The Grass IS Greener in the Midwest, but the Desert Is Beautiful.

Okay, so I feel the need to make some amends for my last, "the grass is always greener on the other side," and "I am so deprived of old buildings and mist" post.  Mostly I was just being silly.

But let me explain.  I grew up loving classic British literature (and some not so classic).  Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dickens, Agatha Christie, and (while not British) I also loved the Anne of Green Gables series.  Lots of rolling grass, old buildings, oceans, history...so I always loved the romance and beauty of that kind of scenery.  And it is beautiful to visit.  

But I can't live in it.  I lived for one year in Michigan and one year in Pennsylvania and it was HARD for me.  I lived in California for 11 years, and even that was more cloudy and rainy than I prefer.  When you get used to the sun, it is hard to go without.   So to clear things up:  I  love where I live and am very grateful.

Last night we drove to a nearby mountain park and spent the early evening there.  We watched the sun go down.  It was gorgeous.  I am really enjoying my new camera, and I am trying to be more thoughtful when I take my pictures.  It is amazing how much more beauty I notice when I am trying to find those perfect shots.  Suddenly I noticed how the sun shines through the petals of the creosote blooms, and how the the whole mountain is covered with beautiful yellow wildflowers.  My camera literally provides me a new lens with which to appreciate the beauty around me.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Happy Monday!

The First Signs of Spring

Yes, I know.  That last one was scary.  At least I shaved.

I bought some of these,

but I'm not sure if streaky-unnatural-orange looks any better than white-as-can-be. 

So they are still sitting in my cabinet.

 Sad thing is, by the end of summer my legs won't be much darker. 

Oh well.

Happy Spring!

:)

Spring in Arizona

This is the time of year when I LOVE Arizona.  It is absolutely beautiful outside.   Today  (first day of spring break) the kids stripped down to their underwear, got out the water hose and called it a "beach day".  Which meant lying on their tummies, pretending to swim, in a 1/8 inch of water on the driveway cement.... okay, so they have a good imagination. 


I know those of you still shoveling snow may be jealous, but if it makes you feel any better, in a few months, our skin will burn as soon as we step outdoors, and walking from my car to the mall will melt all of the plastic in my purse.  So I am soaking it in NOW.

Yesterday we took a hike.  With all three kids. It was an adventure.  And Dora came along:

So it was a musical adventure. (Dora sings....nonstop).  

The boys had a blast climbing rocks,

 

throwing rocks, and even resting on rocks.

It is too bad the top looks like this :(:

But it also looks like this:

And on the way down we saw this:

I LOVE Arizona this time of year :).