February in Carefree

I'm getting good at updating the blog if I may say so myself.! Today is February 20, and decided I needed to post before the trip to France because I have so many pictures.  Larry leaves this evening for his trip to Africa.

We've had more spectacular sunsets; we've had some chilly temperatures; friends from Chadron days came to Arizona for a visit; we gathered at friends' Mike & Sue's to celebrate their granddaughters 2nd birthday; and it snowed on the hillsides by our home.

My previous post included a picture with ice forming on the top of the jacuzzi (I know -- wasn't real obvious) and here is frost on the top of our fence.  Friends and family members living in parts of the country that actually do have winter weather are going to think this picture is incredibly lame....





 

 

 

I had to include this picture just because it is pretty.  One of my favorite places at this house is on the back porch for both sunrises and sunsets.  This is actually a neat light picture just before sunset.





Friends from Chadron days (think late 70s) came to Arizona to visit.  (l-r: BJ & Cheryl, Pat & Barb, and Jane & John.  Pat & Barb have moved to the Phoenix metro area so we're looking forward to seeing more of them.  It was great to be able to spend time with them all.

 

 

 

We went to friends' Mike and Sue's to celebrate their granddaughter Harper turning 2 - such a cutie. 



Grabbed the gathering at Mike & Sue's for a photo with friends:  Allison, Michelle and Sue.

And last, it started raining last night and rumor had it, it was possible we'd have snow here in Carefree.  We didn't but when the clouds lifted, I was treated to snow on the surrounding hillsides.  Just the way I like snow!

 I'm so glad I don't have to shovel this driveway!!

And I'll end with another pretty Arizona sunset...isn't life grand!  Next post will be pictures documenting Larry's adventure to the Congo and our trip to France -- yep, life is good!!!



January 2013

2013 is moving right along - today is February 5.

January was busy.  We went to a Gregg Allman concert.  Great setting and great concert.  Have we been lucky with the concerts we've been able to see in Phoenix or what!  Sort of a lame picture but I have to post it...Gregg is on the left.

Larry's mom arrived on January 4 for a three week stay.   Wayne and niece Sophi arrived from Portland, OR, on the 18th for a long weekend.  Jim and Liz came up for a visit.

 

 

Sophi is getting tall!  Wayne and Sophi left and then Dorothy left and then friend Danny from Rapid City escaped some winter weather in exchange for golf in Arizona over a long weekend.  He only got rained out one day.

 

We've enjoyed a lot of rain here in Carefree and have enjoyed every bit of it.  We experienced some chilly weather too with overnight low temps in the high 20s -- had to keep the pool pump running. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it obvious I don't have a lot of pictures for this particular post!?

 

I have to post a picture of the century plant out front that has been in the process of blooming since late September.  I think it has reached as tall as it is going to get and I'll post a picture of what appears to be the "bloom". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't that bloom weird? - looks like a plant from another planet. 

 

We've also had some beautiful Arizona sunsets.

 

 

 

I have started my volunteer job at Mayo and enjoy it.  I'm glad to be of help to the ladies in the office and the time actually passes quickly.   

 

I did have a scan at the end of January and Dr. Paripati reports that disease remains stable.  However, the medicine I take to control the cancer has caused me to have high cholesterol levels so I'm on a drug for that and a Dexa scan revealed that I have osteoporosis (which perhaps explains how one gets a stress fracture from golfing!) so I'm taking meds for that as well.  I move from being a person who didn't take any meds to someone that now has to use one of those darn daily pill container things - I'm feeling older...but good!  The foot is better.

 

Now for the exciting news!  Business is taking Larry to Africa this month on a 10-day trip.  He'll travel to London, South Africa and then the Congo.  Freeport has a mine there and they need his expertise.  The exciting part that pertains to me is that the company has now added on a side trip to France so we're using some of those frequent flyer miles we acquired and I'll be flying to Paris to meet up with him.  Next post should be super cool!