Photo: Happy New Year!

Here is a fireworks photo to celebrate the new year.

We hope that your new year holds great things and that you are enjoying it with family and friends.

Check out festive travel photos of Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Reddish Yellow Cactus Flower

Here is a photo of a brilliant cactus flower.

I changed the exposure to bring out the yellow and orange highlights in the flower; otherwise it was an all red flower.

This image looks like a x-ray of a flower and cactus.

Get in the festive spirit by checking out travel photos of holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Penstemon Flowers

Today's photo is of pink penstemon flowers from my backyard.

These plants are getting ready to bloom again in February.

They have very dainty desert flowers.

Get in the festive spirit by checking out travel photos of holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Yellow Glass

Here is a photo of Chihuly glass art with sunlight streaking through the beautiful creation making it sparkle and dazzle.

We always love to photograph Chihuly glass and to do so at different times of the day and evening and during different seasons.

Get in the festive spirit by checking out travel photos of holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Red Cactus Tuna

Here is a photo of two red cactus tuna growing on a prickly pear.

Perfect color of the holiday season.

We do not see the tuna red that often. I thought it fit in perfectly for this time of year.

Get in the festive spirit by checking out travel photos of holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Colorful Grasshoppers on the Border

Here is a photo of two colorful, large grasshoppers.

This photo was taken in front of the border fence.

These bugs look like they are wearing armor.

They also look prehistoric.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Get in the festive spirit by checking out photos of holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Holiday Cactus

I think this photo is perfect for the holidays. The photo looks like a holiday cactus.

Who needs a tree when this diamond cholla cactus with its flower on top can provide a festive look.

Happy Holidays. We hope that everyone gets to spend quality time with family and friends.

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Holiday Tree

Here is a photo of a holiday tree that is all lit up.

The tree was at the Desert Botanical Gardens Luminaries night.

Inside the door of this building was hot cider and live music.

Happy Holidays!

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Cattle Chute

Here is a photo of an old cattle chute.

This cattle chute is in front of the border fence.

We hope you enjoyed the photos of the border fence between Mexico and the United States. Next, I would like to photograph it from the air. I really like aerial images.

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Metal of Border Fence

Here is a close-up photo of the border fence between the United States and Mexico.

The patina in parts looks rusty orange and yellow. It has an intriguing yet industrial look.

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Monochrome Border Fence

Here is another photo of the border fence, but I took this one in black and white.

It appears that the border fence gets an address. This is 724.

We also saw that along the border fence, that numbers were spray painted like mile markers, which probably helps the border patrol let each other know where they are at.

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Border Patrol Along Fence

Today's photo shows the long border fence between Arizona and the United States and Mexico.

You can see the spotlights that are beamed onto the fence all night long.

The road on the American side of the border fence has been scraped for the border patrol to use as a dirt road to patrol along the lengthy border fence.

Check out our travel photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Border Fence

Here is a close-up photo of the border fence between the United States and Mexico. The fence goes on for hundreds and hundreds of miles.

We drove to the border fence while in Southern Arizona.

You are generally not allowed to park near the fence and we did talk to the border patrol to ask if we could take photos along the fence and they allowed us to do so.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out photos of Dubrovnik on the Dalmation Coast at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Cactus and Border Fence

We went down to Southern Arizona last month to visit wineries in Elgin and Sonoita, go to Kartchner Caverns, and we wanted to see and photograph the Border fence between Arizona and the United States and Mexico.

For the next few days I will show you some photos of this controversial wall recently built between the countries.

Today's photo shows a prickly pear cactus in front of the border fence.

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Yellow Sunset Over Camelback

Here is a yellow sunset over Camelback Mountain.

Happy Friday!

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Optima Greenery

Today's photo shows the Optima project from the ground looking upwards towards each patio.

You can see the greenery and the plants draping over each patio like a waterfall.

The architect, David Hovey, designed special ways to ensure each patio had a yard and lots of green plants instead of a sterile patio with only potted plants.

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Optima Patios

Here is a photo of the patios at the Optima Development in Scottsdale.

You can see why the Optima Project has won so many awards.

It is visually appealing, as well as being a true green project.

Tomorrow I will show you the greenery that was built into the design of each condo.

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Optima Project

Here is a photo of the Optima Project in Scottsdale.

David Hovey was the architect and this entire building project was designed as a green space.

Each patio has lots of green plants as you will see in tomorrow's photo.

People love this development. It is near Scottsdale Fashion Square, Old Town Scottsdale, and it happens to be near my house.

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Here's Looking At You!

Today's peach-faced lovebird is looking right at you.

His colors are so pretty and vibrant.

The character of the tree is also a nice backdrop.

Check out our travel photos of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: December in Scottsdale

Here is a photo of what December looks like in Scottsdale.

This photo was taken at Indian Bend Wash in the McCormick Ranch area. The "Wash" is a favorite of many of us in the Scottsdale area.

You can bike, walk, play and enjoy the miles and miles of Indian Bend Wash.

You can see McDowell Mountains in the background.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out the clear, crisp air of Norway at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Luminaries Night

Today's photo shows the night walk during an annual tradition in our area of going to the luminaries night at Desert Botanical Garden.

I will be there tonight with friends and family.

You walk around the cactus gardens and drink and eat and listen to live music that occurs at numerous spots through the garden.

Volunteers light thousands of these candles that have paper bags around them which are the luminaries that light your way.

Check out our travel photos of the magnificent Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Downtown Phoenix from My Office

Here is a photo of Downtown Phoenix that I took from our office.

You can see Central Avenue as the main street going south towards South Mountain.

The tall sky scrapers include many business and government buildings and the Phoenix Convention Center, US Airways Arena, Chase Field are just behind the tall buildings you can see in this photo.

Check out our travel photos of the magnificent Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Big Sky Sunset

Look at the colors in today's photo of another gorgeous Arizona sunset.

We are very lucky to get such magnificent sunsets.

I do not think I could live or work where I could not see the sunset and be able to soak up the colors of the sky.

Check out our travel photos of the magnificent Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo; Dawn's Early Light on Flower

This photo was taken at the first light and you can see the tiny orangish insects begin to stir.

You also can see the type of tiny flower that blooms from these desert buds.

The flower is maybe 1/4 inch. And, these are on a desert plant consisting of a tall green reed with no leaves.

Nature is fascinating.

Check out our travel photos of the Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Tiny Orangish Insects

Today's photo contains a yellowish-orange insect that is barely larger than pin head.

I thought this plant had a fungus on it, but when I got out my macro and got extremely close I started seeing legs, eyes, and a little movement.

Apparently the group of insects huddled together over night for warmth on one tiny section of the desert plant. As the sun started to rise, these insects slowly started moving.

Check out our travel photos of the Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Desert Buds

Here is a photo of some tiny desert buds ready to bloom.

These buds are not even the size of my little fingernail.

They are grouped together so artistically with dawn's rays glowing behind them.

Tomorrow see even tinier critters on this desert plant.

Check out our travel photos of the Serengeti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Red Sunset of Downtown Phoenix

Here is a photo of the Downtown Phoenix skyline at sunset taken from Papago Park.

Arizona has vivid red sunsets.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos so check out the Spirit of the Serengti at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Blueish Yellow Sunset

Here is a photo of a sunset from Papago Park.

This has a blueish yellow glow to it.

Check out the travel photos of the Amazon and the Nazca Lines at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Red Cholla

We are in a holiday month and here is a photo of red cholla.

This cactus is not one I had seen before.

I saw it while hiking around the Boulders resort in North Scottsdale.

Check out the travel photos of the Amazon and the Nazca Lines at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Palo Verde Sunset

Here is a photo of a Palo Verde on Camelback Mountain at Sunset facing towards South Mountain.

You can see the colors of the sunset changing even while I am taking the photo.

Check out the travel photos of the Amazon and the Nazca Lines at Viva la Voyage!

Theme Day: Time

Here is a photo of a home from an earlier time.

Although Arizona has grown fast during the past 50 years, we were given a perspective on time due to our Native American heritage.

Here is a photo of the remains of a Native American cliff dwelling that dates back 1,000 years or more.

The red rock and desert varnish above the cliff dwelling also provides a reminder about time.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's theme day of Time!

Check out the travel photos of the Amazon and the Nazca Lines at Viva la Voyage!