bits & pieces

I'm having a cactus moment!

This plant has been living with us for over 2 years.

It showed no growth at all.

I thought it might be dead, I couldn't really tell if it was growing or had become petrified.  Not petrified as in scared, petrified as in dead and turning to rock!  Still, I watered it, wiped off the cobwebs, kept it in a sunny spot, and figured that even if it was going to die, it was a unique specimen.  Then, I started noticing something funny going on up on top.

Now it is sprouting out little clubby branches!

So we'll have to watch and see what takes shape!

Last night my quilt group, Ham Lake Piecemakers, had our summer picnic/party at the home of one of our members, Nancy.  After our potluck feast, we had a little socializing and show-and-tell.

Maggie showed this quilt, just back from the longarm quilter, Dawn.

It's a pleasure to see one of my patterns all sewn up by someone other than me!

This pattern is Connections and I think it was from 2015 for Quilt MN.

Yesterday also brought some work in our garden, and picking more green beans.

A few had been allowed to grow past their prime!  I much prefer them at a smaller, more tender age!

a little detour

While wandering the aisles of Lowe's last night, pondering what perfect paint color to purchase, which light fixtures would work and the proper wood putty that I need, I took a turn around the plants and gardening area.  Not the outside, since it's nowhere near time for that area.  But the indoor plants, in case they had a succulent or 2 for my house.  Succulents are a pretty safe bet because they tolerate neglect.  And if they do die, they take awhile to die, so they still look OK on the shelf!

So, I found this amazing looking specimen called the coral cactus.  I have never seen it before.  Really exotic looking, tinted with a little purplish red on the edge, curling around like a jellyfish floating in the water.  At least that's what I see!  Of course, it had to come home with me!

a change of scenery

Yesterday morning (Thursday) Bob and I loaded up our bags and headed south. This is what our thermometer said when we left the house:

Yes, -18.4! So it was with much joy that we stepped into the sunshine in Phoenix later in the morning. Brother-in-law Art picked us up and shuttled us to his home in Ahwatukee, an area of the city where he and his wife, Sharon, have lived for about 7 years. We have not visited here before, so we were overdue to see where this branch of the family migrated to. Their home is near the South Mt. park where we went for a hike in the late afternoon. It was a beautiful spot, so different in look and feel from our own home.

Today we drove further south to Tucson. We visited the Desert Museum, a very nice nature center that taught us everything we ever wanted to know about the plants and animals of this area. We are impressed with the cacti and long vistas all around. It has been a beautiful and sunny day, jeans and t-shirt weather. We also visited a huge open pit copper mine, and then explored a bit of the University of Arizona with our friend, Pete, who is a friend from back home and attends school here. The campus is beautiful, I wouldn't mind going back to school if I could do it under palm trees!

Pete directed us to a local favorite Mexican food spot for some delicious and authentic cuisine. It has been a very fun day, now ready for a good rest and more fun tomorrow!