Thursday, December 27, 2007

December 26, 2007


Today we had the pleasure of meeting Kathy's lovely parents, Mary and Lou from New Mexico. They were on their way home from visiting 5 of their 7 children over the Christmas Season. Three in California, one in Phoenix and then Kathy here. They were looking forward to getting back home after a month on the road. After meeting them, there is little wonder why Kathy is such a delight. A great couple and it was our very great pleasure to meet them. We are over at Kathy's daughter, Alise and her hubby Nathan's gorgeous home for a lovely spagetti supper and in this photo, we catch Alise opening a belated baby shower gift from her Grammy.



Alise's baby shower.(Nov. 24) Nathan & Alise's baby girl, Rylie, is expected February 6.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!


Our first Christmas in Arizona was, without doubt, a memorable occasion. Our American family welcomed us, once again, with open arms. Lovely decorations, and an abundance of food and good fellowship. Mystery Santa was enjoyed by all, and again we ended the Holiday with copious amounts of Rolaids. Many thanks again to Darcy and Kathy and their wonderful friends and family. Exchanging Christmas Greetings with Family back in Canada made this Holiday perfect!

Of course, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a lovely Nativity.
















The Altar at church gaily decorated for Jesus' Birthday...oh yes, and mine too.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

4th Sunday in Advent


Wanted to share a photo of the beautiful Church we are Blessed to attend while we are here at our second home in Tucson.

St Francis de Sales Parish

We had Carolers come by last night on a lit up wagon with residents singing their hearts out. (Of course, the photo I took didn't come out properly. Just a bunch of blurred lights.) Grrrr

Two days until Christmas!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Our Christmas Gift to Each Other


OUR NEUVA CASITA! (new little house)

We purchased this Park Model in early December, and are thrilled with it. The big Blue MoHo is in storage, lonesome, and waiting for us to return home in April. Now we have our own Casita to come back to each winter. It was such a good deal that we couldn't pass it up. And we love it!





View of the Santa Catalina Mountains from our deck













Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The scenery was wonderful on the way to the museum.
So the presents are wrapped the decorations are up...all ready for Christmas, soooo, why not spend some time site-seeing. There are so many things to see in Tucson...it's time to get started. The temps are going to 70F today; a perfect day to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.



The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more. Within the Museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants. There are almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert.







Cactus Garden













Mountain Lions











And walk we did. It was very enjoyable seeing all the cacti and other plant life, along with animals in a natural desert setting. Our feet were kinda sore when we got home, but it was worth it.




Gray Wolf





Ocelot...this fella was beautiful.

Javelina...a wild Boar that lives in the desert

Friday, December 7, 2007

Happy Anniversary!

Fountain in the Courtyard

Had Darcy and Kathy over for a BBQ on Wednesday night and celebrated their 9th Wedding Anniversary. Time sure flies!

Monday, December 3, 2007

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...



Even though the temperatures are in the 70's, the Resort is springing up with Christmas decor all over the place. Actually, the decorations started going up before Thanksgiving (Nov. 22) but it's getting hot and heavy now. Gosh, I haven't even unwrapped my trinkets yet...sigh Here are some shots of our neighbors' homes.

We've been busy acquainting ourselves with Tucson and all it has to offer.


About Tucson
Tuscan is Arizona's Second Largest city; a growing metropolis of 1,000,000 that keeps getting better and better. The city's geography is a postcard image of cactus forests, rolling hills and awe-inspiring mountains. Five mountain ranges surround Tucson. The Santa Catalina Mtns to the North and Northeast, Rincon Mtns to the east, Santa Rita Mtns to the South and South West, and then the Tortolita Mtns closing the ring on the northwest.
Tucson lies in the borderland, a region that blends the cultures of the United States and Mexico, and has a long
history of settlement by ancient Native American peoples, Spanish explorers and Anglo frontiersmen.The weather is mild nearly all the time, just right for all kinds of fun activities.

Here is shot of Ray and his son, Darcy who is a Corrections Officer here in Tucson.