Birthday sweets

I had a sweet birthday on Wednesday, with sugar and spice and all things nice. Don came down from Flagstaff to help me celebrate, and we started the day at Mona's Danish Bakery with French toast for me and a waffle for him, plus some pastries to take home and this gorgeous chocolate cake that he ordered for me!

Then we wandered around late artist Ted DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun, below.

The gallery went on forever, with room opening up upon room and all constructed of adobe and stone from the surrounding desert in the Tucson Foothills. DeGrazia built his studio, home and chapel compound in the 1950s with help from the native Indians, and a lot of his art portrays them.

The earthy colors of surrounding natural materials fill his home, including the kitchen above and living room below.

We also enjoyed the peaceful gardens.

Then we headed over to Hacienda del Sol, a Spanish Colonial style Tucson resort that was a girls boarding school from 1929-1941 and before that was a private home.

Some of the names on the school roster were Pillsbury, Vanderbilt, Kellogg, Maxwell, Westinghouse, Spalding and Campbell. It offered a college prep curriculum and a taste of western outdoor activities.

Later, as a guest ranch, it became a favorite hideaway for legends such as Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, John Wayne, Clark Gable and Howard Hughes. Now it's renowned for its restaurant, The Grill, and as a getaway for lucky travelers who can enjoy its luxury guest rooms, spa and magnificent views of the Catalina Mountains. And it's a fun place for locals like me to visit and soak up its charm.

The day ended with dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Guadalahara's. I love its colorful murals and its Tres Bandidos enchiladas with three different fillings and three different sauces.

The next day we walked off some of those calories by spending hours at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, below.

Have a colorful day