UPDATE OF MY PAINTINGS FOR EBAY

I confess. I haven't been painting enough. Sadly, the "LaCasa Trail wren and cactus" did not sell. (To have another look at that click on "older posts" at the bottom of the screen above the map. ) My new painting here is "LaCasa Trail flowering weeds and bee among the rocks". I'm deciding if it is ready! I've been taking a lot of pictures lately so I don't have a lack of reference photos. It's the discipline!

40th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TRIP TO DAN DIEGO

Surprise, surprise. We did not make the Grand Canyon trip this month as usual. I think the huge snowfall report scarred us to beautiful San Diego. The stop at a bit of Americana ingenuity at In-Co-Pah offered a chance to stretch our legs crawling on carved rocks and climbing the Desert View Tower built in 1922 to honor the pioneers.

The next morning a tour of the Cabrillo national park included the Point Loma Lighthouse. It's in an awsome location and gives a splendid view of the Harbor. The old lighthouse is on the bluff but a ride to the bottom allows you to see the new working lighthouse from a distance and climb around the tide pools. The surfers anchor offshore and provide great entertainment.

That night we ferried to Coronado Island and had dinner. Larry took fantastic city light photos.

We had a great trip!

NEW VISITOR AT OUR HOUSE

Tonight the rain has moved in from California. A most welcome sound that always makes me think of my old bedroom at home in Pennsylvania. The view through the maple tree there on the second floor was half a block long and I could watch the workers in the iron yard down the street. But it was the tree I loved. I could watch the rain drip off the leaves or stare at the icy barren branches in winter after a freezing rain. In winter the best thing was pulling back the curtain to discover a new white world in the morning before the snow plow came along. In summer the window screen allowed me to smell the rain and leaves. The beautiful autumn foliage of that tree was red and gold, colors you never forget. Playing in the fallen mess was so much fun. Each spring the brilliant green seeds appeared. You could spread them apart and stick them on your nose and run around like an alien. I've always thought those watery, atmospheric and colorful memories are the reason I love watercolor paintings.

Well tonight I can hear the rain falling on the atrium patio floor through the doggie door we had to insert for our guest this weekend. When HP and Jen's Yorkies had puppies last year, one in the litter of five was a giant. Luke named him "Bruce". At first Ellen wanted him but she took Ferdinand and Mimsie. I fell in love with him at the beginning but Larry wanted a bigger dog. Bruce has grown on Larry and in fact I heard him tell Jen he missed the kids and Bruce when we moved back home after their trip. Here's the problem...that Bauer family loves him too. So I'm not sure how it will turn out. Maybe he'll just have two homes! Lucky dog!

BIRTHDAY, DAY TRIPS AND BIRDS OH MY!

Wow. This week we toured the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and were amazed by the Chihuly glass exhibit. Chihuly's work is in many museums worldwide and at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. There you can view his wonderful ceiling sculpture. I couldn't resist taking pictures of butterflies, squirrels and birds. I think the grey bird is a thrasher but I'm not sure which one.

Last Sunday many of you watched the Superbowl. We've always found it to be a good time to be out and about because of the fewer crowds. This year we went to the San Xavier Mission in Tucson. The scaffolding on the front of the structure has been removed until march when the renovation/clean-up starts for the right side. The inside is very busy and colorful. Outside I spotted a Gila woodpecker. Isn't he a beauty? That red spot on the top of his head helped me identify him. I can never resist the dove photo opportunity.






We had a birthday celebration for Sophie in January. She turned 2! How wonderful to have a granddaughter and such a girlie girl. Yesterday I got her dressed to do an errand while babysitting and she had on a navy dress with a pink hair bow and pink shoes and socks. As soon as she realized we were leaving she ran and got her spangled pink purse to carry on her arm.

Eunice and I were speechless for a moment.

WOW! IT'S THE VALENTINE AND ANNIVERSARY MONTH

To bring us up to date I must go back to the 10 days we lived in Jen and Howard's house and looked after the grandchildren and pets while they went on a cruise. They prepared us very well but the best thing Jennifer did was lay out all the kids clothing for all the days. She even had a note on every pile of clothes for them. So every day they had a message to read or be read to them which told them what their parents were doing that day. I think this made all the difference. No one kicked and screamed in a panic demanding their parents appear right now. Here are a few photos from our week.