MARCH, ALL TOLD

 

The month started out in the best possible way:  the swimming pool at the Aquaplex re-opened!  I'm in swimming heaven! 

Spring break was a pleasure, and thoroughly described in the previous post.

 

My favorite, favorite, favorite TV show started it's 22nd season: 

DANCING WITH THE STARS!!!!

There are already favorites:  

Paige VanZant, a 22 year old mixed martial artist who wants to show her girly side.

 

Nyle DiMarco, who is profoundly deaf.  He and his pro Peta have developed a series of physical cues as well as eye contact to keep him moving so well to the music he can't hear. 

 

Ginger Zee is a meteorologist with GMA, a new mother, and simply a delight to watch.

Ahhhhhh...Mondays are the highlight of the week!

My violin teacher announced our spring recital just before I went to Tucson for spring break.  With the recital just two weeks away, I took my violin with me to Tucson.  Emily has a practice suggestion of playing a piece 100 times before it's performed.  That's a lot.  I don't think I made that, but it was close enough to make me the most confident I've ever been playing a violin recital. 

In an earlier post, I made mention of this being a year of deciding which of my many activities I can or want to continue.  I find that as much as I want to, blogging is not something I can regularly maintain during this process.  Not wanting to give it up entirely, I've decided to go on

 


until July.  Until then:  HAVE FUN! 

SPRING BREAK IN TUCSON

 

The morning I left for Spring Break Tucson this year, there was a slight dusting of snow-you can see it on the windshield and roof a bit.  Yep, my face reflects the delight I felt heading to warmer climes!

 

  As is now the custom, I was hosted most generously by brother Mark, his wife Cindy, and their dog Cinnamon.

You know there was shopping involved.  Need I say swimsuits?  Only one caught my eye this year, but it's a good one! 

An exciting variation on shopping this year was caused by niece Melissa's upcoming wedding on June 25.  Cindy (mother of the bride) and I committed enough time to find dresses for each of us.  The wedding is in Houston where both Melissa and her fiancee live.  We've been informed in no uncertain terms it will be HOT!  Thus, sleeveless, light weight dresses were of high priority.  I was fortunate to find this pleasing number on our second bout of shopping.

Cindy couldn't make a choice between two that were beautiful and flattering, so she got them both!

The best day of shopping:  we met Melissa in Phoenix to shop for her bridal gown!  Though she had done some pre-shopping in Houston and even found a gown she liked, she really wanted to share this special shopping with her family and friends in AZ.  I'm so glad I was able to be there!

Too cold......

too hot......

JUST RIGHT!!!

What a beautiful bride-to-be!

Between bouts of shopping and any other time we felt like it, Cindy and I indulged in the eight episodes of the second half of season one of Outlander.  It's SO GOOD!  Some scenes were racy enough they could only be shown on cable TV.  Cindy & I, both unworldly in certain ways, were goggle-eyed more than once.  We're already anticipating season two next spring break!

Mark worked the whole week, but we were able to enjoy weekend walks at Rillito River Park with Cinnamon.  

I wish I could say we spent evenings together too, but he's not watching Outlander.  After dinner, he banished himself to the bedroom while Cindy and I indulged in the living room. 

An all-day visit with long-time work friend Pat, who still has her nose to the grindstone.  Gosh, it makes a person feel fortunate beyond words to be retired!

 

Brother Mike had custody of all four of his grandboys for part of the week, so we went for a hike at Catalina State Park.  

Boys and rocks.....Nicholas, Sam, Jonathan.

Boys and water......Nicholas

and Jonathan.

Angel's artistic selfie:

The grownups:  Mike and I with Sam.

The subtext to this hike was it was the same one Mike and I did last year and where I believe I lost a valuable and sentimental bracelet Ron gave me for my 50th birthday.  I knew where I was when I lost it, and on the VERY off chance it might still be there, wanted to look for it.  Alas, it's well and truly gone.  If someone found it, I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.  If it's down a critter hole, well, it will eventually return to its earthly components.

Once again, a week SO enjoyably spent with family and friends!

 

Family & Friends © Jill Wolf, sent by Wendy Hinson

 

We all have a cherished garden we tend -
It is planted with love of family and friends.
The memories and dreams we treasure and share
Are like beautiful roses found blooming there.
The comfort and care on which we depend
Is given with love between family and friends.
The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear
Only make our love grow with each passing year.
We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend
Because of the love of family and friends;
They notice the rainbows and weather the showers.
They overlook weeds and praise all our flowers.
The most valuable thing is the time that we spend
Tending this garden with family and friends.
When counting our blessings, we know from the start
That family and friends come first in our heart.

 

February, All in All

February opened with a snowstorm that added 15" to our collection.

Since then, absolutely nothing.  There were enough public comments about the lack of El Niño activity that NOAA explained it more than once.  First, El Niño is an oceanic phenomena, not a weather phenomena.  El Niño is still very active oceanically.  Next, El Niño has in fact delivered plenty of precipitation so far.  It just doesn't look quite the way NOAA originally predicted.  Finally, NOAA PROMISES that El Niño isn't done; the next three months should see plenty of moisture.  Okay, we're standing by.

Ron and I enjoyed the Super Bowl this year.

The NFL has been using Roman numerals since Super Bowl V.  However, "Super Bowl L" didn't have the visual or marketing punch they wanted, so for this year only, they used the Arabic numeral 50.  Next year, it's back to Roman numerals with Super Bowl LI.  My favorite ad was the Audi commercial featuring the soundtrack from David Bowie's "Starman".  Oh, and the game was really good, too!

We visited the Coconino Center for the Arts for the Southwestern Invitational Exhibition.  It was a traveling show featuring 50 Arizona artists.  WOW!  It's always good to enjoy real art created by real artists.  Here are some of my favorites:

Artist: Katalin Ehlin

Waterplay

Artist: Mary Bruns

Age of Magnificence

Artist: Tania Bolin

Dreamy Dragonfly

Next up was Theatrikos' production of:

We were thoroughly entertained.  Again, real artists creating real art.

To my great relief, my Pilates teacher is back from her maternity leave.  It was definitely a case of absence making the heart grow fonder!  I've seen pictures of her adorable son, Zeb, and she's a pleased and proud new Mom.  

Valentine's Day this year followed our pattern of a shared meal and cards.  Ron found a card so perfect and funny I have to share it:

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

After that, well, the month was Ordinary.  Lunches with friends, violin lessons and practice, piano practice, walks with dogs, house cleaning.  Life lived well.  

“Groundhog found fog.

New snows and blue toes.

Fine and dandy for Valentine candy.

Snow spittin’;

if you’re not mitten-smitten,

you’ll be frostbitten!

By jing-y feels spring-y.”

                                    ---Old Farmer’s Almanac