Thursday's Arizona Star Article

Our Ceramics Show at Tohono Chul made a full page spread in Thursday's Arizona Star, in the Northwest Section.  Four pictures which is accessible by following link.  My space was highlighted in one of the pictures which is pretty fun.  Does this mean I am famous?!  Oh well, its pretty fun to see my name printed in the paper.  Think you have to scroll thru small pictures to find me--its the one with two ladies perusing my display.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/foothills/ceramics-a-smash-at-show-at-tohono-chul-park/article_9f5203ab-8894-5273-90a1-bd446c4df4fa.html

 

The printed article that went with the pictures  didn't make it in the link but just talked about park, the crowd, and identified people in the pictures.

Mystery Solved!

This little guy has been making me crazy!!  Got 'em!!  I put half oranges out for the birds, especially the verdins but finches like them too.  And overnight they have been coming up missing!  Not just nibbled like little field mice would, but gone!!  Couldn't figure it out, saw no "evidence" of pack rats but finally decided that had to be what was enjoying a little extra vitamin C.  I had the oranges hanging in a tree and these little buggers were obviously climbing out on a limb to get at it.  But a live trap and a little peanut butter works.  We actually got two of them so it was a family affair.  (They are kinda cute.) 

 

Fiesta de la Vaquero

Today was rodeo finals day.  Its been going on all week and today was the final competition.  Will and I try to go every year, we think its great fun.  They start with the little kids and Mutton Busting which is just plain cute, then a round of Junior Rodeo and then the professionals finished the day.  Its a great progression because by watching the junior rodeo teenagers have a go at it, you get an inkling of how hard they have to work at it. They aren't nearly so polished as the pros who at times make it look easy.  And each contestant is absoluely on thier own, its all or nothing.

    

New addition to my book shelf!

There it is on my coffee table. . .Stephanie's book!

Available from University of Minnesota Press and Amazon!  I had my copy for a while before I actually read her "acknowledgement" pages.  Nice tribute to lots of people  who helped her along the way and then we got a little weepy when she said sweet things about her family.  She dedicated it to Wayne, a family friend that we lost last year just as the book was coming together.  He was such a positive influence as she was growing up!  

Tohono Chul Show and sale

Turned out to be a beautiful day at Tohono Chul for Southern Arizona Clay Artist's show.  There are about 24 different clay artists exhibiting out there this weekend.  Such a great setting. Lots of people came thru and stopped at my spot. Another full day tomorrow.

Gem Show

We spent an afternoon perusing some outdoor vendors at the Gem Show one day this past week but today we went down to the Convention Center for the the culmination of the several week Tucson event.  I found the most interesting thing today was talking to an Amber dealer.  I never knew what unpolished amber looked like.  There is a finished amber ball in the center of the picture.  It is extremely light weight and if you shine a flashlight through it, the light passes through it easily.  I ended up buying some earrings from a different amber vendor.

How about a $50,000 tourmaline!

This quartz was found in the shape of a fish, someone just added fake eyes.  Pic doesn't show the scale but it was quite large.  I liked it.

Animal Kingdom and home

It is pouring rain this morning, but thats OK, our week is over and we are all returning to our homes. We held the rain off all week while we visited the parks, only a slight sprinkle late in the day yesterday at Animal Kingdom.  And it was warm so a little rain didn't deter us from anything.  We didn't use the pool at the condo much because it was less inviting when it was cloudy, but nodody is complaining.  Too much else to do anyway.

   Animal Kingdom was another big hit with Lia, especially the Safari when we could spy real animals!

We all loved the hippo pool from underneath where we could watch him just lounging on the bottom.  Every few minutes, he would lift his head just enough to bring his nostrils above the water to get a breath of air and then lower his head to continue his nap!

i liked the tree of Life on Discovery Island.

Doug and Dad rode the roller coaster at Everest and thought it was the best.

Lia was partial to another "up and down" at Dinoland.  The "Finding Nemo, the Musical" was an outstanding Puppet show and although Lia slept thru the Jammin Jungle Parade, she just didn't know what she missed. She was amazing all week about sleeping an hour or more each afternoon in her stroller and then she was good to go again!

 

Sea World

We were watching the weather really close today as rain was in the forcast.  It remained cloudy but the showers never developed.  That was a good thing because we went to Sea World.  Unfortunatly, we had to take Stephanie to the airport as she had to be back to Bloomington to teach tomorrow.  The rest of us headed to Sea World.

We liked the penguins in the Antarctic Adventure.

The big show with Shammu was "under construction" but we could view the killer whales and watch some training sessions instead.

And the "big kids" had to ride the "Manta."  You are right, the ride is an upside down roller coaster!  We had to prove we still had it in us!

Enjoying Florida

We took a day off today, slept in, hung out at the condo and pool and played with Lia.  Some of us did a little work or read a novel or whatever.  And watched the weather reports of snow happening in Bloomington and New Jersey.

  Yesterday was a full day at magic Kingdom.  We wondered how long Lia would last but she was amazing.  She was having the time of her young life. And we were having as much fun watching her enjoy it all.  We started with a character breakfast with the Winnie-the-Poo gang. She doesn't really know the Poo story but before it was over she was saying clearly, "Poo Bear, Piglet and Tigger!"

We loved the Jungle Cruise, its a Small World, ice cream, riding the Carrousel, Aladans Magic carpet, and Flying Dumbo.  Lia is a true DeBoer, she likes rides. Some of us did Pirates of the Carribean and Thunder Mountain while Lia took an hour nap in her stroller.  Then she was ready for the evening Light Parade.  She made it all the way through the final fireworks!  Disney is a total nostalgic trip for adults and to see it all anew through the eyes of a child is a trip!

A day at Disney World

Lia met Micky and Minny first thing this morning and she knew immediatly who they were.  She was delighted and absolutly fascinated. She posed for all the pictures we wanted.

Goofie took Lia's fun sunglasses and tried to put them on himself which Lia thought was pretty silly.

We said we could just go on home now, can't get any better than this!!  But the rest of the day was a delight also.  Was all for Lia and she was having a great time.  We did Epcot today, had lunch in Germany in the World Showcase, took turns watching Lia while those of us tall enough did "Soring."  She even took over an hour nap in her stroller while we walked through the "countries."  

    Picked up a (Dominoes, of course) pizza and got back to condo in time for the Super Bowl. 

Magic Kingdom tomorrow!

orlando

She was asleep by the time we got in last night, but she had a big smile for us this morning!  She got a baloon butterfly at lunch at Perkins which brought more smiles!  Rainy day in Florida but that is ok, we are just catching up today anyway with nothing planned.

Doug had this made for us in Shanghai--isn't it wonderful?  Thats us!  Taken from our "Christmas" picture.  Like bobble heads but the whole body.  What fun!