Link of the Day

I've surely mentioned that 1) I am a map freak, 2) I always take a window seat on an airplane, the better to see the landforms from above, and 3) I find much aerial photography to be a first cousin to fine art. Not only are aerial images beautiful, but they convey so much information! Imagine my joy when the SIL directed me to Earth as Art, a NASA site featuring Landsat 7 images from around the world. Kilamanjaro ... Kamchatka ... the fjords of northern Norway ... the Mississippi delta ... the Everglades ... an Antarctic glacier fall ... (above) the delta region of the Netherlands ... and, locally, the Pinacate volcanic field of northern Sonora. To name a few. Do take a look!

Some Assembly Required

What, you ask, did I do up in the high country over Christmas? For one, I ate magnificently, thanks to a SIL who loves to cook. Stuff like roast duck. And, secondly, I was witness to that new American Christmas ritual, the final assembly of the season's toys, once they're opened. I've been fortunate not to suffer this indignity in the past and this year I was a mere observer.

On the other side of the family, my youngest granddaughter has one very indulgent grandmother! Look at that box -- it's bigger than the little girl.

A battery-operated Barbie Jammin' Jeep. In purple and pink. Suitable for ages 3+?? That's what it says.

Whatever. It took a helluva lot of wrapping paper to keep the contents a surprise.

Once the battery was plugged in to charge (at least 16 hours), it was time for the serious instructions.

With two to interpret, the finishing process proceeded apace. Which is to say, slowly.

The new car owner watched carefully as her vehicle was assembled.

And had suggestions, while she was about it.

Not only were there assorted plastic pieces to attach to the body, there were the decals to jazz things up. Even the decals had to be applied in the right order!

Oops! A critical part was missing. Fortunately, it was in that huge box. At the bottom.

Screwing in the pink seat module. Note the seat belts.

So where does this piece go? Perhaps on the steering wheel? Nope, that would set a bad example for the younger generation.

The granddaughter finally has her vehicle, complete to clock and radio. The latter is, amazingly enough, tuned to NPR. I didn't know that Barbie was aware of NPR.

Disappearing Seeds

The past three years, I have bought a giant sunflower seedhead for the birds. Actually, for the blue jays, it turns out. This year, I was lazy and left the seedhead on my front porch. Here's how it looked on December 7.

Taken in the morning light on December 16. I've had visitors, despite the fact that my Max Cat is in and out of the house. A couple of mornings, I have heard the jays shouting; it seemed to come from the front porch.

Here is the picture from December 23, just before I went up to Flagstaff for the Christmas holiday. Note that it's from a slightly different angle. I am happy that I have customers!

Note: OmegaMom promised that I'd have a post about her adventures, with her husband, on that favorite holiday pasttime, "some assembly required." I have the pictures, but got home late and too tired to pull it all together. Real Soon Now.

Christmas at the Door: A Card for my Readers

It's all things Christmas over at my mother's building; while some residents with balconies have hung small light displays, most evidence of the season is inside. Almost every door, for example, has some holiday decoration, which makes the hallways quite cheerful.

Mom, always a very crafty lady, made this angel and the Santa at the front of her cart. They must be at least 40 years old!

What more can I say? Stroll the hallways, enjoy the seasonal touches -- and HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I'll possibly be Walking Prescott Monday night after the festivities and after I return from the high country. See you then.

All-Weather Costume

I took this picture on December 15, less than two weeks ago. Today I shiver when I have to go out for the mail or the newspaper; no, I haven't done any major walks for a week or so, even if bundled up. It's cold up here in the mountains, tho we haven't had more than a smidgen of snow. However, I'm much more interested in the young lady above, whose feet and head shout cold, but whose arms and body declare it to be unseasonably warm (which it was that day.) Perhaps a reader can explain her state of mind or preparedness or some such. I await your answers.

Gurley Street Mural

You probably weren't aware that there was a mural at the back of those neat little shops on Gurley Street, just west of Granite Creek. I wasn't, until either Mike or Laura over at the Outfitters suggested I take a look at what I had totally missed on several occasions. In case you want to see the paint job, turn right on McCormick and pull into the parking lot behind the shops.

The theme of the mural appears to be the changing seasons, starting with winter on the right (below), and warming up as you move to the left. Somehow it's kinda backwards, to my way of thinking, but then I couldn't paint a picture if you paid me big bucks, so I should complain!

By me, the coolest elements are the great giant hot Arizona sun and the flock of ravens, Prescott's civic birds. On the other hand, I note that I missed much of what's going on at the lowest level -- I'd best get out there now that the leaves are gone and get a couple of pix.

Local Link of the Day

If matters art win more than their fair share of links, it is because there's something interesting to look at. Here I am again, with a link to a local artist whose studio is called Jaguar Glass. I've borrowed a piece from a full window to give you a taste of the work you'll find at this site. It includes a multi-panel glass mural of the Mona Kea volcano as well as a stained glass picture of the Space Shuttle that was owned by the late Ronald Reagan. I should mention in passing that I am very, very fond of stained glass.

Arizona Highways Outdoes Itself

It seems like I've never been without Arizona Highways. When my parents and I lived in Florida all those years, oh so long ago, my Aunt Iola down in Phoenix started a gift subscription -- and I've been on the mailing list ever since.

The pictures are always beautiful, in an Arizona Highways sort of way that one begins to expect. That's why I was blown away by the January issue that just arrived. The theme: Arizona from the air, with articles about soaring over the desert in sail planes ... Charles Lindbergh selling the idea of archeological prospecting from the air...

... plus some of the most smashing photographs I've seen in years -- aerial views taken from a homebrew aircraft by one Adriel Heisey. This is the first time I've been tempted to take advantage of the magazine's offer to sell selected prints of photos that appear in its pages.

In particular, there is a view of Paria Canyon taken from straight overhead that looks like no photo you've ever seen of Paria Canyon. Yes, I am saying to go out and buy a copy of the magazine if you don't already receive it!

(That picture explains why I always choose a window seat when I fly -- in the years that I accompanied my Mom up to Victoria each summer, I got to know the Arizona/Nevada/ Oregon basin and range country from the air. Fascinating!)

All of this excitement led me to the magazine's website, where I found all kinds of goodies, including a photo portfolio, from which I borrowed the snippet above, as well as articles, trail guides and photography tips. Give it a whirl. And, if the sky is where you'd like to be, AH gave the URL for Venture Flight, a local hang-glider outfit. Me? I'm chicken. I'll settle for watching the hang glider pilots jump off Mingus or peering out the window of an Alaska Airlines plane six miles above the lonely, empty valleys and mountains of the Great Basin.

Make Trash Beautiful!

Here's one of the city's dumpsters -- over behind the Sharlot Hall grounds, I believe. Overflowing from some event or other this past summer. Hardly a real beauty, tho certainly practical.

Now, I like this trash can a lot better. It was the only one of this size container over at the Courthouse which was decorated nicely.

A wanted poster was taped to a standard downtown street side trash can; the occasion, the recent Acker Musical Showcase.

Here is my favorite -- eminently practical for a high school campus, which is where I saw it last summer.

103--Count 'em--103

Birthdays, that is! It was a big day for Mom, who was born in Phoenix at the turn of the last century, back when cars were very few and far between and radio had as yet to be invented.

Today we celebrated her birthday, first with a small family luncheon, which included two grandnieces down from the high country, as well as my small family.

It was an early goodbye to Mom's greatgrandaughter and granddaughter.

And over to a bigger party with friends she has made while living at her assisted living facility.

A pleasant and quite unexpected surprise came from a large group of carolers from Unity church. The wandering minstrels added "Happy Birthday" to their Christmas program.

And were followed by yet another unexpected visitor!

It was quite a day. I'm exhausted....

Note: the daughter has posted her version of our afternoon with the Nutcracker.