Blue Bell

Years ago, while living in Dallas, we began eating Blue Bell ice cream, made in Brenham, Texas.  Blue Bell was a staple in our freezer.  Blue Bell was served in our home not just on special occasions, but rather often as dessert.  When we moved to Sarasota in 1992, we were very disappointed that Blue Bell wasn't sold in Florida.  Within 5-6 years, Blue Bell arrived in Florida and we were back to having a constant supply of Blue Bell.  Now in Arizona, we keep several half gallons of Blue Bell (up to 7) in the freezer of our Tucson home.  Our favorite flavors are Southern Hospitality, Pralines and Cream, Homemade Vanilla, Strawberry, and Summer Berries. 

Art Class

Papa and I signed up for an art class in May.  We attended our first class last week and learned art terms and techniques that we had never heard of.  Our teacher, Karina, has a degree in art and is an excellent teacher.  We did our first homework assignment last night.  Both of us have significant room for improvement but it's great fun learning something completely new.

National Parks

Papa and I spent a week in June in Montana, Wyoming, and an afternoon driving through eastern Idaho.  We visited Glacier, Yellowstone, and Teton National Parks.  We stayed in historic hotels every night but one.  We saw moose, bears, bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, and trumpeter swans.  The variety and abundance of wildlife was a daily treat.  We hiked at least 2-3 miles every day, to places like Avalanche Lake in Glacier NP, through Norris Basin in Yellowstone, and on the boardwalk at Old Faithful where Giant Geyser was higher and more impressive than Old Faithful!  We toured the state capitol building in Helena, walked the almost deserted streets of Butte, and visited the ghost town of Virginia City.

We saw more cattle grazing in Montana than we've ever seen before!  Yellowstone NP was memorable for having 60% of the worlds thermal water features.  It was fun to imagine the first settlers coming upon steam spewing out of the ground and believing they were on "holy ground."   The Tetons were breathtakingly beautiful!  The drive along Jackson Lake south to Jackson was particularly  memorable and a place we will return.  An unforgettable trip!

Springtime on Winchester Ranch

Over the past three months, we have had close to 9" of rain, as much as we had in all of 2009.  The bonus is an incredible display of wildflowers.  We've been hiking every day, enjoying the bold colors and delicate flowers of the desert.

First time Ranch Visit

Son Brian and his family visited us last week at the ranch.  We were busy 24/7, going on hikes, 

riding horses, making birdhouses, rockhounding, looking for horseshoes, eating together, going on scavenger hunts...  Was great fun!

Girls Weekend

I just returned to Arizona after a long weekend at the Jekyll Island Club with two of our three girls and my Mom.  We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend.  Jekyll Island Club is a beautiful historic property that has been impeccably maintained.  The grounds were enchanting with perfectly manicured grass and shaded by live oaks heavy with Spanish moss.  We rented bikes and rode around the island.  We walked on the beach.  We played word games.  We had wonderful meals.   Mom taught Audrey to crochet.  We connected and reconnected.  Just about perfect!

Forever MOM

Over the past 10 days, I flew to Washington, DC, to spend time with Claire and David, then flew to Austin, Texas, to help Whitney move into a new apartment before starting a new job.  Was a whirlwind trip, with lots of cleaning, unpacking, cooking, shopping, and spending time with my twin girls.  Regardless of how old my three girls are or how successful their lives are, I still lose sleep when they are stressed or have unusual circumstances in their lives.  I rejoice in their good news and successes.  Of the successes in my own life, I am most proud of my girls.  I love my girls!

Finishing our Christmas Puzzle

On Christmas Day, we opened a puzzle that Grammar sent us.  We worked and worked and worked on the puzzle.  It was a wonderful gathering place in the middle of the living room several times a day.  We chatted around the puzzle, ate around the puzzle, waited for each other around the puzzle, complained about how hard the puzzle was ...  Everyone went home and the puzzle was only about 1/3 done.  Papa and I worked on the puzzle this past weekend and finished it!  Just one piece missing!

Western Bluebirds

At the ranch a couple of days ago, while I was talking on the phone with Whitney, I was looking toward the mountains and saw several beautiful purple blue birds jumping and flying close to the ground.  I found them in my Birds of North America book, Western Bluebirds, and it seems they are territorial.  I'm hopeful they will stay!  They are beautiful!

Magazines as Inspiration

I spent time today going through some old magazines.  Some were pitched, many were saved and dog-eared, and lots of pages of Arizona Highways dated 1994-1999 were torn out to be used as wrapping paper for small gifts.  Over the past year, two of my favorite magazines ceased publication.  They were Western Interiors and Cottage Living.  I am keeping all of them as each is filled with great ideas.

       

Architectural Digest is somewhat "over the top" but still full of good architectural ideas.  Veranda reminds me of my southern roots.  House Beautiful is a comfortable favorite.  Love my magazines!