Christmas, December 25, 2014

On Christmas day Mesa Spirit Park, in Mesa, AZ, hosted a giant potluck dinner.  They provided the ham and everyone brought a side dish.  A sign-up sheet ensured there was plenty of variety.  We tried to sample just a small amount of as many of the dishes as we could fit on our plates. Everything was great!  

We had met Dave and Lynn (both in red) through RVillage, so not everyone was a stranger, but then every RV'er is family especially during the holidays.  Our table was in a prime location where I dished up some dessert first (although there was plenty allowing me to go back for seconds!).

Our dining companions - just before digging in.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

With over 1,800 sites in Mesa Spirit RV Resort, Mesa, AZ, we could walk several miles without leaving the park. There was plenty to see after dark as many of the snowbirds pulled out all of the stops to celebrate Christmas! We took Sam for a few late-night walks to look at the lights but usually forgot the camera. Tonight, we remembered and captured a little bit of the brilliant Christmas cheer.

Christmas tree ornaments hung on cacti almost looked normal here given the Phoenix climate and ecology.

This guy's hobby led to some of the most intricate Christmas decorating.  I wonder if the train runs for his entire stay or just through the holidays.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

We took a break from our snowbird hibernation and headed into the Superstition Mountains east of Apache Junction, AZ.  There was desert everywhere and all of a sudden a large blue reservoir appeared, complete with a big marina and dozens of boaters on the water.

Canyon Lake was created by the Mormon Flat Dam on the Salt River. I suspect the lake is covered with people in the heat of the Phoenix summers.

I liked the look of the dry grasses mixed with cacti covering the colorful rocky hills!

Except for the parked cars, Tortilla Flat, AZ, could have been right out of the 1880's.  The mannequin hanging from a noose in front of one of the stores did not give it a very inviting feeling and we chose to keep moving.

Joani is always looking for the odd angle or extreme close-up to give her compositions a unique look.  She very often finds things that I probably would have overlooked.

The interior vascular system was all that remained of this large, long dead, decaying cactus...

...spread out on the desert floor.

I think the Saguaro below was feeling lonely and decided to give himself a hug.

The yellow-green tint to the hills was very pronounced and warranted a close-up inspection.  We found the color was due to sun-loving lichen clinging to the rock.  

The low angle of the winter sun lends a dramatic look to the Saguaro, outlining them with light.  The backlit Cholla cacti positively "glow"!

On our return, the Goldfield Ghost Town, just off North Apache Trail (Hwy 88) was more inviting than the town of Tortilla Flat and there was a lively crowd of people milling around, so we decided to spend a little time exploring.  Sam walked with us right into an old west "shoot-out".  All of the gunfire made him pretty skittish, but it only lasted a few minutes and he was back sniffing everything almost as soon as the last bad guy bit the dust.

Opportunities for artsy shots were everywhere . . .

As I was admiring the old rusted typewriter, a young boy approached and asked me what it was.  Boy, did I feel old!

We were all worn out, even though there had been very little hiking - it will take a while to get back into shape for some real hiking next spring.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

While at the laundry, a neighbor told me about another Art Show, this one much closer, in downtown Mesa, AZ.  Late morning turned out to be a perfect time since there was no problem parking close and the crowds were relatively light.  It was a beautiful, clear morning, although it was a bit cool (maybe high 50's).  One vendor commented we couldn't be locals in our short sleeved T-shirts - locals were wearing jeans and coats. 

Joani really liked this artist's technique of photographing cut crystal glassware with different colors behind it.  The setup was pretty easy, while the results were wildly varied with only a slight change in angle.  

"NewAwlins" by Diane Kempton

The three young ladies below, all dressed in silver, walked the art show from end to end in slow motion.  I guess they represented Winter.  They certainly reminded me of cold.  I never found out exactly why they were there, some art forms are meant to be experienced without asking any questions.  Every now and then they attracted a little too much attention like this little girl who kept trying to talk to them.

I think there were three artists who were selling turned wood pieces. They were far more interesting after my neighbor introduced me to pen turning.  We did not take pictures of their work, but with bowls and boxes and plates there clearly are a lot of projects beyond pens.

The art museum was open, so we took a break from the vendors and wandered through a few of the exhibition halls.  One artist worked with colored pencils on Birch panels.  I can't decide if I liked the medium or not, but it was certainly different.

Fascinating, yet creepy - the skull and legs are real bunny bone.

While we were in the museum store, I nearly missed the belly dancers - luckily I caught the show from a window.

Mesa Arts Center hosts a large variety of classes. Offerings include ceramics, drawing, glass, jewelry, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and more.  Many local artists were in the classrooms working.   They were all eager to answer any questions or just fill you in on what they were doing.  I'm sure facilities like this attract a lot of people to this area.  OK, the weather helps, too. 

Having an open house is brilliant!  It makes you want to sign up for classes.

There was a very active group of spinners and weavers demonstrating a variety of things you can do with wool.  Guild members were spinning wool into yarn, knitting, weaving rugs and "felting" wool.  Yet another multi-faceted hobby that could take many years to thoroughly explore.  

A kind gentleman was willing to explain the felting process.

Time to get back to Sam, so I'll close with a shadow good-bye wave from the Mesa Arts Center water sculpture.