More Magic

I woke up this morning in Jerome, Arizona, and this is what I saw out my window.

I jumped up, and headed for my little patio, which overlooks the Verde Valley.  In a nightgown and barefoot, I shot a few (okay, maybe a little more) photographs...the temperature was in the mid-30's, but I didn't even notice.  Afterwards, I settled back in my comfy room at the Surgeon's House Bed and Breakfast.

It's a place I will visit again.  My room is like having a little apartment in Jerome.

Downstairs, Andrea was cooking breakfast in her beyond incredible kitchen.  I covet that sink, and the stove, too!

Luckily, I'm in the right town to burn off those calories...lots of hills and stairs!  The morning was perfect for a walk, and there was lots to see.

The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery always has a good selection of local art.

I met a facebook friend, Christy Fisher, in her shop, Magpie.  Christy is a super talented designer, and it was fun to finally met her!

Her creations are tres cool, especially the outfit modeled by the stylish Debra!

Back outside, lilacs scented the air.

What a perfect morning.  After a short break, I drove over the mountain to Chino Valley, to visit my friend, Holly and her Italian Greyhounds.  More to come on that!

Magic Places

Do you have a place that you retreat to from time to time?  A place that has a sense of magic?  I found Jerome, Arizona in 1972.  I was a senior in high school, and I drove up for the day with my boyfriend, Bruce Martell.  Our remaining two musketeers, Bill Kleinman and Tim Walker, joined us.  It's hard to believe that was forty years ago.  Since then, I've gone back many times, and the little town still manages to capture my heart. 

Located between Prescott and Flagstaff, and spread out on the side of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome faces east and looks down upon the Verde Valley.  On a clear day, you can actually see the San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff.  At 5,000 feet up, the air is crisp...lilacs and tulips bloom in the springtime, and it sometimes snows in the winter.

An old copper mining town, Jerome was quite a wild West town in its heyday.  In 1930, a New York newspaper called it, "the wickedest town in the West,"  possibly because of its reputation for gambling, prostitution, and vice. By then, over 15,000 people lived there, and those miners were a rowdy bunch.  After the mines played out in the 1950's, Jeome's population dwindled to ghost town level.

About the time I first puttered up the hill in my Volkswagen, artists had begun moving to Jerome and establishing galleries.  Since then, the town has a pull on creative people, and it's a photographer's dream.  These days, I believe the population is around 450 people, and I envy every one of them.  It's unfortunate that the little town is overtaken by tourists on weekends, but they do spend their money there.  To really capture the feel of Jerome, though, you should visit during the week, and you should definitely spend the night.  Night time is enchanting there.  From down below, it looks look someone has taken a handful of diamonds and thrown them up on the mountain.  If you stay is on one of the higher roads, you can hear occasional laughter and bits of music floating up from one of the town's bars.  You can hear wind chimes hung from porches, and you can see stars so bright they almost hurt your eyes.

I'm staying at a bed and breakfast called The Surgeon's House.  Owned by a wonderful host named Andrea Prince, it is remarkable.  I haven't taken many photographs yet, but will remedy that tomorrow.  In the meantime, here are just a few taken after coming in from dinner.

Dinner, by the way, came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint:  great Mexican food at Quince.  Take a look at these chili rellenos with pomegranate seeds.

Yep, that's a Tanqueray and tonic in the background.  It was good, too.

This is Easter weekend, and it looks like springtime here in Jerome.  Flowers are blooming, and there was a nice breeze in the air today.

I spent time walking around, meeting new people, and just enjoying looking at things.

This is Judi from Jerome Ghost Pepper Company.  Lots of great salsas and hot sauces are at her place!

Tomorrow is Art Walk Saturday, which should be lots of fun, plus I'm driving down to Chino Valley to visit my friend Holly and her pups.  Stay tuned for more photographs. 

Azaleas and Historic Homes

Today, I drove down near Athens, Texas to meet friends for a girls day out.  I love visiting my friend, Sue, because she's the only friend I have with zebras on her property.  They seemed to be enjoying grazing in the wildflowers this morning.

Sue, her cousin Julie, and I were headed to Tyler.  Tyler is an east Texas town, known for its flowers...this time of year, azaleas, in particular.  We spent a good part of the day going on a historic homes tour.  Some of the homes had gorgeous old southern charm, some were more modern.  It was a warm, humid day, and the entire historic area was in bloom.  The featured homes were easily identified by the "belles" who acted as hostesses out front.

The first house we saw had a sweet guard dog by the front door. Here are a few snaps from inside.

The neighborhood was charming, and we enjoyed walking around outside as much as we did touring the homes.

The Designer Showcase home was a real gem.  Owned by Judith Gunthrie, it was an amazing combination of designs that all fit together perfectly.  Take a look at what I mean.

One of the things I love most about being a photographer is that I meet all sorts of interesting people.  This is Roger of Roger Craig Design.  He explained that the theme of the Designer Showcase Home is an artist's retreat, and that the owner is a single professional woman with a wide array of interests...including travel.  I began to wonder if he'd somehow been reading my diary. Anyway, I am hopeful that perhaps Roger might stop by one day, and offer some assistance, because I sure did like what he'd done to this house.

As we closed the door behind us, and strolled back down the street, we were extra jealous after seeing the OTHER house that Ms. Gunthrie owns.   Heavy sigh.

More houses awaited us, so off we went.  Each one seemed to have all kinds of different things that managed to go together so well...an eclectic blend.  I am SO not blessed with the eye to do things like that.

We finally left as they were starting to shut down the tour...it was late by the time I drove back to Dallas.  I am now very much aware that my housekeeper put my flannel Christmas sheets on my bed last week, and that all of my houseplants need watering.  Oh, and that my walk-in closet looks like someone set up shop for a Salvation Army outpost, and that I have camera equipment scattered in a number of rooms.  I think I'd better get to work.  Thanks for joining me on our tour today!