Scenic Drive to Mt Lemmon

Shayne, Melanie, Don and I decided to go on a two day trip to Tucson. On our first day we drove the scenic road up Mt Lemmon. This is an interesting drive because in 30 miles you climb to over 9000 feet and go through six different biomes. 

We began in the Sonoran Desert Biome familiar to us with the Saguaro cacti. Right now the Brittle Bush (yellow) and Fairy dusters (pink) are blooming. Also, because of the winter rains the ocotillo are greening and some are already blooming their flamelike tips. 

We climbed in elevation to the next biome, the semi desert grasslands, where I actually saw a white tailed deer. Then we moved into the oak forest biome that was more like scrub brush.  The leaves on these oak trees are unlike the leaves on our Manitoba oaks. These ones are just small elongated ovals. But the bark is familiar; very grey and rough textured. 

We stopped at Windy Point Vista to walk around on the rocks and look down the valley. It was very windy as the air moves up the valley. This location was the transition between oak and pine trees. 

As we drove on and climbed in elevation the temperature drop was very noticeable. We even saw snow!  

The end of our destination took us to Summerville, a summer tourist destination with cabins, where we had a bit of lunch at the Cookie Cabin. We resisted having a cookie. Each one was as big as a dinner plate!

Fire Pit

Don bought a fire pit for us to use on the deck in Mesa. It runs on propane. Gorgeous container. We tried it out late this afternoon. I can see it will be a great evening activity!

Celtic Knot Class

After two separate days of classes at Mad Bs the Celtic Knot Quilt class has been completed. Three women took the class, each quilt will be awesome when completed.

This quilt is quite easy to make as only two different shapes of blocks are required. There are the nine patch blocks and the connector blocks.  Of course there are variations in those two blocks depending on the colours of fabric and knot work pattern you design. 

The biggest skill when making this quilt is to ensure accurate 1/4 inch seams. The tricky part is when you put the blocks together; the connector block that has the diagonal strip must line up with the nine patches that have the horizontal/vertical strip. This sometimes can be very challenging, because even if you have accurate seam allowances the diagonals tend to stretch. 

This quilt design is tons of fun. I love it because you can design your own knot work patterns once you are familiar with the design process. I love creative quilting!!

Yvonne Visits

I see I have neglected to post in a long time. Perhaps it is because while Yvonne was here we kept very busy!!

We were fortunate enough to have a Zeghers USA Gathering with 6 out if 10 siblings being together. That was a serendipitous event!

One day we pampered ourselves and had a manicure and pedicure. Joyce joined us for that. Nice toes girls!!

Mostly, though, we spent our time sewing, shopping and eating. (In that order.)  

Sewing:

* attended a Confetti Cactus class at Mad Bs where we learned a new technique. It involves appliqué and raw edge cutting to give texture and dimension. 

* gave a class on Celtic Knot quilts. Met three new quilting friends. 

* tested out a new table runner pattern designed by Yvonne. Definitely an intermediate to skilled quilter project!

* designed a cloth bulletin board for my sewing room using some sewing themed fabric. 

* tested out fabric painting for a future class. Was able to paint a background fabric for a landscape quilt for Joan. Also, painted some inexpensive white tops we bought at Ross store. 

Shopping:

* clothes at Ross, Bealls, Chicos. 

* fabric at Mad Bs and JoAnns. 

* souvenirs at the Mesa Market. 

Eating:

* two family gatherings. One here and one at Rob and Arlene's. 

* On The Border, Mexican with Joyce and Marj

* Desert Botanical Garden with live entertainment by Swingtips. 

* Carrabba's. excellent Blackberry Sangria. 

Whew!  Even my sewing machine was showing the effects of all that time with Yvonne. Lots of fuzz to clean out!!

Zeghers USA Reunion

Six of the Zeghers siblings were able to get together in Mesa this winter. Jim and Dana were here visiting some good friends from Calgary who have a home in Gilbert. Robbie and Arlene have a home in Mesa Regal. Albert and Joyce had just pulled into Valle de Oro, an RV and Mobile home park in Mesa. Georgette and Harold drove in from Yuma where they are parked in their mobile home. And Yvonne had flown in from Winnipeg for a ten day holiday.

Don and I hosted the family gathering at our Mesa home. We spent most of the afternoon and evening on the deck. It was a gorgeous day. The warmest we have had so far in 2015. In the 80sF during the day and in the 70sF during the evening. Perfect for lots of reminiscing!!

Yvonne Arrives

Sister-in-law, Yvonne arrived to take in some sun and sewing!!  Lots of fun. 

We took a quilting class called Confetti Cactus at Mad Bs. We were even able to suck Joyce into joining us!!  Another addicted quilter?!

We even spent an afternoon of leisure having a manicure and pedicure. Ahhh!  Such bliss!!

Drive Highway 88 to Tortilla Flats

The shortest way (mileage wise, but not timewise) to get back from Tonto National Monument and Roosevelt Lake is to take Highway 88 which is mostly extreme switchbacks and sheer drop offs on gravel. It is extremely scenic, but not for the faint of heart!!

We had always wanted to take this drive but wanted to drive it in a truck and not the Passat. Now that Don bought the Ridgeline truck, we have the correct mode of transportation. At first the road was a great gravel road, well maintained and a good two cars wide. Then as we got into the more mountainous areas the width narrowed to one car wide with sheer drop offs!  Yikes!!

Tonto National Monument

While we were in the Roosevelt Lake area we took a 4 hour hike to see the Upper Cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument. This hike is only allowed with a park ranger. There were 15 in our group.

Built in the mid 11th Century, this village was part of a vast multi-cultural network and represents some of the last Salado cliff dwellings in the Southwest. 

Occupied year-round, this east facing cave provided morning sun as well as afternoon shade and is less than a mile from a constantly flowing spring. The view is spectacular from the caves. We looked down on Roosevelt Lake which was formed by damming up the Salt River. Ancient people would have viewed a large fertile valley that they used or growing corn, beans and cotton. 

Masonry walls were built from the stones found on the cave floor. Stones were stacked in about 16 inches tall sections and covered with adobe plaster. When that section was dry another section would be added until the appropriate height was attained. Second and third stories were built using straight Sycamore logs obtained near the springs and dead cactus ribs or reeds for the cross sections, and then covered with adobe. 

The occupants inside would sleep on woven mats. Fire blackened walls tell us that these homes would have been dark and smoky. Likely, large amounts if time would have been spent in open areas, on rooftops or in the surrounding environment. 

Daily tasked would include: farming, hunting, gathering water and food, grinding seeds, foraging, preparing meets, weaving fabrics from cactus fibres and cotton, and story telling.  Grinding corn, beans or mesquite pods into flour would have been a seemingly unending task. Done using a stones called a metate.