Skipping through the Orange Grove...

When I was visiting my mom in Arizona, we went on many adventures, but one of the greatest things that we did was pick oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits. My mom lives in a retirement community just outside of Phoenix, and she has many nice neighbors that always say hi when you see them walking past. In my mom's backyard, she has two orange trees, one tangerine tree, and one grapefruit tree, and every morning, it was my job to go out back and pick a couple grapefruits for my breakfast and a bunch of oranges for our fresh squeezed juice.

Now when I go to the store and see oranges on sale for $2.50/lb I can't believe my eyes! I picked a couple of pounds of oranges every morning, and the morning I left, I picked over fifty pounds of oranges so my mom could squeeze and freeze fresh orange juice. It took me about 30 minutes or so to pick that many oranges, so why does it cost so much money to buy them? At $2.50/lb, I picked about $125 worth of oranges in about 30 minutes, and I'm not very skilled at picking either. Do you think we picked all the oranges from the trees? Not even close! I picked less than 10% of the oranges on one tree. I love oranges and will continue to buy them (somewhat reluctantly) at the store, but I will always remember those two oranges trees, the tangerine tree, and the grapefruit tree that sat quietly in the my mom's backyard, providing shade, and a free and tasty breakfast.

Gregg

Tortilla Flat, AZ

While visiting with my mother in Arizona, we took a short trip out Apache Junction to the Superstition Mountain Range to a small town named Tortilla Flat, Arizona. If you think you come from a small town, think again. Tortilla Flat has a total population of SIX PEOPLE! Yep, I said six. It's a quant little town that includes a gift shop, restaurant, and a convenience store. While waiting for our table, we visited the gift shop where you can find shirts, hats, small treasures, and jewelry, and we stopped by outdoor seating area where there was live country music with freaking hilarious musicians.
There are speakers throughout town (remember, it's only on side of the road and about 100 yards long) to announce to everybody when your table is ready. When you walk into the restaurant, one of the first things that you notice is the unique wallpaper throughout the restaurant on the walls and ceiling. People sign a dollar bill or paper money from their home country, and the staff will staple it on the wall or ceiling.

There are not very many bare spots available for future signed money, and there are signs throughout the restaurant stating that taking money off the wall is stealing and the police will be called if you're caught. We found money from Canada, South Korea, Japan, Germany, and many other countries.

Throughout the restaurant are relics from the past that include a plow, tools, and other equipment used when the town was founded in 1904 as a stage stop. The food we were served was delicious, and the atmosphere makes this town a must see, but the road in is not to be desired. It's curvy and slow, but you do have the opportunity to see a couple of beautiful lakes before and after the town. When driving out to Tortilla Flat, you will pass Canyon Lake which offers many places for picnics or swimming, and after the town is Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. The lakes are amazing, and at specific points, cliffs shoot out of the water hundreds of feet straight up.


The town is small but well worth the visit, and my mom and I had an amazing time enjoying the lake, the mountains, and this small town of Tortilla Flat. I am including the town's website which will tell you more about the town and its history: http://www.tortillaflataz.com/index-2.html

Gregg

Sedona The Beautiful!

So, I took an Amtrak train from home through Sacramento, CA to Denver, CO for my interview at Regis University. I then took a Greyhound bus from Denver, CO to Raton, NM where I caught another Amtrak train to Flagstaff, AZ. Flagstaff is a quant little town in northern Arizona that has many old buildings that house fun little shops. Our hotel, the Hotel Monte Vista, was built in 1927 and housed at least two bars which could be heard till at least 2:00 AM on a Saturday night (or morning I guess). The next morning, my mom and I took a side trip through Sedona, AZ, where there are so many beautiful red mountains towering above the road. The small little town of Sedona was full of fun shops and many tour companies, including one that offered to excort you through the rough terrain in pick Jeeps.

My mom and I walked through so many shops, talked with many of the locals, and were given advice on where to explore during our Sedona visit. Just standing in the middle of town, you are able to experience one of the greatest gifts God has given us on this beautiful Earth. The red mountains tower above the town in so many unique formations, that you can't help yourself but to just stand and stare (then turn slowly turn in circles and stare some more). There are many great resturants in the area and many resorts where you can stay and see these spectacular mountains and have the weekend to experience the town. You have opportunities to sit and enjoy another person's company over a glass of ice tea or a beer, or you can find hiking trails to get some exercise and experience the mountains in an entirely different fashion. When walking through the town of Sedona, you come across many different statues - some are bronze, some are painted, some are big, and some are small. The street art helps to solidify what the town of Sedona is: a great family vacation spot.

The area of Sedona that my mom and I choose to explore was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is a small Catholic Chapel built into the red rock, and you are able to go into the chapel to pray or visit the gift shop downstairs where we saw so many beautiful and amazing things to buy. Many of the items you can buy are made from the red rock itself. There are many different navity scenes ranging from traditional to a Native American version, and we even found some Jewish items, including a menorah. From the Chapel, you can see many of the red mountains around you, because the Chapel is much higher than the highway that runs between and around the mountains. Plus, you have many high peaks directly above you when you're standing with your back to the Chapel. The views are amazing, and the town is fabulous. I highly recomend a visit to Sedona, AZ, and I hope that you have enjoyed the photos I have taken of our trip.

One final piece of information when you visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona is this, pay attention to the last house you pass when you get to the Chapel. If you miss it, you will get a great view of it when you stand next to this little piece of stone artwork next to the entrance of the chapel. I have a picture of the house you will see - it is HUGE! It has its own pond and gazebo in the lower portion of the yard. It has a four car garage. You can't really see from this picture, but his help has their own home on the back corner of the property. Who own's this house? It was just purchased for $25 million dollars by the actor Nic Cage. We didn't see him, but his house is large and has amazing views of Sedona.

Now that I have visited Sedona, my mom and I have laid low for a few days, but we are heading out of town tonight to get a clear view of the stars. Tomorrow, however, I must head to Tucson, AZ, where I will have my second interview in a week, and then I will finally head home to my wife and daughters. I have missed them so much, and will be thankful to return home.

Gregg