Buzy Sunday

Today Will and I visited Northminster Presbyterian Church-- just because and thoroughly enjoyed the service and friendliness of a sister congregation.

 Next was breakfast at one of our favorite spots, First Watch for Avacado Toast and a Kale Tonic! ( The best?). Will had his favorite eggs and waffle and sausage. Best part was the chance to use his birthday coupon for 'buy one/get one"!!

  Time to head over to "The Loft" to see, "No Other Land." This is the movie that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary this year. Done by a Palestinian filmmaker chronicling the methodic destruction of their homes and villages in the West Bank by Israeli. It wasn't being picked up by American movie houses because of the sensitive subject, until it won the award and drew interest in the timely conflict. Now it is being played most everywhere--you can find it if you look for it. It is NOT a feel good movie. Pretty disturbing actually but I think one everyone should see--wherever your sympathy's lie.

 Then to get us out of funk we went over to Brandy Fenton Park for the Sculpture Festival that's happening this weekend. 

Sculptures and Artists from all over --Tucson, putter Arizona and other states.  Ceramic, Wood, Bronze, Mixed Media, any medium available. Really amazing. 

  Shopping at Sketchers shoe store and a stop at Trader Joe's before we headed home.  Full day

One more day

Overlooking the Gila River on another jeep outing.

Close encounter with a Black Phoebe 

Lots of ways to relax!!

A couple hours at a local spa for a refreshing soak in the mineral hot springs.  This spa offered a private room/pool for two! Just imagine us soaking and relaxing our cares away! Perfect!

End of the day

 Sun setting over Roper Lake. 

Black Hills Back Country Byway

Before breakfast hike along a great trail out of the campground. Snow covered Mt Graham in the background

Filled our day with a scenic drive on a BLM Back Country Byway through the Gilla Box Conservation Area and onto Clifton and Morenci. 

You can see the huge Copper Mine at Morenci from miles away in the distance.

This panoramic view of it up closer is staggering too. Hiway 191 runs through the town and mine sites for miles and miles. It is the largest copper mine operation in the US.  

And off on a small side road, surrounded by active mining is this old cemetery hill with well defined graves and markers. Some deteriorated but many are obviously still maintained. How long before it gets eaten up by mine expansion, I wonder.