Hey Ya’ll!  So sorry I have been a bad blogger.  Life is super busy and I’m a wee bit lazy.  Chuck and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary yesterday (we almost forgot about it) and enjoyed a mellow evening watching horror movies.  Nothing says love and romance like ghoulies ripping peoples’ throats out.  Funny side — Chucklebutt thought we had been married for seven years.  Hmmmm, I wonder what that says about our relationship? 

Over Memorial Day Weekend, we headed up to Payson for some awesome hiking and swimming.  We usually stay at the Majestic Mountain Inn, but they were all booked.  The Best Western was a pretty good substitute.  While it wasn’t the Ritz, it definitely served its purpose.

Super spacious rooms to spread all our stuff around.

Our room was the one on top.  It was nice having our own little balcony.  Apparently there was a big wedding going on and the entire wedding party was in the rooms below us.  They were an interesting group.

The grounds were really pretty and the continental breakfast rocked!  We got to make our own Belgian waffles.  Yumm-eee.

Chuck loading up the car.

Why yes we are wearing the same style pants — and if you must know, the same size too.

On Saturday, we decided to go in search of the Verde River Hot Springs.  One of the geocaches we were working on, led us right to them.  Now let me just say, that it was one heck of a trip just getting to the parking lot.  We had to turn off two dirt roads, and were it not for Esmerelda — my new car — we wouldn’t have made it.  Talk about needing a high clearance vehicle!  Anyway, the area was pretty remote — near the old Childs-Irving Power Plant.

I swiped the above picture from the APS website.  The history is pretty fascinating.

So, when we got to the parking area, we noticed that it was PACKED with people.  And not just any sort of people, but beer drinking, pot smoking, pit bull dog kind of peole.  I have never seen so many pit bulls in all my life.  It was like a dog show for the breed.  Now let me just say, that I do not like pit bulls — I’ll admit it, I’m a breedist.  Give me a Lab, Golden or Lhasa any day of the week.  Pit bulls?  Ummm…not so much.  As we started out on our hike, this pit bull comes running after us.  Actually not really running, more like trotting.  His owner kept yelling at him but the dog was not interested in the slightest.  I tried to ignore the fella and kept walking.  All of a sudden I noticed that something was stepping on my heels.  Yup!  You guessed it — Fido wasn’t watching where he was going.  EEEP!  I almost went into panic attack mode and wet my pants.  I did some deep breathing all the while Chuck is snickering.  He’s not scared of any dog.  Anyway, the owner finally wrangled the dog back to camp and we were on our way.

Gorgeous views!

Once leaving the campsites, we didn’t really run into anyone.  Just the way we like it.

We found the geocache and a whole slew of tadpoles.  I mean they were EVERYWHERE!  From the cache’s location, we went in search of the hot springs.  The only directions we had were to cross the river and look for the palm trees.  Mind you, it was quickly getting dark and the sun had almost set completely.

We ran into these fellows upstream.  They were drinking something that looked like antifreeze.  They were super happy and very friendly.    This is Chuck crossing the river.  We were told to do so at this particular spot because it was the shallowest.  FYI — Just because it was shallow, does NOT mean that the current wasn’t swift.  Once crossing the river, the guys asked us if we knew where we were going.  We lied and told them yes — not our brightest move.

We found the palm trees and Chuck took to taking some neat pics with a flashlight.  Oh yeah — and we were in pretty much complete darkness.

We found the foundation of the old hotel and figured that was all there was.  Perhaps we had misunderstood what was actually up there.  So, we headed back across the river where we ran into some seriously inebriated folks and — you guessed it!  — more pit bulls.  One of the guys was hilarious and said that there were actual hot springs.  He said they weren’t very far and we just HAD to come.  They crossed the river and both of their dogs got caught in  he current.  They finally made it across and I convinced a grumpy Chucklebutt we were following these crazy people.  He was not impressed and his thought bubble was pretty rude.  Anyway, I’m glad I took charge, because check out what we discovered!

We did not take this picture — remember we were there in the pitch black.  It was awesome!!  The pools were pretty crowded (and there was that whole clothing optional thing going on) so we headed down to the river where we went swimming in the run off.  It was so incredible and well worth all the hassle.  And the stars?  OMG!  I have never seen the stars so vibrant.  It was just a magical night.  We had such a good time despite the ruckus above us.

As we were leaving, this crazy fellow kept wanting us to go into the big pools.  We tried to explain to him that we had experienced the water down below.  He was not buying it.  Chuck and I had to do a “Hey what’s that behind you?”  and run like hell.  Before leaving, we did manage to encounter some bats which freaked me out and ran into Chuck’s chest.  Never a dull moment!

Stay tuned — there’s more craziness to come. 

A few weeks ago, my friend Lori and I took some classes at Mystic Paper.  They were all day classes and we learned beaucoup!

Do you know this book?

It’s written by this super talented woman — Claudine Hellmuth.  Check out what I made.

It was a technique class and I learned some really valuable collage tricks.

I have gotten more use out of the above lace.  A few years ago, Mom and I went in together and bought a real pretty wedding gown at Goodwill for 50 bucks.  We divided it equally and I have used the fabric and lace in reams of projects.

I love creepy doll heads!

I really like this little canvas.  I dig all things Halloween and I wanted to do a piece in honor of the spooky holiday.  BTW — Claudine’s paints rock!!  They are pricier than other paints, but you truly get what you pay for.  I love how you can add just a little water to them and they become translucent.  I also learned how to use petroleum jelly on your canvases to create an eerie look.  I have so many ideas — the world of art canvases has opened up to me — now I just need to find some time.  HA!

The other class we took was Jenny Hernandez’s love birds.  They will eventually sit on a box, but I sorta liked them hanging out on this teacup.

OMG!!  Are they not freaking adorable?!  The little boy bluebird reminds me of Chucklebutt — both have really big heads.  Hahahahahahahahah! 

Awwwww!  It is Chucklebutt and Jiggle Puff.  Happy Hump Day everyone.

On Friday, I took the gang down to Casa Grande where we had lunch at Bedillon’s.  For those of you unfamiliar with Casa Grande — you aren’t missing much.  It’s a pretty depressing place — economically and aesthetically speaking — however Bedillon’s is a great restaurant with great desert ambiance.  Casa Grande is about an hour south of Phoenix and is pretty much the half way point to Tuscon.  If you need a place to grab a bite to eat, Bedillon’s is the place!

This dead tree is in front of the restaurant.  I wish our dead tree looked as cool.  Sigh.

I love this fountain.  I wonder if Chucklebutt would put one in our yard for me?

Check out that cactus garden!  It’s gorgeous.  Exactly what desert landscape should look like.

One of my favorite things about the property is the family “museum.”  It’s really no bigger than a living room, but it has some neat stuff inside — including Native American artifacts and Western collectibles.

Me with two of my favorite people — Lucille and her sister Virginia.  They are some cool ladies!

This is the trellis coming into the restaurant.  I keep manipulating our bougainvillea so that it will look like this.

Here is the whole gang waiting for the bus to pick them up.  Afterwards, we headed to the outlet mall which was a bit disappointing.  So many of the stores have closed and I’m not one for Guess Brand or Liz Claiborn.  Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a Magnolia Pearl outlet store?!?!  Anywhoo, I passed time by hanging out in the kitchen store and eating a most delectable treat — shaved ice.  Apparently, I have never had a proper shaved ice.  It was so darn good.  The guy started with a huge slab of ice and this super-cool machine that actually made shaved ice — super smooth and no chunks.  I asked him which was the best flavor and he likes banana with a little bit of cream on top.  OMG it was so good!

Bedillon’s and banana shaved ice — both worth the hour trip to no-man’s land.

Have a great week everyone! 

We love our girls — the feline ones that is.  Scout and Daisy are sweet, for the most part, and bring us a lot of joy and love.  Mom’s kitties — Hope and Faith — are just as loving if not more so.  Muffin was my childhood kitty and she was one in a million.  It is safe to say that I have never had a bad kitty.  However, they are out there and I have met one face to fur, and lived to tell about it.  Her name is Missy and she is a BAD KITTY!

Do you know Bad Kitty?  This is a fabulous book that my dear Aunt Meme gave to me and it describes her kitty to a T.  Her kitty is Missy and she looks just like the kitty on the cover.  She also shares a very strong resemblance with Basement Kitty.  You know Basement Kitty?

Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but she definitely looks like the next one.

Pretty fluffy tail included.  My aunt and uncle have had Missy for many years.  They got her as a kitten and she has always been a little “off.”  Sorta like the sociopathic child.  She was never abused, and yet she hisses and bites and is an all-around pill to everyone she comes in contact with.  The week my father died, she attacked my great uncle and drew blood.  While I’d like to think that was her way of showing grief, something tells me it was more a crime of opportunity.  As a younger person, I can remember walking into her bedroom (yes she had her own room) and she would lift her head and hiss at me.  It went some thing like this.  “Hey Missy.”  “Hissssssssssss!”  “Why you gotta be such a hater?”  “Hisssssssssss!”  Her vocabulary has always been limited.

Fast forward at least 11 years.  Missy is still alive and kicking and terrorizing a whole new generation.

After Mom and I left Savannah on Sunday, we headed up the coast to Charleston to visit my aunt and uncle — and by proxy, Missy.  As soon as we got to their house, my cousin’s 3 year old daughter comes running out to great us.  She is precious personified, complete with curly hair that would make Shirley Temple jealous.  Anyhoo, she comes running up to Mom (who btw is deaf in one ear) and proceeds to twitter like only 3 year olds can.  Mom is hilarious in the re-enacting, but I’ll do my best.  “meep whee ooo smeeeg haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (done in a real breathy sounding voice)!”  Mom immediately translates the “haaaaaaaa” as a hiss and voila!  Mom is being given a warning about Missy!  Sure enough, once in the house, Bad Kitty hisses at us and runs off.  I guess there’s comfort in constants!    Later when the other kids arrived they all begged my aunt to “put Missy up!  put Missy up!”  I had to tease my aunt about traumatizing her grandchildren, but it’s good to know that Missy hasn’t lost her effectiveness in old age.  She is one bad kitty!

Here are a few shots of me and the fam.  It was great visiting with them.  I wish we didn’t live so far away.

Three generations of good looking women.  Can you guess which one is the harbinger of “bad kitty doom?”

I realize that I am so late with this post, but I still wanted to show everyone pictures of our amazing craft day in Savannah.

While it was a rainy day, the beauty under the Big Top was incredible!

So many goodies!  I was really worried about getting everything back on the plane.  (Incidentally, if you are 1 pound over the limit, Delta charges you 90 bucks!!  Holy Cow!  They really don’t want you going over the limit.)

Isn’t that tree gorgeous?  I love all the Spanish moss.

Our first class was with Miss Dollybelle herself — Christine Rose Elle.

After Christine’s class, we began making our parasols.  I had such a great time working with all the fabrics, especially the ones from Sisboom.  I had some trouble using the no-sew tape, but that’s what mothers are for. 

This is Charlene and she is so much fun!  I really connected with her and I hope to visit her in Texas come the fall.  The Marburger Farm Antique Show isn’t too far from where she is.  That way I can feed my addiction to Magnolia Pearl duds.

This is the Ford Plantation and we were lucky enough to get to eat lunch inside.

Hey Miss Scarlett!

One of the participants made each of us a white chocolate parasol.  Yummy!

Lunch was delicious and I had my first Amaretto Sour.  To die for!  I could go for one right now.

This was the picture from the outside of the house.  Isn’t that gorgeous?!

I love hydrangea.  I think it might be my favorite flower.  I sure do miss seeing them grow.  It’s too dry and hot for them in Arizona.

The final class of the day was the lovely Miss Tiffany’s.

I’ve been following her blog for quite some time and it was great finally meeting her.  She is one of the most sincere people I have ever met.  Completely genuine — no airs — my kind of gal!

Doesn’t Mom looking sassy?

Mom and I with the gracious hostess — Thanks Jenn for an awesome weekend!

Gasoline and green dust?  What does that have to do with crafting?  Oh yes, killing fire ants.  They were some pesky, uninvited critters that really liked Mom.  She got bit and there was some drama when her foot swelled.  Next year we’ll bring some industrial size “Off.”

I think the neatest thing about this whole event was the amount of time we were able to socialize with each other.  I met some incredible women and I hope to keep in contact.  Miss you gals!!  Can’t wait to read the article in Where Women Create.