More exploring...

Headed out to who know's where yesterday, choice between Nutrioso, AZ or the Chiricahua National Monument.  What, you say?  You've never heard of Nutrioso, AZ?  Or if you have heard of it maybe you are asking why I would think of going there.

The reason I know of Nutrioso, AZ has to do with the morning news, specifically the weather report.  In the list of cities showing the temperatures it lists Nutrioso, AZ and the temperatures are quite a bit lower than elsewhere.  Thinking it must be up in the mountains I looked it up on google maps.

7,671 ft is the elevation, the population though is 26 according to the 2010 census.  Why exactly would this little place merit mention on the list of weather cities?  I don't know and that is why I thought of going there.  Being an almost 5 hour drive and having got a late start I decided to go the Chiricahua National Monument even though I had been there before. 

Off I went, to the top and back down, here are the pictures:

 I didn't see this face until at home looking at the pictures on the computer.  Happy little accident.

  

I feel an odd connection with these rocks.  To get to the park required a long drive and traversing many mountains barricading to get to these rocks hidden in the center.  They are fractured and yet standing.  Yes, these rocks mirror my soul.




Not satisfied with my exploration I decided to take the road that goes from the park over to Portal, AZ.  Five years ago it wasn't open due to the recent fire and danger of flooding (it was mid Monsoon season).   This time it was open.  The distance is 24.5 miles over a dirt road.  Well at  15-25 MPH that is a really long drive I came to find out.  At this time of year its not in bad condition but with 360 turns and really steep declines it is not a quick trip. 

Fires had really opened up things and there were lots of flowers and grass and lots of deer.

 The deer here are in beautiful condition, very healthy looking.  Nice buck below, almost didn't get him.

There has been a lot of haze thee last couple of days, hard to see the distance clearly.

Another one of those happy accidents, didn't notice the limbs forming a frame around the rock I was shooting.

 Beautiful area, even creeks with water in them.   Pinery Canyon Road also known on Forest Road 42 was worth the drive.

The ensuing events of a flat tire and the search to find some place to fix it since those worthless spare tires are...well, worthless was another story.  Thanks to a very kind couple and their chocolate lab for stopping and changing my tire and a great tire repair guy, Jesus Gandarilla East 2 West Towing & Repair in Lordsburg, NM for fixing my tire so I could get home.  352-262-5108 if you are in need of assistance.

The west side of Cochise Stronghold, a nice outing:

Found a feature on my camera, shoot in black and white except for a select color, this is what came out, lol.

 Saw a few deer, this is the only one in which my reaction was quick enough to catch with my camera.

Exploring....

Been sick for over a week and going stir crazy staring at the same 4 walls so decided to go for a drive.  After looking at google maps decided on Garden Canyon where there is some petroglyphs and plenty of flora and fauna according to a post on tripadvisor.

Unfortunately the gate was closed.  So wandered down another road and here is what I found:

 Sierra Vista is surrounded by mountains to the East


to the northeast

to the southwest 

From the bigest views to the little views:

     This picture turned out pretty awesome, even if I say so myself.

 Movement out of the corner of my eye upon closer examination and lots of pictures turned out to be a bunch of turkeys.


 
Butterflies/moths? they abounded by an actual running creek.  The coloring on the different sides of the wings amazing.  The face, not so much.

 After my little outing it was back to my curling up on my couch!

Where is Lj now?

It came to my attention that this blog designed to advise where in the world Lj is now, doesn't.  So, the update is that I am in Sierra Vista, AZ.   SE Arizona, about 30 miles as the crow flies to the Mexican border, about 2 hours to the New Mexico border and 70 miles by road from Tucson.

Sierra Vista is surrounded by mountains in varying degrees of closeness. About 45,000 +/- population; 4,633 in elevation; the hummingbird capital of the United States (have not seen even 1 yet) and was the site of the first McDonald's drive thru which opened in 1975.  

The mountains contain remnants of old towns, rolling fields/pastures as well as a variety of different rock types.   High desert it is cooler than Tucson.  3 English congregations and 1 Spanish.  

So there you have a run down of where I am and here are some pictures:

 North American Monsoon season is July and August.  Typically only for a short time during the day.  Torrential downpours and thunderstorms.

 Awesome sunsets and sunrises (since Arizona doesn't do the time change thing it comes really early in the summer, haven't got a picture of one yet, lol).

Arizona is not usually associated with rolling fields but there are spots and especially during Monsoon season it is very green.

 Even the fallen part of this awesome tree is thriving.

 Just a cool tree trunk.

 "River" may be greatly exaggerated, "Puddle" would be a more apt description.

 A volleyball net in the most unexpected place.

 

Horses enjoying free range.
 

Have you ever noticed....

Recently a suggestion to get creative was made to me and in searching the internet I found group painting classes.  These events allow for wine and painting.  While not as yet partaking of the fruit of the vine (since a sip can put me out and there is the whole driving thing), the painting part has been quite the experience.  It has been the addictive part.

This is my first painting:

 Bright and fun.  Granted not at all like the one that was the "model", but seeing everyone else's, including the instructor, they all had their own uniqueness which is much more enjoyable than if you had 30 paintings that all looked alike.  Kinda like people.  Hmmm.

Looking at a painting up close, one that is actually a painting with acrylic painting verses one that is a photo-print picture, you can see the brush strokes.  The places where the paint didn't completely cover the canvas or where more paint accumulated.  You see all the imperfections and it doesn't look like much of anything when you are hyper focused on the close up details.



However when you step back...

you see a very nice picture.  The brush strokes actually come together and all the tiny little flaws aren't seen (yes the larger ones are) but the tiny ones add to the picture.


Seems to me that people are like that too.  If we are examined and scrutinized up close there is plenty of flaws to be seen but stepping back and seeing how all those brush strokes make up a picture?  How thankful we should be for all those "brush strokes" that make up the picture that is you and that is me.

Changes are a happenin'

 This picture was taken at the beach, Fort De Soto, FL.  Its at the beginning of this post as an illustration.  While it would be expected to see beach grass at the beach and maybe even the yellow flowers, it may not be expected to see cacti at the beach in Florida which is a predominately tropical area, although definitely hot enough for them to thrive there is a whole lot of rain, but here they are.

People are kinda like these plants don't you think?  We have the personalities we would expect to see and the ones we are happy to see and then the ones that are unexpected, even prickly but still have something great to offer.

Transition to Florida has been interesting.  I just read a chapter in a book in which the writer discussed being careful as part of his identity.  His first two books he wrote pretty quickly, enjoyed writing them, they came easy.  Then while starting on his third book the 2nd one became a best seller.  There were critics and fans.  It took longer for his third book to get finished and his forth and fifth considerably longer.  He talked with a friend about the difficulties he was having and the friend commented that his later work was "careful" compared to the freeness and fun of his early work.

He realized that he had indeed become careful in his writing, trying not to offend anyone and choosing each word carefully.  He made a list of things he wanted to keep in mind in order to avoid being careful.  Some of the things he mentioned was to write without censorship and also to admit when he was afraid or when he made a mistake and that he is human.

For a long time I have envied people who could just tell others what they were feeling or if they were scared or worried or whatever.  They could pour out their heart to a stranger, they could connect to another soul. They had what is referred to as an open heart.  I have felt that need but a controlling influence as to what is proper and right has held a tight leash.  Constantly analyzing and worrying if I have revealed too much to a person or too soon to a new acquaintance.  Fear of what they might think.  Uncertain as to what I have to offer to another being.

So, rather than hiding my thoughts in the other blog I have and is published anonymously, here on this blog where people who know me might actually read what's written, I pronounce "I am scared of getting close to people".  While I am trying to mend a broken heart, its hard work and there is a whole lot of back and forth in the progress.