Sorry for the silence 01-11-18

It is a long story!  But don't worry, I am fine.  I came to Tucson, Arizona, for a five day  class with Sue Benner, one of my favorite teachers.  I did bring my laptop, but it has a broken screen, so I have to use an auxiliary screen, and I brought that.  However, the laptop and the screen refuse to talk to each other.  I've talked to my friendly Geek Squad helper and he had me try a number of things to no avail.  So, I must wait until I get home again to see what can be done to make them talk.  I will order a new computer, my current setup is a stop gap deal.  It didn't occur to me that this resort would have a computer available to guests - until today!  I have been busy with the class and so tired at night I have been going to sleep about 9pm every night. 

The class is wonderful, as have been every Sue Benner class I have taken.  There are only 14 students and we each have an eight foot table to ourselves.  It is amazing.  The  class is Landscape which includes pictures we have taken on the premises and interpreted in fused fabric.  What fun!  The location here is one of the top Dude Ranches in the west, Tanque Verde Ranch (Green Tank), which is on the very eastern edge of Tucson.  They have hundreds of horses here and, consequently, also quite a few flies.   I will not have seen anything of Tucson and this is my first visit here.  I'll have to come back some day to see what the city has to offer; it seems they have a number of good museums.  The accommodations are nice; one story buildings with 4 or 5 units in each, separated by the lovely desert scenery, including giant Saguaro cactus spreading out on the slopes of the surrounding mountains.  The weather has been good, with one day of very light rain.  Nothing like what is happening at home in Orange County.  The class is over tomorrow and I will drive four hours to Yuma to spend the night and then on to San Clemente on Saturday morning to pick up KoKo who is staying with Nancy Ota.  Then it is another hour home where I will need a few days to recuperate.  AND get my computer going again. 

I can read e-mail on my phone, but sending email on the phone is a slow, laborious process for me, so I don't do that very much.  There is good cell phone reception here so I am still in touch with the "outside" world.  I do feel very isolated as I parked my car here on Sunday and have not been off the premises since.  And I miss my KoKo dog!  When I am home I will post some images from this place and the class, but probably not until at least the middle of next week.  Stick with me!   Love, Del-on-the-road. 

Wordless Wednesday 07-12-17

2007

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Wordless Wednesday 04-12-17

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Road Trip - Indiana - Placentia to Flagstaff, AZ. 07-11-14

I felt much better this morning, so I gassed up the car, took a swing through Starbuck's and hit the road.  I left about 7am and thought I would have traffic, but other than "the usual places" everyone was moving right along.  I stopped just south of Barstow to visit the facilities at Starbuck's.  I didn't need another latte, so I just slip in and out.  The temp was about 90F and everyone seemed to come out with a cold drink rather than a coffee.  I continued on I-15 to the turn off where I-40 begins (and goes all the way to NCarolina).  Very light traffic.  Everything is extremely dried out as there  has not been rain there any more than in SCalifornia.    Next stop was in Arizona where US 95 turns off to Lake Havasu City.  It was 102F, but there was a slight breeze to ease the pain.   I gassed up for 3.69/gal,  twenty cents less than in Placentia earlier.  The picture below were taken at the Pilot station.  

This is the Red Bird Of Paradise, Caesalpinia pulcherrima.  A yellow variety is commonly known as Mexican Bird of Paradise.

 

I  like the flowers and have tried growing bushes in Placentia, but they don't survive.  However, I have seen them growing in SCalifornia.

I have six more pictures taken on the drive, but blogger doesn't want to load them, so they will have to await another day.  Don't know if the problem is the WiFi here at Holiday Inn Express in Flagstaff, or with my laptop, or just blogger up to its tricks.

I had a nap when I checked in here, but it was much of one because the motel is being renovated and they just happened to be painting the exterior wall outside my room.  All the windows were covered with heavy plastic and the painters were up on a lift  to be able to reach at least the 2nd floor.  Odd hearing them talk outside the 2nd floor window!  I had some leftovers along to eat for dinner, so once I was inside I stayed inside.  Showered now and in my nightie I am going to hit the hay.

 

2 am!   I am having a hard time sleeping.  Part of the problem is the high altitude and I am struggling with keeping a nice breathing rhythm.  And, wouldn't you know it, I seem to have left my emergency inhaler at home.  But also, there is a busy RR track practically outside my window, so I am wearing earplugs, which really do help.  At any rate, I thought I would see what blogger was willing to do and, voila, here are the rest of the pictures.

 

In the early part of the day the clouds were ragged and wind whipped.

 

In the afternoon they had turned into fat little sheep.

This road cut is just south of Kingman, AZ.  It is one of my favorites and I made a quilt from my pictures.  I will look up a picture and share it with you.  But not tonight.

Here is another colorful road cut some miles north of Kingman.

 It is on my "some day" list.

 

I don't know why yesterday evening's blog post didn't post - it was just there as a draft when I went in to write this one. 

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One year ago in Arizona 05-20-14

Last year on this date I was on my way to Quilt National in Athens, Ohio.    It was a great Road Trip and I plan to revisit it with pictures this week.   A high point was the discovery of La Posada hotel in Winslow, AZ.  www.laposada.org  It is the remaining hotel from the years of the Santa Fe Railroad years and refurbishment continues.  A step back into an earlier time and way of travel.  The Amtrak trains stop at the back gate, offering easy access to the vintage hotel with a nice restaurant, gift shop, public spaces and, of course, elegant lodging from yesteryear.  I parked my car in the front parking lot and strolled through the gardens and all the other spaces open to the public. 

 

Just through the entry gate is a Bactrian camel.

A very handsome guy, but, I suppose, he will eventually rust away, even in the dry Arizona climate.

I  even like the shadows from the entry gate.

A little further along the path there is a metal donkey.

And even further along is the entrance to the Inn - build in 1930.

A pathway off to another garden area.

Many of the plants are native to the area.

Great corn stalk gate.

In one of the lounge areas I met this lady with her pet lop eared rabbit.  He wears a harness and lease - just like Corky! 

 

This is one of the original chandeliers hanging near the check in desk.  Notice the native American rug on the wall.  An extra nice piece for sale in the gift shop.

Here is another rug for sale - it is a Wide Ruins pattern from a Navajo weaver.  Nice and about $1300.

Directly through the public area of the Inn and out the back door are the train tracks and the Amtrak stop.  I'd love to take the train and stay a few days at the Inn, but there isn't really anything else to see or do in Winslow.

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