Garwood Trail

Corona de Tucson

October 26, 2021

In March of 2019, Joe and I visited DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun.  I won't rewrite about his beautiful gallery or mission (he designed and built both which were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006) or the life of Ted DeGrazia in this post.  

The Featured Post (top, right side bar) is a link to the blog post I wrote on that visit.   I closed that post by writing "and a return visit someday would be just as enjoyable".  It definitely was! 

There are six permanent exhibits featured in the gallery.  We spent awhile perusing them again, but the reason for going was to see the three rotating exhibits we had not seen.  The photo below shows the entrance to the corridor where the "treasures from the vault" are on display. 

First are the paintings and drawings in a collection named "Dinner with DeGrazia" featuring regional food of the desert southwest.

 

Next is the exhibit titled "DeGrazia Recycled".  

The entire collection of oil paintings were done on ceiling board scraps leftover from the construction of the gallery.  

"Wispy layers of pastel colors had been dry brushed onto rough-sawn ceiling boards before installation, and the resulting cut-off scraps were recycled as ready made, pre-painted backgrounds."  

"Lost in the Flowers"

The smallest known oil paintings by DeGRazia were done on these ceiling board knots.

The last rotating exhibit,  "DeGrazia's Superstition Mountain Collection" is a collection of essays, drawings, and paintings for his 1972 book Degrazia and His Mountain - The Superstition.  From the late 1940s to the late 1970s, DeGrazia was a frequent visitor to the mountain...exploring the backcountry on horseback and prospecting for gold.  He was inspired by the legends, history, natural beauty, and native cultures of the Superstitions.  

Dr. Thorne (oil on canvas in 1972)

This is one of my favorite paintings in this collection. 

There is Hope

When we visited the gallery in 2019, Mission in the Sun was closed due to renovations.  The mission was the first building DeGrazia constructed in honor of Padre Kino.  It is open 365 days a year. 

Murals painted in the entrance

"The roof is open to the sky, as it should be. You can't close up God in a stuffy room!"  DeGrazia

Moving on,  we explored a new trail.  Our destination was Garwood Dam.  Garwood Dam was built in 1948 by Nelson Garwood, who at the time, owned 450 acres in what is now the northwest corner of Saguaro NP East.  Access to the property was difficult for the Garwoods so they constructed an entrance road on Speedway Blvd..  Today, Douglas Spring Trailhead is located in the same proximity as their road and this is where we began our hike.  

There are lots of intertwining trails off Douglas Spring Trail.  The intersections are well marked and signs are easy to follow so a hike can be as long or as short as you like.

Joe and I were both in awe as we walked along completely engulfed by the desert and all it's beauty. We stopped a lot, just to breath and take it all in.  This is home!

We did an in-out trail and the dam was our turning around point.  It is definitely a place we will do more exploring.  

At home we have enjoyed lovely pastel skies,

curious teenagers,

shimmering hues,

early morning smell of rain, 

and lots of cuddles.

Joe and I got boosted this week.  I found myself on the sofa with a headache and achy muscles from head to toe for a couple of days...not quite as bad as it was when I had the second vax.  Jack stays close by!  

That's a wrap...another week in the memory bank from our little oasis in the desert.  Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !

Cactus Forest

Corona de Tucson

October 18, 2021

It was a fun week.  I always enjoy playing in the dirt.  We haven't begun to tackle the yard here...maybe this upcoming spring...but I wanted to add some color on the patio.  

Violas have been a "fall thing" for many years.   Even the years we were rolling in Belle, I always managed to have a pot or two on the picnic table.   These sweet little blossoms have a way of spreading "happy".  

I also decided to plant some succulents.  Remember the pumpkin I was going to buy at the market?  Well, I figured I could just plant one so I gave it a try.   There wasn't a lot of selection left on pumpkins and I'm afraid this pumpkin will not last a few months as it has signs of aging...you know, those ugly little dark spots.  The succulents need light so having it on the big table won't work.  

I have never paid much attention to succulents until now.  I am really liking them!  The one pot I have on the patio has grown so much and when the leaves fall off, they root and make new plants.  

I also found this cute little saguaro planter online and Joe helped me pick out a succulent for it.   

I have been placing loose leaves from my other succulent plant in it and one already has new growth.  Did you know succulent is a Latin word meaning "juice" or "sap" ?  

Joe and I have spent a few hours this week on photos.  The space over the mesquite bench in the foyer looked kinda naked.  Joe has long been asking to hang some of my photography.  I dreaded going thru pictures even though I do have a few favorites.  I knew it would be time consuming and I have only completed the more recent years.  But we did pick out a few and bought frames at Hobby Lobby.  It was not a hard project, but my brain got tired.  I don't do so well with eights and sixteenths on the yard stick.  Joe does, thank goodness!  

This was a first for us as we have never hung a collage of photos before.  It took all morning.

This is a start as there are lots and lots more pictures.  I think we will have some to rotate in and out so we don't get tired of looking at the same photos.  

Another biggie this week was a new motor for Belle's awning.  It has been two years since the old one died.  Supply and demand for new RVs has made finding a new motor difficult.  

It is a good thing we have Kenneth and Rachel (Cameron's Reliable Mobile Repair) on our team.  Thank you very much for finding the motor and installing it !

One thing I look forward to is walks/hikes in the desert.  To say I love being outside with camera in hand would be an understatement.  This week found us back at Saguaro NP East...

 

...on the Cactus Forest Trail. 

The young...

The old...

The distinguished...

Cactus Forest Trail is an easy hike that you can make as long or as short as you want.  There are side trails along the way.  One of them goes to Lime Falls, but we knew it would be dry.  

That about wraps up our week.  Our sweet Dover girl has become my shadow these days.  I figure she doesn't hear me in the house so wherever I go, she follows.  She sits patiently, watches and sleeps until it's time to move somewhere else.  We sure do love her !

And Sally had a spa day.  I'm not sure about the ears, but she thinks she looks absolutely gorgeous and that is all that matters !  

So until next time,  

HAPPY TRAILS !