Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

  Scott and I walked around Tubac with another
couple on Luminary night.

We went to Tucson for a Christmas play at
The Gaslight Theatre and later in the month we went
on a wagon ride around Winterhaven in Tucson
to see all the houses decked out for Christmas.

You can see the heads of people at the bottom of the
photo which shows you the height of this tree. Stunning!

Classic Charlie Brown characters ...

to a TARDIS from Dr. Who. 

This is just a small sample of what we experienced.

From our house we can see the
Fred L. Whipple Observatory on top of Mt. Hopkins
so we went to a Stargazing Party. Local astronomers set up
their telescopes in the parking lot and we could view Uranus,
double stars, nebula's, and Pleiades. There was about
120 people who attended. Click on the link to
find out what that thing is in the photo above.

Saguaro Santa

We wish you a Merry Christmas and God bless your New Year!

Green Valley, Arizona Attractions

The first thing we saw as we entered the Sahuarita Pecan

 Festival was this 1939 Chevy Sedan Limo. 

Originally built for airports and hotels, this car was used during 

WWII to transport University of Arizona athletes to 

and from games and activities. 

We enjoyed the live music as we walked around to see the 

harvest equipment, antique tractors, engines, 

tractor pulls and food vendors.

Shaker

This machine removes nuts from the trees
with an off set cam assembly.

Harvester

Picks nuts up off the ground.

We enjoyed a hay ride through the pecan orchard as they

shared the history and harvesting process.

Here is a Shaker in action.

An antique tractor powers two old fashion ice cream makers.

Yummy homemade ice cream with pecans! 

Nothing is wasted here. They use the pecan shells
 in the parking lots and walkways. 

Another local attraction is the Canoa Ranch.

Video about the Canoa Ranch

Howell Manning Sr. residence is a 4,700 sq. ft. adobe 

home which is still waiting to be restored.

Beautiful view from the house looking onto
 the Santa Cruz Valley.

We had an excellent guide who was extremely knowledgeable.

She is standing in front of a canal gate. 

Foreman's Home

Grijalva Home

Constructed in 1915

Retaque Corral

It is considered one of the finest remaining examples in
Arizona and one of the ranch's most unique feature.

Derived from the Spanish work "retakar" meaning "stack-up".

Each wall is approximately 24 inches wide 

and five to six feet high.

The ranch was known as one of the most progressive

ranches in the Southwest with extensive holdings,

purebred cattle and horses.

 They recycled old pipes and used them for fences.

 

Besides some local attractions,

I have been busy participating in water aerobics, 

learning something new at the Forum Club every Wednesday, 

visiting neighbors, cooking turkey, dressing, and gravy 

for 50 people. Scott delivered a few meals to those who 

couldn’t attend Thanksgiving dinner at the clubhouse, 

helped a neighbor replace his deck floor, 

and has been watching lots of football.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. 
Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” 

Henry Ford

A Quick California Visit & Arizona Petroglyphs

A short four-day trip to California to see Stephen and Julia.
 To avoid San Diego's traffic Julia suggested going north at
El Centro on 86 by the Salton Sea and then west on 78
through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

 As we drove through Ocotillo Wells State
Vehicular Recreation Area on Friday we saw many
dune buggies, and four wheelers preparing to spend
the weekend tearing up the sand.  

More winding roads through California. 

Hundreds of artist converged to participate in the one-day
Carlsbad Village Faire. We gained a lot of respect for the artist 

and all the work it takes to create, set up and tear down in a 

12-hour day.  We were glad to help and grateful
for the time with family.

On the way home we stopped to see Painted Rock
  Petroglyphs, west of Gila Bend, Arizona.

See if you can find some of these petroglyphs

 in the photos below. 

It is amazing how many are in this small area.

This is part of the Southern Historic Trail.

 Painted Rock Mountains 

 One of the many benefits of retirement is you can go places

 on Monday afternoon and it isn't crowded.

Another beautiful sunset in Arizona!

Dust Off Those Walking Sticks!

Yeah! We are on the trail again.

We went to Madera Canyon and selected 

Old Baldy Trail in the Santa Rita Mountains.

It is located just southeast from our house. 

Initially our plan was to go for an hour 

and turn around since we haven't 

hiked in several weeks. 

Bear warning! Maybe not the best choice. 

Another hiker said they haven't seen the bear 

since Memorial Day and we should be fine.

A rocky path but a beautiful sunny day!

 Great views!

Mt. Wrightson

 We live somewhere down there.

This lizard has a look that says,
 "Really, just what do you think you are doing up here?"

 He stopped to pose for us and show off his beautiful colors.

 A few wildflowers are still in bloom. 

Another lizard trying to hide.

 Interesting plant.

 We just kept hiking and hiking and hiking.

 There are always obstacles in life.

 We were not expecting to see this memorial.

I heard the author of  "Death Clouds on Mount Baldy"

earlier this year. She is the sister to one of the boys who

lost his life. You will have to read the book. 

 We made it all the way to Josephine Saddle!

 It took us three hours to climb and one hour 

and forty-five minutes to descend.

We are not fast because we like to stop, 

enjoy the views and take pictures. Okay, we are old too.

 We kept whistling and making noises

 just in case the bear was around. 

 What a hike! We did it! No bears, thankfully.

 The hot tub felt really good when we got home.

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.
 It will never fail you."
Frank Lloyd Wright