quote monday

                 Create a beautiful inside 
                and you will look beautiful 
                         on the outside.
                                                                                  -Charles F. Glassman

I spotted this tree in the middle of an aspen forest. Although damage was done by a force out of its control, this tree is still standing tall and standing unique among all the other trees. It needs all the other trees around it to be part of something great but, continuing to grow strong on its roots will keep it looking beautiful on its own.

Be beautiful!
Happy Monday!
~norma~ 

quote monday (finally)

                                              I'm so glad 
                                           I live in a world
                                            where there are 
                                              Octobers.
                                                                                 -Anne of Green Gables

I just have to travel a little further north to find a world with this kind of autumn color.
Beautiful as it is.
Happy Monday!

Some of you know that I have landed a pretty cool job. For those that don't know...I've landed a pretty COOL job. I'm part of the decorating team at a lovely home furnishing store... turning it into a Christmas wonderland. When completed, (yes, we started in September to create this monumental decking of the halls) there will be forty-eight themed trees all decked out in holiday splendor along with about 1,000 fairies hanging from the ceiling.  It's pretty exciting, a little arduous, somewhat overwhelming (to do the best that I can), colorful, glittery (I come home all sparkly), amazing and just a very happy place to be. I stepped into this store last year and after spending an hour and a half wandering around in a constant state of "WOW" .... I thought, "hmmm.... I want to be a part of this".
So, now I am. And, although my body is saying...whoa girl...my brain is all a sparkle!
Happy October/December!
~norma~

eclipse monday

I know I won't get a good photo, or any at all, so here is the closest thing that I will get here in Arizona. The saguaro eclipse of the moon.  And it didn't burn my retina. I will be outside experiencing it!

Happy Eclipse Monday!
~norma~

quote monday

                             
                               A sister is a 
                                      little bit of 
                                   childhood 
                                    that can 
                               never be lost.
                                                   -unknown

I guess I had a whole big bit of childhood 'cuz look at all my sisters!
Other than those pictured...can anyone tell who is who?

Happy Monday!
~norma~

quote monday

                                              Try to be a rainbow
                                                   in someone's cloud.
                                                                                       -Maya Angelou


Arizona's weather is mostly the same throughout the year. Sunny and cool. Sunny and warm. Sunny and hot. Sunny and very hot. But this time of year the Monsoon season hits. It has been skirting around us with just a little bit of rain and wind...until last night. Wowza...it was windy and we got quite a good downpour for over an hour and then light rain into the night. The rain is much needed, the wind not so much, and the rain would be extra welcome in lighter doses. Thankfully, the dust storms, or Haboobs as they are called, have missed us.  Leah snapped this photo a week ago when she was here for the day. We were driving home after eating out and this was our view out the window to the west. As the rain was coming down out of the cloud, we could actually watch the cloud shrink and change shape before our eyes. It was beautiful.

There was a tragic event with the rain in Payson, Arizona this weekend.  Canyons, washes and arroyos are very dangerous this time of year as deadly water, without warning and without it actually raining where you are,  can flood through and cause great destruction.

Weather is bigger than its own word .

I'll be looking for a rainbow today.

~norma~

gigantic update or... downdate

Remember the great leaning Gigantor?

He finally tumbled down! 

The tree trimmers trimmed the base of the plant, which was starting to die and turn brown, and hauled away all the sharp spiny "leaves" while they were here. Better them than us! They said it would eventually tumble over, which we knew, but best to leave it to get maximum flowering and drying, while on the base plant.  It fell from the monsoonal winds we had one night. 

The topper, when dry, will make a great roost for the birds. We hope to position the whole thing  somewhere so that the feathered friends can enjoy it as much as we will!

Pretty impressive!! Chuck boosted it up onto a bucket so that it is off the ground while it dries a bit more.  I just went out and measure and it is about 21 feet from tip to base, thus living up to its Gigantor name!

This photo gives you a little perspective on its girth. Quite impressive... these plants!!

A new one will grow in its place...but I'm sure we won't see a bloom such as this in our yard for quite some time.

This was a very big treat for us to watch!

quote monday

Happy Monday!
Enjoy the holiday!
~norma~