Lilliana

On the way to New Jersey to see that grand baby!! Oh, and Doug and Tammy too.

Touring about

We've been so busy out showing the Grainger's southern Arizona that I haven't had a chance to post!  It has been such a fun week, haven't run out of things to chat about yet!  We went to the Mission, Bisbee, Tombstone, White Water Draw to see the Sandhill cranes, shopping, Air and Space Museum. . .actually, I can't remember where all we have been.  Love these guys!!

The Graingers

We've been waiting all year for our "British Friends" to come and they are finally here!!  Stewart and Shiela arrived on Friday and we've been enjoying them. . .and gabbing a lot.  So wonderful to have them.  Wayne and Judy close so the 6 of us have been showing them the best of southern Arizona.

Lunch on the patio at the Desert Museum

Wayne, Judy, Sheila and Stewart at the Desert Museum

Took in the afternoon bird show and got up close and personal with a young Harris Hawk.

Gates Pass

SO close to the Harris Hawk that I can almost see my reflection in his eye!  Whoa.

Will's brewery

My kitchen suddenly turned into a micro-brewery!  Will's been up to making a batch of beer.  Its been brewing for the last two weeks and today was the day to bottle it.  Pretty high tech-ha!  Well, now that it is bottled we have to wait another two weeks before we can pop one open and see how it turned out.  It smells like beer, that's for sure.

Mr Fix-it!

My own private repairman!  He's great.  I strongly recommend him.  Will fixed my refrigerator.  It has had a leak for months and he finally came to my rescue and fixed it.  Must admit it took him a while to figure out what was really going on--was not the icemaker as originally assumed.  I wasn't ready to buy a new one!

Lilliana found her feet. . .

And maybe lost her socks!

Sculpture on permanent display

New public art in town!  In front of the Northwest Art Center at Magee and Shannon.  Made by the students of Jada Ahern's clay studio there.  Real cooperative effort as lots of potters contributed pieces.  We ended up with three "totems."

That happens to be my blooming cactus on top.

Here are the other two totems with potter friend, Glenda.

Hiking Vantana Canyon

Its been much too long since I've been out on a day hike.  Today I met up with some hiking friends I've gotten to know at our church and we drove up into the foothills to do a piece of the Vantana Canyon trail.  Was a nippy start but we warmed up fast because the trail had lots of elevation.  It was beautiful, even some early wildflowers, and the creek was running from the snow melt up on top of Mt Lemon.  Good workout, my bones were creaking by the time I got home and flopped onto the couch!  I've already decided--we're eating out tonight! 

Susan, Gail, and Rebecca

New Year

Christmas is long gone--New Year came and went.  Lots happened in those two weeks.  Steph was here (loved every minute), Will flew to Wisconsin to help Judy and Wayne Massey drive their RV down to Tucson for the winter, I stayed home and worked non stop in my home studio, except out for a few yoga classes, walks in the desert and a little shopping.  Other snowbird friends, Pete and Alice arrived, the weather warmed up nicely, all good stuff. A day trip to Phoenix to have breakfast and catch up with Will's brother, Jay and Verna  on Jay's birthday.  Kids sent videos of Lilliana giggling that made us giggle along with her!

January and another new year. . .Looking forward to 2012.  Lots of stuff on our calendars and we're in good health--what could be better.

I go back and forth between tiles and pots.