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Sundays in Arizona

AlteredPages is based in Arizona.   As some know I purchased the business almost 2 years ago.   We've come a long way since then.   We sold only collages and a few other small  items.   We still love collages and sell them as a backbone of AlteredPages.  We are about to embark on a new journey adding another facet to AlteredPages, soon to be officially announced.   Stay tuned! 

I thought it was time to share details about Life in Arizona, what it's like to own the business and just chat about life in general.   So often all we see is ads and sales and contests and there is more to life than that.   I like to know people and make things a bit more personal.   It's not just the finished art project but what led the person to make it, what the inspiration was and the thinking behind it.    Maybe we can all get to know each other a little better, feel free to comment about your life, your home and your Art.    AND SO........

Living in Arizona was not something I ever planned on.   Not our original home, but it has home been for longer than I can possibly admit!    I came to Arizona with my husband on a job interview, never in my life thinking I would live in the Wild West.  But here we are.  This is home to our grandchildren who have never jumped in a huge pile of red and gold maple leaves or had to wear snow-pants to school!    (Do kids wear them anymore?)   We came from Pittsburgh, PA - a 24 hour a day city to a small town in AZ that did not even have a traffic light !   OH BOY. 


As for the desert, it has a beauty I admittedly had to grow to like.   The sunsets are truly amazing and the splendor of giant Saguaros is awe inspiring.   We don't have an ocean in Arizona and it is where my soul resides.    When I see photos of Susan Brown (DT Member) at the beach or friends walking at various shores, I feel I should join them.    We get away to Santa Barbara, CA or Hawaii as often as possible. 

We live in a lovely area on the "other side of the mountain" from Phoenix, named Ahwatukee and Ahwatukee Foothills.   (I think it is Navajo for former landfill :-)   Just kidding!   Our little town is a village of about 150,000. people.   The Mountain contains South Mountain Park, over 16,000 acres and the largest municipal park in the US.    There are javelinas, mountain lions, jack rabbits, coyotes, road runners (beep beep) and an assortment of other desert dwellers like scorpions, snakes and such.    It is not unusual to see a coyote walking down one of the streets in our neighborhood in the early morning, as we are nestled into the mountainside.  The javelinas often come to raid the flower pots especially in the fall when people put out decorations like pumpkins or corn stalks.  

We hope you are all enjoying your fall days and find the frost on your pumpkins brings happy memories!







Comments

  1. Jean found me via Facebook !! Has been fabulous to get to know her and watch Altered Pages grow & I am excited as she gets ready to announce more growth to her company !! I envy the warm weather Jean lives in , some day I hope to move to warmer climate ! Right now , the leaves are golden colors, and falling !Soon the raking and then the snow !!
    It is great to be part of the design team and an opportunity to get to know others , even if there miles apart ! We all love art & creating !!
    Thanks Jean !! You are one awesome lady !
    Eunice

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  2. What a wonderful post Jean! Although I have been designing for Jean for some time now...maybe a year already?!?! I don't know all that much about her, so it's nice to read about life in the desert!
    I too am watching the leaves change & although this is my favorite time of year, I don't look forward to raking the leaves from the 4 GIANT trees in our little yard! UGH! Great for the tummy muscles though!
    Working with Jean & the AP DT has been wonderful & I can't wait to see what new directions she will be taking us all! What a wonderful journey it has been so far!!
    Cheers!
    Becky

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  3. I really enjoyed your blog telling about living in Arizona! I would love to visit there someday.
    Both of my sons live near Pittsburgh. One in Bellevue and the other near Robertson.
    We are going to visit this weekend now that I don't have to climb rickety steps! They both moved recently. I Love Pittsburgh and can not wait.
    Did I mention there is a Michaels near my one son!!!
    I am looking forward to your new additions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Being on the other side of the world it is so nice to hear about where others live and get to know more about them. I can totally relate to the living somewhere with out traffic lights after moving from the big smoke. We moved from one of Australia's main cities (Brisbane) to a small country town where the population is only 10,500 people but I wouldn't change a thing. We don't really get autumn leaves (most trees here aren't deciduous) nor do we get snow. It's the start of Spring here, however the past few days we have been having more like Summer Weather and although I dislike the cold I hate the heat too! I am so excited to have joined the team at such an exciting time for you Jean and look forward to getting to know both yourself and the rest of the team better!
    Danie xx

    ReplyDelete

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