So, on to Henderson, Hoover Day, and Lake Mead

See the men clinging to the work in the air?

This is a nice web site for the City of Henderson
http://www.cityofhenderson.com
If I were ever to live in a nice community in Nevada, Henderson would be among the top of my list. Sunny, quiet, clean... sunny.... (I like the sun better than cold cloudy days). Henderson is close to Lake Mead, (which was an eye-opener... when we finally saw it).... and the fantastic Hoover Dam. They were in the gigantic process of making the new highway over the dam when we drove through there. That project was a REAL "turkey-necker". But I got a few neat pictures.

As we drove through town toward Lake Mead, I could hardly believe my eyes. The water level was very low and there were no trees, or anything that looked inviting. I guess by the time water from the tributaries that feed into Lake Mead, was diverted for other projects, the inflow into the Lake is greatly diminished. What a horrible shame. The town is so inviting and pretty..... I almost could live there....

On to Smoggy Las Vegas

As we drove the desert highway southwesternly, to the famous Las Vegas area, we were fascinated by the numerous industrial mines and factories that we saw. I think they get a lot of the stuff that goes into concrete, etc. from those mines. Very interesting area. They dotted the high valley floor, and were surrounded by snow capped mountains.... These mountains didn't have trees on them..... just desert mountains that we love to see. Hiking and horseback riding come to mind when I see them.
Entering Las Vegas we just kept the "pedal to the metal" and drove straight down the freeway that runs north to south in Las Vegas. That's when we discovered there is a North Las Vegas, where the famed NASCAR race track is, and a South Las Vegas, where new developments are springing up all over. Side note here: My grandson's wife's (adorable woman) father drove his nascar in a race there and did pretty good a few years back.
Anyway, I snapped pics of LV as we zoomed through, and despite the awful smog, I got some good shots. Looks like a mad-man's nightmare down there where all the tall skyscrapers are. Some of them were colored "gold" (if you can imagine - shaking my old head). "Sin City" is a nickname for this spot, and I'm thinking it has honestly earned the name. (tsk tsk tsk) (giggling)
In South Las Vegas I began to see why folks from everywhere would like to retire there. Very pretty and clean and new. However, no lush green lawns like we have here in beautiful Idaho. Such a shame.
We drove right on through, to Henderson, NV. Nice place.

Traveling on to Mesquite, NV

An abrupt change meets a traveler when you get to the end of the Virgin River Canyon, and meet Mesquite, NV. The climate there is like Las Vegas, warm all the time. Lots of Utah folks like to go there in the winter. They say Mesquite is a nice town,.... could be.... we didn't see much of it. What we did see was ok, quiet, clean, and friendly. We stayed at a hotel by a casino.... The biggest change for us was all the great big expanse of paved and quite elaborate parking lots. I guess they get lots of big motorhomes coming in and like to accommodate them. Nice. We traveled with Toodles (our 4 pound toy poodle) and so the hotel put us in the "pet friendly" section. Our view was of the dumpy, trashed, weedy lot used by pet owners and their dogs. We kept the curtain closed. (giggling) (who likes to watch dogs going to the bathroom?)

March Trip, Virgin River Canyon Drive

I can't say that the Virgin River Canyon drive is beautiful, but I can say it is awesome! Until you've driven it in your little car, you have no idea what "feeling small" feels like. Gigantic rock walls are all you see...... period. But what a fantastic view it is. I love the rock formations that show the shifting of the rock plates over the centuries, the coloring of the rocks due to the various minerals, and the thought of the stupendous job that the highway crew had to do to make this area both a luxury to drive, and a "turkey-necker" to the folks lucky enough to travel it. Warning! It is a short drive, leaving St George, Ut, and traversing the uppermost NW corner of Arizona, and arriving at Mesquite, NV. (giggling) Imagine..... Utah and Nevada and separated by a whole 'nother state. (for a few miles, anyway)

http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/beaver_dam_mountains/wilderness.html

Arizona Tour in March

I can tell this is going to be a very hard month for me. Everyday I re-live the wonderful month-long trip Virgil and I took to tour Arizona. We went to all four corners, and everything inbetween. One day we were cruising along on an isolated smooth stretch of the highway in the southern Arizona desert, and came upon an even-more-isolated Chevron station. We stopped to enjoy a little picnic in the car, walk Toodles, and relieve ourselves. Guess what? The "outie") had no door and was absolutely filthy (hadn't been clean since it was built ages ago), and I thought I'd die (giggling). I didn't, but I didn't use the outie either. (laughing)

One very interesting place we visited was in the most south-eastern of the state, and it was the cutest little town, snuggled into the desert mountains...... Bisbee! We toured the Queen Mine and fell in love with this area. The folks running the mine tour are the guys who used to work the mine. I'm posting a couple web sites that will show the mine and that adorable little town.

http://www.bisbeemuseum.org
http://queenminetour.com

Waiting for spring

Help on Valentine's Day

Though most of my family has been called back to heaven, my precious daughters and their children sent me beautiful things for Valentine's Day. I thank them with all my old aching heart. It made it a nicer day to live through without my darling husband. Lots of beautiful cards, flowers, candy, and Krispy Kreme coupons. I love you all..... Kathy and kids, Laura-Russ and boys, Jessie and Janee and their husbands and families, Tyson-Krystal and family, and Chelsea.

Ahhhh.... the pansies...

Beading

The winter months are very long here right now. I got some beads and wire and have made a few jewelry things.

Pansies Orange and Creamy

More glorious orange

Best orange for brillance

Love Orange Flowers

The radiance of orange in flowers is beautiful.

Some more White

Yucca bloom

Love cloth dolls!

Visit Cloth Doll Artistry

Wow! Gorgeous tulip!

Consider all the White

Silverado Iris - reblooming

Lily - white, giant

Cosmos


Springtime whites of tulips.....

Crystal whites of snow......

5AM Moon Shadows on Snow

Took Toodles out to the covered back patio at 5 am. Was amazed at the brillance of the winter moon, and the snow on the green grass. Shadows from the trees and fence were like awesomely beautiful.

Sad

Virgil is tending to our son's grave at Xmas time, in Utah. Virgil's grave is just a few feet away from Nick's. I don't think I can bear the horrible pain that resides in my old feeble heart. It won't go away..... memories don't seem to ease it any. I'm still hoping time will heal me.
Nick's grave. He was a top notch architect with a prestigous firm in SLC. So kind and fun and funny. He played golf, rode horses, traveled, I miss him so very much..... A mother's true joy in life.
Katie's grave. I decorated it for Xmas yesterday, agan. She gave me a nightmareish existence, but I love her so very much. I'd do it again.... all the tears, money, raising her precious children, hiding from her in my closet when she was high on drugs... (sigh)

A Xmas card from a relative made me relive old memories. I have less than half my family left, and thinking about the loved ones that are gone, makes me very sad. Very, very sad. I cry a lot. I slouch further down in my old chair. I feel very very alone. It is hard to face the world when I realise the truth. I wish folks who still have all their families, wouldn't gloat.

4 am Winter Wonderland

When it snows in Boise all night, it stays light as daytime. I got up at 4AM and took these pics. It was breathtakingly beautiful and so quiet.

Feel like I live in the Forest

Took this pic out the window in my laundry room. Love the snow on the pines.

Cold White Winter

How about vibrant yellow

Fall and Yellow.....go together nicely.

Rosa single-petals

Pastels on black. I love the "old" roses. My mother had several on the homestead farm and I remember how fragrant and colorful they were.