Saturday Feb 7, 2015

Morning Moon Shine Feb 7, 2015
I usually wake up around 6ish.  I still can't sleep in.  It's the nurse in me from all my 7-3:30 shifts. Dawn skies here are gray to light blue changing to deep daytime sky.  It's really quiet till the morning hikers start walking around the neighborhood.  Then the neighbor's dog announces possible attacking villains ( anyone who passes by the fenced in front patio.)  Fortunately, the dog is only outside for a short time in the morning.
I have discovered more interesting areas.  Come walk about with me.

Long eared rabbit walked the path with me.

This is a new park area.  I'm guessing the ceramic flower pots will be placed here.  There is an endless variety of rocks used for landscaping - different sizes and colors.

 HOA fees are $36 a month.  The common grounds are maintained.  Lucky for us renters, the resident here also volunteer to water new plants to ensure lovely parks.  Each of these desert plant grouping will each have their own flowers by late March.

Super large Aloe Plant, Cholla Cactus, Prickly Pear Cactus and Barrel Cactus

 This mini cactus garden is in front of one of the townhomes.  I love the variety of decorations

There must be a million types of cacti.  I have  never seen this one before.

 Very pretty rock garden

 I just found this park on the far north side of the complex.

The wonderful ceramic volunteers have really decorated this entrance.

 A real orange tree!!!

 Don't you love this sense of humor!!

We can see Hopkins Observatory in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Such an amazing view from Green Valley looking at the Santa Rita Mountains.  WOW

Hydro Therapy

Esperanza Swimming Pool
We finally had a peaceful morning to try the hot tub and swimming pool.  The pool cover is removed at 7am but we wandered over around 9am.  We had the entire place to ourselves.  Pool temp was 84 degrees, air temp was 58 with light breezes rattling around the palm tree fronds.  The pool is partially in the sun.  So we stayed in the sunshine and water walked and invented our own type of water aerobics.  Jim's legs felt fine.  Hopefully,  this will help him walk farther without pain.

 Hot tub with mountains in the background

 Lovely surroundings

Pedro Pelican stands guard over the "spa"

Farmer's Market Green Valley Feb 4, 2015

Wednesday is Farmer's Market Day.  Actually there are only 3 produce booths in this art/craft fair that has at least 40 booths.  Pottery, turquoise jewelry, silver jewelry, beaded jewelry, bakery goods, leather, fabric goods, photography, baskets, and southwest woven rugs.  Everything is beautiful but not exactly Wisconsin decor.

We got sugar snap peas, baking potatoes, butternut squash, yellow squash, celery, tomatoes and lettuce.  There was a new bakery stand that had mini individual quiches.  I chose leek and spinach. We had them for lunch.  They were very yummy.  That will be a "for sure stop" next Wednesday.

I am reluctant to post pictures since you at home are having a bad winter week.  The blue cloudless sky and bright sunshine is wonderful.  We saw our first hummingbird yesterday.    The morning doves and quails are out and about.

Love the cypress trees

Dakota, the chubby, "slightly offended on having to pose for a picture " bulldog says "hrmph"

Feb 3, 2015 First Walk About

Tuesday began with Esperanza Book Club at the Ramada.

 
14 ladies and 1 guy discussed Painted Ladies by Mary Clair Buchanan.  It is a semi historical novel about Edgar Degas' ballerina sculpture of The Little Dancer.   I managed to finish it last night.  It was an okay read as "back stories" can be.  The names of 3 daughters who all tried to succeed as ballerinas for the Paris Opera are known. There is a significant dark side to their struggle to avoid starvation.  And not all Opera attending gentleman had stellar motives.  The next book with be the Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro but I have till March 3 to finish that one.
  
Esperanza Estates has a hiking path that circles the complex.    This is our 5th year of spending some time in Arizona.  So I have learned to appreciate the desert areas. I have my favorite views and landscaped areas.   This is my first chance to check up on them.

This is part of the EE trail ( Esperanza Estates )

Saguaro DOWN!!
I was very surprised and disheartened to see this saguaro uprooted.  It seems that herds of roving javalinas like to dig for bugs under these full grown cacti.

This large agave plant is another casualty.  Fortunately, the rest of my walk didn't reveal any other damage.

 First flowers.  Green Valley has received more than the usual winter precipitation.  Now all that the plants need is some warm temperatures at night.  It's been in the high 40s at night the last few days

 Soon this entire bush will be light purple with tiny flowers

 Prickly Pear Cactus weathered winter just fine

 This is my favorite jasmine "tree"  No fragrant little white flowers yet.

 These asparagus looking shoots will bloom soon.

 Little red flowers maybe next week

This is my favorite Barrel Cactus.  Usually there is only 1 "head" on these.  This one, however is on steroids.

 
The majestic Santa Rita Mountains haven't changed.

 Volunteers work on these lovely ceramic flower pots that will be placed around the walking path.  This sunflower theme is so pretty.

This pot will feature lizards.

 Sunset looking west

 Last rays of sunshine light up the Santa Ritas

Glorious colors from clouds and the setting sun.  Good Night from Green Valley.









  

January 25, 2015  On the Road Again!!!
Time to leave for Arizona.  It hasn't been such a bad winter this year - just two shovel worthy snow storms in December.  We didn't have the bitter freezing cold temperatures either.  Still, memories of Arizona sunshine pull us away.

This is our 4th year of driving to the Tucson area.  We have our favorite destinations - never more than 8 hours on the road.  Rolla, Missouri is first on Wednesday night.  Some sun, some clouds, no road construction and a good drive.  Off to Elk City Oklahoma for Thursday night.  We ate at a great restaurant we found last year and managed to get the same booth.  Very unusual dill flavored rice with salmon for Jim  chicken for me.

The weather report on Friday indicated the beginnings of winter storm Linus would be coming up from Mexico with lots of rain turning to snow.  We considered waiting for it to pass us, but decided to try to get as far as Tucumcari. New Mexico.  We drove thru rain on Route 40 and watched the radar showing waves of rain, rain snow mix.  The Good Lord took care of us because the snow went thru Albuquerque hours before we got there.  The roads were wet but not freezing.

The fog was a little dicey, bur we made all the way to our planned destination, Socorro, New Mexico.

Saturday we drove to Willcox, Arizona with overcast skies and light rain.  Sunday dawned with sunshine fighting a mighty effort to get thru fog.  Weather Alert warned that dense fog shrouded all of southern Arizona and delayed many fights into Phoenix.  We waited till 11am and drove into clouds breaking up and blue skies breaking through.  Green Valley and 941 Calle de Regalo, Esperanza Estates.  

Since I know you in Wisconsin and Illinois are enduring a fierce blizzard, I won't post any pictures of Green Valley.  It is sunny, warm and incredibly hard to believe we are here again.
We send you our best wishes for a quick thaw.  If you can get away, come see us.  We do have that extra bedroom!!

Last Day In Arizona

Sigh.....time to come home to Wisconsin.   Today it is overcast.  Visibility is down. The mountains are shrouded and seem farther away than before.   We are packing, but it is more like stuffing the car.  The national weather map looks like stormy weather on Wednesday when we will be coming through the Midwest.  Driving home is the "un fun" part of snow birding.

Surprise!  The green barked Palo Verde tree also blooms.

The lavender and white stock flowers smelled so nice

 
Good bye roses

Someday, I hope to have a rose bush as healthy as this one. More than 20 blossoms

Good night Green Valley, Esperanza Estates.  We had a wonderful time!!