We’ve only been Arizona for part of December where it is known for its mild winters. With the strange weather going on it has strangely been colder here than back east but I would be surprised if that lasts.

The orange trees are loaded with fruit but I read that there is a strange disease that may destroy many of them.

I saw this line at a mall. Chipolte has had some horrible outbreaks of food poisoning and they are really suffering in the stock market. I was surprised to see people in line here. I guess it is a “it couldn’t happen to me” mentality.

Of course there are always beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Christmas lights are everywhere.

I always wonder how much the electricity bills go up with lights like these.

On the way back from Utah we passed through a Navaho reservation. Maurice wanted to check out small rugs for a gift so we stopped at several little shacks along the road but they mostly sold jewelry. We finally came to the Cameron Trading Post which I remembered from many years ago. It was in a new modern building and packed with Navaho items. We discovered that even a little rug was $200-300 so we didn’t get one.

A large selection of rugs for sale.

Here was a large one being made. I wish the person making it had been there when we were.

Back in Arizona in time for my Mother’s 90th birthday. She doesn’t look her age. She is often approached by women telling her how beautiful her skin is and asking what her secret is. The answer is that she stays out of the sun and has used Pond’s Cold Cream all her life-yes, they still make it.
We took her out to dinner at Houston’s in Scottsdale. We love their ribs. When we entered we asked for a candle on her dessert. After the meal we secretly told the waiter again but when our desserts arrived there was no candle. Maurice told the waiter and they bought a candle in a little dish of whipped cream then, to our surprise, they comped our drinks and desserts. That was plently to tell the truth but to our surprise, they also gave us a gift card for $100. So we will all have to go again. No problem. We were all talking about my Dad while there and have been told that the departed love to come to parties and celebrations so maybe he was there and set it all up. Whatever, it was a nice surprise.

Here she is with some birthday flowers.

Last year Maurice and I went to hike to the fabulous rock formation in Utah/Arizona called the wave. Only 20 people a day are allowed to visit it. You can enter a lottery for a chance to be one of the 20. Just for fun, Maurice did it again for this year and won again, this time for a date in November. I refused to do it again-it is a very long and tiring hike, but some friends of ours were in the States and the husband agreed to go with Maurice so, once again, we head to southern Utah.

We stayed in Kanab. Our hotel, usually fine for the summers, was freezing cold heated with one of those individual units in each room. I turned it up to 90 and our room gradually warmed up although the heat never reached our bathroom. We finally got a little floor heater in there but when it was finally warm enough, the water was just tepid. Luckily, we were only there for two nights.

This spiffy old car was in front of our hotel.

While the men did the hike to the Wave, we two women drove over to the beautiful Zion National Park. We had such a pretty day.

Another view. Maurice and friend did the hike but Maurice had been sick and it was a hard day. He was on antibiotics but was still sick.

There had been a snow storm right before we arrived in Colorado and then it was pretty much dry except for some light snow one night. Then the night before we left it snowed again, about six inches. Is there anything more beautiful than freshly fallen snow in sunshine with blue skies?

There were many statues around the village of Beaver Creek. I think this was Mark Twain with a covering of snow.

So pretty against the blue sky.

Up a snowy road.

Another pretty view.

Colorado is full of old mining towns, Leadville being one of them. My son and I drove over a mountain from Beaver Creek to get there and hit some snowy weather. We had some rather average chinese for lunch and didn’t stay long due to the weather but I did enjoy the architecture.

We saw this unusual house on the way.

Loved this building.

A look up a side street.

Look at this place, now for tourist information. A great paint job.

A few things I saw walking around Beaver Creek.

A talented guy from, I think, Austria, dressed up in the alpine style and playing an alpine horn.

This dog was intrigued with the nose coming out at the end of the horn.

Here he is playing an accordian singing Christmas songs. He has been coming to Beaver Creek to perform for years. A very friendly guy.

Right before the Christmas tree was lit there were performances from a group of ice skaters. It was really cold, like in the teens, and I was hoping they were warm while skating. They must be used to it.

One night the full moon came out. I think it was called the frost moon as frost often occurs around this time. We got a lot more than frost. Anyway, it sure was beautiful.