Hitting the bottle??

If the situation in Washington, DC is getting on your nerves, let me suggest a little adult refreshment! And here to celebrate wine in a BIG WAY is one of Tucson's most beloved icons - the Boondocks Chianti Bottle! Did you know that the cork topper is real cork? Boondocks has been a blues music hangout in Tucson for decades. It came under new ownership in 2017. 
 

Santa was born in Tucson, AZ!

Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus and he was created in Tucson, AZ! Artist Haddon Sundblom created the well known and well loved image of Santa for the Coca Cola company. 

Sundblom was a frequent visitor to Tucson where he stayed at what is now known as the Westward Look Resort. Sundblom often used the resort owner's two daughters, Laci and Sancy Nason, as his models. In this painting Sundblom transformed little Sancy into a boy so that Coke would appeal to both boys and girls.

'tis the Season!

Even the cactus in Tucson are getting spruced up to wait for Santa's arrival! Actually it is QUITE COLD here now so these hats also serve to protect the cactus from freezing. Both stylish and practical! 
 

A Little Campaign Humor

This election cycle has been so horrible and contentious! I did have to laugh, however, when I saw this campaign sign! 
 

My Totally Upscale Neighborhood

What a delightful surprise to see Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth driving through my neighborhood! As always, she is perfectly coordinated  - matching sunny yellow hat & coat - and she is exuding warmth, dignity, and good manners (all of which seem to be in rather short supply with America's elected leaders these days...). FUN! 
 

Bobcat Siesta

 A neighbor posted this photo of "Bobcats Sleeping on Porch" photo on the NextDoor network. WOW! Imagine opening your front door and find this family there! 

Photo courtesy of LM Grace. 

Our enchanting neighborhood!

Imagine the delight to round the corner and find this lovely fairy tale sight! Here is Hana and her two sweet and engaging daughters taking lovely mare Cree for a ride. Hana says Cree's name is Gaelic for "heart" and I THINK she said the spelling is Chroi but I just spelled it phoenetically. What a fun encounter! I love it that every day there can be a wonderful surprise....

Tucson's T Rex Says, "Wear a Mask!"

Everyone wants to be safe from COVID 19 - even Tucson's fearsome T-Rex! 

With spring comes bugs - BIG bugs!

OK, OK, I know that spiders aren't bugs (they are arachnids) but "Big Arachnids" didn't have quite the same ring to it. Here is another imaginative piece of residential yard art (well, in this case - ROOF ART) spotted by a follower. Note the golf club legs! This is the same house that has the robot mailbox and the dragons.... I guess the guy is an ex-golfer! Good way to reuse and recycle!

Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

There goes the neighborhood!

Check out these wacky dragons as yard art! FUN!

Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

Fun Friday Image!

This fun and fantastic Robot Mailbox is a wonderful piece of yard art. Check out the golf clubs legs! Love it! 
Photo courtesy of Dave Aber. 

Hogging the spotlight ~

Once a year he hogs the spotlight. You know who I'm talking about... PHIL. Today is his day - Groundhog Day - in case it slipped past you. For all the news about Phil and his weather prediction, go here! Since I was born in Pennsylvania I thought that I would include a little feature today on my home state and the most adored groundhog in the world. :)

9 Years Later - He Hasn't Blinked ~

17 JANUARY 2010

Tucson's Bas Relief Godzilla ~

THEN: This oversized lizard stands guard on a residential garden wall that faces Broadway. What fun!

NOW:  He is still on guard, watching the traffic pass on Broadway. Still fun! 

Tucson Trivia ~ the Tucson Portrait Project

Chances are good that someone you know is one of the thousands of portraits on display in the Fourth Avenue Underpass. 10 years ago the "Tucson Portrait Project" was launched to capture photos of people in Tucson - all kinds of people...young, old, big, little... and some animals, too! A truly great piece of public art! 

Musical notes ~

I was struck with the resemblance of these birds on telephone wires to a musical staff with notes. 

Dragon-sized Dragonfly ~

This huge and magical dragonfly sculpture is part of the "Luminous" exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The artist who created this group of fantasy creatures is Mykl Wells, a local sculptor. Show closes on Jan 6. 

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? 

Please suggest a caption!

What do you think this pup is thinking?

Photo courtesy of George Goldman.

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!

Who Who Who's Ready for Christmas?

When the Santa hat appears on our neighborhood owl, it's getting pretty close to Christmas!