It was a BEAUTIFUL Saturday afternoon for a hike with family.
The temperature sat at about 65 degrees, and the sun, deciding that we could use a little less glare, tucked itself behind a thin veil of clouds, and our 2 1/2 mile chosen loop was just right for the 4 of us.
My dad, myself, and my brother Mark and his wife Sharolyn.
When you are hiking a place so remote, so desolate, conversation stops at times just so you can fully appreciate the incredible beauty of the landscape before you.
I have always loved the saguaro cactus, standing tall and proud. I love the vastness of this place. The rugged landscape speaks of a much harsher time in history – I don’t know how anyone lived here 100 years go, but there is civilization just a few miles away and all of the comforts that modern living provides.
On the move!
Step aside, and watch your step for “horse apples!”
King of the hill!
Princess of the Cactus?
If the cactus could stand tall and proud and thrive under difficult situations, SO CAN WE!
I wouldn’t trade this for the world.
One of the things dad wanted to take care of last night was going over his living will, and all of that medical stuff for how he would like us to take care of things “when the time comes.” As much as we hate to think about it, or talk about it – it was a good time to do it because we were together. That done, plan in place – we can now shelve it and just enjoy each other for MANY MANY years to come.
This is just so different from the terrain at home.
I love it!
Father and son. My heart smiles.
My legs also rest!
After this we headed over to my bother’s house for a family dinner – we were joined by my niece Emilee and her hubby Hunter – and their baby daughter Marin who was born this spring. This was my first time meeting her in person and I am SMITTEN!
What a cutie patootie!
She adores her great-grandpa!
Oh, little one – you steal my heart!
Long into the late hours we talked and laughed and enjoyed just being together. I am so grateful that my job takes me where far-away family is so that I get to see them on a somewhat regular basis.
This afternoon I’ll be driving up to Prescott for my time with the Thumb Butte Quilters, and I can’t wait to see them again. I was here just a couple of years ago. Prescott is such a wonderful city, and vastly different terrain than what is found down here in the Valley of the Sun.
Quilty Adventures AWAIT!
This evening I’m doing the drawing of our winner of the En Provence Bundle Gift-Away that was posted on our En Provence Quilt Reveal. Did you enter to win? If not, you can do so on that post HERE.
Tomorrow morning we’ll have our Mystery Monday Link-Up, so be sure to come back and share your stuff!
Quiltville Quote of the Day!
Variable star quilt made by me in the late 1980s. It lives at my dad's house and no matter how humble it is, he loves it ands keeps it on the couch at all times.
Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!
Our family traveled to Arizona a few years ago and it is beautiful. We were there in July and everyone told us it was "dry heat". We discovered that heat is heat, but the trip was still fantastic for our family. Glad you are making memories with your family and beginning the New Year right.
ReplyDeleteArizona looks beautiful. It's on my list of places to visit. Looks like a wonderful time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post for several reasons. The first being the joy on all of the faces of your family at being together. It warmed MY heart! Although I live in California, AZ is "my place". You know, that place where you get there, look around, and say aah. It does for me what the ocean or mountains does for others. I want to recommend a book called These is My Words by Nancy Turner. It is historical fiction describing a woman who settles in the Arizona Territory. It has everything - even a love story. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
ReplyDeleteIt is bitter cold here in Massachusetts. I am glad you are enjoying warm time in AZ! The cactus are so cool!
ReplyDeleteYou need to read "Lassoing the Sun" by Mark Woods if you appreciate the silence found in nature. It is a beautiful but very emotional read. WARNING - there is a lot of love and loss in the book even though it is about the National Park System. It is also about the profound effect that the parks had on his life when younger and in the year he traveled to write the book. It is about family. It is amazing.
ReplyDeleteyour family is wonderful. glad you are enjoying some time off from your busy schedule. love your pics. I live through you and your blogs. you are a wonder.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of Marin are just wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm taking my son on a trip for spring break to the same area! I can't wait to see the big cactus! You have wet my appetite!
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