OAK CREEK CANYON

After lunch on Sunday, we left the pub and walked back toward the car.  Oops--while we'd been munching and sipping, the sun had slowly been hidden by dark clouds.  That partly cloudy forecast had been somewhat optimistic.  And...it was just a bit chilly--no, it was a lot chilly!  Oh well...we'd brought jackets, which we pulled from the trunk and, like the troopers we are, lowered the top of the car, turned up the heater and...

headed off on a small, but great, adventure!

Well, poop!  The gorgeous rocks aren't quite as brilliant, dramatic or contrasty when it's cloudy, dark and dreary.  However, I was on a mission (photography class homework), so "dull" wouldn't stop me.

The views changed constantly as we drove along.  Red rocks mixed with cream and white rocks are on the left, the right, in front of us and behind us.  I knew how Linda Blair felt when my head spun out of control while BC directed, "Look, there's a good one!"  "You need a picture of that!"  "Look behind you!"  "Did you get that picture?"    In the meantime, I'm trying to remember how to change settings on the camera, then--what settings do I need for this situation--and finally, where's the d*&n#@ "auto" button?

I've never been a geology type person, but I do have to wonder both how and why these rocks formed in this area, composed of these minerals, weathered into these shapes, colored as they are.  It's fascinating I know, but I'd never stay totally alert or awake for the whole explanation.  It's important, though.

Maybe, I'll describe these photos as "brooding" before I hand them in at class.  That would make them look as if I worked very hard for a mystical, mysterious Exmoor-ish atmosphere.  Will it fly?

Just beyond the area of rocks, canyons and peaks, the colorful leaves come into their own.  It's not New England, but for Arizona, it's not bad.  The red tree in the background was so perfectly and evenly red, it looked totally fake.  But it wasn't--I checked. 

This would be a fun place to rent in October.

We soon reversed course and returned to Sedona.  BC travels on his tummy, and he heard the ice-cream shops calling his name.  Then, sadly, we thought our great adventure was over for yet another day.  But, as we left Sedona, the sun popped out of the clouds for just a few minutes lighting up these formations.

This formation looked exactly like a ancient castle crumbling into the landscape.

I can die happy!

 

SEDONA AND TLAQUEPAQUE

Sunday morning just seemed like a perfect day for a road trip.  No schedule, plus a short blurb in Saturday's paper noting that the leaves were beginning to change in Oak Creek Canyon meant it was definitely time to climb our of our self-imposed ruts and catch some of that Arizona magic.

Located just two hours north, Sedona is a favorite of nearly everyone.  And our special spot in Sedona is Tlaquepaque.  Yes--Tlaquepaque.  The only place I have more trouble pronouncing than Tlaquepaque is Oaxaca.  Also, I've just discovered that Tlaquepaque is kind of fun to type!

OK--one last time:  Tlaquepaque is an area of  unique tiny shops and great art galleries.  The courtyards are alive with sculptures, and what we used to call "New Age" Music fills the air.  For me--not the most widely traveled person in the world--it's a perfect re-creation of colonial Mexico, and the New Mexico of decades ago.

I love these long shaded galleries leading to--who knows where?

Perhaps here, for example.

All of the buildings contain two levels, so hidden stairways with beautiful Mexican tiles may be around any corner.

 Doorways here and there beckon us to explore the adjoining courtyard and whatever treasures it may hold.

 I love these fellows!

This tiny vine covered chapel is sometimes the site for small weddings.  It's great fun to be here when a couple has just gotten married, and the wedding party is giggling, sipping a bit of bubbly and  mingling in the tiny courtyard fronting this building.

This rather "busy" courtyard is filled with sculpture--an elk on the left, the rearing horse in the center, and a lovely fountain complete with birds in flight.

I could live here--it's great during all four seasons--although winter can be a bit nippy for us thin blooded semi-natives.

One of my favorite sculptures and, yes, it's moi, with the pig who leans in to get his ears scratched.  I'd love to have pig in our courtyard, but saner heads prevail in our household.  I was feeling badly when BC took this shot as, just the morning before, we'd hosted our "Vermont Country Breakfast" for the neighborhood, complete with Vermont cob-smoked bacon, and maple glazed ham.  Fortunately, nobody told pig.

We've wandered a bit and now it's time for lunch and, what can I say?  We're the ultimate sophisticated Brew Pub fans, and this is our Tlaquepaque favorite.  Oak Creek Brewery and Grill complete with its great food and atmosphere.  It doesn't get much better!

 Please visit again in a day or two as we head north in Oak Creek Canyon for views of the foliage and the great towering red rocks.

WHAT I DID FOR LOVE (Conclusion)

For all of you who waited with baited breath to learn the correct number of goldfish, and I know you're out there, it's 1,592.  I promise--not one more, not one less!  After all, counting goldfish is an exact science. And, despite my closing innuendo last week, they came through the Oktoberfest ordeal in much better shape than I'd anticipated.

They did swim away from their original, rather military positions, but they're still in the jar--and the predators kept themselves under fairly decent control.

We witnessed a bit of tilting, back and forthing, and side to siding; and had three fly-fishers with tape measures discussing cubic inches and specific sizes of the various fish.  Most folks, however, in the spirit of the event simply said, "to h@#* with it", wrote a quick number and headed to the brats and beer.

This fellow, who hadn't been to the brats and beer stands yet, turned out to be a "lifter" and looks quite surprised as the lid comes off in his hand.

He recovered quickly, and the jar never hit the ground, but the little buggers  flew in all directions as his embarassed wife began grabbing stray fish left and right.

Others joined in and, despite the fact that fish were swimming frantically to get under the table, all were caught and released unharmed to the jar.  The day (and contest) were saved!  Whew--it was close!

Now they're back home and, day by day, they're taking on more personality.  As you can see in the photo above, they've had a few tussles, but generally they're getting on well.  If you watch them, you begin to notice their facial expressions are unique...some are obviously demented, others are endearing, and some are just stupid but very happy.  A better person than I would say they have something to teach us--I just don't know what.  It doesn't seem right to throw them out, I can't feed dirty goldfish to my grandchildren, and they don't fit with my carefully choreographed decor...it's weighing heavy on me!  



WHAT I DID FOR LOVE...

If I were to list BC's Favorite Things, as you already know, Kansas State would easily rank Number One.   Fishing would rank an extremely close second and might even shove K-State aside if the fish were running--wherever it is that fish might run.  So, it stands to reason that Sun City Grand's "Hooked on Fishing" Chartered Club (it's pretty officious around here) would be closely tied to BC's "Favorites" list.

This Saturday, SCG will host its annual Oktoberfest, with the obligatory brats, saurkraut, entertainment, booths from various SCG Clubs and Interest Groups, tables displaying the wares of cool venders, and beer--which, I am sure, will help get me through the afternoon of my Hooked on Fishing Auxiliary Volunteer Oktoberfest duties.

Needless to say, the Hooked on Fishing Club is going all out this year with, not only a booth, but also a Casting Contest--Fly Casting and Spin Casting.  If you're a fisher-person, nice prizes accompany these contests.  In addition, since the fishing club loves to give away prizes, they are offering a guessing contest--"How Many Goldfish in the Jar?"  

When I heard of it, I figured what a slam-dunk contest.  How many goldfish can you actually put in a jar before the Humane Society taps you on the shoulder?  These are nice fisher-persons, they wouldn't be cruel to goldfish, so a no-brainer contest.  Right?

Well, imagine my surprise when the Chief Prize Fisher-person, showed up at our door with a huge sack brimming with goldfish cracker packages and a large food storage container.  Oh!  That kind of goldfish!  Once again it becomes apparent that I don't always have the biggest brain in the room.  But, it was my job, and responsibility, as a Hooked on Fishing Auxiliary Volunteer to accurately count these goldfish as I carefully placed them in the storage jar, and keep the grand total a secret.  A secret which errant fishhooks couldn't drag out of me.  But it beats wrapping seventy Christmas favors every year for the big HOF holiday party, so I was game.  Off to the counting table...

   

In the course of this operation, I learned a lot about goldfish.  I already knew that goldfish could make a Mom's life easier, and a Grandma's life a snap!  "Hey Jackson!  Let's share a bag of goldfish and watch Finding Nemo again."  Or "Collin, if I toss this goldfish can you catch it in your mouth?"  "Lauren, GG's got goldfish..."  They're a godsend!  I, however, never liked to eat goldfish.  I like nearly everything, but for whatever reason, not goldfish.  So, this was a great HOF Auxiliary Volunteer activity for me, because I learned there are flavored goldfish!  Who knew?

"Vanilla" Goldfish are happy goldfish.

   "Pretzel" goldfish are on steroids.

There are predator goldfish in some of the "Original" Goldfish bags--it's sick!  And, I think the guy in the upper right hand corner is coming back for more.

And now, just a few hours later, plus maybe one or two more, here is the finished product.  Good looking, huh?  And, sadly, I hear ya!  Unless this baby is secured to the table, it will be goldfish chaos by the time everyone has had a turn shaking, rattling and rolling this jar to guess the number.  And, I'm telling you--you let the bottom and top layers of predator "originals" loose among the vanilla, honey, and pretzel goldfish and it's going to get ugly at that booth.