After meeting at the Phoenix airport, we headed south for 2 days in Tucson. First a warning - do not ever stay at the Days Inn on Craycroft Road in Tucson. LOL. What a place. The divided room turned out to be a good thing, as Jeanette wasn't feeling well that evening. She was able to crawl into bed and close the door, get some much-needed rest. From the smashed lampshade to the bizarre shower "art" to the ever-present clanging of the security gate...abundance of plastic plants (in a climate where things grow as if by magic), and the unsettling number of "No Trespassing" signs around the property...let's just say that one night there was quite enough!
Saddest lamp ever
The only decoration in the shower
was this candle painted on the tile!
Even tho still not feeling quite right, Jeanette was amazing and determined to see Saguaro National Park and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. We enjoyed the loop drive through the park, marveling at the thousands of giant Saguaros, each seemingly with its own personality. Like snowflakes - no two were alike! The weather was perfect, the sky was AZ blue, and we spotted a jackrabbit and a few brittlebush in bloom. We stopped for a short walk along the Mica Trail, but before we could begin we met a gentleman who is a seasonal ranger at the park. During our chat we discovered that not only was he a retired teacher from West Chicago...but he was Jeanette's high school English teacher! How incredible is that?
Jeanette with Mr. Leitner
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - what a place! We saw many of the indigenous creatures in their native habitats, many more of our favorite Saguaros and a wonderful hummingbird house. It was Saturday of Presidents' Day weekend, so we did have to share the place with thousands of other bipeds. We crammed in as much as possible before heading north to Sedona.
Jeanette woke on Sunday feeling much better, so we took our first Sedona hike along the Baldwin Trail. This beautiful little 2 mile loop skirts Oak Creek, with jaw-dropping views of Cathedral Rock. The next few days were spent on morning hikes (Mescal Mountain and then Little Horse to Chicken Point), a picnic (in the car - quite chilly up in the canyon) at the West Fork Trail Head, a bit of sightseeing, a bit of shopping and non-stop yakking and laughing.
Hanging around at Chicken Point
I think she's having fun!
Of course, our time went by much too quickly and we were soon back on the road to the airport in Phoenix. So sad to bid good-bye to my "Sedona Sister" - until we meet again!
Meanwhile, back at Casa Neglecta...
A bit of progress here and there. New kitchen backsplash is in and love it! Very happy with the tile choice and the difference it makes in the appearance of the kitchen. Electrician coming this week to install new ceiling fans and light fixtures - good-bye 1970's decor!
Bird activity in the yard is at a frenzied pace. Have never seen so many juncos in one place! Trying to entice Western Bluebirds into the yard, and nearly killed myself falling off a ladder after hanging a nesting box. While digging weeds yesterday, I looked up to see...a male bluebird on a yucca stalk! I hope he tells his friends of the fresh water and bird buffet over here.
This Canyon Towhee got into the house
and led me on quite the chase.
Caught him with a blanket,
administered TLC, and happily saw him fly away.
I'm anxious to try my hand at vegetable gardening here. Have been to a couple of seminars, planted early peas and lettuces, and hope I might have success with a few things. The Coop of Doom is gone - yay! Because that area is fenced in, I am going to use it for my little farm. Our weather has been wild lately - on Friday we had quite the snowstorm, on Saturday we had a mix of snow and rain, and on Sunday I was digging weeds in the warm sunshine. The winter bursts we get here are short-lived and I'll gladly take that over the recent snows in IL. Altho I do really miss snowshoeing with my pals!
The Sedona International Film Festival was wonderful! I've never been much of a movie-goer, but I saw 5 films in one week and loved everything. I volunteered on the last day, handing out and collecting ballots for audience votes. We had a great time at the KebMo' concert on opening night - so excited that Keb came to Sedona! I chose all environmental documentaries with our pass package, plus one for which I bought a separate ticket. I highly recommend all of the following:
Carbon Nation - about climate change and the innovative ways people and companies are working toward lessening the impact on the planet
Chasing Ice - a photographer set up cameras to photograph shrinking glaciers (Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Glacier National Park) and put together time lapse images of the changes. Breathtaking!
Pad Yatra - a group of people follow a Buddhist leader on a hike across the Himalayas. They collect 800 pounds of plastic along the way, and teach local villagers how to avoid its use and impact. Amazing that plastic soda bottles find their way to the roof of the world...
Go Ganges - two young American guys travel the length of the Ganges River in India. An amazing journey, and they are hilarious as they try to negotiate their way by any means possible.
Any Day Now - the one non-environmental film I saw. Based on a true story from the late 70's, of a gay couple's attempt to adopt a teenage boy with Down Syndrome. Alan Cumming ("The Good Wife") is incredible in this thought-provoking and heartbreaking story.
I am now anxiously anticipating the arrival of the Nerd Herd! Six of my wonderful friends from IL will be here in early April. I know I will enjoy sharing Sedona with them and look forward to spending time with everyone. I have really hit the jackpot in the friend lottery!
Happy Spring!
Sounds like so much fun!!!
ReplyDelete