Back from a nice long weekend in Arizona celebrating my father’s 80th birthday with family. Even though the trip was short, it was a welcome break from the routine here at home of unpacking and arranging. Even the quiet two lane highway was relaxing compared to the overcrowded freeways of LA. The desert was so green from all the rain this summer and the cactus were fat with water. Check out this sunset shot I posted on instagram, which was taken on the way up from the desert floor into Peeple’s Valley. It was breathtaking and awe inspiring. My little camera phone doesn’t even come close to capturing all of the colors and depth of field that we saw with our good ol’ human eyes.

Here at home, the crepe myrtle tree in front of our house is showing off with this incredible lacey flash of magenta pink. It’s so rewarding to discover the plant species and cycles of this new yard.