Rain!

We've had more rain days. Rain is always very exciting for you're truely the desert rat. The river running through Phoenix, the Rio Salado or Salt River, is usually dry. In fact it was dry my whole life till my senior year of high school there was water in it for the first time in my life. The reason for this is that we have damns upriver so we have water in our canals all year. My Mom comes from Brisbane which has a winding river like a snake through it. When she met my Dad, she expressed concern about missing the Brisbane River. Well, Dad pulled out a map and said, "We have a river in Phoenix. Here it is right here, the Salt River." What he didn't say is that it is usually dry without a drop of water in it! So, Rain is big in Phoenix. They released water into the Salt River today because of all the rain we've received in the Salt and Verde river flood plains in the past 2 days. This picture was taken just before it really started raining hard. It is clouds hovering around Squaw Peak, oops, I mean Piestewa Peak. This is the view from our front window.
This is the view of Camelback Mountain and the Praying Monk Formation after a rain. I took this picture the next street over. It is a view I enjoy when leaving home and coming home each day.
I have a rain gauge in the backyard. As you can see we got 2 " in the past 24 hours. It rained all day Sunday and all last night. This means that we've gotten 3.2" so far in January of 08 at our house in Phoenix. That is almost half of our average yearly rainfall of 7". I hate that global warming! We have Lake Madison at school which is attracting ducks and water birds (I've seen Killdeer there twice in the past 2 months). I had to look this bird up because I'd never seen it before. It is very distinctive with 2 double black and white breast stripes. I actually took a picture of it one day, but didn't think to download it, because I didn't know I would be discussing it. Well, anyway, the the everyday miracles of rain in the desert!

We go climbing!

Whenever we have company in town, we visit Javier & Faye's climbing gym. First of all it is really a fun place to go, we don't feel guilty about eating whatever we want for dinner later and often it is the best way to see Faye and Javier because they are there a lot. Javier and his partners built the gym by themselves, literally. There are bouldering walls(shorter) and climbing walls (taller, up to 30 feet). You need a harness and a belayer (someone who is clamped into the floor). The belayer holds the end of the rope so you can't fall and lets you down after you reach the top. In this first picture, Faye is helping Rowan climb in the kids area. She loved it and decided the tunnel which she could see out of was her house. She had to go through that area many times while we were there. Days later, the night before they were going to leave to return to Puerto Rico, Kirsten said to Rowan, "Do you know what we are going to do tomorrow? Rowan said, "Climb?" I think climbing was a highlight of her trip.

Faye is making sure everyone is safe. Left to right is Star (visiting from Utah), Faye, Crystal, Rob and Alli. The climber and the belayer have to wear harnesses and be clamped and the ropes tied in an exact way.

Dilly says, "What do I do with these ropes?"

Faye is belaying Crystal on her first climb. She was scared, but made it up to the top! Crystal and Alli are step sisters and my nieces. As part of the cheering squad, I told her how on Alli's first climb she cried with fear when she reached the top of a boldering wall. Now that Alli is here all the time she is a really good climber (both boldering and rope climbing). I have suggested that they start a cheer leading squad for people who don't really want to climb. Think of how that would expand the membership roles. Fellow climbers now cheer each other on and offer encouragement and suggestions. They could have chants and cheers such as "put your foot, put your foot higher, higher" , "you see that nut sized hold, it's perfect for your toes" , "stretch your right hand higher, ignore that shoulder fire" or "try that hold over there, make a leap through the air." If you want to find out more about the climbing gym go to http://www.climbmaxgym.com/

Dilly visits Papa, Nana & Merlin in Phoenix

This is Dylan (more commonly called Dilly) and his Dad. Dylan will be a year old on January 23 and has been walking for a couple weeks. He has the wide cowboy stance of a new walker. He rarely falls and if he does, he always lands on his bottom (how clever is that).

Look at that cute face. He is making a lot of sounds. He copies sounds that people make. I think he said "Ah di di" (I did it) which is one of Rowan favorite phrases.

It's sleeping beauty. When Rowan sees pictures of her as a baby, she often thinks it is Dylan.

Dylan loves music. He very carefully plays the piano keys with individual fingers, no pounding for him. I like to sing and he enjoyed all my songs and my lullabys at bedtime.

Dylan loves to chase after Merlin. He sees Merlin and squeals in a high pitched voice while chasing Merlin.

Kids and Grandkids

This is Dylan (almost 1 & a new walker), Papa (Julian my goofy husband and doting grandfather) & Rowan (who should have her own talk show because she talks nonstop). Rowan says, "What's that sound?" Papa says, "What sound?" Rowan says, "Ah don't know."
Rowan picked a whole bag of oranges which we juiced for breakfast. She loved the juice, quickly finished a whole glass saying, "It's all dawn" (gone). Notice her bandaids, one on each knee and one on her forehead. She says, " I fell and scraped my knees and hit my head right there" (pointing to a outie corner of a wall). She cut her forehead a couple weeks ago. While driving to the emergency room Kirsten was upset, Rowan (with her head split open) told her Mom, "just take deep breaths Mommy and you will feel better." Really speaks to the resilency, insight and compassion of kids in general and Rowan specifically.
Rowan and Dylan loved this builder set which were Faye & Ryan's when they were little. Rowan said, "I'm Rowan the builder. Can we get it done? Yes, we can do it." She screwed together the workbench and said, " I made a perfect table for my kittycat, Duncan.

This is Kirsten, Rowan and Julian. Aren't they cute and beautiful? This was taken at the Phoenix Convention Center when we went to get Rob's packet for the PFChang's Rock & Roll Marathon (named because there are rock and roll groups every 1/2 to 1 mile along the route). Rob ran the half maraton (13 miles) with a very impressive time 1 hour 48 minutes, 42 seconds. He got a medal, Yeah Rob, good job! Rowan was doing stretches this day, I think that helped her Dad! What do you think?

Update on Christmas projects

These are some of the decorated aprons that I made for Chrsitmas presents. Each one was hand knitted with you in mind. I really had fun creating these for you and I hope you have many happy hours of creative cooking!
I made this one decorated with a Koala for my Mom, an Aussie. She met my Dad during WWII when he was stationed in Brisbane. We four kids have always felt very close to our Australian heritage. Mom and Dad took us four kids from 3 to 11 years of age on a ship to Australia in 1958. We met our cousins, saw our Grandparents again, held koalas, snakes, saw kangaroos and had many adventures. It was the trip of a lifetime and sealed the bond of our love for Australia. Mom just found out this year that she didn't lose her Australian citizenship when she became an American citizen. It was very exciting for her. She has sent away to get an Australian passport, why, because she can!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!

We went to Flagstaff and it snowed on Saturday. We got about 3-5 inches. It snowed all night Sunday after we had to go home and they got 18 " more in town (much more on San Francisco Peaks).

This is a view of Mt Eldon from our window

Don't you love the snowflakes!!


This is a Junco. They are in Flagstaff in the winter and love the snow.

Happy New Year!

Hard to believe it is 2008. Two years away from 2010. Twelve years from 2020....We celebrated the 1st day of 2008 with a trip to the zoo. Some tongue on that garaffe!

"Just smiling for the camera"



The cute bird below says:
"No, I don't think I have on too much eye shadow."

"Just trying to take a little cat nap"