VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE...

Lots of things have been happening since you last heard from us.  My Tapestry Weaving book "Tapestry Weaving - A comprehensive Study Guide" has been out of print (after 20 years), for a couple years and I have recently signed a contract with Echo Point Books after they contacted me about reprinting the book.

I will also be writing a few articles for weaving magazines, giving a luncheon program here at our RV Resort on The Woven Cloth and attending a few textile conference to help promote the reprint of "Tapestry Weaving".  So, as you might imagine,  I will have less "blogging" time and  will only post when we are traveling and/or attending a special event, like the upcoming wedding of our granddaughter Megan Harvey in Colorado  Aug 10th 2015, which will include 3 weeks traveling by car as we see more sites along the way and have a "Sibs" Reunion with my brothers who will also be in Colorado for the festivities.

A photo gallery recap of the last 6 weeks is briefly included below...

Crazy skies presented themselves as we headed out on our annual
Christmas Day Picnic Drive.

Our counter clockwise trip took us about 188 miles - google
told us it was about 4 hours, it took us 6.5 hours because there were
so many interesting things to see.

The Women's Auxilliary Ferrying Service was at
the Coolidge Army Air Field during WWII so we stopped
by to learn more!!!

These dedicated WAFS actually averaged about 1100 hours
with 200-hp rating prior to joining.

Tom Mix's Memorial Marker was located along our
route so we stopped to find out what happened
that fateful day Oct 12, 1940 when he was
killed while driving his custom built Cord Roadster
between Tucson and Florence AZ.

After passing thru Oracle, we enjoyed another fun stop
at  the Mammoth AZ rest stop, with mining roots

and some creative artwork on display.

This is a close-up of the massive  Ray Copper Mine just
south of Superior AZ.  We've been here before many times 

and chose the visitor overlook to enjoy our Xmas picnic lunch.

A week later, we headed west for El Mirage AZ and enjoyed
another beautiful sky.

Don stopped to geocache near this massive
rose garden while I enjoyed doing some more
photography

after  "picking  up" the Gold Medal
at the SW Regional Pickleball Tournament.

with my  partner  Ron in the 70+ mixed doubles.
We received a beautiful double sided gold medal!!!

Grandson Max has a winter job on the North Slope...

Exon is working with Nabors Drilling
and Max is working on this... the  largest/deepest piece
of drilling equipment in the world.  Go Max!!!
http://www.nabors.com/services/drilling-rig-services-overview/land-drilling

No, this isn't AK - it's AZ, the Superstition Mtns, right
out our kitchen window.  However the temp is not minus 40
as it is where Max is working!!!

I've been doing a little stained glass work and this is the view
from the dining area into the kitchen in our AZ resort home.

As you can see, the place has gone to the birds...
some of my favorites, the Great White Pelican,
the Bald Eagle

and this almost life-size Sandhill Crane.
We visited them in person last year, just south of
Socorro NM.

Needing a colorful bird to hang above the stove,
I chose to do a Mosaic of the Lorakeet.

And after that completed 2 stacking tables for use by
our friends...  Wine or Beer anyone?  Stop by...

Time left for another  tournaments...  no medals this
time but had fun in Surprise AZ.

We stayed at the lovely Windmill Suites in Surprise

where Don located a geocache near

the lake while I photographed some more birds.

We crossed the street for a light supper, and this was our view
as we walked back to the motel - another fabulous AZ sunset
reflecting in the pond where birds continued to play.

And as I sit here tonight, wrapping up this blog, the
clouds continue to perform.   As I mentioned above, posts will be
less frequent, but please stop by once
in a while to see if we're off on another adventure, etc.
Hugs, Don and Nancy

TIME FLIES BY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN...

I’ve heard from many of you that  I have been negligent in “blogging” since our arrival in AZ (at our winter home) on Oct 16th.  It’s not because of lack of activities - it’s more like lack of energy after all the fun!!!  So here we go… a photographic  journal to bring things up-to-date!!!

Our first evening out on the deck...

The next week we were busy in the yard and as I was
pruning the Palo Verde Tree, I discovered this rattlesnake
asleep 

under the "Fairy Duster" plant at the base of the tree...
Don to the rescue with shovel in hand.

More shopping to finish our decorating - Photographer Greg Libby
(a local artist) provided us with the answer to decorating
this large 12' wall with ugly storage cupboards!!!

This is a photograph on aluminum (light weight, easy to move)
and captures a winter view of the Superstition Mountains
where Don has spent hours geocaching and I hiking!!!

Greg quickly installed the 48" x 90" photo we selected from
his portfolio.  And it take on a life of it's own with the changing light.

This Javelin came into the back yard just prior to dusk to
check out my metal sculptures that looked like family members.

and friends Chic & Ingrid, from home, stopped by a couple of
days for some Pickleball and Sunsets.

A week later Susan and Breck Viley (a long term weaving
friend from Sacramento) stopped by on their way home
from a 6 week West to East Coast trip...

"Happy Hours" are held every Mon, Wed and Thur
(free beer and wine) so friends can touch base, dance to
live music and make more friends.
This is our 10th winter here.
Lots of friends to catch up with...

And don't let anyone tell you that 175 people can't keep a secret.  We all did for the
wedding reception for Liz and Karol who were married under the same sex marriage laws passed in Minnesota this past year.  They've been together for 14 years.

We owed friends Rod & Marge (Templeton CA) a sunset.

so Don and I ordered up this one

for their enjoyment.  What a back yard view...

Marge and I pose in front of the "purple" Superstition Mtns.,

while Rod and Don wave from the deck.

A fun evening was had by all at the Cowboy Poetry concert
at the resort next door.  Ron on the right is a pickleball friend of
mine and Mike Dunn has written and recorded many beautiful
poems.  Google him for more info...

A little time was left for gardening
as we transplanted "baby cactus"
that hatched next to their parents in the yard.

And I'm back in the Mosaic/Glass class, this
time making some stained glass china cabinet door replacements.

You'll see the final versions in a
later blog...one sandhill crane, another
a great white pelican and the third a bald eagle.

These beautiful pickleball trophies passed us by,
but mixed doubles partner Mike & I
managed to come in 4th in this "open age group"
event.  Our youngest competitors were 19 and 20
and Mike and I were the oldest team...

I finally received my gold from the Nevada
Senior Games - I played in 75+ category!!!

Sunsets continue to brighten  every evening...

Then brother Glen and sister-in-law Ginny arrived.

After lunch by the pool we headed for Canyon Lake

and one of our favorite vistas - Fish Creek Canyon.

It's a beautiful 45 minute drive up into the mountains...

 a miniature Grand Canyon.

And a quick dinner at the famous Tortilla Flats

gives one other things to do... The ladies room
provides dancing girl stall doors!!!

This place is open 365 days a year.

After a few more sunsets, geocaching, riding our bikes and visiting
with friends as they arrive in the park we welcomed

Pal and Fritz 's arrival (from Meadow Vista - near Colfax) and
got  in some  pickleball, visiting and enjoyed a late lunch by the pool.

At our small "tournament" the next day (44 players), Pal finished
1st in the Gold Division of the Intermediate category with Fritz
taking a close second.   I managed to get 1st in the Silver Division
and had the distinction of being the oldest player on the courts!!!
Whew - What a Life.  So that's why you haven't heard much from us.