Last week I hiked the Tom Thumb Trail located in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. A friend had recently mentioned the hike and said it was really scenic and fun.

I found directions in a Yelp report but was told by a park volunteer that access to the trail head will be changing. You will definitely need to google for the latest directions.

The hike is about 4 miles round trip and gains a bit over 800 feet, most of that in the first mile and a half.  The road into the trail head was a bit rough at this time, but you do not need a 4-wheel drive, as was suggested by at least one reviewer. I had no trouble taking my front wheel drive vehicle … albeit SLOWLY.

This is a view from the parking area looking north and east. The edge of North Scottsdale and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve are seen here. Bartlett Damn is also out there.

I really enjoyed this hike. The views are fantastic and the desert beautiful.

It’s about a 4 mile hike round trip on Tom Thumb. The trail is now well marked, easy to follow. I read that the elevation gain is approximately 800 feet. Most of that is in the first mile and a half which makes it pretty steep. I took my time, as usual, and did no think it was too bad. I also brought along extra water (two bottles) and drank them both on a day that was in the 70s.

Here are a few of the great views from the trail, even with clouds rolling in on the normal Valley of the Sun.

That’s Scottsdale from the Thumb. Visibility was limited because of the overcast that moved in, but you could see the runway of Scottsdale Airport.

This is my favorite shot of the day, the fountain in Fountain Hills! It is set to … what is the right term – blow, (haha), erupt, spout … on each hour.

Tom’s Thumb, Phoenix McDowell Mountains.

Again, be sure to google directions as I found that the area is in development and getting there will change as they complete the project.

The concept of choosing words of focus for the coming year seems to have really caught on since I first read of it three years ago. In those three years I’ve chosen words significant to me each January. In a previous post, I talked a little about those choices and how I realized the obvious need to keep them within sight throughout the year. I will be doing that this year. (note: genuine, listen, clarity * simplify, connect, achieve, * serve, income, focus)

For 2012 I find my focus words to be found simply in one word, WHY.

A growing personal awareness over the past number of months has surfaced after consciously listening to the conversations around me. Some of those were discussions, some were comments and posts in social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, web sites), and others were articles or videos.

What is clearly muddled is the why we do, think, and believe. Myself included. While I’ve always been one to think somewhat about this relative to various facets in life, the question and concept of Why has been appearing more and more to me.

This past week an article was being shared on Twitter about the top five regrets people had on their deathbeds.  As one can guess, the regrets center around life’s significant moments and activity. The dying realized they had disappointments in areas related to work, friends, truth, and happiness.

This year I will be mindful of Why. I believe if I move closer to understanding my whys, I’ll align more closely with purpose, in all facets of  living … friends, spirituality/God, work, and fun.

As 2012 begins, what word is resonating in you? And have you considered why?

I woke to this first morning of 2012 and it was early, like dark early. The sun was going to rise soon and it hit me.

Celebrating the morning of the beginning of the year is far deeper than the revelry of the last night.

There was a time I too found the partying, drinking, etc. to be the traditional way to end the old year and bring in the new. I lost that excitement years ago. It seems there are a good number of you who did too. You stayed in last night. Some admitted that to me that it was depressing that they would be alone this year for this big night … I get it.

But is a fake lighted ball dropping and introducing the new year exciting? Really? Is all the revelry fun? Really?

I found the beginning of the first day, at sunrise, to be really meaningful. And a few others did too. Those that were up.

Next year I am planning a sunrise breakfast with close friends. We’ll celebrate with fun and food and coffee! I asked my friend Cindy (who was also up EARLY) if she thought I could find a band for that! In her sharp, witty way she suggested, “Maybe a band from Sun City…” Ha-Ha!

I am announcing the Celebration of 2013! The First Morning: Friends, Breakfast, Coffee.

I think spending it around people you know and care about sounds so much better than the celebrations we now accept as fun and significant events.

Cindy already had suggestions for the event. There will definitely be a great view of the sunrise. Not a falling, lighted ball. This will be fun.

The new year brings lots of reflection about the old and the new. My Facebook wall has been filled with numerous thoughts about 2011 and hopes for 2012.

It is traditionally a time for many to talk about and make resolutions. Others have sworn off resolutions and make goals. Most admit these lists of good intentions all too often end in failure not long after the start of every new year. You will see a lot of advice on how to raise the chances of success of these goals … like making them specific and attainable, having a stated timeline, writing them down and the like.

A few years ago I read of an approach many were adopting and it made sense to me. It was the choosing of three words that meaningfully resonated within you. Here have been my words of focus starting in 2009:

• 2009 – (stay) genuine – listen (first) – (seek) clarity
• 2010 – simplify – connect – achieve
• 2011 – serve – income – focus

Each one is significant to me and continues to be areas of thought I place an importance on in life.

But here is the problem. I didn’t keep them visible to me throughout in ways that I could see them on a daily basis. As a result, I found myself knowing I had them but if you had asked me what they were, I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were!

This week I will be making some sort of thing to display them, all of them, by year. I’ll have them subtly displayed at work and home.

As 2011 closes out tonight and 2012 begins, I’ve considered what words resonate in me for 2012. Those will be revealed in the next post. There will only be one for 2012. And it’s a big one.

Happy new year! Welcome 2012 and all that it will bring.

I’ve made hiking Shaw Butte on or near Christmas a tradition since finding the tree the locals decorate with Christmas ornaments. There was a wide variety this year … more that were eco-friendly, non-breakable and habitat thoughtful.

The trail was busy today and while always friendly, almost everyone said good morning and Merry Christmas to each other today. The Santa Cactus was not as decked out this year as in past ones.

Here were some of my favorite ornaments on the tree:

By the first of the year, someone from the neighborhood below comes up and removes everything.

This Christmas’ morning hike was a nice way to start the holiday off. For my previous pictures of the Shaw Butte tree and Santa since 2008, I’ve set up an album here:  ShawButte Christmas hike

Do you hike this trail? Join us at the We Love the Shaw Butte Hike Facebook page and share your thoughts, pictures, etc.

Merry Christmas from sunny Phoenix, Arizona!

South Bayly Boutique, 107 S. Bayle Ave.  Louisville, Ky

On my recent visit to Louisville, Kentucky for Thanksgiving, I found the neatest gift shop, South Bayly Boutique. It was by chance actually.

I was sitting drinking coffee at Heine Bros and searching for a gift shop that sold Louisville Stoneware. I was using Google maps and Yelp to find locales closest to my location. The Crescent Hills area on Frankfort Avenue came up. And while walking around there, I found this eclectic, cool little shop, South Bayly Boutique.

I was immediately greeted by the owner, Tammy, who apologized as she was on the phone. The store is a collection of original work from a variety of Southern artists. Everything is an original designed gift and handmade here in the USA, as Tammy proudly declared.

I told her I was looking for Louisville Stoneware and she advised it would be best to just visit the factory gift shop downtown. When I asked for directions, she told me she would give me the route she would go. Her directions took me through scenic Louisville neighborhoods, and I found a great gift at the factory.

I returned later that afternoon as I wanted to pick up a couple of gifts I found earlier that morning in her store and support the local small business.

These Christmas tree ornaments were one of the first things that caught my attention. They were cut from holiday gift cards and crafted into festive shapes. Trees, santas, bells and the like.  The bottles hanging in the background had candles in them. I bought one of each of these to give as gifts this season. Tammy made sure each was individually wrapped for my trip back as well.

Tammy, who semi-retired from a successful corparate career, welcomes everyone with Southern charm. Her enthusiasm for the artists and their craft is apparent as you talk to her. I enjoyed some of her stories as to how she found some of her treasures.

Before I left, she and a customer thought they could guess where I was from. And to my surprise, they correctly guessed Arizona on the second try! It had to be MY accent.

I normally write about some of the best finds in Phoenix. The South Bayly Boutique is one of the best finds for unique gifts in Louisville, Kentucky. If you are in that area, drive over to Frankfort Avenue and enjoy this little community of businesses. Be sure to drop in and see what the Boutique has available. And tell Tammy as she greets you that you heard about her shop from that guy with the Western accent from Arizona. Just don’t make a wager with them on guessing where you are from.

With Phoenix temperatures dropping into the 30s for lows and 50s for highs the past few days, Valley residents are digging out their jackets. And within the pockets of those jackets many are finding reminders and memories of the last time they were worn.

Just last night, I was running to the grocery and put on one of my light jackets for the first time this winter season. Inside was a reciept.

Today at work numerous co-workers had found the same. The mother lode was found by Chrystyna, who had all kinds of stuff from her trip last year to California discovered in her coat pockets.

She acted like a kid at Christmas as she pulled FIVE receipts from the pockets of the coat she last wore on a trip to Universal Studios. Those included her movie ticket to Black Swan ($7); Universal Studios ($74);  Starbucks ($6.30); and the Pub ($19.73).  We laughed as she recouted the memories and our friend Tony likened it to finding a time capsule.

Jamie found this St. Michael pendant in a parking lot years ago. She was about to move from South Carolina to Arizona and her c0-workers were having a going away lunch for her. One of her co-workers told her to keep it as it would protect her in her travels.  She said she put it in her coat pocket that afternoon and left it there. She found it again just the other day as she does each year, and it reminds her of that special afternoon with friends.

Finding things in your pockets, even something as simple as a receipt, invokes a memory. Usually a fond one. A simple pleasure. It’s good.

When you pulled your jacket out for the first time this fall or winter, did you find something in your pocket?