La Encantada

Our neighborhood is just across the wash from La Encantada shopping center.  On most days, I either walk through La Encantada or it is my turning point.  Since my walks are early in the morning, the courtyards are always quiet.  We regularly shop and eat at La Encantada.  We're going to Humble Pie today for lunch.  Going to Frost for gelato is always a treat!  We love the convenience of having shopping and restaurants within walking distance and seeing mountains in every direction.

 

Photo Contest Reception

We attended the UA Study Abroad Photo Contest Reception yesterday afternoon in the Union Gallery on the University of Arizona campus.  We were greeted by various UA Study Abroad office people and given a "whisper tour" by Frank, of the winners.   He announced the winners later to everyone.  I took photos of the photos.  They were wonderful!    The photos were taken by students, all amateur photographers, all over the world in UA Study Abroad programs.  

We were joined at the reception by two of our Boys and Girls Club "kids," Alan and David, both seniors at UA.  We met Alan and David when they were still in high school and we've stayed in touch and kept up with their lives over the years since.  They joined us for an Italian dinner after the reception, at Caruso's on 4th Avenue.  Alan studied abroad in Australia over the summer, and David is looking at programs abroad for next summer, before he goes on to medical school.  Our friend, Lisa, with UA Study Abroad talked with David during the reception about myriad programs he is interested in.  We had a good afternoon and evening!

Fall is in the Air

Over the past few nights, low temperatures have dropped to the high 50's, so that taking my morning walk and Papa taking his morning bike ride, are really enjoyable.  We want to be outside!  This morning, I was aware of the ripening prickly pear fruits, leaves turning yellow, dried pods of mesquite beans, and the last blooms on barrel cactus.  It was a beautiful morning in the desert!

Rudy and Sabrina's Birthday Party

Last evening we went to a birthday party to celebrate Rudy's 20th birthday and Sabrina's 16th birthday.  As always, Gloria's dinner was delicious, with carnitas, homemade mole, rice and beans, flan, and so much more.  We saw many of their family we had not seen in a few months and met several of Rudy and Sabrina's friends.  The party was in their back yard and the temperature was perfect, in the 70's.  We left all the kids playing pool.  Fun!

Royal Palms

I made a reservation for last night in Phoenix, because Papa had an appointment at Mayo Hospital for an annual checkup yesterday morning.  Late the afternoon before, his appointment was cancelled by Mayo, but since we had hotel and dinner reservations, we went on to Phoenix yesterday morning.  We had a nice lunch then checked into the Royal Palms Resort around 2.  We've stayed there a few times before.  I like the Royal Palms because of its location on Camelback and because of its history and old world feel.  It was built as the winter home of a New York financier in 1929, and became an inn in 1948 with a second owner building several new casitas.  Royal Palms Resort has evolved over the years and is a beautiful place to stay and enjoy the spa facilities.  I was fortunate to have the jacuzzi in the spa all to myself for about an hour yesterday afternoon.  A real treat!

We enjoyed dinner at T. Cook's, the hotel restaurant, with the CDH Foundation Board, on which Papa serves.  Each of them is proud of the Arizona students benefiting from CDH scholarships.  They continue to tweak their programs to benefit more kids.  

     

Ribbon Cutting

A few months ago, the CEO, Development Director, and former President of the Boys and Girls Club Board, came to our home to ask if we would be willing to have our name put on something at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson.  We chose the Learning Center.  Several people were involved in planning and executing this afternoon's ribbon cutting event, led by Lee.  We enjoyed every moment!

We arrived precisely at 5:15 to a red carpet welcome with a crowd of BGC kids waiting by the door and our names on the building above the doorway.  After lots of hugs and several photos, we went up the elevator and found a room crowded with BGC kids we've known for several years, kids we've recently started working with, Board members, staff, and more.  After lots more hugs, there were a few speeches, bouquets of flowers, and then the ribbon cutting for the new sign above the door for the Learning Center.  We enjoyed dinner with everyone, and a planning session with all the kids applying for 2018 Youth of the Year.  David, Alan, and Paola, three of our Boys and Girls Club kids from the past four years and former Youths of the Year, spoke.  We couldn't have been more proud of them!  We are privileged to spend time with so many at the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.  They are amazing young men and women.

     

Rillito Park Farmer's Market

We were up early and the morning was cooler than usual, so Papa and I drove down to Rillito Park to walk along the Rillito River.  We walked about 4.5 miles, enjoying the morning with lots of others on bikes, running, and walking.  Tucson is fortunate to have over 100 miles of shared use paths, for bikers, runners, and walkers, no motors (http://bikeaz.org/tucsonloopbikepath/), and more connecting paths under construction.

The Rillito Park Farmer's Market was in full swing when we finished our walk, so we took a look  at the fresh produce and stopped to listen to a middle school mariachi band. https://www.heirloomfm.org/markets/rillito-park/  There were kids playing soccer and baseball in the fields adjacent to the Market.  Loved seeing so many people enjoying the outdoors!