This is My Forties

After the Grand Canyon, we were fine with sticking closer to home.  I had found quite a few interesting stops in the general area, but we all agreed driving more than like 15 minutes was not going to happen.  The closest place was Walnut Canyon National Monument . An ancient Native American tribe in this area, the Sinagua people, built homes into the rocks at around 1100 to save themselves from all the complications of living near volcanic eruptions (nearby Sunset Crater had a series of eruptions in 1040).  They only stayed in these cliff dwellings for about 4 generations (100 years) and then moved on.  There were little constructed rooms all over the cliffs.  It was fascinating.  And beautiful.  We were happy to be able to interact with the scenery.         Tristan discovered his eye for photography and took tons of pictures with my old phone.  He's got a really great instinct for framing photos and pays attention to...

We all woke up relatively early to make the 1.5hr drive to the South Rim entrance of the Grand Canyon.  We were hoping since it was early on a weekday we wouldn't have to contend with too many crowds.  Granted, we've never been to the Grand Canyon so I don't know what "busy" looks like to the park, but it seemed crowded.  Not so busy we didn't enjoy ourselves though!!!   The drive there was pretty, and I was able to capture a dust devil so that was fun.  Our friends had to turn around and go back into town to get gas since we were on a back country road through the Coconino National Forest , which doesn't have gas stations.  We took that opportunity to pick up more snacks and drinks.  No biggie, still found parking :)   Brennan was  not  going to go anywhere near the edge and I didn't want to force him.  He and his buddy ran around to find vegetation growing in unusual places.  They also were very interested in the over...

Hello again blogosphere!   Over the past month I have been evolving.  I've always believed that people come in and out of our lives at whatever time they're "supposed to" to teach us or help us.  Whether you learn or recognize the lesson is up to you.  This has happened throughout my entire life.  I can name a million lessons I've learned over the years from a once-stranger popping into my life at just the right time.  In fact, everyone I know falls under this category.  Sometimes these people stick around, sometimes they fade back into the background, but they're always an important part of my life.  Being able to see the connections we all have to each other has me in constant awe.  Everywhere we have been we've been fortunate to find amazing friends.  How?  Why?  Honestly I think it's because we're open to it and we welcome it in... we allow it to happen.  Before I start sounding too hippie and lose you all, allow me...