gusty winds in Texas

There aren't any pictures to accompany this entry.  I can assure you I was not doing anything except clutching the steering wheel as I drove across west Texas recently.  The entire southwest had been experiencing windy weather and as I left Mesa on my way to El Paso I kept hearing about road closures, including the interstate, due to the high winds.  I was able to make it to El Paso and I stayed the night there.  The next morning started out as a beautiful sunny day and I expected to reach Abilene or Dallas by the end of the day.  I never made it that far.  I was able to drive for a couple of hours (maybe one hundred and twenty five miles or so) and then I pulled off at Van Horn.  All along the way my car was being buffeted by the strong, gusty winds and, quite frankly, I was getting scared.     The gusts were erratic.  It took a lot of strength to keep the car in one lane.  When I parked at the hotel and tried to unload my things I found that I couldn't open the car doors on one side of the car because of the wind blasts.  I opened the trunk but things started to blow around.  The car was rocking in the wind.  I re-parked my car on the other side of the building.  Sand was blowing everywhere.  I was safe for the night, though, so I went indoors and (yes) watched TV.  Enough with the scary driving!  The next day turned out to be a beautiful, calm day so I went on my way.  Happy.

little purple flowers

I found these pretty purple flowers growing in a gravel garden by an apartment complex in Mesa.  The flowers are making their colorful appearance just as Spring begins it's new season.  Enjoy.

Chandler art gallery

There is a wonderful art gallery inside of the Chandler Performing Arts Center and I had the pleasure of  viewing some beautiful, quirky and interesting works of art.  The featured artist for the month of February painted on glass and then layered the glass for depth perception.  Here are some samples.  Enjoy!

Glenn Miller Orchestra

I went to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra recently while in Chandler, AZ . Wow, what a terrific performance by exceptional musicians.  This orchestra has been performing continually since the early 1950's after a ten year break following the death of Glenn Miller.  The family of Glenn Miller wanted to see the orchestra continue and it was re-organized and has been going strong ever since.  The music and music stylings were all performed as the Glenn Miller Orchestra did in the 1940's.   Many favorite melodies were enjoyed by the full house audience.  Fantastic.

Queen Creek olives

We took a day trip to Queen Creek olive groves one Saturday.  The groves are family owned and operated and there is a magnificent sales room full of the oils and vinegars they make on the farm.  We took a tour of the processing room and learned about the process of making olive oil.  Above is a picture of an old time press.  Olive trees are very open and not easy to photograph.  I did my best.  The property is beautifully landscaped and open for lunch.  Someone was having a bridal shower in the tented pavilion on the day we visited.  Perfect weather added to the perfect day.

marathon

While I was in Mesa I was able to have a front row seat to a marathon.  The race route ran right by the balcony outside of the apartment.  I got to sit, they got to run.  All is well.

sand dunes

Recently I was driving from San Diego to Mesa, AZ.  When I reached El Centro I decided to take an alternative route.  Instead of continuing on I-8, I drove north on a smaller road that wound through the eastern California sand dunes.  The area is very active on the weekends with ATV riders tearing up and down the dunes.  I had seen the riders from a distance on previous trips along the interstate but I was now seeing the tracks left by the vehicles spread out right before me.  Around every corner on this curvy road were crazy patterns left in the sand.  There were figure eights and swirls of all kinds.  What fun they must be having while riding in the dessert.  This was an unexpected surprise for me and a great choice of an alternate route, I'd say.  I enjoyed my drive tremendously.