Claire’s Family Visits

We met Claire and David, Emerson, and Colby, at the Wild Burro Trailhead at the Ritz Carlton, yesterday morning at 9:30.  Claire and David went on their way - to hike and have lunch at the Ritz, while Papa and I drove away with Emerson and Colby.  We went hiking in Catalina State Park, then had lunch on the patio of Smashburger, before going home by 1.  Papa spent a couple of hours in the afternoon, watching Tombstone with Emerson and Colby, filmed at various places in the area, including Old Tucson, Willcox Playa, and the Babacomari Ranch.  Claire and David came to our house in mid afternoon.  I made dinner and soon after dinner, Papa and the kids prepared to sleep outside on our guesthouse patio, under the stars.  

We had a slow morning.  I took the kids on a hike, through our neighborhood, to a friend’s back yard to see her garden, and to an adjacent neighborhood nature trail.  We were back home by 10 and playing Go Fish, then poker with Papa.  We had lunch together at Bottega Michelangelo before they started their drive home.  We love having Claire’s family within two hours, so that getting together for a day or two is easy and we love the time with Emerson and Colby!

Saguaro Demise

 As I was walking up the driveway two weeks ago, I heard something cracking.  I looked all around and noticed a saguaro in our front yard, cracking at the top.  Suddenly, within seconds, the top fell off along with two large arms, in a loud swoosh!  I ran in the house, got Papa, and we walked around the fallen saguaro arms, wondering if we could save the remaining two arms.  

Over the course of two weeks, the obviously diseased saguaro began leaking a smelly liquid substance.  When I went out the front door for my morning walk yesterday, the saguaro’s skin and remaining arms had slid down to the ground.  It is quickly melting into the ground.  We’re sorry to lose the saguaro and hope none of our other saguaros are affected.

Red Sun

Smoke from the California fires has covered the sky in much of Arizona, yielding a rising pink to red sun every morning over the past week.  It’s felt quite eerie.

Full Moon in the Morning

When I went out for my walk at 6:30 in the morning, there was a full moon with a partly cloudy sky.  Just beautiful!