The Rest of Marianne's Visit

Sunday, December 1, 2013

We began December with a slow quiet day after all the excitement and activity over the past week. Dylan had a hockey game that Rich, Marianne, and I attended. He is in the dark uniform on the right.

Since this is how my daughter bundles up at the hockey rink is it any wonder that I can state unequivocally that she will never live in a cold climate?

After the game we went to the kids' house and visited with the rest of the family. 

Jackson and Gpa were playing Words with Friends against each other, sitting side by side!

Monday, December 2, 2013

There were still a few things we wanted Marianne to see before she left on Wednesday. There is an exhibit of Dale Chihuly glass at the Desert Botanical Garden; we loved the one five years ago!

For dinner that evening we took her to Organ Stop Pizza. That is just the coolest place! The pizza, pastas, and salad bar are great but the real attraction is getting to hear the incredible music from the world's largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in a casual, family-oriented atmosphere.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 

We were running out of time so decided that today we would drive up Apache Trail into the mountains we love so much.

Goldfield Mountains

Canyon Lake in the background

Tortilla Flat is a little "town" along the way. There is a small history museum, a couple of shops, and of course, a  saloon!

We continued on our way, running out of paved road shortly after leaving Tortilla Flat. The next four photos were taken at Fish Creek Hill.

We turned around at Fish Creek Hill and returned to Tortilla Flat for a late lunch at the Superstition Restaurant & Saloon. Every inch of the interior is covered with dollar bills, even the ceiling.

Marianne is keeping an eye on the rattlesnake skin mounted above our table.

Long story, but when we were all in California, the nieces started calling "JOCKO!" to each other so, in honor of that family joke, Rich wrote that on a dollar bill that we left to be permanently posted by the staff.

While we were eating, Marianne noticed this Capitol Records 45 rpm record on a high shelf. Rich and I met when we both worked at Capitol Records, him in L.A. and me in Jacksonville, IL, making that a most very cool coincidence.

Another unique part of the place was the women's restroom. These are the stalls so when you are standing inside one, you take on the persona of a saloon girl...loved it!

Of course no trip to AZ would be complete without a hike in the mountains. Here is Marianne hiking; you can see the trail meandering away behind her.

It was good to get home and relax after that grueling mountain hike...

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Since Marianne was flying home later in the day, we just went to the Superstition Mountain Museum which is just a few miles from our house. It's a small museum but they have some interesting displays. When we were browsing through the gift shop, Rich discovered a book written by the original owner of our house! How about that? It turns out that he has written several books about the history of the area so we bought one, of course.

Another favorite, we have so many, place to eat is Rubio's which has the best fish tacos anywhere in my humble opinion. We took Marianne there for lunch before taking her to the airport. It was great having her here for ten days and having the opportunity to share just a few of the things that we love about this area.

Sadly, by the time we were driving home from the airport later in the afternoon, I knew I was getting sick. It turned out that I was extremely ill for the next several days and still have no idea what would have caused such a variety of ailments at once. Anyway, by the time I could function at all we would Christmas shop for a couple of hours then I would crash and Rich would wrap gifts and care for me and do everything, I mean everything.

I had my strength back in time to do a little baking with the kids and to celebrate a most wonderful Christmas with our AZ family but do wish I had been able to participate more in the preparations. As soon as I can, I'll post about our Christmas.

Lovin' Life ~~ Healthy Again

An Evening Drive Up Apache Trail

There's a road up into the mountains, not far from our home, called Apache Trail. I love that drive but, with all that happened last winter, we were only up there once. Again this year we have been so busy getting settled that we had not yet made time; today we made time. After chores and errands and shopping (more on that later!), we came back home to get The Girls and took a drive up Apache Trail.

The sun was getting low, setting the mountains alight as we drove higher into the mountains.

This is Canyon Lake, which is only about ten miles from our house.

A wider view of Canyon Lake

We drove around the mountain on the left in the photo above and down to the marina at the lake. Even though they were closed, Rich located a person who could get us a brochure. We want to rent a boat and explore the lake. It is long and narrow with only what you see here accessible by road.

On our drive back the sun was nearly set.

The waxing crescent moon and Venus in the southwest sky.

The waxing crescent moon.

When we got closer to town, Rich took a dirt road up to a higher point on Lost Dutchman where we could see the lights of our winter city.

This is a gorgeous place and another thing to be ever thankful for, that we get to live part of the year in this natural splendor.

Lovin' Life ~~ And Arizona Mountains

California Lutheran University

This morning we drove to Thousand Oaks to visit my alma mater, California Lutheran University. Twenty years ago I graduated from this small university. Homecoming is being celebrated this weekend and my class reunion will be held on campus. When I received the invitation, knowing we would be here, I briefly considered attending. Reunions are not really my thing though so I didn't RSVP. I did want to visit campus and pick up something from the bookstore while we are here.

We have benefited tremendously in so many ways from my time here and the education received. It was exactly where I needed to be at the time. Here are a few photos of the always lovely campus.

The Luther Statue aka Enormous Luther

If you would like to know more about the history of this amazing statue and Martin Luther, here is a link: http://www.callutheran.edu/about/history/enormous_luther.php

Some of the many lovely flowers on campus.

If anyone knows what these incredible trees are, please let me know. There are lots of them where are camped too. The burls on them are magnificent!

Diversity Fountain and the unique architecture of many older campus buildings in the background.

But this, oh my, this is my favorite flower and there are many of them on campus. They were such a joy for me to see on a daily basis when I was a student here. These days, one of our nephews is a member of the crew that keeps this campus so breathtakingly beautiful.

How about this scene on our drive back to Simi Valley from Thousand Oaks!

And back at our campground, here are a couple more photos of some of the many awesome trees in this area.

This one, with its many burls, stands next to our motorhome.

Lovin' Life ~~ And Cal Lu

A One Day Vacation in Roswell

It's no secret that we LOVE Roswell. That's been well documented here on previous trips. Last night Rich found the most incredible radio station, you can stream it online at http://www.q971fm.com We stayed up so late reading, singing along (me), and talking while listening to the great music selection of old hits. We love the museums, the restaurants, the UFO kitsch, the shopping, and lots of other activities in Roswell. Something about the place, we always have such relaxed fun while here.

Of course we always visit the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, our favorite small art museum and we have seen a few on our travels. I've posted favorite works here before so took broader shots for you today.

See why we love this museum? For grins I'm going to also post a few special pieces...

This is a new piece titled "V-8 Hot Tub". The V-8 engine being fueled by gasoline from the military-style gas can to warm and pulse the water entering the tub, which is missing one leg so is supported by a concrete block. Totally amusing; we loved it!

I've never posted this piece in its entirety but any of you who have used the guest bath in our home within the past year will surely recognize one section of it!

This one had me laughing out loud. It's a hug pile of polyester-filled felt tubes. Here's part of the description on the artist card, "It is about materializing the...physical digestion...that make[s] up the cycles of daily life." Have you figured it out? It cracked me up wondering if Bella was trying to create a work of art by digesting all that "stuff" of her daily life.

From there we did a little shopping, then ate at what might be our favorite smoked meats restaurant, the Rib Cage. Yummm...they know how to do meat! I didn't even pick up my camera when the plates were set before us. I did take a photo of this though. Rich uses that phrase "Pie-Hole" so it was funny to see it on a table menu. That Blackberry Cobbler was delish too!

What would any visit to Roswell be without a few photos of the aforementioned UFO kitsch?

Lights along Main Street

We're out of here at the break of dawn tomorrow morning for the next to last day of travel...

Good night all!

Lovin' Life ~~ And Light Days of Laughter with MOAO