“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho
“Don’t be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” — Vladimir Nabokov
“She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the Universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings.” — Ariana Dancu
“Better untaught than ill-taught.” — Grenville Kleiser
I live in an area of the Sonoran Desert that is close to North Scottsdale, Arizona. The desert is a special environment and it lends itself to some unique architecture. One such building is known as the Boulder House.
As you can see, the house, which is a national landmark, is built into and around the boulders. These boulders however are unique in and of themselves as they have petroglyphs on them.
The house is currently featured on a number of realty sites and you can get a glimpse of more than just the exterior. Here is a quote from the LuxuryDesertHideaways.com web page which has some amazing photos of the entire building;inside and out!
“The Rare and Unique Boulder House in North Scottsdale, with the site and petroglyphs on the National Register of Historic Places On almost 9 acres of unspoiled desert called ”The most Original Home in America” by author Stanley Marcus in the book “Quest for the Best! Also included in “The Home Book” of greatest world-wide home designs which includes “Falling Waters” and the “Vanderbilt”!
The World renowned Boulder House-one of the only Arizona Architectural Digest Cover Homes, designed by Charles Johnson has been featured in over 30 publications and international TV including The Discovery Channel. This residence is integrated into a massive outcropping of granite boulders that make up over 60% of the structure. It’s also a horse property right in the middle of North Scottsdale, near the Boulders Resort. Surrounded by the famous and exclusive Whisper Rock golf course on two sides.”
You can see a Vimeo video The Boulder House and here is what Vimeo has to say about it:
“Called ”The most Unique Home in America” by author Stanley Marcus! The World renowned Boulder House-one of Arizona’s only Architectural Digest Cover Homes, designed by noted architect Charles Johnson and featured in over 30 publications, books and international TV. This astonishing residence, on almost 9 acres off undisturbed desert, is integrated into a massive outcropping of granite boulders that make up over 60% of the structure. It’s also a horse property. The land’s ancient petroglyphs chiseled into the home’s exterior, earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places. There is no residence like this in the world, and has a multitude of potential uses. Surrounded by natural and pristine desert and bordered by the Whisper Rock golf course.”
“Riches have shut off many a man from the attainment of wisdom.” — Seneca
“It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.” — Edward de Bono
“One generation full of deeply loving parents would change the brain of the next generation, and with that, the world.” — Dr. Charles Raison
“A friend will tell you she saw your old boyfriend – and he’s a priest.” — Erma Bombeck
Most people who are interested in photography have probably heard of macro photography which is the specialty related of taking close up pictures of small objects such as insects, jewelry or flowers. Levon Biss, however uses a microscope to take his pictures which renders only the smallest section in focus and thus his photographs are composites of many pictures which he painstakingly aligns. When I say many, I mean thousands.
Here is the summary from Vimeo’s website:
“Microsculpture is a unique visual experience. A 10mm insect is shown as a 3 meter print, revealing minute detail and allowing the viewer to take in the structure of the insect in its entirety. The beautifully lit, high magnification portraiture of Levon Biss captures the miccopicroscopic form of these animals in striking high-resolution detail.”
Microsculpture from Levon Biss on Vimeo.
SEE MORE – Also be sure to check the link below as well:
“The insect photography of Levon Biss.
A groundbreaking photographic exhibition of Science and Art.
A special exhibition from 27th May until October 2016 at Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
microsculpture.net“
“Light tomorrow with today.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“Accept-then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.” — Eckhart Tolle, Power of Now
“Genetics loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger.” — Brené Brown
“You can’t get spoiled if you do your own ironing.” — Meryl Streep
Life in the desert keeps me on my toes especially since I enjoy hiking when the weather is reasonable. There is a group of cactus in the Sonoran Desert known as Chollas and there is quite a variety of them. The picture below is part of a Cholla (cactus). Notice all of those thorns!
This is certainly one cactus you do not want to touch. If you study the “arms,” you can see that they are significantly segmented by design. Nature offers this advantage to the plant by allowing the appendages to easily break off and embed in the fur or skin of passing animals and perhaps drop off to gain a foothold elsewhere. They do easily embed in human skin via the same procedure; trust me!
While this would not be a prize winning picture, I appreciated the light outlining the needles on the arms and presenting the contrast of light and dark colors. I often find that there is interest and beauty all around if we take time to look.
A Cholla cactus found along the main trail at Jewel of the Creek riparian area, Cave Creek, AZ
“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.” — Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
“To be successful you need friends and to be very successful you need enemies.” — Sidney Sheldon
“The absurd is clear reason recognizing its limits.” — Albert Camus
“My favorite machine in the gym is the vending machine.” — Jo Brand
Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, spring and fall. The spring holiday occurs between April and May each year. This year it will take place on May 14th. Be sure to get your celebratory garb such as the T-Shirt above!
Learn more about Astronomy Day by clicking the link <-- Picture Via
“To be original you don’t have to be first. You just have to be different and better.” — Adam Grant
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” — C. S. Lewis
“They say money won’t buy you happiness, but it will pay for the search.” — Prince
“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” — Franklin P. Jones
