6-30-14

Me: Love that face!

6-29-14

Me: Happy Birthday Eve, Wendy! Celebrating at Nello's with a bunch of friends.

Glad Bob was home to get in on the fun.

6-28-14

Me: I had Riley and Kavan this afternoon while Janna went to a seminar. Based on Riley's dirty knees I need to mop our floor! :-/

Glad I picked up some Play-Doh before the kids came over.

Kavan and I played it for hours! 

6-27-14

Me: Last night my sister, Carol and I met at the Phoenix Botanical Garden for their Thursday night flashlight tour. Carol and I bought a year membership several months ago and it's been fun to use our pass for special tours and exhibits! On the tour we met Prince, a King Snake. I don't like snakes but agreed to appreciate this guy because King Snakes eat Rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles.

A tarantula with a cricket (his food) above him. Bob and I have seen a few tarantulas in the wild. Most recently on our 4 Peaks hike last year.

Scorpion! These guys are just creepy and though I don't like them, I'm not scared of them. I have been stung twice (13 yrs ago) and it was similar to a bee sting with some goofy symptoms lasting 24 hours. Check out the glow scorpions have under a black light. It's a fluorescent protein on their skeleton that glows.

Carol and I explored the herb and vegetable garden. I love this sun dial with tiny golden barrel cactus. Pretty!

I also like this pergola. Rusted iron posts with a mesh covering attached with carabeaners. This is what I want to build in our backyard when we do some backyard landscaping.

We met the resident desert tortoise. They are cool and sadly endangered. Bob and I have come across one desert tortoise in the wild. It was about 7 years ago in South Mountain. Harley discovered the tortoise and went crazy.

Special guest at tonight's flashlight tour; Moccasin, a Great Horned Owl. Pretty sure I'd lose a stare down contest with him. :-)

A wise owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

Author unknown (1883). The poem and its moral were used in WWI & WWII.

Carol & I continued our walk admiring the unusual cacti. This looks like something out of Dr. Suess.

Gorgeous sunset to top off the tour and close out our night!

6-26-14

Me: The kitchen remodel is DONE!

 The grey grout blends well with the tile. Also installed some cool nickel finish outlets.

 

Feels great to be finished and enjoying the kitchen. 

Not sure it will make me a better cook but maybe?! :-)

6-25-14

Me: So Abbie and Mike came over for dinner at our house followed by a cruiser bike ride on the golf course. We were all having a great time on this warm night until...

Bob wiped out when his pedal broke off while he was riding. He went down hard and ended up with some pretty good scrapes but nothing serious (phew). We were able to finish out a nice ride and enjoyed the time with Mike and Abbie.

6-24-14

Me: Tunnel Vision.

Jogging through a tunnel on our golf course run this morning.

6-23-14

Me: Back home with Harley. She is showing off her second shave of the year. 111 degrees today so she needs it! Her haircut brings out the cute spots on her tummy.

Bob gets a couple days at home! We're having a relaxing afternoon indoors.

6-22-14

Me: Today was a fun and well executed surprise for Pat & Bob's 50th wedding anniversary! Behind this 5 ft x 7 ft homemade poster of their wedding party were their good friends Sally M. (maid of honor) and Sally P. (bridesmaid) and Andy (Sally V's husband and Bob's best friend & engineer co-worker from NASA).

Here we are hiding behind the poster waiting for Rod to lead Pat & Bob out of the house.

Their reaction to the poster and then the shock of us and their best friends appearing.

Lots of smiling, laughing and hugs!!

The ladies even brought their pink bridesmaid dress and head piece. Love that! 

Mary Mia, Rod and the girls coordinated the surprise. Bob and I flew in from Phoenix. Andy and Sally drove from Minnesota and Sally M. flew from Maryland. Such a special day to reflect back on their wedding day and hear stories of how they all met, college days and the years that followed.

Bride and groom cake topper from 50 years ago.

The celebrating continued all day with croissants in the morning, sandwiches for lunch and anniversary cake for dessert.

Cake & a kiss. The beautiful bride and groom.

 Congratulations on 50 years! Sounded like a perfect day for them in 1964 and it was a perfect day celebrating them in 2014.

Here is a video link of the surprise…

50th Wedding Anniversary

6-21-14

Me: Harley and I started hiking in the dark (4:30am - her idea). We made it to some interesting South Mountain ruins. Bob and I have biked to the ruins before but not beyond as the trail gets steep. Harley & I were up for the steep climb that took us to the top of the mountains shown behind this crumbling fireplace.

This suspected old mining resort was built around the 1950's. Little is actually known about it. It was a fun 1.5 hour excursion & we didn't get hot (thanks to Harley's start time). Now we're staying indoors for the rest of the day. :-)

6-20-14

Me: June 20, 1964

Today is Pat & Bob's 50th Wedding Anniversary!

What a beautiful bride and groom. Congratulations!!!

Bob's parents are a wonderful example of friendship & love. Wishing them the most wonderful day reflecting back on their wedding and 50 adventurous years as husband & wife. We love you, Jane & Bob

6-19-14

Me: Harley is the best hiking pal. She never turns me down for a morning run but she does insist we go before sunrise to beat the heat. Today we left the house at 4:45am. Love that dog!

6-18-14

Me: Cactus skeleton seen on my hike with Harley this morning.

Rainbow seen on Bob's flight into Ft. Meyers this afternoon.