5-31-12

Martin: Pic from the back garden this morning.

Me: Anna stopped by tonight and brought me this awesome gift: a chocolate high heeled shoe! Wow, how cool is that?!?!? :-) It was great to see Anna - she's been out of town racing for a professional women's bicycling team the past two months and they have a full schedule all summer. She's doing great racing and having a lot of fun seeing interesting places and making friends (something quite easy for Anna to do!). We definitely miss not having her around as much.

Bob and I are taking our pop up camper to Flagstaff tomorrow. We'll be back on Tuesday. We are doing the Barner Burner (104 mile mountain bike race) on Saturday. Monday we're meeting Pat and Bob as they come through Flagstaff on a Model A tour. Fun weekend ahead! 

5-30-12

Martin: Weather update.

Me: I unpacked 18 boxes yesterday and today I filled our china cabinet with Pyrex and more! Remember this china cabinet purchased several months ago at a garage sale for $35!? I have yet to oil the exterior or use brass polish on the knobs but already I'm glad we found this piece. I really like it...it's retro and it holds a lot of stuff. 

While unpacking I was able to fill three more boxes with items to sell at our garage sale (including 2 Pyrex bowls). Progress, yeah!

5-29-12

Martin: Hey, you got one of these too?

Yep, and we love it! We joke that we are drinking Australian water daily. Jane :-)

Me: Bob did a great job assembling & installing his closet today!! A huge step in getting organized and that always feels good. Good job, honey. :-)

5-28-12

Martin: Today's weather.

Me: Memorial Day; a day for flowers and honoring soldiers who died defending our freedom. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice. Thoughts & prayers for all.

5-27-12

Martin: How's the colour? Patchy with two coats already.

Me: Had our friends Sylvia, Veronica, Maya & Lily (Harley's dog friend) over for dinner this evening. After they left Bob and I took the blankets outside to curl up on the patio couch and just sit, watch, listen, and enjoy. Lovely night in Arizona.

5-26-12

Me: My mom flew back to Iowa today but before we went to the airport we stopped by a couple garage sales. So glad we did since mom found this picture ($1) that she adores (and I do too). It reminds her so much of her mom who gave piano lessons to many, including myself when I was young. My grandmother was a great pianist and loved to sing. I remember walking across town after school to her and grandpas home. She would first make me toast with just butter on it (I loved buttered toast - yummy) and then we'd sit at the piano for a 1/2 hour lesson. Those were special days!

My mom also wrote me a note on the back of this picture so I'll remember this day (and her trip to Arizona) for years to come. Bob and I will find just the right place in our home to hang this treasure. 

5-25-12

Me: We were busy all day with garages sales (found one small $1 item), errands to Home Depot, house projects (got some good things accomplished), visits from Kristen and Wendy and then Janna and Kavan came over for dinner. Bob cooked us a delicious salmon meal (thanks, honey) and we followed that up with a walk in the desert (notice the petroglyphs on rocks behind fence). Sad that tonight is mom's last day with us but very thankful mom has been in Arizona since April 1st! We're going to miss having you around every day, mom. You were wonderful company and great help too.
Thank you, thank you Mom!!! 

5-24-12

Me: What can you find?

1: Baby Kavan sleeping in his bouncy chair

2. Mom sleeping on the couch

3. Peanuts shelled on the table (thanks, mom)

4. Shop vac used to pick up the daily dust

5. Bucket of primer to paint the ceiling

6. yoga mat used for sit-ups while watching Live with Kelly

7. Water jug left over from our 5 hour ride (we left at 5am)

8. Sad looking concrete floor

9. Coupons for Home Depot

10. Pyrex bowl waiting for a garage sale (yes, I'm going to sell one from my collection)

5-23-12

Me: Guess what we're watching?! :-)  We're waiting for the announcement of the next American Idol. Will it be Jessica or Phillip?! I was hoping for Josh but he was eliminated last week. So, I vote for Jessica now. Oh, here comes the envelope!...and the winner is...

Phillip

I like him too! Good winning song. We'd buy his album.

5-22-12

 Martin: Been overcast since this morning with a bit of drizzle in the afternoon. Sun broke through just as the sun was going down.

Before

After


Me: James & Bob took out the old kitchen sliding door (which was permanently scratched, so dirty and single paned) and replaced it with a FREE double paned clear scratch free sliding door. Woo hoo! We can't believe our eyes - we can see through it!

5-21-12

Martin: Autumn leaves but they were late this year - only two more weeks till winter.

Me: Harley watching Bob water our cactus. Our neighbor, Patti again gave us a couple cacti. These do not need as much water so we planted them in the desert outside our backyard. Since they are newly transplanted (and it's crazy hot) Bob has been giving them a drink now and then.

5-20-12

Martin: Finn watching for the cat down the road to wake up.

Me: Started out the morning riding to breakfast at our favorite hippy cafe, Macy's. Then we continued on to the Arizona Trail. Scenic views through the canyon. We were tired but enjoyed the social outing with 13 from Vitesse. Photo by our friend, Steve.

5-19-12

Martin: Nice late autumn afternoon for the match.

Me: Bob & I did the Flagstaff 43 mile marathon race today. We were able to start at the same time & rode the first two laps together before Bob crashed. He luckily wasn't injured but did have to stop at our aid station to fix the crooked handlebars. Bob finished with a time of 4hrs & 30 minutes. I finished in 4 hrs 18min & no crashes. We joined the Phoenix crew later in the day & ate a greasy hamburger at the Lumberyard restaurant.

5-18-12

Martin: Looks like a fine day ahead as the moon sets.

Me: This is Aaron. That's me behind Aaron along with Bob and the rest of our group. We arrived in Flagstaff at 10:30am and wasted no time getting out to enjoy the cool weather. Aaron is hosting "mountain bike camp" at his cabin conveniently located across the street from the trails. BTW: mountain bike camp is just the name given to the weekend of friends getting together in the pine trees to enjoy some riding together. Fun!

5-17-12

Me: Mom, Harley and I on our evening walk at 7:30pm. Wish I could say that it was nice and cool out but it wasn't. It's 9pm now and 93 degrees.

Bob and I will be escaping this heat tomorrow. We're heading to Flagstaff with a bunch of friends to take in the pine trees & cool mountain air. Biking, relaxing, eating and shopping is also on the weekend schedule.

5-16-12

Me: Mom and I have been shopping for bedroom drapes. Found these two (tan on the left & colorful one on the right. I have a favorite but waiver on it still. No art work is on the walls yet which could make a difference. Well, what do you think?

5-15-12

Me: Photo from Saturday morning when many of our Vitesse team members gathered to set up the South Mountain race course, sign in registered riders, time the competitors and throw an awards party. Good work everyone!

5-14-12

Me: Can't tell from this photo but I'm sunburned, my toes are blistered, my neck is killing me, my hands are bruised, my low back is in pain and I'm soon to run out of water with 17 miles to go. And what you ask is so fun about biking 8,700 feet and 53 miles on a 105 degree day in Phoenix. 

I'll get back to you on that.

5-13-12

Me: Mom

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, a woman I've always admired. It's been very special to have her in Arizona for the past month and 1/2. I'm so thankful for her and for my wonderful mother-in-law, Pat.

Love you both! Happy Mother's Day to all moms!

5-12-12

Me: Bob and I worked with Vitesse, our biking team, to put on a local time trial race up South Mountain. It's Vitesse's once a year "job" and it's a great time. 140 racers entered the race. Bob and I assisted in sweeping the road course before the event and then pictured above we are stationed on one of the turns to direct and cheer the competitors.

5-11-12

Me: Our next door neighbor gave us these two little cacti from her yard. Apparently they are easy to transplant and thrive. Hope so. Last week when Pat and Bob were here we found a place in the corner of our yard as their new home.

5-10-12

Hello from Australia!

Me: For lack of a better photo I'm posting a picture of my grimy mountain bike chain.

5-9-12

Martin: Weather report in Sydney today.

Me: Weather report in Phoenix today.

Around 4pm the sky turned dark and at 5pm strong winds brought in a dust storm followed by rain (yeah for the rain). 

Photo taken out master bedroom window looking north.