Happy Birthday, Mom!

Me and my godmother, Aunt Pat

I am in Tucson visiting our family, and for my mom's Birthday I thought I would post some photos so she could see how we all are. Especially Marley, the newest addition to the family. She looks like a Bukowski, for sure! :)


Aunt Pat and Uncle Art


Marley, who isn't too sure yet about this whole thing




Marley and her G.G.


Awwwww.



Love you, Mom!

Calendar: May 2009

From my trips to Tucson.

Great Price on Holy Water

At the Mission San Xavier gift shop in Tucson.

Every month, a new doorway to a different world.

French Quarter alley, New Orleans, April 2008



Anderson Japanese Garden South Gate, Rockford IL, May 2008



Mission San Xavier courtyard, Tucson, June 2008

Mission San Xavier: Icons and details

For all the vivid ornateness of the Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, there were features that bespoke its 200+ year history.

Handless Icon



Fading Mural Paint



Broken Cherub


Pew Bench, worn from devotion




Also, if it wasn't clear from yesterday's comment, the coyote window bars were from the Mission as well.

Mission San Xavier: Coyote Window Bars

You don't see a lot of this style around Chicago! ;-)

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded by the Jesuit missionary, Father Eusebio Kino, in 1692. The present church was built under the direction of the Franciscans. Construction began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. The church continues to serve as the parish for the Tohono O'odham and a shrine chruch for many visitors.

A View from the Top

I am back from my week in Tucson! I stayed in the Marriott Starr Pass resort up in the foothills, which was lovely and posh beyond words. I had a spa treatment, swam every afternoon in the lazy river, ate delicious meals, and oh yeah, went to a conference. :) I didn't actually take a lot of photos, but I did get a few.


This was my view every morning. It was still cool then, but by 7am the temperature started shooting up. It was 105 most afternoons. Yikes!


The view in the late afternoon. That's Tucson in the distance.

Three Desert landscapes

The desert plants make the most of monsoon season -- everything turns so green, and so fast!






My aunt told me the name of these octopus-looking cactus, but I'm not sure how to spell it. Ocotilla?



Looks like a movie set, but it's not!

Sunset Through the Boughs

As seen from my aunt's front yard in Tucson. The rains stopped just in time for sunset.

The foothills of the Catalina Mountains

Taken during my trip to Tucson a couple of weeks ago. It's my desktop photo of the moment -- feel free to click the photo to go to Flickr and download the largest size for your own desktop!

Desert in the Morning Sun

Best viewed in large.

The sad news is, it's actually hotter and more humid here in Chicago than it was in the desert. That just doesn't seem fair!

Greetings from Tucson!

This mailbox post cracked me up every day for the last four days. I'll have prettier pictures once I get home tonight, but I don't think I'll have funnier ones.