"A Sonoran Christmas..."

As the sun rises this beautiful mid December day

all throughout Bloggy Land...

And slowly creeps over the sleepy Sonoran Desert...

It will be my pleasure to be your "official" tour guide

and introduce
to you a bit of the splendor of the Southwest during the holidays.

We decorate with all kinds of festive things...even "trees" of glass...

Don't know which way to turn?
Follow the luminaria...
a southwest tradition, for lighting the path for the spirit

of the Christ Child to your home...

and you will find all kinds of treasures beyond your wildest imagination.
Walk with me now...
and enjoy
the festive baubles and ornaments which decorate our trek...
through the solitude and quietness of this desert garden.

As we sight some of Dale Chihuly's artistic treasures

floating in quiet desert pools...

notice the reflections...click on images to enlarge if you like...

Chilly? Why not warm yourself by the fire, in the tradition of the

ancient ones

who once lived in this area.

Continue on the path into the sun

and find more glass sculptures

Don't they remind you of enormous Christmas bulbs?

The Nature of Glass Exhibit is everywhere!

lighting our way with festive color

We love to hang lots of festive ornaments during the holidays...

...And we hang them just about anywhere we can imagine!

Let's now look for a traditional holiday tree...

Can it Be?

Ah ha!

Right here in the desert...an evergreen!

We can walk on... or...we can rest at wee bit if you like...

Lets' rest...I feel like drawing a a couple of things.

How about here?

or

maybe even

Here!

This is my favorite spot...so cozy isn't it?

How about a hot chocolate..of a cuppa..0r a glass of wine?

My treat!

Musicians are going to be playing later today...We can come back

if you like...have a bite to eat

and listen to the sweet sounds of smooth jazz.

For now...are you ready to move on? Here's another pathway...

leading us to a tower of light...

standing guard before the sandstone peaks in Papago Park.

A shady resting spot...the Arizona sun can get very hot...even in the winter...

How about some fresh cool water to quench your thirst?

Ahhh...now to my most favorite of "Santa Chihuly's" gifts...

A boat of flowers and reeds...brilliant yet serenely magical...

It's my #1 favorite of them all! Mmmm!

Eventually the moon rises on this day...and the day will turn into night...

the desert will magically transform itself into a festival of lights...

and the beauty of nature's gifts will glow well into the night

and forever in our hearts.

Happy Christmas in Bloggy Land...:)

Pop in on the other participants and celebrate the whole day long!

And, finally,

For those of you who celebrate another tradition on this day...

Happy Cactus Monday All!

May all your holly-days be merry and bright

lit by that luminous luminaria of a light that

glows peacefully from

within! :)

"It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas;

soon The Bells Will Start,

and The Thing That Will Make Them Ring

Is the Carol That You Sing

right Within Your Heart."
~Sung by Perry Como

"I Was Bewitched..."

...by a big boat load of Chihuly's bright, brilliant baubles!

So...

I enhanced my sketchbook with a few of my own...

A Chihuly-esque style endeavor

of the pen and watercolor variety...flipped, of course, to the dark side

for that little extra "somethin' somethin' "!

(Be sure to click on images for an enlarged view)

"Baubles, bangles,

Bright, shiny beads.

Sparkles, spangles,

My heart will sing, sing-a-ling-a,

Wearing baubles, bangles and beads."
~Robert Wright and Chet (George) Forrest-Lyricists

"Rhapsody..."

...in Blue...and a bit more Chihuly for the soul...

Blue

is not a color one finds very often in the natural palette of the desert.

The vast open sky, the rich turquoise of gemstones,

and a few spring wildflowers is mainly where

the color is found...until now...

Chihuly's

glistening squiggles, ferns, reeds, and stones

instantly

painted my spirit with a

refreshing, soothing and serene ambiance.

Another "Ahhhh" moment, for sure!

(Click on images to enlarge for a better view)

There is so much more to share from my day in the gardens.

I know I will return to take it all in again and again

before the exhibit closes.

Many may not get a chance to see this beauty

in person...so it is my pleasure to post

some special pics here.

I hope you continue to enjoy these!

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue,

and the dreams that you dare to dream

really do come true."
~Lyman Frank Baum

"Sun, Sun, Sun..."

...Here it comes...(Dale Chihuly style!) Now, sing along with me...

"Here comes the Sun...

...Do, do, do, do...

Here comes the sun...

And I say....It's all right...

Da, da da da, da da da, da da daaah..."

"Here Comes The Sun Lyrics"

~George Harrison

And

that was just how my day in paradise began...

47 degrees

when we left home before sunrise

which made a hot chocolate at the patio cafe a real delight.

Then the sun came...aaahhhh!

We savored our hot chocolates as we warmed up our sketchbooks

with some bright and festive poinsettia

before going off

to explore the natural wonders of the Desert Botanical Garden

and the blown glass masterpieces of

Dale Chihuly.

My, did I ever feel blessed this day!

(Click on images to enlarge...amazing detail!)

"May the sun shine all day long,

everything go right and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!"
~Irish Blessing