Anniston, AL

This week I was in Anniston, AL for mass causality training for health care leaders at the Noble Training Center. The training center is on a decommissioned military base. The entrance of the training center.

We stayed in the barracks on the base.

The flowering trees were beautiful!

Actually, this is the dorm I stayed in. Each room was a private room, but had a share toilet/shower (a Jack and Jill bathroom). I guess it could have been worse!

My room. Motel 6 it's not!

Spring is in the Air

Our back yard is bursting into bloom and the scents are incredible!

Nectarines

Tangelos

Capistrano

It was suggested that I give a little more information about the Capistrano, so here is a blurb from a website:
San Juan Capistrano is the site of a Catholic mission for which it is named, Mission San Juan Capistrano. When the Mission was founded in 1776, the region was populated by the Acjachemen band of Indians, called Juaneños by the Spanish. The mission was named after the Franciscan saint Giovanni da Capistrano (1386-1456).
The city is the site of California's oldest residential neighborhood, Los Rios. It is also the home of the oldest in use building in California, the Serra Chapel in the Mission. The area was the site of both the first vineyard and first winery in California.
In the 1830s Richard Henry Dana, Jr., author of the classic Two Years Before the Mast visited the area as a sailor engaged in the hide trade on board the ship Pilgrim. Describing the locale, which then included what is now the neighboring city of Dana Point, he gushed, "San Juan is the only romantic spot in California." The area was also the locale of the first Zorro novella, The Curse of Capistrano, published in 1919 (later renamed "The Mark of Zorro" after the sucess of of the film of the same name).
San Juan Capistrano is also known for its Cliff Swallows. The protected birds are reputed to return from migration on St. Joseph's Day (March 19) each year, a day celebrated by the city's annual Swallows' Day Parade and other festive events. The are reputed to leave on October 23, the former feast day of St. John of Capistano.

Like the Swallows to Capistrano...

The Bontrager Sisters descend upon Arizona every March. This is the tenth annual visit.

They couldn't wait to bask in the beautiful sunshine. So much warmer than Indiana, Iowa and Kansas!
Last night we had an enjoyable candle lit dinner at home.

Chicago

I had a meeting in Chicago last week and then Kendall joined me for the weekend. Friday we went to the Field Museum. Emma, we saw lots of dinasours!Kendall with a big one.

This is the world famous Sue.

We did a driving tour of some of the sports arenas. Tickets were on sale for the Cubs Saturday.

Sunday Earl treated the "Church Ladies" and their husbands to lunch at Red Lobster. Earl (sitting next to me) will be 94 next month - still very sharp!

Kiss Me Kate

We had a postponed Valentine's date this weekend. We went to the dinner theater to see Kiss Me Kate. As ususal, it was a good performance and worth staying up for!

Phantom Guests

I understand we have had guests with us this week, but we didn't see them! We said hello to Barry and Carol when they arrived Sunday evening and I didn't see them again until this morning. In addition, Barry's Aunt and Uncle were also here for 2 nights and we didn't see them at all. They were here for Minister's meetings and with our schedules, we didn't cross paths. Today they are headed north to do some site seeing.

Sunday Family Dinner

Kendall's cousin and my friend Marge and her daughter Mara are visiting in town for a long weekend. What a shame that we got some rain today! We had a nice family time for Sunday dinner following church at Marge's sister Marilyn's home.Marge and Mara

Marge, Mom Alice, Mara, Max (Marge's sister) in town from Denver and Marilyn

Houston

I was in Houston for training this week. My suite felt more like an apartment than a hotel room. I had a living room, bedroom, kitchenette and 1.5 baths! The training was intense, but will hopefully lead to some consulting opportunities in the future. I was able to catch up with a former boss from Bloomington who was also there.

Lois called me after she got to her hotel room Wednesday afternoon - in Phoenix! It was just about 10 minutes before I boarded the flight to Houston. Then she was in Houston Thursday night too, but we weren't able to connect. We were in different parts of city without transportation or enough time. Maybe next time!

We're Warm!

I see the frigid temperatures across the country and am thankful for our warmth! We hit 81 yesterday; above average for us. It felt so nice and we were able to have the patio door open for Jake and Grace to enjoy the great outdoors from this side of the screen.

Happy Birthday Lois!

Happy Birthday Sis! Enjoy your day before heading back out on the road. This is a picture of Lois and Grandma a few years ago.

Super Bowl Party

I'm sorry there aren't pictures, but we actually hosted a Super Bowl party yesterday. The good thing about having a party in AZ is that the game is over soon after 8:00 so it isn't too late for those of us getting up early. We had "The Guys" and their families here for a nice mix of 13 adults and children.

Okay, so it's been awhile!

There has been a lot of work going on for the two living in our house for the past week or so. It seems to consume our lives if we let it. We did take time to head out to the Coyotes game Thursday night - and they won.

Yesterday it was time to take the kids to the vet for their regular checkups. You know how that can be - taking cats where they don't want to go! Gracie didn't handle it with much grace, but Jake surprised us by being relatively calm. Of course the vet reminded us that he is getting older and they mellow with age. They both have also gained some weight. That dreaded middle age spread! Now we get to look for "light" food for their culinary morsels.

Quiet Day in the Office

Gracie kept me company today while I spent time at my desk typing recipes. Thankfully she slept! Those of you who know her know what she can be like if she is needing attention!

Steady Rain

This morning there is a nice steady rain falling. It is great for us, but not so good for our visiting Snow Birds.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

We've had record breaking low temperatures here the past few days. We lost some flowers in pots and possibly our line of trees we planted a year ago in the back yard. We are blaming it on visitors from Maryland. Family friends Olen and Ruth are here on a westward bound vacation. The last time Ruth was in Phoenix about 18 years ago it snowed! Sounds like a pattern to me. Kendall and I were able to have dinner with them last night. It was great to see someone from home and catch up on their lives.

Stampin'

Once a month I get together with a group of friends to make different projects - cards, etc. Yesterday was the day!

15 Seconds of Fame

I stopped by one of the hospitals this morning on my way into work to donate blood. As I was reclined, doing my thing, a TV crew shows up to film some footage and do some live interviewing. I didn't see myself, but I understand I was recognizable and quite the arm/hand model!

Happy New Year!

A very Happy New Year to our friends and Merry Christmas to my family gathered in Maryland today to open their stockings!

A few glimpses of Christmas before I took them all down today. It will be back to the regular routine tomorrow when we go back to work and Kendall's parents head home to Kansas. Donna is feeling well enough to start out on the trip and is anxious to be home again.

A Quiet Get-Away

We took some time for ourselves and checked into a Bed & Breakfast for a night. While we were 'gone' we also had a very nice dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. It was relaxing to watch movies and have breakfast delivered in a basket to our room.
http://www.maricopamanor.com/

She's Discharged!

Yesterday was a day spent in surgery and many hours in recovery as the dear mother was a little stubborn about wanting to wake up. This resulted in a little extra monitoring and attention from the hospital staff over night. She is a new woman today and came home to us early evening. She is now resting comfortably in front of a warm fire and taking phone calls from well wishers.

A Day at the Hospital

...and it wasn't because of work. No pictures, even though I thought there were many 'bloggable' moments today. Kendall's mother wasn't feeling well since yesterday afternoon, so after a trip to an Urgent Care Center and being told to go to an Emergency Room, we headed out about 9:15 this morning. She is resting tonight in a hospital bed with lots of good pain meds and surgery scheduled for the morning to take out the culprit - her gall bladder. Keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

Christmas Day

We had a lovely Christmas Day!

We had a traditional holiday meal with turkey and all the trimmings.

Gathering for the feast.

The afternoon was spent napping and the evening relaxing and playing Stock Ticker. Brock was the big winner!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is a traditional meal of homemade pizza and then opening gifts. Grandma and her boys
Grandma reading a Christmas story.

Brock enjoying his cool new shades!

Kendall and Holden shooting a round of pool.

It was cool enough in the evening to have a fire in the fireplace in the basement.

Christmas Will Soon be Here!

Happy Birthday to Julie and Josh! Here are some scenes of what we did on your birthday. Kendall's extended family spent time with us as we celebrated Christmas with those in town. A moment of pending disaster as the fountain didn't turn on when we added the chocolate and flipped the switch. Kendall and his Dad trouble shooting. Luckily it was fixed and all was well

Christmas punch was a hit.

The dessert table pre-party.

...and during the party.

Darcie at trying the meatballs.

It was a fun filled evening!

Christmas Lights

Last night we went to Glendale Glitters and wandered through the lights and vendor booths. I'm sorry I didn't get very good night shots with my camera.

In Arizona we decorate our palms.

On the way home we drove through other neighborhoods with fabo lights.

And then our own neighborhood.

South Pacific

Last night we went to the dinner theater for a lovely date night and saw South Pacific. The theater is all decked out for Christmas.


No, I didn't take my camera in illegally - this is from the theater's website. It was a good production. I had never seen it on the stage before.

The Farewell Tour

Today was Kendall's last race before going into retirement from racing.

Here he is coming by where we were located in the pit in case he needed us. This race was shorter so no need for gas.

Some interesting jumps in what is usually an arena for horse shows.

The finish line.

And he goes out on top! First place AGAIN!

The moon was really pretty over the mountains as we got in the truck to head for home.

We Went to a Fight and a Hockey Game Broke Out

Well, at least that's what it felt like!
There were a lot of punches thrown at the game last night, but we came away with the winning score. Hockey seems appropriate as we are in the deep freeze here with temps in the 30's at night and only in the 50's for the past 2 days. It should be back to close to 70 today.