Our 46th Anniversary

We took time out today to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary.  Went down to the Arizona Inn for lunch outside on the lovely patio.  Tried to remember that day 46 years ago and together we could piece a pretty good story!  

Anniversaries are the time for wine and dessert!

He's telling me that it has been a splendid 46 years!  What can I say. . .it has!  So we had a fun lunch date and then the best part is we got to go home to start another year!

Last day with the Purrio's.

We had one more full day.  We woke to cool (one could say cold, as it was almost down to freezing) temperatures in Flagstaff and decided to go out for a hearty breakfast.  Rancheros huevoes for George and Siegi, and omelets for Will and me.  Had time to drive out to Sunset Crater to see how the earth remains scarred from a volcano that happened 900 years ago and then across town to the Rierden Mansion to see how the Flagstaff founding fathers lived.  Time to go.

    The drive back to Phoenix was uneventful, reliving the week together and planning the DeBoer's trip to Germany--a must in the near future, I hope.

They feel like seasoned RVers now!  We had so much fun showing the best of Arizona to them.  They have many stories to take back to Germany.  George and Siegi were truly a delight to travel with, and we feel like we have renewed a friendship that we will long cherish.  We shared one last dinner together before we parted...more food, more laughter, more remembering.  

Page to Flagstaff

We got that tour of the Glen Canyon Dam finished this morning before the winds picked up again but then made the decision to get on down the road before the predicted winds got up to full speed.  Wasn't a particularly fun drive for Will into the gusts but we managed to make it to Flagstaff in good order.  At least these winds are bringing in some cooler temps to southern Arizona.

Had time to drive out to Walnut Canyon National Monument and take the short hike to the Indian ruins and learn a bit about the cliff dwellers that lived there about 900 years ago.

 German elections were held today so George and Sigie have been most interested in following the results. Angela Merkel's resounding win called for a stop at a local brew pub to celebrate.  We learned a lot about the German system of election--pretty interesting.

Next stop, Page, Arizona

Made our way to Page late yesterday afternoon.  Wanted to be sure to be here before it was dark as we knew we had to take the newly completed detour around the storm-damaged hiway 89 and we had heard that the road was only open daylight hours.  No problems--actually think the new road to Page is quicker now.

  First on today's agenda was Antelope Canyon. Its a magical place and our Navajo guide was amazing.  Its all about the light so everyone wants the best pictures and she would just grab our cameras and set the right settings and then snap some pictures and hand it back before we could begin to figure out what to do.  

We tried to take a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam but it was too windy and they canceled the tour. Guess they thought we might get blown off the dam.  We will try again in the morning.  So we just drove to the marina to get some looks at Lake Powell behind the dam.

Then we drove out of Page a few miles to hike the short trail to Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River  for sunset.

Back to town for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.  And finally to the RV to drag our tired bones into bed.

  Our week has been like that--we have been packing in as much as we can and having a great time together.  George and Siegi are such gracious traveling companions.

Kaibab Trail

We all felt pretty proud of ourselves today.  We hiked the Kaibab Trail down into the canyon as far as "Cedar Breaks" about three miles.  We left early enough so that we still had some shade going down the trail and a nice breeze as we trudged back up. More glorious views into the canyon.

Lots of people out enjoying the challenge.  

Grand Canyon

We took the train from Williams to the Canyon.  Will drove the RV up while the rest of us enjoyed a pleasant train ride across the Colorado Plateau arriving in time for lunch.  Enjoyed the rest of the day feasting on the sights of the Grand Canyon and finished the day with a true feast at El Tovar, the grand hotel and lodge at the Rim.

George and Siegi

California Condor  (tag number 7) supposedly 40 birds in the Canyon now.

Will got up and walked outside with his morning coffee and spied 4 well adorned bucks parading right through the campground.  Totally oblivious to the activity around them--until a dog barked and they got nervous and moved on.  Some sleepy heads missed it!

Sedona and the Pink Jeep

We woke up to another beautiful day in Sedona.  A few white puffy clouds in the sky make the red rocks of Sedona a photographer's paradise.  First place to view is the Chapel.  We were early in the morning and hardly anybody else around.  Its a special place anyway, but in the quiet morning stillness it was lovely.

  Then the Pink Jeep ride, which are iconic in Sedona.  It was a fun way to get out see the amazing landscape.

A whirl-wind trip of Arizona

We've been anxiously waiting for weeks for George and Siegi Purrio to arrive from Germany!  Today we picked them up at the Phoenix Airport and immediately headed for Sedona.  We are going to do a 7 day sample tour of Arizona together in our RV.

First stop--Sedona.  And what is THE thing to do in Sedona before dinner but go up airport road to watch the sun set on the red rocks.

Once we got all moved into the RV, it was off to Talaqapaqi and The Oak Creek Brewery for dinner.  We have lots of catching up to do, but we had a great start already.

My new microwave

I got a new microwave today.  My old one had issues, it was ready for retirement.  So when it zapped out this past week, I was actually excited to go microwave shopping for a new one!  Nothing fancy, just wanted one that I could operate without having to memorize the manual.  This one does have a "steam" setting for cooking vegetables perfectly.  And the fan is amazingly quiet compared to the old one.  And it is so nice and shiny white.  In fact, Will helped me clean my stove because next to the new microwave, my stove looked positively cruddy!   

Stephanie at IU

When the kids were little, I always posted their accomplishments on my refrigerator.  I still do--and there is a new one up there!  

  Stephanie succeeded in her first major step to being awarded Tenure in the coming months.  Her department reviewed her dossier and unanimously sent a  rate of "outstanding" on her efforts.  She is evaluated on her research, her teaching, and service.  Now it goes to the College level and on up the chain of ranks.  With overwhelming support from her peers it sends a strong message of support up the ranks of consideration at IU.  

    She is happy and we are really proud.

Kiln opening

Had some "odds and ends" that needed to be glazed and fired left from last June before we left for the summer.  Almost couldn't remember what my intentions were for some of these.  I especially like my sandhill cranes.  There are 4 of them and they will become a wall hanging.  

Back yard visitors

Sitting at the kitchen table having my morning coffee and reading the paper when I happened to glance up and saw a coyote walk across the patio and out of sight.  I grabbed my camera and as quietly as I could, I slid the patio door open and crept outside expecting to see a coyote around the corner.  Instead there were THREE of them! There was no sneaking up on these guys--they saw me and were gone like a shot.  No problem gliding up and over the 4ft wall and gone into the desert.  Only had time for one camera shot of the fleeing beauties--but if you look closely you can see a glimpse of the back legs of coyote number two off to the extreme right of the photo.

Wayne Massey

We lost a dear, dear friend this week who has been fighting a brave battle with throat cancer for some time.  Wayne Massey will remain in our hearts and memories.  His son, Bradley gave the most eloquent tribute to him on his facebook page and we just wanted to share it.  It truly sums up who Wayne was.

                                                      Judy, Wayne and Stephanie

A son’s tribute to his father

 What do you call a man who fights for your liberty, provides for all your physical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare, teaches you right from wrong and pours out the best of who he is as a willing sacrifice for your good?

    Maybe you would call him soldier, hero, friend, a good man, or a knight in shining armor. I call him my dad and he truly has been and is all these things to me and my family. He knows all this because I told him many times in many ways, but I won’t have the opportunity to tell him again. Cancer has rendered him unresponsive and laboring to breath. His time in our physical realm is short. However he lives on in the life I and his grandchildren live. You see, his love was so deep that we cannot help but weave a part of his personality into our own. Yes, we have his memory but even more we have the best of who he is in us.

    I will feel him standing beside me every time I love my wife and children, every time I earn a dollar to provide for them now and in their future, every time I help a friend, every time I recognize the beauty of creation, every time I do a brain puzzle (which will be almost never) and every time I make a joke. Because that is who he is and who he taught me to be. Yes I will miss his personal presence but I will be grateful to my last breath for the man he made me to be and all the wonderful opportunities he gave me and my family. America is about to lose more of it goodness, bravery, and honor with final breath of a great man named Wayne Eugene Massey.

Brad and Miriam Leckrone