Happy Just Being Home...

January 31, 2025

Corona de Tucson 

So the first title for the blog was "Content", but I changed it because I didn't want to confuse anyone that there was actually any subject matter written here today.  It is more about being content...a state of peaceful happiness kind of content. We have been pretty much homebound the last few weeks...not homebound because we were sick or had to be, but homebound by choice.  We both love being home, wearing comfy clothes, doing absolutely nothing or doing what we absolutely enjoy.  It's our own comfy place...quiet, calm, warm, safe, and peaceful.  

We did have a couple of Lucy destinations.  Last week we went to McDonald Park, a new to us park to walk with Lucy on the trail.  

Barney's human mom said he would love to play!

But when we arrived, there was the cutest golden doodle in the fenced in doggie park and Lucy was too excited to go on a walk.  Chasing was the game of choice.  The only other puppy Lucy has played with is Ozzie and we were happy for her to socialize.  Of course the first thing we did when we got home was a bath for Lucy...she was filthy !

Lucy LOVES baths ! 

Lucy also had a spa day...a bath, a haircut, and a pedicure.  She looked so dang cute in her little pink bows and was so happy to see us when we picked her up. 

Other than that I had two biopsies at the dermatologist and Joe had a great report from the cornea specialist.  Joe's eye has completely healed and the bandaid contact is gone, and he has decent peripheral vision.  

So back at the oasis, we have enjoyed a hodgepodge of weather patterns...it was freezing, hailing, windy, snowing, rainy, and sunny warm weather all blended in to the last two weeks of January.  

I tried a few new recipes.  My favorite was a one pan baked salmon and fingerling potatoes, sweet peppers and cherry tomatoes.  Quite yummy !

The veggies (coated in a little olive oil) goes on one side of the pan with the salmon (rubbed with a little olive oil on both sides) on the other side...it cooks about 25 minutes and I served the salmon on top of the veggies for dinner.

Joe's favorite was Crack Chicken Soup.  It was yummy too !  I had to look up why it is called Crack and it's because it can be addictive...duh!  A weird blend of ingredients...a packet of ranch seasoning mix, with other spices, spinach, heavy cream and cream cheese, and I cheated and used a rotisserie chicken. It is topped with crumbled bacon and sharp cheddar. 

I did experiment with chicken quesadillas.  Rotisserie chicken with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese topped with sour cream and avocados.  We have actually had them twice...so easy!  

We have had a few winter visitors...this sweet little Ladder-back female...

and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

So January is a memory...a very nice memory for us.  Lucy is growing like a weed weighing in at 12.8 pounds and a nice combination of playing and cuddling at 5 months old.  She is still testing the waters which is sometimes frustrating and sometimes very funny for us. But one thing is for certain...we sure do love her !

 

She loves to sit and watch the birds.

Until next time...

McDonald Park

HAPPY TRAILS!

Winter...

Corona de Tucson

January 12, 2025 

January was off and running with some really nice weather.  For about a week and a half, we enjoyed temps with highs in the low 70s - high 60s and lows in the 40s.  It was perfect Arizona winter weather for enjoying outside.  Add in blue skies, clouds, and no wind and you will usually find us in the glider in the backyard with the warm sunshine at our backs.   

Sunrise this time of year is around 7:15.  It's the time of year Joe and I can sleep a little later and thank goodness Lucy is in total agreement with the plan. 

Sunset this time of year is around 5:30 and perfect for a short walk with Lucy.  We are still working on walking with a leash and go for a couple of walks everyday.  Progress is slow, but we have hope! 

The biggest excitement at the oasis was having our home painted. We spent an afternoon moving plants and outdoor furniture...

We are very happy and have nothing but great praise for William Hernandez, owner of Arizona PRO 1 Painting, and his 2 employees who were efficient, steady, and did an awesome job. They arrived on Thursday (1/4) to pressure wash everything and returned on Friday (1/5) to do two coats of paint and a sealer.   They were polite to us and each other, worked together like a synchronized dance, and doubled checked to make sure we were happy and pleased with the job they did.  

William is liscened and bonded and guarantees his work for 5 years.  After 5 years he said we would notice the color fading...the paint is still good, but the heat and sunlight fades the color.

We kept the body and the trim the same color, but changed the front door to an English Forest green.   

We won't paint every 5 years, but the fresh paint sure makes a huge difference.  

 Wednesday the weather changed...it was so windy (the air quality was awful) we could hardly see to get to the grocery store.  The mountains disappeared behind a haze of sand and dust.  And though the photo doesn't show it, driving was a bit of a struggle.  

I am always keenly aware that Desert Valley Fever (often misdiagnosed as pneumonia) is caused by a fungus that grows in the desert soil.  It causes infection in the lungs when inhaled and humans and pups can get it. Lucy only goes out to potty and we cover our noses.   

The temps dropped, the clouds rolled in and we actually had snow flurries. 

There has been a freeze warning since Wednesday which continues through Monday I think.  It actually looks like winter outside.

The patio reminds me of a nursery and the torch cacti in the yard are covered with black yard bags. 

The other three shelf unit is on the back wall filled with flowers and cacti too. 

The birds have been busy at the feeders...

the cardinal visits at dawn and dusk...

and this sweet little Costa's spends it's day perched out of the wind.

And who can ignore the first full moon of 2025 ?  

January's full moon is the Wolf Moon.  We haven't heard any wolves, but, the coyotes have been howling up a storm the past few nights.  

Joe and I actually like the weather change and a new season for awhile.  Home is cozy and warm and we are so happy to be here.  

I love the way the sunshine fills the kitchen this time of year.

Lucy is just like Dover was...she will find a small spot of sunshine for a nap if we aren't napping.

And this week we added tiny pieces of frozen bananas with the frozen blueberries for a treat. She is growing like a weed and weighed in at 11.6 pounds last Friday.  

Back on the east coast, Felix and Edith had snow on Friday that turned to ice overnight in South Carolina.

Felix discovers very quickly that ice isn't so great for snow angels !

But it is great for riding down the hill in a saucer.

 Edith rode down the steep hill all by herself in the video that this picture was taken from.  

And further north in North Carolina, Jill and Bill woke up to a beautiful snow on Saturday.  Their home and barn made for gorgeous photos.  

  

Until next time, a blast from the past...

Ronnie and Joe at La Jolla in January 2016...so many wonderful memories!

HAPPY TRAILS!