4-30-11

Me: Though I did go mountain biking this morning the above photo is not from today (it's from "wedding week"). Bob and I went mountain biking with the "bride and groom" (in black) and other nieces and nephews. Most were trying mountain biking for the first time. They did great and it was a fun outing.

4-29-11

Me: I can not pass up a garage sale and today I scored! First I bought the brown shelves for $5. It's nothing fancy but I will be able to use it in our upstairs 2nd bedroom that we've made into a craft room/guest room. I need a place to hold paints, beads and supplies. I found the black cabinet at the same garage sale for a whopping $2.00. I love this thing...it's solid with character. It needs the inside shelf replaced and the left door fixed (doesn't stay closed) & then I intend to sand it down and distress it. Not sure if I'll stain or paint. So I have another project waiting in the garage (and Bob thought he was getting his garage back...sorry, honey).

4-28-11

Me: Janna came over today to look at some of the photos I had from her wedding. Here's one we liked of she and Andrew with grandma (mom).

4-27-11

Martin: Orange candle like cones on a Heath Bansia that flowers in autumn over here. 

Me: This is a photo from "The Wedding". It was the last song of the night - a send off song to the couple. Today I took my brother and SIL to the airport (they were the last of family to leave town). Now Bob and I will need to recooperate. We're still running in many directions but at least the wedding week whirlwind is behind us and thankfully it was a success.

Photo: Cami (nephew Jacey's girlfriend), Chad (nephew-in-law) & baby Caedrian, Monte (brother), Emily (SIL), Mom, Nancy (SIL), Curt (brother), Mike (best man, friend of groom).

4-26-11

Martin: Last train trip into the city before the school holidays end.

Me: With all the wedding festivities going on my birthday snuck up on us. However, it was a good day! Started it off with a 5:30am bike ride with the Tuesday Retro Riders. Later Bob and I joined my brother Curt, Nancy (SIL), Abbie (niece), Mike (her husband), Dawn (niece), Thomas (her husband), & Alice (their daughter, my great niece!) at the Arizona Grand for breakfast on the patio. Ended the day with Bob and I having a nice seafood dinner at Cafe Boa. I'll have to collect on my cake and ice cream next week. :-)

4-25-11

Martin: Cross country run at Uloola Falls.

Me: Bob and I arranged a rock climbing adventure. My nephew, Jerome, who is a first year school teacher in Iowa is new into rock climbing. It's impossible to find a mountain in Iowa so we thought it would be fun for Jerome to have a real life outdoor rock climbing adventure in Arizona. Laurel (our friend & expert rock climber), plus Bob and myself took Jerome, his girlfriend (Ashley), Reggie (nephew) and Chad (nephew-in-law) to rock climb The Praying Monk on Camelback Mountain. It was high adventure and a thrill for all of them.

Photo shows Ashley rapelling down from the top of The Praying Monk.

4-24-11

Martin: Wet weather over the Easter break and the garden is green.

Me: On Easter morning many of my nieces and nephews that were in town and I hiked Camelback we Mountain. It's a strenuous pump to the top, but well worth the climb for the 360 degree view of Phoenix. We all pushed it to the top...my time was 22:38. Jacey, my 21 year old nephew was 23:20 and Jerome came in behind Jacey. The rest all powered up with fast times. Great job everyone! Photo: Reggie, Jerod, Robby, me, Mitch, Lisa, Owen, Ashley, Jerome, Jacey (Jaime, Chad, Kyle & Logan also hiked to the top but did not get in this photo).

After the hike it was off to Easter church service followed by everyone hanging out at Janna's parents rental home for Brunch. Threw in a really cute Easter Egg Hunt for the little ones too.

4-23-11

Martin: Male Australian King Parrot. The female of the species looks completely different with an all green head. This is one of a pair that regularly visit a bird feeder outside or lounge window.

Me: My beautiful nieces (Janna & sister, Jaime).

Janna & Andrew's wedding was lovely. After much craziness, it all came together for a wonderful afternoon ceremony followed by fun games, delicious dinner, sweet wedding cupcakes and dancing under the stars. An incredibly long day filled with family fun and celebrating. Andrew and Janna are now husband and wife. Congratulations!

Video from this morning when we were setting up and decorating at the wedding site (our friend's farm). My nephew, Reggie decided to ride the resident donkey. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi0sk3YCqIA

4-22-11

Martin: Bansia that is flowering at this time.

Me: The wedding weekend itinerary was jam packed today. It included a casual 2 hour hike in South Mountain with some of the family that was in town. Then a bunch of us ate at The Original Burrito & Company (our favorite breakfast joint). Noon pedicures for Janna & the girls in town. All afternoon we played in the sun at The Oasis Water Park...lazy river, wave pool and giant water slides. Nieces and nephews had a blast! Tonight a group of us headed to my sister Joan's house for sunset dinner with her family. Spectacular. Poor Bob got the bad sore throat and cold that I had last week and he's been in bed all day. :-(

4-21-11

Martin: Excating in the garden to find the tree roots before they block the drain again.

Me: We hosted a picnic pizza party tonight. Blankets on the grass and games: bean bags, frisbee golf and bocce ball. It was a beautiful evening to greet family that had just arrived into Phoenix for Janna & Andrew's wedding. Photo: Logan (niece-in-law), Emily (SIL & mother of the bride), Kyle (nephew & Logan's husband), and Bob.

Video of our frisbee golf...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=775W8tCEWj8

Video of our night bocce ball...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAF2Ewi5aoU

4-20-11

Martin: Fresh out of the oven. Ruth trying her hand at baking bread.

 Me: Harley and I chill'n before the 3 of us took our walk on the golf course this evening.

4-19-11

Martin: The supplies are ready. The boys are organizing an Easter Egg Hunt for the young children next door. Interested to see if there are any eggs left when hunting time comes around!

Me: We're in the beginning of "Wedding Week". Bob and I delivered Welcome to Arizona packages to the 6 rental homes that family will be staying in. My sister and I made up the packages. They included chips & salsa, tea, granola bars, candy, sunscreen, lip balm, little kid's sunglasses, bowl of freshly picked citrus, the week's itinerary and a hand drawn map. Fun stuff. Janna's excited! More guests arrive tomorrow. 

4-18-11

Me: A photo to show just how much the rose bushes are blooming these days. They make me smile when I go out the door. :-)

4-17-11

Martin: Pic from tonight. Not quite a full moon.

Me: Chickens hanging out in the shade at our friend's farm. Pretty sure they were avoiding the 94 degree heat we had today. Summer has arrived in AZ.

4-16-11

Martin: Adrian crossing the Como Bridge.

Me: Bob and I did a fun ride this morning. 15 of us. 30 miles on dirt.

4-15-11

Martin: Another noisy ring-tailed possum from last night - very territorial.

Me: Bob is home again! He took this photo as he flew by Mt. Humphreys and the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. We've climbed to the top (12,637') of this mountain several times.

4-14-11

Martin: Daniel's crop of seedlings on the laundry window sill.

Me: Photo of the new carpet we had installed on the stairs the other day. I like it but Harley reeeaaaalllly likes it...it's much softer than the previous carpet.

4-13-11

Martin: Adrian and Daniel in the backyard playing table tennis.

Me: Girl's Night Out!
Heidi, Laurel and I went for a sunset mountain bike ride this evening. 20 miles of dusty trail, water bottles filled with Gatorade and a Powerbar for dinner...now that's a good night out. :-)

4-12-11

Martin: Shot of the town hall tower while we were in the city today.

Me: These are the flowers I purchased from our local grocery store. I used them at Janna's shower on Saturday and then brought a vase full home with me. They are staying so beautiful. Aren't they fun colors!?

4-11-11

Martin: Daniel and Adrian watching a restored loco pass through our local station on its way to Thirlmere Rail museum.

Me: Self-timer shot of Harley & I on our morning hike. I told Harley to look at the camera but she spotted a bunny.

4-10-11

Martin: How I work out if it is fine outside when I wake up in the morning - sunshine filtering through the blinds in our bedroom.

Me: A visit to the doctor for Bob's persisting infection in his elbow. Antibiotics should clear it up in a few days.

4-9-11

Martin: Daniel at 'Flower Power'.

Me: My sisters, Janna's Aunt Rena, Janna's friend Yasmin and I hosted a bridal shower for Janna today. It was a lovely afternoon with delicious food, visiting, games, opening of gifts and yummy cake.
L to R: Carol, Janna, me, Joan.

4-8-11

 Martin: Millepede on the front wall.

Me: Our morning road bike ride. Rode to the t.v. towers at the top of South Mountain. 61 temp - lovely.

4-7-11

Martin: Mock orange blossom.

Me: Can't get enough of our roses. Zoom shot.

4-6-11

Martin: Scribbly gum.

 Me: Happy Birthday to Harley!! She turned SIX years old today (same age as me in dog years). Harley had a good day: she went for a run in the desert to search out bunnies, napped in sun, rode in the car to the doggie bakery, had lots of treats, extra hugs, a birthday cupcake and a brand new bone to chew on. She's still gnawing on that thing now - she's in dog heaven.