31 March 2011

Tucson's citrus stand ~ as old as time



Everyone in Tucson knows this fruit stand on the corner of Speedway & 6th. I imagine that everyone's parents (and grandparents!) have shopped here. Tourists love it. For part of the year it's boarded up and looks totally abandoned and then - boom - they are open again for another season. Ruby red grapefruit, oranges, dates, honey, pistachios.... they've got it all. And they also have a machine for making keys should you need to get a spare while you're sampling their cider.

30 March 2011

Capone learns to cart!

Do you remember the March 3 posting of charismatic Capone, the miniature horse, tasting coffee for the first time? Well now he's driving ~ well, pulling ~ his own cart. I hope he brings a smile to your day!

29 March 2011

The happiest of gardens ~

Check out this gorgeous, lush backyard garden! Previously you've seen the bountiful vegetable garden of my friends Cathy & Larry and now here is some of their floral beauty to enjoy. Pansies! They are just about the happiest flower imaginable, aren't they? Ah - spring is really here!

28 March 2011

Tucson's golden dawn ~

Tucson is famous for its gorgeous sunsets ~ and rightly so! But let me share with you an equally beautiful sunrise photo.

27 March 2011

Best vet in the west ~

Time again for a "Team Tucson" posting where I spotlight an individual who helps make Tucson great. I am delighted to introduce you to Dr Jack Quick of Pantano Animal Clinic. Dr Quick and his fantastic, kind, & competent staff have taken care of my dogs for many years. I intended to photograph just him but he scooped my two boys into the photo ~ Jasper on the left, Nanook on the right.
http://www.pantanoac.com/

26 March 2011

Party dresses ~

How fun is this?! These festive chairs with their pretty gauze bows were lined up on 22nd Street outside of a custom party and event shop. Chairs ~ all dressed up and ready to party!
Pauletthe, 2914 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ

25 March 2011

Personalized basket, anyone?


Here's one-stop shopping for your inner Easter bunny. Every style of chocolate bunny, chocolate egg, and marshmallow peep is lining the aisles waiting to be placed into a straw basket. And if you don't have time to make individual choices you can buy an already-filled, already-bowed, already cellophane-wrapped basket - reach up to the top shelf. Blue, green, yellow, pink....

24 March 2011

Patriotic pair ~

Seen here are the American flag and the state flag of Arizona set against a beautiful (and typical!) Tucson blue sky. Confirming that spring is just around the corner is a thriving green palo verde tree in the foreground. For the interesting history about the Arizona flag's imagery, click here.

23 March 2011

Balcony serenade ~

This beautiful old colonial style home in Tucson's historic barrio district features a wonderful balcony ~ perfect place to enjoy our gorgeous sunsets!

22 March 2011

Special moon sky ~

I hope you all enjoyed the BIG perigee moon this weekend. The conditions that create this "Super Moon" are rare - occurring about every 18 years. During this perigee moon it appears to be about 14% bigger and 30% brighter. Read all about what the folks at NASA say about it here.

21 March 2011

That's one big bunny!

This HUGE bunny greets shoppers near the entrance to Fry's. He's impossible to miss (all 7 feet of him!) and his sash reminds you that Easter baskets need to be filled soon. Chocolate. One of the primary food groups! He reminds me of Jimmy Stewart's great friend, Harvey. Anyone remember that classic film?

20 March 2011

Cruisin' through South Tucson ~


Here's another great image of the numerous tile murals that are everywhere in South Tucson. I don't know enough about vintage cars to be able to identify this baby blue beauty. Anyone know the make, model, or year of this car? Love those white wall tires....

19 March 2011

Heroic hummer ~

These colorful street markers are found throughout South Tucson. The work is beautiful ~ the artist(s) create various birds and flowers in tile mosaic. Cheerful public art!

18 March 2011

For those who tweet ~

And I'm not talking about human social media ~ I am referring to the activity of members of Phylum Chordata, Class Aves ~ otherwise known as... birds! Aren't these birdhouses great? So cheerful ~ living in one would certainly prompt a happy tweet or two, don't you think?

17 March 2011

Top o' the mornin' to ya ~

As the saying goes, "Everyone is Irish on St Paddy's Day." So happy day to you! I thought this 1938 Nash Lafayette was an appropriate image for today with its emerald (isle) green paint job. And check out those wheels! It's another beauty from the Truly Nolen collection.

Let me share one of my favorite Irish blessings with you ~
Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

Thanks for stopping by today.

16 March 2011

Life's doorways ~

This charming door in Tucson's historic barrio district is so inviting. Where might it lead - into a residence? An artist's studio space? An office? With the turquoise and blue adobe walls, the Mexican tile steps and the cactus planters, I would say this photo really IS "all about Tucson." Welcome!

15 March 2011

Tri - pod ~ Seeds of Knowledge

Here are the other 3 "Seeds of Knowledge" that are placed in the plaza of the Golf Links Library. From left to right are mescal bean, native poppy, and pinecone. For the cholla sculpture please scroll down to yesterday's posting. This fun public art project is thanks to the work of the Tucson Pima Arts Council.

14 March 2011

Tucson's heroic desert plants ~

This magnificent staghorn cholla is a bronze sculpture placed in the plaza of the Golf Links Library (at Harrison). Commissioned by the Tucson Pima Arts Council, this 4-piece installation is titled, "Seeds of Knowledge." A view of the others is coming up tomorrow.

13 March 2011

Eternal spring thanks to sprinklers!

Wow - this VERY green piece of lawn/grass is a welcome relief from all of the dead branches & crispy plants all around town (thanks to our multiple weird cold snaps)! This business on Grant Road uses sprinklers to keep everything nicely watered. Picnic, anyone?

12 March 2011

Tucson's rockin' community concert ~


A 5-hour concert rocked Tucson on Thursday night ~ it was a benefit to fund efforts to raise awareness about mental illness and to work with schools to combat bullying. Crosby & Nash were there; so was Jackson Browne and Alice Cooper. It was a fantastic evening! For more info on the musicians and the concert, click here. For an amazing PHOTO GALLERY of the evening, click here.
Top photo courtesy of Chance Agrella.
Add'l images courtesy of AZ Daily Star and KGUN9.

11 March 2011

Futuristic saguaro?


This street lamp could be a modern art version of a saguaro. Or maybe it's just a really fun light design that looks like lightning bolts. Whatever you think it is, you can check it out on the Broadway side of Park Place mall.

10 March 2011

Wagon + rock cairn to the sky ~

Perched high above the traffic on Tanque Verde Road is this attention grabbing rock cairn - with a full sized frontier wagon balanced on top. It's an effective advertisement for a favorite Tucson tourist spot - Trail Dust Town.
http://www.traildusttown.com/

09 March 2011

Niche angel ~

I couldn't tell if this niche sculpture at Joesler Village is a specific saint figure or an angel. From the sidewalk it was hard to determine but it does certainly add a southwest shrine touch to this charming shopping area.

08 March 2011

Saguaro farm ~

These homeowners are crazy for cacti! Check out this saguaro farm in their front yard. It's hard to see in this photo but between the wooden posts is their mailbox and it is supported by, you guessed it, a little metal saguaro.

07 March 2011

Frost? No problem with these "Everbloom" flowers ~

These bright metal versions of blooming prickly pear and ocotillo cacti caught my eye ~ they are so cheery! With the recent cold snaps and snow most of my garden will need to be replaced and it has gotten me to thinkng that metal plants might be a pretty good idea ~I would have flowers all year round - frost or no frost.

06 March 2011

Piece of Arizona history ~ the St Pius X bell

This bell dates to the 1800's and is believed to be one of three bells that originally hung in the old Presidio Chapel and later hung at Mission San Xavier.

For many years this bell was rung to call parisoners to worship at St Pius Church in Tucson, but it was determined in 1988 that in order to preserve it from cracking it should be retired. Now it is on permanent display at the main entrance to the church.

05 March 2011

Tucson's sidewalk lizards ~



Today I'm sharing more of the lizard family that lives at Pima & Craycroft. For another view & more info on the artist, check yesterday's posting. Fun!

04 March 2011

Tucson's bus stop lizard mascot ~

Is this lizard about to jump into that garbage can to hunt for leftover Doritos? The metal sculpture is just one of a family of lizards scattered around Pima & Craycroft - on rocks and embedded into the sidewalk. Arizona artist Joe Tyler created them as part of a road improvement project years ago.

03 March 2011

Tucson's most charismatic miniature horse!





Oh I thought this was just wonderful ~ check out the sequence here. Capone, the miniature horse, is getting new spats put on at Adobe Veterinary. Tucson large animal vet, Dr. Barb Page, interests him with her cuppa joe. He sniffs it, tastes it, and says, "WOW! What's THAT???"
Photos courtesy of Martha Jones.

02 March 2011

Red lights, white snow, & blue sky ~

At 7:00 a.m. the snow was already melting from the wonderful storm during the night on Saturday.

01 March 2011

Cross or don't cross?


The weekend's snowfall was so amazing and unusual for us that I want to share a few more wintery images. Here's a hawklight crossing that I captured on my morning walk.