Ruth's Blog

February in the Desert

2012-02-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

February has been a time of spring clean-up in the garden. Seems like we spend every year attacking the endless supply of weeds that pop up all over the yard. I am sure that the native Arizonans have a handle on how to keep the weeds down and don't spend nearly the amount of time or dollars that we spend. But, this is my 3rd spring here in the desert and I'm still learning.

I spent a lovely 4 days with my sister Alice in California and, yes, it was a bit chilly and overcast but we had a wonderful time catching up. Some of her orchids were in bloom with spectacular results.

David just left after a lovely but quick visit. He didn't bring Marie and we dearly missed her but he did bring is life-long friend, John. They hopped a flight from different ends of the country to Phoenix; rented a car; drove to Canyon de Chelly; spent the night; and drove back to Phoenix to visit with us. We went out to our favorite Italian Restaurant in Cave Creek, Alberto's, for dinner. The next day, Dan cooked his best meal, a rib eye roast, that was done perfectly. Between the Hirsch wine and the Hirsch roast, George, Crystal, David, Dan & I had a great time.

On another topic, I just found this site & thought that some of you might have an interest... http://www.volunteerguide.org/

Bobcat & friend

2011-12-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Dang - he walked right by my window this morning and then sat on a rock in the garden looking for bunny food. I hate shooting through a window as there is always a reflection or dirt or something else like my hands jiggling. But, here they are. Oh, and his friend was at the back window.

October in the Mountains

2011-12-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide whether to post these photos or not. They are not great photo and anyone who has lived in the East would say that this is a pretty common fall day in the mountains. But, I loved seeing it again - the fog rolling out in the early mornings, the sun sparkling on the yellow & red leaves & making them pop, and the farms getting ready to tuck in for the winter. So, here they are:

By-the-way... have you seen the Jet Man? (click here)

Longwood Gardens

2011-11-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to visit botanical gardens. I've been to some beautiful gardens around the world and will visit one any chance I get. But, I have to say that Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania is by far the most beautiful garden that I have ever visited. It is also the only garden where I saw, not 1 but several, professional photographers set up with their tripods & sun reflectors, etc. taking their photographs. Now my photographs are not professional and some are even blurry and should be discarded but I couldn't resist showing you just how spectacular this place is. Music, water, sunshine & color plus the added bonus of having my dear friend Elsie there. (Beware... 105 photos in this slide show !)

The picture to the left is my friend Elsie who invited me along on her adventure.

Still sorting pictures...

2011-11-08T07:29:00.000-08:00

I've been home for 8 days now and I still haven't got it together... but, almost. The older I get, the longer it takes me to change gears. Driving around the USA and being at home are 2 different things. I get that. But, should it take me this long to groove back into "home" mode? Deal with the mail that has been collecting for a month; check out the garden and figure out why the drip system has failed on me (again!); wash & put away all the laundry, etc, etc. Fortunately, Dan has kept the house picked up (former training from my travel days with IBM) and the house cleaner showed up just a couple days later. So that wasn't an issue. But sleep, I did. I missed my afternoon siesta's (as Pablo would call it). I never use to require an afternoon nap but now I rather enjoy it. So, there was that to catch up on also.

Now, I'm into creating new websites; sorting pictures for a niece's request; gathering, sorting, editing & deleting the 1,000+ pictures that I took in 25 days; and getting back to my volunteer work at the local library book store.

So, please be patient with me, I will get it all sorted out soon. I promise!

October 5th to October 30th

2011-10-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

I've been on a road trip with Elsie and it will be 25 days in total when finished. We've driven from Witchita, Ponca City, Padueka, Philadelphia, Longwood, Lancaster, Brasstown, Wilmington, Memphis, McAlester, back to Ponca City and through all the places in between. We didn't realize, heading out, that not only would this be a trip about quilts but also about freedom and civil rights. In amongst the beautiful fall colors, the scenic by-ways and the new & old friends we met, I was also feeling some building depression which is very unlike me. It started with reading a book called "the Confession"by John Grisham and was built upon by the Martin Luther King, Jr. museum and the museum at Little Rock. But it hit me as I read these words in John Grisham's book...

"The air was heavy with sadness, but not the sadness that comes from loss. This was a sadness born of anger and injustice."

Do you also feel this? Economic loss, Occupy Wall Street, a Congress that does nothing to help the people and everything to gather money to themselves and to get re-elected? Where do we go from here, how can we turn this around?

Shopping in Sedona - TLAQUEPAQUE

2011-09-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

Speaks for itself !

CLICK HERE: This also speaks for itself!

Amitabha Stupa

2011-09-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

Okay. How many people know what a stupa is and why would I even post about a stupa. A stupa (from Sanskrit: m., स्तूप, stūpa, Pāli: थुप "thūpa", literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship. This stupa is in Sedona was created as a place of peace. My friend, Penny & I set out to find it and I almost gave up but Penny wouldn't let me. We finally found it on a side street off another side street. Difficult to find.

CLICK HERE: Buddhist chanting in Spain.

Rainbows & McMansions

2011-09-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

Sedona has over 400,000 visitors a year and for good reason. Tourists come for it's stunning beauty, natural parks, shopping, fine restaurants, vortexes & visitors looking for spiritual experiences. And, to add to that list, rainbows and McMansions.

CLICK HERE: This should make you feel like you should get up & dance!
CLICK HERE: (THIS ONE IS FOR LINDA) ===>>> Rainbows

Pink Jeep Tour

2011-09-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

From Montezuma's Castle, Penny & I drove on to Sedona in North Central Arizona and hopped on a Pink Jeep Tour to an ancient Indian site to look at cliff dwellings and rock art. This site is the Honanki Heritage site of the Sinagua, ancestors of the Hopi, who lived here in the Verde Valley of Arizona from about AD 1100 to 1300.

CLICK HERE: Today you get to hear my favorite all time acapella.

Montezuma's Castle

2011-09-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

My friend, Penny & I stopped a little bit South of Sedona at Montezuma Castle National Monument. (Miss-named as Montezuma never visited this area.) The dwelling was inhabited by the Sinagua people. The Sinagua were a pre-Columbian cultural group occupying an area in central Arizona between the Little Colorado River and the Salt River (between Flagstaff and Phoenix) including the Verde Valley and significant portions of the Mogollon Rim country between approximately 500 AD and 1425 AD. Old photographs of the site show the original adobe bricks which have since been covered with a solid adobe covering to protect it from deterioration.

CLICK HERE: I just discovered Secondhand Serenade - love their work.

Sunrises & Rain Clouds

2011-09-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

We have had heat and dust this year here in the Sonoran Desert with lots of days over 100 degrees. Our monsoon season (only the 2nd year that I have experienced a full monsoon season), did not seem as wet as the first year.... until my friend, Penny arrived here from NY for a week. Now it has rained every day and our heat has broken. Penny enjoyed watching the sunrise, sunsets & rain & lightning over the Tonto National Forest while sitting on the patio sometimes with a glass of Chardonnay in her hand. Very relaxing. Here a just a couple of photos. Enjoy! (perhaps with a glass of wine)

As you have probably figured out by now, if you are a reader of this blog, I always try to include a "link of interest". This one was sent to me by my brother-in-law --- makes sense to me. Click here: vulnerability.

The Bunny & the Roadrunner

2011-09-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist. Also didn't know about the orange side-burns on the roadrunner...

Something new on the horizon. I love this technology: Arctic Airships

Late summer thru fall perennials for the West

2011-08-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

This is for my friend Denise (and myself)... I'd love to have a beautiful garden that blooms throughout the year in the Phoenix area but have been a bit too lazy to (or is it just busy) to put together a list of plants that would grow here in the late summer / fall season. But a request from my FL friend, Denise has spur-ed me. Here is a short list of fall plants that can be bought at local nurseries:

Chrysanthemum: 1-4'; Y, R, P, W
Euphorbia milli (Spurge) : 1-4'; y, r, b, g
Euryops viridis (Golden Euryops): 4-6'; y
Gerbera jamesonii (Transvaal Daisy): 1+'; y-o, r-p
Lantana montevidensis (Trailing Lantana): 2-3'; y, p (hardy)
Lavandula (Lavender): 1-4'; B, p (smells lovely)
Zauschneria californica (Clifornia Fuchsia): 1-3 R

Also look at:

And then... where to possible obtain them in the Phoenix Valley.

Muir Woods, VR City, San Francisco, etc.

2011-07-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Shown here are the last of the pictures (which were really the first part of the trip) that Dan & I took on the road trip that we took at the beginning of July. Some are of San Francisco, Muir Woods & the giant redwoods, Virginia City, etc. Enjoy!

Also, on a different note, as all you folks who have dogs know, DOG is spelled GOD backwards and everyone who owns a dog would agree that this YouTube video is right on! (So click here to see the video.) Thank you Ann for sharing this with me.

I Am a Woman Finding My Voice

2011-07-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, with Natalie's visit, I discovered that I am a #9 on the enneagram scale. (If you want to know what that means, you will have to look it up or take the test as George & Crystal did. Here is where you can take the test or get information.) Then, I was given this book to read by Janet I. Quinn called I Am a Woman Finding My Voice. It is a collection of affirmations that strike a deep bell-like cord inside of me. They might in you also. Here is her just one of her affirmations:

"Did I first lose my voice when I learned not to cry too loud or make too much noise so I didn't wake up Daddy? Or was it when I learned that talking in church was a sin (unless it was to a priest)? Was it the first time I didn't say what was inside of me because I didn't want to make someone mad, or was it the first time that I said what wasn't true because I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings? No matter now. Now, I am finding my voice! I am laughing, screaming, crying, and cooing! I am making delighted sounds and angry sounds. I growl and moan, and I sing and chant! I offer soft and sweet words of comfort and passion and I speak loud, clear words of outrage and opposition. I am making holy noise and I am keeping holy, holy silence. Finding my voice means that I claim my freedom to express myself. It means that I speak only what is true for me, and that I will never be silenced again. I am a woman finding my voice!."

Tonights Surprise Visitor

2011-07-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Dang it! I can't wait to learn to take better photos at dusk. This bobcat was making him (or her) self at home on our back lawn just steps away from our patio door. I suppose he was after a good meal - after all, we have plenty of rabbit & quail hanging around for his/her enjoyment. But, he/she was too relaxed & uninterested. Which means, I suppose that he ate his fill and decided to digest his food with a snooze before leaving the kitchen. He/she rolled over a couple times & stretched a couple times but those pictures didn't come out at all. I was trying to take these from our dining room, living room & bedroom windows. I needed the tripod that Alice gave me to steady the camera but it was sitting nicely put away in the closet the whole time. :-)

Check out The Best of YouTube in 4 minutes.

Bryce Canyon National Park

2011-07-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

A strange & wonderful area of Utah where the large upright standings of rock & soil have been carved by freeze / thaw cycles of snow, ice & rain. Named for Ebanezer Bryce, whom I heard described as a "serial homesteader", settled in the area with his wife, Mary and their numerous children. Although called a canyon, the park is not a canyon. Rather, it is a spectacular series of more than a dozen amphitheaters, each of which is carved at least 1,000 feet into the chromatic limestone of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

And, lastly, Life Lessons (click to see).

Monument Valley

2011-07-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

Monument Valley is such a beautiful part of Arizona & Utah. While the Phoenix area was being hit with a tremendous dust storm, we were driving through the Navaho Indian Nation's Monument Valley. Along the way, you can find little kiosks by the side of the road where the Indians sell their hand-made crafts. The gentleman in the picture is x-military as you can see from the way he stands and these are his crafts. The park has a scenic drive & hiking trails though the stunning mesas and buttes. Shrubs, trees and windblown sand, all together with the mesas & buttes, comprise the magnificent colors of the valley.

People can have magnificent colors as well. If you haven't heard of Iyanla Vanzant before, click hear to have a taste.

A Utah Rainbow

2011-07-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would post this magnificant double rainbow (you have to look closely) that we spotted just before dinner in Southern Utah.

And... just for giggles, click to hear Bob Newhart in this funny skit.

Once in a "blue moon"...

2011-07-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Once a year in mid-July in the dark of night, this lovely cactus flower blooms. I missed it last year as I didn't have it fenced off and the havelina's ate the precious stems before they could blossom. But, I managed to capture it this year. Last night I was already tucked in bed when I thought that I just might see something if I went outside at midnight and, sure enough, I was rewarded with these blossoms! Once a year for one night! they say that they have a wonderful sent but disappointingly, I didn't find this so with my blossoms. (Night-Blooming Cereus; Queen of the Night ~ Deer-Horn Cactus; Peniocereus greggii; (Cereus greggii)) ((One of the strangest plants of the desert, the Night-bloomiing Cereus is a member of the Cactus Family that resembles nothing more than a dead bush most of the year. It is rarely seen in the wild because of its inconspicuousness. But for one midsummer's night each year, its exqusitely scented flower opens as night falls, then closes forever with the first rays of the morning sun.))

...And, here is a question for you - are you a headless person. Click here to find out.

Not Just Another Road Trip

2011-07-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

Dan & I do love road trips. What makes this one special is that we had a friend / confidant / spiritual advisor who arrived all the way from Australia to join us on this trip. We drove, via the Hirsch Vineyards in upstate California, to Sanoma to pick her up - and our adventure together began. But, I'm not going to go through each day but will start with where we were today - the Grand Canyon. Each day has been magical & wonderful but then, so is the Gand Canyon. It has been rainy & overcast with the sun popping through here & there. We started spent the night in Page, AZ and stopped by the dam at Powell Lake for a couple of snaps before driving along Route 64 to the Grand Canyon. We are now here in Sedona for the night but, I leave that for another entry. Here are today's pictures...

A Visit to Tonto Natural Bridge - Payson, AZ

2011-05-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

This was the first (of many I hope) "road trip" with our friends, Ashley & Thomas. A fun day!.

Awesome. . .

2011-05-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

This was the biggest, boldest rainbow that I have ever seen out my back door...

The slu. . .t is at it again.

2011-05-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ashley warned me that this would happen but I had my doubts. She nicely hatched her 2 eggs & taught them how to fly away. 14 days later, she is at it again!

Thought provoking...

2011-05-14T20:05:00.001-07:00

The human race is in the childhood of its evolution. There’s nothing wrong with that. Childhood can be a wonderful time. But it’s also a time when great care must be taken.

If we watch what we are doing during our childhood—if, as author Robert Fulghum suggests, we look both ways before crossing, if we learn to share, if we hold hands and keep track of each other, if we walk and don’t run, if we quit pushing and say we’re sorry when we do, if we clean up our messes, and if we stop fighting with our brothers and sisters—we’ll get to grow up, and our future can be spectacular.

Day 4 - Rough Road & Patagonia

2011-04-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

The rest of the trip took us from Bisbee, over the mountains through Coronado National Forest (where we were rescued by the border patrol), then on to Patagonia & home. Beautiful countryside, lovely time.

Kelly's Gallery

2011-04-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

FYI. . .
I just updated Kelly's website with some new gallery pictures, come check it out ! Click on "Kelly's Gallery" title above or copy & paste this url into your browser: http://kellyquilter.com/Gallery.html

Day 3 - Snow & Bisbee

2011-04-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of Susan's visit was a "girl" day. Crystal, Susan & I did the works with manicures, pedicures, facials, haircuts & lunch out... pure pampering!

Day 3 we met George & Crystal at their house at 7 AM. (A chore for Dan as he doesn't "do" mornings if he can help it.) And, off we went for an overnight road trip to Bisbee & back. The day started off with rain here in Phoenix and as we drove East on 60 & South to Florence, we ran into a wee bit of snow requiring a stop with photographs. We then continued on to Coolidge Dam, South through Benson, Tombstone & Bisbee through beautiful country & leisurely stops along the way.

Family Watch

2011-04-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

I have a lemon tree outside my bedroom window. At this time of year the blossoms smell wonderful. What intrigued me last year was the dove family that built a nest & settled in the tree for (what seemed like) many weeks while the mom & dad faithfully laid an egg & hatched it. Of course I couldn't open the window to let the air in the house or walk around that corner of the house for fear of scaring or driving away the doves before their appointed time. But, it was interesting to watch & observe.

This year, I didn't think that the doves would return. I was mistaken.

This year, they didn't choose the lemon tree. I don't know why. No, they chose to nest right outside my patio door. I've managed to startle them several times but they keep returning. I placed this pot temporarily on top of my barbecue grill so that the Havelina's wouldn't eat the cactus. It is in front of my dining room window and the window has a wonderful reflection back throughout the day of the hills in the distance. So now, we wait and observe for the next 14 days while the mom & dad take turns covering the egg.

Susan's Visit - Day 2

2011-04-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

Attempt # 2 by Susan to leave the cold of Maine behind for a bit of sunshine worked out this time. Even though there was still a bit of snow that arrived a couple days prior to her leaving Maine, there wasn't a blizzard & airline cancellations like there was in February. Day 2 we went off to the Phoenix Zoo to feed the giraffes. We had a great time but still could see the results of the budget cutbacks by the quality of housecleaning that the "residents" had in their domiciles.

Whaaats Happening ?

2011-03-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS ALREADY MARCH !! (Although my cousins in NY & my friends in Kansas & Virginia probably wish it was already April or May with all the snow that they have gotten this year.) I haven't even finished editing & posting all the photos from my holiday trip to Thailand yet. Oh well - so it is. I blame it on Dan for all the "It is time to take a break from that !#&* computer." "But, I need to be on the computer." I tell him. "I haven't finished creating & updating (make that "playing" with) new websites, editing pictures, reading stories, and (of course) playing on facebook." I have to ask myself ...am I addicted? Well, (I tell myself) at least I'm not playing on my smart phone! ('Cause I don't have one!) So there!

But, as I said, here it is already March 1st and I thought I make a statement about February. February has been a full month. I had fun creating a new website for Kelly & updated Donna's site with her new release of her quilting book & updated Elsie's site with the release of her new Quilting pattern. I got a request from a friend in Nepal to create a travel site which will come along in the next couple months. And potentially have another site soon to be in the works. February also included ongoing updates to Rio Verde - check out the new art & vintage toys that got listed. What fun!

Volunteering at the Desert Foothills Library get's me out of the house but not always away from the computer. Soon they will be making an addition to their bookstore. The sales at the bookstore add much needed funds for the library to purchase new material. So, if you are visiting from out of town, stop in and make a purchase. You can find me there on Tuesday Mornings.

And, just to show you how beautiful this area is and, that it does snow here occasionally, here are a few February photos...

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

May you & yours have many blessings throughout the year!

Dan & Ruth

Coconuts

2010-12-21T02:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the Thai people think that we are nuts. (As a matter of fact, so do the Samoans.) Dan & I prefer our coconut from the shell to be the harder, older stuff. Yesterday, on a hunt for the hard coconut, we stopped at a coconut "processing plant" ;-) Here is a brief look at the subject...

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a8EwOF1AKVFHDCZM5KYYZ_bSebzrNmBpMlIHAVyzUMU?feat=directlink

On-the-Road Again! Thailand

2010-12-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

Before I forget to add this statement at the end... if you are reading this in facebook and want to see the photo's, you must click on the words: "view original post".

Okay, that said, here I am on the road again. This time, I am in Thailand visiting friends and getting my comprehensive medical check up. The trip over was uneventful except when Southwest decided to put my second piece of luggage on a plane which was 2 flights after my flight and I had to check in to China Airlines to make the flight to Bangkok. But, I met a lovely baggage handler named Joe and he took care of me. I and my luggage all made the China Airlines flight on time. I met up with Dan in Bangkok, we had our physicals (all is very well) and we took a cab to our friend's place South of Hua Hin along to the coast. Barry and his wife, Nok are lovely hosts and have treated us to some wonderful Thai hospitality, comfort, sites & ... food!!! At this time, I am only posting a couple of the pictures that I have taken (at least until I can add a few software tools to Barry's computer here). I hope that everyone is enjoying the holidays as I am ... and, as you will see from the photos, as Dan is.

The Home of the Flying Pig

2010-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

It's official! Our home is now our home. I couldn't bear to have the "Flying Pig" put on the top of the house where I couldn't see him. So he now resides in the heart of the property, forever smiling, forever flying. Today was his first sunrise over the mountains which both he and I enjoyed.

It has been a busy week between Thanksgiving (twice), setting up wireless networks, doing volunteer work at the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek, going out for coffee, getting ready for birthdays, Christmas & packing for Thailand, wrapping & mailing off packages, making sure that the bills are paid, getting the drip system working (an ongoing process! which has a new problem every day), etc, etc, etc.

I love it here in AZ. This morning at 7 AM it was just turning light and I heard hoots from 2 owls in harmony just outside my bedroom door. It was still too dark to chase outside to get their pictures but I watched them flying around. Apparently the food was too scarce for them as they soon took off for a better hunt somewhere else.

Enjoy the day!

A Day Trip to Sedona

2010-11-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Not a cloud in the sky, true blue, crystal clear, somewhere between 66 & 74 degrees. YES! Another perfect day in the Southwestern US. Sedona is a tourist mecca for hikers, jeep tours, shoppers, & new age spiritualists. The red rocks are caused by iron in the soil millions of years ago forming cropings with names like Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Coffee Pot Rock and more.

My friend Debra & I had a lovely day - the drive to & from when we caught up on family news, the lunch under the rocks at Enchantment Resort & even finding that our single reason for going to Sedona didn't work out and would possibly later provide us with another opportunity to make a return trip to Sedona. Here is just a small taste of the natural wonders waiting for visitors...

(ps: if you are reading this on facebook, click on "view original post" to see the photos)

No Running Water, No Cell & No Internet

2010-11-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

No, it doesn't seem real in today's world. We did have super powered binoculars & GPS position finders amongst the rest of the gear. It still didn't bring the mule deer any closer. I guess that I should tell you that I was invited to tag along on a week long hunting trip with family. It was wonderful! The last time I went camping was a very long time ago but the basics haven't changed. Bring enough cloths to be warm, enough food to eat & enough water to drink & wash. There were 4 of us and about 21 gallons of water. The weather was perfect but just a little too chilly at night for me and a very gusty windy day at mid-week. We drove 2 hours North of Phoenix to the Camp Verde area - just a little South of Sedona. Lots of other hunters were in the area also looking for game. There were elk, antelope, deer, coyotes, mountain lions, hawks, ravens, crows, and 3 friendly pit bull dogs spied throughout the week. Here are a few picts of an incredible week.

Everyone needs a checklist of what to bring on a camping trip. Here is an extensive checklist. I think that if you were to bring everything that is listed here, you would need that large truck to haul it in.

Linda & Pablo's Visit

2010-11-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late posting this but my sister & her husband came for a 4 day visit in October. You can see us wrapped in blankets & watching the sunrise from the patio. I promised Pablo that I would have paints & an easel ready for him next time he visits.

Our latest addition...

2010-10-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

We found a new home in our yard for this beauty who came from a neighborhood in Scottsdale. It was feeling a bit crowded & needed to room to grow. So, here it is...

... Cliff, the Cactus man and expert on Saguaros, gave me a mini-tutorial on what to do. Here's what it takes to keep "Big Guy" happy:

Check him over every morning before 9 AM or before it reaches 95 degrees outside.
If he starts to turn yellow, put a tarp over his top half to screen him from the sun.
If the dirt around the bottom has shifted then pack more dirt around his bottom to keep him solid.
Water him twice monthly with a 3 second spray from the top but don't let the water reach his bottom.

Cliff showed me his worm holes & wood pecker holes (which are all okay). He showed me his spikes which if you step on can go through your shoe. The spikes are like our skin cells and fall off every 7 years and immediately grow back. His spikes are white at the top new growth and turn darker as you look down. Cliff also told me that they grow arms to keep themselves from topping over. Cliff thinks that Saguaros are smarter than trees. (You can see how dedicated he is to Saguaros.) I don't know if they are smarter or not but he has settled in here rather well.

Today's New Visitor

2010-10-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Rattle Snake Visitor

I had a surprise visitor today. I walked 4 feet from him twice before I saw him. What to do, what to do.... ? I spoke to a native Arizonian who said that these guys were looking for any way to get inside and nest for the winter. Fortunately, my home is air tight ...or is it?

I love the woodpecker who decided to keep an eye on him also.

My visitor the first day back home...

2010-10-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've seen the presents he/her has left for me and now, I've got the photos...

6:30 AM

Home again, jiggity jig...

2010-10-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

I arrived home and couldn't get connected to the internet for a couple days. Probably a good thing as I am having some issues with my hands. Carpel tunnel? arthritis? who knows but something will need to be done in the next couple months to arrest the problems.

The last day of our trip back to the Wichita airport to fly home, we had some time in the morning before the flight, Grandma Elsie (yup, she became a new Grandma during the night - but, I will let her tell her story on her blog at: http://elsiemcampbell.blogspot.com/). We decided to visit the Wichita Botanical Gardens. Here are the last photos of a wonderful trip. They include some of the drive back from Fargo to Wichita.

My Birthday

2010-09-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are never quite what we expect. Sure it is "our day" but what does that mean? It has meant many different things to me over the year but today it meant "what unexpected event is going to happen next". I realized a long time ago that I don't have any control over anything and so, I just let the day unfold. From breakfast in the room; to foot & hand reflexology; to watching the violins being repaired & tested; to lunch at the Olive Garden; to doing laundry at the Holiday Inn Guest Laundry; to dinner with the show organizers; to a happy birthday song & cake & Elsie's trunk show presentation; to after the show bite to eat & respite before bed. A full day of meeting some wonderful people & kind people.

Here are slides Elsie's Quilt Trunk Show:

And slides of the violin repair shop:

Family

2010-09-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

I meant to post these recent family pictures. Dan & Crystal, George and I and, from a recent visit with Colleen, here is Colleen, Alexander & Jon.

I get to sleep under a quilt !

2010-09-21T16:29:00.001-07:00

...and, not just any quilt - the 2010 Block-of-the-Month quilt. It is beautiful and the picture on the website doesn't do it justice. Here is the link to the Block-of-the-Month page.

Iowa, Nebraska & South Dakota

2010-09-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Elsie & I continued out of Kansas City, heading North on US 29. As we moved North into Council Bluffs, Iowa the temperature dropped from the mid-80's into the high 50's. But this morning, !! surprise !!, the temperature went back up into the low 90's and remained there all day as we traveled from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Watertown, SD. Along the way, we stopped for breaks at antique shops & the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge not only had lots of nature (frogs, snapping turtles and 10 different species of birds) to observe but is the location of the archeological excavation of the River Steamboat, Bertrand, which sank in April 1965. The excavation & recovery of goods from the steamboat is a remarkable story.

In the "Heart of America"

2010-09-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Not a unique title but here I am. I left Phoenix in 106 heat (dry heat of course as they say that the monsoon season had ended early this year) and arrived in Wichita, Kansas in 85 plus heat with high humidity. I have been dripping buckets of water ever since arriving.

It has been great visiting Kansas again. Every once in a while, I love to re-visit the open, rolling plains and the friendly people. I am traveling with my college roommate (a friend of 40 years) who is a lovely quilter. (If you haven't seen her website, I recommend it as I did it for her. It can be found at www.elsiemcampbell.com .) We are headed to Fargo, North Dakota where she will be participating in the Indian Summer Quilt Show at the Holiday Inn.

Our first stop from Wichita to Fargo was at the Powell Gardens in Lee Summitt, Kansas. The day was hot & humid, the flowers were spectacular and the butterflies were dancing. Here are a few shots of the day...

August Monsoons in Arizona

2010-08-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more wonderful and, sometimes, terrifying when a monsoon rain comes into the Phoenix area. When the wind & rain mix and the temperatures drop from 100 plus into the lower 90's, it is great. Here is a quick look at a recent event captured on the evening of August 27th & 28th:

Just awesome!

Sister Week

2010-08-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

What a grand surprise !

It was suppose to be Alice, Madeline & I and when Linda walked through that airport security, I couldn't believe my eyes. Madeline pulled off a wonderful surprise for both Alice & I by bringing along Linda. We had a great week - toured the area, met a "blast from the past" and just basked in each other's company. Here are (too many) pictures from the week...

(Let's see if this works....)

Sisters !!!

2010-08-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sisters !!!

Having a great time with my sisters. This picture is now many years old and as soon as I get home, I will post the current picture.

Elements of a book

2010-07-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

I realize that some time in the not-so-distant future, the younger generation will be reading books from hand-held machines with instant downloads but books are still around and will be for a long, long time. My interest is in the old, out-of-print books. Just go to a library and browse the stacks, peek behind the covers. There is an infinite number of stories to entertain and information to be absorbed.

But, today, I wanted to talk about the elements of a book from a technical aspect. What are the parts of a book?

To just list the parts, there are:

cover or binding (front, back & spine)
pages or leaf of pages or text block
gutter between pages
end papers (pasted down & free)
hinge between cover & pages
fly leaf, title page & verso of title page
page edges and cover edges
copyright page, dedication page
table of contents, index, appendex

Keeping these parts in fine condition is important if the book owner later chooses to re-sell their book. Some of the "should not do's" are:

do not underline or highlight
do not bend corners
do not write in (with exceptions)
do not tape or label
do not get wet or soiled
do not roughly handle
do not fold covers back beyond the spine as this might break the spine or hinge.

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2010-07-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

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2010-07-14T07:40:00.001-07:00

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Eleven days in India

2008-11-13T00:04:00.000-08:00

India is amazing, facinating, interesting and mesmerizing. Our travel agent is another story - for another time. Delhi, the lake, Haridwar and now Veranasi. You can find just a small portion of my pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.co.in/tootsrrhir/IndiaNov08WithLindaPablo#

From here we go to Agra and, finally, get to show Linda & Pablo the Taj.

Off to India

2008-11-01T18:22:00.001-07:00

I'v just spent a wonderful 2 weeks here in Daytona Beach with Linda. (And, I did have wonderful pictures to post but my fingers deleted them somehow before they moved to my computer (sigh)). We did shopping & dining & played without the "boys" who were off in Nepal doing their thing.

Tomorrow at 7:30 AM, Linda & I will board a flight to Charlotte then JFK then New Delhi arriving Monday, Nov. 2nd. And, I promise to post photo's.

Current update

2008-10-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

Been on the road - still! Dan & I got to North Carolina and spent a wonderful time at Madeline's beach house in Nags Head, visiting our friends & family in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Pittsboro and Ashville. We then headed north and arrived here in Poughkeepsie, NY on Oct. 2nd. We spent a lovely time with Susan, Howard & Marg, Jessica & James in NYC; bought lots of books at Books of Wonder (no, Dan is NOT back in business) and then Dan left for Europe. I'm back with my friend, Penny for a few days in Poughkeepsie before making the journey back South to Florida.

My Facebook Link

2008-10-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Facebook me!

rain, rain & more rain

2008-09-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

That's right! it has been overcast and rained off & on since we left Phoenix. We continued North from Clark, Wyoming up to Billings, Montana to the Judith Gap, Lewisburg, then East through South Dakota & Mount Rushmore, Fort Union, Wounded Knee, and the Badlands.

Today, we left South Dakota and are now swiftly moving East with the sunny (??) beach in North Carolina. Kitty Hawk here we come - Madeline get the martini's ready!

Traveling

2008-09-03T20:27:00.001-07:00

and...we are off!
Sunday, we left Phoenix, AZ and traveled to Chenle, Arizona. Where the temperature immediately dropped from the 102+ in Phoenix to 43. If you don't know Chenle, it is the gateway to the Navajo Nation, the Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. The skies put on a dazzeling display for Dan's birthday with a double rainbow and spectacular sunset. Unfortunately, my camera battery went on empty.

Monday, we move Northward through Arches National Park in Utah and saw some great stone/wind sculptures.

After an afternoon at Arches, we moved forther Northward and spent the night at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This picture was taken at the 10,000 foot pass in Utah on the way to Wyoming.

Today, we went through Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park to Cody, Wyoming and managed to get a picture or 2 through the raindrops. Dan, of course, can't resist looking at properties here as the valley is quite lovely.

Tomorrow, we push on from here. Eventually, we will end up in Virginia picking up keys from the Abbitts and onward to the beach at Kitty Hawk to get warm again.

Check out the announcement below...

2008-08-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hi All Friends & Family,

I don't think that we should allow Dan to get away with it again! Upon is 40th birthday, Dan left the county. And, upon his 50th birthday, Dan was in Lahdak. And, yes, Dan will be traveling to Wyoming on his 60th birthday. But, he will still be in the USA. So, if you would care to, now is the time to call or email him your birthday wishes (or advice) for him because he will be leaving the country again soon.

Thanks to all for showing Dan that you care,
Hugs,
Ruth

Dan's pre - 60th birthday announcement

2008-08-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

WELCOME - Let's chat

2008-08-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. When you come from a family of 9, getting a chance to say something is kinda nice. "Toots" - thank you big brother, Bill, for the nickname; or "Becky" from my sister, Madeline. What's in a name? Well, the name Ruth, means friend or companion. Not much I can add to that except that there are 4 people in the family named Ruth plus my mother, who has since passed away.

Arizona is where I am at today. Dan, my husband of 39 years, and I have been here for 3 months (a record for us) and are looking to purchase a home here in the Phoenix area. It has been quite the struggle. At present, we are in the process of having the home inspected for damage before making the final decision. Wish us luck!

I've also started a small business and possibly 2 small businesses. The first is doing web designs for small businesses and individuals. You can see my business site at www.RuthsWebDesigns.com which will have links other sites I've designed.

Well, gotta skoot and get on with the day. Peace.