Arizona Centennial Celebration XIII

Did anyone else doubt I could come up with enough pretty pictures to celebrate Arizona all month? This picture makes it easy to show the amazing history and harsh beauty of the place.

Tumacácori Mission, near Tubac, AZ

Happy 100 years, Arizona. I've now lived here longer than I lived in Pennsylvania, and even longer than I lived in England. A Tucsonan colleague of mine says "This place is a black hole. It's easy to get in, but you can't get out." Only time will tell where my husband and I will end up.

Happy Leap Day!

Arizona Centennial Celebration XII

This slightly strange picture of a common sight along Speedway Boulevard is meant to celebrate all the great Mexican food available here. The toreador statue is outside a family-owned establishment that has brought excellent sopapillas to customers for two generations.

SSS: Smoldering Coals

Take the ribbon out of the picture and wipe the smiles off their faces for a better idea of what's going on in this snippet. 

Thanks for all the compliments over the past couple of weeks. I'm so happy to be able to share these sentences with you! These take place just after last week's six from The Seven Noble Knights of Lara.

* * *

Young Gonzalo surged forward from the crowd of brothers and knelt before Lambra. “I’m especially sorry. Can you ever forgive me?” He took her hand and kissed it deferentially.

           Doña Lambra pulled away: the touch burned her like smoldering coals. She had not chosen him to be her nephew any more than she had wanted to marry. 

* * *

It was really hard to keep this to just six sentences. Lambra's head is an interesting place to be for me, and I hope for you, too. Check out all the sentences at SixSunday.com.

Arizona Centennial Celebration XI

Lovers of history will also find much to appreciate in Arizona. Long before it was a State, it was part of Mexico and the Spanish established presidios and missions. The picture is of some reenactors in front of walls and ceilings made of ocotillo at Tubac Presidio.

Arizona Centennial Celebration X

I imagine anyone who reads my blog loves books. Arizona has one of the most exciting events in the country each March: The Tucson Festival of Books. It's enormous, with hundreds of exhibitors and authors, food, theatre, music, and acrobatics, and about 100,000 visitors. I'll be participating this March even more intensely than last year.

Arizona Centennial Celebration IX

The most exciting museum in the world is located near Phoenix, Arizona: The Musical Instrument Museum. As you browse the different halls, you hear recordings of the instruments you're looking at, and they include instruments from all over the world, leaving no rebec unturned. They also have a hands-on hall where you can try your hand at a variety of instruments. For anyone who likes music, it's hard to imagine a more fun museum.

SSS: Concern for Lambra's Wellbeing

Thanks for the enthusiasm last week! This is the part in The Seven Noble Knights of Lara after the inciting incident that could be pretty dull if not written properly. I'm hugely thankful for your feedback and comments! This segment follows on directly after last week's.

* * * 

Doña Lambra’s muscles tensed when doña Sancha and her sons appeared with their tutor Muño Salido, approaching in a procession that recalled the funeral of the day before. Lambra focused her energy on wiping away new tears and twisting her braid in her hand as she waited for them to arrive. Doña Sancha stayed several paces away and the men all stayed behind her. Lambra set her jaw, thinking that any normal person would have come up and clasped her hands in concern for her wellbeing.

“We’re here to express our condolences once again,” Sancha said across the space between them.

The young knights and their tutor made sweeping bows. 

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Hmm... is all forgiven, or not? Check out the other great sentences at Six Sentence Sunday. Thanks for stopping by!