So I wrote this entry last night and then promptly deleted it.  Argggghhhhh!  So here it goes again.

I live in hell, plain and simple.  For the past week and a half, temperatures have soared in the Valley to 114.  Hell.  It is so hot, that after leaving my water bottle in the car for three hours, when I went to take a sip, I scalded my lips.  I could make sweet tea in my car and have no problem dissolving the sugar.  Hell.  People are not meant to live in the desert.  I am wilting at this very moment.

Luckily, last weekend we were able to get a reprieve by heading to Sedona.  We stayed at a precious B&B called the Briar Patch Inn.  It is right on Oak Creek and the only thing that I wish had been different was the amount of time we could afford to stay there.

This is the drive way leading down to our cabin.  Check out all the greenery!  It reminds me of home.  Both Chuck and I really miss Asheville.

Our cabin is to the left — Tree Top.  It was perfect.  We had our own private patio and the greenery was unbelievable.  We discovered a real treat nestled in the bushes next to our front door.

A hummingbird nest!! I’ve never seen one — have you?!  I always equated them with Snuffalufagus — real but elusive.  Chuck stumbled upon it as he was backing up into a bush.  At first we thought they were dead, but as we moved the branch, their eyes quickly flew open, and one let out a big squeak.  I am still amazed by the sight.  

Each morning, the Inn provided a yummylicious breakfast.  I loved the oatmeal and blueberry muffins.  We sat down by the creek and were treated to live music each morning.

All our photos are courtesy of our gorilla pod.  Kudos to the inventor.

This was a great secluded area to eat breakfast, although the sun was too brutal to stay for very long.

A resident lawn mower.  It’s either Woolly or Bully.  

The Inn had their own private swimming hole.  All along the banks, folks had created these rock piles.  I thought they were neat.  Could it have been a vortex?  Maybe, check out our butterfly moment.

She was magnificent fluttering around.

Can you spot the butterfly on Chucklebutt’s shirt?

I love Francis of Assisi!

After breakfast on Saturday, we promptly went back to bed for a mid-morning nap.  After waking, we headed to Grasshopper Pointe for an afternoon swim.  It’s considered one of the top ten swimming holes in the state by Arizona Highways.  Before we move back east, I’ve told Chuck we need to swim in all ten of them.  While the parking lot was crowded, we managed to find a rather secluded area and were for the most part alone.

The water was super cold at first, but after we swam around for a little bit, it was quite refreshing.

I think Chucklebutt looks too cute in this photo.  He forgot his t-shirt to protect him from the sun, so he jumped in with his Hawaiian shirt.

This is probably the moment I realized that there were hundreds of little worms at the bottom of the waterfall.  The reminded me of leeches although they weren’t.  When I sat on the rocks, they got all over me.  Yes I freaked out.  Later, as I was getting out of my swimsuit, I had a Will Wheaton moment.  Remember the movie “Stand By Me?”  Will finds a leech on his nether region.  Yipes!  I freaked out again.

After we went swimming, we took another nap.  We’re a napping family.  That night, we went to our favorite restaurant – Dahl and Deluca.  It is an amazing Italian restaurant.  I think it might be my favorite in all of Arizona.  Their salads are to die for and the creme brule is scrumptious.  

Happy Anniversary to us!  We were going to watch “The Happening,” but things close early in Sedona.  Instead, we went up to the airport and looked at the moon and stars.  Chuck got some nice shots of the city.

I think this was an 80 second exposure.  The sky and mountain are really lit up, but it was pitch black outside.

On Sunday, we got the bright idea to go hiking.  It was 106.  Between the PMS and the heat, I had what is known as a “case of the ass.”  Chuck wanted to document the moment.

Can you hear it?  It’s me saying, “grrrrrrrrrr.”  The area was absolutely beautiful, but it was too blooming hot to enjoy.  We managed a total of 3 miles.

We would have been better to have gone swimming again.  

Happy Weekend!  I’ll leave everyone with my two new favorite magazines.  I’m obsessed!