Our 45th anniversary

We went over to the Marriott next door for dinner at restaurant called "30/30" for our anniversary celebration. Dinner was amazing, we all had seafood, being we're in Florida and on the ocean and all. Couldn't think of a better way to mark the day than to spend it with everyone together. Will and I were trying to remember the day 45 years ago and decided we could recall the events of the day surprisingly well. We're just not sure how it got to be 45 years because we don't feel like we're old enough to be married that long. Decided we think our marriage is probably going to work.

Lilliana was walking today! She has been taking a few steps here and there but today she got really focused and walked half way across the room before she lost it and started crawling again. Our condo has a huge living room and the dining chairs slide so well on the wood floors. She started out pushing the chairs across the room and then she'd have to walk to another chair to push that one and the game was on. I caught it on video but don't have with me what I need to post anything but still photos.

Anniversary week in Florida

we're celebrating 45 years of marriage the best way we could think of! We rented a nice condo near Ft Lauderdale and picked a week when all the kiddos could come and spend it with us. We are overlooking the ocean from our 4th floor balcony and have all the amenities of the Marriott right next door at our disposal. So the plan is. . .no plans, everyone can do their own thing. I, for one intend to get a lot of "Lilliana"time in.

Fired up the kiln

I fired up the kiln this week.  I left a bunch of greenware unfinished before we left town so needed to get it finished before I started anything this fall.  It was a good fire, I was pleased.  I am still in a floral mode, flowers on everything.  I am trying to think of creative things to do with my tiles--ways to frame them, or display them.

Arizona Insect Festival

Our Arizona Pipevine Swallowtail  chopping down on some pipevines.

We went down to the University of Arizona on Saturday to celebrate the "wonders of bugs."  We read about the annual Arizona Insect Festival in the paper this week and decided this sounded fun.  It was.  Lots of booths and displays of live and pinned displays that let people explore the amazing, weird and beautiful world of insects, with an emphasis on local critters, put on by the entomology department.  Apparently we have some world renowned researchers here.  Hey, as long as these guys are in cages or under glass I can appreciate their unique qualities.  There was, of course, an exhibit offering a taste of fried caterpillars.  Couldn't get myself to put it in my mouth.  Word was, they were crunchy and a tad salty tasting.  Plenty of the world finds them a good source of protein--but, maybe later!

There were a million kids there enjoying the day.  Was perfect for kids. Big and Little.

Updating our living room

We've been home about a week now.  Things are pretty much back to normal life in Tucson.  All the catch-up chores pretty much done and we're back doing the things we do.  Today, we gave our living room a new look.

While traveling around the Hudson Valley in New York we spent a few hours in the artsy town of Sugar Loaf.  We were not terribly excited about what we found, thought it would have more venues to explore.  A couple of the interesting looking studios were closed, although we did have a nice long chat with a stained glass artist that was pretty fun.  One last stop before we headed out of town was the studio/gallery/shop of a water color artist by the name of Mary Endico.  We were both astounded by her works, so much so that we bought two.  It was an impulse buy for sure, but we were in rare agreement and just wanted to take her home with us.
  We settled on these two floral abstracts that just happen to match my color scheme.  Added a couple of pieces of my own to finish the grouping and there you go!

Most interesting drive home today across Arizona. Salt River Canyon is always a feast for the eyes but today it was especially scenic because the Arizona Poppies were especially profuse. In fact I have never seen them so abundant, the hillsides were yellow with them. Now these aren't the California poppies that bloom in the early spring that change the desert into something magical--these only bloom with summer rains, are a tad larger, and have orange centers.

Also called Summer Poppies or Caltrop.

Ran into some Monsoon near Globe, Arizona. We got a little rain on the windshield but mostly watched it rain in the distance.

But then it got really dramatic looking as we got just north of Tucson. Again, we drove by it but Oracle, Az got a good soaking.

Officially home now!! We were on the road exactly 3 months to the day. Found everything in good order. Now to unpack the RV and get back into the swing in Tucson.

Fool Hollow and Big Lake drive

We thought we'd stay here at Fool Hollow State Park for a couple of nights and end our summer.  Its a extremely nice campground, and its pretty quiet around here now that the holiday is over.  We took a drive this morning up to the Big Lake area because we wondered what it looked like since 2011's devastating fires.  Sad to see so many burnt hill sides but encouraged to see how Nature takes care of her own.  The monsoon rains have been good up here and the new growth and wildflowers are blazing.

Walking around Fool Hollow Lake we came upon a porcupine!!  His light color tells me he's been around a while.

Fool Hollow, AZ

We're on our way home.  Left Durango early this morning and drove south through northwest New Mexico--where there isn't much to see but a long, lonely road through a pretty stark landscape.  From the Shiprock monolith to Gallup there is only a huge blue sky through Navajo country. It has a haunting sort of appeal, however.  And being reservation land, there are people living out here.  Off in the distance you will see a herd of sheep, or a couple of horses grazing, or a small ranch, or a hogan.  These folks live a long ways from thier neighbors!

The older generation of Navajo peoples still feel more comfortable living in the traditional Hogan.  I think its circular design and no corners fits in with the tribal religion.  This one is picturesque but couldn't tell if it was still occupied or not.  Tend to think it might be used just for livestock now.

Obviously they are still in demand because this is one constructed with modern materials.

 But most of the small ranches had "square" houses as far as we could see. 

Hoped onto I40 into Arizona and then on to Show Low, AZ to Fool Hollow State Park. We're getting pretty close to home and the end of our summer.  

Crater Lake Hike and Hot Springs

    Another morning of hiking.  We decided the Crater Lake trail into the Weminuche Wilderness sounded like a good one and it turned out to be great fun.  We went a total 5.92 miles.  Trailhead was 10,806 ft elevation and the highest point on the trail was 11,331 ft.  Our moving time was 2 hours and 54 minutes, stop time was total of 1 hour.  We know that because we have a new toy and finally figuring out how to use it.  We got a new hand held GPS at the beginning of the year and just getting so we can comfortably use it.  Can't get lost hiking now  . . .hopefully.

The trail goes through open alpine meadows and then in and out of the woods for beautiful views .

The Colorado sky makes those mountains even more dramatic

    Big puffy Colorado clouds that sometimes brings up an afternoon shower.  It has happened a couple of times this week but the showers haven't lasted long and sun was back shining. 

     We got back to campground early afternoon and then drove down the road to a local hot springs for a nice soak in the thermal waters.  Wow, it felt good.  Since we were on the way to Durango we went on into town for dinner at one of the BrewPubs on Main Street.

Sun setting behind those clouds lights up the sky!  This is across Haviland Lake with Hermosa Cliffs way in the background.

Biking to Silverton, Hiking to Animas River Overlook

Molas Pass 10,680' elevation

Will's morning bike ride was the 30 miles from the campground to Silverton.  Its gotten to be an annual thing, has to do it each time we stay here, just for the bragging rights.  There are two major passes on the hiway to get over, both of them over 10,000ft.

    I gave him a few hours head start (after my bear sighting) and then I came with the car.  Passed  him coming up the last pass and then waited for him at the top to cheer him on!

The final 7 miles down into Silverton was the reward for the big climb.  Silverton is an old mining town surrounded by mountains and is a beautiful sight to descend into.  Its very touristy now, is the end of the Durango Silverton Steam Train and comes to life for several hours each day while the trains are in town.  We had lunch at the Brown Bear Cafe and then put the bike on the back of the car and drove back to camp.

There is a trail behind the campground that we have repeated every time we stay here also.  Its less than two miles but is kinda fun because it leads up to the rim of the Animas River gorge for panoramic views far below.

There are still plenty of wildflowers around.

From this vantage point at the end of the trail you can see all the way down to that small black "streak" between the power lines  which happens to be that Durango to Silverton train on its way back to Durango.  How's that for timing. The train whistle echos all the way up the canyon.  Its a long way down there!!

Black Bear

Will went out for a early morning bike ride so I had a leisurly morning at the campground.  Made myself a cup of coffee and walked down to the lake to enjoy the cool, clear sunrise.  On the way back,  meandering through the campground I came upon A BLACK BEAR in the brush.  I didn't have my camera with me but I did have my cell phone so at least got this picture as he came out of the underbrush and crossed the road.  There were several people who saw him and I heard some stories of how he made his way through some campsites. Apparently he climbed up into the backend of some guy's pickup to go after a cooler.  To scare the bear out of the truck, he got into his pickup and began to drive away.  Someone else took a picture of it and it IS a funny picture--teasing him that he was planning to take the bear home!! 

      The bear plopped out and sauntered on his way--not at all frightened.

He's there in the brush across the road--I was a safe distance away.

Cascade River Trail



Hiking the Cascade River Trail on the road to Silverton.  I don't know how far we went, but we were at it about 4 hours.  We had a couple of false starts--hard time finding the trail--our forest service map directions were, shall we say--vague.  Trail head is over 9000 feet and goes steadily up so was a slow trek.  Wonderful views high above the river below.  Every once in a while the trail would break out in a little meadow like this one.  A few fall wildflowers but mostly hints of turning fall colors!  I guess it is September.



Meanwhile, back at the campsite these little guys are hoping for a handout!