Crystal crane hot springs

Made good time after leaving Portland in the afternoon. About 8pm we found this great hot springs to stay at.

LEAVING OREGON AGAIN

As we headed out for Vegas(for work) we said adios to our beloved Mt. Hood

ART PHOTOS

As we were driving down the highway I saw this great photo of us mirrored in the back of a truck.

SOUTHWEST STEVE

We have been having such a great time together...exploring and learning. We started building Steve a pair of tall moccasins when we arrived

in Santa Fe. A friend of ours owns Santa Fe leather and let us use his cutting table in the shop. The moccasins have become an art project. We add as we go. Steve hikes in them all of the time and says they are super comfortable.

BURRO CREEK CRITTERS

We found an incredibly beautiful place to camp just south of Wikieup, AZ. If you are a rockhound...this is your place! So many varieties of rocks are available. I found my first Apache Tear here. But there are also many critters. Lizards coming out of their cool dens to warm themselves and heron perched on the sides of cliffs waiting to see the elusive fish in Burro Creek.

FASCIATION

This is probably one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I had read about it years ago and have been searching for years to see one of these and finally it happen 2 days ago!! I am sure you are all familiar with the Saguaro cactus. These giant sentinels of the desert are so fascinating to me. A saguaro without arms is called a spear and it usually takes up to 75 years to develop a sidearm. The arms are grown to increase the plant's reproductive capacity. However, rarely fasciation takes place. Fasciation (or cresting) is a condition of plant growth in which the apical meristem becomes elongated perpendicularly to the direction of growth, producing flattened, ribbon-like, crested or elaborately contorted tissue. It is caused by mutation in the meristematic cells, bacterial infection, mite or insect attack. I can't begin to tell you how excited I became upon finally seeing one of these. It was truly a gift of a lifetime!