Thursday, November 5, 2020

Hanging in Tucson - local fun 9/28 - 10/3/2020


Fun day, going out to breakfast and then for some thrift store shopping.  My plan was to come home empty handed, but did find a few things.  I'm having trouble being a minimalist.  There is always good stuff and we did have fun.  Surprising how nice some of these thrift stores are these days.

Tuesday, I took Cinnamon in for an oil change.  She only had a little over 3,000 miles, but I figured I'd just do it to be sure she was happy.  It was a long, high speed, hot drive so just wanted to be sure, since she's new, that there weren't any yucks in the oil.  I did over do it as the first oil change is due at 7,500 (and I had to pay for this since it was so early), but that's OK.  She also got a gentle car wash for free so looked very pretty.  

Wednesday, Cheryl and I worked on painting rocks and relaxed.  I treated Mike and Cheryl to dinner at Churrasco de Brazil, a special place that is carnivore heaven.  Had a tiny bit of salad, and then all types of meat -- as much as we wanted (which was a lot).  Tried not to over eat to the point of getting sick.  Actually had room for dessert that we three shared, along with an amazing after dinner drink, Carajillo (made with Liquor 43, a vanilla flavored liquor made in Cartegena, Spain -- that contains 43 ingredients.  Set on fire, served with some heavy cream and espresso coffee.  It was delicious.



I enjoyed my dinner so much.  I've been to a few
of these Churrasco restaurants and love their meat.

Hot lava cake and Carajillo (on fire) - both delicious

Thursday morning, early I went for a walk in the neighborhood.  Felt good to take a short walk while it was cool.  I just went down to the end of the block that was a dead end and turned around, but I enjoyed it.  Still early, Cheryl took me to Agua Caliente park that is listed on the Register of Historic Places.   It looks like an oasis in the desert.  An old ranch and later health spa because of thermal water, founded in 1873, had been through many owners and fell into neglect.  The State bought the property and the park, is 101 acres.  Lovely place for a good walk.  Many people out enjoying nature.



I was always on the look out

Beautiful date palms






Pretty arch of trees and shade was appreciated.





Home to relax and I watched utube videos on how the paint a sunflower.  Also watched an FFI Zoom on how to do some other art projects.  Cheryl made fajitas on her new grill that Mike put in the backyard.  Their backyard is pretty amazing with a ramada, pool, smoker and two grills.  Working on installing sink for outdoors, grill and work area.  Deluxe.

Look at all that color

Chicken fajitas and Mexican rice.  Very good dinner and nice to sit outside.  
Also had a margarita that hit the spot.

Friday morning, Mike's son Robert came over for early breakfast.  Cheryl cooked on the outside grill and we ate under the ramada.  Bacon, sausage, eggs and french toast and Florida orange juice, all so good.  Hate to get full.  Temperature by 8 am was in 80's and climbing.

Mike, Cheryl & Robert, waiting for our breakfast.

Friday after breakfast I was on my own for a few hours.   Worked on rocks, internet and blog and then a long drive across town to get churros.  Looked up "best churros in Tucson" and found "Just Churros".  A little trailer in the Albertson's parking lot.  When I ordered the guy said, OK, that will be about 5 minutes" and to me these were magic words because that meant they were making them fresh -- hot.  So for $8 I had 7 churros and sat right there in a lawn chair in front of the trailer in the shade, no drink, and devoured all of them.  Mike was astounded I could have eaten 7 of them.  They were so good.  Just something you can't find often and fresh!!!

Nothing fancy here.



I made Taco Salad for dinner - my much loved recipe that I have to eat multiple servings of.  Trying to contribute a little as they won't let me do any work around here.  So I figured I could cook a few meals.  I gave Mike a huge, huge bowl full and he said what the heck and then managed to devour it.

We had many servings.

Saturday Cheryl me to downtown Tucson, the historic section.  It was so interesting, cool buildings, nice murals and we walked around for quite awhile.  We had a very good lunch at the Nook, best fries ever.  After walking Cheryl took me to three different neighborhoods in the car.  El Encanto Estates, Sam Hughes and then horse properties, large acreages close to Cheryl's house.  One of those places had a long horned steer.  Sheep, lots of horses.  Beautiful properties.  I enjoyed seeing the different styles of architecture.

St. Augustine Cathedral of Tucson



Scottish Rite Cathedral

Took this same photo last July in Tucson, love it.





Different, made of dots



Nice reflection

Love this crazy building

This was a good day, fun to see the heart and soul of the downtown.  The city has spent a lot of money bringing the downtown up to date and filling it with business.  It is thriving.  The University of Arizona, the Wildcats, is evident and this young group helps to fill bars, restaurants and shops.  Vibrant, even with Covid, which has hurt so many businesses.  It was nice to see the downtown flourishing.






















Sunday, October 18, 2020

Me 10/2020

 Today, 10/18/2020  I just happened to find this (10/18/2020) and it still rings true.  I love John's comment and he didn't make many likes or comments on my stuff although he read them all.

Always remember life is precious and appreciate every moment you have.  Be kind

I saw someone who did this on FB and I thought it was a good idea and being inspired and having some time here it is:
Gena Cameron 2/5/13
I want to ….............
appreciate my dear husband every minute of every day.
be thankful for our son who has enriched our lives in so many ways.
have life filled with friends I love and who love me – and
continue to make new friends until the day I die.
hug cats, pet dogs and appreciate and be amazed by animals.
act nutty, take funny pictures that make me happy. Nothing is better than posing with a lobster statute.
laugh and always have humor in my life.
walk in fountains.
walk in the rain .
taste every food that interests me. I want to love the food I taste and say, “Oh I can't believe how delicious this is.”
to drink several (many) cups of coffee every day of my life.
wear shorts and flip flops for the rest of my life.
see beauty in nature, appreciate works of art (famous and not).
feel jazzed when I hear a song by the Rolling Stones and rock out.
do my small part to help save precious sea turtles.
never stop marveling at the beach – roar of the waves, shells, sand.
never stop marveling at the mountains, the smell of pine trees and dirt after a small shower, and the sound of the wind blowing in the trees.
always enjoy the sound of a river flowing.
care for others.
never stop saying hi to strangers on the street and giving them a smile.
always appreciate flowers, trees and color.
thank God for my life and the many blessings I have been handed on a silver platter.
Cathy Peterson, Ouedraogo Abdoul Aziz and 4 others
8 Comments
1 Share
Like
Comment
Share

Comments

  • Wow! That is beautiful!! I was inspired just reading it!
    1
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • {{{ ♥ }}} beautiful 
    Gena
     ...
    1
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • That is so awesome!
    1
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • And I'm happy to always be around so I can appreciate these things with you.... especially you.
    2
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • Great 
    Gena Cameron
     & John! So much truth in the words and everything written. To many times we take it all for granted!
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • that is so beautiful, Gena! I want to be there with you guys too!
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • It won't be much longer, Cathy.
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y
  • I forgot to include lavender. I may have to revise. I'm sure I will come up with a few more things.
    • Like
    • Reply
    • 7y