Karen Woodrow, Bonnie Hyra, Brenda Rock, and Pat Neel visit the sights and signs at the Tucson Ignite Museum.
Sharon Pulcinella
What do winter waterfowl, spring crafts, neon signs, painted rocks, desert plants, books, and trivia all have in common? They are all subjects of events enjoyed by members of The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) this past month!
On Jan. 27, Sue Obremski delighted TWOQC members with some spring themed craft ideas during her second Zoom presentation. Sue demonstrated some clever ways to brighten up the home this season, including clever table runners that can double as placemats, a no-sew afghan for those drafty areas, a heart pillow, and a multi-season wreath/centerpiece. Pat Neel was the lucky winner of the wreath, which was raffled off at the end of the presentation.
Diving or dabbling? This was one of the questions answered by bird expert Nick Pulcinella on an excursion to Canoa Ranch on Feb. 1 to view wintering waterfowl. Participants enjoyed both perfect weather conditions and helpful tips for identifying what they were seeing. The afternoon also included some excellent looks at other birds that reside at Canoa Ranch.
Several TWOQC members were introduced to the increasingly popular pastime of rock painting when Janet Rumford hosted a small group gathering on her patio on Feb. 11. The ladies went home with smiles on their faces and unique and winsome rocks to enjoy. Many of these cheerful works of art have found their way to the doorsteps of Quail Creek residents in need of a message of caring and hope.
For those who have moved to Green Valley from greener climates, desert gardening can be confounding, especially when it comes to pruning landscape shrubs and trees. Enter Charlene Westgate, of Westgate Garden Design, who specializes in creating beautiful landscapes in harmony with nature. Charlene presented an excellent slide program on the dos and don’ts of pruning desert plants to 42 TWOQC members via Zoom, followed by a very informative question and answer period. Many attendees of this program agreed that it will alter the way they care for their landscaping plants in the future.
Tucson is a fascinating city with many hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Among them is the Ignite Neon Sign Museum, which presents a unique history of Tucson via over 350 signs and other memorabilia collected by the curator, Jude Cook. The collection continues to grow as the owner procures more neon and LED signs in an effort to preserve this art form. TWOQC’s On-the-Go Group enjoyed a tour of the museum, with its beautifully designed displays and hands-on activities. All of the ladies who participated in this Feb. 18 excursion agreed that the lunch following their visit was a great way to round out this unique experience.
Books and wine were the perfect combination for a gathering on Pat Neel’s patio on Feb. 23. Participants were asked to bring some of the books that had become part of their permanent collection, either because they were so exceptional or because they had particular meaning to them. A list of these must read books will be compiled for future book groups.