Frolic in the Foothills

When I first started wandering out of my new neighborhood on morning walks I went the quarter mile to the head of my street, crossed the road, and entered the desert reserve. There is a sign as you enter telling you to stay on the trail. The problem is it isn't always obvious where the trail leads. Sometimes the dry wash, where water runs when it rains, looks like a trail. Another problem was the trails didn't turn very frequently so sometimes, in an effort to stay on the trail I walked further than I wanted. Then there was the problem of being so far away from the road/civilization that if had I found myself in need of help no one would have heard my cries. All this, plus the fact that the bushes could easily hide wild animals from my sight, made my walks in the reserve feel less than safe. After having to "off road" a time or two in order to get out of the reserve I decided I'd try finding some back roads to wander instead.

It's been several weeks now that I've explored the neighborhoods. I like to look at the plants along the way as well as admiring landscaping and the variety of housing designs. As I walked I found myself, almost without intent, trying to walk as close to the nearby mountain as I could. Each day I would try a different route, eventually ending up in a dead end somewhere along the way.

Before I turned around to head home I would take a picture of the mountain from wherever I ended that day. Each walk I would find myself closer...

and closer...
with a better view...
and more determination to reach the foothills...
Finally, I ran out of roads to try...at least that I could figure out without looking at the map. I wanted to try to explore, as much as I could, without consulting a map but I had tried every possible road.

So... this morning I pulled up google map and looked at all the places I had walked. As I studied the map I noticed that two streets over....a dead end that I had visited....backed up to a new neighborhood and it looked like there was only a very short distance in between the two streets. I set out with my pockets full, (camera, cell phone, house keys, sweat rag) my walking stick in hand, (that doubles as a paint pole) and determination in my mind.

The day, although hot, had a strong breeze that made the walk more comfortable as it blew the sweat from my skin, natures air conditioning.




Along the way I saw some interesting sights....My first snake in Arizona...well, what was left of him....

An unusual shiny smooth stone (rocks in the desert are typically dull and jagged)

I got to the dead end and, sure enough, I was able to cross over to the next neighborhood by walking just a few feet through someones side yard (I hope they didn't mind-I couldn't help myself-the mountain was calling me).

I walked down streets with names like Sidewinder and Diamond Back (I would think twice before buying a house on one of those streets) past unique custom built homes on large lots. I walked until once again the road ran out. I was pleased to be able to see clearly the fields of saguaro cacti growing in the foothills.




I took a picture and then turned to retrace my steps back home....



and to my surprise found that I had gradually climbed high enough to be able to look down and see the town in the distance.

As I reached home and checked the time I found my usual hour long walk had been more like two hours today. My feet were sore and my skin salty but my explorer instincts satisfied...at least for today.

Shutterfly Shuffle

After two recently purchased photo orders Shutterfly, an online photo printing service, sent me notice that I could make a free photobook on their site. There wasn't much thought to what the photobook would be...seeing that I have oodles of pictures from my wedding in August.

Although there were probably three weeks between the initial email informing me about this treat and the deadline it wasn't until the last three days that I got really serious about the project. I had played around with some pictures but had other pictures in multiple places and formats that I needed to download onto the Shutterfly site (after learning how to access each different type of media) . Then there was the learning curve due to this being the first time I had created a photobook online. I had many things to learn. For example, if you place a photo and write text next to it and then change to a different photo, the text disappears. This wouldn't have been such a big problem if I knew which photo I wanted in the first place but I had to try two or three photos each time to be certain which was the best fit.

Then, of course, there was the problem of the text. Originally I started out writing the logical comments, who, what, when, where. But then I don't like to limit myself to logic... One of the pictures inspired me to use a scripture from our wedding ceremony. After that all the text was changed to include the script and scriptures from the wedding as well as the words from an original song written by a friend that was played during the ceremony and the text from the Ketubba (wedding contract) that we signed.

Although getting everything the way I wanted it by the deadline was a bit stressful I was pleased with the end results. My favorite part of the process happened when I couldn't find a photo that worked for the cover of the book. I finally decided to do a collage of ten overlapping photos. I had a fun time arranging and rearranging until I found the perfect feel...10 photos that would give the flavor of the wedding without giving away much information. An invitation to open the book and look inside....

Jump, Jiggle & Jig at Jack in the Box

Today was Errand Day. First the post office to mail an internet sale I overlooked and should have shipped yesterday. Wait! I forgot the package. Turn car around and get package from house and while I'm at it grab a book to read because I'll probably have a wait at the tire store and will need something to do.

Back in the car...arrive at post office but change my mind when I see the size of the line-maybe I can stop on my way home. While at the post office I have a short but pleasant conversation with a retired gentleman who was trying to understand the property tax papers he just opened. I looked at ours yesterday so was quickly able to point out the part he needed to send in and then tore the tab off for him. He asked if I exercised a lot as he thought I looked to be in good shape. How sweet!

Next the Social Security office. I intended to do this stop yesterday but forgot my marriage licence. SS is just left of the post office but I forgot and make my usual right turn. Turn car around in Feed and Seed store parking lot and head back to Social Security office. As I get out of the car I see several women sitting on the ground outside the door. It seems unusual until a woman passing me on her way out explains there is a hour and a half wait. Well, I have to come back for the post office anyway, I can stop here again later. (Note from second visit....I stopped at social security office on the way home and talked to the woman who works security/front desk. She explained that because of the amount of fraud going on I could not do the necessary paperwork here nor can I mail the papers in but that I'll have to drive to Phoenix and deliver the papers in person). Ugh!

OK back to today and on to Fletcher's for an oil change and check for the slow leak in my tire. Oops...there's Fletcher's on the other side of the street-but it's too late-I've missed the driveway. Find a place to turn the car around again. Make my way back-but wait! There is our bank (the fourth place on my list of places to go). Might as well catch the bank while I'm here.

Jose is on the phone when I enter so I wait on a black leather chair and glance at the headlines on a five day old newspaper. Old news. I met Jose last Friday when my husband and I made a special trip together to the bank to add my name to his accounts-but alas I forgot the marriage license so we could not do the transaction. Jose assured me that since he had talked with my husband I could come without him next time provided I remembered the marriage license. Armed with my paperwork and ID I enter Jose's cubicle and note as I listen to him click computer keys that the advertising poster hung on his wall is all in Spanish except for the name of the bank. After examining the marriage license he explains that he will have to put my maiden name on the account and change it to my married name once I have my new name registered through the Social Security. As he is explaining the benefits of the the bank credit card they are offering me I chuckle when he says, "It might come in handy on a rainy day"....a rainy day?....we're living in the desert here! Jose apologetically explains that I'll need to take the papers home for my husband to sign and return them tomorrow then my debit card will be issued in 7-10 days. OK so now this is going to end up being a four trip task before all is said and issued.

On to Fletcher's...after waiting for several minutes at any empty counter a service man emerges from the garage, takes my keys and asks what color my car is (my favorite car ID question-I know the answer to this one, unlike the more probing questions such as the size of the engine or what was kind of oil is currently being used). The nice man explains it will probably be two hours and he'll call my cell phone if they need me.

OK...so now I'm hoofin' it. There are two other businesses within walking distance-Home Depot and Jack in the Box. Perfect, since I have to return some plumbing to Home Depot and am feeling the need to fuel my stomach soon. I head to Home Depot first and make the return then walk through the garden center eyeballing all the plants and wondering what would be good to plant in my two large terracotta pots I hauled from Michigan. Knowing I can't buy anything now due to my car-less-ness and feeling growing pangs of hunger urging me on, I make my way across the parking lot to Jack in the Box. I've been hankering for a fast food burger for some time now...ever since Pensacola, Florida some five weeks ago. As I calculate the time since my last hamburger fix I realize this may be some type of record for me. It's my first time eating at a Jack in the Box and I order the cheapest combo and mix a drink of Root Beer and Dr. Pepper so that I'll be able to sleep tonight. I ask the young girl behind the counter if I can have an extra tray mat so I'll have something to write on. Well, here's another good thing about the two hour wait...I have time to write a blog and don't have to feel guilty about the list of jobs at home that I could be doing instead of blogging. I settle in the cowboy seat (a corner seat that allows me to see the entire room including the door to the outside-it's a teacher habit I can't seem to break). I quickly chill to the point of discomfort as the air conditioning is cranked high. Muttering about being too cold, I gather my things and go outside to look for a table but to my chagrin find nothing but parking lot and a few shade trees. I scout out an open parking space that is out of the flow of traffic and has some shade-take up residence on the curb and then quickly relocate when I notice I'm sitting near a busy pathway of small red ants. Finally settled in the shade, on the curb, in the parking lot, I take up pen and grease soaked place mat and eagerly jot down my adventures so that I can share with you.

The Hop

I have always liked rabbits. I don't know why...partly because of the way they move....their hop hop hop is very cute. I also like the way they look, those long ears and fluffy white tail and that cute little wiggly nose? And, of course, there is the way they feel... so soft. Maybe I'm attracted to them because I can relate to the fact that they are such a quiet animal.

One time on when I was young we were driving home from an event at one of the local colleges on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. We passed a sign that said, "Bunnies for Sale". As usual I asked my dad if I could have a bunny (not that I always asked for bunnies...I always asked for any cute animal I saw and had even been known to ask my dad to catch chipmunks for me). To the surprise of everyone in the car he said Yes! Maybe he was feeling guilty for all the chipmunks he didn't catch. Bun-Bun, as I named the white rabbit I picked out, lived in a cage my dad built in the backyard.

Yesterday when I went out the door to go for a walk in the neighborhood there was the usual scuttle as birds, lizards and several rabbits scampered for cover. One rabbit, however, sat still in the open and allowed me, with the help of the zoom on the camera, to capture his picture. Because of the zoom and the light shining through the brush there were some interesting lighting effects on the shots. When I finally moved from my photo shooting spot to start my walk I was surprised to see about 6 more rabbits scurry from their frozen positions where they had been hiding all the while I was taking pictures. It has been quite surprising to me the large rabbit population in the desert. Of course all those rabbits on our property also mean the coyote also like to visit looking for late night bunny snacks.




As I walked through the neighborhood making my way toward the nearby mountain there were rabbits crossing the road in front of me quite regularly (as well as the evidence of one that didn't cross the road fast enough. I didn't photography him although he would have been easier to capture on film than the other rabbits I saw.)


One of the art forms that is very common in this area are metal cut-outs welded onto fences or mounted on the garage. Most common seem to be the quail and saguaro cactus and maybe the coyote so I was surprise to find the image of the rabbit mounted on someones mailbox.

Have a hoppy day!

Rain Dance

When I was a little girl my mother used to lay down with me at night, rub my back, and help me transition into a peaceful place where I could fall asleep. One of the games she made up involved imagining we were floating on clouds. We would take turns choosing what color cloud we would float on each evening. I often think of those times when I see a sunset where the clouds turn colors. However, the other evening as we made a trip to Home Depot to get parts for the bathroom sink I saw a sight that put a new twist on the colored clouds idea. Because we are in the monsoon season in Arizona we have seen a lot of rain storms on the horizon and watched numerous lightning displays. This particular rainstorm occurred in the west just as the sun was setting. The conditions were just right and there it was...Pink Rain!

Discovering the Desert

Recently I moved from the fields and forests of Michigan to the dry desert of Arizona. I look out the window at the large saguaro cactus growing in the gravel that makes up the backyard and I am delighted with all the discoveries there are to be made in this new place: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This blog will chronicle my experiences as I learn to Dance in the Desert and Worship in the Wilderness.