I’ve truly been enjoying my trip to Quartzsite!
If you read my last post, after I fixed it, you’ll know that my internet has been somewhat of a problem. Now I have an upgraded plan, so hopefully I can post some more of my adventures. My dad, the dogs and I have been out and about nearly every day since we arrived on Feb. 3rd. We have seen some amazing things! I have composed many posts in my head, but one thing really struck me as we traveled about. There are about 5 blogs that I read EVERY time they are published. They are things and people I can connect with. I have met a few of them in person, but have become friends with all through a shared love of our travels and adventures. As we traveled through Arizona and California, I saw things that reminded me of these great bloggers. I thought it only fair to write a tribute post to them. Some of these people have taught me to look at things differently and some of them have taught me to push my limits. So, without further adieu, here is my shout out to my favorite bloggers. In no particular order of importance…
Martha is one of the people I have become fast and firm friends with. Her blog speaks to aging and re-inventing one’s self after 50. She is an equine master, a bee keeper and the manager of a specialty olive oil and vinegar shop. Here are the things I saw which made me think of her…
First – a small gathering of wild horses…
She also loves artwork, so the second reminder was a beautiful horse sculpture…
Thirdly, was a staged shot of one of my Monadnock Oil And Vinegar bottles atop a saguaro…
And, finally, I found a unique desert plant. The creosote bush re-invents itself, not just by spreading its seeds, but more importantly, by cloning. I don’t mean to say Martha clones herself, but she does re-invent herself every time a new challenge arises. Personally, I think she shares many traits with this wonderful desert flower…
Up next is New Hampshire Garden Solutions.
NHGS has a wonderful eye for photography and often teaches me something I didn’t know about my local flora. Recently he commented on one of my AZ posts saying he really wouldn’t want to live here. The more I travel around, the more I know he could spend countless hours exploring here. He has a love of mosses, lichens and fungi, none of which can’t be found here. His knowledge of local plants and flowers goes beyond any nursery folk I’ve ever encountered I can imagine his books and computer getting a thorough workout as he tries to identify each one…
He also likes to hike. Some of his finds are things you just can’t see at the base of the mountain…
Next comes Gallivance…
I had the pleasure of meeting Terri and look forward to each of her and Jame’s posts. Every Valentine’s day, they do a post about hearts they have seen on their travels. These next two photos scream Gallivance’s Valentines Day…
They have also done a number of posts about tiny churches they have come across. With that in mind, these aren’t “tiny” churches, but they are quite small…
They also did a post recently about bees nests they saw on a bridge. When I went to see the London Bridge, the bird’s nests on the bridge made me think of them…
Next up is Scott’s Place…
His wonderful pictures of Utah and now Phoenix always leave me wanting more. He frequently finds abandon ruins on his hikes. Always the explorer. I have found a number of abandon mines and ruins. Plus, his hikes have inspired me to get out and walk more. I suffer from chronic pain syndrome, so sometimes this is quite a challenge for me, but worth it every time…
Scott also goes on some amazing hikes. He takes his photography from the sweeping vistas to things we might walk past on the trail…
And last, but certainly not least is Planet Bell…
His photography and storytelling bring me right along with him and his wife. I don’t have the stamina to try some of their more strenuous hikes (like the one described here), but I have tried harder to push some of my personal boundaries. I recently “climbed” Crystal Hill in KOFA National Wildlife Refuge. OK, I didn’t really climb so much a slowly walk up the mountain using the paths of others, but for me, it was a big accomplishment. The view alone was worth the climb and the fact I found clear quartz crystals made it all the better…
I have to be honest about this next picture. I didn’t hike this mountain at all. I was lucky enough to find an open gate and was able to drive all the way to the top. Here is where I started…
This is the view standing next to the towers you can see in the picture above…
I would like to thank all of the bloggers I have mentioned here. Whether you know it or not, you have changed the shape of my world!
Touring NH 
Laura, thank you for the mention and for thinking of me as you travel. This is one of my favorite posts, not simply because of the aforementioned, but because you sound happy and full of your adventures. I will do my best to have Spring here when you finally end up back in New Hampshire!! Enjoy!!
Thanks for the blog mention Laura. I’m glad that I could show you a few sides of nature that maybe you hadn’t noticed. You’ve certainly shown me sides of New Hampshire that I never knew existed.
I’m not sure I could take that heat but it is a beautiful place and I’d sure like to visit someday. I’d have to make sure I controlled myself though, so I didn’t try to identify all those cacti.
Thanks again, and have fun!
Laura, thank you so much for the kind words and for reading my blog. When I started blogging I never knew I’d become apart of a community of bloggers like this. (I follow Gallivance as well) Comments and readers are the lifeblood of my blog – my community of bloggers inspires me to complete posts when I am feeling lazy!
I have enjoyed reading your blog as well and seeing your New Hampshire. I look forward to reading about your Arizona adventures!
Four out of five are bloggers I look forward to seeing new posts from Laura, my fifth would be you and I’m just about to check out Planet Bell now. Glad you are back up and running and I’m enjoying your desert adventures.
Thank you. The adventure is almost over, another week and I’ll be heading back to NH. Not really ready to go back, but the fun can only last so long, plus it is getting hot here, mid 90’s by mid-afternoon.
What a sweet little treasure…thank you, Laura, for the kind words and for sharing a bit about my Place….and given the others so honored in your Tribute, it looks like we’re all in good company! I’m so glad that you’ve been having such a nice time out here in the desert. I hope things don’t get too warm for you, though, before it’s time to head home again…and hopefully you’ll be able to see the “green, green grass of home” when you get there…maybe Winter will be done with the north-east by then. 🙂
Thank you, again…and safe travels to you and your family.
Thanks for the kind words Laura and for the link to our blog. We’re flattered to be included in your tribute list. Your heart photos would be perfect for our (or perhaps your new) series on hearts from around the world. As always, your photography is excellent. We try to do our best when we take photos for the blog, but I must admit, when I want to see how a real pro does it, I come to your blog. Thanks again. ~James
Thank you. You don’t give yourself enough credit for the images you post! I’ve seen some beautiful images with great perspective. I’d be happy to share my heart images if you’d like to include them next year.