Oh woe, it's snow!

Regular readers of this sainted blog may recall that I have said I'm originally from North Dakota and that I've seen all the snow I ever want to see in my life. So I moved, many years ago to Arizona. So what do I get this morning?

That's right, folks. That ain't a warm sunny day in the desert! That's snow.

Look at this poor pampas grass.

Nice day for lounging on the patio? I don't think so.

A neighbor said he was worried about the bamboo in his back yard. I assured him that as soon as the snow is gone (and it can't be too soon for me!) the bamboo will spring right back up again.

And I have evidence that a kitty - - possibly Smoke - - visited sometime this morning.

So, how much snow did we get? Oh, I'd say 2 or 3 inches.

Well, I suppose I shouldn't complain. It's the first snow of the winter and probably won't last long. Except the weatherman is saying there are more storms on the way.

Bah, humbug!

Bloggers United!!!

Granny J of Walking Prescott has successfully organized another bloggers' gathering. That's her in the lower center of the picture with her back to you. .


About 20 people attended today's fete at the Casa Sanchez restaurant and a great time seemed to be had by all. The waitresses were very patient as they kept adding tables and chairs as more and more people gathered. And then everyone had to have an individual check but the ladies handled it beautifully. I'm sure the group will return.

The lady with the dashing white hair is Judy Arrar of Prescott Area Daily Photo. Her husband is on her right and to her left is Rob of Lemegeton.

Here is local photography guru, Rich Charpentier, who blogs at Airstream Chronicles Continued and computer programmer Dagny Romer of Dagny's Desk.

And last, but not least, the effervescent Sadira, a.k.a. Chickenbells of Foolsewoode and the ever-hungry Tom Check of Tombo's Blog.

There were more but your intrepid reporter failed to get all the information. At any rate this has begun to be a monthly gathering. No minutes, no agenda, just companionship and a chance to see the real faces behind the blogger screens.

Thanks, Granny J, for putting it all together!

Art Opening

SWMBO and I stopped in at Framers Market in Prescott to see an old friend as she opened a show of her art for the rest of February. Sid Freeman is a very talented artist whose present show is filled with her calligraphic art. Here is an article in yesterday's paper that tells about the show and Sid's art.

It's a bit difficult to photograph mylar-wrapped art in a gallery because of reflections but here's one of her works.

Sid learned to carve in rock a few years ago and many of her pieces reflect that training.

Many of the works illustrate Sid's study of various Eastern religions. She told us she had made a trip to Nepal this year and has a photo of herself standing next to one carving out of rock of one letter that is far taller than herself. Of course, Sid is small in stature but she stands tall in the art world.

I'd call her . . . . a rock star!

As always, the photos expand if you click on them.

Just a nice day

Nothin' much to report today. Just a nice day in Arizona with some slightly fleecy clouds in the sky.

Pretty much the same view, a little closer.

As you can tell from the grasses in the foreground, it's still dry here in Arizona. But HEY! It is a desert, y'know.

Baseball Season!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that great time of year. Baseball season is coming! Oh, I know. Spring training isn't even underway yet. But today, several of Our Arizona Diamondbacks came to my town.

First picture, left to right, broadcaster Mark Grace, players Justin Upton and Stephen Drew, former player Jay Bell, and pitching coach Bryan Price.

That's broadcaster Darren Sutton on the left.

And here he puts his Sharpie skill to use to sign the back of a fan's jacket.

J-Up, Drew and Bell, all smiling about the upcoming season.

First time in many years I've had the chance to see some of my heroes up close.

There was a huge crowd and long lines throughout the Fry's store but everyone seemed to be in a great mood.

Play ball!

Afternoon at the lake

I stopped off on a sunny afternoon at Watson Lake recently. Gorgeous day.

There was a young couple taking a boat ride.

And some of the professional floaters enjoying a swim.

Yes, a beautiful day. And it was still January!

Desert Botanical Garden

Some photos of the "natural" beauty of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

Chihuly at the Desert Botanical Garden

SWMBO and I made a trip to Phoenix yesterday to see the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden. The garden is a spectacular place on its own but the amazing glass art of Dale Chihuly brings it to new life. With, as they say on television these days "limited commercial interruption", take a look. (As always, the photos are much more spectacular if you click on them and expand them individually.)

Keep in mind that everything you see is made of glass. These next objects are hollow and, therefore, so light they actually float on the water in a pond.

If you'd like to more know about the artist and his work, you can find it here.

Ahhhhh, spring!

Doesn't this just make you feel like spring is in the air?

Sure made me feel that way when I saw this wagon load of flowers outside a shop in Prescott the other day. I had to go back the next day with my camera to get a few shots. But when I got up close, I discovered these were SILK flowers!

I stepped inside the shop to complain but was quickly shown a case full of REAL flowers.

They were even better than the silk ones outside so I promised the folks some free advertising.

Oh, so you say that's not enough? O.K. I also scanned their business card. (A little wobbly but you get the idea, right?)

Joe and Vikki are very nice people so give 'em some business. Buy some flowers.

C'mon, there's a recession on! Everybody needs a little help.

There's even a toll free number!

(Oh . . . and by the way . . . it's not really spring here yet. It only got up to 55 today!

Heh-heh-heh.)

Feeling burned up?

So, this fine Thursday, let's see what's going on in our neighboring "city".

Prescott is known to some as "Everybody's Home Town."

To others, it's just "P-town."

If you lived around these parts, you might have been heading for the hills this week.

Or, "from" the hills if they looked like this.

But, not to worry. It's just the annual ritual called "slash burning". The Forest Service burns off some of the dead trees to keep them from burning in an "uncontrolled burn" later in the year. One of those fires, apparently started by homeless transients, nearly burned the town out a few years ago.

So every year, the Forest Service tries to protect folks from themselves and we see letters to the editor in the paper about all the terrible smoke.

Ho hum.

Cal-o-ries . . my mouth does crave cal-o-ries!

So, you're feeling kind of hungry.

And you don't feel like you want any more sushi.

No raw tuna.

No tofu.

I know what you need.

It's popularly called "The Bacon Explosion."



Now that your mouth is savoring it . . . here's the full story:

The Bacon Explosion

(Be sure you watch the slide show)

You're welcome!

Well, look at this!

What a difference a day makes!