We are ready to leave our house and drive over to the retreat center so we can get checked in. There is a slight hold-up going on. One that most of us are giggling over. Sherri has locked her keys in her trunk after loading her suitcase. Nice. Apparently, a spare can be found.
Okay, now were on our way. First - breakfast.
Our retreat center is the Arizona House of Creative Retreats. Time to check in.
Love this little quilt on the wall.
The backyard is just wonderful.
There are even oranges on the neighbors tree.
Spots are chosen and set-up begins. My little station looks so happy. Will I sew? Not sure yet.
It doesn't take long and design walls start to fill up - machines are buzzing and everyone is happy. We have plenty of room and this allows everyone lots of space.
BINGO even gets going.
The prize? Purple fat quarters.
Loving the chance to just hang out.
A few of us are hitting up the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and I actually go to bed fairly early.
8th - Good Morning. People are up and about and Debi has a project going.
Everyone is working on their own little jar, decoupaged with dried flowers.
It was really fun to do.
More porch sitting.
A group of us decide to drive over to Carefree, AZ and play tourist for a bit.
I know Gwen wants a picture with a saguaro cactus and I did some research. The Botanical Garden in Phoenix is pretty expensive, but Carefree has a free garden that we can wander and take lots of pictures. Perfect to me. Come along and enjoy with us.
This welded sculpture, one of six, was designed and built by Kenyon Palmer, one of the two founders of the town of Carefree. It was crafted in 1964.
Wind Spirit
Mighty Elephant by Dominic Behura, 1968, Zimbabwe and made of zimbabwean springstone. The tree is a Quiver Tree.
I love that we are catching a wee bit of the desert bloom.
More and more blooms - so very cool.
Gwen found her Saguaro -- a young one, lol. Also, an older one.
Cindy amongst the pretties.
Ferocactus herrerae --- also known as the twisted barrel cactus.
Pachycereus schottll - Senita
In Carefree, at one end of the gardens, is a sundial. A very large sundial. The Carefree Sundial was erected in the Sundial Circle plaza in 1959. The sundial is made from a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. As originally designed the 4 feet wide gnomon acted as a heat collecting plate for a local heating scheme. It measures 90 feet in diameter. The metal gnomon, the shadow-casting portion of the dial, stands 35 feet above the plaza and extends 62 feet. Local apparent time is 27.7 minutes behind the meridian time which here is Mountain Standard Time. The hour markers are adjusted accordingly.
The Kiwanis Club of Carefree acquired the sundial property in 1976 and gifted it to the Town of Carefree in 1988. Each of the white lines around it relate to an hour of the day.
At the end of the lines are numbers, corresponding to those on a clock. Right now it is about half past 10. Pretty dang accurate as my phone says 10:24.
More flora -
Sonoran Sol
Wandering over to the other side of the park - all new eye candy.
One dry creekbed.
THIS, jus this. It is a slide at the playground. Yep, a Gila Monster slide.
Sculptures around the park -
As we walk the town, I peek into a building and this is so cool. This is Los Portales Mall from the 1980s and '90s! Back in the day, this charming shopping destination was bustling with unique shops—and even had a deli! One of its most distinctive features was the stunning stained-glass ceiling, which added a touch of elegance and color to the space. Today, Los Portales Mall remains a hub for small local retailers, offering a variety of shopping right in the heart of Carefree at the corner of Ho Hum Drive and Easy Street.
This statue titled "Conquistador" stands just outside of the Spanish Village shopping center in Carefree, AZ. Sculpted out of bronze, the statue stands over five feet high and continues to be a prominent figure in the area. Dressed as a typical sixteenth century conquistador (explorer) in a metal hat with his flag and sword filling both hands, "Conquistador" affords a glimpse into Carefree's past of Spanish expeditions north from Mexico.
On the corner of where Ho and Hum Roads meet, sits the historic Spanish Village, one of the first buildings constructed back in 1969. The white stucco arches leading to an enchanting courtyard have welcomed generations of locals and visitors, many of whom return year after year, sharing a childhood memory with grandchildren now in tow. It's more than a collection of upscale art galleries, shops and restaurants; it's an experience.
More sculptures outside the village.
Walkways in side the walls.
Sculpture Garden.
It's time for a brunch break - yep, getting hungry. Across the street is Black Mountain Coffee Shop and fits our needs perfectly.
Would have loved to sit on the patio, but all seats in the shade were taken. Inside will do.
I take pictures of the menu because quite a bit of creativity went into it.
So. Much. Food. I was warned, but, goodness.
After our meal, we check out the shops in the Village for a bit. I find some fun fiber art to share.
On the street - old time telephone booth and just a glimpse of a tea room that is so PACKED I was afraid to stand in front and take a picture.
One more walk through the garden as we return to the car - Yep, I spot more new things.
In the arms of the cactus, birds have built nests.
After the gardens, we drive to Cave Creek and do a little shopping. This is another pretty cool area. Cave Creek Olive Oil catches everyone's attention.
Trying oils and having a bleach stick on hand - genius.
Three bottles manage to walk out the door with me (along with some pourers that I didn't photograph).
Just a few more moments as we walk -
Believe it or not - our time in Carefree was not ALL DAY. We are back at the house by 1:30 and people get sewing. I don't, but people do. Sherri started these last night and has made great progress.
The girls who stayed back made dinner for all --- baked potato bar and a dessert.
All of the pretty jars - what a fab project, Debi. With that, another day is done as I've gone to the patio and stayed there - lots of phone calls.
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