Gypsy & The Navigator

The New Harper Law Office

One of the many things that I like about our long winter stay in Arizona is that Kevin gives me the opportunity to come in to the office and help out on some projects.

It gives me the chance to stretch my brain a bit and feel useful.

This year has been special because he has moved into his new office in the Heritage Marketplace in downtown Gilbert.

The building was completed in late summer and Harper Law moved in soon after.  Harper Law is a Real Estate and Employment Law Firm.

This office is the first that Kevin has furnished in his favorite style.  Industrial.

Enhanced by his favorite colors........Blue & Orange.

He won't ever be able to move the conference table.  It is glass and metal and very heavy.  I understand it was quite a process actually getting it in and set up after he ordered it.  It was delayed in being delivered because they kept breaking it. 

The orange industrial look continues.

Orange is even on the HUGE storage rack in the middle of the room.

Walt and I think this is the best room.

The TV room.  Perfect for watching football.

 But it's not TV watching that gets the work done.  

Even the office plants seem to have a touch of orange. 

And then this happened.

A sign was being installed for the business downstairs and the welders caught the wall on fire.  Luckily it wasn't worse and Harper Law is back up and running. 

If you stay late there is plenty of nightlife right around the corner. 

As a side note look at this adorable critter we got to take care of while her family went on a cruise.  

If you think it is expensive to hire a professional wait until you hire an amateur. 

South Mountain Park

We are settling in to our spot for the winter and adding flowers bit by bit. So happy to see that the hummers have found my feeder. 

One cloudy and misty afternoon we visited South Mountain Park.

We had been here before but the road that goes clear to the top was closed. We happened to come on a day that the park’s main access roadways are closed to motor vehicles, reserving them for the entire day for non-motorized uses.  On those days hikers, bikers, skateboarders, wheelchair users and horseback riders rule the day.

South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the United States.

It is one of the largest urban parks in North America.

South Mountain Park preserves in a natural state a mountainous area of 16,283 acres.

There are over 50 miles of hiking trails within the park. 

The original construction at the park was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Between 1933 and 1940, four thousand men worked out of two camps at South Mountain Park. During this time the men constructed over 40 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, 18 buildings, 15 ramadas, 134 fire pits, 30 water faucets, water dams, and other features within the park.

 

The slab stone masonry buildings were consistent with the Park Service’s use of regionally traditional themes utilizing environmentally compatible materials.

The road to the top outlook is only 5.5 miles but the road is narrow and windy so the trip takes awhile.  Plus I am always asking Walt to slow down or stop for a photo opportunity.

There are great horizon views in all directions.  Downtown Phoenix rises from the desert floor.

The desert floor is at 1086 feet and Dobbins Lookout is at 2,330 feet so it gives you an idea of how huge the Phoenix valley is. 

The ancient Hohokam Indians and possibly prehistoric peoples before them roamed this area as evidenced by the petroglyphs carved into rocks in the park. 

A little closer look at Phoenix rising.

I'm all about the palm trees and 80 degree days!  So happy for clouds and a little bit of rain! 

A Weekend In Tucson

Kevin treated Walt and me to a weekend in Tucson for the Arizona vs Washington football game.

The biggest bonus was getting to watch granddaughter, Bailey, march in the Pride of Arizona Marching Band.  She plays the trumpet. 

They really put on a show.  The hours that they spend practicing and performing shows the dedication of both the students and staff.  

Amid the band playing, fireworks flying, and the fans screaming the Arizona football team took the field.

By game time the stands were full of fans ready to watch Arizona take on the #10 ranked Washington team.

The game was exciting and Arizona took the game into overtime. Unfortunately Washington scored in overtime ending the game with a win.

 When the game was over the band treated us to another performance (too dark for any photos) and then on to a restful night in a hotel room that was 3 times the size of Gypsy II.

The next morning we were joined by Bailey and Dennis for a visit to Sabino Canyon.

Sabino Canyon is located in Tucson’s Coronado National Forest.

It is a spectacular desert landscape.  A tram is available to ride to the top and you can get on and off to hike and enjoy each stop.

Who says there isn't water in the desert?  Sabino Creek is refreshingly cool.  It is brown due to the tannin in the water from the decomposing oak leaves that fall into it. 
 

The road crosses the creek about 9 times on pretty stone bridges.

 It was a spectacularly bright sky day as evidenced by this photo of rainbow colored sun rays.

This spot was a good place for a little reflection.

 Kevin said he could understand why the Native Americans loved this area.  Plenty of water, shade and an abundance of wildlife. 

There are indentations worn in the rock where the Hohokam ground beans and there is evidence of small dams that the Hohokam used to irrigate their fields. 

The slick rocks were a draw for a little hiking around.

The canyon is home to abundant vegetation that includes palo verde trees, saguaro, cholla and prickly pear cactus and graceful groves of ocotillo.

This scenic desert area is only about 12 miles from downtown Tucson.

There was lots to see like this little transparent green spider.

A perfect heart shaped cactus paddle.

A somewhat rare crested saguaro. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or misshapen forms. The growing tip occasionally produces a fan-like form which is referred to as crested or cristate.

Magnificent desert views all around.

" A beautiful morning is not a guarantee for a beautiful afternoon! Just like a man of desert appreciates water, value well whatever beauty you have now."     Mehmet Murat Ildan