Wrapping up December

Corona de Tucson

December 31, 2025 

The Clay Rabbit store front window...my favorite place to browse in Tubac.  

The first weekend in December is set aside for a visit to Tubac for the Luminaria Nights.  This year we went on Friday and had an enjoyable time meandering the pathways lined with lights, glowing storefronts, musicians performing carols, and the warm smell of spicy hot cider.  This small historic town takes on a whole new look of holiday magic.

It seems we always see something new every time we visit Tubac.  Im not sure if the statue is new or if it has been there for years.  John W Hampton (1918-2000) is known for depicting dynamic movement of cattle and horses in his work.  He is one of four original members that founded the exclusive organization Cowboy Artists of America.  Every year for 59 years these Cowboy Artists of America have met at a working ranch to ride, work, and bond.

Turning the Leaders
Circa 1981
Artist: John Wade Hampton

Wreaths Across America is also something Joe and I enjoy helping with.  This year we chose tp participate a little closer to home and attended the service at Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery and placed wreaths to honor our veterans.  

It's a short service with the theme "Remember, Honor, Teach".  A fallen hero from each  branch of our services were honored.   Taps (designated the "National Song of Remembrance in 2013) was played from the back of the crowd at the closing of the ceremony...a solemn bugle call symbolizing lights out for soldiers every day. 

Each wreath is tagged with a number and as you place it on a grave, you say the name of the fallen hero, which branch of service he/she was in, and the years of their life out loud.  

Next, we met Jamie and Andra on 4th Avenue...you guessed it, the Winter 4th Avenue Fair.  Yep...all the colors, the yummy smells, textures of all kinds, laughter and music, with a few tasty samples along the way.

Gorgeous scarves...

Inka...the Christmas CD is beautiful!

Samples were so yummy, we bought a four pack of seasonings.

And something different this year...a booth to raise awareness for Parrots. 

Paradise Parrot Rescue was represented by the Executive Director,Bryan Klantz and several volunteers showcasing a few of the more than 100 parrots they have rescued.  The rescue was created from the need to provide for one of the most amazing and loving animals on the planet. Parrots, with proper diet and care, can live up to 70 years and most of them have over 12 different homes during their lifetime.  Bryan  began his Non-profit  in 2020 on a 4 acre site in the Tucson Mountain foothills with lots of uninhabited land surrounding his site. The purpose of the rescue is to provide a healthy transition for these beautiful and smart birds and ultimately find then a home. Adoptive homes are screened, education on proper care is provided, and since each bird has a unique personality, they are carefully matched to an owner.  We spent awhile talking with Bryan and the volunteers and petting the parrots.  Bryan does a great job raising awareness for these homeless birds.  And because he houses over 100 of them, he is building a new facility.

If you might be interested in helping this awesome cause to save parrots, Bryan has a great web site for the rescue. 

Andra has a December birthday.  And for this very special celebration, we met her and Jamie on Main Street for brunch.   

Andra's peppermint mocha...

 She ordered gingerbread French toast with a honey/orange glaze which smelled divine!  

 Mimosas and salmon benedicts, and a skillet of rosemary roasted potatoes and eggs over easy with bacon and toast were also served at our table.  

And to top it all off...we sang Happy Birthday and we each devoured a slice of  cheese cake.  

After brunch we walked a couple of blocks to the Historic Pima County Courthouse.   

Colorful displays and lots of history...

I love the haint blue ceiling...

The original Presidio Wall built in 1782 included the area where the Historic Courthouse stands today.  The remnants were dug up during the construction of the building in 1929.

The entrance column to the Historic Courthouse which served for 86 years.  Today it is home to the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center

Our last outing before the holidays began was to Gates Pass for a sunset.  Lucy  had a ball hopping over rocks and made lots of new friends that stopped to say hi and pet her.  It was a beautiful and warm afternoon.  And we all three enjoyed the ride in the jeep with the windows and doors off.  Kinney Road is one of my favorites!  

And that brings us right up to Christmas.  Jamie and Andra came on Tuesday afternoon and spent the weekend with us.  It was so much fun!

Andra and I baked cookies for Santa.

It is always fun having meals at the big table.

We played corn hole and darts.

Jamie and Andra wanted to go to Tumacacori Mesquite Sawmill on Saturday.  

They enjoyed their tour (we tagged along) with Art and Valerie...just the nicest couple.

We had lunch at Wisdom's and yep, we brought home one of the famous fruit burros...a yummy peach one!  And we made one last stop at Tubac before coming home.  It looks a little different in the daytime.

A friendly game of tug...

Both pups got balls that light up and roll all over the floor...was funny to watch them play!

Ozzie the watch dog took his job very serious.

And kudos to Ozzie...what a sweet and patient pup he is to put up with Lucy.

And just like that, Christmas 2025 is in the memory book.  What a great time it was!

Back at the oasis, we have been busy packing up Christmas an cleaning.  The weather made a drastic turn to the rainy and chilly side and yesterday was very windy.  Perfect for staying home and just relaxing. 

The tulip blooms added a bit of sunshine inside.

That's a wrap for December and 2025.  Joe and I both wish all of our family and friends a very Happy New Year full of good health an fun times.  

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS!  

and SWEET DREAMS!

June so Far

Corona de Tucson

June 15, 2025

June is a time when summer is getting into full swing and summer solstice marks the longest day of the year.  The end of June is also the end of the first half of the year.  Time really does have a way of flying by.  Did you know that no other month in the year begins on the same day as the first week of June?  This year June 1 was on a Sunday.  It was a glorious day of dark clouds with on/off again rain showers.  The only rain we have had this month.  

Anglo-Saxons (who lived in Britain between 410 - 1066 AD) called June "Sera Monath" which translates into "Dry Month".  Not much has changed in all these years...it is still a dry month.  Fingers stay crossed for a good monsoon season which officially begins today, June 15.   

And let's not forget Father's Day with calls and texts from the east coast and a visit with Jamie, Andra, and Ozzie who spent Saturday night.  Grilled burgers, homemade baked beans with molasses, and fresh corn on the cob for dinner at the big table !  

The first week of the month, we had appointments with the dermatologist. 

And I had an appointment for a hair cut on the north side of town.  So many choices for lunch and we decided on Tucson Tamale.  

Yummy green chili and chicken tamale, black beans and cheese tamale and a house salad with made in house sweet and tangy vinaigrette.  

Another day, the three of us enjoyed an auto hike thru Tucson Mountain Park with a stop at Saguaro NP West.  

 

Blizzards...a Butterfinger for Joe and a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup for me...hit the spot on a hot summer day before heading home.

Last week we headed to the city.  It was the summer market at Gather.  I can't pick a favorite season for visiting this unique vintage market as it is always dressed to perfection in whatever season we go.  

 

We enjoyed a nice lunch at Cafe a la C'arte afterwards.  It was too hot to sit on the patio, but we did have a nice seat by the window inside.

Salmon BLT with a side of fries...a new twist on BLT and I ate every bite! 

Back at the oasis, we walk a couple of miles every morning sometime between 5:30 to 7:00 while it is still cool.  Lucy is still learning.  The sidewalk with its vehicle noise and other walkers with/without pups makes for good experiences.  The noises don't bother her so much anymore, but she can not ignore the other pups.   

Joe and I prefer the cart path.  It quiet with the exception of birds singing and an occasional puppy barking from their backyard.  We did upset a pair of Ravens one morning...what a racket they can make !

I'll close with a few favorite photos from the oasis.  We are so enjoying our little garden of pots and flowers, the birds visiting the yard, and playing with Lucy.

An African Lily

Gardenia...my first Arizona gardenia...not as big and with fewer petals than their Georgia cousins, but it smells heavenly.

Globe amaranth...nickname is "bachelor's button" 

Wingpod Purslane...a perennial succulent.  It blooms during the day and at dark the flowers close up. 

A mid morning water break...

Hoping for a sweet morsel...

Caught in the shadow...the pressure is on!

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !