![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGZwi-DU-235GsTGuIFOyujmPvsWo122JWyD70YUhn_KKlbyu_VPBV0fLZcTonGzc3vflJEIycyO9r6D0bBrYxfzMOE0VGMVZ7H2P2Pt6KZYLEFdMtSEwIXbc17y8fObZcX5I/s400/camelback.jpg)
My trip to Phoenix was amazing! So many firsts for me: flying, going west of the Mississippi, visiting an out-of-state Etsy friend. So many mountains (well, the same mountains but always in view), cacti and palm trees. I will admit to half-thinking that they were a Hollywood invention. Now I rather love them. There was also delicious food and wonderful friends. Stacey is a gem and her family (and most of the cats) made me feel right at home. I began to miss the desert almost as soon as I returned home.