One year ago in Arizona 05-20-14

Last year on this date I was on my way to Quilt National in Athens, Ohio.    It was a great Road Trip and I plan to revisit it with pictures this week.   A high point was the discovery of La Posada hotel in Winslow, AZ.  www.laposada.org  It is the remaining hotel from the years of the Santa Fe Railroad years and refurbishment continues.  A step back into an earlier time and way of travel.  The Amtrak trains stop at the back gate, offering easy access to the vintage hotel with a nice restaurant, gift shop, public spaces and, of course, elegant lodging from yesteryear.  I parked my car in the front parking lot and strolled through the gardens and all the other spaces open to the public. 

 

Just through the entry gate is a Bactrian camel.

A very handsome guy, but, I suppose, he will eventually rust away, even in the dry Arizona climate.

I  even like the shadows from the entry gate.

A little further along the path there is a metal donkey.

And even further along is the entrance to the Inn - build in 1930.

A pathway off to another garden area.

Many of the plants are native to the area.

Great corn stalk gate.

In one of the lounge areas I met this lady with her pet lop eared rabbit.  He wears a harness and lease - just like Corky! 

 

This is one of the original chandeliers hanging near the check in desk.  Notice the native American rug on the wall.  An extra nice piece for sale in the gift shop.

Here is another rug for sale - it is a Wide Ruins pattern from a Navajo weaver.  Nice and about $1300.

Directly through the public area of the Inn and out the back door are the train tracks and the Amtrak stop.  I'd love to take the train and stay a few days at the Inn, but there isn't really anything else to see or do in Winslow.

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Wordless Wednesday 06-19-13

 

Monday Browsing - Portals 05-27-13

PR article on National Quilt Museum/Paducah and changing the perception of quilts:

http://www.ibtimes.com/press-release/20130513/national-quilt-museum-changing-perception-material-world-1253895#    NOTE: There are no names for the artists whose work is shown, a major faux pas.  I have written to Susan Edwards pointing out the error of her ways.  Her e-mail contact is at the bottom of the press release – in case you would also like to write to her.  Del

Art fundraiser – online auction to raise funds for Oklahoma  tornado victims: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Challenge/OklahomaTornadoFundraiser

Caring Bridge site for Libby Lehman:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/libbylehman

 At last, a quilter in space:

http://news.yahoo.com/astronaut-packs-crafts-creative-space-station-trip-132412913.html

Forty-two  thought provoking images that are part of the 2013 Nat’l Geographic photo contest:

http://m.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/05/2013-national-geographic-traveler-photo-contest/100516/



La Posada, Winslow, AZ  A 1920s inn operated by Fred Harvey, now back in business.
 

Road Trip Gallup, NM - Placentia, CA 06-03-13

The last day of a fifteen day journey to Ohio and back - 4820 miles round trip.


View from HIE - Gallup, NM  7am Although there was not much separation between I-40 and the motel there wasn't much noise - good insulation.  Plus there was very little traffic (or none) when I looked out when I got up during the night.  This is on the far eastern edge of Gallup.
 

Sweet clover grows in disturbed earth and lends a lovely soft perfume to the air.
 

The leaves are "clover-like" but the flowers grow in long spikes instead of round like clover.
 

Empty road - 1-40 in AZ. There is a truck in the right lane - far ahead.  Draw a vertical line through the middle of the picture - that's where the road goes over the horizon. 
 

Cholla is a coal-fired power plant right on I-40 between Holbrook and Joseph City, AZ.  The coal comes in by rail from the McKinley Mine in New Mexico.
 

 

Chamisa in La Posada gardens - Winslow, AZ
One of a dozen varieties commonly known as rabbitbrush which are covered with bright yellow flowers in late summer and autumn.
 

Detail of Chamisa in La Posada gardens - Winslow, AZ

 

 

Hollyhock in the La Posada garden.  Winslow, AZ
 

Amtrak employees at La Posada station in Winslow, AZ.  The trains (originally the Santa Fe RR) have stopped there since the hotel was built in 1930.
 

After the Amtrak passenger train pulled out, the view changed to these freight cars covered with graffiti that were sitting on the far track.
 

Humphreys Peak north of Flagstaff is 12,670 Feet.   Flagstaff is at 7000 feet - I could feel the altitude as I walked about. Puff. Puff.   I believe the highest I went on this trip was 7325 feet just west of Flagstaff.
 

The last picture of the trip was of this road cut on I-40 just west of Kingman, AZ.  I have driven the highway from the LA basin to Lake Havasu City, AZ, so many times and taken a zillion and a half pictures.  Didn't want to take anymore! 

I'll elaborate on the trip with more pictures at a later date.  Gotta put everything away, do the laundry, pay the bills, etc.  I loved the trip, tornadoes and all, but the putting away is always more than I think I can do.  Won't keep me from Road Trips in the future, though.