Looking for inspiration

For some reason I’m not feeling very inspired lately to create, cook or exercise. I keep looking for inspiration in my usual ways and I’m starting to wonder if the heat is zapping it away.

With temps bordering at the 100 degree mark this Memorial Day weekend, I think my weekend is going to be all about staying cool. The perfect way to spend time on hot days is in the water so I think I just might spend some time floating and contemplating blue sky. Maybe while I am at it, I will be inspired to get motivated or maybe I will let my thoughts of being productive float away along with the passing clouds.

However you choose to spend your time this holiday weekend, I hope you have some fun contemplating inspiration. If you do, please share it with me. I would love to hear all about it.

“Inspiration arrives as a packet of material to be delivered.” John Updike

Happy Memorial Day!!!

Riparian Adventure

Yesterday, a friend of mine and I went to the Gilbert Riparian Park.  This was my first visit.  It is a nice sized park with walking trails that intertwine throughout several ponds. 

Here are a few pictures of the water foul we saw.

A nice oasis in the middle of the city, in the middle of the desert.

Gone but soon to be replaced

The cool weather plants I enjoyed from Fall through Spring are sadly gone now, but thanks to the latest weather "cool down" we enjoyed today, I was able to head out into the garden and remove all the grass and dead plants from the planter and the pots. 

The Sunflowers and Morning Glories that I planted several weeks ago are working their way up in the planter.  I plan to put in Zinnia seeds later today.  Perhaps I will add in Vinca Rosea and more Iceplant too.  Sounds like a trip to Home Depot so it many not end with just these plants going into the ground.

The pots that were once overflowing with Violas and Stock are nearly empty.  There is 1 lone Stock plant still in the pot with the Lemon Tree.  Earlier in the Spring, as an experiment, I prunned the Stock way back because it became too leggy.  They rebounded and bloomed all over again.  With the really hot temps we had over the past few weeks, it is amazing that this plant still looks good. 

My Mexican Bird of Paradise is looking really good.  It underwent a major prunning this past winter and I am very happy to see that it is already blooming. 

Don't you think the blossoms are outstandingly pretty?

“The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,though to itself it only live and die.” William Shakespeare

Ode to my friends and Lili Von Shtupp

After a great night of good friends, good food and good wine, and only 2 1/2 hours of sleep, I found myself in a somewhat hungover stupor, entertaining myself with the Lili Von Shtupp song from Blazing Saddles. Let me preface by saying that this song began playing in my head because I was wandering around my house saying, "I'm tired".  Hense the inspiration for the song.  So, without further adieu...

Here I stand, the goddess of desire. Set men on fire. I have this power. Morning, noon, and night, it's dwink and dancing. Some quick womancing. And then a shower. Stage door Johnnies constantly suwwound me. They always hound me, with one wequest. Who can satisfy their lustful habits? I'm not a wabbit. I need some west.

I'm tired, sick and tired of love. I've had my fill of love, from below and above. Tired. Tired of being admired. Tired of love uninspired. Let's face it, I'm tired!

I've been with thousands of men, again and again, they pwomise the moon. They're always coming and going and going and coming... and always too soon.

Right, girls?

I'm tired, tired of playing the game. Ain't it a crying shame, I'm so tired.

God Dam it, I'm exhausted!

Tired, tired of playing the game, ain't it a crying shame. I'm so tired.

I've been with thousands of men, again and again, they sing the same tune. They start with Bywon and Shelley then jump on your belly and bust your balloon. Tired. Tired of playing the game. Ain't it a fwiggin shame. I'm so... let's face it, evewything below the waste is kaput!

Thanks to Donna, Cathy and Susan for a really great evening gals!! I can't wait for all of us to be together.

Surprise, surprise, surprise???

Every once in a while, I get a good horoscope and today's was right up there...

"You're not easy to surprise, and most people know it. You've heard it all, memorized a good chunk of it and read up on the rest. At the moment, though, the universe has arranged a big surprise for you -- and not only are you unable to see it coming, you're also caught totally off guard when it arrives. The good news is that this surprise should be wonderful. make sure you're prepared for anything!"

I'm not the typical person who appreciates surprises, but after reading this horoscope, I thought what the heck, I can definitely use a "wonderful" surprise.  So here I am, posting this horoscope as a way of putting this wish back out into the universe. 

Universe, I am totally ready for my big surprise!!  Maybe it will be that wonderful job I dreamt of those many, many months ago, where I cried tears of happiness because I was so happy with my job.

Naturally I will post whatever surprise I get, as soon as it happens.  In the meantime, I'm thinking positive thoughts.

Has anyone seen my marbles??

Is it obvious that I was enamored with this little boat of marbles?  As a child I loved playing with marbles and I think it was more because I was drawn to the designs in the glass than the game itself. 

In 2008, we attended the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden, see my Chihuly page for more pictures of this amazing exhibit.

If only I could have that boat of marbles...

How I spent Saturday

Yesterday, I went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum with a friend.  We had a wonderful time enjoying each other's company, spotting wildlife and taking in nature's latest pallet of color.

There are a few more pictures added to the bottom of my Hiking page.