Alamos

Everywhere you turn is a photo waiting to be taken.

 Coming back from a short walk. Rancho Acosta is on the very edge of town, a 20 minute walk to the Plaza. It is actually a hunting lodge in season for quail and dove hunters although hunting is not so popular as it once was here.

Parroquia de la Purisima Concepcion. (Parish of the Immaculate Conception)

flowers growing everywhere--from rooftops, from behind walls, very tropical feel.  Bougainvillea is a weed here, I am sure.

Old guys sitting on the square, shooting the breeze, watching the traffic go by. . .just like at home!!

Enjoying some fish tacos at the street market.

Bad picture of a Magpie Jay.  Best I could get.  Very striking bird with long, long tail, "crown" on its head with feathers sticking up and very loud and raucous voice--typical Jay.

Full Day

Up early to see the sunrise from El Mirridor, the lookout above Alamos.

Back to Rancho Acosta for breakfast and then a hike on ranch property to find a mountain spring.

Found the spring and a gigantic fig tree that obviously gets plenty of water.  Plus some interesting wildlife, like a small herd of horses.  Then a little siesta before an afternoon drive to a nearby village that at one time had a properous silver mine.  Not much left now except an old church and some broken down walls that no doubt are keeping thier secrets.  A cactus is growing out of the old church wall that locals see as a good omen.

Made a trip to bakery in Alamos for some fresh sweet breads.  Right out of the brick oven, no less!!

Thanksgiving Day

Out birding for the holiday.  Went to the nearby Cuchujaqui River and then when it got too hot, we took a recently paved road for a 40 mile drive to the Coast.  Thought we'd find some shore birds there but not so much there.  We were not really sure where to go and didn't have time or inclination to do too much searching so saw the ocean and some nice beach front homes and then came back.  Interesting to see the "Dry Deciduous Forest" that this part of Sonora is famous for.  It is very tropical and lush in the summer here but this time of year a lot of the trees have lost thier leaves for winter but huge hecho cactus and other flowering tropical plants still poking through.  Right in the foothills of the Sierra Madres.

This Tiger Heron was a fun spot!

Caracara was bird of the day.  He was everywhere--mostly perched high on top of cactus--don't know how he does that!  Tough feeties--to tear his prey apart, I guess.

There were about 6 miles of that road that was not paved.  Little rough in spots.

Thanksgiving dinner was Chicken Enchiladas with white sauce for Will and I had Camerones (shrimp) cooked in lots of garlic.  Flan for desert.  About as good as turkey, I'd say.  The little restaurant was off the town plaza so after dinner we walked around the beautiful old church that is the center of the plaza.

Thanksgiving in Mexico

We left Tucson before the crack of dawn so that we could cross the border at first light because we had a long day of driving ahead of us.  Turned out to be a pleasant drive through Sonora, Mexico--no delays at the border--sometimes it takes a long time to get visa processed and even longer to get car permit but no lines yesterday.  We made one wrong turn in Hermisillo but quickly saw our mistake and got on the right road again and were checking into Rancho Acosta in Alamos by 4pm.

     

Had time to settle in and relax before a short drive around town to reaquaint ourselves to the layout of this beautiful old Spanish Colonial town.  Then for a dinner at a restaurant we remembered.  No hesitation, I ordered Sopa de Queso.  (Cheese soup) Just as delicious as I remembered.   Creamy broth with chunks of fresh Mexican cheese that stays firm in the hot broth.

 

Busy weekend

Busy weekend with El Tour, and I was down at Tucson Museum at their Artisan Market for 3 days. Turned out to be a wonderful show, tons of people came through the Southern Arizona Clay Artist booth where I was, along with about 15 other clay people. I personally did well, can go out and buy a few more bags of clay!

Then Service Worship at church. Good time making Christmas ornaments for shut-ins and nursing homes.  They look like cookies but they are painted and glazed clay ornaments. About 35 kids and parents did them. Will went with a group to serve homeless downtown at Z Mansion with the mobile shower unit. 

Kiddos

Look what filled my inbox this morning

Tammy and the girls are in Shanghai now.  Tammy's parents went along to help her get there on the long flight with the two kids.  They are planning to do some traveling beyond China (once they get over jet lag.). Going onto Korea, Australia and New Zealand and be back in Shanghai in January.  Looks like the kids are in good shape and you know Doug is enjoying having his family together.

El Tour de Tucson

Will did it in 4 hrs 33 mins, 16.3 miles/hour. Placed 203rd out of 500+ in 75 mile section.  Only 2 older than him did better than he did--that is his true test!! His personal best.  7000 bikers participated in rides from 100 miles down to family ride of 5 miles. Great community event.

Take off was cool enough for jackets.  Sun warmed it up to high 70's for a perfect day for biking.

Art in the Garden

My friend has the neatest art show every year (actually she does it in the spring and fall ) and graciously invites me to be a part of it.  First of all her yard and home is a show case in itself, but then she puts out a spread of food for her 30 some artists and public who come to shop. AND she hires Gabriel Romano, a local classical guitarist to play all day. It is the most fun thing.  This year the weather is perfect. Crowds are down this year for whatever reason, but that's the way it goes.
 

garden shots and Glenda

Serving

Every Thursday a group from St Andrews Presbyterian go down to a distressed part of Tucson and serve a meal provided by the Community Food Bank for the homeless and marginalized in the neighborhood.  It is served in a church that we are also supporting in other ways because their congregation is just not financially able to support the workings of a church.  Will and I go on the second Thursday with our Fellowship group. These people are so appreciative and it has been a blessing to us to participate.