in sorrow...

"...what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame — but rather, how well we have loved — and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better."

President Obama, in remarks to the people of Tucson, Arizona. 1/12/11

looking for hope...

We are grieving. We mourn for the loss of our people. We are at a loss how to explain it. We feel like we will never be the same. Hope is all we have to hang on to.

We find hope in the many heroes of the day – the young intern who stayed with his boss until medical personnel could get to her, the husband who lost his life saving his wife, the four who sprang into action preventing even more chaos, doctors, paramedics; there are so many. We find hope in optimistic reports from doctors. We find hope in the many memorials of candles and flowers that have sprung up all over town. We find hope that as life goes on, as it always does, that we are all a little kinder, a little more understanding. We find hope that underneath it all, Tucson is, indeed, love.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We still need them.

out of tragedy, comes hope...

"Doctors treating U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Monday the congresswoman was responding to verbal commands by raising two fingers of her left hand and even managed to give a thumbs-up."

Thank you for your prayers.

if you are the praying kind...

Please send your prayers to Gabrielle Giffords and the others. She is an amazing woman who works so hard for our community and state.

Our beautiful state is being ravaged by political extremists.

It breaks my heart...

better days...

Imagine my delight when I saw this old truck in the snow. We desert dwellers don't get to see snow very often. Finding this truck made my photographic heart sing with excitement. When I got closer and saw the inside, also covered with snow, it was even better. I could have stayed for hours. I'll be back again some day to photograph this beauty in the sunshine.

welcome 2011...

I like clocks. I like dishes. I like candles. I like cozy.










A year ago all these clocks were set to the proper time. I may like clocks but perhaps it is time to get some that keep time better than these!


Happy New Year!

Join Susan and other tablescapers at Between Naps on the Porch.

frosting...

love the days of early morning freeze we have been getting...
hoping my garden will survive...
spotting this little woodpecker feather on fallen saguaro ribs...

"Frederick Days" indeed.

among the blue herons...

We went to the lake this morning, despite the cold. We have heavy jackets that get used a few times a year. I have gloves. WB actually brought along a new pair of garden gloves because he doesn't have any proper ones. It is a treat for us to wear cold weather clothing, even if we don't do it well. I am guessing that all of you who do not live in the southwest part of the United States would call this a pond. It is big enough that people fish in it and once in a while, you will see someone in a kayak but it isn't very big at all. The best part of the lake is the birds. We really don't know what blue herons and great egrets are doing in the desert, but we are happy to have them. Click on any image to make it larger.

Coming in for a landing.























"I could have danced all night."





"What are you looking at?"


Excuse the large amount of shots but I couldn't narrow it down any more than this. There are so many other things I should be doing right now but looking at photos and drinking my tea seemed like a much better idea.

why nothing gets done in my kitchen...

I decided to make some tomato soup for lunch today. I knew it would taste good after all the holiday foods. As I was gathering the ingredients, I heard the "something wicked this way comes" screaming from all the birds. Our Cooper's hawk had decided to pay a New Year's Day visit.
Photos before soup.