Sunday, March 12, 2017

March 6 - 12, 2016, AZ

You Sunday, March 12. Here it is, Sunday morning, and I realize that I haven't written a thing all week.  It's been a good one, a busy one, and here's what's been happening:

     Packing - the dining room cabinets, clothing, extras donated, disassembled patio swing
     My job - only one this week
     A hike - around the Gilbert Riparian Preserve
     Highlands events - meeting, distributed directory update sheets, collected them,
          Omelette breakfast
     Dinner with Chandlers and Hooveys
     Haircut
     FaceTime with the grandkids

And today, it is another hike - the Old Jeep Trail at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with Jim and Sue and Tom.  Pat has a sinus infection and can't go.

Our hike was very enjoyable, but we all agreed that we should have started out a bit earlier.  It was close to noon when we finished the 4.6 mile trek and it was getting pretty warm by then.  Needless to say, I got right in the shower to wash the grime and sweat off my body and then relaxed and took a little nap.

Firecracker Penstemon all through the wash.

This cluster around a fallen fish-hook cactus had yellow, white, orange, purple, blue, and red.

My hiking buddies, Tom, Jim, and Sue.

This gnarly old Saguaro was only 2 inches thick near the bottom right side.

I had a nice conversation with Rita and then Jill called to talk about their summer calendar so we could coordinate and I can help them with some child care relief and schedule my outings when they have vacation.  

Camille was supposed to be napping, but was sitting next to Jill instead and she wanted to talk and boy, did she talk.  She told me she was excited about my moving there and she would help me do some painting if I needed it and she would help me decorate.  She wanted to know when I was coming, so I told her it would be close to my birthday and maybe we could celebrate together.  She asked what kind of cake I wanted and I told her coconut - she said she liked chocolate and was trying to persuade me that chocolate would be better.  Our work-around was chocolate cake with some coconut on it.  What a doll! Her speaking skills have really improved since I left there last October.