A Carefree Christmas

While most of our holidays are spent with family back east, we had the opportunity for a special treat before departing. The town of Carefree, AZ puts on a delightful Christmas festival, complete with a light parade and SNOW. After wandering through craft and food vendors, we picked the perfect spot for watching the parade of community floats. We were all set with our homemade cider, camp chairs, and blankets. We had to laugh at ourselves, all "bundled up" for the near 60-degree temperatures! (Back east, we were used to many more layers and much more shivering for such an event!) That being said, it wasn't hard to find the snow play area, complete with a sledding "hill." Some of our favorite floats are included below, including hot air balloon baskets lighting the way!

This float prompted a lot of questions in the audience. It was built by the Eckankar religious community. We were curious, so we looked up more info about them here.

We were grateful for the few moments of warmth... and maybe a little nervous about the flame's proximity!

Last, but not least, Santa!

One of our favorite things about Carefree, is that it is still relatively... free. Neighborhoods are still full of desert vegetation and wildlife (contrasted with the suburban sprawl of other parts of the Phoenix valley), and we frequently catch a glimpse of a critter or two when we visit. Today's sighting - a coyote! This guy was just strolling along the side of the road as we pulled into the neighborhood!

We hope you have a truly "carefree," enjoyable holiday season!

Discovering Tucson: Downtown

After our outdoor exploring, we were excited to see what downtown Tucson had to offer. Our only planned stop was at Laff's Comedy Cafe,' which did not disappoint! The food and drinks were great, and the comics had us slapping knees, buckled over, and crying!

After our laugh-fest, we pulled out our handy Arizona Craft Brewers Guild Beer Trail Map. Now THIS was the way to explore a new town! We found easy parking downtown, and our first stop was Thunder Canyon Brewery. It was a chill atmosphere, and our server helped us select a few favorites for our tasting "flight." Perhaps the most memorable part, however, was being serenaded by a local bagpipe clan as they rehearsed for the Gaelic Storm performance at the Rialto Theater across the street! We took it as a good sign that the gentlemen came to Thunder Canyon (kilts and all!) to get a drink after the show.

We enjoyed the comfortable walk up and down the main streets of Tucson, and even popped in to a small art gallery hosting a live jam session with a grand piano and a six-string guitar. What a way to get lost in the art! As the sidewalk started to get a bit more crowded, we decided to find the next brewery before the college kids really started hitting the streets.

After doubtfully following our antiquated GPS through back alleys and over train tracks, we were happy to actually find the Barrio Brewery. While we were skeptical of the dimly lit parking lot and warehouse appearance, the atmosphere inside was fun and welcoming. We confirmed that it was a great find when we saw the Mocha Java Stout on tap (we're suckers for the dark stuff) and award-winning beers all around.

We loved our short visit into downtown Tucson, and are hoping to visit again when we can enjoy it by day as well (and maybe take a few photos this time). We also decided to keep our Beer Trail Map in the car... for future exploring "emergencies."

Discovering Tucson: Sonora Desert Museum

There's something thrilling about seeing coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, and bears roaming the same ground as the path under your feet (rather than behind glass, from a paved road or sidewalk). Touring the Sonora Desert Museum is like hiking a desert trail, and being lucky enough to spot tons of wildlife. You can hike for years without seeing even half of the wildlife that you see in one loop around the open desert there!

Desert Fox

Mexican Wolf

Black Bear

Mountain Lion

Coyote

Javelina

We happened to arrive at the Museum just in time for their "Raptor Free Flights." We followed the crowd, not really knowing what all the excitement was about. It didn't take long before large predator birds were swooping right above our heads, diving and soaring from one branch to another. We learned a lot about birds of the desert, and, of course, got some really fun photos!

Gray Hawk

Barn Owl

Harris's Hawks

Gray Hawk

Harris's Hawk

The Museum also has its own aquarium, which gave us close-up views of creatures you're far less likely to encounter in the desert. We especially enjoyed the saltwater species from the Sea of Cortez.

Garden Eels

Pacific Seahorse

Can you identify this charming fellow?

If you're going to be visiting Tucson, the Sonora Desert Museum is definitely a must-see! It is certainly worth the price of admission, whether or not you get to attend a special program like the Raptor Free Flights. We arrived around mid-day, and stayed until it closed (it's a great spot for sunset!). We could have easily spent the entire day there exploring!

Discovering Tucson: Saguaro National Park

Though we only had a weekend to spare, it was just enough time to make our first trip to Tucson and see what we could see. If you're looking to see the best of Tucson with a limited amount of time (and a limited budget), we highly recommend our itinerary. We've separated our stops into separate posts, all under "Discovering Tucson."

Our first stop was Saguaro National Park.

It's important to note that there are really two parks in one - an east side and a west side, separated by the city of Tucson in between. We opted to visit the west side (officially called the Tucson Mountain District) because of its higher density of the great Saguaro Cacti, and its proximity to the Sonora Desert Museum (our next stop).

Crested or cristate cactus

N aturally formed cross-section of a dead cactus - Saguaro are preserved at all stages of life in the park.

The friendly volunteers and Park Ranger directed us to a scenic drive and short hike to get the most out of our short visit, including where to spot the rare crested/cristate saguaro cactus! Scientists still aren't sure how or why this mutation occurs, and it is a very rare find.

Valley View Overlook Trail

We'd love to go back and spend more time, as well as visit the eastern half, the Rincon Mountain District, which has longer scenic hikes and cycling routes.

Grand Canyon (Part 6)

I know what you're thinking... "Where are the first five parts?!"

In our short time (almost two years) in the southwest, I am proud to say that I have visited the Grand Canyon six times. It's not exactly in our backyard (more like half a day's drive away). However, I have had many opportunities to make the drive, so I've decided to recap my grand visits in reverse, starting with my most recent visit.

The reason for my most recent visit was more for business than pleasure. My coworkers and I set out to "scout" a potential future field trip for our students. The educational opportunities afforded at the Grand Canyon are limitless - biology, ecology, geography, geology, hydrology, sociology... just to name a few! Since it is a bit of a drive, we've decided to make it a moving field trip, including awesome stops on our way to and from the Canyon.

Looking back at the San Francisco Peaks, the stratovolcano.

First stop - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

While I'd driven by this sign a few times, I was never able to visit the park. I highly recommend this park to anyone passing through/near Flagstaff, AZ!


Even if you're short on time, there are some fantastic short walks/hikes available that get you up close and personal with the lava flows.











It seems as if history is frozen in time, and the waysides do a great job of explaining the phenomena. If you have the time (and energy), there are also some more strenuous hikes for different vantage points.





We were happy to find easy walking trails, plenty of parking, an informative Visitor's Center, and lots of picnic tables for snack time. I can't wait bring our Geology lessons to life for our students!

On to the Grand Canyon!

The first view of the Canyon is always spectacular... no matter how many times you've seen it. I am continually amazed by how different the landscape can look based on the time of year and time of day.

Grand Canyon, South Rim, early afternoon

Every time I visit, I see something new. This time, we decided to join a Ranger-led tour. Our "Geology Walk" with Ranger Lapre was entertaining and informative... and you can't beat the backdrop!

Grandeur Point, South Rim

Although we missed sunset on this trip, we were sure to catch sunrise the next day, and it didn't disappoint.

South Rim, near Bright Angel trailhead

Before leaving, I witnessed another "first." A thin line of smoke/smog hovered above the Canyon, and I recalled hearing about the coal plant nearby and the controversy surrounding it. 

View from Mather Point at late morning

On our drive home, we had planned to visit Montezuma Castle, but our unintentional detour led us in another direction. I am reminded that "it's not an adventure until something goes wrong," or...

"...when everything goes wrong, that's when adventure starts." ~Yvon Chouinard

Here's to embracing what goes wrong and what goes right! We'll just have to save that stop for another time (and another post)!

In Remembrance

Dad in Vietnam

In recent years, we have tried to do something meaningful in honor of Veterans' Day, and this year was no different. As a teacher, I make a point to educate my students on what it means to be a Veteran, which always leads to a heartfelt conversation about what children can do to show their gratitude. I also make it a point to spend some time with my father (even if it's limited to a phone call), a proud Army Veteran.

Last year, we hiked Piestewa Peak (formerly "Squaw Peak"), which was re-named to honor Lori Piestewa, the first female Native American to die in foreign combat under the U.S. flag. 

View from Piestewa Peak Summit

This year, we decided to visit the Pueblo Grande Museum, a location that has been on our list of "places to see" since we first learned of these ancient ruins in the middle of Phoenix. During our visit we were treated to a special event - The Gourd Dance to honor Veterans.

After touring the ruins and exploring the museum (details and post to come in the near future), we wandered into a large room. In the center was a large, bright yellow drum, and around it sat three men, a woman, and a young girl. Circular rows of chairs surrounded the inner drum circle, with men and women donning traditional Native American garb, accompanied by various military uniforms, badges, and flags. It was a family affair as grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, sisters, and sons all participated in this moving tribute. The Color Guard consisted of the flags of various military branches, including a representative of the Navajo Code-Talkers. As the singing and drumming began, it was hard not to be moved by the sight of World War II Veterans who struggled to walk, moving in honor of those who have and continue to serve.

While we could not take photos of this special ceremony, the faces of the Veterans and the sound of the music will stay with me. It was a powerful tribute and reminder of the service and sacrifice given by so many. I am forever grateful to our Veterans. Thank you.

Hiking with the Pooch

Meet Cheyenne.

At best guess, she's 2 1/2-years old and mostly lab. Sometimes we wonder if she has Staffordshire and/or Shar Pei relatives, maybe even Hound. What do you think?

We adopted Cheyenne ("Chy") over one year ago, and she's been nothing but pure joy for us ever since. As you can tell, Chy has some great muscle on her, so we've been eager to challenge her on the trails. Early after she joined our family, Chy proved herself to be a great running partner (she prefers to set the pace at sprint!), and a fiend at the dog park. (We'll accept any and all challenges for a game of fetch or a race!)

Now that the weather has cooled off, we thought it would be a perfect time to take Chy on a nice long hike (she'd only accompanied us on short hikes and long, paved walks thus far). We set out to check off the Ford Canyon loop in the White Tanks from our "West Valley Hikes" list (It's a real list - ask anyone who's seen the whiteboard in our kitchen!). We knew this would be a challenging hike, but not too intense. We also had plenty of time to travel the roughly ten miles in, over and out.

So how did we do? It was a gorgeous hike; highly recommended! How did Chy do? Well, the poor pooch's feet took a real beating from the granite scrambles, crushed rock, and sandy washes. She was a trooper, though! Chy kept pace, and frequently led the way up boulder scrambles, seeming to enjoy a view from a little higher up.

Unfortunately, we didn't even realize the damage to her pads until we arrived home and she seemed to be tip-toeing on her front paws!







This prompted some belated research on our part regarding safe and comfortable hiking with dogs. Here are our lessons learned:

• Hydration - Bring as much water for the dog as you do for yourself. No need for the fancy travel bottles and bowls. Throw an extra bladder in your pack, a lightweight plastic bowl, and you're set. *Remember - Standing water and even unidentified streams can be dangerous, often harboring parasites and bacteria that can lead to serious intestinal issues for your buddy.

• First-aid - Keep an extra eye and ear out for potentially harmful wildlife. On our trip, we encountered bees and a snake that, without our redirection, could have made Chy very uncomfortable (at the very least!) for the rest of the trip. If your dog does become injured, be prepared with a first-aid kit (just as you do for yourself). Veterinarians are an excellent resource for determining what medications (as well as dosage), ointments and bandages are best to bring along.

• Paw care- Check the dog's feet regularly for rocks, sand, thorns, etc. Keep an eye on the pads for blistering, scraping and cracking. Many folks recommend booties and/or socks for longer and/or rough trails. Consider throwing them in the pack for interval use, allowing your dog to have as much mobility as possible. They are also good for accompanying any first-aid needs for their feet.

• Leash your dog! This is for their safety as much as it is for other hikers' comfort levels. With so many new sights and smells, even the best trained/behaved dog could wander after dangerous vegetation and/or wildlife. If you expect large rocks, steep edges, scrambles, etc., consider using a harness to prevent the potential for strangling and choking.

• Energy - There's a reason they're called wo/man's best friend - they are loyal to a fault! Your dog will keep pace beyond their health, safety and comfort levels. They may not tell you when they're hungry, or if they're fuel light is on "E." When you stop for a snack, give your dog a treat, too. Keep it light to avoid full belly-slow-moving-syndrome (this applies to humans, too!).

After 48 hours of rest, Chy was back on her feet and back to her spunky self. We're looking forward to the next hike with her, and will certainly plan to be better prepared. Since our 9ish-mile loop turned into more of a 10ish-mile hike, we plan on working her back up to long distances. We'll stick to the 5ish distance for now! Happy trails!

Looking northeast toward the mountains on the other side of the valley.

What's in a name?

When we decided to get back into blogging, the toughest question was, of course, "But what will we call it?"

Over the course of roughly 24 hours, we tossed back and forth clever (and corny) alliterations, quotes, plays on words, and song lyrics. We scanned the thesaurus and checked for URLs already in use.

We knew that we wanted the title to have a sense of motion - We like to think of ourselves as always "on the move" - traveling, learning, and trying something new. We see life as full of opportunities for adventure, and we embrace the vagabonding explorer's spirit.

That being said, we've found ourselves rather stationary (at least physically) lately. We are in no hurry to pick up and take off on another big trip, but we want to do much more exploring in the place we call home. So what do we call our slower-moving little adventures that seem to take us this way and that, without moving toward any particular new location or goal?

We pulled out the thesaurus (okay, we went to thesaurus.com!), and under "meander" we found synonyms like:

drift
ramble 
roam
all over the map

BINGO!

Enter the song "A Lovely Meander" by Three Fish (thank you, iPod). The lyrics completed the picture for us... and isn't life just lovely anyway?

Perhaps the best part about our blog title is that it allows us to cover a wide variety of topics. We hope to cover our lovely meanders through everything from hikes and traveling, to experiments in the kitchen, garden, training our dog, and more! We hope to share some tidbits of wisdom and experience, and welcome your contributions, too.

Thanks for coming along on our lovely meander through life with us!

Inspiration from a Hedgehog

"A little more to the left... there!"

Mike graciously tolerated my insistence on getting the perfect photos of Flat Spiky out in the great Sonoran Desert. By the third photo, I was carefully placing Spiky under various cacti spines, rather than positioning him at arm's length for a perspective shot.

"Teddy Bear Cholla" - AKA "Jumping" Cactus

This fun opportunity for educational photo journalism (thanks to Flat Stanley and my nephew's 3rd grade class) got both of us talking about our previous blogging attempt. After crossing the U.S. by bicycle, touring New England, working on a farm in Kentucky, and making the big move to the great southwest, we ran out of big and exciting blog ideas... at least, we thought we had.

Hedgehog Cactus

Snapping photos of a paper hedgehog next to a cactus that shares its name reignited our excitement for sharing our own discoveries (no matter how small) with anyone who will listen (or read). We were reminded that adventures don't have to be grand excursions or long trips; discovery can happen in our own backyard, the kitchen, a good book...

And so, ladies and gentlemen, we bring you, "A Lovely Meander." What follows will be our own discoveries as we meander our way through life.