Posting this, it feels like Christmas was 'last year!' It truly does feel like it all came, went and was months ago.
A group of us photography fanatics (thanks for getting it together Sue - in front of photo) did a photo walk to Waterfall Canyon in White Tank Mountain Regional Park (just a ten minute drive to the gate entrance).
A short hike but it took us upwards of three hours with our tripods, bouncing ideas around and just spotting photo opportunities. A fun time.
This is my sun burst photo taken in the middle of the day.
Waterfall Canyon (of course, no waterfall this time of year but a pool of water). Look close and you can see Sue and Dominique.
Mean Cholla Cactus - notice the nails! For the first time ever, I had my nails done. Foreign to me as I have super soft nails and have never had nails longer than the end of the finger.
Have been learning how to grind and polish rocks (thanks to Lou Lehman). Started learning to wire wrap - this is the finished product and first attempt. However, I can not take credit for this gorgeous finished product but certainly have learned a lot and look forward to more.
Spent my birthday in one of the most beautiful places around - Sedona, AZ. We stayed in the west end of Sedona this year for four nights in a Super 8 Hotel, returning back Christmas Day to Surprise. The Hotel was bought out and renovations had begun while we were there. It will now be called the Adante Hotel. It was great; clean, staff were great and-the complimentary breakfast was an added bonus.
Settled in and wandering around downtown by two in the afternoon. It is about ten degrees cooler than Surprise and with a wind, it was feeling a tad nippy. Nothing that a down jacket can't help with though. (about 37 F/3C)
The Cowboy Horse Statue in Old Town Sedona by Al Hikes.
In the center of the shopping plaza is a life-size statue of Sacajawea carrying her small son Jean Baptiste in a pappoose.
A miniature Christmas Village
Wildflower Bread Company
A nice, cloudy scene from the deck.
Cowboy painter
Found great trails (five minute drive) behind the community recreation centre (tennis courts/pickleball), skateboarding, swimming pool) and high school.
The first afternoon of dog walking and out came the rain gear.
On the way back down the hill a fabulous sunset.
Next day, full on rain. The trails are very slick and in a few places soft. No mountain biking as the red muck gets into everything and sticks like glue. Not good for the bikes but also very bad etiquette if you go riding when its wet as it causes major rutting when it dries.
Love the twisted trunks of the Juniper Trees
Yummy - looking like edible blueberries.
On the way back down the hill a fabulous sunset.
Next day, full on rain. The trails are very slick and in a few places soft. No mountain biking as the red muck gets into everything and sticks like glue. Not good for the bikes but also very bad etiquette if you go riding when its wet as it causes major rutting when it dries.
Love the twisted trunks of the Juniper Trees
Yummy - looking like edible blueberries.
 |
| Triple Kylie |
No one around so time for the dogs to run.
Smoothbark Arizona Cypress
At the end of our trail - coffee pot rock.
New Years in Surprise
A group of us took in a local hockey game in Glendale on New Years Eve. Arizona Coyotes versus Winnipeg Jets.
This is PRE-game seating....
The Gila River Arena opened in December of 2003. It is a sports and entertainment arena located about 12.5 miles NW of Phoenix
It seats 17,125 for hockey and about 19,000 for concert events. Interestingly, the Coyotes relocated from Winnipeg July 1, 1996.
This is the seating during the game.
Winnipeg lost 4-2.
So, 2016 promises to be full of change, travel and meeting up with family and friends.
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