Afternoon at the Beach

We spent yesterday morning, walking to the French Market in downtown Wilmette, going to the plant nursery, then playing and having a picnic in the backyard.  After lunch, we walked to Lake Michigan, two blocks away, and played on the beach for a few hours.  It was a beautiful day, sunny with temps in the high 70's.  Perfect!

Audrey and I worked in her yard for a couple hours after we got back from the beach, then went for dinner in downtown Wilmette.  After dinner we watched the movie, A United Kingdom, based on a true story about King (later elected President) Khama of Botswana, and his British born wife.  The movie was very well done and I highly recommend.  We had a good day!

Baha'i Temple

Papa and I flew to Chicago yesterday, for a few days with Audrey's family.  We had a nice dinner and got a tour of all kinds of things last night, thanks to Lauren and Taylor - the flying machine box, dancing to piano music, hair bows and headbands...  After breakfast this morning, we played in the back yard on their new swing, then walked to Lauren's new school, and had lunch at a French bakery.

The weather was perfect, in the high 70's and sunny.  Their neighborhood is beautiful with shade trees and streets lined with two story pristine houses.  We continued our walk to the Baha'i Temple, about one mile from Audrey's house.  One of only eight Baha'i temples in the world, it is a beautiful structure of ornamental concrete, with nine sides and surrounded by nine gardens, with a single dome (symbolizing the unity of all people and religions under God).  This Temple was dedicated in 1953 after more than 30 years of construction.  I was particularly interested to learn of the core principles of the Baha'i Faith, which offer a lesson for everyone, certainly relevant in 2017, and include:
Freedom from prejudice
Equality of women and men
Spiritual solution to economic problems
Commitment to education and the search for truth
Harmony of faith, reason, and science
Highest moral standards

Pima Canyon Hike

I woke up at 3 this morning during a rain storm.  The rain was coming down at over 2.5" per hour, but it didn't last too long.  We got 1.7" overnight.  It was 67 degrees outside when we got up, so Papa and I drove over to Pima Canyon for a hike.  What a beautiful morning!  The creek was running and with all the rain over the past six weeks, the Catalinas are covered in grass and wildflowers, along with plumped up saguaros and leafed out ocotillo.  We hiked about 3 miles and enjoyed every moment.  Spectacular!

  

Afternoon with our BGC Kids

Most of the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson that we've worked with over the past five years are in college now.  We invited them for lunch yesterday and six were able to come.  They arrived at noon.  We had a simple lunch of sandwiches, chips, and fruit, with ice cream sundaes for dessert.  We sat at the table and talked for four straight hours, while everyone shared the details of their summers.  Alan did a month long study abroad program in Australia, Rudy went to Mexico for a month, Sergio worked and completed high school graduation requirements (a year early), David interned at a biomedical engineering firm and worked full time, Karla worked and went to Disneyland, and Destiny went to a UA Science Camp, interned in a doctor's office, and went on a trip to DC and NYC.  We're also proud of those that couldn't come yesterday for one reason or another.  Meybelyn has worked two jobs all summer - retail and restaurant, Gabi and Alex did internships in Maryland, Erika attended a weeklong science camp at Biosphere, and Tatiana shadowed doctors while on a trip in Cameroon.  All good stuff!  We are so proud of all of them!

The last ones left at 6 pm. Just after I put everything away, I looked out the window at this amazing "after" sunset.  A beautiful way to end the day!

Mexican Bird of Paradise

This Mexican Bird of Paradise is blooming in our front yard.  The yellows and oranges are bright and happy.  They make me smile every time I drive into the garage.

  

Cloud Buildup

I took this photo while standing in our backyard.  The clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains were expanding straight up by the minute.  I love watching the clouds build up over the mountains during summer monsoon season.

Barrel Cactus

If it's August in southern Arizona, barrel cactus are blooming!  These blooms are in our garden.  Barrel cactus blooms are among my favorite, because the plant itself is so harsh, with long spines, some fishhooked.  The flowers are quite delicate and the blooms remind me of thinly folded velvet.  Just beautiful!