Great Day With Family

Trevlyn spent about 3 hours here today helping Cindy set up an Etsey shop/account and a business blog. This talented sister will be showcasing and selling custom painted furniture in the near future. I know her work and it will be spectacular...stay tuned for the grand opening.

Also spectacular in my book is Trevlyn's abilities on the computer. What great work you did today. Much thanks for your hard work and generosity.

Afterward, we treated ourselves to a yummy lunch at Macayo's. I'm loving their sweet corn tamale with Baja sauce. Great day with family.

Where Did 3 Weeks Go???

Sister Cindy flew home to Oregon yesterday so that also ends my vacation. What fun we had and I can never get enough time with my family. Love and miss you already Cindy.
Here are a few pictures taken when we spent a day in Scottsdale.

The art of Dave McGary was something we specifically went to see and it was sooo worth it.
Expressions Gallery Scottsdale.

Chief Joseph,
story of this sculpture and history here.

Flower in fountain close to the gallery.

Time spent at The Borgata of Scottsdale is always fun too.
This is where we ate lunch.

Two Plates Full is a must. Such fun, fun objects.

I sat down a bit and just listened to the music of this waterfall.
Okay, this is an online picture and . . .

. . . this is what I took with my cell phone.

Now that MY vacation is over, I better get to work. I have much to do just to keep up and then there is the family reunion that needs much planning and execution. MORE FUN.
I am blessed.

Kitty Update

Here's Hazel and Cisco.

I found them napping in the back patio fountain.

Wouldn't you know when I rescue the two cuties a darling tuxedo kitty would show up too. Poor thing is very skittish and won't let me come near.

Now I'm feeding 3 cats and that's okay with me. TK (you guessed it, for Tuxedo Kitty, named by my sister Cindy who adores Tuxedo cats) only comes to eat when the coast is clear.

And that's often . . . now that Hazel

and Cisco are indoor cats.
Short story - stray came and pounced on my kids and SLK and I brought the kids right inside. They are adjusting well and we are learning the ins and outs of
Cat-parenthood and
Litterbox 101.
Hazel above on my desk and Cisco below lining up to board the ark.
Cats think they can go anywhere and everywhere.

Thankfully my daughters are all cat owners/lovers and I'm getting great advice.
I keep remembering my precious mom telling me as a child that I should be a veterinarian because of my love of animals. I really do think we that love animals are so richly blessed.

Cindy arrives tomorrow from cold, rainy Oregon for a 3 week stay.
Let the fun begin!

I'm Being Thanked!

And it makes me feel good. Thanks Oregon...but especially thanks to my family.

Appreciating my guest room.

Beautiful flowers at both sisters homes and wherever I looked.

Jody and Ed.

Sweet sister Cindy

One of the first things on my home to-do list is to take my computer in for hopefully a small fix and not hear that I need a replacement. When I'm up to speed I'll blog from home and add more photos from the trip. Wow, this was the first trip here that I haven't taken oodles of photos.

Love and kisses to the family here and across the country. Love you!

Withdrawal

Cindy left yesterday following her fun-filled 2 week stay.

What fun! This old house seems rather quiet now.

Here is a little pictorial account of our playing and doings.

We immediately hit the road for Utah and darling grand Owen's baptism.

This drive started well and we both loved the red rock country.

Just South of Provo we hit really bad weather conditions and they continued until we reached "home" at Dori's in Farmington. This photo is the first morning there and doesn't show how bad it was. It snowed all 3 days there.

The snow in Dori's garden did some damage but most survived.

This dashboard picture confirms just how cold it was.

We each had our seat warmers on at this point.

Sneaky sister took this picture of me while driving and

it looks like I just napped the whole time I was driving....and mouth breathed.

Not so.

Funny.

Snowy and very icy roads driving home but the scenery was gorgeous.

Big, big accident on the 40 West of Flagstaff had what seemed like a couple of hundred trucks on the side of the road. When we were there the accident had that part of the road closed for 6 - 8 hours. We crept along a 5-6 minute stretch for about 35-40 minutes.

Luckily the I-17 wasn't affected.

Back home to the Arizona sunshine, too high of temps

but pretty mornings, flowers, bird songs and relaxation.

We were grateful for the A/C when necessary in the late afternoon.

Seemed everywhere we drove in the valley we saw clouds of yellow blossoms from the palo verde trees in bloom.

Last day together Cindy fixed us a healthy, delicious lunch salad of tomatoes,

creamy mozzarella cheese and my freshly picked basil from a "garden pot".

Add a drizzle of EVOO, kosher salt, garlic powder and for Cindy

some freshing cracked pepper from our dear mother's old pepper mill.

Cindy is such a good cook and always teaches and inspired me.

Love and thanks dear sister.

I'm sorry I don't have baptism day festivities photos or Nally family fun pictures together here of our swim and Barro's pizza dinner. Maybe I can "snag" some Owen pictures from Annette's blog. It was so great being with all our dears.

Cindy had a much delayed flight but safe trip home.

She's reported she's back in rain, cold and clouds.

I know her summer will be great and I'll be there to have fun with her

and Jody and extended family.

I'm feeling blessed, very blessed with my precious family.

Happy day, msk

Ready or Not!!!

Here she comes . . . my sweet sister Cindy . . . from chilly, rainy Portland, Oregon. I'm so excited to have her here for 2 weeks. And I am not ready but she will be gracious and understanding of my unfinished kitchen and multiple "piles" I am sorting to take up to Utah later this week. She will understand the spackle that dots various rooms awaiting to be sanded then painted. She will understand that area in the backyard that really needs weeding. We will laugh often and no one will understand our humor and just how hard we do laugh. We will do fun stuff and then we will do stuff that is just old regular stuff but we will have so much fun while doing it. Safe flight dear one. You are in my prayers.

Still sorting and sorting and sorting through waaaay too much stuff. I found this canister of turmeric.

Try and purchase some today and see how much it will cost you!!!

The stamp says 13 Aug 76 !!!!

I almost don't want to toss it . . . it's so

vintage !

Cindy is really, really good at tossing.

She will be such a big help when I want to

hold-on to stuff I shouldn't.

Happy day, msk

She Asked...

...for a photo of my blooming ranunculus. That's Cindy you know. We sisters/cousins are just a bit into flowers. A Big Bit. Well, I grabbed my camera and went into the backyard to get that photo for Cindy. . . and then I just kept on taking photos. Here are just a few. Really, I edited a lot.

Ranunculus in the shade.

My sisters both love orange.

Love this pure white.

More and more and more flower pics. Dwarf Pygmy Date Palm surrounded by too much...geraniums, margarita daisies, petunias and a random ranunculus. I love the tiny solar lights stuck into the flower pots that give off such a lovely light all night.

I got this idea from Skippie.

Lemon and heavenly, fragrant blossoms.

French lavender.

Lisbon lemon just planted after 6-7 years in a pot.

Cherry tomato and flat leaf parsley. I also have sage in this pot.

I told you the lobelia is just starting to bloom.

Soon they will cascade over the edge in fullness.

I love these petunias that are purple with a green edge called Mostly Picasso.

All the Margareta daisies are volunteers from last spring.

Part of the vegetable "garden". Now it's tomatoes and zucchini.

In another area I've got lettuce and spinach.

You did ask Cindy ;) Love and kisses.

Happy day, msk