Save a Life Saturday......and be prepared everyday.

If it hadn't been for the quick response of civilians in the crowd with some basic skills in emergency medical training on that tragic day in Tucson, January 8th, lives would not have been saved and the prognosis of those that survived might not have been so promising. While Ada & Don hope they never have to use the skills they learned, they joined an overwhelming number of Tucsonans at the American Red Cross's, "Save a Life Saturday" being held today at our local YMCA, and other Y's all over the country, in Honor of Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Whether it be a traffic accident, a swimming pool drowning, or any other emergency where you happen to be the first on the scene, a few lifesaving skills can sustain life until those with advanced training arrive. Remember the three C's; Check out the situation, get someone to Call 911, and provide Care. It can save lives everyday!

Here, Donald works on the compressions of CPR.

Chiricahua National Monument

Aprox. 130 miles southeast of Tucson there is a “Wonderland of Rocks” that is known as Chiricahua (cheri-cow-wa) National Monument, where along 8-miles of a paved scenic drive and 17-miles of day-use hiking trails, visitors discover the beauty, natural sounds, and inhabitants of this 11,985 acre site; historic homeland of Geronimo and still known today as Apache territory.

The Chiricahua Mountains are one of the many "sky island" ranges in southern Arizona. They rise like islands from the surrounding grassland "sea". Plants and animals from four ecosystems; Rocky Mountains, Sierra Madre Mountains, Sonoran & Chihuahuan Deserts, meet here. Black bear, mountain lions, Arizona white-tail deer, coati-mundis, rattlesnakes & lizards, and a variety of birds all make this their habitat. And, while one species of skunk is usually fine in most places, you can find four species of skunk here, so be alert!

It’s a photographer’s dream place, although my lense can’t begin to capture the vast mountain range and sense of wilderness. Truly, a must visit should you get near this southeast corner of Arizona.

                             Elevation 8000 ft.........

leaving through grassland sea.... 

Heard Museum Indian Art Fair

This weekend the 53rd Annual Heard Museum celebrates the rich art and heritage of the Natives peoples from across the American continent at the Indian Fair and Market in Phoenix, Az. The fair is a major event in furthering the Heard Museum’s mission of educating all of us about the cultures and arts of the Native Americans. The rich heritage of the American Native tribes can be found not only in the collections found at the museum, but also in the dynamic living cultures preserved by the arts and artisans who were chosen to be a part of this highly juried and significant occasion. From the intricate pottery designs and the story telling within rug weaving, to the precious jewelry we all long to wear, it’s a fun filled two days where the tribes from all over the Southwest have come to share and sell their wares; and all complemented with native entertainment, dance, and oh yes, the fry bread. Don and I are personally curious this year, as this year they are spotlighting the people from the Sonoran Desert, the O’odham tribe; a tribe that lies within our back yard of Tucson. We are bringing our visitors from England along, Anita and David. In addition to the dreamy weather, they too, over the years, have fallen in love with all of the Southwest’s beauty, history and spectacular art of both the western Cowboy, and Native Americans……

 Basket weaving

 Sandpainting

Rug weaving

 Quilting

 fun art

 Ada makes a new friend, Chief Easy

 Sketching his next masterpiece

Ceremonial costume

 need a bolo tie?

Navaho rugs........a story in each design

Donald's new bracelet.........

Lunch!   fry bread