More, More, More

I usually post a "Five Senses Friday" on Friday....however, I have sooo many beautiful photos of my recent trip to Arizona that today's post is just that....more photos.  All of my senses were on overload during my wonderful week in Phoenix, Tucson & Sedona.  And by the way, a week is not near enough time to enjoy everything that Arizona has to offer, another return trip is definitely in the works.  Probably not during the summer months, hear it gets a wee warm during that time of the year.

I have never been a cactus lover but I must admit that they can produce some beautiful flowers and so different from what we have here in the midwest.

And then there were the butterflies.....be still my heart!!

And the birds....I am in heaven...the friends I stayed with had this feeder outside on their patio and this little hummingbird fed regularly from it, staying quite some time with each stop.  They don't stay this long at my feeder, hmmm wonder if they add a little something extra.

This cutie is the state bird of Arizona, the Cactus Wren.

And the quail...aren't they beautiful...he was just strolling along on top of a wall checking out the view.  Maybe trying to pick up chicks (hee hee, what a comedian I am)  Quite handsome, wouldn't you say?

As soon as we stopped the car in Sedona, I stepped out with camera in hand and spotted this blue bird on bare branches pretty far from me.  But with my trusty zoom lens I was able to capture him.  I don't see "blue" birds too often so spotting him was a definite delight.

Have to add 2 more images...I am always on the lookout for berries (remember the juniper berries??)
Don't even have a clue as to what these are, but they were berries and yellow, a must take.

And these bright red berries were on a bush with green and orange leaves...reminded me of fall but it is definitely not fall in Arizona.

I could go on and on and on with all the pics I took, but there is always tomorrow.  So stay tuned for more of Arizona....doors and more!!

Linking up to






"Any place that we love becomes our world."

Until next time....

The Juniper Berries and The Glasses

We were almost at the end of our mini-vacation in Sedona when I reached for my glasses that are usually hooked on to the front of my shirt. Well, as you might imagine, they were nowhere in sight (ha, ha little play on words).  The hunt began, first in my purse - not there, next on the car seat - not there, then on the floor of the car - not there.  It was then that the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach began to emerge.  Oh no, we have been to so many places today, where on earth could I have dropped them?

I began by calling the restaurant where we had breakfast, "The Coffee Pot Restaurant" that just happens to be at the base of the Coffee Pot Mountain.....

No luck, then I had this dreaded feeling that I had dropped them on my way down to get a good picture of the Smidgley Bridge.....

Not there either...at least I couldn't find them.  We decided to check a couple of more spots, but at this point I was convinced that they had fallen into the Oak Creek that if you look closely at the pic above on the left you can see the river thru the bars of the bridge.  I had climbed down onto those rocks to get a good shot of the river, and fyi, for the next 3 days my thighs are still sore from climbing those rocks....I am so out of shape, note to self, start exercising.  We continued on our back-tracking, what an idiot for losing glasses in Sedona, it is like looking for the needle in the proverbial haystack.  Next we stopped at the over-look heading up toward the small Sedona Airport (all small planes, won't be flying into that airport for sure).

So, so gorgeous, an unbelievable view, but no glasses.  I was losing hope at this point.  We still had a couple of more places.  We then stopped at the Shrine of the Red Rock, dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1961 by the Masons of Sedona.  Stunning, stunning views, God truly knows how to create beauty.

No luck again.  As I stepped off the steps of the shrine I began gathering juniper berries that had fallen to the ground with thoughts of taking a picture of hands holding them.  (PS I love hand shots!!).  After that we had one, just one more place to stop.  If they weren't at this very last stop then I was convinced they were at the bottom of the Oak Creek.  Mr. Friend stopped not for the views or any special outlook, but for me to gather more juniper berries for my imagined hand image.  And....and....there they were, sitting on the ground among the juniper berries, just waiting for me to return.  They had obviously dropped off in my haste of gathering.  Now tell me, who doesn't believe in small miracles??!!  Thank you God for the patience and determination of my friends in the search.

"We have been friends together in sunshine and shade."  ~  Caroline Norton

Linking today with Deb Duty for This or That Thursday

Until next time.....

From Bare Trees to Palm Trees

I am home after a fantastical week in Arizona...Phoenix, Tucson, and Sedona, all simply wonderful.  I stayed with very good friends that once lived here in the Chicago area, but as soon as Mr. Friend retired, Mr. & Mrs. Friend headed to sunny Arizona and have loved living their retirement in the glow of the desert.  While there I met several of their friends who also are basking in the glow of the desert, all continually asked me why I don't consider moving there with them.  Believe me, the thought did cross my mind.  Talk about a change of scenery....from bare trees to palm trees.  Hmmm, does sound pretty darn tempting.  I think I must be still basking in the desert glow of a wonderful vacation, give me a couple of days back here, reality will set in and that glow will begin to fade leaving behind sweet memories and dreams of returning again.

Not only did I meet many of their (Mr. & Mrs. Friend) friends, but I also met a couple of friends of mine while there.  Actually friends that I had never met in person, but felt like I knew them as well as if I had known them both for years.  Terri from Phoenix and Barbara from Tucson, both whom I "met" during our time spent at Tracey Clark's classes at Big Picture Classes website.  Tracey developed Picture Spring, Summer, Fall, Holidays, and Winter and all of us (myself, Terri & Barbara amongst many others) participated in each one of these classes meeting and getting to know each other thru our photography. Since I knew I would be vacationing in Phoenix I decided to contact Terri from Phoenix and Barbara from Tucson in hopes that we could somehow, someway have a "meet-up".  And it happened, Terri picked me up in her car, we both drove to Tucson and met Barbara and together we three spent the day together talking, eating, laughing, and sharing our passion for photography.  I did not want that day to end, it went by too fast.  If you ever, ever get the opportunity to have a "meet-up" with friends you have "met" thru your love of photography and/or blogging, take it.  You will not be disappointed.

Stop by our collaborative blog Focusing on Life today where I am continuing my thoughts on vacations.

While in Phoenix we visited the Botanical Garden and these are a few images from that trip.

Mr. & Mrs. Quail....

I was in heaven seeing all these beautiful birds and butterflies being so close, capturing their beauty.

"Stretch out your hand and receive the world's wide gift of joy, appreciation and beauty."
~  Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

Until next time.....