around the Grand Circle to places like Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Horse Shoe Bend. This kinda work is burning me out at the moment. Maybe, one day, I'll work for the park service, etc. I am open and flexible to whatever path life chooses for me; especially if I find my other half...
What you will find out about me is that I am a capable and loving person. And I enjoy making friends with folks. Some people believe in soul mates, but not me. There are many people out there that show the capacity to love. So anything is possible in this world. :) My love for life, my Creator, My Family, Friends, and the beauty of this world runs very strong in my blood - so I am a very happy individual. I am so grateful for the many blessings that I have received! Have a wonderful time, and remember that "Today is the first day of the rest of your life..."
My main interests are in writing and photography. If you wanna know more about me, there is a lot I have not mentioned. You can either ask me, or you can visit a few of my sites below. West Desert Journal is where I keep a majority of thoughts, reflections, and poems. The links are here below:
Some of my spaces~
Original Website - I created this site when I was 17. So I've had the domain almost a decade!
West Desert Journal - This is where I've kept the majority of my thoughts and feelings on life, etc.
Desert Dream Photoblog - A photographic collection of all my adventures and travels. I have thousands of photos, and this only displays a small fraction! :)
Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
You are Pedro Sanchez and love holy chips. Take this quiz!
Who I'd like to meet:
Most everybody; hermits, sheep herders, desert dwellers, outlaws, peacemakers, rebels, jackalope experts, activists, cowboys, photographers, artists, etc... those with a genuine desire to be themselves!!! I have a slight problem with Nuagers (the kind that exploite culture), wanabees, pretenders, culture vultures, etc; those who are trying to be something they're not! I'm interested in meeting new people and making friends, so you are welcome here, but you know my stance as I have stated it above! If you want to be my friend, email me so that I know that you are sincere. There's so much spam and junk, and I can usually discern the difference, but it will help me out a little.
Also, if you want to know me better, I keep an online journal and photoblog accessible from talkingtree.org. There's links on the the front page...
You can send messages, invitations, spam, and hate mail, love letters, etc. to Cowlishaw AT Gmail.com! :)
Feel free to ask me questions concerning the whereabouts, behavior, and migrating patterns of the rare Jackalope, because I am an expert on them... :) The Jackalope is a powerful symbol in the Southwest. When I was a kid these creatures really fascinated me and I loved to look at the pictures and post-cards of the various types of Jackalope. Oh, and did you know, the lakes of Utah contain humongous rainbow trout - like eight feet tall!!! ;)
~More on the Rare Jackalope~
The Jackalope is a rabbit species that inhabits the Western United States, and unlike any other type of rabbit, they grow antlers that are similar to a Mule Deer, or an Antelope. Evolutionary Theorists cannot explain as to how the Jackelope is able to produce antlers, or where this creature might have evolved. There is no evidence to explain how the Jackelope uses it’s antlers, or whether the animal is terretorial or not.
Walking into the Sunshine Truck Stop, the other day, I saw a Jackolope mounted to the wall. Even dead, you don’t see very many representations of this animal. I peered into its dusty, plastic eyes. His antlers were similar to that of a Mule Deer.
I would like to catch one of these elusive creatures. In all my time wandering the Desert Southwest, I have yet to see one in the wild. They are rarely spotted, even more so then Mountain Lions. The US Government cannot prove their existence. Many skeptics will claim that they are a hoax, or just a fable, but this is not true. My own grandfather killed one, while he was gardening out at our ranch back in the 70’s. He put it in a plastic bag, but the maggots got to it. So he wasn’t able to skin and mount it. This is what he told me. by Nathan Cowlishaw
HI Nate! thanks for the add back..I seriously didn't think that I'd be back in any online social network..but it's needed for what I'm doing. :) I like the website you created for Alpine Gems. Hope you're well. Will you be a tour guide in Alaska? Can't believe it's almost june already. Yikes!
Nathan, your idea sounds beautiful and something I've always wanted to do also since I was a child. Well as for suggestions, I have to think about that one....there are so many places, etc.
Hey wanted to comment you also on your photos that you took for your friend I believe at his wedding...they are outstanding. Well hope you had a beautiful Easter, thanks for being my friend....talk to you soon.
Hello there my friend, how was the weekend for you? I thought to stop by and say a hello and how life has been for ya. I hope that all is well and that this finds you in good peaceful spirits. Take good care for now and i hope to hear from you soon. Have a blessed and bright week ahead. :-)
hey there Nathan, droppin through here to say hello....hope everything has been great for ya buddy. well hope to hear from you sometime...take care and ttyl.
hello there Nathan, its been awhile my friend. how are things going for you today? i am doing great here! i got back from my trip to oregon on friday to visit my daughter Miyoteh. i had such a blast and good times spending it with my daughter and michelle and jasmine. I had missed them all very much. and it was my first time seeing my lil' Mia she is so amazingly beautiful girl. i miss her very much! I hope all is well and peaceful for you today. take care for now and hope to hear from you soon. much peace...
I have been travelling all over northern cali lately, mostly staying up in the mountains. However I did get to hear Obama speak after winning the elections. I have been thinking about you lots. I am very grateful to have a cousin like you. You helped influence me when I was young to grow into who I am now. I will never forget hiking with you or writing with you. I miss you and hope life is treating you well. I am stoked Obama won too. Hopefully he can make some serious changes. I love you man. Take it easy.
hey there Nathan, wow thanks for the comment...you sure are incredible in all sorts of ways...and the best part of our friendship is putting a smile on my face, you are great! Well for awhile I was dating for a bit, and at a moment it came serious and it leaded to a dead end of thy opposites, etc. But that there is no longer in my heart or head nor more honestly... Right now, I'm no longer searching for that person in particular...right now, i want to focus on school and myself...just to love mysself and etc.. There came a time when I felt like I knew alot about myself indeed and how to love myself..but that person, the person I dated for awhile took that away, the inner and outter happiness from me and I had to let go....I know there is someone out there for my spirit, but I'm wiling to the creator to be patient...this time in life is just great, I have more fun hanging out with my family and especially my grandparents (old folks also) full of fun and light, rather than certain people in particular. well thanks for listening here, sorry for this long msg..haha. You are a great person Nate, keep in touch...I am grateful to the creator to meet a significant person like yourself...hope you had a great day today....for myself, I did
waajiya Nathan, it has been awhile my friend? wanted to stop in and wish you a warm HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I hope that is well peaceful for you on this day of your birth. I am heading down to OR here in a few weeks to see my daughter, I CAN'T WAIT! to finally see her and just hold her for the first time. I am not sure if i'll ever be able to let go, she's my heart. Well my friend, have a spirited and blessed day. take good care for now my friend.
Hey its me...sorry it has been so long. I have always admired and looked up to you. I know I have not been around, but I am finally following my dreams and starting to see the world. I miss hiking with you. I would love to start writing again and possibly come see you and have you show me around the hills again. I miss you. I hope to hear from you soon. I love you. your cousin, kristin
Hey there Nathan, you sound sad in your comment...well sorry to hear about that there..I hope life becomes well of much light in your upcoming hours... YOu too are also a great friend...and I do try to keep in touch as I can here. I do not get online much (lol)...I got a pretty cool job that lets me express myself through art and creativity...I think I found my love, and that's creating...haha. Keep in touch as you can....you are amazing...I seen your photos, you are far beyond just talented and yes the conversations were outstanding.... well talk to you soon...hope you have a great week fran :-)
