Light and Water

 

As I parked my car at my friend's house, I noticed the late afternoon light on the fountain in the parking area.  The light from behind the fountain was making the drops of water glow.  

Seeing things in better light can lift the spirits!  

Around the Neighborhood

 

Another walk around the neighborhood yielded a few more photos to share.  This extremely full tree was showing a little color in the leaves.  Unlike some trees that turn yellow, this one is turning an redish-brown color.  

I noticed when walking past this house that I could see straight through the front window and into the golf course behind the house.  It looks like the owners can chat with the golfers right from their back yard.

This house had put up some modest holiday decorations. They've made the front door very welcoming.

Another house had this lovely fountain in front for everyone who walks past to enjoy.  

Beauty & Sunlight to Start the Year

 

I have a few more photos from our New Year's Day brunch at The Hermosa Inn.  Above is the main fountain in front of the entrance to the resort.  

My friend Julie captured this close-up shot of the two goldfinches on top of the fountain.

They have made some nice changes to the garden area where weddings and other events are sometimes held.  I like the new fountain and the stone bridge.  

We found this relaxing spot near where the rose garden was located.  What do you think, a game of chess or just a lie down in the hammock?

Here's a view of the Christmas tree located in the patio dining area.  

Enjoying the scenery at the resort was a very pleasant way to start the new year.

A Place to Cool Down

 

I took these photos before the current heat wave arrived.  If I went here today, I wonder if I'd find some people playing in this decorative fountain.

I have to admit, I'd be seriously tempted.

The heat has been especially intense these past two weeks. 

Curiosities

 

Just a few random curiosities today.  First up, these two mourning doves were curious about what I was up to that day I took photos of the robins.  They seem to be not quite sure if I can be trusted.  

A fountain I found in Scottsdale.  This little fountain is located in a very hidden spot so I don't think many people see it at all.  It made me curious as why it was even there.

I was driving along Camelback Road when I saw the clouds building up in the sky behind me and reflected in this building.  I was curious as to why the reflection was so broken up.  It looked like only pieces of the clouds were captured in the reflections.  

Do you remember this security robot I found last year?  It was located at the old Park Central Shopping Center that is now an office complex.  Here it is again and apparently it was curious as to what I was doing the day I was there to photograph this mural.  That little robot was following me so I turned around and snapped a photo of it.  That seemed only fair because I'm pretty sure it was taking photos of me too.

All Gone!

 

There used to be a beautiful fountain at the Scottsdale Civic Center Park. 

It was large with several fountain spouts that pushed water into the air.  It was located right in the middle of the park and although you wouldn't know it when you were walking around it, the fountain was located right above a street that traveled north and south right under the park.  That fountain started to cause leakage below it and the water was causing a lot of damage to the underpass for the road.  Back in 2018, I wrote about it with some photos of the temporary art pieces that replaced the water.

It was finally decided that the entire underpass had to be rebuilt so construction started in the fall of 2018 and it continued into the spring of 2021.  During that time, the park was almost divided into two pieces because of the construction and the work that needed to be done to stabilize the area.  When it finally opened again, this is what replaced the fountain.  A long flat space with both grass and paved area.  It's certainly not as attractive as the fountain but the area has become a  popular place to ride bikes through the park and picnic in the grass.  It's still a popular park, it just looks different to those of us who remember the fountain.

Goodbye California

 

I'm leaving this little bit of paradise today and heading back to Arizona.  This time driving.  Actually, Julie will be driving.  Since she was here all month, she had her car here.

Parting from this incredible view is hard to do but I'm sure I'll be back again in the future.  For today it will be a road trip back to Arizona's summer heat.  It was great to have this break.

Everybody Loves a Pretty Fountain

 

What is it about fountains that we find so attractive?  It probably has something to do with the artistry of the water flow and the rushing sound it makes.  In Scottsdale along the paths at the area called the Scottsdale Waterfront is this fountain.  

It sits right in the middle of one of the walking paths so it can't be missed.  And, I can't imagine why anyone would want to miss it.  It draws me in for a closer look every time I'm there.  

So if I can't be sitting on the beach right now, sitting next to a fountain will have to do.  

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm visiting an Arizona town with an unusual name.

Merry Horses

 

I was in Scottsdale last weekend and noticed that the fountain horses had their holiday gear on.  They always look so festive with those pretty wreaths around their necks.  It always reminds me of the lions in front of the Art Institute of Chicago.  It is tradition to put wreaths around the lions necks.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm visiting another New York landmark.

Time for a Long Walk

 

I went for a long walk at the Desert Botanical Garden yesterday.  I expected it to be pretty quiet but I didn't know it was a "dog day" and there were quite a lot of people walking their dogs.  However, everyone wore masks and kept their distance so it was okay.  I noticed that someone had done a little 'decorating' at one of the fountains.  It looks like someone was practicing making cairns.  

There were quite a few butterflies enjoy the plant called appropriately, butterfly mist.

It was great to be outside enjoying the fresh air, sunshine and scenery.  We had a sudden drop in temperatures about a week and a half ago.  We went from the 100's to the 50's and 60's in a matter of hours.  That was quite a shock to my system.  I've been bundled up in sweaters for a week so it was good to get out without a sweater.  We are supposed to be approaching more normal winter temps this week.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm visiting a rocky part of Arizona.

The Fountain Called To Me

I had one of those moments yesterday morning when I couldn't stand to be cooped up in my house any longer.  I needed to make an escape.

So I grabbed my camera and got in the car with nowhere in particular in mind.  I drove east to Central Avenue and then headed south into the midtown commercial area.  As I approached Thomas Road, I looked to the left and got a peek at this fountain.

I immediately turned left and found a place to park so I could wander around and take a few photos.  I've featured this fountain at the Phoenix Plaza high-rise complex before but I decided it was time for an update.  I was the only person around so I took my time and photographed it from different angles.  You can barely see those walls that run through the fountain in the top two photos.  You have to get all the way around it to see them.   Two years ago I posted a photo taken from high up in one of the towers looking down so you can see the fountain from above.

Back to Normal

The sun was shining brightly yesterday so it appears we are back to normal.  I stopped at Trader Joe's on my way home and snapped this photo of the pretty fountain at Town & Country Shopping Center. It seems as though the storm knocked our temperatures out of the triple digit area and back into the wonderful 80's.  We are on the road to fall weather in the desert!

Secluded Fountain

I used to work for an organization that held meetings and events at an event space in north Phoenix.  I was always curios about this fountain that was isolated on the property behind a fence.

Recently I drove up to the center to see if the fountain was still there and if it was still secluded behind a fence.  It was there and still surrounded by a tall fence.  Strange, since it's the only thing inside that enclosure.

The space is located directly across from the main entrance to the event space.  Maybe it's just used for photo opportunities when they are hosting a wedding party.  That's going to be my guess.

Looking Down

Remember last month when I was doing all those 10-year anniversary shots?  One of the photos I posted was of a fountain at the Phoenix Plaza Office complex.  Well, here is what that fountain looks like when you are high up in one of those tall office buildings that make up this office complex.  It's just a little circle of frothy water from way up there.

Fountain Centerpiece

When I set out to take another photo of this fountain, I was beginning to think I'd have to show it to you dried up.  I stopped there three different times to take a photo and it was dry each time.  Finally, one day two weeks ago I happened to be driving past and I noticed it was on.  I made a quick turn into the parking area to get my photo.  This fountain is the centerpiece of the Phoenix Plaza Office complex.  It must be a refreshing view to walk past on your way to work every day.

The Fountain is Closed

I've always enjoyed seeing this fountain in the Scottsdale Civic Center Park but the last few times I'd been there, the fountain was turned off.  I wondered why.

This last weekend, I finally learned why such a pretty fountain had been turned off.  I hadn't realized that the fountain sits over the top of an underpass for a road and the fountain had started to leak, causing damage to the structure below.  The city is working on plans to renovate the whole park but, because work will not begin for about a year, this art piece has been added to make the dry fountain more interesting.  The piece is called Sun Lanterns by Eli Richard.  Apparently they contain solar cells and at twilight they light up and stay lit all night.  My next goal is to get there in the evening sometime soon so I can see them lit up.

First Up then Down

The next house we visited on the Phoenix Home and Garden tour required us to go up a bit into the McDowell Mountain foothills.

Then once we got there we had to go down a rather steep driveway (you can see the edge of it to the middle right of this photo) to get to the entrance.

After we arrived at the base of the driveway, we went through the arched entrance to a rather splendid courtyard complete with a fountain.  This was another rather large house this one in a Spanish style.

The pool area had some pretty spectacular views over the valley below.  They would have been even more spectacular if it hadn't been such an overcast day.  It looks like you could swim to the edge of this pool and stop to admire the view before returning.  Very nice.

Phoenix Art Museum Odds and Ends

While I was looking through my photos from the Phoenix Art Museum to find the two I posted yesterday, I found quite a few photos I had never posted in a variety of places around the museum.  So, today I have an assortment of odds and ends all from the art museum.  Above is a view of the entrance with the fountain in the foreground.  I love that fountain that has a long beam-like arm that hangs over the pool with a double waterfall.

Right up by the front door is another little fountain with a beautiful wall sculpture in the background.

One time when I was on the second floor I took this photo looking down on the hall that leads from the museum entrance area into the galleries.  

Another long hallway on the second floor leads from one end of the museum to the other.  It's a sort of bridge that spans over a garden area below.

Here's one for my readers who are long time Phoenix residents.  This was taken back when they had that wonderful display of all kinds of designer shoes.  This shoe is from the Goldwater's Department Store.  Anyone remember that store?  I loved shopping there when I first moved to Phoenix.  It has long since been swallowed up by one of the big department store chains.

And, this last photo is from the current display in the designer fashion gallery.  The reason I snapped this photo is that I once owned  this set.  (That's probably way too much information, right?)

The display label says it's by Vanity Fair from the 60's and it was certainly the 60's when I had the set.  

Vanity Fair lingerie was not expensive so I can assure you I didn't pay designer prices.  It just brought back some memories.