Native decor



Besides cactus and desert landscapes you will always find some kind of Native American items somewhere around peoples homes.

First star I saw last night



Well its that time again. Christmas decorations are everywhere in store fronts and on a few houses. Not as many as there usually are but its still early.

This ones for Rita



While on the way to Bisbee over the holiday I saw this road near Tucson so I thought I would take a picture of it on the way home as a shout out to Rita from Dallas.
Click for a close up.

Seeking balance...



I found it in a store window. I wish it was that easy. What do you do to have balance in your life?

Sunset in the desert



I caught this sunset on the way to Bisbee on Thanksgiving night. I thought it was the perfect ending to a perfect four day weekend.

Phoenix Ice House



This is the historic Phoenix Ice House. It is no longer an ice house but an art venue for raves, films and gallery showings. You can see more about it at www.icehouseaz.com

Hyatt Regency



Here is a close up of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix. As I mentioned in a past post there is a resturant in the top that rotates so that you can see the entire city. Its a great date place.

Today is the day



I drove past this homeless kitchen today and thought about the hundreds of people that will pass through this door for a meal and they will be thankful. It made me start to think about all of things that I am thankful for. For those who stop by today, please take a moment to let me know what your thankful for today. My wish for all of you is for a day full of love and peace Happy Thanksgiving. As always on a long weekend I am leaving for my house in Bisbee. I will try to post everyday, if it doesn't work I will be back on Sunday.

What we need in the world



Stumbled upon these peace signs that were painted on the doors of this old hair salon. I thought to myself maybe we all need to paint them somewhere that they can be seen everyday. Kind of like a subliminal message to the world. Hopefully people will get the hint. Yes I was dreaming big that day.

Hanging at Starbucks



Nothing like a quiet afternoon sipping on a Green Tea and reading your favorite book.
What's your drink of choice?

Monday mood.



Saw this advertising for a film festival and thought about people on Monday morning driving to work. Its a good thing that it's a short week. (Click on the photo for a closer look)

The Man in Black



I came upon this Johnny Cash poster on an abandoned building in the downtown area.

Registration office.

Last pic from the road.



Everytime we drive through Benson I think about stopping to take a picture of this old sign. Well I finally did it. This is the old Benson Motel in Benson Arizona. Its not the Hilton but it looks cute.

Open road.



There is something about driving on an uncrowded open road. It's even better when your not driving and taking in all of the sites.

Tired?



Yes you can stay in the town of the Ok Corral Gunfight. Saw this motel sign on the way back to Phoenix and couldn't resist snapping a quick picture.

Further down the road.



As we kept driving down the road where we saw the cows we came across these three. They weren't locked up behind any fences or corrals.They were just running free eating and wondering what is this guy pointing at us.

Wait for me....



When your out in the desert you never know what you might see, a coyote, a skunk, maybe a rattlesnake or two. But this was not something I had seen out here between Bisbee and Tombstone.

A forest in the desert.



Out on Hwy 80 there is what seems to be a forest of Ocotillo cactus all over the mountains. When they are green and in bloom they are beautiful. As much as I love being in a real forest with Green trees I could never give up living in the desert. There is so many beautiful things to see when you hike in the desert and the smells are great too especially when it rains.

Garden Gates



No matter how many times we go down to our house in Bisbee I never get tired of walk by and seeing the gates at the enterance of this house. It is fun to walk around town just to see how others are fixing up their homes.

Visiting the Copperman



Posting my Saturday picture early. On my way down to my home in Bisbee for the weekend. The Copper Miner is a tribute to the miners who used to mine in the Copper mines in Bisbee.

Another View

Phoenix Convention Center



This is the first phase of our new Convention Center. The next phase is just a big hole in the ground right now.

Flags



When leaving the Botanical Gardens I noticed these flags behind this metal cover that is some kind of shade covering at the entrance. The covering didn't provide much shade but was more decorative.

And it comes in other colors...



Same type of cactus as the previous post but it comes in purple for those who would like a splash of color.

Don't brush up against this one.



It may look harmless but if you brush against this cactus you will need a good pair of tweezers to get this small thorns out.

Barrel Cactus



This is one that you will find in alot of home landscapes around town. I have seen more in and around homes than I have in the desert.

Cactus #1



Here is one of the many types of cactus at the garden.

Desert Botanical Garden



This is just one of the paths in the gardens. Over the next couple of days I will be showing a few of the different types of cactus native to the Southwest and Mexico.

La Visita



"The Visit" a dance that was done by the departed around their family memebers who came to visit their gravesite on the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos). The family dances around until its time to leave then they say good bye by walking slowly around their family blessing them.

Just a few more...



Another photo from the Day of the Dead festival at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

Something that is about to disappear soon.

Thank goodness these signs won't be up much longer. I wish that they weren't allowed to pollute the city with these but what are you going to do its election time. I will just be glad when they are gone as well as all the negative television ads.

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