WOW, is that the morning fog? just beautiful! Thanks for the thought.

Merry Christmas from Charlottesville

Charles,

That's the morning fog.  There's just enough to add beauty, and not enough to cause trouble on the interstate.  Thanks for being the first to comment!

Mike in Tucson

For sheer photographic beauty, the Arizona desert is hard to beat. 

I visited Phoenix with a friend some years ago and saw my first Saguaro Cactus.  Very, very beautiful countryside.  I believe I saw my first sagebrush too. 

OOO ... you're just trying to make me lonesome for Tucson.....  :-)

Beautiful picture.  Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing this beautiful gift.

Kim,

Thanks for visiting.  You're welcome! 

Cheryl,

Don't you come to Tucson without calling!  My Darlin' and I would love to have you over for dinner the next time you're in town.

Lenn,

You're right about the beauty.  Of course, we don't have deep water harbors and boating...  I miss that.

Mike in Tucson

What a gorgeous picture, Mike! Being from the Smoky Mountains originally I never got a chance to see how beautiful a desert can be. I love the desert because of it's remoteness and the quiet. Simply beautiful!

 Merry Christmas to you, too!

Mike, Thanks for the picture and description. All of us can see beauty around us...if we will only look.

Beautiful photo.  For years I have been saying I want to visit Arizona.  Looks beautiful all year round but how hot does it get in the summer?  I am in Southern Florida but we have a year round breeze being on an island.

Mike,

between you and Charles McDonald I don't know which place to visit first,  one of my sellers just bought a place in Arizona and her pictures are just amazing! This is a Great photo

Thanks for Sharing, I also want to say the photos you placed on localism are wonderful

Merry Christmas

Nice Photo, shhhhhh.....you don't want them all knowing it's a dry heat in the summer and the rest of the year it is PERFECT!!!!!!  LOL

I am envious - two years ago, in December, my wife and I drove from Vegas to San Francisco - through Death Valley - and it was the best trip of my life. I think about my short time in the desert all the time.

WOW!  I've been to Palm Springs several times - but not your part of the desert!  Love IT!  Merry Merry!

It is cold here too brrrrrrrrrr.  I LOVE these types of desert photos.  We so know how to appreciate the weather changes!

Be careful, you will find hordes of Rainers on your doorstep!!!

Mike- Another fine photo :)  I love the effect....and you are so right about the beauty of the Desert in the winter, thanks for sharing this, makes me want to jump in the car and get to my other office over by Parker :)

I would prefer dessert, personally. LOL.

That is just beautiful!

Makes me long for the mountains again.

Mike:  Very nice.  I hope to visit out west in the near future and Arizona is tops on the list.

What, no boojum???  :-)   Very nice picture, Mike. Our sky looks similar here all winter.  Have you considered a second career as photographer???

Bonnie,

No boojum.  I'm in my fifth career.  No can do.

Donna,

Don't visit Arizona without stopping in Tucson.  Call ahead, and we'll take you to Mexico for lunch.  Seriously!

Mary Ellen,

We love the mountains.  I need to check out your blog to see where you landed when you left them!

Matt,

We'll save you some.  See the dessert photo farther down.

Kathy,

We've got to meet up one of these days.

Barbara Jo,

You're welcome any time!  The more, the merrier.

Renee,

It is absolutely so beautiful here.  Stay warm up there.

Eleanor,

Merry Christmas!  You really need to visit Tucson one of these days.

Kevin,

It sounds like you need to come on back!

Joeann,

I won't tell if you won't.  Can you keep a secret?

Pattie,

Thanks!  I put some photos on your LBI/Surf City/Beach Haven localism too.  Merry Christmas back in Manahawkin!

Gary,

The only way to find out is to visit in July.  We stand in the shade of telephone poles.

Dan,

You're absolutely right.  There's beauty everywhere except inside the car with the windows rolled up, flying down the interstate.

Linda,

Smoky mountains, huh?  I've been there, and it's wonderful.  Thanks for commenting!

Mike in Tucson

Mike, Yes, the desert is beautiful. If you were in Southern California you could have the desert AND the deep water harbors.

Bill Roberts

Beautiful photograph Mike.  I hope to visit Tuscon some day.

Mike that picture has a mystical beauty.  It really captures the spirit of the dessert.  Thanks for sharing it.

Amazing pictue Mike, thanks for sharing.  It's brightened my dat, mainly because it's cold and raining here in the Texas Hill Country.  BLAH!  Peace!

Mike, that is a gorgeous picture.  I agree with Kathy I love the effect.  It is amazing how low the cloud cover appears.

What a thoughtful gift, Mike. Having been in both Arizona and New Mexico this last year, I can appreciate the beautiful skies.

Hi Mike...I'm using the one you had up before with the rainbow...I can always use a rainbow!!

Thanks, Mike.  Wonderful photo. Clever gift idea. Merry Christmas to you, too! 

Mike The picture speaks volumes.  Your description adds so much passion to this post.  Keep the good stuff coming!

Hi Mike, We are in the middle of a blizzard Nor'easter style up here is "Needham, MA"  It is windy, blowing, snowing, raining, cold as can be and I would rather be where you are.  It is nuts.  What's nuttier is the people at the tailgates at Foxboro stadium who are there before the game in this craziness.  Good luck to them. I am inside for the duration.

What an interesting photo. I never really thought about deserts at night.

Lisa,

I took that photo at 7:00 in the morning.  The desert at night is really, really dark, and the stars are so close you can reach up and touch them.  Here's one of my night photos in the same mountain range.

Pat,

Stay warm!  And come visit Tucson.

Marlene,

Thanks for the encouragement!

Jan,

Thanks!  I appreciate you stopping by to visit and comment.

Joan,

That was a beautiful desert photo--the rainbow.  I've forgotten when I posted that.  July '07, I think.

Sharon,

Are you thinking of moving out here?  Lots of Floridians are doing just that.  Thanks for commenting.

Marchel,

The clouds were lower than the mountaintops.  We're at elevation 2450, and on days like this one, we're up in the clouds.

Jem,

I'm glad to brighten your day.  Come back any time.

Lola,

No, THIS one captures the spirit of the dessert!  And "desserts" spelled backwards is "stressed!"  LOL

Rita,

Don't visit Tucson without calling me.  We don't see enough Rainers!

Bill,

I'd miss the cactus!  I sure love the water, though.  Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!

Mike in Tucson

This is a beautiful shot. I think there is a part of me that would love being in the desert. Ever since reading Desert Solitaire in High School, I've kept this kind of feeling of attachment to a place I've never been. I might have to email you about a screensaver!

Happy Holidays,  Vicki