This week in Tucson

A weekend hike at Sabino Canyon. Unusual weather has brought a little of everything. Lots of snow in the mountains has melted down all the washes to create lakes and streams that weren't there a week ago.

Tucson has had frost warnings every night for the last 8 nights. I'm out there covering tender plants in my back yard every evening just in case. Lowest temp was 29.

Even had snow at my house! Well, that's about all we got. It only lasted about 10 minutes. Was pretty while it lasted.

Loving those Gamble Quail. They come in to grab lunch at least once a day. Today there were at least 30 scrambling around. 

Day out and tour

We took another "day out of town," and went to Tumaccacori which is a partially restored Spanish mission and National Historic Park near Nogales. We signed up for a 3 hour tour to other historic sites in the area months ago. We climbed in a big van with a guide and found several sites of interest dating back to the early Mission period. 

Back when Guevavi was first mentioned in Father Kino's diary of 1691 there was  a good source of water nearby which made it possible for a mission to flourish. It's a dry riverbed today we call the Santa Cruz. The ruins have been stabilized by the Park Service but is still incredible that anything is left. The landscape has changed over the years as land uses have changed but the native Sacaton grass has survived too.

Our extremely knowledgeable guide pointed out things and told stories to entertain and explain..

We knew The ruins of Guevavi were there but the next place we went was new to us. Calabasas is surrounded by urban civilization but didn't know anything about it. Just need to know what dirt road to go down to find it--plus you have to walk last bit so not easy to find.  Was lots of things over the years from Mission Church to Mexican army base, to American army base, customs house, ranch headquarters.

Just this side of the border along the hiway tucked behind a string of Cold Storage facilities, busy with semi trucks coming and going is the old Calabazes cemetery. Still some very old graves dating back to Colonial times. It looks it's age but still obviously maintained by someone. Not many markers left that one can read but graves clearly marked by rock piles. Really interesting find.

After the guided tour returned us to the parking lot we made a grand circle to get back and drove through Patagonia and Sonoita. Had to stop at Patton's in Patagonia--an Audubon maintained garden and grounds that's a haven for birders. Happened to catch a Violet Crowned Hummingbird at a feeder.  A Mexican species that regularly shows up here. Very rare bird in Southern Arizona.

Gallery Show

Had two pieces excepted in an exhibition sponsored by a local Artist Guild. Theme of show was exploring the creative experience.

Felt good. Artist reception was fun and so interesting to see the variety of creative expression. The Stevens Gallery is located on the campus of Salpoint Catholic High School which is considered quite prestigious in itself. It offers an amazing art program for it's students. . .gives teenagers a wonderful base for life long experiences.

Oro Valley Gaslight Music Hall

The"Sons of the Pioneers" were in town for 5 performances at the Gaslight Music Hall. Got tickets as soon as we knew they were coming.  This is a classic group that I fear today's generations know or care much about. Roy Rogers?, Pat Garrit?, Bob Nolan? Ring any bells?  The 3 man trio began 80 years ago (soon became 5 members) and have gone thru something like 47 members to continue the Cowboy "sound" they still preserve to today. Started by Leonard Sly back in 1933 in Hollywood (Soon changed his name to Roy Rogers--and actually with the group only about 4 years) and went on the sing thier way into western movie, and Cowboy music fame. Today's iteration is based in Branson. They put on a good show and love hearing the stories and histories of the group over the years. Who wasn't a cowboy fan growing up when Westerns we're king!

Larry and Jean

Drove up to Chandler, Az today to see my brother and celebrate his Birthday. Larry and Jean are escaping nasty Iowa winter in sunny Arizona for another couple of months. Went out for lunch, indulged in yummy birthday cake, and caught up on family and hometown news. Glad they are close for at least a little while!

Stephanie is in Hong Kong

Stephanie is on an Academic trip to Asia. First stop Tokyo. Here she is in Nagoya. Attended a symposium here. Enjoyed to be back in the city where she lived for three years as part of the "JET" program teaching English to mid level kids back in the 1990's. Says her Japanese flowed back surprisingly easily! 

Next stop is Hong Kong. Her view from her hotel window. Pretty cool, huh.

This is the reason she is in Hong Kong. She was invited to present at University of Hong Kong.

Gardening does work in Arizona-- if you know what you are doing

My neighbor, Jennifer has turned her yard into a lovely green garden. She has gone into vegetable gardening big time. I got fresh lettuce, kale, cilantro and parsley from her today. The lettuce was wonderful!  I am so impressed!

She even has a chicken coop. The chickens aren't old enough to produce eggs but won't be long. With the price of eggs, maybe I will have a source!

Enjoying Arizona

Enjoying Arizona.

Walk in the desert close to home.

Oranges abundant on neighbors tree.  

1950 census

Will was perusing the internet one afternoon and found an article about the 1950 census.  It was the last census that census takers actually visited each household in their area of responsibility.  Apparently the info those census takers gathered could not be publicly released for 72 years. 2022 was the release date and is posted on the web. It took some diligence on his part but he was able to find his family.  He couldn't find my family--I am sure we lived in Ida County at the time but he couldn't find the Jon's family. Will have to spend a few idle hours sifting through and find us! Interesting little trivia. If interested the website is "1950census.archives.gov"