Art Installations

While in Phoenix we visited two art installations by James Turrell, an artist whose medium is light and space.  His structures are called skyspaces.

The first exhibit was at the Scottsdale Museum of Contempary Art , called "Knight Rises."  You view this before , during and after sunset.  You sit in an oculus and stare up at an opening in the ceiling. The focus is on the changing sky as night " rises"  - actually rather cool.

The second one was at Arizona State U, near the Interdisciplinary Sci and Tech bldg, and it's called "Air Apparent."  Love the play on words.  Again, it's best viewed during sunset (or sunrise.)

Tomorrow, the Tribe and spring training.

The Grand Canyon

    Here are a few pics from the Grand Canyon, with the first one being from a quick stop in Sedona (Bell Rock is in the background.)

Then we have Bright Angel Trail - the most popular one that you hike down to the bottom of the  Canyon.  You start at 7000 feet, and it typically takes 6 to 9 hrs to hike back up.  We passed on this one.

In the last  2 pictures you can see the Colorado River.  These were taken from  

Lipan Point, our favorite viewing spot.  Looking very closely you can see class 8.5 rapids (2nd to last) and a graceful S curve of the river on the last one.  It is 8 miles from where we were standing to the opposite rim.

Chihuly in the Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (est 1939 ) has a fantastic exhibit of Dale Chihuly blown glass that is incorporated in the garden's displays.  Below are just a few of his creations.  

And Barb continued her quest to learn the identification of more desert plants, much to Jim's chagrin.  

Goodbye Tundra, Hello Desert!

Thanks to encouragement from Lexi and Sarah, I'm attempting my first blogs from my iPhone - from our balcony at Canyon Villas/Desert Ridge in Phoenix.  

Welcome to "our desert" with the first stop at Pinnacle Peak where we did a hike almost to the top - we are working on getting back into hiking form.

I am obsessed with learning the names of the cacti, and below you will see the iconic saguaro and then the teddy bear cholla.  

If this works, more to come ( though I can't figure out how to delete the pic I put in twice  - oops!)

New Hampshire Discoveries

We visited the White Mountains in New Hampshire recently but missed the peak foliage. However, there were still many interesting sites and much beauty to admire.

View from atop the granite cliffs of Cathedral Ledge.

Secluded Elbow Pond. A search for moose here was not successful. But we did find beavers nearby.

Poet Robert Frost's New Hampshire home.

Barb searches for moose in the wild.

Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods.

Historic covered bridge on the Swift River.

A boots-eye view of a hiking trail in the White Mountains National Forest.

Hiking on a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

Be warned!

Beavers have been busy in this pond. We visited after dark one evening and could hear many beavers chewing madly at the tree trunks and bark. They worked "hard as beavers."

Barb on a creek walk.

Jim stands atop a huge beaver dam while inspecting the rodents' handiwork.
 

At long last, Barb finds a moose!

July Fun Moments

July fun included visits to Edgewater Park and Progressive Field in Cleveland, plus some family time--all as seen in the following photos.

Sunrise at Edgewater Park.

Dinner "out" with Kathy, Margaret and Brian.

Barb and John Adams, the Indians' drummer-in-the-bleachers, share a fun pre-game moment in home run alley at Progressive Field.

Patti and John proudly display their team spirit at Progressive Field.

Sunset at Edgewater Park.

Coast to Coast Wins SBA Award

Carly and Tiffany were recently honored by the Federal government's Small Business Administration, Cleveland District, as the Small Business of the Year 2013. The Cleveland District covers 28 counties in Northern Ohio, from Indiana to Pennsylvania. The awards ceremony was held at Coast to Coast on June 27. Congratulations Carly and Tiffany!

With Award presenters including SBA District Director Gil Goldberg (on Tiffany's left) and Ohio Commerce Bank CEO Del Duncan (on Carly's left).

Tiffany speaks with Valley View Mayor Jerry Piasecki.

        Carly and Tiffany explain how an aerial lift operates.

Employees of Coast to Coast Equipment and Ohio High Reach.

Carly and Grandmama Lois Zoll.

Carly and Gil Goldberg prepare to go up in a lift.

                                                                Video:  Thank You!