Last week, Hubby and I had the great privilege of traveling approximately 2,000 miles across the U.S. to visit a beautiful area of our country far different from the area we live in – the desert Southwest of Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona.
A highlight of our trip was sightseeing the beautiful Red Rock Mountains of Sedona. I took quite a few pics, but haven’t had much time to look at yet since we’ve just returned. Here is one I really like, but even it doesn’t compare to the enormity, the vastness, and the beauty of experiencing this beautiful corner of the world in person.
The rocks in Sedona are a deep, rich, orange-red like no others around. Apparently, they are comprised of sediment layers deposited over many millions of years*. The shale foundation is the remainder of ancient swamp lands. Other layers are the remainder of an ancient beachfront, known as the “Schnebly Hill Formation,” that deposited iron about 275 million years ago. The Coconino sandstone layer was formed at a time when Sahara-like dunes covered the majority of the Western US. The Kaibab limestone layer was deposited when a warm shallow sea covered the area about 250 million years ago.
The Red Rocks we see today were formed several million years ago when the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau that created the Grand Canyon also caused water to carve out Sedona’s red rock, cake-like layers. Currently, Sedona is considered to be a part of the Colorado Plateau and is in the process of making mountains, raising an average of one inch every 60-80 years!
The temperatures during our one-week visit ranged between a low of 102 to a high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit! Whoooowheee it was hot! It was a different kind of hot than we are used to in the Eastern part of the U.S., however, as the humidity levels were only around 10% as compared to our typical 50-100%, so it was much more pleasant. (Especially when in the pool with a frozen margarita!)
This is a place in the U.S. that anyone who can, should experience!
Thanks for the memories Sedona!
I look forward to creating some paintings from your beautiful inspiration!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
P.S. Thanks Jayme and Ryan for being our gracious tour guides! ❤
It’s been years since I’ve been there… so need to go back! Thanks for the reminder 😊
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Enjoy!
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Great picture and the place looks so beautiful, Jodi. Have a great time.
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It sure was. Thanks kamal!
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Welcome Jodi.
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Wow so amazing! I love your posts! I always learn something from your blog posts! Watercolor tips, a new pigment to try that I see in your paintings (I love when you list the colors you use in your paintings, Can you list the brushes you use too please? ) Cool History facts, awesome quotes, & poems, etc! Love your posts!
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What a lovely comment Tami! I’m glad you enjoy that. I will try to remember to continue to include colors, which I have been remiss on lately – and will let you know the brushes I use. I have a very few limited, but very good high quality brushes I like to use. I may do a post on that some day. Although I am hardly an expert! 🙂
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Beautiful!
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Have you been there? It is so amazing!
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Not that I’m aware of. I’ve not been in some of the western states although I was born in Roswell, New Mexico. I was a baby and my Dad was stationed there so I know that as I baby I was taken many places but to my knowledge I’ve never been to the Red Rock Mountains of Sedona. It looks amazing!
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Great photo. 🙂
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And it doesn’t even do the majesty of the place justice!! 🙂
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One of my favorite places!!
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I can see why!!!! 🙂
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Beautiful photo! You weren’t too far away from where I live (approx 300 miles) in Sedona and maybe 400 miles from Scottsdale. Sound like you had a very lovely vacation!
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So close!!!! I thought about that PJ! I thought about how close I was to you – and it was so wonderful to experience your climate and landscape and gorgeous place on this earth!
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Yes, I agree. I think the Southwest has it’s own special beauty!
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Oh, and only 50 miles from me are the mountains in Colorado. Sweet!
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Isn’t it beautiful there! Those mountains and view you shared is lovely! Thanks for the history lesson too!
I sure hope there’s another visit in my future. The few days I had wasn’t enough. 🙂
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So so so amazing! The photos cannot do it justice. Just so magnificent! I’m so glad you have had a chance to experience it also!
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Looking forward to Sedona watercolors. 🙂
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Sedona is one of my favorite places. Nothing compares to the views and the rock formations. And the hiking is just the right degree of challenge. Can’t wait to see your paintings of this magical corner of the world, Jodi!
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It truly is a magical place! The photos cannot do it justice! My jaw was dropped for an entire day, and the sounds that kept escaping were ooooos and awwwws! 🙂
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What a beautiful place, Jodi. I’m so happy that you guys got to “get away”. ❤
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Thanks Mary! It sure is beautiful! Have you been there? If not, I hope you will some day! You will LOVE it! The photo doesn’t nearly do it justice!
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The photo is amazing, though. We’ve never been there but hope to someday. Hopefully next September we will go to Montana to see our niece and Yellowstone. Have a wonderful day!❤
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I have not been in Arizona since I was a child. My Father never wanted to travel out of the U.S.A. because he felt there was so much to be seen right here. So, our vacations were spent in a different state each year, after he carefully researched the where’s and why’s. We never knew where we were going on our road trips, and it became part of the adventure as to where were we headed. Ah, Jodi – you always prompt such fond memories for me!! Beautiful photo and wonderful history of the area too. I can not wait to see your paintings. Thank-you!
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This is a place on my bucket list to visit! I hope to go in Feb though when it isn’t soooo HOT! Glad you got a chance to enJOY! 🌞 I look forward to seeing your paintings! 👩🎨❤
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Oh Jill – you must go – and it is not nearly as far for you! February would be fabulous!
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What a fabulous place to visit!
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It sure is! Have you been there Evelyn?
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No, I have never been, but maybe one day….
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Back again! Just had to tell you that your Granddaughter is beautiful – not that you aren’t already aware of that! Enjoy your Friday time together.
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Awh! Thanks Ellen! I smile just thinking about her! We had a wonderful day today! We visited her great grandparents – my dad and mom II. It was so sweet! ❤
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Love the picture! I hope you had a great time!
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we sure did – it is a beautiful place so different from where we live!
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Beautiful photo, Jodi! I’m told Sedona is a magical place! Never been there. 🌺 Christine
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It sure is! I hope you get to see it sometime Christine!
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Amazing photo Jodi, I look forward to seeing more. And what fun to go on a trip and just get away for awhile. Happy Friday and Weekend. 🙂
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It was nice Terry! Still trying to catch up and adjust to the time change 🙂
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What a magnificent place to visit, Jodi. A bit on the warm side for me, however. And gorgeous colours in the photo you’ve shared.
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It is so beautiful and the photo just barely begins to do it justice!
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Amazing! Beautiful mountains! Maybe one day we will visit USA to see all the beauty!
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I hope so! It is so vast and so many different climates and cultures. 😊
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Thanks for reminding me why I want to visit there some day. (Although probably not in the summer.) My husband isn’t as enthused, but I really think he would enjoy it once we got there…plus we could head up to the Grand Canyon on the same trip, and he does want to see that!
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Oh I think he will love it!
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Wow! So happy you had a change of scenery with friends in the blogging world as guides, Jodi and hubby! Red rocks of Sedona are calling my name. Lol 😀
Beautiful photograph!! Thank you for sharing this.
I have only flown to Arizona and driven up to see the Eastern side of the Grand Canyon. It was amazing in the winter, colors just popping with wet, melting snow. So many years ago, only a few photos. . . Must get back but this year, it is a plane trio to Mississippi to see my first and dear college friend, Patrice. We have seen each other in her hometown in Cleveland while she comes up to visit a man named, Joe, as well in the charming magical town of Charlevoix, Michigan. Her sister and BIL own a castle and business called Castle Farms. Lake Charlevoix is such a pretty place. Perfect escape, too. 🏖 🏰 🌅
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How fun! A castle!!!
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Gorgeous photo. How lucky you are to have visited here. We had plans to visit a few years ago but something came up. I have to get there and a few other places out west.
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I so do hope you get there. It is magical and spiritual!
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I sure do need to add this to the bucket list. The landscape beautiful.
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You won’t be sorry! 😊
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I’ll take your word for it🙂
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So beautiful! Sedona is on my bucket list!
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It is a beautiful place on earth!
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