Double Celebration

Yes, I've already posted a Valentine Day post. Maybe it has a different "slant" than you would expect but still worthwhile.
I also have to share with you that today is Arizona's 100th birthday! Yeah!

But did you know my other dear state of Oregon is also celebrating its birthday. Happy birthday dear Oregon...my home away from home.

Tip Toeing Through the Tulips...No, Cactus

I've lost my zip. After an early walk, watering of the plants, check writing and working on Ward Activities scheduling I'm just doing nothing. And of course there is always something needing attention that I just ignore.

I hope you're not bored with more flower photos but I am in LOVE with the cactus blossoms in the front yard of a home a few blocks from mine. It is the finest desert landscape of a small home I have ever seen. I thought these short little cactus' that are only about 12" (the tallest one) have blossoms about 7"-8"or more in diameter. I didn't want you to get a blurry, long distant photo so I tip toed right into the landscape just for your pleasure.

Sent with love. And also trying to find positive things about summer in AZ . . . and it's just beginning.

1.16.09

I don't know why I am forcing myself to blog. I haven't wanted to post for several days. Some of the reason for this forcing is because dear family checks in to see what I'm up to and really I don't want to let them down. Maybe I'm not living an interesting enough life right now. I really think that is part of it. Well, here is today's attempt to be a tad interesting. Forgive me if necessary.

The week started off well with being able to donate at the blood drive up at church. It was "A positive" experience. When the drive is held at church it is always fun since I will know most of the fine folks showing up to donate and we can gab.

I got around to planting the pots/urns from last summer's Oregon garage sale that Skippie transported down. They will be blooming soon but for the time look their pretty green selves. I will eventually get around to touching up the chips on the urns but don't hold you breath. I'm in need of reorganizing the patio/plants. Any sisters want to come down and help. My sister's are much more flowery than I. I also need a trip to a nursery and purchase more annuals. This is soooooooooooooo late in the season for me but still worthwhile. I do love the bloomers. And with this gorgeous upper 70's weather I can't complain about a thing.

I have turned a new page on healthy eating. I could say the holidays were ballooning for me...disgrace. 4 days is a start and so far so good. At my age it's not all about appearance but health issues. I've just finished making my WW version of vegetable soup, double batch, and a big bowl is cooling while I type. Oh how I wish food wasn't such a temptation but I will put a big effort into keeping good, fun, safe food in my home and the time to prepare.

Kirby is still my gimpy boy. My heart takes a real hit when I leave for my walks without him. I get such a sad look. He's still on the pain meds and limping the same. My guess is he will end up with surgery yet. I'd like to be wrong though.

All you loves in the cold climes I'm thinking of you and wishing you could be here basking. I know you'd enjoy the narcissus I just planted. I usually have them blooming in the house for Christmas but that didn't get done and I decided to stop stressing and just enjoy them in a pot for the new year. You know how heavenly they will smell in a few short weeks. Love my orange duckie beside.

The pixie bougainvillea below is loosing some leaves but is still such a welcoming splash of color.

Up close you can see Kirby has been squeezing passed and maybe that's what's knocking off some leaves.

My two lemon trees in pots so need to be transplanted and I must consider how that's going to happen since they are big and I can't do that alone. I've only picked one lemon, a Meyer. Last week I made lemon curd which is a delight and lemonade. Isn't it funny that most people think of lemonade as a summer drink and yet the lemons are ready to be picked in winter. Oh well.

I'll just also mention how happy I am that blogger NieNie actually posted today. What a wonderful miracle that family has received. I so welcome reading her life attitudes on a regular basis again. Hoping you and I make this a great day.

12/08/08

Guessing you too are finding much to do and time short. Understanding that, here's a fun little picture I took with my cell phone on today's walk. Only in AZ!!!

I'm A Sta.lker

This is what my petunia's look like in this heat. They're much smaller than in spring but doing their best to bring beauty and color to the yard. I give them credit, thanks and the best care I can give, even sacrificing as the sweat rolls down my nose.

Part of that care has made me a stal.ker!!!

I begin my stal.king in the early morning hours when the sun isn't shinning directly on the petunias and the air is as cool as it's going to be. I know what I'm stal.king, the hungry, hungry caterpillar!! Yes, I know you're thinking of that cute book. I like it too, but I do not like the reality of what that little beast is doing to my petunias. Just look.

Chomped and chewed, laying helpless on the edge of the planter.

Really wiped out this one!!!
Well, I have spared your delicate senses and not photographed my victory. Not one but two caterpillars. I do dispatch them quickly, no tortu.re or wat.erboa.rding. If you're a plant lover I know this isn't bothering you and I have your complete understanding. We also have a bug zapper hanging that is turned on at night to dispatch moth-like critters to the beyond. I don't want them laying eggs that turn into more caterpillars eating my valiant blossoms.

This is on my shady, covered patio at 4 pm today. Maybe you get an idea of what it's like when working out in the yard in the sunshine. And to my surprise, this is the time that I finally found the caterpillers. My surprise. The pool looks so inviting.

What's your garden doing?

Brrrrrrrrrr

Yep, you heard the desert dweller . . . brrrrrr. I know my cold doesn't compare to your cold but for me this is nippy!! Last year we had a really late and bad freeze in February with alot of damage to my frost sensitive plants and here we go again. Take a look at this ice from off a patio chair this morning.

Last evening I pulled out the extra sheets to cover as many of the plants as possible.

I was so hoping they would stay cozy and safe. After this mornings survey I think most are okay but some didn't make it. I take this so personally. Oh the burden when you love plants.

Plants uncovered and most of the sheets had to be hung up on my solar drier they were so drenched. Kirby and I had a good 2 miler and the frost was thick throughout the neighborhood with many roofs snow-white, and lawns white and crunchy looking-ours included.

How nice to get into a warm house with all the sun now streaming into those south windows. The sky is brilliant Arizona blue and by Friday we are to be basking in 70* weather. Poor Super Bowl fans who got less than our usual sunny, winter weather .

A bowl of hot oatmeal with "bugs" and drizzled with honey is just the thing to completely warm me. Bugs (raisins) are a tribute to Mom who regularly put them in my cream of wheat or cream of rice cereal for breakfast as I was growing up. I'm glad I carried on that healthy, iron-rich tradition from the time you kiddos were babies.

Thanks Mom for all the hot breaksfasts and even hot lunches at times you made for Cindy, Jode and me. In my "good old days" in Lewiston, ID and Webster Elementary school, it wasn't unusual to walk home for a lunch prepared by Mom who was an excellent cook. I also have treasured memories of purchasing lunch at school that was all made from scratch, hot, yummy and you could go back for seconds if you cleared your plate. Also fun memories of taking my lunch to school and in winter it would include a thermos of hot Campbells soup, usually chicken noodle. I love that memory. I love thermos' of hot soup or cocoa. Doesn't take much to get me smiling here. Oh, it is only partially related to food.

As you can see, I'm prepared for at least a little outing in the cold. Soup and cocoa or maybe herb tea. I'm such a scout.

Do you have school lunch memories you would share please. I'd love to hear what you recall . . . hopefully with fondness.

I can't leave without doing my patriotic duty. Here's my shirt today. Proudly displaying my sticker...I'm one of those early voters by mail.

Desert Dweller

Yes, I am a desert dweller and in the winter I absolutely love it. Winters in the southwest are mild, sunny, flowery and just great. It's so funny to see how excited we get here for a cloudy and rainy day. But give us 2 or 3 of those days and we want our winter sun back . . . now. What I'm saying is, right now is my favorite time, I'm very happy, loving the sunshine, annuals and roses and veggies filling up the patio pots. You must realize that my wardrobe reflects where I live. Rather lightweight.

So why would I leave this paradise, drive 10-11 hours north with inappropriate clothing to stay for 4 days where the temperatures will be in the 30's during the day and teens and low 20's at night! and several inches of snow!! Of course there is only one valid reason - TO VISIT DARLING KIDDOS AND GRANDS. The count down is on for leaving Thursday. I'm actually excited to head north and to get my grammy fix. Ready or not, here I come. Better pull out those oh so attractive clothes I wore while hiking West Fork; I'll be okay, really I will. Annette, will you please have hot cocoa on hand or herb tea please. Feeling a bit wimpy.

Beautiful Arizona desert gardens-not mine, but pretty to dream and plan for don't you think.

Parada del Sol

Oh the memories of yearly attending the Parada del Sol parade and rodeo. As a girl I loved all-things-horse. I had dreams of growing up to be a great horsewoman. My window ledge was lined with horse figurines and what a loving thing Mom did in getting me a subscription to Quarter Horse Magazine. I'm sure there was drool on every page. At recess my little group of friends would check out the jump rope then put it in our mouths while another held the rope as reins and we'd gallop around the playground. Oh, do you think your mom was a total nerd...the jump rope crowd did. We even perfected the whinny sound! The parade was an almost endless procession of horse-flesh which I loved but I'll admit the bigger excitement was when the ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL pom pom girls and marching band appeared. Big sister Cindy was the cutest pom girl, marched so smartly and always made the family proud. Back in the days, the pom girls had to hand make their own set of pom poms. I recall the endless flat packages of scarlet red and royal blue crepe paper. Cindy would carefully cut off very thin sections of the paper on our treasured paper cutter that we would tightly twist and then put in brown grocery bags where they stayed several days for the twist to really "set". Later each was tenderly unrolled and laided out in small bunches and taped together. Several small bunches were then put together and taped into one large bunch. Cindy expertly trimmed to exact proportions and we all shared in the end result. Now days the girls shake store bought plastic poms that really are rather disappointing. Do we all love our own good-old-days with accompaniments best? I think so. Well, the parade and rodeo will be here again the end of February and first part of March. Wouldn't it be fun to attend together. How many takers are there?

1997 Poster-So cool.

Linny the Photographer!!!

I give up!!!! I can't get the type to line-up with photos. Too frustrated to try any longer to fix when so much else needs attention. Maybe I'll fix this later. Arrrgh.

I'm finally getting Linny's most awesome photos of our trip to Sedona and West Fork on December 31, 2007 posted. I'm still savoring this day trip, camaraderie, scenery, memory and now the photos. I'll be revisiting them often to keep the memory sharp. You took fantastic pictures Linny. Thank you for braving the cold and keeping your hands glove free to take many more photos than are posted.
What's that thunderous noise I hear. Oh, after seeing these photos it's a stampede to West Fork I hear. I can hardly wait for our next trip there. Sign up early fam and friends. Let's start planning.
Linny took these next 2 while driving out of Sedona.

Trail Marker

That's us having fun.

Crossing the creek, yes, we wanted you to see our shadows.

Packed, slippery snow on bridge-between 2-3". I remember well the pre-bridge days and the slippery rock hopping to get on the trail. We love the bridge. Wonderful, old apple tree orchard on the other side of bridge.

Linny's candid shot of me - "trail leader". Linny will laugh when she reads that. Can hardly see the orange back pack on the red down coat. I was prepared!!!

Oh how I want the history of these remains. I just adore being here and every season has it's own beauty. If only walls could talk.

Sepia sight.

Just gorgeous!!!

These red cliffs look so red and warm but it was freezing here.

Tough ivy thriving in the snow.

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. Thank you again Linny for this present of pictures. I'm considering enlarging some and using them as wall decorations.