Day 27 - Beautiful Day in Salt Lake City

The weather did a 180 degree turn around overnight. Beautiful!

Look closely, there are trees and grass growing on the roof of this building:

Day 26 - Dreary Day in Salt Lake City

It's only dreary if you are out in it. We were happily learning how much we still don't know about genealogy.

Day 25 - Reflections

Well actually, it had been a very long day and I needed to get a picture in. So...

Day 23 - Family History Library

Day 23 - Rainy Day in Salt Lake

It was a dreary raining, slushy day. Photo ops were next to nil so on the way to dinner, I snapped this shot

and converted it to chalk and charcoal.

Day 22 - Capitol Dome, Salt Lake City

The capitol dome in Salt Lake City just before sunset. The sun came out from behind the clouds and gave a brief show.

Day 21 - Red Mountain

Red Mountain is a local landmark here in Mesa, Arizona. Over the course of this year, I'll try and snap it from other vantage points.

Day 20 - Books

Did some shopping at the Mesa Family History Expo today. Lisa Louise Cooke made her new book, Everything You Need to Know About...How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers, available for the first time today and I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a copy!

Day 19 - Out and About in the Desert

Still working with the patterns theme on our evening walk.

We have walked by this cactus dozens of times and never noticed, until now, that there appears to be another cactus growing out of the top.

Finally, I leave you with a local landmark at sunset: Red Mountain.

Day 18 - Patterns

The Digital Photography School had a post about photographing patterns so I decided to try my hand at it.

Day 17 - Navajo Rug

My parents bought this Navajo rug on a trip to the southwest either before I was born or a couple of years after. It has been used as a rug in various places in the Family Home for as long as I can remember. It is in need of repair in a couple of places so I decided to hang it.

Well actually it's part of a project but I don't have time to write about it now so keep your eyes open at The Turning of Generations for the rest of the story.

Day 15 - Fairy Duster

Day 15 - Steel Pennies

Still playing with the macro feature on the camera.

I found a roll of my grandfather's steel pennies. For those of you real young 'uns, during World War II, the government used steel instead of copper to make pennies. Copper was in short supply and needed for more important things in support of the war.

Day 14 - Glass Float

Playing around with the macro setting on the camera.

Our neighbor where I grew up, Rip Hoffman, used to have a place at Long Beach, Washington. A favorite past time of many who live on the coast is beach combing after a storm. That's when the best treasures are found. Many years ago, after storms, Japanese glass floats would wash up on the beaches. Finding those was a big deal. Anyway, Rip had a number of these beautiful glass floats. They come in all sizes and colors. After his wife died and he himself was getting up in years, he decided to give some of the floats to his favorite neighbors. This is one of the floats he gave Mom.

Now it's ours. S-C-O-R-E! So Dear Children, no playing catch with this ball OK?

Day 13 - In Which I Meet a Real Live NBA Basketball Player!

Well a retired one anyway. Mark West played for the Phoenix Suns during the 1990s and was a key player on the 1993 team that went up against the Chicago Bulls in the championship series. Surprisingly Husband and I were the only ones in our group who knew who he is. I guess that makes us seriously old longtime Phoenix Suns fans!

First my picture of the evening, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla.

And now for Husband's (my guest photographer's) pictures of yours truly with Mark West!!! By the way we had a very nice visit with him. Nice guy.

Day 12 - Ceramic Snowman

One of Mom's earlier pieces - 1981.

Day 11 - Ceramic Santas

For years Mom made ceramics. These two Santas are my favorites. I can't decide if I like the front better or the back!

I decided to photograph them before putting them away. This way they can go into the Heirloom Book.

Tip for Dear Children: Mom always carved her initials and the year on each item she made.

Day 10 - Out for an Evening Walk

Day 9 - Winter Flowers

Day 8 - Giant Asparagus or Cactus?

There's these cacti in front of our house. When they go to seed, a giant stalk that looks like an asparagus spear shoots out of the middle of it. Sometimes, I swear they grow inches every day. Anyway, here's the progress for the last month. Just for fun.

December 4th:

Today:

Day 7 - Moonset, Moonrise

The moon setting over downtown Phoenix before sunrise.

Moonrise that evening.

Day 6 - Second Water

Day 6 involved a hike in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness starting from the First Water Trailhead. We selected the Second Water trail from the many options at the trailhead...

...and headed into the wilderness.

We shared the trail with horses as well as other hikers.

It's desolate rugged country with it's own garden like beauty.

Today I leave you with a special moment between a girl and a best friend.

Day 5 - Desert Formations

Day 4 - Lost Dutchman State Park

January 4th we enjoyed a morning hike in Lost Dutchman State Park at the base of the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Day 3 - Pretzel Rings - Yum

Day 2 - Hike in the Desert

We try to get outside most days this time of year and go for a walk or hike.

Snowman in the Desert - Day 1

No snowflakes in the desert on New Years Day! But I sure did have fun working getting some Bokeh Christmas light pictures.