Summer is not quite upon us officially, however, the clover is in bloom so it is summer to me. Running barefoot across blooming lawns while dodging bees is a childhood memory I associate with those carefree days.  Neighborhood friends would gather in the grass and fashion jewelry from the clover flowers.  The stems are long, strong and pliable making it easy to knot one to another.  I mentioned that it was jewelry making time to a neighbor/friend and she was unfamiliar with the craft.  Well, no more.  She and her kids are schooled now.  Start knotting before the clover, and summer, fade away.

 

Heading West

Once again the desert called for us.  Despite only being an extended weekend trip, after attending to some business, we were able to enjoy a few of the gifts the area has to offer.  Number one being the sun.  We almost did not recognize it after the long Winter the Midwest has been experiencing.

Flying in and out of Phoenix allowed us to visit the Desert Botanical Garden where many cactus were in bloom.  Temps were unseasonably warm and the city hit 100 degrees the day we departed.  Even in the heat, the colors vibrated.

 

"The desert,

to those who do listen, is more likely to provoke awe than to invite conquest."

--Joseph Wood Krutch

              Naturalist

"My paintings honor the earth.  Their emotional and intellectual content conveys the experience of a place, not just a picture of it."

--Joella Jean Mahoney

                Artist

Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona

Farther North, they, too, were experiencing a warmer than normal April but no one was complaining. Sedona had good crowds but the Spring Break glut had dispersed.  Lucky us.  While in the area we revisited Montezuma Well National Monument and walked among the quiet ruins.  No crowds here.

Montezuma's Well National Monument, Rimrock, AZ

A quick trip to Flagstaff allowed me to finally visit the Museum of Northern Arizona.  It houses a beautiful collection of Native American art including stunning pottery and jewelry.  The museum also owns a collection of works by artist and friend Joella Jean Mahoney.   I wrote of her passing last year and it was good to see her spirit shine among the treasures.

All good things must come to an end, or, must they?  We will return to the desert, and Joella's art continues to enchant museum goers every day.  Not, so long, Arizona, but, until we meet again.

Sometimes things do not go as planned and you just have to roll with it.  Mother Nature decided we needed more snow.  Forsythia and daffodils are blooming but they can take it. Surely Spring temps are right around the corner.  Hope there was a little sunshine in your basket.

You are not seeing things.  This is a GIF for your enjoyment.

Rooftop view of the Soulard neighborhood in St. Louis 

It has been many years since I entered a piece into an art show.  A few weeks ago Soulard Art Gallery had a call for entries for an upcoming Steampunk show.  Drawn to the fantastical nature of the theme and location of the gallery, I submitted two pieces and they were accepted.

Drawing entries are shown in silver (left) and white frames (right).

 

Steampunk, for the unaware, is a genre of science fiction depicting an alternate version of the historic past (generally 19th-century Victorian England) and often involves advanced technologies based on steam power. The Urban Dictionary describes it as "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner."   

Soulard residence

Soulard is one of the oldest communities in the city of St. Louis. It is largely a residential neighborhood but businesses include restaurants, bars, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.  Many of its stately homes date to the mid- to late-19th century. 

 

The opening reception for the show was Friday, February 23rd and it was a packed house.  So much so, I need to return before the show ends on March 29th to get a better look at the artwork.  If you can't make it to the gallery, visit the Soulard Gallery Facebook page and scroll down to the February 22nd post to see a video of the show.

Hope yours is gearing up to be a happy Valentine's Day.

Sunset in Joshua Tree National Park

Organ Pipe Cactus
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 

The temperature here fell into the single digits last night.  The groundhog may be right about six more weeks of Winter.  Let me warm you up a bit with a reminiscence of a desert trip my husband and I took in December.

Two weeks before Christmas we visited three parks in the Southwest. First up was Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the Arizona border.  We were required to pass through five security checkpoints while visiting but it was worth the extra scrutiny.  While in Ajo, Arizona, we tried to visit Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, a favorite of Edward Abby and his final resting place, but it wasn't to be.  We will be going back. 

Joshua Tree Yucca
Joshua Tree National Park

Not afraid of a road trip, we drove to Joshua Tree National Park in California with a stop to check out the Salton Sea. While visiting the park we stayed at the Harmony Hotel made famous by U2 when it was featured on their album, Joshua Tree. 

Midweek we made our way to Death Valley National Park. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, with a depth of 282 ft. below sea level. However, this large park offers much more. Crowds and temperatures were low for this popular destination.  Hiking was not a problem in the 70 degree temperatures.  We were also lucky that a meteor shower coincided with our visit and was on full display.                                                 

Every park was unique and offered surprises. We just scratched the surface of what they have to offer. America is beautiful. Get out and see it if you can.
Harmony Hotel sign, 
Twentynine Palms, CA
Bombay Beach, Salton Sea


Badwater Basin, Death Valley NP
Artist's Palette on Artist's Drive, Death Valley NP


Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley NP
Mosaic Canyon Hike, 
Death Valley NP
Rhyolite, NV  Ghost Town
Rhyolite, NV Cemetery
Beatty, NV Tire Shop
We required their help.