Hiking surprise

Enjoyed a spring hike into the Catalina with visiting friends from Iowa, Judy ' s granddaughter, Liz and friend Stephanie.

Fun to show the girls the blooming cactus and desert bloom AND this guy!

A Gilla Monster--for real!! Just hanging out along the trail.  He was maybe 18" long and bright orange and black with that beaded-look skin.  He is venomous but very laid back--not at all aggresive.  Fun find.

Mariposa Lily

Happy 71 years young, Will

More spring bloom

I know there was a late snow storm in midwest.  Nothing like that here.  We went out to Desert Museum to check out what is blooming there. Never get tired of gazing at nature's abundance in the desert.

Spring bloom

Palo Verdes are in full neon yellow bloom.

The Mexican Bird of Paradise usually is a deep summer bloomer, but this one has an early start

The Persimmon trees have beautiful red blossoms.

Oh and the Bougainvillea 

 are always a show stopper

Somebody help me out here, can't remember what it is called but new growth comes out red leaves and then white blossoms.

See all those fuzzy buds on my trichocirrius cactus?  Another month for these guys to open up.

Tucson Museum of Art Show

Spent this past weekend downtown Tucson at the TMA spring show in a booth with 9 other Southern Arizona Clay Artists.  We lucked out with great weather--almost too hot--but wonderful sunny skies, typical of Tucson in March.  Turned out to be a pleasant weekend hanging out with a bunch of my clay buddies.  Best part was that Larry and Jean drove down from Phoenix to see my show!  How cool was that!

Here are a few of my favorites that sold.

A visit to Highclere?!!?

Here I am visiting Highclere Castle. . . .well, not really. But fun to pretend.  I am posing before a huge picture at the NPR booth at Book Fair. 
Almost believable, eh?  Downton Abbey mania.

Book Fair

Two days of the Tucson Festival of Books on the mall of the U of Arizona. This is 8th year Tucson has done this and it gets better every year. Wouldn't miss it. Book talks, panel discussions, food, vendors, demonstrations, workshops, entertainment and everything literary. Supposedly 400 authors in town. Met Douglas Brinkly, history prof from Rice University and CNN historical reporter and author. Serinipititously sat down next to me and we chatted about his latest book about Teddy Roosevelt and new one about FDR and his conservation efforts.  Felt so smart!
   And then met my new favorite mystery writter, (William) Kent Krueger. I've read about 6 of his Cork O'Connor series, set in the Northwoods of Minnesota.

Larry and Spring Training

Drove up to Phoenix, Chandler, really--to see brother Larry and Jean.  We all went to a variety show in the evening and then stayed over so we could go to a Spring Training ball game.

Great day for a ball game!! Watched the Diamond Backs beat the Padres in beautiful Talking Stick stadium.

Empty Bowls

The Empty Bowls event for ICS was this past weekend.  St Andrews Service Worship project made about 35 bowls for it. I personally made about a dozen for it. Potters all over Tucson made over 1500 bowls to be given to each participant who paid $20 for a ticket to benifit the community food bank as a reminder of the hungry in our community. There was entertainment, food samples donated from local restaurants,  silent auction and more.

The St Andrews ladies found the bowls they made and purchased them back.  Last time they saw them they were still drying and needed to be glazed and fired. They turned out great.

Hike on the Sutherland Trail

John and Deann Heimstra are in town visiting parents, Pete and Alice. We got to steal some of thier precious time to go out to Catalina State Park for a wonderful hike. Spring flowers were abundant, clear blue skies, great stroll in the high desert with great friends.  Pete came too.

Turn around point and rest stop beside a small snow melt stream from Mt Lemon.

We finished by noon and met up with Alice and kiddos Katie and Sam for lunch.

Grandchild alert!!

Lia decked out in her ballet recital outfit!