Some Odds & Ends

The resort has a 'green way' that connects the north and south ends of the resort down the very middle creating an east and west side. The 'green way' is a paved path, a sidewalk of sorts, that goes up to the road and then back down to a 'ditch'. Other than a few little grassy areas, the green way is our only 'lawn' at the resort.  It is a very nice short cut for those living at one end or the other.

The green way ditch near us often fills with water after a rain.

 After over two inches of rain this week, the ditch was full. So full in fact, the landscaping crew decided to pump the water out, onto the street.

A look at the back part of the photo looks like fall with all the yellow and gold leaves near the culvert and road.

The green way is empty and once again a walkable path.

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If you have been following my blog, you know how I have fretted about our fire stick cactus. The pencil cactus is supposed to get red or orange tips giving the appearance of the pencil cactus on 'fire'.

Our pencil cactus had grown so much over the summer and looked very healthy. But it was disappointing to not see any red or orange tips when the other pencil/fire stick cactus in the resort were displaying the appropriate color.

We planted the pencil cactus in the front of the house. We don't often walk by the front of our house, we usually walk along the back to get to the street. So imagine my surprise this week when I put the string of lights along the front and really noticed the fire stick.

The tips are doing their thing!  Hopefully the night time temperatures won't drop so low and cause the damage it did last winter. It is looking pretty good right now. YEAH!

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And finally, I enjoy some color and real flowers during our winter stay. I found some Gerbera daisies and put them in one of my pots. Two of the three plants were blooming this week.

A Fire and a Sunset

Last Friday the hikers were invited to a BBQ. Friday was one of the warmest days all week, so it was very pleasant to be eating outside and enjoying the company of our fellow hikers.

 that group is gathered around the appetizer table

 our host, Joe grilling the steaks

 Our hostess, Dianne with camera in hand

 the first batch of steaks were done

the next group enjoying steak, baked potatoes & beans

 the fires, three of them, were lit as the sun was

beginning to set

 

the neighbor's lights along the fence

 the color of the sky as the sun set

 no clouds that evening

silhouetted saguaros and a feathery palo verde
There was also a full moon, but the little camera
would not do it justice.

Thanks Joe & Dianne for a lovely evening.

A Little Bling at Technique

Some photos from last week's trip to Technique at the Cordon Bleu Culinary School of Arts in Scottsdale. These will show some of the 'bling' of the day.

 A table in one of the 5th Avenue shops

 Isn't that table leg just the coolest thing?

 Red Hat Sue's ring

Mary's red shoes

 Queen Cathy's hat

 Jane's cane

 A chocolate creation on display

 More detail

 Some of the wisps & curlicues

another chocolate creation on display 

Another Rainbow

Today was the second day of rain in the area. Lots of snow was falling up north in the higher elevations, so we were lucky to just have the rain. In fact, Flagstaff didn't have school today. People at the resort took pictures of an awesome rainbow yesterday afternoon. I missed it. But today...a neighbor called us to say there was a rainbow. I grabbed the camera and ran out in the rain to get some photos. Two photos later, the camera battery went dead. I ran back inside to grab the second camera, and in that short time span, the brilliant colors were beginning to fade. But this is what I did get.

It is still raining tonight as I post this. 1.73 inches of rain so far in the two days. That is a lot at any one time for this area. As colorful and pleasing as the rainbow is, and as needed as the rain is for the area, I am ready for some SUNSHINE!

Saturday's Adventure

Kari: Guess where we were?

What gave it away?



Saturday we rode the train

 with Linda & Jerry

to the ASU campus to watch some basketball.

North Dakota State was in town for a men's basketball game.

ASU Sun Devils hosted the Bison for a 2:00 ballgame.

Not many folks attended the game. The band did a great job.

It wasn't a high scoring game, but a close game up to the very end.

The Bison tied the game. We thought for sure it would go into overtime...

 but a final 3 point shot put the Sun Devils on top.


After the game we stopped at one of our favorite spots on Mill Street to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. See the first two photos.

We tasted two new beers. On the right is the Kilt Lifter, produced by a local brewery. I don't remember the name for the one on the right. Reubens & Fish & Chips. YUM!

Then it was out to the street to see the sights and sounds of a Saturday night.

I think there was a Santa convention next door.

I loved the street decorations,

the wrapped tree trunks, the cars' red brake lights,

the lights strung among the trees,

and the full moon peeking over the roof line.

The Three Wise Men and the Star along the side of a peak between the arenas and Mill Street.

A very poor photo of the star and wise men after dark.