I’m having a blast. It’s been a fun-filled and relaxing time here in Scottsdale, Arizona. The weather is gorgeous and while I enjoy spending a few hours a day at the pool sunning, reading and writing, I also go out for dinner most evenings to some quaint places, walk around the touristy downtown stores and galleries, and Wednesday, took a day jaunt up to Sedona.
We have our friends Larry and Lois who live here with whom we get together with frequently, and my cousin El is staying here for the month in a condo a few minutes away. She had a friend stay with her for the first 10 days and the four girls have been out and about quite a bit together. El’s husband wasn’t well so he chose not to make the trip and my own husband hasn’t been up to some of the longer tours and walking trips, so girl power it has been.
This weekend El and I will be going to the Scottsdale Art Festival and the Cavecreek Western Festival, who knows what we’ll discover there, and what I’ll have to share with you after those ventures.
So far, we’ve been to some fabulous restaurants, one in particular, Isabella’s Kitchen, known for it’s spectacular sunset views. It’s a great Italian restaurant nestled on the start of a golf course up in North Scottsdale. The one night we chose to go there, it was unseasonably cold that evening. The place is open air with mere plastic roll down shades to ward off the wind, good thing we took our jackets with us. Below are some beautiful photos of this property:
Another night we walked around downtown Scottsdale before dinner to work up an appetite and I sat down with a couple of wooden cowboys.
Sedona is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s about an hour and a half drive north of Scottsdale, known for its healing properties at its 3 vortexes and its beautiful red rock mountains. The drive there is a beautiful scenic desert drive.
I revisited the Chapel of the Holy Cross (I wrote about this last year ) and this time while there, met a Bishop visiting there from Australia. He was kind and allowed us to take a picture with him. We chatted for a bit then he blessed us and we parted ways.
We then drove over to Wholefoods, one of my favorite places to grocery shop, and picked up some lunch there, as well as some of their famous store brand dark chocolate with natural honeycomb in the middle.
We then wandered downtown Sedona to visit some shops and I noticed the prices had escalated considerably since my last year visit. I used great restraint and didn’t buy anything other than my yummy chocolate to take back with me.
I made an amateur video tape of us at the Chapel of Holy Cross. I spent over 3 hours trying to shrink the size to get it on here and after all I did, it came out sideways. I’m out of options, there was no way to turn this the proper way without starting over the shrinking process, so please forgive my terrible amateur video venture here with my phone. If you want to see some of these spectacular views, please turn your laptops (or your heads around) to view, lol. Again, sorry I suck at this.
Just before we were getting ready to return back to Scottsdale, we sat for a few moments on a bench to take in the beautiful surroundings, when my eyes focused to the pavement beneath me. My cousin El had noticed the same odd sight. Sure it was just a patch of grass growing through a crack, but El and I both looked at one another and busted a gut as we both noted it looked like someone’s famous hair.
Stay tuned for Art Festival news next week.
DGKayewriter.com 
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us. The bishop, was he orthodox? I’m asking because he looks cool. So glad you’re having a wonderful holiday xx
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Thank you Adele, I’m glad you enjoyed. Now, I’m not sure, we think he was orthodox. We didn’t want to invade him with questions, but I thought I may be able to look up more of his denomination by the symbols on his cloak and hood. 🙂 ❤
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Love it Debby and I must say I did have a chuckle at the Bishop standing between three beauties… must of made his day.. xxx
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Lol Sal, no kidding huh? I must find a way to work with my phone videos, putting this one together was a nightmare of which I may have to write a post about when I figure it out exactly. 🙂 Thanks Sal. xoxo ❤
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Thanks for taking us on this trip, Debby. 🙂
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Oh thanks for coming Karen. 🙂
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Oh boy, So sooooo loved your post today Debby.. Seeing those views and I can see how Girl Power suits you ladies lol..
You all look fabulous..
And I got an extra treat, and turned my lap top sideways, to enjoy your narration, and lovely voice as you walked up that incline to the Chapel of Holy Cross.
What views, Loved the Rock People.. 🙂 and I loved my walk up there with you all.. 🙂
And I smiled, and laughed out loud at that tuft of grass, hairpiece.. And I think this celebrity is on many of our News Bulletins lately too 🙂 If my mind is on your wave length. 🙂
Wishing you a continued special time, and enjoy the Art Festival, can’t wait.. 🙂
Love and Hugs xxx Sue
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Lol Sue, you are so funny. But so glad you enjoyed and made it through the video I experimented with. I had so much trouble trying to get it on the blog and almost didn’t put it up, but thought, better something than nothing, lol. 🙂 Oh, and yes, your mind is EXACTLY on the same wavelength as mine. LOL. Big hugs to you my friend. xoxo ❤ 🙂
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haha.. glad we both had a laugh.. Enjoy my friend xx ❤
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🙂 🙂 ❤
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Oh, looks such fun!! Great phots. Watched the video – now have a crick in my neck. LOL:)
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Lol, so sorry Judith, there wasn’t one more thing I could do with that video to turn it around. Thanks for watching and hoping you won’t be sueing me for whiplash, LOL> 🙂 xoxo
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Debby, you look just great!!? It’s lovely to read about your trip and your outings, the scenery is stunning. I’ve read about Sedona and seeing your wonderful photos makes me long to visit one day. What are the chances of meeting an Australian bishop in the desert! What a fantastic ‘girls only’ time, although sad to hear your husband isn’t fully up to longer outings. Looking forward to more news of your holiday! ?
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So glad you enjoyed Annika. Sedona is just spectacular. I’m glad I could bring you a little slice here. Thank you. 🙂
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Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing you news and great photographs.
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Thanks for dropping by and reading Robbie. 🙂 Having a great time! 🙂
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What a delightful post. It looks like your having fun. Your sideways video and instructions to hold our computers on their sides cracked me up. Ha ha. And the hair? Bwa ha ha haha. Too funny!
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Lol, you know me Diana! I say it like it is, and try to be helpful – hence, the video watching instructions LOL. Glad you liked the hair – tinted green just in time for St. Patrick’s Day Bwa ha ha ha. 🙂
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Wonderful backdrop for a friend fun fest. I would think you can feel fatigue oozing out of your bones.
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Fresh air, hot sun and lots of walking is a great combination for a sleep remedy. 🙂
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Oh what fun. Sedona is a beautiful place. We thought about building a house there before settling in Silver City. Nice to visit but too busy and too pricy to live there. That’s some beard on the guy from Australia! Looks like some of the guys from where we live–the ones that use hair ties on their beards.
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Yes, Sedona is so beautiful John. You think it’s busy there? I mean other than the ‘touristy’ things to do, the towns are quaint, quiet and serene. I’d love a house there one day. Lol hair ties. 🙂
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Busy is all relative. Coming from the DC metro area with 6 million people, Sedona is quiet and less crowded but it’s all the tourists like in big cities that make it seem busy. The red rocks and more ARE beautiful. 🙂
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For sure the tourists keep it busy, but there are beautiful secluded parts where the tourists don’t bombard. I just love the red rocks, I feel them calling me, lol. 😉
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Ah, Deb, thanks for the video. Didn’t matter that it was sideways; I got my desert fix. How I miss the southwest… So glad you’re having a blast. And that grassy hair is hilarious! It was the perfect antidote to watching the news all day 🙂 ?
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Lol T, if anyone could appreciate ‘the hair’, I knew it would be you! LOLOL. Glad I brought back some good memories for you. ❤ xoxo
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Wow!! Lovely pics Debbie…they speak volumes for the fun you are having! You are looking awesome and being with all the girls is like an icing on the cake! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks so much for visiting Balroop. Yes, I’m having a blast, thanks for turning your neck to view, lol. 🙂
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There’s so much to like about Scottsdale. I spent some time there when I was working. Sedona too. Wonderful part of the country.
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I find it so magical there too. 🙂
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Looks like a fab adventure! I’m hoping to spend a warm partial winter in Arizona in a few years. Sedona sounds lovely and I also want to go to Flagstaff! Enjoy!
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Sedona is beautiful and Flagstaff is even more north. It’s not warm there in the winter until this time of year so beware. 🙂
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You look so relaxed and joyful. Good for you. Thanks for sharing your bliss with us. I’ve only been to Phoenix but I’ve just added Scottsdale/Sedona to my list of “visit before I die spots.” Travel safe. Have fun.
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Lol Ann, I hope I didn’t twist your neck! Yes, I would definitely recommend Sedona for everyone’s bucket list, truly once of the wonders of the world in my opinion. 🙂
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What good fun you are having Debby. I can’t believe you were blessed by a bishop from Australia. I had trouble turning my laptop to view your video, and my head’s screwed on too tight! But I love the hair. Back in my teenage years some of the blonde girls used to put something called (I think) Magic Silver White in their hair to make it even more blonde. If they happened to go swimming in the pool too soon, their hair would go green. I think this one’s been dipped in the pool. 🙂
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Lol. We had a similar product when I was a teen that we sprayed in our hair to lighten it, same effect once you hit the chlorine! And sorry about the shabby video work, I’ll definitely be working on that once I get back and settled. 🙂
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Good luck with the video. 🙂
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Lol, thanks Norah.
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Sounds like you’re having a great time. Enjoy!
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I’m taking it all in Stevie. 🙂
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I knew you’d find me some cowboys ? Love the video, Debby, (even if I had to bend my head to watch it) and it was great hearing your voice. You girls sound like you’re having great fun. Bell Rock and those Rock People look incredible. I’ll pass on the dark chocolate, but gave me the real honeycomb in some milk chocolate any day.
Looks to me as if you’ve found your perfect place. I hope George is OK and enjoying his rest. Keep on having a ball. ?
xx
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Lol, thanks so much Hugh. I hope I didn’t give you a stiff neck. Obv my video skills need work, lol. Thanks for the well wishes, we are all doing fine and just enjoying the beautiful desert sun. You’ve got that right, I am in my favorite place on earth. 🙂 ❤
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It looks wonderful. Nothing like some time out with your best buddies.
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Thank you Barbara, so true! 🙂
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Looks like you are having a great time over there. I would love me some girl-time. 🙂 And, it is nice and warm as well! Enjoy!
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It’s divine and so hot. 🙂 Thank you.
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Every girl needs some ‘girl time’. And it’s more than warm here, almost 100 degrees, lol. 🙂
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Gorgeous photos – I’m quite envious. Thanks for sharing your trip, Deb.
I’d ‘like’ your posts, but WP isn’t loading the ‘like’ button for me this time around. It happens sometimes 😦
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Thanks so much Deb. And thanks for letting me know about WP at it again with my ‘like’ button. It does happen sometimes, but glad you made it by. 🙂
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I wish was there with you. Scottsdale and Sedona are two of my favorite vacation spots. Thanks for taking me back.
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Oh, you’re a girl after my own heart Michelle. Get over here! Lol 🙂 ❤
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I love this post. You all look fab. It was fun to hear your voice and watch the video. Yes, I turned my computer. You are so funny! I have one like that taken in HI only I kept turning it to get different views. I learned afterwards that you can’t do that! hehe. Have a great week. 🙂
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Lol, thanks Marsha. I hope I didn’t give you a whiplash! LOL. Glad to share a piece of the beautiful rock. 🙂 🙂
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No, no whiplash! 🙂 So now you are home “back at work?” hehehe. I am sure impressed at how you can continue to publish books and blog and publish on social media, too. You do amazing me, Miss Energizer. 🙂
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Honestly Marsha, I don’t know how I do it. And no, I’m not home yet! I’ll be home Thursday night. 😦 Boohoo. ❤
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That would be tonight! You have an understanding husband as I do. I’m excited that today I get to speak about my book at Rotary. I don’t know why I was so nervous about it, but yesterday I spent hours redoing an 18 slide PowerPoint to be ready. Yikes! 🙂 But I got sidetracked tracing down all my posts about writing the book and printed them up. Sally is going to do a review, and asked for info. So I started the process for her. Wow, this is going to be a long post on your comment section! 🙂 Sorry!
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Wow, fantastic Marsh! How exciting for you. I know by your posts how outgoing and dynamic you are, as I am, but there’s something about live speaking when we know the attention is focused solely on us that can be nerve racking, lol. Congrats! And no worries about long comments. They’re always welcome. 🙂 ❤
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I love that part of the world once I get out of the cities. So much natural beauty. Spring is unfolding here–slowly.
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Sedona is my favorite place. I’d live there if I could. And I hope spring is on its way. I’ve managed to dodge winter so far this year. So grateful. 🙂
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