Go Blue. From Desert Dust to Cherry Blossoms

 

We kicked off Easter Sunday in Jackson, waking up at Scott’s mom’s house. The main plan for the day was to prepare and eat Easter lunch. I had been assigned dessert duty by my loving husband. Upon entering the kitchen, we discovered that Scott’s mom had already whipped up a Key Lime Pie (it was delicious!).

So instead, I was promoted to appetizer status and made asparagus wrapped in bacon, fried to  perfection. Scott bravely took on roast beef for the first time in his life - and did a great job. Meanwhile, Scott’s mom had also prepared stuffed potatoes. We enjoyed a nice very late lunch and as predicted, ate way too much.

Monday after work, we zipped off to Ann Arbor, each with our own shopping agenda. As soon as we arrived, we split up like expert pickpockets - I dived into TJ Maxx (and since I had never been there in spring, I was wow, the clothing selection was just overwhelming), while Scott tackled his errands.

We reunited for a quick detour to Home Goods (my second-favorite store after TJ Maxx), then met up with Rebecca for dinner at Knight’s - still as reliably good as ever. And what an amazing service!

Tuesday night was a cozy one in, and I cooked creamy lemon pasta with pan-fried chicken. Not to brag, but it turned out seriously good.

On Wednesday, we took a little drive down to Saline to meet with Sherry - someone I hadn’t seen since pre-2020. It was such a lovely meetup, filled with much catch-up, and - no surprise here - a massive amount of meat. Because if there’s one thing you don’t come to the U.S. for, it’s reasonable portion sizes.

Arizona dreaming with desert vibes. Making new friends

 

Our Arizona adventure was wrapping up, but not before giving us one final amazing view: an absolutely breathtaking sunrise. If Sedona was trying to convince us to stay here, it almost worked.

Having learned our lesson about Sedona’s breakfast rush, we arrived at Redrock Café bright and early — 7:20 AM, just 20 minutes after opening. Some folks were already tucking into their pancakes, and by 8 AM the waiting line was snaking out the door. Perfect timing! I went for an omelet and buckwheat waffles (plus essential coffee, obviously), while Scott celebrated his love for American sandwiches with a Reuben. Another win in the culinary department.

After brunch, we headed for the creek, revisiting a hiking spot where Scott used to come some 30 years ago. When we pulled into the parking lot around 8:30 AM, only a handful of cars were there - peaceful and perfect. Fast forward to our return: the lot was packed, with a line of cars waiting to grab any available spot. Safe to say, Sedona’s popularity has skyrocketed since Scott’s good ol’ days.

The hike itself was pure joy: sunshine, stunning views, and that magical desert stillness you can almost hear if you listen carefully.

On the way to Phoenix airport, we couldn't resist a few more stops to meet the local celebrities - the giant saguaro cacti standing tall and proud on both sides of the road. Fun fact for you, dear reader: Arizona actually has to tag and register these cacti because people (apparently) can’t be trusted not to steal them. Apparently, cactus theft is a thing. I'm happy to report I took only a selfie with cactus No. 320, and left it right where it belongs.

This trip was my first real desert experience, and it turned out to be way different - and way better - than I had imagined. So many landscapes, so much nature, and so many moments that took my breath away.

Our car drop-off at Phoenix Airport went smoother than expected (always a small miracle), and our flight was blissfully uneventful.

Arizona dreaming with desert vibes. There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing (and we had both)

Friday in Sedona greeted us with the only cold and rainy day of the trip as well as the only cold and rainy day in Sedona in whole April. The morning was just cloudy, so we hang on to optimism and decided to stick to our original plan: breakfast, hiking and adventure. After all, there’s no bad weather, just wrong clothing - a wise saying we remembered right after realizing we had packed like we were heading to a desert... not the Scottish Highlands.

First stop was Redrock Café in Redrock Village. We pulled in around 9:30 AM, dreaming of hot coffee and pancakes, only to be told the wait time to be seated was about an hour. An hour?! I love a good breakfast, but can't wait that much. Plan B: head back to Sedona and try the Shorebird, which had been my first choice anyway (they just opened at 10:00 AM and initially we did not want to wait this long).

Perfect timing - we arrived a few minutes early and snagged the first table. Breakfast was a success: I had crab cake eggs benedict (delicious), and Scott went for a burger that he praise highly.

Fueled and caffeinated, we did some driving around to admire the famous Sedona red rocks. By this time, the rain was coming down harder, and let’s just say... hiking was officially off the agenda. Still, the dramatic, brooding skies made the views look even more magical. The photographer in me was absolutely thrilled.

We also went exploring Scott’s old neighborhood, attempting to find the house where he used to live. No luck - either it had vanished into the Sedona mist, or his memory maps was less reliable than hoped.

Around 11:30 AM, we made a beeline to Sedonuts, a donut place I'd read about (open from 7 AM until noon or until sold out). When we arrived, there was a line out the door, but we persevered. Totally worth it: warm, sugary goodness secured.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in peak cozy mode. We returned to the hotel, enjoyed our donuts, watched the mountains through the windows... and then, because Sedona clearly likes to keep things interesting, it started to snow.

Armed with umbrellas (and still wildly underdressed), we went for a walk through the charming town center, soaking up Sedona’s vibe in its wintery glory. Later, we grabbed some takeaway food, curled up, and called it an early night.

Arizona dreaming with desert vibes. From owl sandwiches to canyon squirrels

  

One of us has clearly gotten more sun

Earrings!

Toasted owl brunch and approved sandwiches

Top: cactus fries and Brussels sprouts

Bottom: cilantro flatbread, bison steaks and rattlesnake sausages

We kicked off the day in The Toasted Owl Café. It had already been scouted and bookmarked online the day before. After a brisk morning walk through crisp Flagstaff air, we arrived hungry and ready. Scott ordered a sandwich and, after every two bites, declared to the world, “This is amazing.” He made sure every member of the service team knew that Europe is apparently a sandwich wasteland, filled with “sad little bread-based mistakes.” The man was passionate.

I went all in with a brie, prosciutto, and fig jam omelet (yes, that combo works) and a fluffy blueberry pancake. Everything was spectacular.

While Scott handled the checkout in the hotel, I wandered into their little shop — and discovered that they sell regular-sized candles for $58. If anyone's ever wanted to spend boutique perfume money on wax, I now know just the place.

We hit the road toward the Grand Canyon. On the way, we made a quick stop at a local indigenous-owned shop, where we chose our annual Christmas ornaments and a lovely pair of earrings.

Armed with a list of must-see viewpoints (thanks to a little help from ChatGPT), we spent the next few hours soaking up the breathtaking views of the South Rim. The sun was shining, the squirrels were out — and one particularly adorable little guy was spotted chugging water straight from a tourist’s bottle.

Next stop: Sedona, Scott’s old stomping grounds, where he lived for nearly three years. But not before a detour to the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook, just in time before they shut the gates at 5 PM. The views wer stunning and the wind was feral. Our selfie was almost airborne, and if you’ve looked at the photo above, you know what I mean.

As we arrived in Sedona, we settled into our hotel and immediately made a sunset trip to the Sedona Airport Scenic Overlook - a perfect end to the day, with golden light spilling over red rocks.

Dinner was at Cowboy Club, and it was a true Wild West sampler: cactus fries, bison steaks, rattlesnake sausage, cilantro flatbread, and roasted Brussels sprouts.