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.

HELD HOSTAGE...IN A POOL....A COLD POOL! - February 28, 2016

Minding my own business, focusing on being in the moment, watching the fading light and the shimmer of the water as I swam from one end to the other, listening to the sounds of the night and BLAM! 

There it was and I was now fully in the moment and getting a cardio workout without moving.  The vicious creature stared at me as I stared at it.  I did the only thing that I could think to do and that was to yell "shoo! shoo!".

My efforts had no effect on the creature.  So, the next thing that  came in to my head was to splash water its direction.  My efforts were having no effect at all, instead of running away like any wild creature should it proceeded to walk the rim of the pool getting closer to me.

I clapped my hands at it and alternated splashing water its direction and yelling "shoo! shoo!" and it stared at me, bending its body as if it would jump into the pool any moment.

Two men came along and this had no effect on my captor, it did not feel out numbered and my would-be saviors turned tail and went away leaving me to face my tormentor on my own.

I thought, well maybe it was ok, trying to remember if these creatures swam or not, thinking they probably don't but very concerned that this varmit was not at all bothered by people.

A couple came upon our scene and they just sat on their haunches and watched the bandit walk around the pool getting closer and closer to them.  I wanted to scream, like at a movie, "RUN!" waiting for it to ponce toward them. 

Finally my would-be hostage taker waddled away and I proceeded warily with my swim looking over my shoulder as I neared the edge.

In looking for a picture to include in the relating of my harrowing experience I found, much to my anxious dismay, they do like water!

Sunny Sunday drives in Florida are dangerous....


It has been a challenge adjusting to life in Florida.  The six month mark has come and gone by a few days now and looking back it has been a bit of a bumpy ride.  Not only did the weather prove to be more of a challenge than anticipated but my own outlook had too presented some challenges.

Did I just say "some" challenges?  Well, that may be an understatement.  All of that has nothing to do with the title of this blog although it is the reason for the journey.  A trip to see in person the famous manatees proved an epic fail yesterday because of a storm that hit the area.  It closed down the bridge leading south to my destination.  The reason-wind.

Asy
As YOu

As you can see the center of the bridge sits pretty high. The video demonstrates how windy it was.  These birds had tried to take refuge on the backside of an island but did not completely escape the wind.  While it was a little windy when I left home, I was unaware of just how windy it was and didn't know they would shut down the bridge.  So back home did I turn tail.

The following day was a much better day and I set off admits not so balmy temps of mid 40s.  A sunny day, not much traffic, the radio on and feeling oddly peaceful (having sought some help with some of the plagues of heart, a major angst has been quieted-now if a couple of these others can go the same way) and my destination was reached.

The temporary refuge of the manatees.  Due to the water temps dipping into the 50's in the bay these creatures come into the rivers and particular spots are more of a draw such as near power plants that are near the water and cause the water temps to be warmer than elsewhere.  They are odd looking creatures but such a cool sight.

And before you start thinking "wow, she got some good shots",         truth be told-the first 3 are off of the information boards at the park. Scroll down for my pix.

 
                                  
The elusive manatee, lots of almost shots, shots of tails, just below the surface bodies or noses:

 The two above are the best shots I was able to get.  It was cold and a little windy and it was not a day they wanted to linger above water.

I did find a couple of more willing volunteers to pose for me:

Ok, I admit the gator is in a permanent pose. 

With my adventure committed to film I started back toward home.  This is when the dangers of a Sunny Sunday drive in Florida took a left turn, or rather didn't take a left turn, completely missed the turn and didn't realize the turn had been missed for about 40 miles.  Yes, that is typed correctly 4...0...40 miles!  It wasn't until I saw a sign for Tarpon Springs which is way north of home that the realization that daydreaming on a sunny Sunday drive can lead you to somewhere you don't intend on going.  Not only had I passed home by 40 miles but had missed my exit about 50-60 miles before realizing it.  Oi!

If nothing else it lent itself to a good story, perhaps one worthy of the "Life and Times of...an ordinary person?!"