Refreshing Summer Drinks

Heat like we experience here in the desert requires that we stay hydrated.  I usually carry water with me at all times and sometimes iced tea.  At a recent lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant, I ordered a watermelon agua fresca. It was made of crushed watermelen, lime juice and sparkling coconut water.  It was delicious and that little cube of watermelon a perfect addition.

A few weeks ago at a lunch with friends, I ordered a refreshing drink that had a curl of shaved carrot as the garnish.  I don't recall that it was "carrot" based but it was a tasty drink.

Last Sunday, my friends and I had drinks at the new Global Ambassador Hotel before we went to dinner.  I ordered a white sangria that was the best I've ever tasted.  

My friends were a bit more traditional with their lovely martinis.  There were enough olives in this one to constitute a meal.  

There are lots of ways to cool off here in the desert.  However good old water is a must for everyone. 

Summer Blooms

 

One day when I was picking up my mail, I noticed that the two trees growing under the entrance cover had pink blooms at the very top of them.  I decided I should get a photo of the pretty blooms.  I also noticed that there were two shrub-like plants in the front of the complex that were blooming with white flowers.  So on my mission to photograph the pink flowers, I photographed the white ones too.

I had no idea what they were.  It turns out they are both crepe myrtle, just two different varieties.  So many plants here stop blooming during our summer heat months so these two are a treat to see.  

The New Luxury Hotel

 

The restaurant I featured yesterday was located right next door to a brand new luxury hotel that I hadn't yet seen.  The hotel is called The Global Ambassador which seems like a very pretentious name for Phoenix.  I've only seen this hotel from the street side which I have to admit isn't all that attractive.  It was a different case getting back into the heart of complex of new buildings on this corner.  It's a lot more luxurious than the street view suggests.  Above is a courtyard garden area for the hotel.

Here is a view from the rooftop patio.  That's Camelback Mountain looming up behind the shops in the foreground.  

This is a view of the rooftop patio.  It was pretty hot when we were walking around here so not very many people enjoying the patio.  There were a few brave souls you can see way back in the distance.  I'm sure this will be a popular cocktail and dining spot when the temperatures come down to tolerable levels.  

An Impromptu Treat

 

My friends David and Riley called me Sunday afternoon and asked if I had dinner plans.  They had made a reservation at a new restaurant called Pyro and wondered if I wanted to join them. I did and what a treat it was.  The place was visually beautiful and the food was excellent.  

The food is cooked over fire and the cuisine is Japanese inspired.  Everything was delicious and the service was top notch.  It was a great experience. The restaurant is tucked away and can't be seen from the busy street outside.  It was like stepping into another world.  

Computer Problems & Yard Art

 

I found this yard art when I was searching for the monastery that I posted a few days ago.  I thought it was a pretty clever way to reuse a tree stump.  

For the past two weeks, I've been having lots of computer problems.  My MacBook Pro was over heating and shutting down all the time.  It was also running extremely slow.  I made an appointment with Apple and took it in for a check up.  It turned out to be a battery problem.  I didn't know that you can now get the battery replaced however the cost to do that and the time it would take made me decide to get a new computer. My old Mac was from 2017 so I guess it was time.

Anyway, the Apple staff was great, helping get data transferred to the new computer and getting it all set up.  I left the store a happy girl with a shiny, new computer.

Lot's of Clouds

 

We had a very cloudy weekend but unfortunately, no rain.  We had some hopes of rain and maybe some of the outlying areas got a few sprinkles but none in the city.

The clouds gave us some interesting skies and it kept the severe heat at bay.  I think the high on Saturday was 102 and on Sunday 103.  I know that sounds awful but here in the desert, that is way better than 114. 

Update:  Yesterday it reached 112 but a monsoon storm gathered in the evening.  Later on,  we got some rain.  It was wonderful.  I stood out on the balcony watching it come down.

Abstract Passages

 

Here is another mural from Oklahoma City. I found this one when I was walking toward "Bricktown" a historic area of OKC.  I loved all the colors and shapes and the southwestern look.

The artist is Kris Kanaly and you can read about him and this mural here.  This mural would fit in perfectly here in Arizona.  Maybe someone local will commission his talents. 

After Dark

 

I have a friend who lives on the far south side of Phoenix and one time when I was attending a dinner party at her house, I passed this church on the way.  It was still light when I went to her house and I hardly noticed the church.  When I was driving home, I saw it all lit up and it suddenly looked very appealing.  I decided that the scene was begging to be photographed.  I believe this is the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church.  It's pretty eye-catching after dark.

The Tiny Monastery

 

Looking at all those old posts from 10 or more years ago brought back lots of memories.  I posted a photo of this place back in 2010.  It was one of those odd discoveries.  It's located in a residential neighborhood on a very quiet street and it's tiny, the size of a one car garage.  However, it actually is a monastery.  Well, the monastery chapel I think.  There is an actual living facility next to it but completely surrounded by a high wall.

As you can see, the chapel is still locked up behind a chain-link fence.  

This was fun to find once again.  I had to drive around several quiet streets before I found it hidden away.

No Climbing on the Elk

 

When I was at the Town and Country shopping center to photograph the Phoenix Bird, I discovered this fellow in front of the Twin Peaks Brewery.  This place is tucked away back in the corner of the center where I seldom go so I had not seen him before.  

It looks like he's about to snatch a bite of the tree limb.

Maybe he's just howling because it's hot out there.  

Phoenix Bird....Update

 

Here in the desert Southwest, we've reached that time of year when being outside is uncomfortable and for some dangerous.  I decided to scroll through some posts from years past during this time of year.  I wanted to see what photos I was out taking during the hot June days.

In 2009, I found a post showing this wonderful Phoenix Bird sculpture located at the entrance to Town and Country Shopping Center.  It's my favorite of all the different interpretations of this mythical bird.

I decided to get an update of that old photo and this is the result.

That plaque in the background reads:

"The Phoenix"

Symbolizing power, beauty and constant youth.

Dedicated to the memory of artist Paul Coze.  

Garden Wildlife

 

While I was walking around the botanical garden in Oklahoma City, I spotted this brown squirrel perched on a rock and looking like he was posing for me.  So, I obliged and took his photo.

Then he scampered over to a tree and was peeking out from behind the tree as though he was looking for me.  But, when I raised the camera he turned his head and looks straight up the tree.

A few minutes later, I saw him again and this time he seemed to have found something to nibble on.  He appeared to be used to having people around.  He was a born "ham".  

Will Rogers Airport

 

The airport in Oklahoma City is called the Will Rogers World Airport so it's understandable that there would be some type of tribute to Will Rogers.

In this case it's a bust of the man. The little plaque below says that it was created by Jo Davidson.  

For those who haven't heard of Will Rogers, he was a vaudeville performer and actor and later in life a social commentator.  He was born on the Cherokee Nation and is known as "Oklahoma's Favorite Son".  

Also found in the airport was this Allan Houser bronze statue called "Prayer".  

The airport is small by today's standards.  It has only one terminal and 17 gates.  

It might be small but it was a pleasant place to wait for my flight.

History Mural

 

I saw this mural while I was in Oklahoma City.  It plays out some history of the state. I noticed when I was in an Uber for the ride to the airport that this mural ran quite a long way along the side of freeway.  I wish I had gotten a better look at it. It looks interesting.

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Botanical Garden Art Exhibit

 

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I took a breather in the air conditioned part of the Crystal Bridge to cool down before I returned to tropical forest.  In that part of the bridge they had the requisite gift shop and they also had a gallery space for art exhibits.  The theme for the exhibit I saw was "Wings and Wildflowers: An Oklahoma Pollinators Art Exhibit". There were some great art pieces in this exhibit. These two above were my favorites of all of them.  The artist is Gina Alusi.  I think they are beautiful. They would look great hanging just about anywhere.

These two were very nice too.  I liked the thickness of the paint and iridescent colors.  The artist for these two is Nichole Montgomery.

I liked the brightness of these two.  They were painted by Paige Busick.

These two are the work of Kyna Burnett.  These two are digital illustrations full of different patterns and textures. The reflections in the glass were impossible to escape.  

This last one also had glass over it.  This watercolor was painted by Leslie Waugh Dallam.  I just loved those Ladybugs. 

Viewing all this art gave me something fun to do while I cooled off after the heat of the tropical garden.

Inside the Crystal Bridge

 

Inside the Crystal Bridge, I found a lovely waterfall and a lot of tropical flowers.

It was a treat to see all these wonderful plants.  Though, I will admit it was hot and humid inside this space.  I had to take a break in the air conditioned part and then go back a second time.

Heat and humidity aside, it was worth it to see all these wonderful plants.  I never get to see bananas actually growing on the tree!

Another Botanical Garden

 

Once I decided to go to Oklahoma City, I began looking for other things I might like to see in the city.  I discovered they have a botanical garden and it sits right in the heart of downtown.  

It's called Myriad Botanical Gardens and the beautifully landscaped gardens are free to the public.  However, there is an admission price to go into the "Crystal Bridge" pictured in these two photos.

I did go inside and found some very interesting plants and other amazing things.  More about that tomorrow.  

Five Buffalo and One Penguin

 

One thing I noticed right away upon arriving in Oklahoma City was an abundance of buffalo roaming the streets of the city.  Well, not exactly 'roaming'.  More like standing at attention in a variety of places.  This one was in front of an office building.

This one was standing in front of my hotel.

And this fellow was standing in the water feature in the lobby of my hotel.

This colorful buffalo was standing in front of the Sheraton Hotel across the street.

The Buffalo nickel was found in the historic entertainment district called "Bricktown".  All of these fellows were part of an art project called Spirit of the Buffalo and sponsored by the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy.  The project went from 2004 to 2006 so these artistic buffalo have been standing around the city for a long time now.

This colorfully painted penguin was not the least bit intimidated by all the buffalo.  He stood proudly showing off his colorful design.

He waddled all the way from Tulsa where he was part of a "Penguins on Parade" project  sponsored by the Tulsa Zoo.