Tubac, La Fiesta de Guadaloupe and Gallery in the Sun

Corona de Tucson

December 10, 2023 

Last weekend was Luminaria Nights de Tubac and date night for us.  This quaint little artsy community holds this annual Christmas event the first weekend in December.  The village is full of Christmas treats, shopping, music, lights and the stores stay open late.  We arrived just before sunset...

and perused the walkways.  

My favorite is passing by the store fronts and peeking thru the windows.  

Whenever in Tubac, we always make a stop at The Clay Rabbit.  

The Clay Rabbit has been around for over 40 years. It started in Oregon and made its way to southwest Arizona about 10 years ago.  

The Clay Rabbit store front

Pottery pieces are made from high fired stoneware and are very durable...oven proof, microwave safe, weather resistant and even scratch resistant.  Debbie is the artist hand painting each unique piece and her husband is the potter.  Both work in their studio/gallery (shown in the above photo) and invite folks inside to "see up close" their work in progress and their finished products.  

Before heading home, we stopped in for a toasted sandwich and iced latte at Tubac Deli & Coffee.  This small deli serves the best breads, pastries and pies...baked in house daily.  

During morning coffee on Sunday, we decided to head north to Gallery in the Sun...a 10 acre National Historic District built by artist Ted DeGrazia in the 1950s...to attend the La Fiesta de Guadaloupe.  

The gallery itself is a work of art.

The La Fiesta de Guadaloupe celebration at Gallery in the Sun began some 40 years ago when DeGrazia opened up his mission, gallery and grounds free of charge to honor Mexico's patron saint, Our Lady of Guadaloupe, with music and dancing.  The event was held outside under beautiful blue skies. 

Folkloric dance, like the English term folk dance, means dances of the people. It reflects the traditions, cultures, and beliefs of people in a particular region.  The life and spirit of the people are shared thru its movement and music.  The colors, the rhythm and feet tapping, long swirling and swishing skirts, ribbons and braided hair, and the sounds of dancers yelling all mix for a vibrant and energetic ballet.  I have read that dance is a form of "bodily dialogue" and the sweet faces of all these young girls speaks volumes.   

I had to google the yelling to understand why it is such an important part of folkloric dance.  "El Grito" referes to the "El Grito de Dolores" or the cry that Father Miguel Hildago delivered to his parish on Sept. 16, 1810 in the small town of Delores.  The cry was a call to the Mexican people that triggered the Mexican War of Independence.

Folkloric dance is not just about swirling skirts...boys have an important roll in representing traditions and culture as well.  The sword dance tells the story of defense against evil spirits.  

We spent some time meandering thru the gallery.  

There are six permanent collections we have seen several times, so most of Sundays visit was to experience the smaller rotating exhibits.  

"Scenes From the Revolution" is a collection of oil paintings of the Mexican Revolution that DeGrazia painted between 1937- 1973.  The series depicts the soldiers, bandits, and men and women of the working class who fought with the Northern revolutionary forces of Pancho Villa.

Titled: Revolution Adelitz #15
oil on canvas: 1937

"DeGrazia in Black and White" features the monochromatic grey oil paintings dating from 1940 - 1972.  This series includes portraits of DeGrazia's cats, landscapes, and street scenes.  From 1936 - 1942, DeGrazia was a fixture in downtown Bisbee.  While working seven days a week as the manager of the Lyric Theatre movie house, he painted for several hours every morning in a studio at the theatre.  In the afternoon he walked about town drumming up business for the theatre then returning to manage the theatre from 6pm to midnight.  He painted the scenes he often saw while walking home after midnight.  

Titled: Saint Almo Saloon
oil on canvas: 1941
On the far right of the picture DeGrazia misspelled the name as Saint Almo Saloon.  St Elmo Saloon, established in 1902 is still open as the longest continually run bar in Arizona.   

 

Titled: Boots
oil on canvas: 1940

DeGrazia's Beggars is a selection that traces the evolution of the artist's style and approach to the subject across four decades...1940 - 1982.  He focused on the struggles of the working class, the poor, and the homeless in his early style of social realism and they remained subjects for the rest of his life. 

DeGrazia stated, "Beggars are among the tired, hungry, mourning, and anguished."   

Titled: Beggar Girl
watercolor: 1964

DeGrazia's Bus is a featured collection of works from 1944 - 1966.  An enduring memory of a Mexican bus in Nogales inspired this recurring series of drawings, watercolors, screen prints, and oil paintings.  They all portray the same memory in mute detail with some minor variations of luggage and passengers. DeGrazia's bus...a jalopy with a radiator cap and spoked wheels, seen in profile heading from left to right, crowded with passengers and always with a man hanging from the back.  This collection was displayed in DeGrazia's studio.

The Nogales Bus...1950s

   

Titled: Third Class Bus
oil on canvas: 1944

The rest of the week found us heading to the dermatologist where Joe had MOHs surgery on the right side of his neck, to the dentist for me to get my teeth cleaned, to the eye doctor to pick up my new glasses and Sally to the groomers to have her nails done. Whew !  

Back at the oasis, I enjoyed the kitchen, holiday music and checked a couple of favorites off the "Will you please make..." list while Joe followed the doctor's orders and took it easy for a couple of days. 

Two batches were requested...one for Joe and one for Jamie

Joe wanted cookies! He isn't picky so I made my favorite peanut butter cookies dipped in Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate melting wafers.  

The weather last week was perfect and we enjoyed our daily walks some early afternoon walks with gorgeous blue skies...

Desertbroom with fluffy seeds.  Reminds me of dandelions on steroids.  

and some late afternoon walks as the sun is setting.   

As members of the Daily Savings Club with Wild Birds Unlimited we get a 15% discount on bird food and earn bird bucks with purchases.  We earned enough bucks to receive a backyard wreath for our feathered friends. 

We hung it on the fence and every bird that visits the yard has enjoyed a morsel or two or more.  

That is every bird except the one I want to capture a picture of...what a great December photo that would be to have Mr. C perched on the wreath.  But no, Mr. C just sits and studies the wreath, and neither he or his beautiful female companion have yet to perch and enjoy.  

Fingers are still crossed as we still haven't seen Mr. Ladder-backed Woodpecker yet...just the sweet little misses.

Other than the trama of jeep riding to the groomer, Sally has had a good week.  I realized after I posted last week's blog that I failed to include sweet Sally.  Shame on me...I can't remember the last time that happened, but I'm thinking years!  This week I'll share  two photos...

last weeks photo...

this weeks photo...

Joe and I are loving the holiday season...

our smart and most creative 2nd grade scientist...

Felix

and the cutest little reindeer ever !

Edith
(Thank you for daily photos Jena!)

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Patagonia Lake

Corona de Tucson

December 2, 2023  

Patagonia Lake State Park

Last weeks post ended with the mention of an adventure with Jamie and Andra on Saturday.  During coffee that morning several possibilities were discussed for a day trip to near by places that Jamie and Andra had not visited yet.  Patagonia Lake was unanimously chosen...yippee !    

The lake and surrounding area became a state park in 1975 and what makes it especially nice is that it joins the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area...both are named an Audubon important bird area.  

Patagonia Lake was actually formed when Sonoita Creek was dammed back in the 60s.  It's not a big lake at only 265 acres and 2.5 miles long, but it is always busy with boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, birding and camping.  

 

It sure is fun revisiting and sharing favorite places. 

There are a couple of  bird feeding stations at the park.  I was so happy to see a White-breasted Nuthatch.  I read that they get their common name from a habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark then whacking them with their sharp bill to "hatch" out the seed.  

These small territorial birds move about quickly at odd angles...mostly vertical...along the main branches of large trees which makes snapping a clear photo a bit of a challenge.

I was also delighted to see a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker.  A sweet little female ladder-back visits our  backyard feeders with some regularity, but we have not yet seen a male in the yard...fingers crossed ! 

 I don't think this female Common Grackle was very happy to see us...

And a "new to us" bird...the Inca Dove...with its scaly-looking feathers.  I would love to see one in flight as I read they have a flashing chestnut color underwing and white in its tail.   

There wasn't a variety of ducks waddling or swimming around the lake...just a few Mexican Ducks which are a very close relative of the Mallard...and sometimes called Mexican Mallard.  

The male has a dull yellow bill and the female has the molted orange and black bill.

Male Mexican Duck

Female Mexican Duck

We did have a nice walk along the lake shore just beyond the park campground in the State Natural Area.  There are only peeks of the lake here and there, but the old cottonwood trees are quite magnificent.  There are many of these giants that have lost huge limbs.  I read that these trees are among the largest (more than 100 feet tall) and oldest (130 + years) Freemont cottonwood trees in the country.  Patagonia Lake is one of the few remaining sites in Arizona where these trees still grow.

On the way home we stopped in Patagonia for lunch. We all enjoyed yummy burgers at the Wild Horse Restaurant and Saloon located inside The Stage Stop Inn.  The Inn stands on the site of the original Patagonia Stage Coach stop...part of the Butterfield Trail system.  It was originally built in the 1960s when an avid horse lover, Anne Stradling, moved to the dusty little town and opened an exhibit she named Museum of the Horse.  No one came to the museum to see her amazing collection of anything and everything related to horses which she surmised was due to the lack of lodging.  So, this wealthy East Coast family heiress built the Stage Stop Inn.  The restaurant is named in her honor and the saloon is the former site where Anne stored extra wagons and stage coaches.  

We had no idea that Patagonia was hosting its 21st Annual Patagonia Art Walk until we arrived there.  The event showcases the work of local artisans, authors, and gardeners at a range of sites scattered about in Patagonia.  

We didn't actually do the "art walk", but enjoyed watching the lady who was felting in The Book Nook, the pottery at a local gallery, the colorful little town, and a cookie (You can't leave Patagonia without one!) from Gathering Grounds.

I love browsing in The Book Nook...it is located at the back of the Trading Post.  

A colorful potters workshop and gallery

Brother and sister ferrel cats the owner of Patagonia Plants had altered and now feeds.  I don't think these kitties have plans to go anywhere else.  

Shadows from inside the church...

Old hitching post in the park

Yummy peanutbutter and white chocolate cookie 

A touch of Christmas at Patagonia Plants

Reminders of days gone by...  

Mural at Velvet Elvis 

It was such a delightful day !

We headed to the city this week for a couple of appointments.  After Joe's appointment to get his teeth cleaned on Thursday, we made a stop at BKs for a dog and a side order of guac and chips.  I always forget to mention that I don't want the fries...the guac and chips are a favorite and so, so yummy !

Back at the oasis we enjoyed the rest of our week.  I can hardly believe we turned the calendar again, that it is December already, and 2023 only has a few more days.  

The weather was really nice and mid-morning/afternoon walks were pleasant. 

Late one afternoon we headed out for a short walk.

Sally and I caught November's second full moon setting early Tuesday morning.   

November's Beaver Moon so named because it is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges for the long winter ahead. 

I made banana nut bread.  I grew up with banana nut bread and love it toasted with lots of butter.  

We were both excited to see the neighborhood owl perched in the pine tree that is just outside our fence.  I am always looking for him (her) and see him often on walks, but I don't carry the zoom lens when I walk at home.  He was so close...such a treat...I waited patiently for 70 years to see an owl in the wild.   He perched there for quite awhile watching and waiting before flying away.

 

The Bottlebrush tree is blooming...that was a surprise !

We love watching the birds gather...

We enjoyed some cooler temps and much needed rain Friday.  I made chicken noodle soup.  It smelled so good cooking all day in the crockpot.  We served it with crunchy sourdough cheese toast.  It hit the spot !

That's a wrap on November and our week.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Until next time. 

HAPPY TRAILS !