Mission Accomplished!

My New Year's Resolution is pretty basic this year:  Do things for me, to please me.  Maybe that sounds a little selfish, but it isn't mean to sound that way.  What I mean to say is that we (yes, all of us) get so busy doing our routines, the need-to's and the have-to's, that we forget that there is a beautiful world out there, and we should be finding our joy.
   

This was a really busy work week for me - all those Christmas presents being returned make for a lot of work and I was working extra hours in the beginning of the week just to catch up.  Working retail means nothing more than 40 hours per week, once the max is reached, they scoot us out and send us home!  Being it was a gorgeous day when I walked outside, I got home and mandated that Brian get dressed and head with me over to the Lost Dutchman State Park.  I have gone two or three other times with the goal to complete the Treasure Loop hike -- and haven't ever gotten all the way.  One time it was nearing evening, the sun was low in the sky, some clouds moved in; we needed to turn around and head back, as it was nearly dark by the time we reached the bottom again.  Then of course, the rain drenched us just after we reached the car.  (Drenching rain in the desert can make for slippery hiking, for sure.)  The next time, my girls were with, and the little one had a cold.  We turned around and headed back after we'd reached a resting place on some rocks.  Had I known we were less than two minutes from the top, I might have insisted we keep going! 


Yesterday, however, was a huge TAA -DAA moment!  We reached the summit of the hike, and down the other side to complete the loop.  Was THRILLED!  Going up you ascend about 700 feet in just under a mile.  It's a trek if you're not prepared for it, but we were -- plenty of water, snacks and rested part of the way because Sadie was panting a little.  hehehe

It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny at 70 degrees, just right for an afternoon hike in the sun.
A beautiful "me" moment, for sure!

This last picture of a Saguaro Cactus
I like a lot because of the streak in the sky
looks like lightning!

Treasure Loop Trail

A spur of the moment trip to Lost Dutchman State Park, 92 degrees, 3pm, and my son and I headed out there, started hiking just before 4pm.  I've hiked here before, usually along the trails that parallel the Superstition Mountains (which means its a more level hike).


Today, I wanted to "touch the mountain", so we headed up Treasure Loop Trail.  It's 2.4 miles round trip according to the park's brochure.  According to Google, Lost Dutchman Park is at an elevation of 2000 feet.  We climbed up to Green Mountain, elev. 2580, which I figure was about a mile from the car... so quite the climb!  (Green Mountain is that rock formation just below what they call "praying hands")

 

Even though its "snake season"

here in Arizona, we didn't see

any today... thankfully!  :)

 And we made it!

February Reflections

February 2011 brings many thoughts. Today, at lunch with the girls, I realized that in just 18 days, I will have been here in Arizona for three years now. Some days, I feel like a newbie here, because I haven't traveled all over the state ... yet. And other days, if feels as if I've always lived here. This place has begun to feel like home to me. At first, I have to admit, it was very different living here -- nothing green (like in Ohio), very few cloudy days (unlike Ohio), and everything so dry. Often, I felt as if I'd just shrivel up and blow away like a leaf from a tree. But it didn't happen. And I've learned to love living here in the desert. Two weeks ago, I took a friend hiking up around the Superstition Mountains, specifically the Lost Dutchman State Park. There's a quiet to the desert that can be pretty awe inspiring, if you take the time to notice it.

As we hiked along, I was able to snap a few
pix of some riders on horseback ...
talk about feeling like we'd stepped
back in time!

I love the magic of the desert,
the quiet beauty,
the many layers of color
that are subtle at first glance,
but deserve a second look.

As you move through your days this week,
make sure you take notice of the small beautiful things that most of us tend to overlook on a day to day basis as we hurry from task to task. You may be quietly surprised as well at the things around you!

HUGS to everyone!!