A big pair of hooters.....

Now that I have your attention, just wanted to show you pictures of two big owls that have made a nest in a saguaro cactus at Terravita where Sharon and Arnie live. If you look closely you can see them in the middle on the flat "shelf" of one of the arms. Sharon said they have become quite the tourist attraction, with cars stopping and looking, photographing, etc. We caught them on a walk through the development last week-end.

I have been watching the horrific news from Virginia Tech. So very, very hard to understand how someone could snap that severely. Terribly sad and tragic.

Mark tells me that the Iowa weather has finally turned for the better!! About time, right Iowans? I am hoping all the farmers can now finally prepare to plant their crops and get the growing season underway. The faster Mark gets it in the ground, I figure the faster and earlier he takes it out in the fall and then can join me in AZ for the winter. :-) It appears a selfish reason, and it is!!

Of course, besides the hooters I will throw in a few pics of you know who.....
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More pictures for Grandpa

Mark and I were talking on the phone and he told me how much he enjoys seeing pictures of Drew on my blog and he said to "keep putting them on." I am going to do just that for grandpa!

I am spending the week-end at sister Sharon's so Megan and Andy can have some time without their mother/mother-in-law always hanging about. Their townhouse lease is up the end of June and then I can move into that and give them some space on a daily basis!

The weather has been cool, in the 70's. Next week it is supposed to be in the upper 80's so that will feel quite nice. Mark said the weather in central Iowa has been basically pretty awful. Not conducive to spring planting preparations. :-( It is time that Iowa starts getting some decent weather! Wish I could send you some of AZ's sunshine.

Megan and I just finished hiking Pinnacle Peak. I couldn't believe how busy the trail was today. Must be the pleasant temps that sent everyone out for some fresh air and exercise. Tomorrow morning after Sharon returns from church we are hiking Black Mountain.

I want to wish brother Larry a very happy birthday today. Here's hoping you have a great many more!

Well, it's Saturday so that means I must go explore some new, unique shops in Cave Creek and Carefree. Have a grand week-end!!
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Home schooled :-)

Drew is watching a baby einstein DVD after his morning bottle. There are some that say these DVD's may not be good as it lets infants start watching TV too young. I agree, but at 3 months there is not a lot he can do and he really seems to enjoy them and kicks and flails his arm so I figure he is getting a little education and a lot of exercise. It has to be better than "Grand Theft Auto" video game. :-) When he tires of his "education" today it will be time for recess, our morning walk with the dog. Sox likes recess the best. Actually, so does granny nanny....
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A walk in the park

Sox and I take Drew for a walk every morning. Megan and Andy of course have a regular stroller but they also have a jogging stroller and it is wonderful for long walks and traveling over different terrain. I cannot really "jog" with him until he is at least 6 months old so we only go for brisk walks, no running for another 3 months. :-)

The pictures show what the jogging stroller look like and also Drew's shirt in honor of his father today. There is a grandma shirt and it is going on Drew very soon!
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Mommy's back at work!!

Megan started back today for the first full day since she had Drew on January15th. I think it was a little hard for her to leave him, but hopefully it helped that I was here with Drew and she didn't have to haul him off to some day care center with lots of kids. He and I got along just grand today. I dressed him in this special blue shirt and took a picture and sent to his mommy. She enjoyed receiving that, as I bought this a few days ago and he hadn't worn it yet. A few other pictures are included and also two of Drew after he discovered what great fun it was to suck on two of his newly found fingers! Every day will be a learning experience for Drew and I look forward to watching him discover his new world!!
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Desert in bloom.....

I went for a hike yesterday by myself up Black Mountain and took more time actually looking around and taking pictures of the desert in bloom rather than just hunkering down and sucking wind as I climbed the trail! It really is beautiful out here this time of year but not certain that my pictures give it justice.






Today I am at Megan and Andy's home on my first day of officially babysitting Drew. Megan went to work for a 1/2 day today through Thursday and then officially goes back full time next Monday, the 9th. He is sleeping right now so thought it a good time to update my blog.

The pictures are from my hike and two pictures are from this morning when I got Drew up to feed him. He slept all through the night, but has been doing that for awhile now. That makes mom and dad especially happy....

Good-bye, Grandpa....

I took Mark to the airport this morning. We left Sharon's around 6:30 as he has an 8:53 a.m. flight to Des Moines. Should get there around 2 this afternoon and be at the farm by 3:30 I would guess.

That was a quite difficult parting, harder than I imagined it would be! I guess after about 40 years of dating and wedded bliss, parting ways for awhile is not quite so easy. :-) Thank god for airplanes so we can see each other in about 3 hours should things get a bit lonesome! He told me to take good care of Drew, so that should not be difficult!!

Tonight I return to the airport to pick up Sharon and Arne from their Florida trip. Hope the traffic isn't too nasty, but hopefully a Sat. night should be okay on the freeways. The freeways out here are a bit more crowded than I am used to, i.e. P-70 to Ogden. :-)

I have the whole day free so am getting my hair trimmed, climbing Black Mountain and relaxing in the nice weather. Hope you all have a good Saturday, too!
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Sox and Drew on a Thursday

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Superstition Mt. and the LPGA

Mark and I, Andy and Megan and Drew headed to the LPGA Safeway Intl. finals today at the Superstition Mt. Golf Course. It is about a 55 mile trip from their home but took longer than that due to traffic going to this event. We left around 10:15, arrived after noon and stayed until after 4:00. Drew was a trooper with his # 50 sunscreen and jogging stoller with a sunshade. He didn't turn a shade of pink! We saw some very tiny gals hit the ball a country mile. It was almost mind boggling. He was most quiet when it counted (driving and putting) but we had one "scary" moment when the winner was teeing off.....he made a slight sound but Lorena Ochoa didn't notice so he was okay! :-) She went on to win the tourney so Drew didn't psyche her out!

Mark and I really enjoyed this day and I am hoping Megan and Andy did also. Drew had no opinion....he got fed when needed, changed when needed and all was good. :-) A few pictures from today.......stolen moments as grandma was NOT supposed to have a camera on the grounds........
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A new adventure Saturday

Megan and I decided to hike the "hard" trail on Camelback Mountain yesterday. I am sure it is the time of the year, but the trail was packed and parking was at a premium. We parked at least 10 minutes away so had quite a "hike" just to get to the hike!! I am so glad we went but my goodness, I was sucking wind on the way up a few times. It is a hike where you definitely are climbing rocks and boulders on a constant basis. Two spots were so steep that they did have a rail embedded into the rock so you could pull yourself up the mountain. I noticed one gal tried to make it on her own without the rail and she was soon inching her body back to that rail! It is there for a reason.

The first picture is a postcard view of Camelback. The camel is lying down with it's head to the left. Notice the praying monk figure at the start of the camel's back. The other pictures are various views along the trail and one shows me at the top and another shows a police helicopter that hovered over us at the top. At first we thought someone had fallen from the mountain but then the police just flew away never to return. Naturally, I had to throw in a couple of pics of Drew while we were babysitting last night so his Mom and Dad could go to P.F. Chang's for a much deserved night out!

Busy week

We are keeping on the go here. The last two days we have babysat so Megan and two of her visiting college friends could hike mountains and go to lunch, etc. Drew has been very good, the dog not quite as well behaved as their son. :-)

Wednesday Mark and I have an afternoon tee time so looking forward to that and then this Sunday all four of us and Drew are heading to the LPGA Safeway Tournament at Superstition Mountain Golf Course. Hope to see Julie Inkster, Michelle Wie, Annika Sorenstam, etc. Should be a fun day!!

Pictures are a beautiful sunset the other night at Terravita, Grandpa feeding Drew, Andy and his brother Chris and a couple of a happy Drew.
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