5 Things – Sedona, AZ

I’ve had a love affair with Sedona for many years. Seriously, I think it’s been almost 15 years now. With all of that love and history, where do I begin? [Can you hear me humming?]

Here are my “5 Things” about Sedona.

1. Peace

There is something about Sedona and the Red Rock area that puts me at peace. I’m not sure what it is. I just know that when I’m there, the stupid self talk stops and the still,quiet voice inside gets heard.  Also, I think I’m just generally a much nicer, happier person when I’m there. That self talk can do a real number on your disposition.

The Sedona area is said to be the location of some spiritual vortexes and there are certainly quite a few folks making money selling tours and what I’ll call “vortex paraphernalia”.

Depending on your beliefs, you can chalk it up to the vortexes supposedly there, I guess. My personal beliefs don’t necessarily run that way, but I can’t deny that there is something different about the place. I just know that when I can use a little peace in my life, I’ll find it in Sedona.

2. Diversity

Sedona is a place where everyone can find something. For such a small town, that’s pretty amazing. And the diversity is everywhere in everything!

• You can tent camp next to Oak Creek or find a posh $250+ a night bed and breakfast. [We splurged one year ... if you are going to splurge on a B&B in Sedona, I can recommend this one!]
• You can find a quick deli snack or a $50+ a plate meal.
• You can be in the desert one minute and in a riparian area – so green you can’t imagine – it in the next.

I’ve not been there yet with someone who didn’t find something to like about the place. You can go to shop, hike, visit galleries, mountain bike, ride horses, or just hang out. In the times I’ve visited, I’m not sure that we’ve ever done the same thing twice. It’s all good!

3. Umm …  Red Rocks

OK, seriously. There is no place on earth like Red Rock country. I actually think it’s better than the Grand Canyon – although that might be because it’s more accessible.

The colors are just stunning everywhere you turn and the formations are just awesome. Most pictures don’t do the area justice … although on our recent trip, I certainly tried! [It's an amazing place to practice your photography habit!]

One of my favorite places to visit is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The architecture is just amazing and the church itself is so simple. The simplicity makes it a perfect match for the amazing “cathedral” of rocks around it. I just love it!

There are hikes and tours to just about anywhere you would want to go want to go – and you can find something suitable for all ages and abilities. [I don't hike, normally. I will here. It didn't/doesn't kill me.]

At the end of the day, however you get wherever you get, a good long sit and stare is necessary and appropriate!

4. Water

When you are surrounded by desert, water is important – and interesting – and wonderful. Oak Creek is life to the areas around Sedona. The area gets about 10 inches of rain each year and depends on the run off from the Flagstaff area. But, no matter what the season, water is a main attraction.

In the summer, Slide Rock State Park is packed with folks trying to cool off in the cold waters of Oak Creek. I must tell you that it’s not my cup of tea … but clearly it works for a lot of people!

I think I prefer to experience the life of the canyons here in other ways. I love to sit and eat at The Hideaway where you can thoroughly enjoy a great pizza and cream soda (or whatever you like) on a terrace overlooking Oak Creek. And I’ve recently ventured into the canyon itself … the hikes into the Oak Creek area – West Fork Oak Creek Trail and Huckaby Trail were two that got us “waterside” and allowed us to see the area from a different perspective!

5. Tlaquepaque

OK … this may be a stretch, but I have to put Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) in the mix just because it’s a fun word to say!

Seriously though, you can watch artists sculpt in clay as they prepare the models for amazing bronze sculptures. You can get a great meal. [Can I get a WOOT for beer-battered fries prepared in the local brew?] You can sit and listen to musicians play in the courtyards. It’s an amazing place … and one of the many places to see artists of all kinds in the Sedona area.

Oh, and the flowers, fountains, and sycamore trees in this place are just wonderful! And, at Christmastime? Forget it. You just want to stay!

For me Tlaquepaque represents all of the cool places to discover in the Sedona area. It’s a place where you can see/get things you just can’t anywhere else – some are pretty pricey (fantastic art usually is) and some are perfect for taking a bit of Sedona home with you.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you get a chance to visit Sedona, don’t turn it down. Whether for the day or for the week, it’s worth it. Yep, everyone goes there – it’s not off of the vacation radar. There’s a reason for that – embrace it!

Oh, and while you’re there? Don’t be afraid to “go off-road” a bit. There is a lot to see and do … and learn!

[Wow. I may have just sounded like your mother there. Sorry about that! Now, go book your ticket! What are you waiting for???]

I'll be hoppin' along now ...

Red, White, and the Bluest Sky Ever

The challenge over at Beth’s this week was “Independence Day” (or food) and I’m so glad that she didn’t say “the 4th”!

See, Husband and I were truly experiencing independence this Independence Day. Little Man and BK are spending a few weeks at their Gram’s house and we found ourselves on our own for the long holiday weekend! What to do?

We headed to one of my favorite places on the planet – Sedona, AZ – for a get-away and it was a wonderful weekend full of exploring Red Rock country. [Also, we got to eat many meals in restaurants without worrying about meltdowns and kids' menus.]

I must confess before we get to the pics. I don’t hike – well, not normally. But, you really can’t experience all of Sedona without going off-road at least a little. So, like all sensible people, I decided that I could do two hikes a day – one in the morning and one in the evening. [Um, suffering for art? Nah, I'll blame the heat!]

So, without further ado, we’ll start with nature’s red, white, and blue and then move on a sampling of nature in northern Arizona!

It’s monsoon time in the desert so it’s quite common to get late day rains. We thought we were going to get rained out of a sunset hike in Red Rock State Park. Instead, we got treated to a lightening show followed by this rainbow (which actually ended up being a double). Then it passed and we were able to hike away!

Oak Creek supplies water to the area and it’s truly a life giving thing. There are quite a few riparian areas in Sedona and they are just stunning in their colors and creatures – so different from the high desert that surrounds them. Amazing!

I had my polarizing filter on almost the whole time we were out and about. I love the green of this funky old tree against the blue sky.

This guy. Oh my word! He was just hanging out when we walked by on our sunset hike. For whatever reason, I couldn’t get my camera to focus so that I could capture him. He stayed still for something like 20 attempts – just posed. He finally moved when the guide with us moved his hand to show us the petroglyphs that were above him!

I have no idea what these are, but they just begged for a picture. They were the only plants like this and were surrounded by a field of green!

OK … this next one is funky and I like it. We went up to the airport to watch the sunset (popular place to watch the sunset, by the way). We’d been out hiking in Fay Canyon until right up to sunset and we were tired! I wasn’t even going to take a picture because the sunset wasn’t all that pretty. But, we’d driven up there, so I took a shot just after the sun sunk behind the mountain.

I forgot that I had the polarizing filter on and this is what the sunset looked like to my camera. The shadows in the black are the layers of the mountains west of town.

Did I mention that Sedona is one of my favorite places on the planet??? Yeh, I get kind of carried away. These are seven of the almost 500 pictures I shot in four days! (More pictures will be coming in my 5 Things – Sedona post.)

I hope you enjoyed and if you get a chance to visit Sedona? Do it!

I'll be hoppin' along now ...

I Capture, You Capture

I’ve been meaning to participate in the You Capture challenges/carnival Beth’s got going over at I Should Be Folding Laundry for a while now. I mean well. I just never have managed to do it! [My self-talk is now taunting me thank-you-very-much.]

This week the challenge was “nature” and I was mulling it around and around for much of the end of last week and the weekend. I thought I’d go for something cerebral and try to capture something of human nature. Good, right? Unique and thought provoking … and lives up to the word challenge!

But, then, the aforementioned human nature reared it’s ugly head and all of the best creative intentions got sucked up in work, the book I’m enjoying, and my family. So, it was looking like another week of NGH. [For those of you playing at home, that's Not Gonna Happen.]

Enter serendipity. Saturday, Little Man decided we needed to go on an adventure to the zoo. [... and friends, I'd be lying to you if I told you that I immediately hatched a plan to save my You Capture intentions. Yeh ... didn't happen that way. Never even crossed my mind as I was trying to figure out what we needed to take for our big day out ... we don't pack light!]

We had a great time! The weather was darn near perfect and the kids were really well-behaved. [ I can't say the same for some of the other park visitors, by the way.] And … as we made our way through the zoo, several very natural things caught my eye and, of course, I snapped a few shots. [Although I still wasn't thinking about the challenge.]

So, here they are … my unplanned acceptance to a challenge.

In the end, I’m happy with my shots here – especially the lily pad. They are better than my usual suspects – even before I edited them for the challenge. I still hope to take a crack at capturing the elements of human nature, but that’s a challenge for another time!

Blissful Sunday

Have you ever had one of those days that was so good it made you smug? You know. The kind of day that seems to have been conjured out of a scene from a great historical romance novel [not that I read those] or from a Lifetime Original Movie [not that I watch those] or from someone else’s life.

Bliss.

Let me see if I can paint you a picture. Close your eyes. [Wait! No. Don't. That won't work!] Ahem.

The sun snuck up over the horizon while we were all sleeping and was well into its task of warming up the day when I heard Little Man say, “Mom, can it be morning? I can’t sleep anymore and I hear the other kids getting up.” I shooed him out of the room to get what I imagine was a less-than-completely-nutritious breakfast with his friends. I took a few minutes to myself, threw on beach attire, and headed to the kitchen for breakfast.

In short order, everyone was fed, dressed and ready for the beach! And, the fun began.

With a very delicious and refreshing drink in one hand and BK in the other, I made the short trek to the beach as Husband, Little Man, and some of the others set up “camp” for the day. To our delight, the tide was out and the tide pools were just begging to be explored. The sun was brilliant and the breeze kept the temperature near perfect.

As we were playing, another beach-goer approached and said that there were dolphins playing not far from where  we were sitting. In short order, my camera and I were on a boat heading their way thanks to a local vendor! Dolphin watching in a small boat is amazing.

After my dolphin adventure, it was time to head to one of the beach houses for a massage. Husband and the kids were playing in the tide pools, so I slipped away.

I was looking forward to this massage! Some of the others in our group had described theirs as “the best massage they’d ever had” … sounded wonderful. Changed and ready to be deeply relaxed, I closed my eyes. It was then that I heard Amazing Grace being played in the background. I don’t remember much of that hour other than it was the perfect combination of relaxation and rejoicing.

BK was napping when I recovered from my relaxed haze so I went to relieve Husband. To my surprise, I found a sleeping baby in an empty house (once Husband returned to the beach)! Windows open. Beach breezes blowing in. This is also known as the PERFECT reading environment.

Once we’d all had naps and lunch, it was back to the beach for more playing and discovering! Nothing to do but enjoy the day and play!

This was how I spent last Sunday. It’s still so fresh that I can close my eyes and mentally return to that beach and its relaxing breezes. These words and pictures don’t do it justice.

I know we’ll be back there again. Until then, I’ll look for bliss in small things. Like the little giggle I just heard on the baby monitor. The giggle that tells me BK is awake, happy, and ready to play with her mom!

Ahhh, bliss.

Starting Over

We’re nearing spring … the time of the year when things are, once again, fresh and new. It’s a really hopeful time of year and I love it – I always have. I’m anxiously waiting for the flowers to perk up and give us their fabulous flash of brilliance.

It’s springtime for my family too, I guess. Seeds that were planted weeks and months ago are starting to sprout and struggle to find sun!

I feel like today is the culmination of a huge gardening effort [and the whole metaphor here is feeling a tad bizarre because I don't garden at all]! Today is a day when it feels like everything has changed and we are starting over.

It’s both exciting and scary. It’s exhausting and, I hope, will be rewarding.

This morning, Daddy went off to work without us. [We've been carpooling for almost a year now and the kids really like for us all to be together!]  He ventured out early to get to his first day of work on time. It’s been a very long time since he’s had a first day of work!

He’s on to new professional challenges and, given the current economic conditions, we are blessed in so many ways on this one! I’m excited for him and intrigued about learning new things right along with him.

However, starting over means that he’s the newbie again and he’s got to earn their confidence and respect. I don’t doubt his ability at all. I empathize with him about the effort it will take to till the path and cultivate the relationships. I truly believe that you reap what you sow. [Oh, the heck with it, the dang metaphor works.]

Husband isn’t the only one sprouting and growing this spring. [OK, this is a really funny visual image for me!!!]  

This morning, Little Man and BK got re-potted so-to-speak. They started at a completely different school and today is a day for them to meet new teachers, build new friendships, and examine new boundaries. 

We’d been at their old school for five years and were MUCH loved there. There were many tears shed on our last days there.

Today, their new pots don’t feel quite right. Everything looks and feels different … funny … unfamiliar. They aren’t in the comfortable home that they’ve known for so long and so well. It’s hard to start over even when it’s good for you and will allow you to grow. It’s just hard.

I don’t doubt their abilities to cultivate new friendships and relationships either. In fact, I bet they’ll finger paint their new pots in vibrant shades of red and pink and all sorts of other colors! I think they’ll be settled in and on their way by pickup time … although I think they’ll be ready for some familiarity and snuggles!

I worry for them. I’m their mom.

I feel a bit like the gardener I’ve already told you that I’m not! There are all of these fantastic and amazing things happening around me and it’s my job to make sure that I water but don’t over water, that I allow sun but not too much sun, and I provide shelter so that things can take their own course when necessary. I am the active observer in all of this.

Right now, it’s not a role I like very much because my instinct to protect and shelter are getting in the way of what I really need to do here.

My bones are aching from the effort of projecting outward calm and excitement for each of these new adventures! What I am actually feeling, of course, is the instinct to put them in the car and take them to their old school … or maybe to make it a stay home day to put off the inevitable for one more day.

I’m counting the hours until I can go pick them up and hear about their days … and snuggle with them while we hatch plans for what tomorrow will be like.

While I’m certainly not starting over, it appears that I’m in a bit of a growth spurt! I guess I’m learning once again to cultivate the seeds that were sown - regardless of whether they were planted in a place and time that were of my own design.

With all this growth, I’d bet that it’ll be my time soon to get re-potted. Until then, I’ll be tending my little garden [or, maybe ... and quite possibly ... nay probably ... spreading around some fertilizer!]

5 Things – Seattle, Washington

I’ve fallen in love with the city of Seattle.  OK, since I’ve only been there once, it might be a crush … work with me!

Here are my “5 Things” for Seattle and the surrounding area!

1. The weather

I may have mentioned before that at certain times of the year, I just need a change of climate. The Seattle climate is exactly what I’m looking for … partly cloudy/sunny and cool – even the rain is nice. It’s good soup-eating weather and I love it!

2. The skyline

I believe that my crush with Seattle started with the skyline. It’s simply stunning. The water and the architecture and the history of the city make it all very alluring. And, as it turns out, dang near impossible to capture on film.

We saw the skyline from quite a few vantage points … Qwest Field, the waterfront, and the Space Needle. Every time I came to a place where I could, I found myself sneaking a peek. You know, that sort of sideways, flirty glance that’s all flush with that “I just met you and we’re hitting it off” excitement.

3. Nature

Seattle is situated in a beautiful part of the country and you can find evidence of what early pioneers to the area might have found within a short drive of the downtown area. Of course, the waterfront is delightful and offers ferry rides to the islands in Puget Sound. But, one of the treasures we found was east of Seattle proper.

Snoqualmie Falls and the little town of Snoqualmie were wonderful stops that took only part of a busy day and added so much to the trip!

The falls and a local railroad museum are the right size and time-frame for a short stop … which makes them nice for little ones!

4. The usual suspects

There are a few “must see” places for all tourists in Seattle and, for the most part, they live up to their hype!

The Space Needle is expensive, but how can you not do this? I find it very interesting and clever that the buildings in its immediate vicinity are distinctly shorter than this historic landmark that is far shorter than other buildings in the adjacent downtown area!

The Pike Street Market is amazing … so diverse and alive. The colors, sights, and smells make it a wonderful place to spend the morning and grab some lunch in one of the many little restaurants or shops!

5. The atmosphere of innovation

The city of Seattle seems to be dipped in innovation – you can almost feel it as you walk down the street! From the purely capitalistic motives that caused the city’s founding fathers to make disastrous early decisions to the plethora of organizations making innovations in today’s world, it’s hard not to be inspired on some level. [Oh, and the Amazon.com building is just stunning - especially at night!]

The refrain that you hear through much of the city is that they want to do something NEW and, often, BIG. Seattle can make you uncomfortable with the status quo. It’s a perfect place to recharge your creative battery!

• The Underground

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour in Pioneer Square is a wonderful walk through some of the wackiest and amazing city history I’ve heard yet.  The foundng fathers were eclectic (perhaps nuts) to be sure and they made some really bone-headed decisions. But, today stands a beautiful city on a tide flat. A city bustling with culture and variety – history and innovation – the old and the new. It’s pretty hard not to be amazed and impressed.

This little trip through history isn’t suited to little ones, but teenagers and older are good to go. There are also adult versions of the tour.

•  The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour

Just north of the city (about 25 miles in Mukileto, WA), this place is frankly just cool and amazing! The sheer size of the aircraft that are produced in the Everett plant can make you somewhat speechless. Boeing has been doing some insane things – and they have been for some time!

To give you some perspective, the tour guide told us that the Boeing plant building in Everett could hold all of Disneyland and still have room for 12 acres of parking.

While there are some very cool exhibits for the kids, this is a pretty grown up tour unless your little one is EXTREMELY interested in airplanes and engines or is EXTREMELY patient!

• The Museum of Flight

This might be the best designed and implemented museum plan that I’ve ever experienced.

The Museum of Flight is just the right size for spending a few hours learning some amazing facts about air travel and it’s history … and the exhibits are really extraordinary.

If you have an interest in the history of flight … from the Wright Brothers to today, this is a great find. Spend the day. If you have little ones with you, you will not probably get the full effect, but it’s still very much worth the price of admission!

The only negative I could find for this was the cafeteria could have used a bit more choice … really, that’s the only downside!

The folks in Seattle don’t seem to be afraid to attempt something new – never been tried. They also don’t seem to be afraid to fail. That’s a pretty freeing environment for innovation!

This is, admittedly, a rose-colored and romanticized view of a city of over a million people. I mean it ain’t all roses and rainbows in this city (you’ve have to have some more sun for that). There are the homeless toughing it out in an awfully unforgiving climate and the other trials and tribulations that come with a city of this size.

Nonetheless, I was impressed with Seattle’s ability to draw and keep so much innovation. It’s not the meteorological climate that draws this spirit. I think it’s a different kind of climate.

What ever it is, I like it a lot. There is an energy and optimism to it. A feeling that all of us have something to add – and that it’s our civic duty to add it.

They should bottle that! It’s intoxicating … addictive!

Wild Horses

I live in a place where wild horses still run. It’s a beautiful thing.

The first time I saw them,  I was in awe. Looking back, I think that part of that awe had to do with the fact that I’d seen them – it was a new experience that not everyone has the privilege of seeing.

The horses aren’t always there and they aren’t always easy to see. You have to pay attention. You have to look for them. I think many of my neighbors are too busy commuting to notice them most days. Sad, really. [I really hope I'm wrong about this, by the way.]

As I began to travel the road where they can be seen daily, I started looking for them. It was as if I was looking for a sign. Something that I could hang my day on. If I saw them, my mood was instantly buoyed. The day was sure to be a good one.

I’ve been traveling that same road for some time now and I still look for the horses. I am still in awe and my mood changes instantly for the better when I see them.

I saw them today. As I scanned the horizon for more of them, I thought a bit about these amazing, beautiful creatures out in the middle of nowhere … just being.

There are loads of wild creatures around here. Most of them are of the I-wouldn’t-want-to-meet-you-accidentally variety. Most of them are members of a species that has not been domesticated.

Yet, here, on this stretch of road where a bunch of domesticated humans travel to-and-from work every day there are a bunch of wild horses … following the road less travelled.

Ironic. Wonderful.

Me by the Sea

I do believe that I was meant to live by the sea – perhaps even south of the border. I’ve got a nice spot all picked out and I think my family and I could do just fine!

I’m writing this overlooking the sea on the most beautiful day I can remember in a long time. The sun is shining, the pelicans and other sea birds are active, and there’s a slight breeze moving the palms. I can hear the waves as the tide moves in. It’s perfect.

I’m not sure what it is about the being ocean-side that’s so relaxing. It makes even the most stressful of tasks seem like small stuff. Contrary to what may happen for some, being by the sea makes me want to participate in life rather than hide from it. I find myself happy to do tasks that, at home, I would just dread. I am more active, more relaxed, and somehow more human.

From this spot, I can hear the kids on the beach and see the kites they are flying. I can see the alabaster walls of the homes, the terra cotta tile, the white sand, green palms, and the most beautiful range of blues from the sky to the sea.

And none of this gets close to explaining what it’s like to be sitting right here, right now.

Offline

I’m getting ready to enter the world of my past. It’s a place of disconnectedness – although I didn’t know it back then because “being connected” meant something different then.

I’ll not bore you with the details. Suffice it to say, I’ll be offline for a few days. Honestly, I hate being offline and I’m not exactly sure when that happened. But, this is worth it.

“But wait!” you yell. You are in the middle – almost to the end, actually – of NaBloPoMo. You made a deal and you haven’t missed a day. (At least, I imagine that’s what you’d yell if you’ve been following this and are at all interested.)

You are right. I signed up to blog every day for the month of November. So, I’m going to blog every day. I just won’t be able to post it until I can get reconnected.

I think that counts. It’s going to have to.

So … enjoy the weekend and I’ll see you back here in a few days.

Lost!

If you tuned in for a post about Matthew Fox trapped on an island where bizarre things happen … uh, ummm, well … you probably should head to another blog.

Wait, on the other hand, this post is about a place where bizarre things happened  – a place that’s larger than life and more than it first appears to be.

I’m talking, of course, about the Bass Pro Shops. What? Expected something else?

We met some friends at our nearest Bass Pro Shop tonight. We chose that spot because, with all of the boats, ATVs, and outdoor stuff, the place is like a stinkin’ amusement park - for everyone. I mean, let’s face it, there aren’t too many places where you can buy a bass boat, camo gear, bait, fudge, and a sweater you can wear to a dressy party! It’s got a little something for everyone!

However, like all good things, too much can be a problem! I’m guessing that I don’t have to explain the dangers of a power shop mentality in this environment. I mean, I think we can all understand the possible downsides of impulse buying a bass boat or a party barge. But, I learned tonight, that there are scarier things going on in this fun house. There is so much to see and do that the temptation to wander away … to explore without checking in with a parent … is too much.

I was trying on a sweater (which, I bought by the way) and Husband took BK for a bottle when I realized that I couldn’t see Little Man anymore. I called Husband and asked if he had him. Nope. He just had BK. 

I calmly looked up at my friends and said, ”Husband doesn’t have Little Man and I don’t either.” We immediately started combing the store. As they went department to department, I went to find the first sales associate I could find. The store is so ding-dang big that I was afraid that we’d miss him.

At this point, I was just worried that he would be scared. I didn’t even think about someone leaving with him. That was probably good – panic would not have helped!

OK, so if you are gonna lose a kid somewhere, Bass Pro Shops are a pretty good choice. I know that sounds just awful, but you should have seen them in action. I mean, I walked up and told them that I lost my son and within minutes they did an all call with his description (they actually have a version of “code red” for just this thing). Next thing I knew, folks in green shirts were everywhere.

In less than 5 minutes, a call came in to tell them that Little Man was safe and with his dad.

There’s a whole bunch more to this story that I just can’t find words for - including how silly I felt once I found out that he and our friends’ kids had been together the whole time and were very close to where I had been shopping. 

Losing a kid  - or thinking you have - is scary and the relief that washes over you when they are found is overwhelming. You want to hug them and throttle them all at the very same time. You want to hold their hands and find a leash.

I’ve heard lots of ways to be sure that you can give a good description of your child should they get lost. One of my favorites involves the camera in your cell phone. It’s simple. Take a quick picture of your child before you head out and save it to your phone. This way, if you need to get a description out, you can do it quickly and accurately. As an added bonus, you can forward it to those looking if they have the ability to receive it and, if God-forbid, a search takes more than a few minutes. I’d like to say that I’ll do this from now on. My guess is that I won’t.

Fast forward the evening a bit…

Life always manages to keep me on my toes! About 30 minutes after the drama that was our little lost episode, it was time to go. Little Man (who I was so thrilled to see safe and sound) decided that he just couldn’t go. (Apparently, it’s not fun at home.) There was a meltdown. There were tears. There was gnashing of teeth. There was negotiating (instigated by Little Man, of course). We were only a smidge away from a tantrum. It was not pretty.

You know, I’ve figuratively described this place as an amusement park for ages. Who knew that I’d find a literal emotional rollercoster? I think next time I’ll just power shop the party barge and call it a day!

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