Beautiful Glass

It's been so long since I last posted that I'm embarassed to be here again.  I don't mean for there to be such lapses between entries, but life has been getting in the way big time lately with several family medical concerns and ongoing issues that we've been dealing with. Sometimes it's just hard to find the heart to get on the computer and post.

Anyway, I'm back now and will do my best to keep posting and reading other blogs. I've missed being here.

What inspired me to post today was our recent trip to Arizona and especially the visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens where there was an installation of many beautiful glass works by the famous and talented glass artist, Dale Chihuly.  I've loved his work since I first encountered it several years ago when we went to Las Vegas and stayed at the Bellagio where the lobby ceiling was covered with his huge glass flowers.

I was so excited when we got to the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and to discover that their current theme is "Chihuly in the Park".  Have a look...

The park entrance is graced by three towering glass cacti on permanent display.  I take pictures of them every time I go.  And look at that lovely sky...so unusual for us to see in Arizona.  We went to the park on the day after a huge rainstorm and the sky was still somewhat heavy with clouds.   Such a nice change from the unrelenting sun and heat that we usually experience there.

Right inside the entrance the visitor is greeted by a beautiful blue sunburst.  It's hard for these pictures to show you the size and shimmering beauty of these amazing glass structures, but you'll get an idea anyway.

There were several clusters of twisting, curving glass tubes in various colors.  Each tube has a texture, grooves, etc that make them distinctive.

Two Chihuly fans - me and Mickey

It was intresting to see how Mr. Chihuly styled his glasswork to fit into the surroundings.

...and a closer view, looking upward

There were also some interesting clusters of upright glass among the stately cactus

Other smaller yellow clusters seeming to grow among their living counterparts.

I loved the orange and yellow sculptures.

This one was huge and could be seen from many vantage spots along the garden trails. Aren't the saguaro lovely.

Playing with my new zoom lens I was able to capture the woodpecker on top of a giant saguaro near the towering orange and yellow glass structure.

And then there was this spectacular centerpiece - blown glass balls.

...put into perspective so you can see just how large the sculpture is..

But my very very favorite of all the wonderful glassworks on display throughout the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix were these next ones.

The pictures don't do it justice...the beauty and grace of the pink and white pieces was amazing, surrounded by such a lovely shade of lilac.  I wish you could all see it in person.

Well, that's a lot of pictures, but I honestly had a hard time leaving some out. I must give photo credit to Mickey for some of the pictures - I can't remember which ones are hers and which are mine - and to a kind gentleman who offered to take the picture of the two of us together.  Mickey and I missed one whole trail in the garden and I'm sure there were lots more glassworks for us to see and photograph there.  So now we have an excuse to go back, maybe take our husbands with us, and take more pictures.  I'd like to see the gardens after dark when the glass installations are lighted up.   Next time....

Awkward Family Portraits

We all have them...those family portraits where something just isn't right.  I have a few doozies, taken at Christmas when our oldest daughter and her family were visiting.  It's hard at the best of times to get a picture of a family of seven with everyone looking presentable, but for some reason, this series of pictures exceeded themselves in the awkward category.

I hope Jenny will be able to forgive me for posting these. For some reason  she had a hard time smiling for this photo shoot. Hope you enjoy a laugh.

 We'll start with one of the 'good' ones

Jenn, Anders and their boys

 Anders took over as photographer so Grammie and Papa could be in some pictures

                              

                                     Something spooked Grammie!

Things are really coming apart now...love Jennys body language.

Clearly Micah has had enough.

 And finally, one of the 'good' ones with Papa and Grammie

Aren't family photo shoots fun!!!

After All....

...After all the excitement, eating, company, gifts, partying, is over, we're left alone with a quiet house and lots of great memories...two seniors, content to have come this far together looking forward to whatever good the future holds for us and trying to ignore the not so good.

We had a wonderful Christmas time.  We were visited by five of our kids and their families - not all together - our downsized house would never hold them all - but nicely spaced with a bit of overlap, allowing us to enjoy each group as they arrived.

First on the scene was Mary and her family.  We enjoyed an early Christmas celebration with them.

Layla and Baron with Papa

Layla and Baron visiting the light displays in the neighbourhood

Mary and Greg, who drove across the mountains to be with their parents for Christmas

Then, on Christmas Eve, Emily and Allan arrived, to celebrate their last Christmas as a childless couple with us.  Next year they'll bring their baby daughter with them.

Their gifts included presents for baby Olive of course.

On Boxing Day, Sara arrived with her three girls while Max and his dad stayed in Edmonton for Max's hockey tournament, which Max's team won.  Yea Max.

We all went out to our favorite Mexican Cafe 

Sara and Emily spent time in my scrapbook room sorting through
lots of pictures of themselves they had forgotten even existed.

Charlie peeled potatoes for our ham and scalloped potato dinner

And then we relaxed with our iPads

While Papa entertained Elly and Quinn with some fun songs on
his iPhone.  Who remembers the old lady who swallowed a fly, or the windmill in
Amsterdam?  Those little girls really enjoyed listening to them witt Papa.

Mike and Avril, who live just a few miles away, came over several times to visit with the sisters and their kids.

Hannah, Kenny and Alex all manage to play together with my iPad

Six of the grandkids all together is quite a crowd in our small house.  It's nice
seeing them play together and get to know one another so well.  Three of
Sara's kids and three of Mike's

Sara, Mike, Me, Emily, Lloyd

Then, when all the Christmas guests left and we had nearly two whole days to get all the beds changed, sheets washed, etc. Jenny's family of five boys arrived to help us enjoy the New Year.  It was a fun three days with them.

Jenn had a hard time smiling for this picture...you should see some of the
out-takes.  There's never a dull moment with this crew around.

For some reason, one night everyone who sat in this particiular chair picked up Lloyd's hat from the end table and wore it for awhile.  Aren't they a handsome lot.

So Lloyd and I have taken a couple days of doing nothing, just relaxing and remembering the fun of having so many family members around.

And now it's January 2014.  Time to get on with life, and planning, and enjoying each day as it comes.  Here's hoping it's a good one.