Photo: In Memoriam to the Late Dora Nichols

This is a photo of one of my mother's best friends, Dora Nichols.  She was also a dear friend of Dave and me.  She passed away a few days ago and her memorial was yesterday.

Like my mother, she was a devoted school teacher.  She was as kind and considerate as a human being could possibly be.  I selected this photo from the rooftop cafe at the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence, Italy, because I believe that it captures her warm personality.  Dora joined us for a trip to Italy that we planned for 16 friends and family several years ago.  Dora was like family to us.  She joined us for a Thanksgiving weekend last year, and spent  last Christmas with my mother and brother.

She treated everyone with the utmost of courtesy and respect.  She had a warm greeting for waiters, strangers, and anyone she encountered.  I remember in Italy how she would engage the Priests in conversation in the churches we visited.

Dora was from British Columbia, but lived in Phoenix most of her life.  Her Canadian roots were a comfort to her when the political climate in Arizona veered off in directions not befitting her high values.  She and Dave loved talking politics with each other.

Dora often attended the art group gatherings at our house, and all of her friends will miss her immeasurably.  My mother and her other close friends attended to her in her final weeks as she was in need of hospice services.  My mother was with her as she passed.

Even though her passing was not unexpected, as she courageously battled cancer and endured several surgeries for cancer in her tongue, the expected nature of her passing does not diminish our sorrow.  She will always be with us.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of Vienna, Austria.  It is a classy city, the kind of which Dora would approve and it would be befitting of her sense of art, history, and culture.

Photo: Trudy and Nancy

Yesterday I showed Trudy, the desert tortoise that my secretary, Nancy, brought into the office a week or so ago.  This photo shows the size of the tortoise.  It also gives me an opportunity to say a few words about Nancy.

Nancy and I have worked together since 1996.  She is an amazing team member and contributes so much.  In addition to her excellent skills and tolerance for hard work, she is fluent in Spanish.  She grew up in Mexico City, as both her father and grandfather were Americans who lived and worked in Mexico City.

She translates documents for us and enables us to produce work product for clients in both English and Spanish whenever that ability is needed, as I enjoy conversational Spanish but would not attempt to produce a grammatically correct document in Spanish.

Tomorrow I will show and explain why Nancy brought Trudy into the office.

This week we have photos of the Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, and Arizona Roots

Arizona's junior U.S. Senator is Jeff Flake.  He was elected in 2012 to replace retiring Senator Jon Kyl and to serve along with Arizona's senior Senator, John McCain.  My husband, David, took this quick iPhone photo about a week ago after Senator Flake met with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Senator Flake is very thoughtful.  He also has a quick, charming and self-deprecating sense of humor.  His family has deep roots in Arizona.  The town of Snowflake up on the Mogollon Rim in northeastern was named after the Snow family and the Flake family.  

As with many ranching families whose ancestors settled in northeastern Arizona in the late 1800's, my family is distantly related to the Flake family.  The same is true with the Udall family, which has contributed distinguished public servants to Arizona and the nation, such as former Congressman and Presidential candidate Morris Udall and his brother, former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall.

This week we have photos of the Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Harpist Martha Gallagher

Harpist Martha Gallagher is a talented and vivacious performer.  Here is a link to her website.  Martha has recorded about a half dozen CDs, performed with six-time grammy winners The Chieftans, and gives concerts.  Her style ranges from celtic harp, to blues, and other genres.

Her daughter works with us, and Martha gave a concert for people in our office us at lunchtime.  We sent an email around the office to invite others and it turns out that several people are big fans of hers and have her CDs.

This is an iPhone photo taken in the plaza of our office building.  Martha lives in upstate New York and was in Phoenix visiting her daughter and performing at a concert in Tucson at the time.

This is another in my series of  photos with triangles, following the April 1 Theme Day theme for triangles.  the shape of the harp is a triangle, of course.

This week we are showing photos of the Sydney Opera House on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: An Irish Gentleman for St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day, so I am showing this photo of a charming Irish gentleman.  He was the doorman in front of a clothing store in Dublin, Ireland, wichwe visited last May.

This week, in recognition of St. Patrick's Day, we have posted photos of Dublin, Ireland, on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Will the man look at, or pick up the car?

This man was admiring the classic Jaguar that I showed yesterday.  I wonder if he was content just to admire the car, or perhaps he was wondering whether he is strong enough to lift it up?

This week we have photos of Ronda, Spain, posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  Ronda is a charming town that is perched on the edge of a ravine.

Photo: Pink Hat at Scottsdale Polo Championships

Here is another photo that I considered posting for yesterday's Theme Day of "pink."  It is also from last fall's Scottsdale Polo Championships.  The people watching at this even included lots of women in fancy hats.  I was not one of them.

The Scottsdale Polo Championships are coming up again this year on November 1 and 2.  Here is a link to the website for the event.

This week we have photos of Tanzania posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  We are showing photos of some of its wildlife and people.

Photo: Girl in the fountain at the Optima Camelview Condos

One of the benefits of a strong telephoto lens is that from a vantage point such as the view that I showed yesterday, I can zoom in on a small scene, like this girl who was enjoying dangling her feet into the fountain at the restaurant in the courtyard of the Optima Camelview condo project.

This week we are showing photos of wild animals and a coffee plantation in Tanzania, Africa on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Glass artisan adding color to his work

This will follow up on and conclude my little series about the glass artisans at the art fair at the Scottsdale Waterfront.  The portable furnace is in the background.

After heating up the glass, the artisan would roll it in colored beads or flakes, which stuck to the glass and added color that would melt into the glass.  It was an entertaining process to watch.

This week we are showing photos of an endangered species at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: The Girl's Satisfaction with Application of Her Lipstick

The girl looks like she is satisfied with her application of lipstick.  She is now ready to join her sisters and friends in the dancing performance at the art fair at the Scottsdale Waterfront.

This week we are showing photos from the bottom of the Grand Canyon, including a rare endangered species, on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Girl Applying Lipstick

I think this girl who is so intent on applying lipstick is about 12, going on 22.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos from the bottom of the Grand Canyon, including  a photo of a rare, endangered species.

Photo: Concentrating on Lipstick

This young girl was preparing to perform some Hispanic dances, but first she concentrated on applying some lipstick.

We will check in on her again tomorrow so see how she progressed with her lipstick application.

This week we are showing photos of the colorful architecture and street scenes of Grenada, Nicaragua on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Latina Dancers

The Sunday morning arts and crafts fair at the Scottsdale Waterfront also included some young Latina dancers.  We did not have enough time to stay for the performance, but we did chat with some of the dancers who were walking around before their performance.

It is good to see Arizona celebrate its Latino heritage.

This week we are showing photos of the colorful architecture and street scenes of Grenada, Nicaragua on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Theme Day -- Pedestrians Crossing

The theme for City Daily Photo bloggers around the world for April 1 is "Pedestrians Crossing."  Here is a group of pedestrians crossing next to the footbridge over the canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront.

A week ago Sunday my mother, her dog, my husband and I had breakfast at a little cafe along the Scottsdale Waterfront.  When we finished this group came walking by.  I think they were runners, but they were taking a break from running.

It is perfect spring weather in Scottsdale right now, as you can tell from the way these men are dressed.

This week we have photos of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, believed to be the site of the Crucifixion, photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers have interpreted the theme of Pedestrians Crossing, please use this link.

Photo: Holes in jeans

This is a closer photo of the jeans worn by one of the high school girls who was dressed as a rock singer and entertaining the runners at the P.F. Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon.

I don't how or wear one would get a pair of jeans like this.  I imagine that there are stores that cater to teenagers that sell clothes that already have holes torn in them.

Last weekend I needed a new cell phone so I went to a cel phone store in a nearby shopping mall and it was my first time in a shopping mall in several years.  I was amazed at the level of activity and merchandising.

I hope this girl put sun screen on her legs before wearing these pants outside in the Arizona sun, otherwise she will have some rather unusual tan lines on her legs.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our  Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing some more photos of Africa, including photos of everyday life as well as photos of zebras and flamingoes.

Photo: Entertaining the marathon runners

This is a closer photo of the high school girls who were cheering on and entertaining the runners at the P.F. Chang's  Rock & Roll Marathon.  They were clearly enjoying themselves.

I will conclude this series tomorrow with a detail shot of the clothes of one of these girls.

This week we have photos of the wildlife of Africa posted on our  Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Young spectator at the polo match

Here is a photo of a young spectator at the Scottsdale Polo Championships.  She seems to have a sense that the fashion for the event included a hat.

Photo: A woman checking out the stainless steel McLaren

Yesterday's photos showed some of the guys who had gathered around the stainless steel McLaren on display at the Scottsdale Polo Championships.

A spectator in a very short skirt decided to see what it is like to sit behind the wheel.  It looks like she was enjoying the experience.  I" think the guys were gathering to see how she maneuvered to get out of the car in a very short skirt.  I did not photograph or witness that event.

This week we have photos of the ancient Khmer temples around Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site. 

Photo: People Watching at the Polo Championships

Sometimes the people watching competes with the events at which the people are attending.  Stepping back from the Arabian horse that I showed the last few days revealed this scene of the people watching the horses during halftime of the Scottsdale Polo Championships.

I considered cropping this photo to show the person who is the primary subject of the photo, but I decided that was not necessary.  The viewers' eyes will focus on the primary subject even with the distraction of the wider scene.  Just as the man at the left seems to be doing.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing another series of photos of the ancient Khmer Temples of Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Photo: You supply the caption

Women, such as those I have shown the past few days, were not the only ones wearing stylish hats at the Scottsdale Polo Championship at Westworld.

What do you think these two men were saying to each other?

My guess is that it is more likely that they were talking about the fast cars on display at this Horses and Horsepower event than talking aobut the fast horses.  Or maybe they were talking about women.  Or cigars. Whatever it was, they seemed to enjoy themselves a great deal over the course of the afternoon.

This week we are showing photos of bottom of the Grand Canyon on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.