In wake-up pink, the spiky-looking blooms are amazingly soft to the touch. The blooms, mind you; not the cactus spikes, which are needle sharp! Here are (Finally!) a few of the pictures I've been waiting to put up.

I'm still working on the "Great Computer Changeover," but I've done enough now that I feel I can take some time and catch up some on my blog.

This photo is one of my favorites from my delightful two days in the desert recently. It shows such a wonderful, startling contrast - like much of life. I've found that sometimes the most startling beauty is found in places where there are also the most prickly of thorns. It intrigues me how the two often come together. I also notice that even in the most unattractive of circumstances, there can often be found the most exquisite sweetness - if you look for it.