Catching up is hard to do!

How can it be that we have been working on this place 6 weeks??? If we had not needed to remove the tile, we would be moved in by now. The good news is that Claude made it back safely from Ohio with all our belongings. He drove it back in a 24' truck with a trailer on the back hauling his pick up truck and did it in two very long days. Do I need to say 'exhausted'?

He then had to make 6 trips to the dump, using the neighbor's truck. It was such a relief to see all that mess gone. My back will never forgive me for helping load that truck, over and over.

Another great thing is fresh lemons right off the tree. I picked them for the neighbor and they shared with me. AH, fresh lemonade!

Imagine looking forward to days when there are some clouds instead of all day sunshine.

One day we veered off the path for a much needed break!

Added a retractable clothesline...love that! How about my clothespin holder? Great use for an old boot.

One of my favorite places in Phoenix near the airport....Papago Park.

Also made some fresh squeezed OJ for Claude with oranges from a neighbor.

Studio floor with concrete dye......(it is a shame that it didn't last but a day or two...it is all coming off, even though it was given 3 coats of sealer...)

A friend asked me to go to Prescott one day and I just couldn't resist this leather folding screen. It will look great in the "cowgirl" room!

Papago Park in Winter

Sunshine abounded today and the light was calling me to Papago Park to attempt to capture some of the inhabitants dwelling there this winter. My work is cut out for me to identify some of these birds, if you know any, please comment and share. In addition to the normal Canada Goose, Cormorants and general ducks, there were a few others.

                        This one, I know to be a shoveler, but not sure exactly which one.

As I had decided to get a sandwich for lunch before going, I had a bit of bread to share with them. You can tell they are used to being fed, as they come right to you. Poor Sedona so wanted to give chase and play with a great deal of them but we restrained her and let her cry....poor baby!

So around to another pond we went so she could explore a little herself. The light was fabulous and the colors are always wonderful with golds, oranges and bright greens! I must say I was disappointed that there were no herons or egrets to be found this trip. Looking up at the great palms is always a delight in shapes and shadows!

 

Why I lost my heart....

This is one of the views I was blessed to experience with my own eyes last winter while camping in the Superstition Mountains of Apache Junction, Arizona. Can you see why I am so excited about returning?


There is a lot of gray green and brownish gray in AZ in the winter but when you have sunsets like this, it makes it all that more spectacular! As an artist, it is difficult for me to even think I could capture this beauty in paint but I certainly am going to try.......over and over!