I’m going out on a limb here…

 

and betting that you can guess where I’m headed this weekend.  Especially if I tell you it involves Annie, books and scary movies…and I’m hoping rain.  I knew you would guess!!  Strawberry here we come!  We are headed up to check on the progress being made by the young man she hired to do some yard work.  It’s very important that the underbrush and lower limbs of trees in areas like Strawberry are kept cleared away in case of fire.  So you know that we’re being responsible stewards and not just getting away from the heat and chores here at home.  :) 

I’ll play catch up with all your blogs when I get back down to the Valley.  I wouldn’t want to miss one single post.  Have a lovely weekend and be safe!

Not so scary…

 

I know that a lot of people consider cemeteries to be scary places. Haunted with ghosts, ghouls or zombies.  I find them to be very peaceful places that touch me in many different ways.  Recalling the hardships of life gone by, the love of family, the loneliness of neglect, the triumph of the human spirit…I could go on and on.

 

On our last trip to Strawberry, Annie and I visited the Pine cemetery.  It was established in 1881 and the land was donated to the town by a local family.

 

I am drawn to the older parts of a cemetery and appreciate the ornateness (my word) of the headstones there.  It may be hard to see, but this one says of David - “A gem so fair we could not keep”.  And of Louisa  - “None knew her but to love her.”  What wonderful sentiments.

 

This marker was for a child who died at birth. It was not small by any means and stood testament to the love and hope this child represented for his parents through the nine months his mother carried him.

 

There were balloons,  cars,  stuffed animals and flowers left to comfort or honor the dead.  But I found this toy gun especially poignant.

 

And for John - “He rendered home his happiest place.”  Doesn’t that bring peace to your heart?  Does mine.

 

And what more needs to be said but, “We loved him.” ? 

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way about cemeteries.  There were benches and tables and chairs left close to loved one’s grave sights so that family or friends might stop awhile and spin the yarn of memories across their minds and hearts.  I don’t believe the spirits of any of these people linger here.  I believe visiting is for the comfort of those left behind.

But at one point, I felt a small tug on my shirt tail and imagined it was a small boy asking if I had seen his toy gun…     

Don’t know what….

 

to call this post.  I am still having trouble posting on three of my favorite blogs.  I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten you.  I visit and read each of your posts.

So, Chris at Las Aventuras, Betsy at My Five Men and Steve at The Fourth Dimension don’t give up on me.  I’m still trying to figure out what’s wrong and why I can’t post to your blogs.

I’m also at a quandary….can you be “at” a quandary or do you need to be “in” a quandary….as to what picture I might add to this post.  You know me.  When in doubt post a flower!

 

Or maybe several…these are blooming right now profusely. 

Since my technology girl…that would be Tracy….is back from the beach, I may be able to get this solved soon.  Don’t give up on me!!

At last…

 

We are finally getting some rain.  This shot was taken on July 4th when the Phoenix valley had a lovely rain.  Last night (no, I did not get up to take any pictures) we had another nice rain.  We had to endure the required dust storm before last night’s rain though. It’s steamy today, but I don’t dare complain.  Love, love, love the rain!

On a side note, I’m having trouble posting comments to some of my favorite blogs.  They don’t seem to be recognizing my Google profile.  I’ll keep working on it, but in the meantime, know I’m still checking in with your blogs everyday.

The skies held lots of…

 

clouds and promises of rain, but we didn’t get any.  It was disappointing, but if I have to be disappointed, Strawberry is a good place to be when it happens.    I have more things to share, but I’m running on my battery while doing this post and I’m just about to run out of battery.  (As I was typing and got to the word “about”, everything went black. I guess I was closer to running out of battery than I thought.)  

So anyway, the skies were beautiful, but no rain fell.   We even stayed an extra day hoping to get rain.  But I’m glad to be back home and getting caught up with all your posts.

It ain’t all about the boys…

 

Tracy drug politely invited me to go with her to see the Tumbler Tour that was passing through town promoting the new Black Knight movie.  It was sweltering a bit warm, but we got there early enough to beat most of the heat.  I’m kidding you and you all know it!  I love when Tracy comes up with these fun, off-the-wall kinda things to do.

I did learn one thing…Batman ain’t all about boys.

 

I also learned that even though Chris is a big time fan, he couldn’t guess what the mystery item was on Tracy’s post yesterday. 

 

The news was there and I am so hoping that I didn’t accidently get in any of their footage.  You know the camera adds fifty pounds, right?  :)

 

This is how the Tumbler and the Bat Pod travel from location to location.  Gotta wonder why…they both had wheels of their own. Oh, I forgot to show you what we went there to see, didn’t I.

Well to see that, you’ll just need to jump on over to Tracy’s blog linked above and check it out.

And a big BTW…I’m headed to Strawberry in the morning and won’t be back on my computer until Saturday.  I’ll miss you guys, but am so looking forward to heading up north. We actually had rain here in Phoenix today and I’m sure it’s really lovely in the pines. I’ll miss you all, but catch up when I get back!

Blessings!

I spy with my little eye…

 

something that poops.

I had been noticing on the sidewalk under a certain part of this tree an abundance of, well let’s just say it…poop.  I went out after sunset to investigate and looked up into the tree to spot three little bird bottoms.  Luckily this wasn’t a time when pooping was taking place.  I had to use my flash, but these three young doves (probably siblings) stayed right where they were so I could get their picture.  Mystery solved! 

Fun for everyone…

 

I received my gift from Betsy at My Five Men this past week.  This was the second Pedicure Party that Betsy hosted.  I was lucky enough to be selected (randomly) as the winner. Yeah!

Betsy is such a sweet and thoughtful person.  She remembered that I had mentioned an OPI color – Melon of Troy – that I liked and she enclosed a coupon.  I love my blogging community. Random acts of kindness happen all the time.

But I have to confess.  I wasn’t the only one who was excited when I opened my package.  You should have seen the two teenage girls in the room go crazy over the bubble wrap.  Until I wanted to take pictures…then they acted a little sedate.   I wanted to share the moment with you anyway, but I’m too technologically challenged to load the video.  Seventeen tries is my limit on a Saturday night after two glasses of wine. (I really thought they might help). ;)  So you’ll just have to imagine how much fun they had with the bubble wrap.

Thank you again, Betsy!  You’re a dream.

At the end…or new beginning…

 

I choose to see this as the end of the project, but the beginning of the tables’ new lives.

Didn’t Greg do a wonderful job at executing my design plans? Because I have to be really honest…he did 98% of the work.

 

These are the glass mosaic tiles that we picked out together for the top.  We couldn’t find anything with more of a yellow theme, but liked the nature colors and tones in these.

 

Now my favorite part…getting to use them again. A nice cool glass of Apricot Honeybush Tea, a candle and a good book…all next to my swing.  Life is perfect!!!  

In the middle…

 

Well, progress is being made.  Not as quickly as I would like, but then I’m not very good with power tools so I have to rely on hubby to help.

The primer coat and final color have been done.  I bet you thought they were going to be purple. :)

 

This piece of plywood had to be cut and then notched to fit…

 

these do-hickeys (sorry I don’t like using all these technical terms, but I never want to dumb-down my blog)   ;)

 

Here’s a deliberately obscure picture (yea, let’s go with that) of the new tops.  I don’t want to give it all away too soon.

Hopefully soon you’ll see the finished project.

In the beginning…

 

I have no idea why now, in the heat of the summer, I have become inspired to do so many crafty little projects.  This is one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately and have just decided now is the time.

I have had two of these outdoor tables for several years and they are beginning to look the worse for wear. 

 

This was one of the tiles that used to be the top of the tables. This one obviously had a plant sitting on it more often and really looks bad.  You can see that they were made out of some kind of compressed material that is coming apart.

 

After removing the “tiles” this is what was left.  The camera (or operator) didn’t quite focus on the right part of the frame…sorry.  But the most difficult part of this whole process was left to me to do.  I had to remove the old glue…not easy.  A chisel proved to be the best tool for the job.

 

Now I have two frames all clean and ready for primer and paint.  Which my husband will apply this evening.  You’re just going to have to wait and see what I have planned for the new tops.   

Random shots…

 

I’ve been cruising through several of my picture folders reminiscing about the trips I went on with friends or family. This is just a random sampling…

This quote often comes to mind.  It’s a favorite.

 

 

These nasturtiums remind me of Kathy, a good friend I’ve made while on this blogging journey.

 

 

This shot was taken on a trip Nicole and made up to Strawberry with Annie. This was at Tonto Natural Bridge. So cool and green.

 

 

   

Peace out, Peeps.  (This ones for you, Steveroni.)

Grains of sand…

 

 

“It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe.”  Robert W. Service

”To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour.”  William Blake

“An ostrich with its head in the sand is just as blind to opportunity as to disaster”  Unknown

Come join the party…

 

Betsy at My Five Men is hosting a mani and pedi party again!  I decided this time I would join in on the fun.

I had hoped to launch a thousand ships with OPI’s color “Melon of Troy”, but sadly the salon was out of that color and this was as close as I could come.  I think I need to buy my own bottle for in the future.  But go on over and check out all the fun at Betsy’s.

I’m so blue…

 

Okay, being blue is sometimes something that takes control of me, but in this case, I’m not the one that’s blue.

I have no idea what button I must have pushed, but all these shots of the humming bird came out this way.  I believe this is a female, but I don’t know of which kind of humming bird.

Maybe someone out there can help me identify it.

I’m going with the story that it was blue because it knew that Annie and I were headed down the mountain and it was sad.  Don’t you think it looks a little sad? 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and that there’s not a blue one in the bunch.  :)

Not by the hair…

 

of our chinney, chin, chins.  This momma javelina and her two little babies were at the cabin this last weekend too.  She was very protective and we gave her lots of room and respect.  There was another momma with only one baby also, but I didn’t get any pictures of her.  She was very shy and probably a first time mom.

There is so much to see and enjoy at the cabin.  It’s hard to head home sometimes. :)

Back down the mountain…

 

Annie and I made the trip back down the mountain yesterday afternoon.  We got caught up in a traffic jam that was five miles long when we jumped on board.  It ended up stretching back ten miles before all was said and done.  There was a fire in the median south of Cordes Junction.  This is always one of the hazards of traveling north for the weekend around here. Don’t you know the restrooms at Sunset Point were doing a bustling business because not all of us were brave or desperate enough to stop at a shrub along the way.

We had a wonderful time and the weather couldn’t have been better.  I just know I’m really meant to live in the mountains…maybe someday.

I was enjoying a book while up there and will leave you with a quote from a Native American, Ohiyesa (Charles Alexander Eastman).

“”We know that the God of the educated and the God of the child, the God of the civilized and the God of the primitive, is after all the same God; and that this God does not measure our differences, but embraces all who live rightly and humbly on the earth.”    Ohiyesa

This little light of mine…

 

I had an idea about lighting for my new porch swing that Nicole and I made happen the other day.

I bought these sweet little jars to hold tea light candles.

 

We put cup hooks in the beam added chain and waited for it to get dark.

 

This picture doesn’t do it justice, but you’ll get the idea.  It was a wonderful, soft glow and made enjoying the swing at night even better.

Guess what??  I’m headed back up to Strawberry with Annie this weekend.  We need to get some things that she left up there after our last trip.  You don’t suppose she did that on purpose, do you? I’ll catch up with everyone when I get back.  Be safe and enjoy your weekend.

Promises and hopes…

 

of things to come.  This is Nicole’s watermelon vine.  We’re hoping that the fruit will start setting on.

Lost in a rosemary jungle…  I love the flavor that rosemary brings to many things.

I somehow missed getting a picture of the thyme.  This morning Nicole and I had fresh thyme scrambled in with our eggs.  Devine!  It’s not always the most rewarding gardening that happens here in Arizona, but we try to make the most of what we can.  I hope you do that with the rest of this week…make the most of it.  :) 

It’s a BEE-utiful day…

 

 

The first guy stands about 2 1/2 feet tall and the second guy is tiny and spins in the wind.  I have a thing for bees…real or otherwise.  We’re easing into summer and it is getting HOT!  I’m beginning to venture outside, but not so very far yet.