Tucson!
My husband and I each recently celebrated a major birthday as well as our 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Tucson, Arizona. After considering at a 14 day cruise around the tip of South America, and renting a gorgeous home with its own pool on Kauai, we chose Tucson. I know, weird, huh?
Flowers for my birthday-awww!
We realized that the one thing we really wanted was SUN (and golf for him). The other choices carried a significant chance of rain. I think we made the right choice-this was one of our best vacations ever! As an added bonus we were able to visit with our youngest son who lives in Tucson.
Sunset from our room
DH is from El Paso, so he likes the desert and I’m a convert.
Mountain view from our room
Through pure luck we were vacationing the week after Thanksgiving so rates were ridiculously low. I booked a “Master Suite” at the La Paloma Resort and Spa-that meant we had 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 huge tv’s and two balconies overlooking the golf course, the lights of Tucson and the mountains. I could get used to this!
Amazing pool area
The resort was fabulous. We had a great view of the mountains and enjoyed the incredible grounds with desert plantings, sculpture, fountains and other art scattered throughout. And we loved this: a heated Olympic lap pool. The “resort pool” area had 10 different pools, a swim-up bar, a couple of heated spas and a cold spa-it is the desert after all.
Cool reflection on the piano
I didn’t even set foot in the cosmetic spa area. I know I’m weird-just not a spa kinda girl.
Lobby very tastefully decorated for Christmas
The main lodge was tastefully decorated for the season.
This is how they do a Christmas tree!
I giggled at the “Tucson Christmas tree”.
Love the stark shadows of the desert
But one of the best things was all the beautiful desert plantings around the property. The shadows in the desert seem to be more stark-love that.
Baby Barrel Cactus
Looks like a little cactus family!
Wonder what happened to him to create this cool pattern?
How did that rainbow coloring happen?
Rare plant: Yucca Butt de Cigarette
Someone had a sense of humor!
Yucca Boscii
Oh I loved these guys with all their curly margins.
Love all agaves!
I never tired of agaves with their strong lines, great color and undulating shapes.
?
I don’t know the name of this interesting planting.
Fall in Sabino Canyon
Among my outings while DH golfed, was a visit to Sabino Canyon. It was gorgeous and full of fall color.
Sabino Canyon creek
There was no one there-I had this view to myself.
The coolest Bernina display ever-The Quilt Basket
Of course I had to hit every quilt shop in town. And there were some pretty nice choices. This Bernina dealer’s display at The Quilt Basket was the coolest one I’d ever seen. The shop owner said that Bernina comes in and builds it to the specs of each shop.
There were 2 textile art exhibits while I was visiting. In the next post I’ll show you!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thanks for sharing–looks beautiful! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you Barbara! And a Merry Christmas to you and your family also!
Looks like inspiration for many future quits!
Definitely! I saw all sorts of inspiration there.
Congrats on your birthday and anniversary, Jenny! I’ve never been to Texas, so I really enjoyed the beauty you have shared through your photos. Merry Christmas!
I hope you had a Merry Christmas too Laura! And I do love the scenery in Tucson.
I definitely think you made an awesome choice!!!!! Those photos are amazing! Belated multiple Best Wishes for your milestones!!!!
DH and I will be heading to Texas after the 1st of the year to scope out some possible snowbird locales……probably in the Corpus Christi/Brownsville areas. Since it’s a scouting trek we have no real agenda….just time away in a more temperate zone (although, at the moment, it seems we will see more brown/leftover green than white by tomorrow morning!!!!! Christmas Blessings to you and hugs……..
Hope your Christmas was special! I used to live in Corpus Christi-it’s a lovely town, nice beach and great weather.
Jenny: Looks fabulous; what a nice resort. Merry Christmas my friend. The best to you and your family.
Thank you Sonja-I hope your Christmas was merry also!
I really like Tucson-the desert there is very unique and I just love those funky cacti and succulents! Merry Christmas to you too Laura!
Love the photos. And how wonderful that they had a lap pool — not the usual, as you know. Looks like a great spot to celebrate. Happy holidays to you!
Yes, the lap pool was a consideration in our planning! It was such a healthy place to stay. Hope your holidays are merry!
What a great vacation. Thanks for sharing the beautiful scenery.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Becki-we love it there.
Well, happy birthday AND happy anniversary, Jenny! I have to ask — did that snazzy Quilt Basket Bernina happen to have the new Bernina long arm machine? Dying of curiosity… It probably costs a fortune but there are always those college funds we set up for the kids (just kidding!)…
Hi Rebecca-no they did not have the new long arm yet-I don’t think it was out yet. Oh and it will cost a fortune! It will use our “normal” Bernina feet though so that saved you a couple hundred LOL! Personally I don’t ever see myself on a long arm. They are loud and won’t take a small needle and I like the feel of a sit down anyway. I will be interested in playing with it when it arrives though!
A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! What a treat to get away like that. I have quilting friends who spend every winter in Arizona, and I know they have some great quilt shops there.