Variety is the spice of life they say and yet I find that I form routines that easily slip into ruts. I eat the same foods at the same places and sit in the same seats at restaurants and at home. Is it any wonder that sometimes life feels a bit boring? I use to crochet a lot years ago and then started knitting which I prefer now but have been feeling a little bored with that too sooooooooo I dug out a old crochet pattern and whipped it up and didn't it turn out cute?
and then I got to thinking about several cross stitch kits I had started and tucked away and I got this brain storm.
What if I do a variety of projects all in different places in my house that I normally don't even sit in......
like the dinning room
which is usually only when we have company
good lighting and lots of room to work on this project
maybe it will get finished in time for Christmas
and the living room.....
that never gets used...well look what I tucked out of view.....
another cross stitch that I started many moons ago
and then there is the room where we only exercise body or voice....
I tucked a little bag of yarn scraps and a crochet hook to make up a preemie blanket and do a little rocking
and of course I still have my regular spot to do some knitting.....
and my experience with all of those was that the best perspective of the bridge was at a distance like this view of Sydney Harbor Bridge...
that I did not drive over but saw.
If I got to ride over that bridge in Korea would I even see the water? Maybe up close and personal isn't always the best choice ...............................................................
How many times do we hear politicians talk about helping the poor and then look at there personal charitable giving to see barely a penny's worth out of their pocket.
How many times do we hear people gripe and grumble about our government and then have the nerve to say they didn't vote.
How many times do we hear stories of people being robbed and people pretending not to see it because they don't want to get involved and then complain about the crime rate increasing.
As a young girl I grew up in a very small town and my folks owned the only grocery store....they refused to even say whether they were Democrat or Republican because it would hurt their business. Even I am not sure what their preference was but I remember thinking it wasn't right. I would like to think as an adult now that I would have the courage to stand up for what I believe....perhaps that is why this recent story on FOX news impressed me so much. You may not agree with it but he has put his money where his mouth is and has even received death treats.
"To Whom it May Concern: I thought you all might be interested in this. We will try to demonstrate once again that the bottom line for our business is principle, not money. Yes, it has been damaging at times but our values are intact. Effective immediately, if you voted for Obama, your money is no good here. You have proven beyond a doubt that you are not responsible enough to own a firearm. We have just put a sign up on the front door to save you the trouble of walking all the way in here.”
What a beautiful, historic place this was. Originally owned by a Mexican family for over 140 years and many of the buildings renovated and still being used like this BEAUTIFUL restaurant...
that was originally the stable. I loved this place just look at the floor...
The lighting...
The bar was rather quaint too...
with the wall of old sombrero's and the saddle stools (too bad no one got a picture of hubby and I straddled on these...on second thought it might not have been too pretty).
All the rooms were casita's and like the rest of the place they were beautiful...
With the rich Mexican colors...
But the top of it all was the grounds.....
Unique lighted walkways that lead throughout
fountains and fire pits
and in the middle of the property were shops and some original silo's (didn't get a picture) and
huge tree's
cattle grazing in the middle of the golf course...
Special outside dining
something to catch your eye everywhere you looked
How about this wind spinner made out of bicycle fenders.
They were having a hot air balloon event and we saw them starting to set up...
and what a sight at night...
I walked up to one to take a picture and right when I did he gave it the gas..
They had a great band playing...
Just wished it would have been in a area where you could dance......
and to top it all off....the service was great and the food was awesome!
Slept like a baby and in the morning we walked hurried to the restaurant for breakfast (It was only 37 degrees outside) and it was just as pretty as it was before....here is a few more views..........
When I find a week-end that neither of us have any commitments I try to come up with a jaunt plan so that is the occasion for us heading south. First to the Casino Del Sol in Tucson. I have posted about this casino before and it is indeed the most beautiful one I have ever been in. They won't allow you to take pictures inside the casino but you can see some on their web site. This is owned by the Indian tribe, Pascua Yagui, a small tribe and unusual in the fact that they are very friendly and always busy cleaning and etc. We had never stayed here before and although it was a bit expensive we decided we would. I must say the room was beautiful....
How about this cleaver couch to lounge on and looking out of that curtain and off the 9th floor was our pretty mountain view....
See that arch looking thing? That is the entrance to the casino and all those clouds gathered up and produced a early morning rain....a treat in the desert.
The easily spotted copper dome from our room.
One of the many domed ceilings throughout the facility.
Hotel entrance and the dome from ground level.
Although this facility is a feast for ones eyes we found that it did not make the grade for comfort. The pillows were those kind you fight all night to keep punched down and that cleaver couch was hard as a rock. Even the fancy restaurant did not make the grade with the food being just okay. I will say that I did have a great breakfast in their little 60's cafe....scrambled egg, cheese and ham quesadilla! It was delicious.
The next morning we headed further south to a landmark.......The Titan Missle Museum in Sahaurita, Arizona. I wasn't sure this was going to be too good but as it turned out we both enjoyed it immensely.
During the cold war era there were 54 missile launch sites and they have all been destroyed with the exception of this one as a landmark. Although built in the 1960's the engineering and security was amazing.
This is a post card I scanned of the underground site we viewed. We started in the middle section down 55 steps to the domed crew area. The walls were sometimes 18 inches thick with doors that sealed and locked to protect them from attack. So in other words our country could be bombed but this crew could still launch this missile in retaliation. It was know as "the safety through deterrent program". They did not hide these missile sites from our enemies view.
The docent was a older man and he was really good..keep things moving and made it simple to understand. Upon entering the control room he asked if I would like to sit in the Combat Crew Commanders chair in front of all the controls...trust me, I am always ready to sit down.
There were so many details that had to coincide in order to follow the Presidents order, if it came, to launch the missile that mistakes were impossible.
The crew worked 24 hour shifts and when a new crew came on board they did a check off list of the whole facility as well as during their shift. The crew area was suspended on huge springs to be able to withstand the blast of an attack from a incoming missile. There were so many fascinating details that I can't begin to re-tell them. I wished I would have gotten a picture of the key on the control center. In order to launch the missile that key and one that was across this picture has to be turned at exactly the same time. The docent asked me give a count down and we both turned the key to demonstrate...no, nothing blew up but I did hold my breath:) Upon leaving the crew center I was given this card....
looking up through a window at the missile....funny you can see the reflection of my camera and this was another view more eye level....
It was then time to climb those 55 stairs back up to the top and then over to the area right above the missile where we were able to look down at it.....
Is this amazing or what! Can't believe I got such a good picture of it.
This Titan II missile is 103 feet tall and weighed 165 tons. It carried a nine-megaton warhead and had a top speed of 16,000 mph.....a range of 6,000 miles with the time to target: 30 minutes. Upon impact it destroyed everything within a 30 mile radius.
The war head
This is what I brought home....
Freeze-dried Ice Cream sandwich
Just had to give it a try and bring one to the the grand kids. Not bad but not what I expected either. Just a little south to be cont.
and then I got to thinking about several cross stitch kits I had started and tucked away and I got this brain storm.
which is usually only when we have company
good lighting and lots of room to work on this project
maybe it will get finished in time for Christmas
another cross stitch that I started many moons ago
I tucked a little bag of yarn scraps and a crochet hook to make up a preemie blanket and do a little rocking
and of course I still have my regular spot to do some knitting.....
good lighting and lots of room to work on this project
maybe it will get finished in time for Christmas 
another cross stitch that I started many moons ago
