Showing posts with label Animal Care Center of Green Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Care Center of Green Valley. Show all posts

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving !

Corona de Tucson

November 24, 2024

The ending to a very nice day...

Someone had a celebration at the oasis and it wasn't me !  Joe celebrated his 78th birthday on November 2nd. We decided on a trip to the city...I just like the way that sounds...for brunch.  Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress was our choice.  There is a huge parking garage across the street which makes it an easy destination for a yummy meal.  Joe had blueberry pancakes, eggs over easy, crispy bacon, and wheat toast.  I had my favorite...eggs Benedict with a yummy hollandaise sauce, crispy bacon, mixed greens with toasted almonds topped with the yummiest vinaigrette.  

Afterwards, we walked to the library. I have always loved "the city" even though I have no desire to live in one.  My first memories of "the city" were yearly visits with my mom and my brother to Atlanta to ride the "pink pig" at Macy's during Christmas Holidays.  San Diego comes to mind as my favorite city to visit and I love the history right here in Tucson. Tucson's first library built in 1938 is now the Children's Museum of Tucson. In 1990, the new Joel Valdez Main Library was finalized and opened to the public.


Sonora (the title of the red sculpture) was created by David Black and dedicated to the library's plaza in 1991.  Sonora stands 25 ft high and 43 ft wide.  While it may look like a giant abstract insect, it is filled with symbolism. Although I have a hard time seeing the symbolism from the photo I took.  I read the ring in the center represents Native American baskets and kivas, the columns are made to signify Mexican palm trees, and the pyramids stand for the Tucson Mountains.  

My first stop at any library is always the Children's Room.  The 9,000 square foot room is divided into three sections...Early Literacy, Early Elementary and Tweens…where children can enjoy this colorful area filled with books, a digital touch table, a pretend play complete with a wooden kitchen and "food", a puppet theater, and a Lego wall. 


The library has lots of natural light, quiet places to sit and read, places to gather with friends and a cup of coffee, local artists exhibits, and more.  

View from the second floor...

Our walk to and from the library was several city blocks.

The old...

and the new.

Joe was happy to get his eyelid stitches out. He has a protective contact lens and gets antibiotic ointment in his eye twice a day.  Vision is on the blurry side and we hope that improves.

I took a zoom photo...one teeny, tiny blue bar was on the center outside upper lid and the other on the bottom lid. 

Last Friday, we perused the Tucson Museum of Art Artisans Market, Old Town Market, and walked more blocks in the Presidio Historic District. The Artisan Market is an outside event held twice a year (spring and fall). This year's market seemed much bigger with beautiful jewelry, paintings, metal works, pottery, etc.  

We stopped to look at this gorgeous sterling silver jewelry and met the artist and his wife from Mexico.  The stones used are mostly from Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.  He is quite talented and every piece I looked at had a history. 

Every time we go, I look at these stained glass pieces for the backyard.  Janna, I think your talented husband could make these for your backyard...they are so pretty with the light shining thru. 

The pot wasn't for sale...

Old Town Market shops were open as well.



Romero House TMA School Ceramics Studio...

And a few photos from our walk in the Presidio Historic District...

The Cheyney House built in 1905.  Mr Cheney was a mining chemist and one of the early postmasters of Tucson. 

The Hereford (Hair-fud) House built in 1902 after Frank Hereford who was 41 years old when he married in 1901. In his younger days, he was a Cochise County Sheriff.


The Franklin House built in 1898.  Selim Franklin was an attorney and built this home for his bride, Henrietta Herring, who designed their home. Selim specialized in mining and cattle cases and land grant issues. He was instrumental in proposing and accepting the federal land grant to build the university in Tucson.  Since Franklin held the only college degree on the board of regents, he was made the first professor of agriculture.   






The Steinfeld Mansion built is 1900 was originally built as The Owl's Club by 13 bachelors and is the first California Mission Style on Main Street.  These unmarried men each furnished a room and hired a cook and proceeded to enjoy life...their galas, masked balls, and celebrations were the talk of the town. In 1908, Albert Steinfeld and his wife bought the property.  Albert opened a department store in 1914 and it remained one of the largest department stores in Tucson until it closed in 1984. He was also involved in banking, mining, and real estate and was one of the most prominent men in Tucson for several decades.   


Back at the oasis, we had a wonderful rainy Sunday.  It was so nice and we sure do need the rain.  


We have added more color to the backyard...

      

a large pot of daisies...

large and small pots of yellow pansies...

and my favorite...lots and lots of violas. 



I didn't capture many feathered friends the past few weeks...


and not all the birds we see have feathers.


We relocated a Walking Stick Insect that had taken up residence in one of my pots.


The best news of the month is we have a new puppy.  Our home seemed a little on the empty side and Joe and I figured out very quickly we are puppy people.  We picked up Lucy from the airport on Wed. November 13.  

This is Lucy's adoption photo from Crockett Doodles based in Greenville, SC.  She is a Cockapoo and was born on Aug. 20. Her mom is a 20 pound Cockeer Spaniel and her dad is a 9 pound mini Poodle. There were three pups in her litter...all girls...and Lucy was the last one to be adopted.


 She flew all the way across the country (with a stop over in Dallas) with her very own Flight Nanny.  Lucy was 11 weeks old when we adopted her from Crockett Doodles.  Love is such a wonderful thing.  I am pretty sure Lucy already feels right at home and we love this little bundle of fur, energy, and joy. 

Lucy's first visit to meet Dr. Huang at Animal Care Center of Green Valley. She weighed in at 6.2 pounds, had her second vaccination, and lots of hugs and kisses from Dr. Huang and the staff.  She has a rabies shot and one more vaccination in December before we can take her out in public. 

Lucy has lots of love to share...

She likes to play...


likes to chew (and everything goes in her mouth)...

Joe and I have never had a puppy this young and never experienced teething...yikes!

really likes her naps...


loves to help...


and we love to cuddle !


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

Until next time,




HAPPY TRAILS!

Sunday, August 11, 2024

Small Joys...

Corona de Tucson

August 11, 2024

Waiting for the sun to come up...

Necessary appointments come and go.  Some weeks we have none and others we have too many.  This week was the latter with visits to the dermatologist, eye doctor and vet.  One biopsy, an eye that is still a work in progress, and a shot to relieve joint stiffness and pain were all marked off the list.  

Sweet little Sally waiting for Dr Huang...

I forgot last week to include a photo of Sally's new paw pads.  Dr. Huang shared with us in July that she had ordered these pads for her puppy after she watched Sally having trouble with her legs slipping on the floor in her office.  They are wonderful as Sally can easily stand up from a laying or sitting position without her feet sliding out from under her when she is not on the rugs/carpet.  They are not expensive and ordered from Amazon.  


In between appointments, the rest of our week was spent in comfort and quiet at the oasis doing very little of this and that. We enjoyed more rain this week.  




At the end of July recorded rain at Tucson Airport was well above normal at 4.48"...much more than was expected and predicted for the entire monsoon 2024 monsoon season 


Morning walks have taken on a new look!

Joe and I have enjoyed watching the Olympics.  The men's basketball semi-final game and win for the gold had us cheering as well as the women's soccer and indoor volleyball games.  Gymnastics, synchronized swimming and diving were spectacular.  Track and field events were jaw-dropping...especially the hurdles.  Swimming "world" records were broken and a gold medal was given to the first  U.S.woman in weight lifting in 24 years...a total of 578 pounds in both her lifts.  But the thing that impressed us most this year was/is the heartfelt humility and kindness shown by all the athletes from our country and countries all over the world.  

We slept in Saturday morning and to celebrate the Paris Olympics, we decided on French Baked Eggs for brunch.  


Eggs are baked in a muffin tin with heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese and salt & pepper to taste.  Cooking time depends on how soft/hard you like your eggs.   

We also cooked a new to us recipe this week...shredded (cooked) chicken, black beans, corn, sautéed sweet peppers and sweet onion, and cheese quesadillas served with avocados, salsa, olives, sour cream and chips.    We will  be doing these again!  

And the best part...we had leftovers for lunch!

On the family front, our grandson Henry turned 21 years old.  This smart, handsome, thoughtful, creative young man will be entering his senior year at North Carolina State this fall...and we are so proud of him !


Our daughter Jill and grandson Henry celebrating #21 !


S-I-L Bill and Henry work on coding on the computer.  I don't know what that is, but I hear it makes for late nights and celebrations when problems are solved ! 


Not many bird photos this week.  The photo below is a sweet little bird I can not ID and would appreciate help in doing so...


 We still see lots of "teenagers" and molting birds.



The Gamble's still gather.


I love how the moms and dads keep a watchful eye...

We counted at least 12 juveniles...



I'll close with a few things that caught my eye this week...

Friday's sunset

A potted Gaura, Siskiyou Pink, by the patio...one of my favorites...


Sally watching our resident lizard...


Friday's sunrise reflection in the bird bath...


Green, beautiful green...a potted agave on the patio...

The sun catcher in the blanket flowers pot by the patio...   


A red ant on the potted Penta plant by the patio...

Blanket flower


And the road home...

  Until next time, 




HAPPY TRAILS!