There and back. How "hobbity" is that? Well, we went, had a great time and am now trying to recover from the vacation, LOL.
We stopped at Chinle on the way to Prescott and toured Canyon de Chelly (pronounced d'shay if you didn't know which is a bastardization of the Navajo name T'Shei and I hope I spelled it right). What a FANtastic place it is. I had read several Tony Hillerman novels over the years so was familiar with the concept of the area but seeing it with my own eyes was something else again. As soon as Joe gets his pictures downloaded I'll post some.
Spring Valley was HOT. Felt good for a bit but then got boring. We did the Verde Canyon railroad (and a big fat BOO to the owner who felt the need to proclaim his "patriotism" via a canned announcement at the end of the ride along with some gag-me pseudo country-western wave-the-flag-jingoistic hoohaw music. Deeds, dude, NOT WORDS. Anyway. Sour note and all it was a pleasant day.
We also hit the jackpot as the annual artist's guild art show was happenin' in downtown Prescott where I scored some RIGHTEOUS water color prints ... go to www.roberthooper.org and check out this man's work. It is just AWESOME. I bought one matted print (small cause I'm broke) and 10 of his notecards. It'll probably cost me more to frame them that I paid for them. Isn't that just backwards?! Every print I pulled out I exclaimed over until the guy was laughing. But his work is jsut wonderful. GO LOOK!
We also went to one of the tribal casinos (sorry, can't remember which tribe) in Verde Valley (aptly named because it is SO GREEN IT HURTS YOUR EYES and right in the middle of all that deserty landscape. Anyhoo. Blew $15 on the video slots then went for Chinese food (no MSG!!! will wonders never cease) and called it a day.
All in all a good time. Spent the night in Moab on the way home and pigged out at the Desert Bistro -- fresh halibut coated with pistachios, asparagus tips, some kind of rice pancake, and a lovely sauce... white wine, crab cake for appetizer. mmmmmmmmm good! The bill would have choked a horse but it was worth it. Joe had caribou (seriously!) with a chipotle sauce that was diVINE. If you're ever in Moab, spend the bucks and go have a fab meal at this place.
Next trip down we want to either rent a cabin in Moab or maybe do one of those CruiseAmerica.com rentals and spend a couple of days in the canyonlands and then at least a full day at Arches. Moab is just too cool.
Well, I'm still trying to decide if I'm rested enough to go light the torch. My website update is still on hold (SUSAN!!!! where are you!?) but when you see it you'll be amazed. But pretty colors aren't what I'm selling, right? So I guess I'd better go make some beads. Came up with all kinds of ideas on the trip. Need to get them done before I forget them. Or did I already? sheesh.
8:36:14 AM 
|
