Saguaro

We got a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. "Saguaro Glass Design" by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's looks delightfully difficult. Because we happen to be in Frank Lloyd Wright territory right now, we decide to spend the day researching the man, and his 'Saguaro'.

We start at "Taliesin West" in Scottsdale, Arizona. He built this house and would come here every winter from Wisconsin. The word "taliesin" (tally-ESS-in) is a Welsh word meaning "shining brow". He designed this building to sit on the brow of a hill leaving the crown, or brow, open. The surrounding land is lush by desert standards - it's really warm today, and we're happy cats.

The bookstore is filled with little Saguaros. Book marks, Christmas tree decorations, framed pictures - there are even Saguaro ear-rings!!!! But we won't see it here. We're told that it is installed in the foyer at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. We forgot to ask why. But there are architects studying here, families living here, tourists all over the place. The Saguaro is made of glass, it's old, and perhaps it was decided that it would be safer some place else.

Next day we decide to do lunch at the Biltmore and meet our Saguaro on its terms. Sure enough it's right there - right inside the door!

Isn't it stunning! I wanted to move the little table in front, but thought someone would come running. Now I wish I had just done it. It's hard to get the "glass" feeling from the picture, but up close it's very glassy, and you can tell it's been around for awhile.

We had cod fish tacos and fine beer for lunch in the busy pub. The rain was pelting down on the two 18-hole golf courses outside and we promised we would come back and golf here when the sun shone again.

The jigsaw puzzle? As soon as I find the proper "installation" environment, I'm diggin into this baby. Anyone want to volunteer?