Sandhill Cranes

We decided we needed to get out of town for a day so we got up early and drove to White Water Draw in southeast Arizona to see the Sandhill Cranes on thier wintering grounds.  We arrived about 10am, time to leisurely scope out the wetlands and identify at least 10 different species of ducks plus a plethera of other water birds and songbirds that hang out there this time of year.  A flock of snow geese  took flight several times and then landed again after several wide circles of the ponds.  Wondered if they were building up flight muscles for thier inevitable journey to the Arctic tundra.
   The cranes started arriving back from a morning of foraging the agricultural fields in the surrounding Sulpher Valley about 11 and continued coming in flocks of a dozen to a hundred until we left around 2:30.  It is quite a site.  They will be leaving for flights to summer fields far to the North in a couple of weeks.  We packed a picnic lunch and it was such a pleasant day of birding.

I'm swimming again!

The pool finally opened at our neighborhood YMCA after being closed for 2 months to fix a faulty heater.  I went for an early morning swim and it did my soul good! 

Will coming home

Will is coming home today after two weeks in Iowa settling his Mom into continueing care after her unfortunate fall and broken hip. I am definitely ready to have him home again.  I managed to find plenty to do and even enjoyed a bit of quiet time by myself but two weeks is quite enough.  Was good that he could be there with his Mom to get things squared away with her care--she needed other eyes and ears to help her make decisions, plus the physical work of moving her into Whispering Pines in Rock Valley. She seems to be in a good spot, recovery is slow but steady, but more than that she is at peace with the idea of being there.  Time will tell if she will be able to go back to her own home.
  Will had some extended time with sibs which was nice.  Doug even came down from New Jersey to see Gram on his way back to Shanghai so Will had that time with his son also. All good stuff, but I think he is ready to get back to some Arizona sun.

Larry and Jean

We found Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday in front of the restored train depot in Tucson.  This is the spot where Wyatt tracked down and shot Frank Stillwell in retaliation for killing his brother, Morgan after the incident at OK Corral in Tombstone in 1882.  Tucson was a rough and tough place at one time.  Full of legendary history of the "old West."

   Larry and Jean rode out this morning, heading north to visit cousins and friends in Phoenix area, and then onto Nevada and Colorado before heading home to snowy Iowa. Sure is quiet in the house now.  Will is still in Iowa seeing to his mother's care so I am all by self now.  I bet I can find something to do.

Larry and Jean

     Larry and Jean escaped the blustery winter of Iowa and headed to the Southwest!  I got them for almost a week and we have been running all over the Tucson area doing the tourist thing.  We drove out to Empire Ranch and spent a few hours learning a bit about life on a cattle ranch at the turn of the century.  Did a artist fair in Tubac one day. Tonight we are going to Sierra Vista to attend a Cowboy Poets Gathering.  Great to have my brother and "sister" here--we have had a good time. 

     Missing Will, he is in Iowa helping his Mom get settled into her new home at Wispering Heights Home in Rock Valley as she tries to get back to her old self after a scary fall a few weeks ago.

Snow is coming

We all bailed out a day early and came home to beat a winter snow storm bearing down on Chicago.  Steph had planned to leave on Monday morning to get back to her schedule but Tammy and Doug and Will and I were planning to fly out Tuesday morning.  When we heard of snow coming, the kids got nervous and changed thier flight to leave on Monday instead.  Will and I thought we would take our chances because we didn't want to pay the extra to change tickets.  But Southwestern made the decision for us by cancelling BOTH of our flights.  (Will was going on to Omaha and Rock Valley to spend time with his Mom and I was coming home.)  So we scrambled and got a couple of flights out Monday evening also.  New flights ended up being delayed--mine for 4 hours, but when all said and done--we made a wise choice as Midway Field closed down Tuesday.
 This is so reminiscent of times past.  Those days when kids were little and we would try to drive to Grandma's for a weekend and get caught in bad weather!
  Was a great time with everyone in Chicago.

Ttourists in Chicago

A group of teddy bears??  No, the DeBoer gang is just doing the tourist thing in Chicago.  Walked all over Grant Park, did free February at the Art Institute, public art in Millenium Park, Took in a hilarious comedy  show at Second City, shopped, ate at a couple of Irish pubs, showed the kids the neighborhoods where Will and I lived when we were first married in 1967, and lounged around the condo eating and watching the Super Bowl.

This is Cloud Gate to Millenium Park, a fun, mirror surface orb that reflects the city skyline in mind bending reflections. I'm in this picture twice--can you see me!

Tammy and I had our own personal Yoga trainer!  Stephanie makes it look really easy--and it is not.  Tammy does it with ease also.  Humm, must be me.

Chicago condo

daytime and night time views from our rented condo overlooking Grant Park in Chicago.  Pretty cool huh, even in winter.  Tammy and Doug flew into OHare midafternoon, we arrived into Midway about noon and took the train downtown to condo.  Stephanie drove up from Bloomington and arrived after midnight after finishing her day teaching. 

You'd think we could find something more exciting to do in Chicago but everyone has thier laptop out!  A family that computes together, stays together--or something like that.  We did catch a late afternoon movie and found a great Irish pub for dinner.

Long lost brother and sister

Chicago, here we come.

Now what on earth would possess Will and I to leave sunny, warm Tucson for cold and snowy Chicago?!?  The kiddos are coming, that's what.  Doug and Tammy flying in from Shanghai (actually Tammy is already in New Jersey so she is coming from that direction) and Steph driving up for a long weekend for some DeBoer family R & R.  I am packing my suitcase now for an early morning flight.  Yes, I have my mittens and ear muffs packed.