Hot Pink!

Papa and I were greeted by this blooming cactus, when we drove up our Tucson driveway today. 

Spring Sunday Morning Hike

Papa and I hiked about four miles this morning, into the Buck Knob pasture.

 

Winchester Mountains

This was my view as I set off on a hike this morning, from the Rock House.  The  WinchesterMountains are always beautiful, when the morning sun comes up behind them, at sunset when the last rays of sunshine light them up, and all day, with different rocks catching the light. 

Horny Toad

This little horny toad was on the patio when I returned from my hike this morning.  He is fierce!

Cows in the Wildflowers

The first year heifers have been staying close to our house.  I saw them as I went on a hike this afternoon.  There are wildflowers everywhere and the cows are eating them. 

Trip Across the Ranch

Just before we left the house, on our trip across the ranch, some of our first year heifer crop were pacing back and forth in front of the house.  We saw a herd of 18 mule deer on the ridge above the house, hawks soaring above us, a white tail deer high on a ridge above N-O Canyon, and numerous blooming wildflowers.  The herd of 18 mule deer greeted us on our way back home.  We enjoyed every moment of our 3.5 hour trip across the ranch.

Blooming Poppies

We're back on the ranch after a trip to Florida, a cruise to Guatamala, Belize, Mexico, and the Caymans, and a weekend in Phoenix at Adriana and Preston's wedding.  We've had a wetter than normal winter on the ranch, with a bonus of blooming poppies in March.  Papa and I rode the ranger on a round trip of the ranch this morning, just to see poppies.  They were beautiful! 

Yucca and Prickly Pear Blooms

Busy Weekend

Papa and I were invited to Adriana and Preston's wedding in Phoenix this weekend.  We drove up on Friday afternoon and stayed at the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch.  As soon as we arrived, we realized we had stayed there several years ago.  We dressed in "cowboy chic" and went to the rehearsal dinner at El Charro, where we ate dinner under the stars. 

We met Mary for brunch on Saturday morning at Postino's, then returned to the hotel to exercise and get ready for Adriana and Preston's wedding.  The wedding was at 5 in the garden of the Four Seasons.  Adriana was a beautiful bride, and Linda was a beautiful mother of the bride. 

Cocktails followed in the courtyard, and the reception began around 7.  We enjoyed the people at our table, the food, the wedding cake...  I particularly enjoyed seeing much of Linda's family, who had come from Australia and Seattle.  I met many of them in October at Lisa and Brian's wedding 

in New York, and had fun reconnecting. 

Lunch Guests

We organized a field trip to a local bank today with lunch following at our home in Tucson, for the kids we work with at the Boys and Girls Clubs.  They are a curious bunch, full of questions, and ready for new experiences.  We had a good day!  The kids had a good day too!

 

Arizona Sunset

We are back in Arizona and loving the low humidity and the sunsets.  In the two weeks we were away, we never saw a sunset that compares to the almost daily, colorful sunsets of Arizona.  

This was our welcome home to Tucson.

Return to Miami

Our cruise ship returned to the Port of Miami by 7 this morning.  After an early breakfast, we disembarked by 9:30, after spending 11 very nice days on Oceania.  Long time friends, JW and Carrie, along with son, Wade, met us near the port and we went to Miami Beach.  We walked about and had lunch, spending a few hours together before they dropped us at the airport.  

It was a treat for us to see them!  Such a good day!

Seven Mile Beach

We arrived in Georgetown, Cayman Islands this morning.  Papa and I explored the little town of Georgetown and then walked north and onto Seven Mile Beach, a seven mile curve of white sand.  Kids were building sand castles, pelicans were flying about.  The water was beautiful.  

We walked in the water's edge about three miles.  Loved it!

Quirigua, Guatamala

We docked at Santa Tomas de Castilla, a busy port.  There were trucks full of dirt going back and forth through the port the whole day.  We later found out the "dirt" contains nickel, zinc, gold, and silver ore, that was being loaded onto ships bound for Russia, where it will be concentrated.  

It seems Guatamalans are mining the ore but don't have a way to refine it.

We booked a private tour to Quirigua, so a driver met us at the port and drove one hour into the country, passing through beautiful rolling countryside, full of cattle ranches, banana and rubber plantations, and small farms.  There were big mountains in the distance, with the tallest mountain in Guatamala over 13,000'.  We arrived at Quirigua, a Mayan site founded around 700 AD.  It is known for its many stellae, beautifully carved and telling stories of the Mayan kings of those days.  We explored the plaza, saw all the stellae, and hiked around the acropolis.  It was a good day!