haze

Be what you would seem to be, or if you'd like it put more simply: Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.- The Duchess from "Alice in Wonderland"

I awoke to the grey haze of a costal morning. Arizona was great, but I'm a ocean girl through and through. So glad to be home. . .

arizona highways

Sugar Daddy was shanghaied by the kind of cold/flu that makes you feel like you are drowning under a plastic tarp. In short, he is one miserable grumpy bear.

So that left little old me to do all the driving today. I set the cruise control at seventy-four and took off my shoes. The boy watched a movie with earphones and the grumpy bear slept. I was all alone with my thoughts and the rattle of a luggage zipper pull.

Bloody Basin Road: lat. 34.2486 long. -111.7688

My grandma's grandma married a wandering man. He was in and out of her life enough to give her eleven children. Nine of which survived. In her husband's absence, she ran the ranch. She must have been somewhat of a Calamity Jane, full of wrangle and grit. I can just see her out there on the ranch raising kids and cattle, eking out a living on the Western front. When her husband at long last decided to come home for good, she wanted nothing of it and drove him off her land.

I like to think that she is up in heaven relaxing from her labors, but she doesn't strike me as the type of person who can tolerate much idleness.

Horse Thief Basin: lat. 34.0928 long. -112.1720

On several occasions I have had the science behind a mirage explained to me. I think I understand it, and yet, still, it's magic.

Deadman's Wash: lat. 33.5300 long. -112.0800

On our way to the Grand Canyon yesterday we saw a bald eagle circling in the sky. I wondered if the Native Americans would take it as a sign. I'm hoping it means good luck.

We ate a fancy lunch at the El Tovar Hotel next to the Grand Canyon. There was a huge fire blazing at one end of the dining room. It was so cozy I could have stayed there for hours.

When we hit Twenty-Nine Palms it was 73 degrees and The Boy was antsy. California proved to be much less enjoyable than Arizona. I ended up with pinched shoulder muscles, a splitting headache and a ticket for going 70 in a 55 zone, which I really think is a sham.

Really.

lucky girls wear boots

Julie in the Sedona sun.

I'm a lucky girl in many little ways and some big ones. I scored big with my sister-in-law, Julie. My husband tortured this girl when they were growing up, and yet she still speaks to us. She is peaceful and fiery all at once. She is artsy and gutsy and tall and incredibly loving.

She is still the first one up on Christmas morning.

When I impulsively suggested that we get in the car and drive three hours to Gallup, New Mexico to check out the Native American jewelry there, she was totally on board. She's cool that way.

Julie also understands my struggles with infertility. She's been there herself. She is always willing to listen or pray or, in dire circumstances, buy me some fun thing to pick me up. Did I say she has great taste?

I love her.

My boots are covered in red dirt. One must always wear her boots in Sedona. I think it's written somewhere in the Bible.

The Boy is in pure dirt heaven. I've taken to calling him my little javelina. I think he only has one pair of clean pants left. He walked through three cactus plants yesterday. His dad carefully dislodged all known needles and he only whimpered a tiny bit. Ben is quite happy with the nature indoctrination program he has set forth for his son. They should be climbing Everest together by the time Thom turns ten.

I think I'll go to Gallup when they undertake their first expedition.

aswirl

The air here in Sedona is so crisp it nearly crackles in your lungs. The red rocks are dusted with powdered sugar snow. The icicles in Flagstaff are as big as a man's arm and go all the way to the ground. And I forgot my photo card for my laptop.

Sooooo. . .

You get an iphone photo taken as I lay in bed last night with my head all aswirl with the beauty of nature, the charisma of the Native people, the sweet and amazing jewelry gifts from my husband and opportunities that may be.

I can't wait to share, but for now I will just say, dear readers, sweet friends from all over the globe, sometime you should come to Sedona. It feeds your soul.

like licorice ice cream

Somethings never die. Like licorice ice cream. You may think that it is a thing of the past, gone the way of petticoats and horehound candy, but it's still around. I know because I order up a double scoop every time I go to the dairy down the street from my parents house.

I guess it is still around because I still order it. And if I order it, that must mean that other people like it as well.

I have been complimented on my taste.

I just wish someone would explain to me why the color it blue. I mean, what's the deal with that?

And photo booths. I'm pretty passionate about photo booths. I hope they never go away. The digital ones aren't as good as the old ones. The pictures are too crisp, but sometimes I settle.

If you want a real old fashion photo booth experience, go here and find one in your area.


Also, gift idea for yours truly. . .

It's a little pricey as far as books go, but well worth the moola if you ask me.

Does this guy look like the type of person who would use a photo booth?

Photo booths will never go away. Everyone loves them. Even crusty old sailors with questionable objects in their mouths.

hey there sweet thang

Find the people you love and make sure they know you are crazy about them.

We are on the road. Racing across the desert towards Sedona. There will be hiking. There will be shopping. There will be eating. I'll keep you posted.

amour cliche'

Sugar Daddy and I aren't too much with the romance. Never have been. I don't mean to say that we don't try to seduce each other. We do. It's just a little more subtle than average.

For instance, I might say, "You know, you're a real smart ass." And he will respond, "Why thank you. You crafty little minx." Then, well, it's on.

So Valentine's day really isn't our "thing". We might exchange little token gifts, but for the most part, we don't make a big deal about it.

BUT- what I do love about Valentine's Day is the kitchyness. I relish the cheesy cards and the campy store bought goodies. I mean, who doesn't love conversation hearts? Really.

Is Valentine's a Hallmark holiday? Why yes it is! And that's what is so great about it! Elementary school would never have been the same without chintzy little cards made from red doilies and decorated shoebox mailboxes.

Thom and I are all over it, getting ready for the big day. We have all the Valentine's ready to take to school.

The hearts are hung in the window with care, in hopes that St. Valentine will show up and leave a couple hundred bucks on the counter.

The big pink sugar cookies are frosted with almond buttercream and ready to deliver. Scrumdillyumptious!

And the campy handmade Valentines are in the mail to their intended sweetheart.

Here's Cupid himself, lips pursed in concentration, crafting a card for his cousins. Notice the chocolate smears all over his shirt? We needed sustenance while we worked.

This is my mantra for today: Let. Love. Live. However you do it. Don't quash the vibe. If you are fancy pants lovey dovey, do that. If you are simple and sweet like Sugar Daddy and I, put the kids to bed, break out the Netflix and Ben and Jerry's and nestle in.

tokens

In honor of Valentine's Day, which is quickly approaching (I better get crackin on my gifts), I give you 5 little things that make me feel loved in a big way.


#1. When Sugar Daddy asks for my opinion on certain things and he listens to what I have to say, I know he sees me as not just his wife, but as person with equal life experience and good judgement.




#2. When people love the gifts I give them so much they cry, I feel loved and happy. Not because they are crying of course. No, that can be a little embarrassing. Just because it reminds me that the things I do are valued.




#3. In our quiet moments, when Thom sits on my lap and plays with my hair and we talk about his day, I know that I am not just his mother. I am his mommy.

#4. Although it drives me absolutely bizerk, I know that my dog, Finnigan, is madly in love with me because he follows me EVERYWHERE.


#5. And last but not lest, I know Sugar Daddy is head over heels for me because when he comes home from work, and there is glitter all over the kitchen floor, canvases, brushes, paint and paper strewn around the table, no dinner in sight and the laundry is crawling up the wall, he kisses me and asks to see what I am working on. Then he clears a spot on the counter and makes us all quesadillas. Now that is love.

rosa colored goggles

I sat yesterday in a restaurant booth across from my good friend Rosa. Over steaming bowls of Tortilla soup, in broken English, she recounted her childhood experiences with a alcoholic father. As a scrawny seven-year-old girl she would wait late into the night for her father to come home so that she could try to keep him from beating her mother.

Rosa is from Oaxaca Mexico. She is a Zapotec Indian. She speaks Zapoteco. Spanish is her second language. English, her third. Her family still farms beans in a village about three hours out of Oaxaca where she grew up.

Rosa's life has not been an easy one. The circumstances that landed her in the United States are many and varied. She has worked and toiled and scrapped to build a life for her family. And she is only 34. She is three months younger than me and yet she has seen so much. I often think that my life has gone by fast. Rosa must need a pair of goggles for the whirlwind life she has lead so far.

Here's the amazing part.

Rosa is happy. She is quick to smile and easy to make laugh. She is hopeful. She is benevolent. She bears no bitter seeds of remorse or guilt. She has taken the lemons of life and made a huge batch of guacamole which she shares with everyone she meets.

I love Rosa. Every time I see her I get an overwhelming desire to look for all the happy things in my life.

That, and I'm also made to feel like a neanderthal. Zapotecs are tiny people. I don't think Rosa's hands are much larger than Thom's and she doesn't even clear my shoulders. I guess I should just be happy that I can reach the cereal down from the shelf.

On the happiness note, I would like to say, a cheerful thing about my life right now is the chocolate that I received after my pleas for "down day" donations. Thanks to everyone who cared enough about me to send a little sweetness my way. It really did help lift my spirits. Cocoa was actually discovered by the Mayans (also a Mesoamerican civilization) so it all ties in so nicely.

rainy days and mondays always get me thinking

One rainy weekend produced:

Letters to Grandma and Grandpa.

Passalong cards for our adoptive parent profile.

And two embroidered onesies for a friend having a baby girl in a week or so.

If you are willing to pass out a few passalong cards, please email me and I'll send some to you.