Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Post Cards from Arizona

Hello! And greetings from Arizona! I am writing to you this evening from our fancy schmancy room at the base of Camelback Mountain. A little bit tanner....a little more artistically inspired.

Oh, what a trip we've been on! We left saturday at 5:30 am and arrived in Williams, Arizona that evening. Williams is just outside of Flagstaff and we were astonished to find ourselves in a pine forest...where it was cool and crisp and beautiful. Arizona is an amazing place...

Here's a photo from the road. We stopped off at the continental divide (in New Mexico? I dont remember...) at this location rain water falls either west toward the Pacific or east towards the Atlantic. I had a very Lewis and Clark moment here ;)
We stayed at a lovely hotel (go Quality Inn!) in Williams and they had this beautiful Indian village set up in a clearing....the mountains in the distance....there were so many pine trees that perfumed the air that Audrey asked if it was Christmas ;)
The next day we headed up to the Grand Canyon. Just...wow. Its amazing that a place like that exists. And that it is so pristine and gorgeous. Peering down the side of this staggering canyon was dizzying. I held onto my girl very tightly ;)
From there we drove south towards Sedona.....just a little over an hour from the cool piney forests were these shocking and amazing desert landscapes. I think I've spent most of our drive through this state with my jaw dropped to the car floor. I had no idea, Arizona. But you've charmed me ;)
I took a few random shots in Sedona. What a lovely town. But a very hot place after feeling all cool and crisp in Flagstaff just a few hours before. One of the little shops had baskets full of shells out on the sidewalk...
And I have found that I have a love for south western churches and chapels. They are all so lovely out here. Love a good bell tower....
And at the end of the day....my little gal on some very pretty steps in Sedona. Love that tile. I didnt realize it, but I really do adore desert style. The colors and patterns are so amazing. I even bought myself a little cactus to remember it all by. A bearded cactus of course ;)
Hope all is well with you in your corner of the world. Sending you some sun and warmth from the desert :) I'm so glad I brought my sketch book......so much to remember!~

~H

20 comments:

Faerie Moon Creations said...

How wonderful to hear from you! What beautiful photos - thanks for sharing them. I'm so happy you are having a great time and feeling inspired. I can only start to imagine all the lovely art you'll create once you come home. Thanks for popping in and giving us such a great update! Theresa

Habebi said...

Gorgeous fun photos! Hope you continue to have a fantastic trip!!

Ayala Art said...

Great pictures! I love the last one best, thanks for sharing!

Bea said...

You and your loved ones are traveling in my favorite part of the country. Zeus and I are going back to New Mexico at the end of September. I can't keep away from that area. GORGEOUS. I hope you take your little one outside at night to see the sky. Well, that is if you are away from the city lights. OOOOOoooh the stars. Have fun. :)Bea

Holly Embry said...

It sounds like you're having a wonderfully inspiring trip! I definitely share your love for the desert. In fact, a trip to the Flagstaff/Sedona/Grand Canyon area is how I first discovered that love.

Also, I lol'd at the bearded cactus. How perfect!

Rebecca Anthony said...

Looks amazing Heather, thanks for sharing. I feel like I've had a taste of Arizona now. It is certainly a place I would love to go!!

andrea creates said...

Thanks for sharing your "postcards ".
Sounds like you're having a great time!

Laura Frantz said...

Never been there, Heather, but oh my, you make me wanna go:) Beautiful pics ~ all of them!! Little Miss A looks quite content. Thanks for sharing. I feel inspired!! Maybe I'll write a Western?!

katilady said...

oh yes! arizona is full of deathly (the heat) charm! i gre up there and totally miss it. :)

Fair Rosamund said...

It looks like you are having a great trip! You aren't too far from me, I live in Tucson AZ :) I love Flagstaff, we visited my boyfriend's brother and his family there last summer. So much cooler than Tucson, I wish I was there now! :) ~Lauren

Poetic Artist said...

What a fun and inspiring time you are having..Enjoy..Laugh and takes lot of photos.

Valerie said...

Yay! So glad you are having a wonderful time! Arizona is truly beautiful, in such a different sort of way. I don't know if I could live there though since I know I would miss the seasons. My in-laws live there, and it was crazy when we spent Christmas there a few years back. It just didn't feel like a normal Christmas with Santa hats decorating the saguaro everywhere we looked! :)

Lori Brighton said...

How pretty! I've never thought of going there, but want to now!

Cassie said...

Your pictures are just beautiful! Glad you had such a lovely vacation. Would love to get to the Grand Canyon myself one day - what an inspirational place. Can you imagine what must have been going through a pioneer's mind when they came up to it for the first time? Have a great week!

Robin Thomas said...

Arizona is what the word amazing means. Not the reality show version of amazing where everything is an amazing journey, right? I love your pictures so much. I am glad you have gotten away with your family. Enjoy!

Diane said...

What a wonderful vacation you're having--hope you can share some more!

Maureen said...

What a beautiful vacation. I loved all the photos. How wonderful that you got to see the Grand Canyon and Sedona. I'm sure the color was unbelievable. Thanks for sharing.

MarmeeCraft said...

The trip looks like ever so much fun!! Thanks for sharing such magical tidbits! :) Happy weekend time to You!!

Storybook Woods said...

Just beautiful,
looks like you are having a perfect time xoxox Clarice

Alyson (New England Living) said...

Glad you are having such a great time in Arizona! I've been there many, many times since my dad was raised there and my grandparents are buried there.