We bought a car and took a trip!

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The very sad news is that my beloved 2004 Acura MDX retired to the back forty.  Between the air conditioner breaking, a leak in the power steering and tires that needed replacing, it was time for a new vehicle for Cathy.  What you really need to know is the I LOVED that car.  We bought it from Randy’s sister, Charlotte, and it was a dream.  I didn’t even know what Acura was before I drove it.  Two other pieces of information is that Randy is a car person and I am not.  I had two requests:

1:  Any color but white

2:  One size smaller car than the MDX.  Think narrow driveway and 3 fewer children!

So, with out further ado, here is what we bought:

This is the only photo I have of the lovely gray Audi Q5 that Randy picked!

The truth is that I don’t love it yet.  After I figure out how to unlock it, start it and answer the phone, I am sure another love affair to remember will be happening.

Well, buying a car is stressful, so we went to Arizona for a vacation.  Our son, James, went with us and it was a great time.  We arrived in Phoenix at the crack of dawn, rented a car and headed to the Scottsdale Farmers’ Market.  We picked out some great treats, some tamales and the BEST Rosemary bread I have ever eaten.  After a quick trip to Target to pick up cereal, milk and the very needed sunscreen, we headed to the resort.

On Easter Sunday, we hung out at the pool and hot tub while waiting for our massages.  Who needs baskets of candy when a massage is near?  Most restaurants were closed Easter Sunday, so we ate delicious grilled cheese sandwiches on the rosemary bread.

Here are some photos we took from the resort:

By Monday, an outing was in order.  We headed to the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, which is named  Taliesin West.  Taliesin West is also home to the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.  Anyway, it was a gorgeous place to build a house.  Here is what the FLW Foundation has to say:

“In the winter of 1938, 70-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright purchased 160 acres at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in present-day Scottsdale to transform into his winter home and studio. Inspired by the southwestern landscape, Wright sought a ‘nobly simple’ architecture in Taliesin West. Primitive but elegant, Taliesin West’s monumental masonry feels as much an ancient ruin unearthed from the Sonoran desert, as the twentieth-century icon of modern architecture that it has become.

Wright’s winter camp expanded over the years to include studios, and residential, dining, and performance spaces, all which served the active community of the Fellowship.”

I really enjoyed the structures but know, without a doubt, I would not want to live in the house.

The desert was in bloom, so I grabbed this:

Frank Lloyd Wright also designed and built the furniture in the house.

My favorite part of the place were the sculptures and the antique Chinese ceramics.

I would definitely go back to visit and take some time to hike around.  At this point, though, it was time for lunch!

All the food we had was fabulous.  We also went to two KC Royals spring training games.  I will write about that next time!

Hope your Easter was happy and that you have been on vacation!

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