Lia was a pretty cute bat. Hanging out with a this swashbuckling pirate !! Doug was able to help in Lia's classroom for her class Halloween party. Also trick or treating and a party in his complex.
Back in New Jersey, Aeri was, of course, My Little Pony.
We hiked one of our favorite spots to find some fall colors. The Sycamore trees in Madera Canyon are turning and offer quite a show. We do get color change in the fall here but you have to seek it out!
A Yellow Eyed Junco is enjoying the day too.
Now this picture, I DID take. Its Arizona's largest hummingbird, the Blue Throated. First time I have actually seen one. He was at a feeder at the gift shop in the canyon--a popular stop for birders. When the sun hits this guy just right, his throat glows an electric blue!! Aptly named. I didn't catch that in my camera but I did get a photo.
Our church did a "Trunk or Treat" in the parking lot this afternoon. We had maybe 25 to 30 cars decorated for Halloween and a lot of costumed kids enjoy the festivities.
We made our car into a great big cat with big scary teeth. A little poster board, pipe insulation and battery run stick on lights for eyes turned the trunk into our friendly kitty.
I sat inside the teeth and handed out the candy. It really was fun. There were a couple of really little kids who would not come up close to those teeth to get thier candy. A voice coming out from behind them waving candy at them was just too wierd!!!
Just nice to be out in the desert again. Bird show has begun for the season and that is always fun. And so much in bloom or lush from all the rain we have had.
Things blooming out of season, can't remember what this is called but its blooming now, usually an early spring flower.
Judy is leaving Arizona and moving her winter home to Florida to be closer to family. She came down from her permanent home in Wisconsin to pack up her stuff, get her park model ready to go on the market and drive her car home. We had to go to see one last sunset from Gates Pass before she headed out.
Her grandson, Luke, flew down to help her make the drive back to Wisconsin. We got to have them stay overnight at our house for her last night in Tucson.
Back yard is all cleaned up after the downed tree. Two guys came in and cut it up and hauled away in no time. Came back a couple of days later and ground out the tree stump. Then got complicated as the grinding machine cut our irrigation line. Took a while to figure out extent of damage and repair but all good now. 
In the process of figuring out which plants needed new irrigation lines, I came across this baby Sonoran King Snake. He crawled up into the shrub to get away from me. He's a good guy, they eat rodents--plus they will take on rattle snakes. Just surprised to see one so young this late in the season.
Also discovered the main culprit of our very messy patio--this Western Screach Owl was roosting in the rafters. She stayed all da, occasionally an eye would come open and she would cock her head to get a better look at me. But mostly she just slept and rested. Once patio was all cleaned up, she did not return
Arrived home a little "bedraggled" but just fine. All good except we found a mesquite tree down in back yard! 
We have a guy coming to cut it up and haul it away this next week. Guess we just had so much rain and the ground was saturated and a good wind toppled it over. Fell just right. Those pots are on our patio so it fell just short of our roof. Plus it fell into yard and did not take out the garden wall. Could have been worse. 
An Arizona sunset and rainbow as rain moving out.
Waiting to board our Japan Air flight to Tokyo and then onto US and home to Tucson. Flying is not so fun--we are looking at 19 hours of flight time, plus layover in Tokyo and Los Angeles--but have to say traveling through Asian airports for the most part are (almost) pleasant experiences. So much less hassle. Our tickets are always connected to our passports so we only need to scan our passport to get boarding passes. And here at Changi Singapore airport anyway, security is at the gate which avoids long chaotic lines to clear security.
I have been working and playing with clay a couple days a week while in Singapore, at Goodman Pottery Studio. It's been fun but have to admit I ended up a bit frustrated. Studio was great working space, met lots of nice people but couldn't get my pieces fired in timely manner. Always excuses why firing schedule so far behind--personnel changes, redo of studio ( it was closed for two weeks for refurbish,) kiln maintenance--always something. Trouble is I just ran out of time. I am going home in the morning!!
On the commuter train passing thru Central rail station on our way to airport to catch a flight back to Singapore. And wouldn't you know it, the day we leave we have a "cloud failure " and sun decides to come out.
Breakfast at Darling Harbor before we head out. Sun reflects a tranquil mood on the water.
Sydney is right on the water and has a great ferry system to get passengers from one bay or harbor or island to another. We discovered that they are a fun and practical way to get around and get a cheap harbor tour at the same time. Central business district of Sydney lit up 
I spied a Kookaburra bird in a park. Distinctly Australian bird that makes a raucous laughing sound that is unmistakable.
Called The Gap, its an overlook at Watson Bay that looks out at the Tasman Sea.
The city buses got us to Bondi Beach. It was cold and raining but still wanted to see this famous beach. On a normal, sunny day its clean, white sands are crowded but today only a few surfers out braving the elements.
Darling Harbor has a maritime museum and a replica of "Endeavor," Captain Cook's first ship. He was British explorer, navigator, cartographer of 3 famous Pacific Ocean voyages in 1700's.
From Watson Bay
Darling Harbor
Creasted Pidgons. . .that is actual name, 
Yesterday the weather was glorious --today, not so good. The rain is back--again. We went down to Circle Quay and the water front to find a pancake restaurant for breakfast. From there we walked to the Botonical Garden and got a look at a carnivorous plants exhibit before the light mist turned into rain.
The sails look big from outside and they are, but seeing the expanse from inside is doubly impressive. 
There are various event venues but this is main symphony space. That pipe organ took a local artist 10 years to complete, its massive. The structure is 45 years old now and is Sydney's signature. Was designed by a Danish designer and accepted and then took several years to work out the engineering to actually build it.
We are staying in the Downtown area of Sydney. Our acomodations are ok, just ok, but the location is great. Close to public transportation, walking distance to lots of stuff and an eclectic neighborhood. Government buildings, office buildings, old churches, edge of Chinatown, plus lots of Japanese and Korean stores and restaurants plus a variety of Aussie shops and bars. We have watched long lines of people waiting to get a table at this "Home" Thailand restaurant all week. We were intrigued so we went early so likely the line wouldn't be so long. Thier Pad Thai was really good.
We ate early because we had tickets to "Jersey Boys" at Capital Theater, lovely old revivalist theater also within walking distance. Great production, we remember all those songs and they did a rousing job. Actually, we saw this musical on Broadway in New York several years ago. Except that I got food poisoning that evening and spent most of the show in the ladies room throwing up so was glad to see it again for the first time!! 
