Once I started upon the path to living simply, I found that I could reclaim what I had sacrificed. Those things that had once fed my spirit would again become a part of my life. This Spring I have seen the wildflowers bloom in the upper Sonoran desert. February and March rains have caused a riot among the poppies, owl clover, desert blue bells, penstemon, brittle bush, desert fairy duster, desert lupine, ocotillo, and desert verbena. The fresh-rain scent of creosote permeates the desert air.
Cardinals strike poses amidst the red-flowered ocotillo.
Bevies of Gambel's quail, with their quaint little topknots, run across pathways. I have been able to walk in the desert and watch all these plant and animal beings blossom with Spring. This has been one of my greatest pleasures - a reward for my efforts to simplify my life. My Santa Fe style home sits in a desert oasis. Hummingbirds visit frequently, and some nest here.