VACATION: DAY 7

Well here it is Day 8 already and it seems like we have packed a month-long vacation into one week.  We have done and seen so much that I cannot begin to capture it in my blog updates.  Yesterday we went up Mingus Mountain to Jerome City (where I could spend the rest of my life) and in the afternoon we went to Montezuma National Forest to see the cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle.  The beauty of the trees and flora were amazing.  Teddy Roosevelt named this a national monument (I think it was either the 4th or 5th) and I can see why. 

Today we went through Sedona as we decided we would go to the Grand Canyon, and we "almost" made it until my brother stopped by the side of the road to get some pictures and my baby sister, Pam (who is never afraid to do anything), had a panic attack and said (or should I say screamed) she couldn't take the heights any longer.  Of course it didn't help that my brother pulled over on this tiny piece of roadside that was a shear drop-off from on top of the mountain (about 7,000 feet up).  So after calming her down, we turned around and went back to Sedona for the day (woohoo, my lucky day!!).  I didn't take my camera so you have been saved from looking at more of these pictures -- but Sedona is totally "a must see" city for everybody.

Here are some pictures from yesterday:

This has nothing to do with the scenery, but it was in a shop, in Jerome City, and I loved how they made it.  The picture doesn't do it justice, however it is good enough for me to CASE as it is made out of paper.  Look for my interpretation in an upcoming blog!!

Looking down the valley from Jerome City, on Mingus Mountain.

Walking up to the Castle.

Where the Sinagua Farmers lived in A.D. 1100.

This castle housed about 35 people and another (Castle "A") housed close to 175 people, for a total of over 200 in the community.  Three ladders were used to get between the 5 levels of this Castle.

The walk up to the Castle was beautiful, with these large Sycamore trees all over (some of them were much, much larger).

Ruins from Castle "A"

I too over 50 pictures this day, and they are all beautiful; however, I didn't want to bore you with more pictures.  Needless to say I am having a great time but missing my home and family very much.  We are on our way to Vegas tomorrow so probably won't have time to take pictures and/or post. 

Until next time,
Sandi
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

STAMPIN' UP ELEGANT BIRD BIGZ DIE & VACATION

Thought I would do some computer work today as we cannot go outside.  We have 55 mile per hour winds right now, and the roads are closed because of the sand storm.  I am so glad I decided to do my laundry to hang outside yesterday (my poor sister's are doing theirs today and have to hang inside!!).  It is so relaxing to just have "NOTHING" to do!!  So today I am showing you a couple more of my cards made for SAB Event (yep, still have more) and more pictures of vacation. 

A simple card featuring a lot of product from the Stampin' Up Occasions Mini Catalog:  Elegant Bird Bigz Die, Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper, Large and Small Pearls, Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die, Large Straight Pin, and Island Pacific Ruffled Ribbon (also 2 embossing folders but can't remember names as I don't have my catalogs with me -- sorry). 

Another card using the same product and White Baker's Twine (added a little tulle with the ribbon on the straight pin).

The following pictures were all taken at a roadside park on the way down to Columbus, New Mexico (from Tucson, Arizona).

This is my brother who is a prospector (dah, I bet you guessed already huh???) and antique dealer.  Now you know where I get it from (and I'm not going to say what that is, I will leave it to your imagination).

My sister Kathleen walking around.  This is the view we had pretty much the whole way down to New Mexico.

Last one -- just a close-up.

You probably won't be hearing from me for a while, as we are leaving early Tuesday to drive up to Cottonwood, Arizona (near Sedona and Jerome).  I surely hope the wind stops blowing so hard, or we may have a pretty rough time driving.

Until next time,
Sandi

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”  --  Matthew 18:21-22

VACATION: DAY 2 and STAMPIN' UP RUE DES FLEURS

Another beautiful 2 days on vacation!!  I am so not used to having all this sun and tempatures in the 80s, but loving every minute.  This evening I am in New Mexico, less than a mile from the Mexico border (looking at the border wall all aglow with lights right now).  We drove down from Tucson to my brothers house today and saw some gorgeous scenary on the way here.  I'll post a couple of pictures in my next update, because today I want to show you some more pictures of Kartchner Caverns State Park.  We were very lucky, because 3 people did not show up, to get tickets to tour the Caverns yesterday morning as it was booked solid until the 19th.  We had the most awesome tour guide, who gave us background information on how the caverns were created millions of years ago, how they were found, and so much more.  I am always so totally amazed at how many beautiful places there are to see right here in the USA -- one does not need a lot of money or go to another country to see God's creations!

Before the trip pictures, I actually do have a card to show you, using the new Rue Des Fleurs Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I can't give you a list of all the Stampin' Up product used because I forgot to pack my catalogs -- sorry, but it is vacation time for me.

I made one like this at my last card class, but switched it up a little.  I love this card with the lacy Adorning Accents Edgelits Die and Vintage Embossing Folder.  I think this is such a beautiful wedding card.

A little bit of history, well worth reading so you have the background of the discovery of the caverns.

Shasta Ground Sloth -- bones found in caverns.  See below for story.

Inside one of the rooms in the Cavern.  The Rotunda Throne tour takes 1.3 hour and the Big Room takes 1.5. The Rotunda Tour explains the basic science of the cave and how limestone caves form. The Big Room's tour theme is Discovery: Past, Present, and Future. Tour guides also cover cave science and cave bats.

Later in the day we took a tour of the gardens around the Kartchner Caverns Visitor Center.  This is the Smooth Edge Agave Cactus.

The Butterfly Garden and a portion of the Center showing in upper left.  I never knew there was so many different varieties of Cacti.

It is so hard to show you in these few pictures how beautiful it is in person.  Plus, I was very disappointed that we were not allowed to take pictures inside of the cavern (the story behind that is way too long to put on a post, but very interesting as to why we couldn't). 

So now this girl is hitting the sheets as it was after 2 a.m. last night before I got to bed, and almost 2 a.m. now -- I need sleep!!

Until next time,
Sandi

VACATION: DAY 1

Just a real quick post today -- the weather and company is too awesome for me to be on my computer!!  I am sitting here in shorts at 8:45 p.m.!!  Absolutely gorgeous day in Tucson -- probably close to 80 degrees.  We flew in at 10 a.m. (been up since 2:30 a.m. this morning), and my brother picked us up at the Tucson airport in his motor home.  We are spending a couple of days in Bensen, Arizona (about 30 miles from Tucson), at the Kartchner Caverns State Park.  We did a little hiking today, but saving our strength for some long-distance hiking trails and the caverns tomorrow.  Of course, we don't know yet if there are any tickets available for tomorrow.  Today was sold out. 

Here is a picture of the view in front of our campsite (actually these mountains surround us).  I should have waited to get the sunset, but not sure if I will stay awake that long!!

Not a great picture, but this surrounds the whole campground.

My sister Pam, on the airplane.

From Right to Left:  My sister Kathy, brother Richard, and sister Pam at our camp sight.

Just before take-off this morning from Detroit, Michigan.  My sisters are not real happy because neither one likes to fly (Kathy has never flown before, but loved it after about 10 minutes in the air).

That's all for today.  I'll be checking back in soon.