Day 30: Tires

I had to stop driving my car for a while ... the tires got dizzy. ~ Steven Wright

Here's my nice new tire and its reflection in the rain puddles. It was a dreary, rainy day that was made more dreary by the fact that I had to buy a new tire.

A few months ago I had had a nail in my tire and I had the tire patched. A few days ago I noticed that the same tire was very low. Unfortunately, the tire was leaking air from the old repair site and was unrepairable. Thus, a new tire.

Day 29: Pot Packing Workshop

If I'd known how much packing I'd have to do, I'd have run again. ~ Harry S. Truman

Today my supervisor held a pot packing workshop. As in ceramics, not weed. In case you needed clarification. I will soon begin cleaning and packing ceramic pots for a move. It will be a nice change from the inventory that I've been doing. It will also involve lots of fun with vacuums, sponges, scissors, bubble wrap and shrink wrap. I'm ready to begin!

Day 28: Day 12

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Today was day 12 of my Bible reading plan. It was day 28 of reading from the Bible every morning, which was one of my New Years' resolutions.

I actually started my new daily Bible reading schedule at the beginning of January, but I decided that I didn't like the plan that I was using. Therefore, a little over a week in I started this new plan. It's a few chapters every day, starting with Genesis 1 and proceeding canonically. I love beginning my day with God's word!

Day 27: Another Sunset

There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect. Men do not quarrel about the meaning of sunsets; they never dispute that the hawthorn says the best and wittiest thing about the spring. ~ G.K. Chesterton

Yep. Another sky picture. I just can't help myself. I love it when the sky is lit up with the fiery colors of the setting sun.

A note about my photos that are clearly taken while I am in the car. First off, I almost always take them while I'm stopped. Second, I just pull out my camera and press the shutter button. I don't look at the camera, the screen or the resulting photo. I just snap the photo and hope I capture something lovely. As I result, I have a lot of photos of the carpet on the floor of my car.

Day 26: Spectacle of the Sky

There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul. ~ Victor Hugo

My eyes are always drawn up to the sky. As I leave work each evening, the sun is making its way down, filling the sky with beauty before it hides until the next day.

Day 25: An Apple a Day

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy? ~ Albert Einstein

My church is currently going through the Daniel Plan, a plan based on some of the principles in the book of Daniel. It promotes healthy living by focusing on faith, food, fitness, friends and focus.

I am trying to eat healthier, and consume more fruits and veggies and fewer chips and cookies. Yes, I know Friday's post was about chocolate chip cookies. But it's all about balance. Thus fruit, instead of a cookie, for tonight's dessert.

Day 24: Cough Drops

True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that. ~ William Goldman, The Princess Bride

Best cough drops ever. No kidding. I love these things and I could eat them like candy (but I don't). The best part is that they totally work. The pectin, which is in apples, is a natural demulcent and coats my throat, soothing it and relieving my cough.

I discovered these while in grad school at the totally amazing HEB Plus in Waco, which happens to be one of the best grocery stores ever. Much to my despair, I have been unable to find these drops since then. Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Natural Grocers - no luck. Even the HEB in Abilene did not carry these gems.

But today I found them, proudly displayed on an end-cap in Target. Success! I am one happy girl.

Day 23: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap. ~ Robert Fulghum

Today I baked chocolate chip cookies for a game day tomorrow. It seriously doesn't get much better than warm chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of cold milk. And these cookies are delicious. I think I'm getting closer and closer to my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Side note: I've never heard of Robert Fulghum, but found his cookie quote, which I liked. Upon googling this man I discovered that he grew up in Waco and went to Baylor. So sic 'em Bears!

Day 22: Hole in the Wall

Archaeology is like a jigsaw puzzle, except that you can't cheat and look at the box, and not all the pieces are there. ~ Stephen Dean

You know you're special when your work cuts a hole in the wall and installs a gate just for you. This isn't a great photo today, but there is a covered weaving loom in front of the gate I wanted to photograph. I am about to begin a new project at work, in which I will supervise the cleaning and packing of ceramic vessels and the move of these vessels into a different storage building.

The pots are currently in the room behind this gate, and there was not easy access into the space for the purposes of this project. Therefore a hole was cut into the wall.

Just for me.

Day 21: #MuseumSelfie Day

I took a selfie to prove to myself that I exist! ~ Unknown

Today is #MuseumSelfie Day. It's simply meant to celebrate museums and their collections.

Here's my selfie from my museum today, taken with the help of a timer. This is what the wonderful world of museum collections storage looks like.

If you ever have the chance to do a behind the scenes tour of museum collections, this may not be what you see. Museums offer tours of storage, but you will likely see the cool stuff. At the Museum of Northern Arizona, this would include the cases of  whole ceramic vessels, Hopi jewelry and kachina dolls.

These boxes are filled with ceramic sherds and lithics, grindstone and organic samples. Unless you love plainware or are writing a dissertation on metates, you will likely never see this space. So here's your insider's glimpse into a collections storage facility and the life of an anthropology collections assistant.

Day 20: Lexington

Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place. ~ Daniel Boone

Nope, I'm not planning a trip to Kentucky this year. I can see how one might think that based on this photo. This is the 2015 visitor's guide, which came in the mail today.

I wanted the visitor's guide so that I could look at the pictures and reminisce about my wonderful trip to Kentucky last summer. And dream about going back to the land of horses.

Day 19: The Grand Canyon

The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features. Language and illustration combined must fail. ~ John Wesley Powell

The Grand Canyon is awesome, in the truest sense of the word. Photographs absolutely do not do it justice. Until you stand on the edge and stare down at the thin ribbon that is the 350-mile wide Colorado River, you cannot understand the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

I stood along a quiet spot on the canyon rim, alone for several minutes. Distant and quiet, the roar of the river rapids almost a mile below was soft and muted. A gentle breeze stirred the air and I rested in the presence of God.

He created a seriously cool Earth.

Day 18: Camera Bag Insert (Fail)

The spool of thread asked, "How ya doin', pal?" Ever the wise guy, the needle replied: "Sew, sew."

I have been looking for a camera bag for my new DSLR and haven't settled on anything yet. Perhaps this is because I want the holy grail of camera bags - a bag with camera dividers and space for other items; not big and clumsy, but with enough space for my lens collection to grow in the future; small enough to count as a personal item on an airplane but big enough to fit a laptop. Also, a backpack that doubles as a cute purse would also be nice...

Perhaps my delay is also because decision-making isn't exactly my strong suit.

As I haven't purchased anything yet, I decided to make my own insert to put in a bag. I'm going on a little road trip tomorrow and would like to safely take my camera.

Unfortunately, I failed on two levels. First of all, my math did not add up. I used a pattern only slightly bigger than what I wanted and my math was shoddy, leading to an imperfect insert. However, my real issue is my lack of a sewing machine and lack of time. There is no way all of that velcro is going to be hand-sewn tonight.

Alas, this is essentially a fail.

Day 17: Seafarers

Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing. ~ Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr.

I am thankful to have coworkers here that I get along with and enjoy spending time with. Even better, we all enjoy getting together and playing board games, which makes for some fun times.

Today we played the seafarers expansion of Settlers of Catan. I'm a fan of the original game, and it was fun to play this new version. As with anything new it takes a little bit of getting used to, but I think we all had a good time. Though it would have been even better if I had won...

Day 16: Going to the Mountains is Going Home

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life." John Muir

I love the mountains. It's no secret - there is something about majestic peaks that stirs something within me. The San Francisco Peaks are so different from the Colorado Rockies, the ranges in Alaska or the Swiss Alps. At 12,633 feet, Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona. This is almost 2,000 feet lower than Antero, the mountain I summited in Colorado.

And yet, these mountains are still breathtaking. This view of the peaks is from a gas station on 180, just past the museum.

Day 15: Blue Dream of Sky

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." ~ E.E. Cummings

Today I just snapped a quick photo as I left work. This is the museum's collections center (ECC) with the San Francisco Peaks in the background. I can't get over the beauty of this place. The skies are usually bright blue, and the sun always makes it feel warmer out than it really is.

Day 14: Conference

I changed all my passwords to 'incorrect.' So whenever I forget it, it will tell me, 'Your password is incorrect.' ~ Unknown

I don't know what the view from your conference room looks like, but mine is pretty fantastic. Unfortunately, the mountain is hidden in a swath of clouds, but I think this is still beautiful. We had a collections department meeting today, and these occur in this wonderful conference room in the ECC.

Day 13: Snow-Kissed Trees

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'" ~ Lewis Carroll

We had almost 4 inches of snow today, which is considered a light snow here. The powdery snow is beautiful on the pine trees. I was only about a hundred yards from my office when I took this picture. Clearly I work in a very beautiful place!

By mid-day, the sun had come out and roads were dry. Of course, then the light sleet/hail came, which is not nearly as pleasant as the snow. It's snowing again right now, so my car and the streets are once again white.

Day 12: The Cloud

"I bind the Sun's throne with a burning zone, And the Moon's with a girdle of pearl" ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Today was a bit of a dreary day - cloudy, dark and rainy. However, when I walked out to my car after work, the clouds parted just long enough for the sun to peek through for a few minutes. Overnight the rain is supposed to turn to snow, so the scene may look different in the morning.

Day 11: Hotel Monte Vista

"During the day, I don't believe in ghosts. At night, I'm a little more open-minded." ~ Unknown

One of Flagstaff's downtown landmarks is the Hotel Monte Vista. As all good historic hotels are, it is haunted by a multitude of spirits.

It has also seen quite a few famous guests, including John Wayne, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jon Bon Jovi, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable, just to name a few. Seriously, there is a nice long list of famous patrons on the hotel's website.

Day 10: The Outside of a Horse

"There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." ~ Winston Churchill

Today I headed out to a coworkers' house for a game day. He lives out east of town, and there are a lot of horses along the way. This included a group about to set off on a trail ride. I was tempted to run out, jump on one of the horses and enjoy a trail ride myself, but I figured this would be frowned upon.

I did, however, stop my car and rolled down my window to take a quick snapshot of this guy. Everyone knows I can't help myself when it comes to horses!

Day 9: Pumphouse County Natural Area

"What would be ugly in a garden constitutes beauty in a mountain." ~ Victor Hugo

This afternoon I headed a few miles south to Pumphouse County Natural Area.  I read that it's a good place to see bald eagles and elk.

Of course, I saw neither.

The only wildlife stirring today was a lone hawk, soaring over the marsh and alighting on telephone poles. The ground was very soggy, and my shoes sunk down into the muck, but it was quiet and peaceful, which made for a nice little walk.

Day 8: Moscato

"Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin

A sweet, slightly bubbly moscato is always nice after a long week at work. And so I was looking forward to unwinding with a glass of wine this evening.

But oh, hey, I forgot. I don't have a bottle opener or wine glasses. A little reading online pointed me to  this technique and I was excited to learn another use for work keys. Unfortunately, the key method was unsuccessful. Luckily for me, prying the the cork out with a screwdriver worked. The things a girl will do for her wine.

Day 7: The Mother Road

66 - the long concrete path across the country, waving gently, up and down on the map, from the Mississippi to Bakersfield - over the red lands and the gray lands, twisting up into the mountains, crossing the Divide and down into the bright and terrible desert, and across the desert to the mountains again, and into the rich California valleys." ~ John Steinbeck

The famous Route 66 winds its way through Flagstaff, and is a main thoroughfare through the town. Here Route 66 intersects Humphreys, the main road up to Highway 180, which leads to the Snowbowl, the Grand Canyon and The Museum of Northern Arizona.

East to Albuquerque, or West to Los Angeles?

Day 6: The Superiority of Chocolate

"The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain." ~ Thomas Jefferson

So wrote Thomas Jefferson concerning hot chocolate. And really, what is better than a mug of creamy hot cocoa on a cold winter day. I speak from experience when I say that a walk through the snowy woods is most perfectly concluded with a mug of cocoa.

Thanks to World Market I've procured a canister of Cadbury drinking chocolate. So, tonight I feel warm and cozy as I sip my chocolate, making winter memories in Flagstaff while reminiscing about a winter spent in Oxford.

Day 5: Sunset's Architecture

"All architecture is great architecture after sunset; perhaps architecture is really a nocturnal art, like the art of fireworks." ~ G.K. Chesterton

This evening the sun set a fiery orange. I've always been partial to sunrises and sunsets and tonight's was no different. I'm often driving when the sun crosses the horizon, which makes it difficult to get a good photo.

I snapped this photo as I was stopped at a light (yes, that light is actually red) tonight. The brilliant sunset makes for a great backlit silhouette, but a difficult to read road sign (Route 66). I think the sunset itself makes all architecture great - even an unattractive street lamp.

Day 4: A Bed to Read In

"We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else's mind." ~ Anna Quindlen

I bought a bed today for my little room. It will be nice to sleep on a real mattress rather than an air mattress. Those things are cold! This is also noteworthy as this is my first big-girl bed. That's right, I've been using a twin bed my entire life. As of today, I have graduated to a full bed.

I still have mismatched bedding, of course. And my comforter is for a twin bed. But I'm taking this one step at a time.

Day 3: Baked Brie Baklava

Say what you wish; it's yours, true dish. How 'bout a little more baklava?" ~ Genie, Aladdin

My roommate's mom came to town today and treated us to lunch at Josephine's Modern American Bistro. Josephine's is an adorable cafe downtown. It is located in a craftsman bungalow that is on the National Register of Historic Places and at least a few people in Flag deem Josephine's the best restaurant in town .

I had a Brie-filled lunch that began with a turkey and Brie sandwich with apple cranberry chutney on date walnut focaccia. Delicious! But the desserts (of which the three of us ordered four to share) took the cake (pun intended). I chose this baklava baked Brie, and it was quite delightful!

Day 2: A Forest Clothed in Snow

"There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig, is clad with radiance." ~ William Sharp

The sun came out today after a winter storm dropped 17 inches of snow on Flagstaff. I can't get enough of the snow, and the snowy woods. Walking a few miles in the beauty of God's creation is such a lovely way to end a day.

Day 1: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep..." ~ Robert Frost

There's something about dark tree trunks poking up through the crisp, white snow that I find beautiful. I took a little walk today, just a few blocks from my apartment. It was cold out - barely 20 degrees, with a single-digit wind chill - but views like this made braving the cold very worth it.