Rodeo finals

Always fun. Wouldn't miss it. Judy joined us this year.

It's Rodeo Week in Tucson.

Most schools have time off during Presidents week or Spring Break but here in Tucson it's during Rodeo week. Today was official Rodeo parade. So called the largest non-motorized parade in the country. That means all entries are either walking, on horseback or pulled by horseback.  Most of them are on antique or look-like antique wagons. Great old fashioned parade. We had great seats in the grandstand.

You HAVE noticed that clear blue Arizona sky, right?  Anyway we treated ourselves to a Sonoran hotdog on our way home from the parade. Dog smothered with beans, cheese, grilled onions, fresh onions jalapeño and salsa,  cheese in a special super soft bun. Quite the deal.

Hiking Madera

Unusually warm Feb. We should be out hiking more. Lots of water running in Madera Canyon from snow melt in Santa Rita Mts. Little early for most birds but the hike was great and saw evidence of an early desert bloom again this year.

Clay Show at Tohono Chul

Having a great time at Tohono Chul ' s annual pottery show/sale this weekend. Lots of people coming through, 31 clay artists participating,  gorgeous day.
  Good time!!

Home again

We picked a week of record cold weather in the East so for that reason we were glad to land in Phoenix and put aside our big winter coats.
  We stayed the night with Larry and Jean in thier winter home in Chandler. Went to breakfast with my cousins, Don and Betty who also spend a couple of months in Arizona.

Home in Tucson at noon where it was a wonderful 80 degrees 

Stephanie in townx

Stephanie was able to come for the weekend. Lia and Aeri love it when Auntie comes. Went along with Lia to her ballet class, while Aeri went to a toddler music class. She definatly got into it.

Then back home to watch the original Wizard of Oz on IPad. Stephanie and I also enjoyed it. Such a timeless movie.

Sadly it was time for us all to go to airport.  Our family week had come to an end.

Korean BarBQ

We often get a chance to go out for Korean BBQ when we go to Palisades Park, NJ. Tammy's parents took us to a new restaurant in town that turned out to be really good. Who doesn't like great Korean food.

Back to a very cold NJ

Spending time with the Park family in Palisades Park. Stephanie joined us for the weekend. She is renewing her relationship with Aeri. This little girl use to have a bad case of separation anxiety--as recently as two months ago--but this time she is perfectly ok with Auntie!! And with us, too. She is such a happy little girl. We like this new phase.

Poconos Water Park

It's freezing cold in New Jersey, so we packed up the kids and our swim suits and our toothbrushes and headed for an indoor water park in the Poconos. About 80 miles away just across the Pennsylvania border. What a great family resort. 

Leaving town

B

What could possibly bring us to getting on a plane and leaving warm Arizona sunshine and trade it for dark, grey skies of New Jersey in February!! It is Chinese New Year, Doug has returned to US for the duration of the holiday and that is where grandchildren are!!  We are both adament about getting isle seats when we fly but because flight was full we got stuck with inside seat and thankfully one window.  Forgot how facinating it is to watch the world change beneath us on a clear day from a window seat. 

Still winter down there, though.  All the way.

To New Jersey for some grandchildren time.

L

How's that for sunshine!!

Gem and Mineral Show

The annual Gem Show is going on this week and next in Tucson.  Will and I spent the day taking in two large locations.  Always a good time, lots to see, learn and drool over. The range of stuff that falls under catagory of gem and minerals is pretty amazing.

Lots of Turquoise, that's to be expected

How about some snake vertebrae, or beads from Africa from hard seed pods.

One of the most beautiful displays was a vender from Japan. This is porcelain,  carved, glazed and fired. The detail was really fine.  I liked it a lot.