A Small Project...

Corona de Tucson

May 27, 2023 

Sunrise...

Monday is Memorial Day.  It is the day set aside by our country to honor our fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation and our freedom.  

In keeping with the December, 2000 law signed by President Clinton, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a moment at 3:00 pm local time to honor those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces.  President Clinton noted, "The observance of a National Moment of Remembrance is a simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and honor the struggle to protect our freedoms."  

We had new master bathroom and guest bathroom countertops, under mount sinks, and faucets installed on May 19th.  The countertops were purchased thru Home Depot whose contractor is The Countertop Factory located in Tucson..  They did our kitchen a couple of years ago and we were very pleased with the product as well as the measuring and  installation.  We chose Silestone again rather than granite.  Silestone is an engineered stone that is durable and non-pourous and requires little maintenance.  Our week began working on a small project.  

The mirror attached to the wall over the cabinet was removed along with the old countertops.  

New tops, sinks and faucets were installed in both baths.

Joe worked his magic on the guest bath wall and I painted. 

The Countertop Factory returned this past Friday to measure for the backsplashes which should be installed sometime the first week in June.  

Silestone color for both baths...

 

Guest Bath

Master bath...I can't wait to get the backsplash and check this off the list.  

I'm not sure the job would have gone so smoothly without Jack supervising and staying on the job with Joe or without Dover cheering him on !

Other than a summer hair cut for Sally

and Jack's trip to the vet on Saturday morning for an EKG, our days were uneventful.  

Should hear from Dr. Huang next week...

Early morning walks continue to start the day.  The most spectacular sunrise we have had in months !

The sun rising from behind the Rincon Mountains...

A gorgeous sky...

The pasture...

The Santa Rita Mountains...

The pups ramble around the yard...

 wait patiently...

and enjoy breakfast picnics.

Joe and I feed the birds, fill the birdbath, water plants and enjoy our rocking chairs.  A few photos from my rocker this week...

We have seen lots of Gamble's...but no babies yet.

We have lots of lizards these days...

Our Torch Cactus is still blooming...

And we had a nice sunset this week...I love the cottonballl clouds.

Loving on our puppies, rocking, walking and a few this and thats seem to have filled our days this week. Nothing exciting, and nothing boring...it's life and we are loving it !  Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !

P. S. I almost forgot to say "thank you" for all the well wishes for Joe.  All three of his biopsies were benign...no surgeries !  Although I don't want to jinx it, it's a record as he has been six months with no MOHS surgeries. So thankful !   

The Week After...

Corona de Tucson

November 30, 2022 

The week after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  There are lots of leftovers so meals are easy, fall is definitely in the air, but the best part about that week is that December is just around the corner. Last year we started a new tradition and put up our tree on Thanksgiving day.  It is the same tree,  the same lights, the same decorations (plus a new one) and the same (if not more) excitement felt again this year.  

As much as I loved the traveling years, it sure is nice to be in a sticks and stucco home at Christmas!  Just like last year, we added a new "westerny" ornament for the tree.  At the TMA Fall Artisan Market, we found this hand-made pottery ornament that reminded us of the cliff dwellings we visited earlier in the fall.  The potter who made these very unique ornaments is Susan Sarracino...Pueblo of Acoma Pottery...from New Mexico.  There is a hole in the bottom of the ornament for a light to be placed inside giving the dwellings a fire like glow. 

Acoma Pueblo is built on top of a near 400 ft mesa about 70 miles west of Albuquerque.  The Pueblo has been continually inhabited since sometime between 1150 and 1250 AD making it the oldest inhabited "city" in the United States.  Acoma is translated "people of the white rock".  The Pueblo covers some 70 acres and today the people of the Pueblo carry on the traditions of pottery making created by their ancestors.   

    

The week-end was spent adding Christmas here and there and everywhere... changing this and rearranging that...all the while enjoying the sounds of Christmas we only enjoy one month out of the year.  

This morning, we had to go to Home Depot on the south side of Tucson.  It is always a treat to hit the trails in the Tucson Mountains when we are on that side of town.  Our choice for the day was a combo of Cascabel and Bittersweet Trails for an enjoyable hike before shopping.  The weather was perfect !  

Cascabel has a nice stand of saguaros.  Some are pretty old and are looking rather tired.

But what is really great about this area are all the young saguaros.  They are everywhere.   

Cascabel has decent views...

as the trail twists and curves...

and makes its way up to Bittersweet Trail.

No editing on these photos...the sky really was that blue!

The section of Bittersweet Trail we hiked is more level, lined with Palo Verde trees, prickly pear cacti, spiky staghorn cacti, and beautiful rocks.

Such tiny leaves...

Back at the oasis, sunrise and coffee start the day.

   

   

And some evenings, vivid sunsets end the day.

Somehow, Jack manages to drag my sweater (one of those heavy sweaters that is knee length) from the foot of the bed to the head of the bed and wad it up for a nap.  He has always loved to lay on my clothes.  

Sally and Dover are forever hopeful (and patient) keeping me company in the kitchen.

Refrigerator art you get in the mail from your 2 year old granddaughter is the best.

And the snowman is still smiling (and puts a smile on my face too) !

Until next time, have a great week and...

HAPPY TRAILS !