Christmas Eve Up North

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful

But the air is so delightful

And since we've no place to go...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Christmas in the Desert

Ever since Thanksgiving weekend the desert area is blooming with Christmas cheer. Music, lights, decorations and general glitter has sprung up. Always feels a bit weird to see "Let It Snow" signs down here!!

Went to the Mesa Temple with my neighbour to see the lights and watch an outdoor performance. This time we saw the Greenfield Elementary School Handbell Choir perform. Made up of a couple dozen volunteer grade 5 and 6 students, this group practices two mornings a week before school. They were very good!!  As a previous music teacher I could relate to the teach conducting them. (Although I thought the bells would be easier on the ears than recorders!)

The stores are full of Christmas decorations. Some are gorgeous and some very kitschy. I saw a grouping of fake Christmas trees in a variety of colours, even purple, pink it turquoise. Yikes!!

Last night a group of 14 of us went to the Hale Theatre to see a performance of A Christmas Carol. I think it is a yearly event and the theatre company went all out!  Sets, costumes and lighting effects like I have never seen before. Wow!!  They even had fake snow during the performance as well as outside when we were leaving!  The entire area of Gilbert by the theatre was lit up. The water tower was aglow. There was a band playing and horse drawn carriages adorned with Christmas lights were giving people rides.  Very festive.  

Hidden in the Hills

Five of went on an artist studio tour and sale in the Cave Creek and Carefree area north of Scottsdale. It seems to be a very popular area for artists to live - hilly, remote and spacious. 

Our first stop was the Sculpture Studio which was amazing!  Mark Carroll sculpts in wood, stone and metal. His work is amazing. A stainless steel horse graces the entrance to the Cave Creek area. Check out his work online. www.thesculpturestudio.com. 

After a quick bite to eat in Cave Creek we then toured about a half dozen other studios. One particular stop, Desert Rat Forge, was nestled into a water run area where two metal sculptures work year round and other artists joined them to make a very interesting stop. 

Robin's Nest studio was a disappointment as the fibre artist's work was not on display. The only fibre artist on the tour!  Darn. However, the stop redeemed itself. Both Melanie and I bought jewelry, and Robin had a wonderful Sangria concoction for a refreshment!

Another amazing stop was at Christopher Heede Studio. He works primarily in ceramic and glass. His studio is an interesting combination of a silo and tent structure. He is a very prolific artist and his driveway was interspersed with gorgeous pots, urns and raku bowls. Don and I bought an oriental looking urn with cholla handle. 

Glass Blowing

Nancy arranged for four of us to take a glass blowing class at Circle 6 Studio. It was definitely a class for beginners as we had lots of help. Basically the two artists did the work for us and we held on to the tools occasionally. It was interesting though. 

We each got to make an ornament as our class project. Later we were able to do one more item if we wished to. Nancy made a pumpkin, Penny made a flower and I made a cactus.