Winter in Bloomington

We did get a dusting of snow but Nothing like what happened north of us. Big distructive storm moved north and east and missed us!! We are counting ourselves lucky-- but it is COLD here. Freezing or below the whole time we were here! Our Arizona sensitivities doesn't like this!!

Just family pictures

Doug and Tammy and girls headed out early this morning on the trek back to New Jersey. A winter snow is chasing them home so sent them off with prayers!

Our hosts are amazing and we will stick around for a couple more days!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving dinner is served! Stephanie out did herself--it was fabulous.

The whole DeBoer gang together including friends Jean and Chad.

Lia made the pumpkin pie!

A hot game of Monopoly.

More games--or not!

Everyone helping prepare. Lovely day, lovely time together.

Prep Day - Doug, Tammy, Lia and Aeri arrive

Today was Prep Day and Steph was in the kitchen all day getting ready for tomorrow!  She denoned a turkey breast, butterflyed it, smothered with herbs and spices and rolled it into a turkey roll for tomorrow 's Thanksgiving dinner.  Then she did the same thing with a piece of pork! We are going to eat well tomorrow!!

Doug and family arrived late afternoon and Steph made her famous skillet pizza for dinner! We didn't leave many leftovers!! 

 Everybody here now for the holiday!

Made it to Bloomington

Arrived at Steph and Reynard 's in Bloomington! So fun to be here. Stephanie is cooking up a storm and feeding us well!  She is cooking for Thanksgiving so we all got in on grocery shopping and preparation!

Doug and family arrive on Wednesday.

Praying for safe travels for everyone because it's turned wintery cold in Indiana!

Tulsa to St Louis

Cloudy and foggy day driving today. Not so much that driving was difficult, in fact was toll way/freeway all the way so easy drive. 

Crossed the Mississippi River at St Louis and went just a little farther to The Collinsville before we stopped at a Drury Inn for the night

First we had to find Collinsville 's claim to fame. The largest catsup bottle in the world!!

There it is big as day. No idea why or story behind it but it's Collinsville's pride roadside attraction!

Onto Amarillo

Next stop Amarillo, TX. Rain has moved on and today was absolutely clear and sunny--infact driving into the morning sun was down right hazardous!

Just on the edge of Amarillo is an odd hi way attraction called Cadallac Ranch. One of those things you fly by on freeway and but can't tell what it is unless you take the exit and stop to check it out.  Apparently it has been there since 1974--it is old Cadallac cars buried hood down in the ground all in a row.  They are old and actually deteriorating with age. But it seems  they are being held together with spray paint!! 

In fact there is a kiosk right near that sells cans of spray paint and you are encouraged to paint away!! And they do--layer upon layer of colored spray paint!

On the Road Again

These puffy NM clouds look like a Georgia O'Keefe painting! Well it is New Mexico!

Road Trip!! Destination -Bloomington, Indiana. Steph and Reynard 's for Thanksgiving. Doug and family driving to meet up there for a DeBoer Thanksgiving. We are taking our time, left Tucson in the rain and skirted rain showers across Arizona until New Mexico.  Las Cruses tonight.

Grandaughter Aeri in Emmy nominated show!

Here is a screen shot of an Instagram post. Our very own New York actress, Aeri, does voice-overs on occasion and an episode she did is up for an Emmy award. Now it's "Children and Family Emmys" but still a nice recognition!! You can find it streaming on Apple tv- episode 8 of the series "Wonder Pets in the City." She is "Stickbug!"

Manheim Steamroller in Tucson

We treated ourselves to a night out at Centennial Hall and enjoyed a concert my Manheim Steamroller! It was a great show--mostly their famous Christmas songs but others too, in that great Manheim Steamroller sound! Music and light show, very entertaining production! Got home and dug my CD's out and played them some more. 

SACA show at Tohono Chul

Southern Arizona Clay Artists' semi annual show/sale at Tohono Chul Gardens here in Tucson. Me in the company of 28 local potters showing and selling our best. It's a beautiful show--however crowds are way down this year. Not sure why?!? Too bad because it a beautiful show and perfect Tucson weather for it.

Part of my exhibit.

Some of my personal favorites 

and hummingbird feeders--(which usually sell out, not today)

Veterans Day Tucson

A story. . .Today was Veterans Day.

 Lots of local restaurants offer free meals or free sandwiches or some gift to veterans who come in on Veterans Day. A couple really good ones offer coupons so you can take advantage on other days. Nice practice honoring our veterans in a tangible way!

  Well, Will went to Chick Filit for his free chicken sandwich for lunch. Chose his free sandwich and then ordered fries and coke to go with it, of course expecting to pay for that. As he is getting his money out to pay, a thoughtful lady laid a $10 down and said, "I'll get that!".  He went to argue and she said, "Thank you for your service!" and was gone. 

 A beautiful thing

Mr and Mrs Josh McDonough

The Bride and Groom when Will presented them with the stained glass piece. They liked it!!

Great opportunity for pictures of Will and I. The wedding venue was a beautiful spot, and it was a perfect Tucson November night for an outdoor wedding. 

Just a glimpse of how beautiful everything was!

My pomegranate tree (it's a miniature tree) is blooming and new fruit is forming. They are stunning in bloom.