Month: December 2015

Winter Holiday in the AZ Desert

Jeff

I don’t know what most people think about the winter holidays in the Sonoran Desert, but it is celebrated here much the same as it is all over the United States and perhaps the world. We do have a few differences, however. Below are some photographs taken at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix earlier this month.

Poinsettias and cyclamen are popular Christmas plants because of their red, green and white colors and their suitability to cooler temperatures.

poinsettias and white cyclamen

Planters with variations of this assortment can be found in numerous locations at the Desert Botanical Garden this time of year.

poinsettias and white cyclamen

Naturally we do accent some of them with our desert favorites like the agave and aloe in this grouping.

poinsettias, white cyclamen with an agave and aloe

And this taller cactus contrasted with poinsettias.

tall desert cactus accented with red poinsettias

For evening visitors to the DBG, there are metal sculptures with votive candle holders to add to the celebratory nuance of the season (pictured here unlit during the daytime).

metal sculpture of a candle tree

Recognizable in any locale is the relatively standard Christmas wreath!

Christmas wreath with red ribbon and shiny balls

That is not to say we don’t have our quirky desert expression of the season such as…

Cactus with Santa hats

Picture courtesy of AZ Landscape Creations

Happy Holidays form JBRish in the Sonoran Desert!

 

STATUS QUOtes — 20151214

Jeff

“When books are opened you discover you have wings.” — Helen Hayes

“The world’s magic sneaks up on you in secret, settles next to you when you have your head turned.” — Bill Clegg, Did you Ever have A Family

“There are no hard times for good ideas.” — Harry Gordon Selfridge

“The problem with cats is that they get the exact same look whether they’ve seen a moth or an ax murder.” — Paula Poundstone

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

Pickleball: USAPA Nationals VII Exciting Video

Jeff

Wow, what a powerful video highlighting the excitement and the fun of pickleball;what a sport! One usually doesn’t see this much engagement by players and spectators alike at a sporting event. The video exudes the excitement and pace of the 2015 Pickleball Nationals VII.

  • 32 Pickleball Courts
  • 38 States
  • 3 Provinces
  • 764 Players
  • 2,038 Matches

From the YouTube posting:

Published on Dec 10, 2015

“The USAPA Nationals VII was a powerhouse of pickleball! The action and agility on the courts was amazing. You won’t believe all the cool shots from multiple matches that Pickleball Channel was able to capture! Check out this footage of some of the greatest moments in the tournament including aerial shots and super slow mo. If you were at Nationals this year, you just might see yourself on the court!”

STATUS QUOtes — 20151213

Jeff

“Worries go down better with soup.” — Jewish Proverb

“The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely.” — Alexandra Elle

“The heart of another is a dark forest, always, no matter how close it has been to one’s own.” — Willa Cather

“It’s the gossip columnist’s business to write about what is none of his business.” — Louis Kronenberger

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

You Can’t Get It Straight

Jeff

Nobody knows why humans, when blindfolded, or when there is no visible anchor point such as a mountain, sun or moon, cannot walk or swim in a straight line. This has puzzled scientists for many years.

The NPR video below explains it in visual terms:

A Mystery: Why Can’t We Walk Straight?

A Mystery: Why Can't We Walk Straight? from NPR on Vimeo.

STATUS QUOtes — 20151212

Jeff

“The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk.” — Jacqueline Schiff

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” — Og Mandino

“In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” — Warren Buffet

“It’s a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word.” — Andrew Jackson

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

STATUS QUOtes — 20151211

Jeff

“Creative minds are rarely tidy.” — John W. Gardner

“Everyone sits in the prison of his own ideas; he must burst it open.” — Albert Einstein

“Smart is when you believe only half of what you hear. Brilliant is knowing which half.” — Red Skelton

“The difference between individual intelligence and group intelligence is the difference between Harvard University and the Harvard University football team.” — P.J. O’Rourke

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

STATUS QUOtes — 20151210

Jeff

“Faith makes things possible, not easy.” — Unknown

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” — Jean-Luc Picard

“Fortune does not change people, it unmasks them [ed].” — Suzanne Necker

“It’s hard to imagine the next thing; until it’s here.” — Seth Godin

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

Fall Hike – West Fork of the Oak Creek, AZ – Pt. 3

Jeff

While hiking along the West Fork of the Oak Creek just outside of Sedona, AZ we came across this wall and cliff of fractured red rock highlighted by light and dark colors most likely from minerals in the rock and the effects of running water.

 

red rock cliff

Here’s a closer look. Trees grow along the overhanging shallow shelf above the cliff.

trees growing on the shallow shelf

Other walls along the trail had interesting colors and markings as well. This nearly black patch was highlighted by a stream of white reminiscent of a plume of smoke from a cigarette.

black patch on wall with smoke-like markings

We weren’t the only life form enjoying this brisk autumn stroll. A orange and black beetle was weaving in and out of the leaves and appears to be of the Nicrophorus defodiens species which enjoys eating fungus.

fungus eating beetle

A colorful leaf waiting for its close up and I obliged.

pretty red and gold leaf

On the return trip back to the trailhead, we revisited some of the previous sites this time lit with the afternoon sun.

red and white rocks in the afternoon sun

There were moments when the contrast of the dark and the light was stunning as with the golden-green leaves against the dark browns and grays of the trees

beautiful contrast of dark trees and light leaves

A bit disheartening are scenes like this where someone decided a tree branch needed to be adorned with and old sneaker or shoe.

old sneaker hanging over a tree branch

At the beginning of the trail, not too far from the trailhead, are the remnants of Mayhew Lodge that was opened in 1926. The lodge remained an active retreat until 1968 and is noted for attracting a number of celebrities such as President Herbert Hoover, Walt Disney, Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable.

Only a few partial walls remain standing, but with a bit of imagination, one can envision the raw beauty and solace that this retreat once promised.

Mayhew Lodge corner wall

Perhaps President Hoover or Clark Gable gazed out this window to watch native wildlife.

Mayhew Lodge round window

Which celebrities or notables warmed themselves at this hearth?

Mayhew Lodge hearth

The short video shows the outbuildings and a few shots of the lodge.

Even more information and pictures HERE:

We had a good day along the West Fork of the Oak Creek. We were damp, cold and tired and welcomed the heated seats and warm air provided by our Subaru Forester as we made our way back to the Valley of the Sun.

If you missed the previous posts about our hike along the West Fork of the Oak Creek, you can find them here:

Fall Hike – West Fork of the Oak Creek, AZ – Pt. 1

Fall Hike – West Fork of the Oak Creek, AZ – Pt. 2