Thursday, November 30, 2017

Jacob's Crosscut Trail Hike



Greg took a week off work for Thanksgiving, but he had to go back today.
We went for a great hike yesterday - it was the first day we had free to do it, and I'm very glad we made time for it!



It was a nice cool day (around 75 for a high, I think), overcast and slightly breezy.
We went to the First Water Trailhead only to find out it's been upgraded recently!
I guess I haven't been to this hiking spot since last October, probably.
They've done a nice job with the signs and cairns. 



We did NOT get rabies!



Someone (or a strong wind?) put some rocks inside this tree.




The clouds constantly kept us looking UP.


And we saw the roots of this saguaro.


I also saw this little Velvet Ant (actually a female flightless wasp!)
crawling very quickly along the ground.  She was busily doing something and I didn't disturb her.




We came up along side the Superstition Mountain range 
and the side of the Lost Dutchman State Park.





There were LOTS of cholla (CHOY-uh) - Greg got a little baby spike ball stuck on his shoe
and I sat on one by accident - but only lightly, so it wasn't hard to get out!


Here's a "bone" from a cholla.
It's part of the inner skeleton.



Here's how it looks while still part of the plant:


It's very lacy and pretty.


It was 78 according to my thermometer.


















Peek-a-boo!


It got cloudier and darker as the afternoon went on.








Hope you enjoyed this adventure with us!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Decorating For Christmas

Hooray!  We've decorated for Christmas at the Priem casita!







This year we bought new lights for our gold tinsel Christmas tree
that MATCH the gold so they don't show!!!  





The lights even have a seizure setting!!!
(It's not officially called that . . . )


And there is a surprise BONUS to these lights . . . they also respond to the TV remote!


Our stockings are not hung by the chimney (since we don't have a chimney!),
but they are hung on the bookshelf with care.



Our coffee table is now decked out with a small homestead, 
complete with sparkly trees.


The dining room table has trees as a centerpiece, too.


The tall light-up one is an early Christmas gift from my friend, Jen.
Thanks, Jen!  I love it!!!


I prefer sort of a minimal Christmas decor scheme,
mostly because it's a lot less work than decorating every nook and cranny, even though I love that look.  Disappointingly, I continually have to monitor my energy output.  But we won't talk more about that on this happy day.


This year I was ready and eager to get our tree up and I did it on the day
after Thanksgiving, which is traditional for my family of origin.
I was able to do it in spite of doing lots of cooking for Thanksgiving 
and not being quite recovered yet.  Yay!


I also wanted to show you these FABULOUS new socks I got for my birthday
from my friend Sara.  Aren't they the cutest?! 

Greg helped me with untangling lights inside, and then put up lights outside. 
He does an excellent job at all of it!


Claude watching Daddy put up lights.



Juvy, Allistair, and Stephen enjoying the fresh cool air!







And the sunset was beautiful, too.





Are you putting up any decorations this Christmas season?
If you celebrate the birth of Jesus in any way,
. . . are you a minimalist?
. . . a maximalist?
Do you like simple decor or classic or rustic?
What is your favorite Christmas symbol?

I think mine is the tree - and I love it all year round because of Psalm 1!