Collages, cacti and Mom

I'm continuing to stitch my little quote collages and to hike. Besides binding some of the quotes into little books, I might mat and frame some or maybe use them on cards. Working with the colors just makes me happy ...

... and so does hiking in the sunny desert.

This  collage is pinned and ready for stitching when the sun goes down.

An ocotillo glows in the morning sun at Catalina State Park.

This quote, "And suddenly you know. It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings," helped get me through the decision to leave the Northwest five years ago and move to Tucson, not knowing a single soul here.

Glowing leaves of the ocotillo pictured above.

I've separated the quotes into three categories: Hope and Strength, Creativity, and Kindness. I'll do a separate book for each group.

This little guy joined me for coffee the other morning before I went on my hike. 

This Ram Dass quote really touches me. "We're all just walking each other home," like the nurses, doctors and other specialists who are taking good care of my mom so she can go home. (She used to be a nurse herself.) 

Here she is smiling at the rehab center, which she moved to a few days ago. There's a silver lining to all of this in that she seems to have come alive cognitively and socially with all the interactions she's had at the hospital and now in rehab! She could be sent home at the end of next week if the surgeon gives the okay after X-raying the cracked bone to see how it's healing. I'm going out to visit her next week.

 Have a colorful day