Adventure 895: Tucson Winter Two/3

Woke up feeling like royalty. Ginny and David had hot coffee, an egg white and veggie scramble, fresh turkey red wheat toast, and bright smiles waiting for us this morning. After breakfast, we got to move into our winter space early. We felt right at home after we unpacked. It's as pleasant as we remember. Judy went with Ginny and David to arrange for working again this winter with a personal trainer. I made contact with Sifu Misner. The sun peeked through the clear blue sky, and though it was cold by Tuscon standards, my spirits soared. I walked around the neighborhood, sat in the hot tub, and basically lounged the day away until we went over to the Kral's for pizza and the national championship football game. Unfortunately, Michigan proved to be the better team this time. So while Husky nation is sad tonight, Judy and I are firmly held in the arms of a spirit who realizes that life is good, especially today.

Our buddies, David and Ginny Kral.

Morning light in front of the Kral's home.

One of my favorite saguaros. I visited it on my walk today.

Last year, this bougainvillea froze. So far, so beautiful this year.

Judy sliding pizza into the Kral's new Ooni pizza oven. Tonight was the maiden voyage. Wildly successful.

After some pretty good pizza, Judy had one eye on the game and both hands on her needles.

Ginny, too, had one eye on the game, and two hands on her needles.

 

Adventure 894: Tucson Winter Two/2

We left Las Vegas pushed by twenty-thirty mile an hour winds. The drive was uneventful except for two events. The first was a plastic tub caught, swirled, and thrown by the wind in front of my path from the back of a pick up. I quick checked my right mirror, then made a quick twist and back with the steering wheel. Fortunately, I maintained control, missed the tub, held my water, and didn't cry "Momma, I'm coming home." I didn't think it would be good to smash head on into a tumbling plastic tub while traveling at seventy-five miles per hour. So that was good. The drive from there was uneventful, although long. It's one fifteen hundred miles from Spokane to Tucson, which translates to 24 hours of driving. For us it takes three days and two overnights. The hardest part this year, ironically, occurred after we left Phoenix. It started raining at Casa Grande, which is about forty miles West of Tucson. Funny that we left the Northwest for nice weather, and the bad weather finds us here. This affliction will be momentary, however, and by the reports we fled the Northwest just ahead of some significant winter weather. Not to worry. Our good friends, the Krals, welcomed us with open arms, a hot meal, and the promise of more propinquity this winter. So, life is good, especially today.

We're always excited to see our first Saguaro cactus.

The desert rock formations have appeal as well.

I have faith that this cold, damp landscape will brighten soon.

Welcome to Tucson, winter paradise for snow birds.

Adventure 893: Tucson Winter Two/1

Loaded and ready to roll, we arrived at the Drouin's at 6:30 sharp for a delicious breakfast of a scramble consisting of bacon, onions, and peppers along with fried new potatoes flavored with rosemary. On the side we had fresh hot coffee and freshly baked Pillsbury biscuits. We were on the road by 7:30. Heavy fog, damp roads, and temperatures just above freezing followed us until well past Ritzville. From there the skies were grey, but the roads were bare and dry. They stayed that way all the way over Dead Man's pass through Oregon and into Idaho. We made it to our friend's, the Losser's, home in Twin Falls by 5 P.M. We welcomed the traveling mercies. Tom and Patty fixed us a delicious taco salad dinner, which we scarfed as we enjoyed a cold beer. Our over night stay was too short, but it was great to see the Lossers again. In the morning, Patty fed us again with a portobello mushroom omelette, fresh squeezed OJ, and English muffins on the side. We hit the road again by 7:45 and by two (helped by the time change) we rolled into the Hampton Inn in North Las Vegas. The roads were bare and dry the whole way, and even though the temperature outside hovered around the mid twenties, we were warm and comfy in Herbie Joe, our Lexus. As tradition dictates, we scampered over to the local In and Out for a burger and fries. We've stayed in this hotel several times over the years, and it seems we sniff out the burger joint every time. Right now our feet are up, Judy is knitting socks, we're watching football, and otherwise happy as fat cats. I'm tempted to head down to the strip to lose our money at the black jack tables, but fortunately, gambling isn't one of my addictions. Instead, I'll just relax with my Bunny while realizing that life is good, especially today.

Edwardo, fresh from a morning shave, is ready to send us off.

The two buddies just before send off.

Deb sets a fine table and the "thin gruel" was delicious.

First road picture after the fog lifted.

Somewhere in Idaho.

Just outside of Ely, Nevada.

Herbie Joe safe in the Losser's driveway.

Somewhere in Nevada.

Patty and Judy waxing eloquent.

Just leaving Filer, idaho.

Gas price in the wilds of Nevada.

In-N-Out is what it's all about.

Adventure 892: A View from the Perch/24

We finished off the first year of holidays at the Perch with a wildly successful Christmas. All family members were present except for grandson Sawyer who called and sent his warm wishes over the airwaves. Our family tradition is to enjoy a prime rib at Christmas. By all accounts, this year's version was the best ever. Much joy and revelry marked the day. In addition, we're enjoying the extended stay of Libby and Angela. Enjoying family is a blessing we hold dear, and so this year made us smile.

Hard to get any better.

Daughter-in-Law, Bonnie yukking it up.

Falcon wondering what's so yukking funny, aunt Libby.

Dad and son figuring it out.

Emily and Libby hamming it up for the camera.

Son Steve reliving his sewing days.

Daughter Leticia sporting her new DIY tool.

Snacks.

Christmas salad: butter lettuce, grapefruit slices, pomegranate seeds, topped with creme freche.

Libby enjoying her exotic knitted kitchen rags, a gift from Bonnie.

Mimi rocking the Christmas carols.

Frozen peppermint roll for dessert.

Angela making the call to Sawyer for a chat.

Sarah and Falc yukking it up.

A photo of the girls taken from their good side.

Adventure 891: A View from the Perch/23

Life continues apace at the Perch. We had a birthday party for Falcon yesterday: four years old. Eleven adults and seven kids participated. At first, the kids played with the exercise equipment, then we played twister, musical chairs, Simon says, pin the tail on the donkey, and the kids smashed a dinosaur piñata to pieces. Candy spilled everywhere, and the kid scramble ensued. Then we ate pizza and cupcakes, after which we returned to the game room to open presents and witness another round of kid rambunctiousness. The whole event was wildly successful.

Falc's turn at the donkey.

Falc rocking the balance board.

Musical chairs.

Falc's favorite present: a moving T-Rex; five bucks off Facebook marketplace.

Pop Pops, keeping Falc out of harm's way during the piñata smashing.

Falc's second cousin.

The dinosaur piñata.

Izzy, Taryn, and Rick.

Twister was a little over Falc's conceptual understanding.

A meeting of future boarders.

Mimi surveying the action.

Momma and her birthday boy.

Merry Christmas!