Taking a Closer Look

It is overcast today and the light is doing wonderful things to the everyday yard flowers.  Did you know these petals have fine silver hairs?  

Monument Valley from the top of Hunt's Mesa

After leaving Suzie and Effie, we piled into the vehicles and were driven to the top of Hunt's mesa where the Navajo guides had prepared a campsite for out overnight stay.  They were magnificent cooks over an open wood fire.  The night was warm and the sky was full of stars.  Morning and our descent to the valley floor came all too soon.  This is a view of the valley at sunrise.  Gentle, soft tones in the rock and sky which will give way to radiating heat as the day progresses.

Navajo Sheepherder

Effie Yazzie, Suzie's daughter is herding sheep and has taken time from her daily tasks to accomodate those of us with Arizona Highways Magazine Foundation.  She is in traditional dress and her hair is knotted with white yard.  I doubt that she wears her turquoise jewlery or traditional dress on most days when she is herding.  I suspect that is just for our benefit, still she is magnificent.

The Hand of Experience

The group had visited the hogan of Suzie Yazzie through the arrangements made by Arizona Highways Magazine Foundation.  We spent time photographing Suzie inside the hogan spinning yarn for weaving and later she went outside and I noticed the details of her hand as she held onto the door frame.  She is over 90 years old and lives in Monument Valley. Although nearly blind she still weaves, carding and spinning her own yarn from the sheep herded by her daughter, Effie.



The Sitting Hen

The first evening at Monument Valley was the evening of the eclipse and I chose this site to watch and catch some images of the event.  Without some of the advanced equipment used by others I captured a few images and then watched from behind the special glasses they gave us to wear.



Lacey Fireworks 2012

Happy 4th of July!  The local fireworks were held last night and of course pictures were important!!  Soon to come are some shots of a recent trip to Monument Valley with Arizona Highways staff, and then perhaps some from the Oregon coast.