Artist reception

Went to artist reception at Northwest mutual Tucson office Artist Guild Show. Nice show, lots of people, lots of food--that's why people attend these things! AND my "Crane Repose" actually sold! Felt really good to be accepted into show! 
  Relief forms, glazed and fired, mounted individually for depth and then framed.  Will did the frame for me.

Kiln Opening

Had a great fireing today. Always fun to open after 12 hours of "cooking ". .and then have to wait for it to cool.

Also a sculpture workshop I did. Floppsie, Moppsie and Cottontail.

Larry and Marlene

The Linn's stopped for a day on their quick road trip to Arizona and California.  Love these guys! We share lots of wonderful memories of growing our families together and the miles between us have not altered the friendship.

Saturday bike ride along Julian Wash

Mid 70's and sunny. . .great day for a bike ride.  We did 14 miles along a new section of Tucson 's 55 mile "Loop" trail.  Will has been on this new section but it was new to me.  Really nice desert route southeast of the city.

"Selfies" would be better if Ikept my hand out of the way!!

They have put installation art along the way to enjoy plus nature observation stops to teach people about the desert.

Neighborhood Coyotes

'We just pulled out of our driveway this morning and there we saw three coyotes ambling across the road frollowing the wash that crosses our neighborhood.  They didn't seem in any hurry and didn't seem to even notice us inching up upon the.

And then here came a 4th one.  Healthy pack from the desert behind our house.

Coming home

Just south of Hermisillo there is this huge Shrine that we always notice as we drive by.  On our way home we decided to check it out. Am sure curious about what its signifance is as it is huge and goes on forever with hindreds of plaques, markers, gifts to the Virgin in gratitude. All up the side of hill

Lunch in Magdalena at a small restaurant on the church square.  Fish tacos again!! This is churchwhere  Father Kino is buried, in fact you can see his excavated bones in the crypt in the church square.  Also lovely chuch that houses a relic of Father Francis Xavier, is a Pilgrimmage church.

The relic is that tiny piece of bone in the very center.  Can't read the Spanish but figured that much out.

Made it home by mid afternoon.  All in good order. 

Last day enjoying San Carlos

Bird watching at the Estuary. Guided hike through the Preserve.

The tour guide spoke minimal English but birders find a way to understand each other.  He was very knowledgable besides being a sweet guy.

Found a Juvenile Rail in the mangrove brush.  What!! 

Buffelhead Ducks.

Sunset from patio seating of Charly's Rock.

A walk around the historic Hotel Playa Cortez in Gauymus

Nature experience boat ride.

Gary's Dive Shop seems to be the place to go to find out what to do in town.  Signed up for a morning scenic boat ride out into the Bay. Took us along the coast to get a look back at the resort town, and then out to a couple of islands to get a close up look at some nesting sea birds.  Always with Tetakawa, (Goats Teets) the iconic mountain in the background.

Blue footed Boobies! In a couple months, thier bills will turn blue to match thier feet during breeding season.

Lots of activity--Blue footed and Brown Boobies, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Blue Herons, Seagulls, And a whole lot of "birdwash."

Then out into the Bay to play with the Bottle Nosed Dolphins.  The captain would drive the boat past them and speed up and pretty soon they were racing the boat, leaping and diving along side. The captain would turn the boat around and do it all over again. They seemed to be having as much fun as we were and would have kept it up all day.  Probably a dozen of them.

Back on shore in time to drive out to the little fishing village of Manga for some fish tacos and huge shrimp cocktail at an outdoor restaurant.  Instructions to get there was to follow the road until the pavement ended and then follow dirt road to the end. Couldn't miss it.

A beach walk later in the day at low tide revealed a bunch of shore birds.

AND a Great Kiskadee in a Mangrove forest near the Estuary. Great Mexican specialty bird, fun spot.

Nacapuli Canyon, San Carlos

Great morning in Nacapuli Canyon just outside of town.  It started out as a hike but could be better described as a scramble the farther we went up canyon.  We ended up climbing over boulders and rocks, under tree limbs, past water "tanks," even up a rope ladder as we made our way to an incredible vista on the way to the canyon top.  We didn't quite make it all the way but was far enough to be pretty spectacular.  We had been here several years ago but that time we only explored the beginning trail and never realized what was beyond. Also, we remembered it as just a parking pulloff on a dirt road.  This time we were pleased to find that it has a gate, parking area and has been turned into a protected conservation area. Trash has been removed and a small entrance fee promises to keep it unspoiled.

And some photos around the coast at San Carlos

Winter in Tucson

We were not home to take pictures of the snow in Tucson. . .we were on our way to Mexico before the sun came up so didn't really see the beauty of snow in the Tucson desert.  (We did see it driving south at daylight near Nogales. ) I plagerized these pictures from a couple of friends Facebook posts to show.  I am however concerned that the hard freeze last night and deeper freeze predicted tonight will do in our lemons.  The tree is just recovering from 2 years ago when we had a similar freak freeze.

Happy New Year

Stephanie left us yesterday.  Always feel bad when she has to leave.  Quiet New Year's eve at our house.  We took our tree and Christmas decorations down, had left overs for dinner and then went to bed early--sound asleep when the new year came!

   But we were up early and on our way to cross into Mexico as soon as the sun was up!  Breakfast at IHop in Nogales.  Was cold and frosty when we crossed the boarder, it had snowed a bit and winter fog had left the trees and grass with a layer of icy frost that made it all look really pretty as the sun came out. Fog quickly lifted and sun melted any trace of winter.  We were in San Carlos by noon.

   

we are staying in a Holiday Inn in Guaymus, about 10 miles down the road from the beach resort town of San Carlos on the Sea of Cortez.

A bit too chilly this time of year to be swimming in the ocean, but tide pools are full of interesting creatures.  Tides are out every afternoon so looking forward to walking some beaches.  Birding for water birds and shore birds should be especiall good.  Guaymus is big fishing port so plan on eating a lot of seafood while we are here.

Evening view from hotel room towards the water with a big bank of evening clouds rolling in.