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.

FLAGSTAFF TO CANYON VISTAS... 39.2 mpg

As many of you may know, it’s just about all downhill from Flagstaff (over 7,000') to Gold Canyon (about 1890') so Big Red (our 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe) performed well with a high mpg reading of 39.2 and an average of 32.9.  We’ve been here about 5 days and are still running on the same tank we filled up with in Flagstaff.  This all wheel SUV is only ranked 25 HWY!!!  

Lots of “work around the place” and “stocking the cupboards” took most of our time the last 5 days.  (Suzanne W - if you're reading this, stop now as there is discussion of snakes and photos.)   For the rest of you -  this morning it was cooler so we worked pulling weeds and trimming the tree in the back yard.  It’s been very hot so we were on the lookout for snakes, and sure enough I wasn’t too startled when I spotted a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (with 6 rattles and a button) curled up under a bush.  This snake is easy to identify by the black and white bands just above the rattles.  We’ve seen them before here in AZ, but not in CA, although we have other types of rattlesnakes at home.

As we headed out at 8:30 a.m. outside temp was 60...
Don's driving, set his temp at 79 - that's me at 68.

The sky looked like this

and the clouds did a dance for us

can't you just hear the music.

Proof of that great mpg.

Our first evening sunset at our AZ home...

Gardening - visitors, look closely - head raised

uncoiled

the "tell tale" sign "Western Diamondback Rattlesnake".

The yard looks great.  The snake was coiled under the
small bush in front of the Palo Verde Tree... the one with
a few red fluffy flowers "Fairy Duster".

All's well that ends well!!!   Later...

ONE MORE STUNNING DRIVE...

We traveled a few miles north of St George  on I-15 and then took the Scenic Drive thru Zion NP and followed the back roads (including Hwy 89A - Arizona) past Jacob Lake and then thru The Vermillion Cliffs Nat'l Monument, across the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, via the recently constructed Navajo Bridge, and on to  Flagstaff via Hwy 89 - WHEW!!!  Since I posted lots of words and only a few photos in the last segment...  “Late Good News”, I decided to let the photographs of this beautiful drive do the talking…  Let your imagination run wild!!!

Heading into Zion NP

Taking the scenic route...

What else can I say?

Hmmmm...

After all, it is October.

Mother Nature in control.

Many fabulous "arches" in the making.

Boy am I glad I have a 46X power on this camera.

Utah Bighorn Sheep.  (Butt shot)

Layer upon layer.

Geocache stop

Grand Staircase Escalante, here we come.

Interesting plants...

Loved this...

Great geocache.  As the owner of Rider (the lab) and Bandit and Ripley
the Dalmatians,  this was a favorite cache for both of us!!!

There actually is a lake about 1 mile away, now a puddle.

As a tapestry weaver, the Navajo Rugs were even better
than the delicious lunch...

Ask me some time, I'll tell you all about them.

A stunning collection.

As we stopped for another geocache, I saw this "beast" rolling
and scratching his back in the grass.   NOT - just a dead log...

Geocache treasures.

It's all about the color

wouldn't you say.

This is Red on Red, with Red - accent blue and green!!!!

What do you think?

It's delicious even close up!!!

Where ever there's a water course, there are settlers.

Layer after layer, erosion tells the story.

WOW

We crossed the "mighty" Colorado River south of Page AZ.

A view across the Colorado from the Navajo Bridge

where this flag reminded us of the meaning of FREEDOM.

As we approached Flagstaff, the colors changed, and

the San Francisco Peaks welcomed us.  They are one of
the four sacred peaks honored by the Navajo.