Sunday, April 20, 2014

Home Alone

It's been a pretty uneventful week for me.  I took my mom and aunt to the airport on Tuesday and Eric has been on a very manly trip (rock climbing in big honkin' Jeeps).  So it's just been me and my fur babies holding down the fort.  I have been mauled (accidentally) by Hemingway, I have punished Cyrus for eating the cat food, I have broken up cat fights; but I have also been licked with love, cuddled with in bed, purred at, and followed around by three adorable animals. 

I have enjoyed seeing photos today of all the kids dressed in their Easter clothes hunting for eggs.  So many of you have such cute babies!!  And I could have put bunny ears on my fur babies for Easter pictures.  But, nah, I love them just the way they are. 

Grace up on the entertainment center where Hemingway can't reach her




Cyrus retrieving his ball


Hemingway watching the lizards play in Eric's garden            

Grace "helping" me change the bedsheets



"Okay, throw the ball now mommy."


Hemi looking pretty...until those sharp claws come out!


About as close as they get to one another...and then the hissing and chasing starts!
Attention!  I need your attention!!

"Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France





Sunday, April 13, 2014

Home Comes to Phoenix


Home.  Where is home?  What is home?  Is home where I grew up?  Where the majority of my friends, family, and memories are?  Or is home where I am now living?  Where I moved to start my own family?  Where I'm building new friendships and making new memories?  I suppose that no matter the answer, I know who my family is and who I come from.  And no matter the miles or the differences between us, family is my heart.

So these past few days, having my Mom and my Aunt Nancy staying here in Phoenix with us has been like a little piece of my old home here at my present home.  And it's been nice. 

And it hasn't hurt that the weather has been perfect!  Also, it was the weekend for the Scottsdale Culinary Festival...so we headed there Saturday afternoon.

Great Arizona Picnic of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival in Old Town


Mom and Nancy enjoying some funnel cake



Jalapeno mac and cheese from Sandbar


Nancy with a DELICIOUS dessert from Caketini



Slice of pizza from Spinato's

Tiny cupcakes!    


Mother and Daughter   

And then on Sunday, Mom and Nancy helped Eric and me buy and plant flowers and succulents and cactus.  I do NOT have a green thumb so I very much appreciated their guidance!  Let's hope I can keep everything alive!

Lots of empty pots...just waiting on Mom and Nancy!

Work in progress 

 
Finished pots full of pretty!  

Nancy CAREFULLY helping Eric plant the saguaro!  

Cyrus "helping"

We found this BEAUTIFUL HibisKiss that Eric planted in the back

The pool area is looking a little more tropical and colorful

Flowers on one of the succulents we planted 

And we added a bit more to the front of the house

Only one more day of having family here.  Not only family, but also a strong female presence...the girl talk has been nice.  Eric, Cyrus, Grace, Hemingway, and I will miss these lovely ladies. Our Family.  XoXoXo


In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. -Alex Haley






Sunday, April 6, 2014

Simply Sunday

Today was another beautiful Sunday in Phoenix.  A perfect day for a bike ride.  I still haven't been able to take "her" out into the mountains.  But so far I really love riding her on the streets and bike paths in town.  I've decided I'm not coordinated enough to ride and photograph; so instead I'm sharing some older photos of places that I actually rode past today.

I still need a good name for her...but I'm almost done primping (or pimping?) her



Got the new handlebar grips and phone holder

New bottle holder



So, the next few photos are from the Cosanti studio where Eric and I biked a few weeks ago.  It is the studio where Paolo Soleri lived, and his students still make and sell his Soleri windbells.

Soleri used this apse as a "passive solar machine"; it now displays many Soleri wind bells


The bells range in price from $28 up to well over $280,000



The middle of my ride today took me past one of my favorite architectural structures in the valley.  This spire was designed, of course, by the late great Frank Lloyd Wright (no relation...dang it).

It stands 125 feet high and sits at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard


I want to get back out for some night shots; it's lit from the inside and glows cool blue in color.

Wishing everyone a great upcoming week.  April is here, the snow is melting, time to come out of hibernation! 

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”
Frank Lloyd Wright


Links: 
Frank Lloyd Wright
Cosanti Originals
Paolo Soleri




















Friday, April 4, 2014

Family + Austin = Faustin (or Keep Austin Weird Like Me!!)


I don't have a lot of family...at all.  So when I have the opportunity to spend time with some it's a sweet thing.  Broc and I grew up together from diapers until around age 12 or so.  Our Dad's were cousins and the best of friends. He currently lives in Austin, Texas...which now happens to be one of my most favorite US cities!  Thank you, cousin, for showing us your city and for making time for us.  Love you!

Here's Austin!!

People in Austin LOVE to wait in line for their food!  They even count the steps til they get there!

Salt Lick Cellars...it's either this or B.Y.O.B to the barbecue

The Barbecue!!



Broc and Eric at the Chuggin Monkey on 6th

Austin is also known for their music...I like the purple one!



Lot's of mural's in Austin...I want to photograph more on my next trip

Okay...not the best artwork upon immediately entering a bar, especially when you've had a couple cocktails!

New bar on Rainey Street called Container Bar... made up of old shipping containers...pretty cool!

LOVE the rental bikes!  Just hope I don't get the same one the naked guy rides!

Food trucks everywhere!  http://www.littlelucys.com


This kitty was craving some food truck pizza...me too!

The bars on Rainey are old houses that they've converted...this is the backyard of one

Craft Pride...Eric finally found a local beer he liked!

Loved the decor in Craft...HUGE, thick, wooden bar and a big state of Texas on the ceiling


The 16oz from the glass reflected into the beer

Another food truck on Rainey

Met the sweetest bow-tie wearing bartender at Half Step who custom made us these cocktails based on our likes and dislikes

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
Grandpa Munster on the sidewalk on South Congress....yes, please keep Austin weird!

South Congress Cafe...great brunch!

I did say I wanted to see an armadillo!


And Eric HAD to buy a pair of boots from Allens


  Always drink upstream from the herd.-- Will Rogers