Westward Ho!

I've been a bad photographer, as in, I did not take that many photos while I was in Arizona last weekend. I think sometimes I just get tired of lugging my camera around and I want a true vacation, even from my camera! Of course, then I regret it as soon as I get home and see that I only took about 58 photos... waaaah!

The moon over winter wheat,
as I left Kansas early morning to hit the road

We stayed in Cottonwood, a lovely little town where my parents used to live. It's a great central place to stay if you want to visit Jerome, Sedona, Prescott, and Flagstaff. Cottonwood has its own host of great restaurants and a big history of its own, so be sure to spend some time exploring this wonderful little town.

The view from the mountain town of Jerome

Douglas Mansion

If you love Sedona, you just have to visit the historic mountain town of Jerome, not too far away and well worth the 20 or 30 minutes to get there. We've loved this little town for years and always make a run for the little artsy shops, and we always manage a few really good buys. The shopping is great, the food is even better, and the views are breathtaking! I got this cool little bracelet at one of the jewelry shops for only $14. I love the inspiring words (love, peace, joy, hope, faith and dreams come true) on it, and it was made by a local artist which makes it rather unique.



We ate at Grapes Restaurant & Bar and everything was soooo deeeeee-lish -- salads that made you sigh, wine that made you wacky, and desserts that made you want to die! Highly recommended by the four of us. Also highly recommended -- the Jerome Palace Haunted Hamburger for the best burgers in the west! We've ate there before, but we ran out of eating time to hit it again. I just hate it when there's not enough days to eat everywhere. :-(

Here are a few other shots of Jerome.... I would have preferred this first photo without the car, but there are so many cars in tiny little Jerome, it is virtually impossible to get many photos without cars in them!




The historic Spirit Room Bar

The next day, we spent an afternoon in Sedona, shopping and EATING.... I mean, what else is there to do?! We almost always hike while in Sedona, but we didn't have enough days to hike AND shop AND eat, soooooo the hike had to be eliminated. But of course, wouldn't you opt for shopping and eating over a grueling hike??! I mean, what do you think a gaggle of women that are pushing mid-life are going to opt for???

We ate lunch at Javelina Cantina, another favorite haunt that we go back to when we are in Sedona. Important criteria when we eat in Sedona.... the restaurant MUST have a patio so we can sit outside amongst the beauty that is Sedona. We had some marvelous margaritas and a dee-lish mexican lunch! After that, we grabbed the shuttle to Tlaquepaque, a very unique shopping complex, with boutique type shops. The ambiance there is so wonderful, we just had to take a break and sit on the balcony patio at the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill with a glass of wine and some appetizers!


Oh so beautiful views of the Sedona red rocks

But, all good things must come to an end... and actually, I was missing hubby and my girlzzzz, so I decided to head home a day early. Isn't coming back home after a vacation just the warmest and coziest?


NO, I did not come back home early because hubby torched our homestead while I was gone.... nope, not at all, I adamantly deny that was the reason I came home early!!

22 comments:

  1. Great photos! I love that bracelet that is just too neat!

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  2. Those pics are fabulous! The Kansas photos are definitely a reminder of the life I left behind almost 3 years ago!

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  3. Excellent photos!! I LOVE that bracelet!! I have been to Sedona once and was enchanted. Nice to have you back! :)

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  4. Great post and fantastic photos. Just loved my tour again. Thanks so much.

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  5. Thanks for taking us on your vacation. The photos are beautiful. I would love to go there one day.

    And about the early return........just keep telling yourself that.

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  6. Now I want to go to Arizona. It's been years since I've been there and I forgot how beautiful it is. The pictures are fabulous and I know what you mean about taking a vacation from taking photos. I did the same in NM but now I regret that decision. Live and learn.

    p.s. I like the new banner and hubs is a header, huh? cool

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  7. That bracelet is a gem! Stopping by from SITS!

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  8. Super pictures ma'am.

    I was also very interested in the info on Jerome. We have relatives planning a trip out that way for fall and now I can actually provide some useful "sites to see" info to them.

    Unfortunately, it looks like the Jerome State Park (I assume that includes the Douglas Mansion) is closed indefinitely for rennovations. Oh well--they have a nice site.

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  9. Great pictures Susan! And the bracelet is just so gorgeous...I love the words on it too! Thanks for all the recommendations, I hope I can make there one day...(Happy to see you on my follower list, yay ,thanks a lot). Love, Evi

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  10. Thanks for a glimpse of the area! Great photos! I know I would like it out there! I LOVE the bracelet.

    BTW, I like your header featuring YOUR cowboy! :) That's one of my favorite rodeo events.

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  11. Thanks for coming by and becoming a new stalker, er follower! I have to say that the Wizard of Oz is one if my fave movies so it made me giggle at your name. Also this is so creepy, you are talking about Cottonwood. My husband and all his family are from Camp Verde, which I am sure you know is right there by Cottonwood. And my mom works in Cottonwood! My family lives about 45 minutes south of there. What a small world

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  12. That sunset/sunrise picture is AMAZING!!!

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  13. I take it back ~ moon-rise!!! In.Cred.Able.

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  14. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier! Made my day!

    I lived in Phoenix for 14 years and visited Sedona often. It's so beautiful and peaceful there. I also visited Jerome in the late 80s. It was a bit of a ghost town back then. The artists were just starting to arrive. Your pictures really brought me back to my time in AZ.

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  15. You might not have taken many photos, but the ones you did take are great! Yes, I understand what you mean about not taking the camera sometimes.

    Leedra’s Photos For Fun

    Leedra’s Greeting Cards

    Photography By Leedra

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  16. The photos were great. I have a super soft spot for architecture photos. Especially, stairs, doors, windows and arches. LOVE them!

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  17. Thank you for stopping by today! What wonderful pictures! The last two people I communicated with today were Douglas and Jerome - then I stop here and you have these fabulous pictures including Douglas (mansion) and Jerome. Spooky!

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  18. Thank you for the trip! I enjoyed going with you. Someday I, too, will get to see more of the United States. Until then I will enjoy my blogging friends and their trips.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  19. I love love love Jerome! Such a neat place! I stayed in the haunted hotel while I was there. :) And I love that bracelet!!! Wow!

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  20. Crap! Now you have made me hungry..all that good food, and margaritas too!( My favorite! ) Those last two photos were excellent! I have only been to AZ twice, never to Sedona or Jerome..looks like a great place to vacation! Thanks for the tour! :)

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  21. You took some fantastic pictures! Just beautiful. I smiled at the bracelet. I bought one there years and years ago. I still wear it sometimes.

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