Air Mail….

 

I’m going to be gone for the entire weekend without my laptop, but I wanted to leave you with some more photos from my trip to Skull Valley.

               Don’t you just love some people’s sense of humor?

 

 

“There once was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn’t know what to do….”   Annie loves big rocks and boulders and this one reminded me of an old shoe.

 

Sunlight dripping from heaven to kiss this tree back to life. 

 

Watson Lake was a beautiful place.  In some places, it looked prehistoric.

 

As the sun sets on this week, I hope you all are blessed and happy.  Enjoy your weekend and I’ll catch up with you when I get back from Strawberry.

Skulls, blooms and museums…

 

Here are some shots from my recent trip to Skull Valley with Annie.

Notice the bullet hole in the forehead…all the stories I’ve read regarding how the area got its name, are pretty violent.

 

In all the times I’ve passed through here, I had never stopped at the store.  Annie and I did and what a wonderful place it was!  It’s been there since 1916 and has many of the original fixtures.  I love the Rainbo Bread sign on the screen door.

 

This is the first time that the gas station/garage was open.  I didn’t check out the gas prices though.

 

There were so many flowering trees and Forsythia blooming.  It was beautiful and I could easily call this little place home.

 

I can’t even guess how long some of these old Cottonwoods have stood like soldiers along the river bed.

 

The museum wasn’t open the day we went through. It is in the old Railroad Depot that has been restored.  I had to take my shot through a chain link fence balancing on my crutches…please be kind.

So much history and such a beautiful place. 

Since I’m not much good around the house, I’m headed this weekend to Annie’s family’s  cabin in Strawberry. We may see some snow flurries and are sure to have a fire in the fireplace!!  I’m hoping her mom’s Iris will be in bloom.       

And that makes me feel brave…

 

If you’ve been following the ongoing story of life’s blessings and tragedies for Mr. and Mrs. Finch, you’ll be very happy to hear that they have persevered and there are new eggs in the nest.

(Picture courtesy of my sweet Nicole – done very quickly so as not to disturb the Finches.)

I don’t want to make light of all the current tragedies in the world, but I did see parallels in what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Finch and some things happening around the globe.  I know it’s a terrible time right now, but I hope and pray we’ll be able to persevere also and rebuild.

It all made me think of a song by Owl City entitled “Tidal Wave”.  If you have a chance to listen to the complete song, you should.  I think you might enjoy it.

 

“The end is uncertain
And I’ve never been so afraid.
But I don’t need a telescope
To see that there’s hope
And that makes me feel brave.”

When turtles fly….

 

I took a road trip with my BFF, Annie, yesterday.  We hit the road and had lunch at Anita’s in Wickenburg, cruised through Congress Junction, climbed (in the car) Yarnell Hill, breezed through the town of Yarnell and then spent lovely hours in the Kirkland – Skull Valley area.  We did end up finally making it to Prescott and (of course) The Gurley Street Grill for sweet potato fries!!!  Just on the edge of Prescott is Watson Lake and there’s a very nice park there.  It was a breezy day and the kids were out with their kites.

 

 

 

 

Brian, this is the one I should have saved “Kowabunga” for, huh?  My son, David, loved The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and I kinda think you might have liked them too. :)

This one looked so beautiful in the sky.

 

I so wished I didn’t have a cast on my foot!  I would have been right out there with the kids flying a kite.

Kowabunga!!!

 

                                                    Hope you all have a fun-filled weekend!!!

 

Happy Birthday, Leslie!!!

They went that a way…..

 

This is a shot I took the day Tracy and I went to the duck pond. I have seen this cactus for years and it always makes me think of the title of the post. Tracy thought it looks like a horse at the top.

What do you think?

Of course, now you can see all the dust on my lens. Such is life. :)

Got to take the girls to school.  

Flower caviar…

You'll have to look close to see the caviar.

Sunshine and flowers….what else?

 

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity.”
Joseph Addison

On point….

 

This goose was standing in this position for several minutes the day Tracy and I went to the park.

It made me think of a ballerina….really. No, I was not on drugs legal or otherwise!!  I have proof…of a sort.  Here’s Tracy’s post with the same bird.

You know you’re a shut in….

 

when you start taking pictures of pictures.

Recently, Sharon at Phoenix Daily Photo, posted a picture of the Phoenix Indian School.

Which reminded me of pictures I had seen of it in a book with historical photos.

 

The book is  “Early Maricopa County 1871-1920”

 

This shot is for Ramblin’ Kathy because I think this is one of her favorite houses….maybe…not sure.

There once was a…..

 

My stab at a limerick….

 

 

There once was a lady from Goodyear,
Whose broken foot put her on her rear.
“If I don’t soon get out,
And get moving about,
I’ll  be as big as a barn, I fear.”

 

I would love to have my friends give me there shots at this.  I was afraid to use purple…nothing to rhyme with it…unless you did some creative spelling. :)

And the winner is….

 

A friend of mine at Bellingham Daily was kind enough to pass this award to me and I would like to pass it on to Diane at Desert Colors.  There are so many wonderful blogs out there and I’ve made so many new friends since starting my blog. The world is a good place filled with lots of wonderful people.

 

You so deserve this, Diane.

Sad news in the neighborhood….

 

Recently we had a storm blow through late one night.  Sadly, it brought down the Mr. and Mrs. new home and brought a tragic end to their family.  They haven’t tried to move back in, but hopefully, they found somewhere else to start over.  :(

Random shots from the lake…

 

Just an assortment of photos from the lake.

She was a beauty and full of eggs. We put her back.

 

Not everything flying over the lake was a bird.

 

“Let’s go faster, Dad!”

 

Saw this while stopping for gas in Cave Creek on the way to the lake.

 

You can tell it was a dusty drive to the lake.  Peace out! 

Spreading their wings….

 

Here are a few of our feathered friends I got pictures of at Bartlett Lake while on my fishing trip with my family,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, maybe they weren’t ALL spreading their wings.  I’m thinking this is a pair of the elusive Ostrich Ducks….  :)  

Soaking up the sun….

 

Yesterday afternoon I made it down the steps and outside to soak up a little sun. Millie, the wearer of nasturtium berets, decided she’d join me.

Here is some of my world as seen from my chair.

My Freesias are blooming but I’m not ready to venture out and see them close up.

You all know of my love of dragon flies. This one soaks up the sun also and then glows at night.

Nasturtiums are a favorite of mine also. In part because through last year’s photos of Nasturtiums, I met Ramblin’ Kathy and we have become friends.  Life is good.

Gettin’ busy!!!

 

If you remember my recent post about home building in Phoenix, you’ll understand what this is all about.

The Mr. and Mrs. have lost no time in bringing a family into their new digs.  This photo is courtesy of my lovely daughter, Nicole. There was no way I was going to get up the ladder required to get the shot without disturbing the eggs.  Hopefully, we’ll have a picture of the little ones squawking to be fed soon.

PS:  Thank you all for your kind words and wishes. I’m vowing to stay away from the pity parties from now on and I’m only using the vicodin at night.  Thank you all for keeping my window on the world open.

Clipped wings…

 

Here I sit in my house, in my chair, in my pity….I want my wings back. 

But on a good note, I did manage to figure out how to take my shower today and I have seen several episodes of “Criminal Minds” that I’ve enjoyed. Okay – that’s all I’ve got. :)

Flying high…..

 

but grounded.

 

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Somehow I messed up and reposted the picture from my foot injury in December, but no. This is my left foot – that was my right foot.  The left foot is broken.  Happened this morning while unpacking from our camping trip. It now has a temporary splint on it and I see the Orthopedic man on Wednesday to find out if I will need a pin or just a cast. Really I’m not as much of a klutz as the evidence indicates.  But this does alter a lot of my picture-taking plans for the spring.

So, with the Vicodin kicking in I’m flying high (when I’m not sleeping), but I’m grounded.  I’ll be quite the sight helping my mom along….me with my crutches and her with her walker!  Just gotta laugh.

Welcome home!

 

This is the beautiful sunset that welcomed me home after our trip to the lake.

 

I’ll be back into the swing of things tomorrow. I’ve missed my blogging buddies!

Heading for the lake….

 

My family and I are headed for the lake for some fishing and family time. I’ll be offline until late Wednesday. I’ll check up on all of you when I get back and see what you’ve been up to.

Although, Tracy was right and I did miss a lot of the ducks landing on the water. I did manage to get a couple. :)

 

I’ll see you all when I come “slipping” back into town on Wednesday!!!