Celebrations...

Corona de Tuccson

November 20, 2025

Violas...such happy little blooms!

I failed to mention in the last blog that Joe had a birthday on November 2nd.  He was 79...where do the years go?  It was his choice to just enjoy a quiet day at home.  And other than a mid-morning walk with Lucy, that is exactly what we did.  

Lucy was a year old on August 20 this year.  We signed papers for adoption the first of November last year and it was on November 13, 2024 that she made her trip from Greenville, SC to Tucson.  I can remember the day as if it were yesterday when the flight nanny handed her to me.  Being that the 13th was our one year  "gotcha day", we celebrated at Bark'n Berry Doggie Ice Cream Parlor.

Lucy devoured a banana (sugar and lactose free) puppy ice cream with dried salmon sprinkles and a puppy size cone on top. 

Celena is the owner of this unique ice cream parlor.  She is a former veterinary nurse and is an animal welfare advocate who founded her business to create a safe
community space for dog owners. The parlor has dog-friendly treats, locally made pet products, and hosts events to support local animal rescue and charities.  

"I think about going back in the field, but I think I am better suited to serving ice cream,"  she said with a laugh.  

This fun shop located on Broadway in downtown Tucson offers birthday parties complete with doggie birthday cakes and ice cream, puppy yoga, ice cream socials, low cost vaccines and microchips, nail trims and on occasion a chance to meet adoptable pups. Celena's passion and enthusiasm for what she believes in is contagious.  Lucy had a blast!  Joe and I had a blast! 

The day after Lucy's gotcha day, was Jamie's birthday.  Jamie , Andra, and Ozzie came for a weekend visit.  Friday was cake and ice cream...

and Saturday was race day!  

Tucson Dragway is a 110 acre venue that is a NHRA sanctioned track for drag racing. 

We watched the weather all morning as it was raining all around us.  We arrived at the track about 3:00 pm and the weather was still iffy, but not one drop fell on the track.  

Our tickets gave us access to the pits.

Entertainment for the day was "Wicked Sinsation", a jet dragster. My oh my...what a thrill it was...not just the sonic booms before "take off" but as the car neared us at the 1/8 mile marker we could actually feel the power!  Most impressive was the 287 MPH at the 1/4 mile marker in under 5 seconds.  It was so fast...no clear photos were taken.

A zoom photo of the start line...

My insides rattled as it went by...

The event we watched was the inaugural of Fuel Altered Chaos at Tucson Dragway.  Next years event is already on the calendar as it was a huge success.  The event was a two-day drag racing festival that featured a competition of various "altered" drag cars which are stripped down, modified vehicles.  Various combinations of nitro methane burning machines, blown alcohol entries, and turbocharged altered cars competed.  We arrived at 3:00 to watch the preliminary runs and the semi-finals.  The finals began about 7:00 pm.  

Preliminaries...

Semi-finals...

The afternoon glow...

Sunset behind the track and pits...

And finals under the lights...

Ozzie and Lucy had a great week-end too!

In between fun, Joe and I had our annual medicare checkups and Joe has completed 8 (that's half) of the radiation treatments.  It's an hour plus roundtrip to the dermatologist so Lucy and I ride too.  She and I both agree people watching is very entertaining.

Back at the oasis, the weather has been nice for walks just about anytime of the day we choose to go.  

We have had lots of teasers this week...only one day did we actually get some rain. 

 

I knew I loved the desert the very first time we arrived in Tucson almost 12 years ago.  The phrase "there is no place like the desert" comes to mind often on our walks. The deep quiet of a sunrise and a sunset, the resilience of life that thrives in harsh conditions,  and the unique beauty and dramatic landscapes are just a few reasons why I love living here.  I never lack for an opportunity to take photos...the big things I see, the little things I see, and everything in between.  

Joe and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving with Jamie, Andra and Ozzie next week. We sure have lots to be thankful for. It is with lots of love and good wishes we send a Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends near and far. 

I'll close with a few more photos... 

We are thrilled to finally see a male Ladder-back Woodpecker.  The misses has been hanging around for awhile. 

More and more of these sweet little Lesser Goldfinches are in the yard.

And the Sparrows sure know how to have a good time!

Until next time,

We enjoy the sunshine!

We are thankful for every drop!

We watch for the sunset!

And we play everyday!

HAPPY TRAILS!

Leaf Peeping

Corona de Tucson

November 6, 2025 

This is the first cactus Joe and I bought when we moved in our sticks and stucco in March'21. It's called a Candy Barrel Cactus.  When we purchased the cactus there was one little barrel about the size Joe's fist which we were advised to plant in a huge pot.  It has grown and now there are three barrels.   I have followed directions on watering and fertilizing and two of the rounded barrels are much bigger than a basketball.  This is the first bloom! 

When we returned from our fall trip mid October, Joe took the doors off Pearl and put on the summer doors.  Living in Tucson I think fall doors is a better name for the tube doors with no windows. We decided to take a drive up the Sky Island Byway.  Not having any windows sure made the drive lots more fun.  The never ending views seemed to be an arms length away and it was wonderful actually feeling the change in temps as we climbed about 5700 ft in elevation.  This twisting and turning National Scenic Byway has never disappointed.   

Our destination was  Summerhaven and Ski Valley and leaf peeping was the plan.  We walked, enjoyed the breeze, sat in the warm sunshine and listened to the leaves, I enjoyed taking photos and Lucy had fun chasing leaves.  

The autumn colors weren't the only thing we enjoyed. The Sweet Tooth never disappoints either! 

The Holliday Kick-off at Gather started last Wednesday evening.  I am sure it was quite beautiful to see at night, but we waited until Thursday to make the trek to Tucson.  It is no secret I love going to peruse the displays there and November is a favorite time to go.  This time of the year is the exception and Gather will be open every weekend thru December 14th.  

 

This was one of my favorite trees.  All the decorations on all the trees are for sale right off the tree.

And this was another favorite tree...a variety of beautiful colors and owls.

So many bells...huge bells, tiny bells, and bells all sizes in between...jingle bells, sleigh bells, cow bells... red bells, silver bells...garlands of bells, single bells on a rope...new bells and old bells.

Back at the oasis, the weather has been so nice and what a treat it is to take our daily walks whenever we want to or in-between this and that. 

Lucy loves to be outside.  

A heard of five deer strolled by.

We had to relocate a big, fat, Sphinx Moth Caterpillar.

Watched the sunset.

And added pretty fall colors to the kitchen bar.  This is the vase I got at St Phillips Plaza a few weeks ago.  I have other pieces from this potter...I love his work!

So that's a wrap for this blog.  Like Janna, "Whew, I think I am all caught up!"  

I'll close with a few extra photos...

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS!

SWEET DREAMS!