Arizona Theme Day: Back to School

If you wanted to be a policeman or fireman ever since you were just a tot, this is the place for you. A high school dedicated to future police officers and future firemen.
This school is the first of its kind in the nation offering a rigorous academic education as well as a head start into a career in public safety. The school works directly with the city of Phoenix to provide real-world experience and hands-on opportunities such as internships, physical training, and special employment opportunities.


To see what some other Arizona bloggers have shown us for the “Back to School” theme, click the links below.


Flagstaff Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Prescott Area Daily Photo
Tempe Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo
Glendale Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Water

My dad used to call this “the back side of water”. It was a little joke he used whenever we were looking through a waterfall. This was taken behind the waterfall at the Arizona Falls Park that I featured back in April. Arizona Falls is a joint project between the city, the Commission on the Arts, and Salt River Project, one of our two main power sources in the Phoenix area. In fact, this waterfall and two others at this same location are producing hydroelectric power that is transferred into the Salt River Project electrical grid. This small station produces enough electricity to power 150 homes. Water is such an important resource for Arizona where much of the state is desert that I’m going to show you another water-related topic tomorrow. To see what other Arizona bloggers have posted for theme day, click the links below. Flagstaff Daily Photo Chandler Daily Photo Prescott Area Daily Photo Tempe Daily Photo Scottsdale Daily Photo Chandler Daily Photo Glendale Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Arizona’s Hidden Treasures

Arizona is just full of hidden treasures so it’s very hard to pick just one. I chose one located in the city of Phoenix and almost hidden at the base of South Mountain.
Mystery Castle is one of the Phoenix Points of Pride named by the Phoenix Pride Commission.
The building was built by Boyd Luther Gulley who upon learning he had tuberculosis, left his wife and daughter in Seattle and came to Arizona. After arriving in Arizona, Gulley started to build a “castle” for the little girl he had left behind. He spent 15 years building his dream house.

In 1945 shortly after his death, his wife and daughter Mary Lou were surprised to learn that they had inherited a property in Arizona. They traveled here to see what they had inherited, moved into the home and never returned to Seattle. In 1948, Life Magazine did a cover story about the home and the strange circumstances surrounding it. Shortly after that, Mary Lou and her mother started giving tours of the castle.

Mary Lou’s mother died in 1970, Mary Lou still lives in the home and on occasion, when she feels up to it, still leads a tour.

To see what other Arizona bloggers have posted, click on the links below.

Flagstaff Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Prescott Area Daily Photo
Tempe Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Glendale Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Desert in Bloom

This month’s theme for Arizona bloggers is almost too easy. I say that because there is so much in bloom right now in Arizona. Trees are bursting with flowers and the cactus can’t contain themselves. Here is another cactus flower that I photographed at the Desert Botanical Garden. This one was on a prickly pear cactus. It’s brilliant, waxy flowers attract the bees and hummingbirds that will help to pollinate the plants.

Flagstaff Daily Photo Chandler Daily Photo Prescott Area Daily Photo Tempe Daily Photo Scottsdale Daily Photo Chandler Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Doors

For today’s subject I chose the doors to the old Phoenix City Hall. This isn’t the shiny new building that I featured here. This is the where city hall was located before the new building was built.

This building is called the Maricopa County Courthouse and the space was shared with the city of Phoenix with the city hall side having its own entrance on the west side of the building.

The small photo shows the front of the building which was built in 1929 of terra cotta and ceramic tile in art deco fashion. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Flagstaff Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Prescott Area Daily Photo
Tempe Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Old Arizona

This is Mission San Jose de Tumacacori, established on this site sometime after 1751 after nearby missions dating back to 1691 were destroyed and abandoned. This is one of the many missions established by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the explorer, cartographer, and Franciscan priest who is responsible for the chain of missions running from within Mexico to northern California. This mission was abandoned by 1848 and began its fall into disrepair until 1908 when the area was declared a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. Restoration continues today although very slowly. In 1937 a museum was built at the National Monument which later became a National Park.

The mission is located in Southern Arizona between Tucson and the border with Mexico. Photos don’t really do it justice. It is one of those places you need to see in person in order to enjoy its beauty.

Enjoy the rest of the Arizona bloggers photos of “Old Arizona” by using the links below:

Flagstaff Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Prescott Area Daily Photo
Tempe Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo

Arizona Theme Day: Arizona Sunsets

All of the Arizona photo bloggers have gotten together to form our own “theme day”. We’ve decided on the 15th of the month and each of us have selected a theme for the picture that month. This month’s theme is “Arizona Sunsets”.

My sunset picture was taken last week while I was attending a political campaign kick-off party for a very dear friend. I was standing on the patio enjoying good conversation when I looked up and saw the sky glowing. Fortunately, I had my trusty point-and-shoot camera stashed in my purse.

Check out the other Arizona bloggers participating in the Arizona Them day:

Flagstaff Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Prescott Area Daily Photo
Tempe Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo
Chandler Daily Photo
Scottsdale Daily Photo