Drenched in sunshine

Tucson is the fifth sunniest city in the United States, according to recent ratings by Daily Passport, one of those sites that lists interesting places around the world. 

Four of the top 10 sunniest cities are in Arizona: Yuma (1) not only in the country but in the world; Phoenix (4); Tucson (5); and Flagstaff (10). Here's the article: sunniest-cities-in-america

We have more than 350 sunny days a year, with sunshine 85 percent of the possible time. It's why I moved here!

And it's why Catalina State Park is filled with snow birders, spring breakers and locals right now. Just yesterday I saw license plates there from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Idaho, South Dakota, Florida, New Hampshire, Washington, Oregon, Utah, California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mexico, and probably some more that I've forgotten.

 

Just look at that brilliant blue sky, and all the possibilities for sunny hikes! I've been hiking there a lot this past week, soaking up sun and marveling at the bright greens in our desert. And now glowing yellow poppies are blanketing the desert and roadsides.

Can you believe this is the desert!?

This is a rare crested saguaro, where the tip grows into a bulbous "crest."

It's definitely my happy place!

And I'm carrying the sunny theme into my sewing room by making yellow cloth for my spirit dolls. 

Have a colorful day

This and that

 

It was sunny yesterday with no prediction of rain when Barb and I started our desert hike, but about a mile into it those dark clouds began moving our way. After two miles it was sprinkling, so we turned around. But we still got in about four miles -- not bad!

Wednesday was Juniper's two-month birthday with a celebratory ice cream cone! (No pictures of her face will be on social media, but trust me when I say she's very cute.)

One of my daughter's coworkers brought over a clothesline filled with baby items that she's been collecting for Juniper. What a great and very thoughtful idea. The pen is where the three rabbits live in the living room.

After almost a month of indulging in Mexican food and desserts with my string of company, I decided to embark on a Mediterranean diet. I've been loading up on veggies and fish, but in a moment of weakness last night I baked a pan of brownies while watching a Rolling Stones concert documentary.

Good advice.

And here's your laugh for today:

Have a colorful day

Make way for Zoomie!

My sister Kathleen and her husband visited this week with their rescue dog, Zoomie, who entertained us all and was a perfect house guest!

We took her hiking in Catalina State Park where I wanted to get a photo of her with the poppies and she dutifully obliged.

I think God is in Zoomie:

Kathleen and I also strolled around Tohono Chul and spent quite awhile relaxing in some slanted, shady chairs with our feet propped up. 

The palm oasis is one of my favorite spots at Tohono Chul.

While we were there, Peter went to a bookstore near the university. Later we indulged at Saffron, an excellent Indian restaurant where our servings were large enough to make about three meals!

It was a fun few days. They were the last of my visitors until the end of this month, then I'm going to Louisville to visit my other sister.

Have a colorful day

Colors of downtown Tucson

My third set of visitors in the past month came and went last week. We spent one day in downtown Tucson following the "Turquoise Trail" and looking at the huge colorful murals that Tucson is known for.

The path is marked with a turquoise blue line that winds throughout the city, and a brochure details highlights along the trail. It's a fun way to see the city.

I love this señorita looking down at passersby.

And look how small Nancy is in front of these three colorful women.

Of course Linda Ronstadt made an appearance, because she grew up in Tucson.

I posed with the Little Love Burger sign.

Prince spread his wings wide over my friends.

Along the way we had lunch at the Coronet's beautiful secluded, leafy courtyard. Altogether we walked about four miles, so we worked up an appetite. It was a good day!

Have a colorful day

Quilts and cacti

Last weekend was the Tucson quilt guild's annual show, Quilts Fiesta, and I won an honorable mention! That's Carol from Gig Harbor with me at the show's selfie booth.

My award was for "Beach Houses." I also entered "Garden Gone Wild," below. And that's another Gig Harbor friend, Pam, with me. They both came down for the show.

Carol stayed with me and treated me to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Guadalahara's. She's dipping into a huge bowl of guacamole that they made right at our table and it was delicious. And yes, that's a very large margarita!

In other news, the poppies here are blooming and painting the desert with golden patches.

The cacti are also very happy after recent winter rains.

The saguaros are fat and full of water and the prickly pears are plump and bright green. Tomorrow I'll get out for another hike in the desert.

Have a colorful day

Art, art, art!

Van Gogh Immersive Experience

I've had a week full of art with a friend who's visiting from Flagstaff! We started with a Van Gogh Immersive Experience, including projections of his work all around us with music while we relaxed in slingback chairs. There were many other innovative displays of his art, such as this life size construction of his famous bedroom scene.

Tubac

Another day we visited the artsy town of Tubac, about an hour south of Tucson. It was a beautiful, balmy sunny day, perfect for wandering among the galleries, shops, and courtyards.

We capped off our browsing with ice cream on the porch of the Tubac Deli. Earlier we had scrumptious sandwiches at the deli for lunch.

Tumacacori

Then we headed to the nearby Tumacacori National Historical Park, where a centuries old Spanish mission still stands surrounded by the grounds where the community farmed and grew orchards along the Santa Cruz River. Before the Spaniards arrived, the O'odham thrived there, and some of them moved into the mission community.

Tucson Desert Art Museum

One day was devoted to the Tucson Desert Art Museum and Medicine Man Gallery on the east side of town.

The museum has a fine collection of Navajo weavings as well as prominent 19th century landscape paintings, photographs from the Dust Bowl, and exhibits about pioneer women and the gold rush.

 

I, of course, was drawn to the weavings.

But the exhibit of layers of undergarments suffered by women over the years was fascinating. I would never have survived wearing all those corsets and cages.

Medicine Man Gallery

At the Medicine Man Gallery, I found a vibrant, colorful woven rug from the 1890s that would look very nice draped over my couch. The only problem was the price: $6,670. Don spent a lot of time in the Maynard Dixon room, and I loved all the native American jewelry.

University of Arizona Museum of Art

And more weavings, this time at the U of A Museum of Art by a contemporary Navajo man named Marlowe Katoney who was taught to weave by his grandmother and then studied painting at the university. He weaves together traditional imagery with current life events.

I also really liked the color and energy of this painting by Linda Hess titled "La Grande Place."

 

University of Arizona Museum of Optics

A different type of treat was glass art at the university's Optical Sciences building. The striking largely glass building has six floors of antique optics, architecture and art, with a rooftop patio where you can look out over the campus. It was a nice way to cap off the day.

(And there's more to come when Quilt Fiesta! opens tomorrow! It's the annual show by the Tucson quilt guild. I'll file a full report!)

Have an artful day