My Crazy Week

What started out as a fantastic week didn’t end as well.  On Monday my hubby and I celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary in Sedona.  We stayed at Hotel L’auberge De Sedona which is located near Oak Creek.  We had a lovely cottage near the creek where we watched the ducks play.  The weather was in the 70’s, very clear and crisp.  The night before was to be our UFO tour but because of the high winds, that was cancelled.  The next day on our anniversary we decided to hit the many shops and take a ride up the narrow road through Oak Creek Canyon to the lookout above.  If you are ever in Sedona, you have to take that drive.  It is gorgeous up there and throughout the canyon.  We had a nice dinner later on and the rest I won’t mention, *wink*.

The next day we decided to take a trip to Jerome since it is only a few miles away from Sedona.  After driving the winding two lane narrow road to the top where the shops are located, we got out to check out the place.  The wind was blowing and it was chilly.  Jerome is like a throw-back to the 70’s.  Everyone is laid back and in a bit of a time warp.  I rather enjoyed that about the place.  There were many abandoned places and historical buildings but my hubs is not an adventurer and didn’t want to stop.  We did check out a couple of places but to get the full effect of what Jerome is all about, I will need to spend the night there with my road trip buddy (Sharon) and get into mischief getting our photos and video of the many cool places around town.

After Jerome, we went to the historic ruins of Tuzigoot.  It is amazing to see the partial construction of an ancient Indian ruins that were built thousands of years ago.  I took many pictures and will do a post on Tuzigoot and Jerome later.

Before arriving back at our cottage, we went back to the shops and grabbed a bite to eat.  We had to buy some delish chocolates on the way back to the car.  Back at the cottage, I took a bite of caramel and my damn temporary crown came off.  At dinner, I had to eat on the other side of my mouth where I have a broken tooth.  I have been putting off getting the permanent crown and a root canal on the broken tooth because of finances.  We simply don’t have the money for them right now.  The broken tooth has messed up my gums and now is infected.  It hurts like a mother f…er!

Today I was scheduled to finally get the basal cell cancer removed from my face.  But because my gums and tooth may be infected, the surgeon cancelled.  He wants me to see the dentist, get the tooth fixed and get my surgery rescheduled.  I have an appointment with the dentist later and hope he can fix the problem. 

What started out as a great week didn’t end on a high note.  I plan to take it easy this weekend, work on my book, and hopefully get more crafts done.  Next week promises to be better.  I will be busy getting ready for my granddaughter’s 2^nd birthday party and hopefully will be blessed with being a grandma again.  My son and his wife are expecting any day now and we are so excited.

The Bradshaw Mountains

Located in central Arizona in the Sonoran Desert sits the harsh black rock terrain known as the Bradshaw Mountains.  Named after William Bradshaw, this mountain range consists of an interior forest, to an exterior desert grassland and shrubbery from the Sonoran Desert surrounding the rocks.

(From Wikipedia)  “The first known settlements in the Bradshaw’s were a group of Yavapai Indians called the Kwevkapaya who built forts and mined copper from around AD 1100 to 1600.  Apaches occupied the area around 1800 as a means of keeping white settlers out.  But by 1863, a party led by William Bradshaw was in the area, followed by the Walker party.  In 1864, a group of five white settlers was attacked by Apaches at what is now called Battle Flat.  One of the settlers went for help, but upon his return found the Apaches had left.  The Walker party found gold, and within a few years, the Bradshaw’s were filling up with settlers mining for gold, silver, and copper.  In the early part of the 20^th century, most of the towns that had sprung up were little more than ghost towns.”

Today there are over 40 ghost towns that surround the Bradshaw Mountains.  Along with the cacti, several creatures such as javelinas, mule deer, wild turkey and short-horned lizards make the black rocks and surrounding desert their home.

The Abandoned Dog Track

As we got off the highway to Black Canyon City, this abandoned dog track caught our eyes.  I wanted to take photos so we drove around to see if there was an entrance to the grounds.  After being harassed by a buzzard and couldn't find an entrance, we went back to the start of the road, parked the car, and got as close as we could to the building.

This once was a thriving greyhound dog racing track.  In 1982 it was closed and has sat abandoned, deteriorating from the harsh Arizona climate.  I just saw it as another beautiful photo opportunity.

That Darn Buzzard

While cruising the back roads in Black Canyon City, we had a buzzard that appeared to be following us.  We stopped the car and tried to get pictures and a video but he wasn't cooperating.  He finally flew away and got bored of the crazy human ladies.

My Aura

While in Sedona, Sharon wanted me to get my aura picture taken.  After parking her car, we jumped the puddles and tried not to slip in ice (which I did later on) and walked into the Center for the New Age to check it out.  In a back room, I sat on a couch and thought happy thoughts of my granddaughter while she snapped the picture.  She took turns reading each of our pictures and this is what she got from mine:

I am a problem solver and peacemaker.  The Indigo color shows that I have healing ability, kindness, reticence, seriousness, caution and integrity.  The Turquoise means loving, healing aspect of the heart, generosity of life, a reacher with lots of energy surrounding me.  The white represents spirituality, oneness and I am protected by angels.  That color blends with the turquoise color.

As she was reading my picture, I couldn't believe how much of who I am was being told back to me.  I found the whole experience interesting.

Montezuma Castle

Tucked in the mountains and just outside Sedona in the Verde Valley is the site where cliff dwellers once lived known as Montezuma Castle.  This six story dwelling with its 45 rooms is remarkably well preserved but seriously deteriorating.  It was built by the Southern Sinagua people in the 12th century using limestone, a soft material causing varying breakage over time.  Sinagua is Spanish for “without water”.  Historians can only speculate that they build so high in the rocky cliffs because the spot offered protection from the desert elements.   They cleverly wedged their lodgings in the rock, 100 feet above Oak Creek, which runs through the red rocks of Sedona and used as their water source.  The Sinagua people were hunters, gatherers and artisans.  They made their own stone tools and used the red rock materials that surrounded them for their pottery.  The Montezuma Castle Sinagua lived in their rock high-rise apartments for over 400 years before disappearing mysteriously.

Spirit bird watching the place?

Wild West Antiques: Western Steampunk

Love the antique stores and try not to miss any while visiting the small towns of Arizona.

Mysteries of Sedona & Redrock Winner

Sedona is named after Sedona Miller Schnebly (1877-1950), the wife of the city’s first postmaster, who was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness.  It is the best place for spiritual renewal inspiring all types of people, and has been called a cathedral without walls.  One of the most popular wedding spots is called Cathedral Rock which is a beautiful backdrop for photos, and may attract people for more of a mysterious acknowledgement.  There are the vortexes, the powerful centers of converging energy, which are responsible for putting Sedona on the metaphysical map. You can't see or hear or even smell a vortex but many people claim they can feel one.  Some say that it is like gentle waves going through or something rushed through them like a tremor.  Many believe that those who become sensitive to this energy from the Earth can benefit from the subtle metaphysical changes it generates.  A vortex is an enhanced energy location that makes it easier to do prayer, meditation, or mind/body healing and can be an awe-inspiring site to help you put together new insights.  Some think that where energy lines converge, opposites like the spiritual and material worlds often attract. In Sedona's lands there are many doorways to the spirits where the streams between the two worlds are thin.  In areas where an Arizona Cypress and an Arizona Sycamore’s trunks have grown around each other, some feel that this is a portal for the spirits.  These spots are said to be scattered throughout Sedona.  A witness was taking a tour, all of a sudden felt an energy coming up his leg, into his spine, and in his head, while standing near the two trees.  People have had paranormal experiences like seeing spirits, hearing voices, strange noises, and being touched by unseen hands.  Are these vortexes in Sedona and other places throughout the world just new age hype or is there something very real going on in these places?  There is not a way to measure scientific vortex energy but lack of proof doesn't discourage the believers. 

Built in the red rocks of Sedona is an amazing cathedral.  The view from the santuary's windows are overwhelming making it hard to absorb what the preacher was saying during mass.

I love the red dirt along side the snow and cactus.

and the winner is.....

Congrats and I will be getting in touch with you.

Last Day for Redrock Giveaway

This is the last day you can enter  my "Redrock Giveaway" .  Click the link and add your name to the comments.

Thanks,
Adsila

Springtime in Sedona?

Thick fog hiding the redrocks.

Sleeping bear covered with snow.

An elk striking a pose.

Beautiful cactus cover with snow.

Statue with a "snowhock" as Sharon called it.

Mr. Snowhocks garden buddies.

Pink Jeep Tours for a cruise around the deserts for the best
view of the wonderful Sedona redrocks.

Sharon's little snowghost.

View from inside Sharon's car (the back window in the morning).

My most delicious spinach/cream cheese chimichanga.

More Western Steampunk and Necklace Added to My Etsy Shop

I added more items to my Etsy shop check them out:

Two industrial streampunk wall arts.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72212033/industrial-steampunk-wall-art-2

Adventurer's necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72213466/adventurers-necklace?ref=v1_other_1

Please don't forget my Redrock giveaway.  Click on the post and add your name to the comments.