Weekend Reflections - Mountain Lake

The morning sun falls on South Lake at Estrella Mountain Ranch.

You can see more reflections at James' Newtown Area Photo.

Weekend Reflections - Fire Truck

An old Chevrolet fire truck was on display at the fire station during the 9/11 Memorial service.

More reflections can be found at James' Newtown Area Photo.

9/11 Ceremony

On Saturday the United Goodyear Firefighters Local 4005, along with Goodyear's police and fire departments, conducted its annual memorial flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast at Goodyear Fire Station No. 185, 15875 W. Clubhouse Drive, just west of Pebble Creek Parkway. The breakfast was free, but donations were accepted for firefighters’ charities.

Everybody’s Movin’ To The ‘Burbs

This is a 75 year old saguaro that was scheduled to be uprooted and destroyed to make way for a new home near 4th Street and Bethany Home Road. After hearing of the cactus’ plight on valley newscasts, a local landscaping company and a West Valley school came up with a plan to save it. This past Monday, Roadrunner Cactus transplanted the giant saguaro on the new campus of Montessori in the Park at Dysart and McDowell Roads.

Officials said it was important to save the huge cactus and the fact that it ended up at a school will help students learn about the saguaro and the importance of protecting Arizona’s treasures. The saguaro has long been a symbol of the state and the saguaro blossom is the Arizona State Flower.

Buy Once, Read Anywhere

There are two Amazon.com fulfillment centers in Metro Phoenix and a third one on the way. This one is 800,000 square feet and located on Cotton Lane in Goodyear. The new fulfillment center will be more than 1 million square feet and open in October.

What I love about having Amazon so close is that I can choose free Super Saver Shipping and often times still get my order the next day. YAHOO! (Oops. That's a different website.)

Three Bears

This bear family poses outside the Black Bear Diner in Goodyear.  This is a chain restaurant, but I have to admit that I didn't know that until I looked it up!

Theme Thursday - Light

The 50 foot Star Tower along Estrella Parkway was designed as a spiral configuration, resembling the shape of the Milky Way constellation topped off with a rusted steel sail. The tower was built as a tribute to the many cultures that have studied the desert night sky.

The tower twinkles with light at night, and the spiral staircase and viewing platform give an amazing 360-degree view of the city skyline and the night sky. Several star-gazing events have been held at the tower. This is where Magpie and I have unsuccessfully tried to photograph the moon rising above the mountains the past few days. As you can see, the monsoon clouds have rolled in.

This is a Theme Thursday post. Please visit our friends at Theme Thursday for more thoughts about light.

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

This "reclycled art" is in a public park at the Liberty Water Reclamation Facility in Goodyear. I couldn't find anything about the art work, but someone I spoke to at the park said it had been done by local school children. There were all kinds of items embedded in the concrete...light sockets, plumbing fixtures, wire, nuts, bolts, glass, bottles, and on and on.

Rodeo

This is a shot of the Goodyear Rodeo Grounds within the Estrella Mountain Park that Tracy took one day during a trek through EMP. I have fond memories of the rodeo grounds from back in the late 80's when I used to do notary work during the bull riding sessions. What a crazy thing to do for fun...bull riding I mean.

Wednesday Doorway - Victory Lane

Someday soon these gates will be opened wide and a winner will be driving through this "doorway" to Victory Lane.

Out Like a Lion?

Did March come in like a lamb and go out like a lion for you??

Wednesday Doorway - Boys of Summer

In keeping with Tracy's recent post about spring training baseball,
this is a shot of the Cleveland Indians Team Shop. The games are
in full swing - pun intended.

Bart Simpson in the Air

I saw this unusual cloud formation driving home the other

evening. I may be crazy, but as soon as I saw it, I thought

of Bart Simpson. Now my husband must be crazy too,

because he said the same thing.

There's something hiding in the cloud. Can you see it?

 For other stellar (pun intended) photos please check out Friday Skywatch.

Captain Morgan

This fine specimen of a man sits atop a local watering

hole known as Roman's Oasis.

Playing In The Dirt

These giant cardboard cut outs can be seen from the

freeway as you travel west along I-10.

Prickly Cactus

This is a fountain in a local shopping mall.

The Ocotillo "cactus" is made of pieces of glass.

Talk about art imitating life...

Skywatch Friday

A recent sunrise from my backyard in Goodyear, AZ

Check out all the other Skywatch pictures at Skywatch Site

Giant Marauding Chicken

At Duncan Family Farms there are several of these huge billboard type "signs". I especially like this one. Duncan's had to close down this facility years ago. They had "you pick" fruits and vegetables, a country-type store for their organic produce, petting zoo, milking barn and just loads of fun. We're sad they're closed.

Skywatch Friday

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” Pamela Hansford Johnson

Please enjoy many other wonderful shots at Skywatch Site.

Sculpture

I don't know the name of this sculpture. It is outside the

Cancer Treatment Center of America that is located in Goodyear, AZ.