Arizona Colors

The ever-changing colors of the desert can seem both enticing and foreboding at the same time.

Even in the dead of winter ---the view is SO vast and SO captivating ---Mountain ranges rimming the desert valleys ----empty roads as far as the eye can see.

I’ve always loved mountains ---we were surrounded by them where I grew up in San Jose, California.  The mountains were always there, standing as sentinels, watching over our daily lives.

When we moved to Idaho, there they were ---A different group of mountains than I had grown up with, but mountains all the same – always there on the horizon.  Covered with snow for months on end through the winter, spring, and even summer – I remember taking the kids on camping trips into the sawtooth mountains in July or August, and still ---there was snow in places that the sun could not reach.  There was ice on the canvas sides of our little tent trailer that though old and ugly – a relic of the late 1960s or early 1970s ((As I think of it, someone would surely call it cute and shabby chic if we still had it now!)) gave us years of camping memories to treasure.

And THEN we moved to Texas ----FLAT.  No mountains.  It was a strange feeling at first, as if there was nothing to hold us contained.

Some long for the sea shore – I long for the mountains.

I took these photos on our way back to the Phoenix area from Cottonwood…watching the changing terrain – waiting for that moment when we would descend low enough to catch our first glimpse of the saguaro cactus ---it’s a matter of “don’t see them yet ---“ and “oh – there they are!”  This photo of course was – don’t see them yet.  You have to drop far enough in elevation that they can survive.

How different these mountains are from the mountains of my adopted home – North Carolina!

After the guild meeting had concluded, and all was packed back into the back of Dad’s PT Cruiser ----we were invited to join the ladies for lunch at a darling little place in a beautiful area over a creek before we headed out on our way.

Never one to turn down the offer of good food and good company – HA!!  We kindly accepted and drove to our location ---who’s name escapes me now.  I had to stop by the front door and have my picture taken with the pepper “ristra” as we don’t get these in North Carolina either --- the dried peppers would never survive our humidity!

This is the winter view of colors from my window-side seat at the table.  It was so peaceful watching the river float by – watching the birds that came and went from the tree closest the window.

Lunch Special!

Our server said tthat the lunch special was chicken tacos….and when I asked the size….she made a small gesture indicating that they were only (this big) –not very big at all!  And when the plate came…..these things were HUGE!  And also very delicious…..forcing Dad to grab my camera to shoot a pic of me trying to wrap my mouth around this thing.  Pair it with sweet potato fries and I was a happy and very full girl!

I’m writing this from my brother’s house ----I spent the night last night!  It was fun laughing and catching up with my nieces and nephew, and even spent time in the back yard with my brother Mark who’s major back yard project is tiling a built in BBQ area -----we joked about the similarities of laying tile on the diagonal to quilting…..I placed spacers as he set the tiles one by one into the thin set ---He, worrying that this corner was off, or that one was a bit turned, and me, bringing up quilting anecdotes like “Done is Better Than Perfect” and talking about some imaginary galloping horse theory and how “Grout lines can cover a multitude of sins…..”

In other words --- It will All Quilt Out!

Colors of the Sunset over Basha’s Parking Lot!

I joined my Sister-in-law, Sharolyn in her errand running ---picking up sandwiches at Subway for an easy dinner –dropping off my niece Ashley at soccer practice, only to turn around a bit later to go pick her up ((Oh, I remember those days!)) and finally settling in with a family movie and pop-corn to end the night.

Someone please tell me how to get the song from “That thing you do” OUT of my head?!

I’ve said it before ---family time is so good, so important, and I’m so glad I’m here.  I tend to get all wrapped up in deadlines and projects and things that have to be done, and emails that have to be replied to, and contracts signed and sent back  --sometimes I need a reminder that there are things more important than quilts.

This week is that reminder for me to slow down and savor every moment with family.

Tonight??  Les Mis!