Arizona Renaissance Festival

Arizona Renaissance Festival is here! Love, love, love it!

Visit and have fun. Come and submerge yourself in a 16 century market place with a touch of Fairy Land. See one or all shows (maybe, participate in one), see the joisting knights, many of street entertainers and this year you can even see a live mermaid!

Eat, drink and be treated like a Royalty at the Pleasure feast or just get something delicious from the village vendors.

The craftsmanship is really wonderful there. You can buy a nice fantasy costume, a hat, accessories or lovely home decor pieces.

This pot talked to me and I got it to store my fantasies in:

Don't forget your camera, catch the moment! and  hurry, they are open until April 1st only!

A birds day

Yesterday was a very nice peaceful winter day. We had so many birds in the garden that I grabbed my camera and started to shoot, first through the window and then went outside to through some seeds and pour some fresh water in the hummingbird feeder. A little hummingbird was not alone in a couple of minutes, the woodpecker hungrily joined the sweet feast.

A very cute mockingbird sat on a branch and was watching me while I was watering plants. I threw some pomegranate seeds for it to enjoy so a bird was just waiting for me to get out of way and did not mind my camera at all.

I couple of mourning doves, sparrows, a funny jumping Abert's Townhees and quails were also here to get some seeds fallen from the trees. Then the wind started, it brought a rain and everyone disappeared to their hiding places. Well, I am glad they had al least some of food to fill their tummies before the cold night.

Winter is such a hard time for the wild life. The day before we parked on the hospital's parking lot to take mom for her surgery and we heard a chorus of hungry coyotes right outside where we were. Canadian geese are staying around the lakes to stay warm during cold times up North. We've seen some rabbits and smelt a skunk. As long as we live here, I am always surprised how the wildlife found the way to co-exist in such a huge megalopolis as Phoenix. And I am always grateful for a chance to see them free and that close.

A day at the apple farm

We had so much fun picking apples and looking at the farm animals at the Date Creek Ranch farm (Wickenburg, AZ) last weekend. It is hidden in a middle of the desert so if you would not notice a small road sign we would have never found it.

 

So we turned from the main road to a rougher desert one that leads to the lovely place with barns, fruit stand, the rows of fruit trees and farm animals resting in the shade. 

 

We were there just for fun so we did not pick up too many apples. But whatever we got was enough to eat fresh and make some apple butter (recipe here).

 

 A wonderful day filled with sun and fun!

 

Our 15 years anniversary

Just a short 2 hour drive trip up north made my week. In just 24 hours we've seen a snow, a blooming trees, a beautiful spring flowers and wildlife.

 

A Kaibab squirrel came to our balcony in the morning hoping to find some nuts and a large robin was sitting on a tree branch outside of our hotel's window. 

We spotted a herd of about 12 deer in the woods on the way down from the mountains. 

What a great day!

It was cold in Flagstaff, the lowest I noticed was 31'F. The wind was harsh but Flagstaff has a lot of  great places to eat and shop so the windy day became fun and cozy. 

We stopped by Beaver street brewery for some warmth and a quick bite (I love their woodfired pizzas!), then went to shop downtown. 

Simple pleasures but so much fun!

We celebrated our 15 year anniversary that night with champagne and delicious dinner. 

A perfect  day among the ponderosa pine forest!   

Desert hike and the jumping cactus

Spring has come to the desert! It looks like the cactuses are ready to bloom and it is just a matter of time when we'll see them in full bloom.

The sun is shining and the temperature is just right. A perfect time for picnics!

We were lucky to find some time for a short hike in the desert. There are many people there right now. Everyone is very friendly and it is pleasant to exchange simple hellos and good mornings when we meet on the narrow trail.

It was an interesting moment while we were there and it happened with us for a second time now. There was a group of teenagers standing on the trail next to a teddy bear cholla cactus, known also as a jumping cholla. They said they are waiting to see when the cactus is actually going to jump.

The thing is, it will not. The cactus got its name because that little balls of barbed spines cholla stems are easily detached when brushed against. The spines give it the soft furry looks of a teddy bear.

It is tempting to touch it (believe me!) but beware. It will end up on your skin or clothing. The little balls are a young plants which will root when they hit the ground. They can be carried away by the animal or unsuspecting person and will root in another corner of desert. This is the way the plant reproduce and spread itself.

If you get this on you, don't try to grab it and pull it off because it will now be in your hand also. The best way to remove it is with a hair comb by placing it in between you and a cactus and flicking it away. Make sure nobody is in the way where you flicking it! Pick out any thorns still there.

A little botanical lesson, huh :)

Anyway, it was nice to get some desert air and see that things are ready for spring. It was a cold winter this year so we are ready for some sunshine.