36 OCTOBER 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Robin Sewell If you’ve lived in the Valley long enough, you begin to notice a little known phenomenon that starts to happen right around this time every year. The hiking trails get a little busier and more people seem to be switching from iced mochas to Starbucks pumpkin spiced lattes. Everyone seems to have a little more pep in their step as we emerge from our extended air-conditioned hibernation. In other parts of the country, they may call this a change of seasons, yet here in Phoenix, I refer to it as a return to double digits. Although I am not a native, I have called Arizona home for 21 years which I believe gives me the right to fight back when I hear out-of-towners naively proclaim, “Arizona doesn’t have seasons, it’s just a brown, dry desert.” Dry, yes, but lacking in color, wrong! True, folks in places like Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire wake up to a swath of auburn, gold and magenta, whereas we have to take a road trip to experience our version of New England’s fall foliage, but trust me, the destination is worth the journey. One of my favorite places is Lockett Meadow located inside the Coconino National Forest outside of Flagstaff. At an elevation of 8600 feet, it is one of the best areas to soak in the autumn colors. I don’t know about you but just thinking about my trip north on Highway 17 towards the high country conjures up visions of sweaters, scarves and jackets. Once I arrive, I’m never quite prepared for the cornucopia of pigment that washes over all the majestic aspen trees that are the cornerstone of this meadow. On my first visit to Lockett Meadow, we were there to film a story for Arizona Highways Television about fall in Arizona and to dispel the myth that our two seasons are just summer and construction. I will admit that prior to doing my show, I didn’t do a lot of traveling around our state, so I never gave much thought to whether Arizona did indeed have a winter, spring, summer and fall. However, as I walked around this enchanting white trunk forest capped in greens and gorgeous gold, there was no doubt that what I was experiencing was autumn, not just any autumn, but autumn in Arizona. As excited as I was about my newfound discovery, I thought that in order to make a compelling argument that leaves do change color in the Grand Canyon State, I must have more than photographic proof from one area, proof that this was not an anomaly. I must find other places in our state where colors are unabashedly bold. Luckily, my crew was up for the task and our search uncovered all I was hoping to find and so much more. A short drive from Flagstaff is the awe- inspiring red rock country of Sedona. It’s not only the embodiment of beauty and balance but during the months of September and October, Oak Creek Canyon erupts in color from deep burgundy, to terra cotta and honey gold. Further east towards the White Mountains where the elevation can reach 11,000 feet, we couldn’t contain our amazement as we drove through the sleepy mountain towns of Greer, Eager and Alpine. Everywhere we looked, the green was intertwined with those magnificent harvest hues. Of course, I then felt the need to give a little love to our neighbors down south who don’t seem to get as much seasonal attention as our friends in the north. Lo and behold, we discovered some fabulous leaf peeping sites such as Madera Canyon, Mount Lemmon and the Chiricahuas, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the South or the land of standing up rocks. So the next time your neighbors brings out their scrapbook full of Maple leaves from their trip to Maine, tell them that for the price of a tank of gas you can experience the full color spectrum and fiery brilliance of fall not far from your own backyard. — Robin Sewell is the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Arizona Highways Television. ‘Fall’ in love with the beautiful landscapes of Arizona Lockett Meadow is located in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff. WELCOME TO BAKER PARK An intimate, gated enclave of just 44 semi-custom, luxury homes priced from the high $800s and smack dab in the center of EVERYTHING. All-new gated neighborhood in Arcadia Built on the former site of Baker Nursery 44 homesites gathered around a public park and pool 2,172-4,847 square-foot floorplans Here Comes the Neighborhood! The Arcadia Elm The Villas at Baker Park is located at 40th Street and Osborn Road TheVillasAtBakerPark.com 202 40th Street In an effort to continuously improve, Seller reserves the right to change product design, floor plans, elevations, features, materials, specifications, locations and size without notice. All references to dimensions and square footage are approximate and may vary in actual construction. Floor plan & elevation renderings are conceptual drawings; they are not intended to show specific detailing and may vary from actual plan. Prices, terms, incentives and availability are subject to change without notice. Buyer to rely on his or her own evaluation of usable area. Walt Danley Development Services is a division of Walt Danley Realty. WALT DANLEY D E V EL O P ME N T S ER V I C E S

37 OCTOBER 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Elaina Verhoff Inspiration often comes from unexpected places. For Maggie May, designer and owner of All the Tiny Pieces, a boutique jewelry line of handcrafted designs. The spark came from a broken pearl necklace her grandmother gave her as a child. So began her passion for jewelry- making. Encouraged by her family, May would look for bead stores on family vacations and her parents would help scout out unique sources for material for her jewelry creations. As time went on, jewelry-making took a backseat to other things. While working full time on a product development team in 2014, May got the itch to pursue her craft once again, and came up with the concept of All the Tiny Pieces. The meaning of the unique name? “We are all tiny pieces! Each stone is one-of-a-kind, just like you and me,” May said. “Each design has been created and handmade in my local studio, never produced in a factory. I hunt down the materials all over – down the street and around the globe!” The stones and crystals carry different meanings and are used for different things, May said. When working with a new stone, she delves into the meaning and properties of the materials. “I have been using healing stones myself for years and have just recently created a Rainbow Chakra Collection to help others,” May said. The seven pieces in the collection are sold separately, each piece coming with a card providing all of the stone details and benefits. “The response has been much better than I ever expected,” said May. “When I started making jewelry again in 2014, my intentions were to do a show here and there and sell a few pieces on Etsy. I am now running All the Tiny Pieces full time.” And while she says she spends many more hours running her own business than she ever did in her previous corporate position, May wouldn’t change a thing. “I love dedicating my time to my passion and what I love to do most,” said May. “I appreciate building my business and making it as successful as it can be.” She also appreciates passionate feedback from customers. May recently made a custom eagle bracelet for a woman who then ordered two matching bracelets for her friends. “She sent me a thank you card saying she could feel good energy the moment she opened the package,” May said. “Her friends loved their gifts and they all wear them to think of one another and their strengths. I posted her card on my office board because it made me feel so good, and we still keep in touch every once in a while.” All the Tiny Pieces jewelry can be found at allthetinypieces.com, on Etsy, at local markets, and at boutiques around the country. Discovering the power locked in All The Tiny Pieces Maggie May The idea for Maggie May’s Arcadia-based business was planted when she was a child.