Keeping On

A gorgeous day in the Valley of the Sun ... gone are the freezing temps overnight, we welcomed in a warm day of sunshine.  By 930, I was out cleaning off the patios and sweeping til I could sweep no more.  I arranged my lounge chair in what I knew would be a sunny spot by noon, and then waited.   By 12:01, I was parked in my chair with a cold drink, a good book and a pillow behind my back.  Ahhh the sun felt glorious!  Of course, with a crazy needy puppy, it wasn't all peaceful!  hahahaha  After an hour in the sun, and a quick dash around the room to get things straightened up, I hauled her off to the park to walk around a bit, see some sights, greet some people, watch the kids feed the ducks ... (and wear her butt out a bit!)  Back home at 3pm and I'm parked out in my chair in the sunshine yet again.  Can't get enough of that today!  It's been a long time coming and I was certainly ready and anxious for this day :) 

And plenty of sun is needed for me to shake off some blues that have hit hard. Is it just wintertime that affects us this way?  Or more to do with circumstances?  A good friend of mind is studying for his PhD and needed to travel for an interview -- we were both hoping it would turn out to be Phoenix!  but sadly, its Minneapolis instead.  I haven't seen Mr.OC since 2008.  He came over to my store and gave me the biggest hug and made me feel like I was welcomed in this new state I was calling home.  It would have been so nice to see him again, share a few laughs, and maybe a few tears as well.  We've been friends a long time, he knows exactly what I've gone through --- and his advice and opinion turned out to be correct, even though I turned a blind eye every chance I got to the truths he told me.  Still do.  Maybe a visit will be in the cards in the future. 

Until then, I'll just keep on keeping on the best way I know how.... hope you do too!

Cactus Corner

It felt good to be out in the sunshine,
working in the yard today!

It wasn't a really warm day,
but warm enough if you kept moving.





I raked out as many river rocks from
the corner as I could.....











and planted a semi circle of bricks
to wall off the section that I'll call
"Cactus Corner"

Now I have a place to put some
cactus that are planted in pots
and getting to big to stay confined

If the temps stay up, and don't
drop too much over night, the
ground may be warm enough
to give these guys a new home!

3 on Sunday

Sunday is my laundry day.  Yes, I have my own washer and dryer.  Yes, I can do laundry any day I'd like to.  But it makes life easier if I just pick a day to get it all done.  So every Sunday, its three loads.   Bedding, darks and lights.  I don't get too excited about clean khakis or navy polos for work - but I'm sure my co-workers appreciate the fact that they're clean and fresh! haha  What I do like, however, is clean towels in the bathroom, and clean jammies.   And ahhh the wonderfulness of clean sheets on the bed.  Nothing is better than crawling into a bed of clean sheets on a Sunday night - a perfect way to start off the work week :)

According to the weather guys, its only 43 degrees here in my corner of the Valley of the Sun.  But I braved the elements and ventured out to take Sadie for a walk.  I chuckle at the word "elements" though.  We don't have much in the way of various weather elements -- either the sun is shining, or it isn't!  :)  We've had overcast sprinkly days for two days and today, the sun is shining in all its glory.   Sadie and I schlepped around an extra block on our walk because it was so nice!  Even the birds are happy that the sun is shining, they're all singing their own tunes as well!

As we turned into our driveway at the end of our walk, it struck me how it was going to be a beautiful day.  The mesquite tree out front is very fragrant after a rain - smelling a little woodsy and clean.  The dryer vent from the garage is along the front walk as well, and my sheets were drying, the smell of warm Gain in the air.  I opened the blinds on all the windows to let in the light; after pulling my warm sheets from the dryer, I snapped them into play on my bed .... ahhhh my Sunday night will start off well, don't you think?? :)

By the way,
does anyone
still hang sheets
on the line?

I remember Mom
doing that when I
was a kid :)

Morning After

A great start to my Saturday morning!  Got up early, but crawled back in bed -- since Sadie was willing :)  A couple extra hours of sleep never hurts!!  When we got up again, the sun was just starting its day, and I took a few photos, got dressed then headed out for a walk.  In the morning, whenever I put on shoes, Sadie is all over me, bouncing and wagging and trying to gnaw on shoelaces -- she knows its time to go for a walk!

S-t-t-r-r-e-e-t-t-c-c-h-h-!-!-!

As for last night, I'm so happy I decided to head to "my mountain" for some pictures of the blue moon.  (more here) And while the Fire Ceremony was a little difficult here in the Valley of the Sun -- it was still 94 degrees when I built the fire! lol -- I'm very glad I did it :)  Everyone needs something symbolic when its time for new things to come into their life.



 But I look back at the rest of the evening and sort of cringe.
I guess one beer makes me really talkative.
I was still going at 11pm! hahaha
All in all, a very good evening :)

Desert Morning

I am an early riser.  I get up with the birds, even on my days off.  My eyes popped open about 4:30am and I thought mmmmm, I get to sleep in.  I left my blinds open last night, and could see the sky beginning to get light.  You never know if there will be clouds in the sky until the sun begins to peek through them, and I wavered back and forth .... should I get up and head out?  The thought that a real photographer would get up and moving, just to get that next perfect shot made my decision for me. But I was surprised at what else came from it.

I hopped out of bed, splashed my face, brushed my teeth and ran a quick comb through my hair.  I grabbed my netbook, my camera and my cowgirl hat, a diet coke, a protein bar and two bottles of water. (well, you never know where things might lead!)  and I sped down the highway toward Superstition.  I pulled into the Needle Vista area, and parked.  The sun was just beginning to show itself.  I rolled down all my windows, and pulled out the netbook to make a few notes.

Here I am, sitting.  Listening. 

Watching as the desert wakes up.

The sky turns a wisp of clouds 

from crimson to pink to golden

as the sun rises.

The birds are awake, 

calling out to each other,

and the morning is so quiet,

you can hear 

the beat of their wings 

as they flit from one cactus to another.

I get out and walk into the desert

and catch a glimpse

of a bright yellow breasted bird.

I hear what sounds like a woodpecker

in the distance

and rustling in the underbrush 

as animals begin their day.

There air is calm and silent

as the sun begins to warm the mountains 

in the distance.

As the sun makes it way

up into the sky

shining down, 

warming my skin,

I can feel the intensity 

of the desert sun

and know it will be 

a warm, sun-filled day.

Rays of Sunshine

It's a gorgeous day here in the Valley of the Sun. 11am and I'm nearly done with my weekend chores, and am sitting on my lawnchair, grabbing some rays. And thinking about the sun. Its a marvelous thing, lighting our days, warming the earth. Without it, plants wouldn't grow, we'd always be in the dark. I love the slow warmth of being in it -- yes, even in the heat of brutal summers here. Being out in the sun is like recharging batteries.

Jonathan Edwards sings "Sunshine go away today, don't feel much like dancing." And yeah, I think that's what the sun does, it refuels us, makes us feel like dancing, lightens our load, gives us joy even.

Being in the sunshine boosts your vitamin D, and helps with a whole host of other important things as well. Think about how good you feel after you've had a little sunshine. And no, the sun coming in your window as you drive home from work doesn't count! Sunshine helps your immune system, boosts your metabolism and helps you sleep better. I'm sure if you take a minute to google, you'll find all kinds of reasons to get your 20 minutes of sunshine a day :)

Sunny HUGS to everyone!

But friendship is precious,
not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life,
and thanks to a benevolent arrangement
the greater part of life is sunshine.
~Thomas Jefferson