The solar daytime didn't become every bit planned yesterday. We were making it upwards every bit nosotros went along, but it turned out to live a expert day. We saw a lot. We accomplished a lot. Our conception was to drive due north to Sedona...and, check...that was well-nigh the solely affair that went every bit planned. As nosotros rounded the starting fourth dimension curvature on the dry reason highway heading into Sedona, the beautiful blood-red stone formations came into view.
We passed yesteryear the visitor center. We were on our means to Cathedral Rock. The visitor pump billed itself every bit information for the Red Rock Scenic Byway. We didn't genuinely know what to human face when nosotros arrived at Cathedral Rock, as well as thence nosotros decided to halt on the means out, if necessary.
It was stunningly beautiful along this byway. We wondered why it wasn't a national park, as well as and then answered our ain question. It's in all probability because of the community of Sedona, nestled cozily amidst all the formations I'm well-nigh to present you.
We reminisced well-nigh why nosotros never visited hither when nosotros lived inwards Phoenix. It was the starting fourth dimension 3 years of our marriage, as well as nosotros couldn't afford fifty-fifty to see Sedona...a rather expensive identify to stay, eat, as well as shop. Also, Mike was inwards schoolhouse year-round...even inwards summer. He worked evenings as well as I worked full-time. We were busy. There wasn't much fourth dimension for vacations. Heck, nosotros didn't fifty-fifty see Tucson until later we'd already moved to Oregon.
We pulled off at the starting fourth dimension scenic viewpoint as well as constitute virtually no identify to park. Mike ended upwards dropping me off for a twain of pictures piece he circled the parking lot.
I climbed upwards on a picnic tabular array for this pano.
And that was when our plans started to change. We drove on several miles to a greater extent than to where nosotros could commons for a brusk hike to Cathedral Rock.
Again...there was absolutely no identify to park. Even the side streets were lined amongst cars from halt to halt betwixt the signs marker tow-away zones.
Okay. So that was solely slightly disappointing.
We enjoyed the sites nosotros could see.
It reminded us of Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, as well as Arches all rolled into one.
With our Cathedral Rock plans thwarted, it seemed a expert fourth dimension to see the quilt store.
It was non visible from the original road, as well as thence it was a picayune difficult to find. We parked upwards the street, as well as I walked to where I thought it was. Finally, I constitute it.
The "wearable art" role of that sign confused me a little, but I kept walking.
This picayune quilt was hanging to the left of the door.
Walking inside...oh...this isn't what I thought it would be. It genuinely was a vesture store. There were some finished quilts hanging on the walls, as well as some for sale, but this was non a stuff store at all. They had a few picayune cuts of stuff sitting some that could live purchased, but everything else was already finished. It was a picayune intimidating...like existence at a quilt show...I didn't intend I should behave upon anything. So I left later simply a few minutes.
So...my quilt store dreams dashed, I turned some 180 degrees as well as saw this shop. "You'll do," I said.
This turned out to live a fun picayune store amongst exotic spices, teas, sauces, jams, pasta...you mention it.
There were also cool beverages. The ones at the bottom of the side yesteryear side paradigm inwards the center...the blood-red bottles...were prickly pear soda. Very tempting, but I passed.
Instead, I amused myself amongst the many funny tea towels as well as aprons.
There were also some handy kitchen items.
These tempted me mightily, but I passed them by.
Who tin relate to the side yesteryear side one?
They had some beautiful pottery. I didn't fifty-fifty human face at the prices. I knew inwards my bones everything was going to live also expensive for this retiree.
This is what I came out with.
Below is a wooden spatula as well as a bamboo knife. I wanted the bamboo knife to sideslip betwixt nonstick pans as well as baked goods. At home, I exercise a plastic knife, but I don't convey anything similar that inwards the RV. As for the wooden spatula, I exercise these all the time. The ane I had inwards the RV was splintered later years of use, as well as threatening to break, as well as thence I replaced it amongst this pretty one.
While I was paying for these items, the adult woman at the cash register thanked me for finding their store. I explained I'd wanted to see the quilt store across the way, but it turned out non to live a quilt shop, er, stuff shop, every bit I'd thought. "Well, no! It's fine art!" she emphasized the final 2 words thence that a cretin similar me could understand. Well, excuuuuuuuusez-moi! I wanted to say, but I kept my snide comments to myself.
From in that location it seemed similar a expert fourth dimension to convey lunch. We went to a eatery called "The Sound Bite." It was warm plenty to sit down outside, as well as this was our view.
Of course, in that location was pinkish tabular array salt on the table.
Mike had a drinking glass of white wine. I had the Berry Berry Sangria. Yummy.
Mike had steak tacos. I had fish tacos. We shared this Apple Brown Betty for dessert. Double yum.
And then, nosotros headed dorsum to the RV, stopping off starting fourth dimension at the visitor center. I constitute a fridge magnet there.
Also, I took this motion-picture present there.
The side yesteryear side paradigm corresponds to the sign above.
When nosotros got dorsum to the RV, Mike patched a leaking bicycle tire, as well as I worked on my slow-stitching. Yesterday's inchy "assignment" was to stitch the leaves as well as stems at the top as well as to stitch the thread inwards the needle. I'd worked on this earlier nosotros left, as well as thence I simply needed to create a picayune to a greater extent than on the thread to complete it up.
After that, I finished upwards the stitching on the 6th snowflake.
Smitty posed for his side yesteryear side magazine spread. This is his "Bond...James Bond" look.
Perhaps this side is his improve side.
After that, I sewed the beads on.
Then I rinsed out the Sticky Fabri-Solvy as well as voila! It was finished.
This was my starting fourth dimension time using "bugle beads," which are the long sparse tubes.
While I was waiting for that to complete inwards the washer, I made upwards the 7th snowflake.
So far, I've done 4 inwards truthful blueish as well as 2 inwards aqua blues. I desire to create them one-half as well as half, as well as thence I'll create this side yesteryear side ane inwards aqua blues too.
Today we're moving S to Kartchner Caverns State Park. This volition live a first-time see for us. We convey 4 nights there, as well as we'll brand a solar daytime trip to Bisbee, Arizona, as well as Tombstone, Arizona. I convey an thought nosotros may non convey jail cellular telephone service there. Mike constitute a review of the campground, as well as it indicated most jail cellular telephone service providers were available, but non Verizon. If that's the case, I may non convey network access for a few days. If yous don't listen from me, you'll know why.