Cards Tonight

8/4/19 Made some mini cupcakes to serve at cards tonight. Mike and Candy, Patty, Karen and John and I for Shanghai. So much fun! ♥️♠️♦️♣️

Arizona Inn Stay

7/24 to 7/27/19  We realized last week that we were scheduled go up to Tucson for three appointments.  John had a rehab appointment at 9 am; I had a dental appointment at 10:30 am; and John had a dental appointment at 3 pm.  Too much driving back and forth!  It was the perfect opportunity to stay for a couple of days at the Arizona Inn.  Visit their website for the history behind it.  It originally housed a wood working shop that employed out of work World War I veterans.  Later, when the depression hit, the owners added the inn.  It has evolved over the years but has never lost it's charm.  Very old-fashioned and elegant and we love it.

Our little patio:

View from the croquet lawn.  

The ping-pong pavilion:

We didn't play ping pong, but we enjoyed the view.

Croquet is NOT my game:

The pool was lovely.  You could order cocktails and food from the snack bar, and every night they had an ice cream sundae bar in the pool house.

Perfect night for a Mojito:

Reading an actual book from their library.  I'm a Kindle gal, but that was fun.

Relaxing on the patio:

The library.  We played cards there in the evening each night.

With drinks, of course!

Monsoons

7/24/19  The monsoons have finally arrived.  Almost every evening the clouds roll up from the south and the thunder and lightening show begins.  Sometimes no rain at all, but when it does - Yikes - its quite a deluge.

Southern view from our patio:

Western view from the patio with the storm coming in:

Meanwhile - out front - you wouldn't know a storm was gathering.

This roadrunner patrols our yard, but today I looked out and he was sitting on the patio couch.  By the time I snatched up my camera - he was on the move again.  Very scary looking bird and a real threat to other birds, especially our baby quail.

My Little Hummingbird

7/13/19

Here is my little friend, sitting on his swing on the bird feeder.  He spends an hour or so there every morning guarding his feeding spot.  He's becoming famous.  All my friends want to stop over to see him, and I have to post photos daily!  I dread migration time in the Fall.

Cardiac Rehab at the U of A

7/11/19  Today is our first rehab appointment at the U of A Hospital in Tucson.  The facility is state-of-the-art and the staff were wonderful and encouraging.  We decided to make an occasion of it and have lunch at the Arizona in.  It is on the same street as the rehab facility and only a 2 minute drive from the parking garage.  One of our favorite spots.

Heart-healthy lunch for us both!

It was 104 degrees that day, but the fans and misters made it possible to dine on the patio.

Tom's Birthday Party

7/7/19  We had a birthday party for our dear friend, Tom Marier, at our house.  B made the cake!

Good ole Tom!  King for the day or at least until the next birthday:

Catching his breath to blow out the candles:

B, Candy, Carole, John, Tom and Mike:

B's German Chocolate Cake:

Our 2019 Seneca Lake Trip

8/1/19  The whole family took a trip back to Seneca Lake this past June.  We rented a cottage just down the road from Max and Pete's, on a private cove with about five other houses.  The cottage was beautiful and extremely well equipped.  We had everything we needed to make fabulous meals and desserts.  The three bedrooms were perfect!  John and I had the master suite, Stacy had the other front bedroom, and the three kids were bunked in the third bedroom.

Branaugh was staying with us in Arizona, so we travelled from Phoenix to Rochester together. B and I in our matching outfits!

The cottage from Plum Point road:

Uncle Pete, B, and Aunt Max:

Elise, Max, B, and Stacy in from of Max and Pete's cottage:

Max and Pete's "party boat":

A windy sunset cruise:

John and Max:

Cap'n Pete:

Little B:

Max and Elise:

John, just two weeks out from his MI, taking it easy!  It was the perfect place to relax.  Very quiet - the Women's Cup Football to watch - books to read - and games to play.

Max and Elise:

Rather a nice looking couple!  Yikes! They are cute!

Ma and Pa Kettle on the porch:

One of our fabulous breakfasts.

Tom's Famous Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs! No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to have them turn out as tasty as Tom's.

Putt-Putt and ice cream at Mac's:

Chicken Foot:

B, Max and Elise

Max's 18th Birthday Celebration:

The adults......

...and the kids.

Max and Elise:

Kayaking from our beach:

View of cottage from the beach:

The lifeguard:

B at the boat house.  She tried her hand at fishing, but the fish won.

Our baby doves!  They were nested in the wreath at the front door.  We were able to see them all take off for the first time.  Amazing!

Back of cottage facing lake:

Two beautiful weeping willows in the backyard:

Almost dinner time:

View from the back porch:

John enjoying the view of the shore from the middle of the lake:

Mama duck and EIGHT little ducklings!  They swam by every day:

It was the best vacation!  It was very special to have us all together in one spot - and such a beautiful spot!  We would love to come back.