31 December 2018

On the prowl ~

This fantastic, larger-than-life size coyote is on the prowl at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The coyote is part of a exhibit designed and created by local artist Mykl Wells. The sculptures are scattered throughout the grounds - both placed on the ground and some are suspended from the trees. It is a magical show that ends on January 6 so hurry!

Photo courtesy of Ken Wilcox.

30 December 2018

Baby it's COLD outside!

It's officially COLD here in Tucson! Oh boy is it ever - down into the 20's! What is this - North Dakota or something? Here's the scoop

29 December 2018

Fun, Festive, and FUNCTIONAL, too!

You see cactus all around Tucson decorated with Santa hats (or sometimes just plain old styrofoam cups). Not only is this a fun and festive holiday "look" but it also is practical. The hats/cups help to prevent the tops of the cacti from freezing. And last night's temperature was 27 degrees! YIKES! Is this really Tucson's weather? Yep, right now it sure it. Brrrrrrr.

28 December 2018

How many eyes can you spy?

How many eyes can you spot? These brown owl eye butterflies are so beautiful and so cleverly disguised! This is part of the Tucson Botanical Gardens' Butterfly Magic exhibition. 

27 December 2018

Bowl of Butterflies ~

Incredible, isn't it? A bowl full of butterflies feasting on an orange slice. The large one is a Brown Owl Eye Butterfly. Anyone able to name the smaller ones? Is there a lepidopterist in the house??
If you haven't visited the magical butterfly exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens I hope this photo will inspire you to go! 

26 December 2018

Magical Night View ~

Today you see another angle and another type of lighting for the wonderful Mare and Foal sculpture on Houghton Road. Yesterday's view was full-on daylight (with Santa hat!). Here you see the pair lighted at night. They glow!
Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

25 December 2018

Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful day!

Festive Foal!



I'm reposting this photo from December, 2016 because this year no one decorated the foal for the holidays (or, SIGH, someone stole the hat). Hope your day is filled with friends, food, and festivity! 

This is one of my all time favorite pieces of public art/sculpture in Tucson! A grazing mare and her sweet foal reside in the median on Houghton Road just north of Old Spanish Trail. And you have to love that someone gave the little foal a Santa hat!!! Artist team was Lauri Slenning, Ben Olmstead, and Simon Donovan. 

24 December 2018

A Sugar Toast? Nope!

Here are some critical items to prepare in advance for a proper New Year's Eve home party - sugar cones. These sugar cones have to dry out completely before they are slipped out of their molds, positioned over a simmering vat of feuerzangenbowle, soaked with overproof rum (or brandy) and set alight. WOW! Delicious & festive!! Cheers! 

23 December 2018

Wearable Art ~

This nicely framed black stiletto serves as wall art in one of my favorite restaurant's ladies room. Care to guess where this is? 

20 December 2018

Christmas 7 years later - always fun!

20 DECEMBER 2011

Tucson Christmas ~ Scroll down for all 3 ~ Always something different

Then & Now: Mesquite Valley Growers has expanded enormously since this posting. They even have a gardener's gift shop! They still create a fun holiday display outside and this year it is just a wagon, I think. Not at all as fun as these Javelina-deer from 2011! Enjoy!

2011:
In the last week I've been posting the different kinds of Santa's helpers that are all over town. Let's see, we had a cow-deer, a buffa-deer and now we have javelina-deer, flamingo-deer, and stork-deer! A site follower from Sahuarita alerted me to this incredible Animal Sleigh in front of Mesquite Valley Growers. How about that javelina Rudolph?? FUN!

19 December 2018

Unity ~

You can see this sculpture, "Unity," at E Grant Road and N 3rd Avenue. The scultptors, Simon Donovan and Ben Olmstead, created this using parallel steel plates that give the sculpture a light, almost invisible quality as you circle it. 
Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

18 December 2018

Direct Delivery to Santa ~

Looks like the Arizona Inn has established a direct mailbox to Santa. Good to know in case you haven't sent him your wish list yet! 

17 December 2018

Tucson's Favorite Christmas Tree ~

This is the time of year to visit the Arizona Inn! The ceiling-scraping tree in the library is always lovely to behold and they do their best to create a wonderful holiday ambiance. 

16 December 2018

It's a BIG BARK day! My birthday!

Having a December birthday is really great - everything is decorated and festive everywhere you go. Sparkly lights! Fun! Happy day! 

15 December 2018

Yes, you know ALL the songs!

From "76 Trombones" to "Till There Was You"and "Gary, Indiana,"  you will tapping your toes and humming along throughout the show. A fun evening - especially the women's costumes! For ticket information, click here

13 December 2018

9 years later - STILL miles of aisles!

13 DECEMBER 2009

Miles of aisles of holiday flowers ~

THEN & NOW - 9 years later and it's exactly the same! 
It's hard to believe that a home improvement store can offer "one stop shopping" for Christmas decorating but here you go... buy your tree, your holiday lights (indoor and outdoor), lawn decorations (twinkling reindeer, illuminated polar bears) and save room in the cart for poinsettia in red, white, and pink. Happy shopping! Happy decorating!

12 December 2018

Why we love living in Tucson!

Captured here is a beautiful sunrise touching the Catalinas. I hope this helps you start your day in a beautiful way!

Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

11 December 2018

Tucson Trivia ~ Holiday Style!

The "El Nacimiento" holiday display is a true "must see" in Tucson! Created by Maria Luisa Tena in the 1970s, El Nacimiento is the largest and longest-running nativity scene in the Southwest. The Nacimiento is a traditional Mexican nativity scene, an artistic expression originating in Colonial Mexico. As the Tucson Museum of Art explains, 

“In an intricate arrangement of hundreds of miniature figures, it combines the symbolism of the Spanish Colonial Catholic Church with the simplicity and faith of everyday existence in rural Mexico. Some of the scenes are from the Christmas story of the Bible; others show traditional Mexican village life with an accuracy that extends even to the tiny replicas of kitchen utensils in the country dwellings.”

09 December 2018

08 December 2018

Definitely something different!

These graceful dancers definitely added some sparkle to the party! I was a party guest where the Belly Dance troupe entertained and did a quick lesson, too! How fun! Here's their info to learn more. They were wonderful! 

07 December 2018

Holiday Horse!


The season has started! Tucson's beautiful Tohono Chul Park is getting ready for the holidays!

Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson, Tucson realtor extraordinaire and generous Sponsor of this site!

06 December 2018

Tucson Throwback Thursday ~

06 DECEMBER 2012

Secret shopping ~

THEN:
This is a wonderful store that is on the grounds of hte famous El Corral restaurant - so it's a little hidden from view. "Diamond Lil's" feataures vintage clothing and jewelry. I can't find a website for t hem but I did find this basic info on Yelp:  2201 E River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718; Open Wed-Sun 3pm - 9 pm. 
NOW:
A newer Yelp entry: https://www.yelp.com/biz/diamond-lils-vintage-and-gifts-tucson

05 December 2018

04 December 2018

Repair Shop Visible from Space!

Tuesday means Tucson Trivia!
According to Guinness World Records, Tucson's Davis-Monthan Airforce Base (known locally as DM) has the largest aircraft repair shop and storage facility on Earth. This mighty "shop" covers almost 3,000 acres and stores 350,000 tools. 

03 December 2018

AWESOME way to start the week!

We never get tired of Tucson's mountainous beauty. This is a sunrise capturing a magnificent view ~ WOW!

Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

02 December 2018

Bejeweled Steer ~

Have you ever seen a long-horned steer with so much BLING? This fellow is on display at El Corral Restaurant (River Road). Sparkly! 
Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

01 December 2018

Picnic Grounds ~

A tree in my front yard was this Sharp Shinned Hawk's picnic area. I didn't really want to investigate exactly WHAT was being ripped apart! To learn more about these birds - including listening to their call - click here