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.

Big Bad Bull Trout (yummmmmm)

Bull Trout. Idaho is famous for them. Sketch - pastels on black.

Heaven on Earth

The rose, Heaven on Earth, is blooming so beautifully now. I finally gave it some fertilizer and it seems to like that.

Gorgeous Boise Sunrise

Went out to get the newspaper on the front porch and saw this gorgeous sunrise! It changes so fast as it comes up, so I dropped the newspaper and grabbed my old camera.

Fun Little Mushrooms

Lots of little mushrooms growing in the yard this year. Especially now that it is cooler at night. Just had to take pictures of them.

Two Botanical Sketches

I saw this horse in a magazine and wanted to try it with pastels on black. The magnolia bud was fun to do last eve as I sat in bed and watched tv. Love to sketch.

Relaxin' Boots

Picked up a cowboy/rancher magazine at Walmart. Looking for something new to sketch. Found this picture. Graphite and carbon.

Smallest Bird Sketch

There is a little hummingbird that is only an inch (or a bit more) big. After seeing a picture in the local newspaper of him, I decided to sketch it.