TracyDove.com

When we moved to Phoenix in 1964, south Phoenix was mostly agriculture and Japanese flower fields. I can remember many Sunday drives with my parents, driving down Baseline Road, soaking up the fragrance and visions of fields of beautiful flowers. We would stop in at a shop or two and walk the fields lost in our thoughts. The last Japanese flower grower closed down several years ago and south Phoenix has continuously been developing, adding to our urban sprawl. One place that has remained a constant breath of fresh air is The Farm at South Mountain. Twelve acres of a peaceful sanctuary lined with pecan trees still thrives in a rapidly fading agricultural environment.

It was only fitting that the day my father’s body was being returned to ash, that my family visited this south Phoenix heaven on earth. He is the one that brought us to the southwest, after all. We ate lunch on the cafe patio (the Farm Kitchen) and quietly strolled the grounds, picking up pecans that had fallen from the trees. A visit through The Cottage, a little artist shop in the back of the property, proved to be a great reward. We had just missed a quilt show that was there the weekend before. My mother and my eldest sister are quilters, an art that I have not mastered and a talent that I was not blessed with. However, I definitely am an admirer of this art form!

Bare trees begin to bud again, flowers bloom, and everything is beginning to become fully alive as Spring approaches in this beautiful, desert valley of the sun. The circle of life continues on and what a joy it is to be a part of everything.

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this building on Central Avenue (south of Indian School Road~ in Phoenix) is going to be a new coffee joint. Their mural is awesome. It is somewhat 3 dimensional. LOVE it! I will have to find out more details and who did the artwork. So, if anyone out there knows about this, please email me and let me know! I am looking forward to the opening of this place and hoping that it is an independent coffee house. We have some of the best coffee houses in Phoenix and the surrounding areas and it tickles my fancy due to the fact that I LOVE coffee! The whole coffee house experience is what I am always looking for. Some of the long running establishments have either shut down or moved, so it is always a thrill to see new ones opening up, even though the old hang outs never die in my heart. So, bottoms up! Hopefully, there will be more information on this place coming soon!

Enjoy and Drink Daily!

KOOKY KRAFTS ~ queer & quirky ~ fun & fabulous ~ 1500 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, 85007, 602.252.3774 ~ Fri. 5-10 p.m. Sat. 12-10 p.m. ~ also random evenings, or by appt.

This is owned and operated by the FABULOUS Phoenix artist, Beatrice Moore. I FINALLY found my way to this amazing shop full of eye candy that I am still feasting on, over and over again in my mind. The minute I stepped foot inside I was transported to another world. The vibe is extremely high and everything is BEAUTIFUL! I am especially fond of the large art cakes that spin in the windows, full of unexpected surprises with every turn. A special kind of wonderland awaits inside this building. It is a delightful experience, far beyond any shop that I have ever been in. Beatrice is not only an amazing artist, but she is the sweetest heart. Her spirit shines brightly through her work. I have been an admirer of her art for many years now, you can only imagine how thrilled I was to actually spend a little time inside of her magical Kraft shop and talk with her.

Pure inspiration.

Pure Bliss.

HOW HOT IS HELL?

Apparently, no one living on earth knows. But I am pretty certain that we are living in it, in Phoenix, this summer! I have to laugh when I hear about the “extreme heat warnings”. DUH! I remember the summer we had 122 temps, so this 115 stuff has nothing on that! Nonetheless, it is hotter than hell.

“Hot summer day
Carry me along
Oh, hot summer day
Please carry me along
Hot summer day
Carry me along
To its end where I begin”

As if life could not get any better… today it is raining. This is my favorite kind of day. When mother nature showers ~ the world just seems so magical.

When I am at my home, in Phoenix, the rain and dark skies create a peaceful, warm mood.~ Perfect for opening the windows, breaking out the paint brushes, burning incense in the studio, playing world music, roasting garlic in the kitchen and getting high on the whole experience of it all.

Rainy daze in northern Arizona cast a different spell on me.

Just for this moment I am absolutely livin’ it and lovin’ it!!

Peace, Love and Art.

The old Willow House is now the new Hob Nobs coffeehouse. The old Willow House is still around, as most locals know, by now. They just moved to 17th avenue and Van Buren. I don’t get over there much these days. But, I managed to stop in at the new place and, despite how a lot of people feel about the change of hands, it is really, really nice. The art in there is high quality and the stained glass pieces of art are beautiful. The furniture is warm and COMFORTABLE. And, since most of us “dirty~hippies” have moved on, it is very, very, very CEAN! HA! Most importantly, the coffee is FABULOUS. I have only eaten there once and it was over the top……I only had some rich, desert, sugar thingy. I almost went into a sugar coma afterwards, it was small, but RICH. I feel sleepy and full just thinking about it!! ‘Hobnob” by definition means 1.) to associate on very friendly terms and 2.) to drink together.

Nice.

By the way, I added the birds in the first photo (duh). When I see power lines in a picture, I just have to embellish them!