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!

Merry Christmas

Corona de Tucson

December 19, 2022 

St Phillip's in the Hills

Saturday morning, Joe and I were up and out early.  Our first stop was at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in downtown Tucson. 

It was a special day to honor fallen soldiers.  Every December, Wreathes Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery as well as more than 3,400 locations in all 50 states, at sea, and abroad.   

I first learned about Wreaths Across America in December 2015.  We were in San Diego and riding out to Cabrillo NM for a hike.  The photo below of the wreaths at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery made a huge impression on me. 

Our next stop Saturday morning was St Philips Plaza.  

Every Saturday and Sunday (all year long) are outdoor market days at the plaza.  I needed one more "little something" to go under the tree and knew my chances were better than good to find just what I wanted there.  

Just down the street from the plaza is St Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church.  

St Philip's was built in Spanish Colonial architecture (similar to mission churches built in California over 400 years ago) in 1936.  The very first service held there was on Christmas Eve.  Tusconians John and Helen Murphy had a plan to build a private chapel at their home.  Instead, the architect persuaded them to build a small church at the corner of two dirt roads...Campbell and River.  

Although the church has undergone several expansions, the integrity of the architect's design has been maintained in the buildings.  In 2004, St Philip's in the Hills was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Today, it is the largest Episcopal church in Tucson.

Back at the oasis, it has definitely been sweater weather.

Sunrise and coffee had an abrupt halt outside.

We bought our first tree for the backyard.  It's for the birds!  Once again, Civano Nursery, just down the road from us, delivered, planted and staked it.   

Joe is getting his leather working tools organized for a project he wants to start.  

I made a sugar cookies forest.

The House Finches add a bit of rosy red color and chatter to the backyard.

And the Arizona skies are a nice reminder of one of the reasons why we chose to live in the desert. 

Until next time,

and 

HAPPY TRAILS !