Let's go to the circus

 We took Jules and Addie to the Shrine Circus.  It was really fun, an old fashioned 3 ring circus with clowns, magicians, preforming tigers, elephants and camels.  There's not many of these left and it was all for a good cause, the Shriner's!  The girls were very excited.  Gary, Paul and my Mom also went. 

Paul, Addie and Jules riding an elephant!

These are pictures from trips to Flagstaff this past summer.  A rainbow over the ponderosa pines, a butterfly on the butterfly bush flowers and a beautiful sky driving home

 

Elizabeth, Mom and myself at church getting ready to deliver blankets to the babies at Weekday School (our church infant and preschool).  Our knitting group was started by Mom and myself years ago after the surgery to remove the tumor in her neck .  I was knitting to pass the time in the hospital and she decided that we should knit blankets for babies.  We are called Baby Prayer Shawl group and knit blankets and hats for babies and children being baptized and at Weekday School.  Next week we will deliver 8 blankets and hats to UMOM family homeless center.  Here are close ups of some of our blankets and some of our members.  We meet in the library, but we are expanding to two meetings a month.  Our 2nd meeting meets in Wesley Lounge during the day.  I'm going to bring my elec kettle so we can have afternoon tea. 

 

 

In August we went to President Trumps Phoenix Rally, mainly because the Mayor and news said people shouldn't go.  We do think that he is doing a great job.  I was originally for Ben Carson who was also at the rally and talked which was great.  Even though I really like Ben Carson, he is too nice and could never have won.  On to another subject, the Phx Police did an amazing job keeping everyone safe.  Faye and Javier sent us a text saying that there are people all in Black outside the convention center and to be careful when we leave.  The police kept all groups separate by using barriers and even trash trucks etc to make sure that we were safe. We only saw the protesters from a distance and never felt in any danger even though some of the protestors were violent.  Anyway it was very exciting and great to hear President Trump!  He was in top form and loving every minute of it I think. 

My Mom is an amazing 94 years young!

Mom as a really cute toddler in Australia

Mom at Scots Point on the East coast of Australia

This is a picture of Mom (sitting with Diane on lap) and the Daughters of the British Empire in Phoenix, 1947.  Libby McGuire a dear friend of Mom's invited all of these new U.S. residents to join the DBE when they arrived in Phoenix

 Mom is still in the DBE 70 years later (she joined in 1946).  She says that the DBE held many a marriage together in those early years when all the girls were so homesick for home.  This is our DBE Birthday party for Mom and Daphine (English War Bride) both over 90.  We used to have 5  members over 90, sadly we have lost 3 of them in recent years.

 Mom with her 3 wheel bike at the bike shop where we had some work done on it for her birthday.  They tightened all the wheel spokes, put in a new front tire, fixed the brakes, polished it up and added a light so she can ride around the neighborhood at dusk or early evening in the summer.  All the Grandkids and Great Grands have ridden in the basket of this bike over the years with Mom or an older child peddling.  Sean last had repairs done on it 10 or 15 years ago. 

Birthday Tea for Mom and Jules.  Faye and Jules baked scones which we served with home made jam and whipped cream.  I made apple tarts with Mom's home grown apples!  Ummmmm delish!

The Birthday Girls.  Mom born July 14, Jules July 15 - 86 years and a day apart

Faye, Jules and Uncle Ryan

Four generations!

 This was Mom and Jules party at the South Mountain Lunch Bunch.  

This is Craig McGuirr, his wife Bobby and grandchildren

 Two of the members are son's of Mom good friends from those Neighborhood Church days.  Craig's Mom Audrey and Mom sang for years in the Neighborhood Church Trio with Faith Harris. Steve's Mom, Marie and my Mom used to talk for hours on the phone.  The Orcutt family were also very active in Neighborhood Church  

Steve Orcutt

 

Jules with her sleeping bag and overnight stuff including BooBear arriving to spend night

Snow Pea update, Spring flowers and other fun stuff including Kelsea & Philip Oct visit

This is how big they grew

 Since I put up pictures of my snow peas when I first planted them, I wanted to post pictures of how big they grew.  They really liked the new trellis Gary, Ryan and I put up, Thanks guys! I had many, many to munch and give away

This is when the snow peas were small

 

 

My beautiful spring roses.  Here you see Peace, Lover's lane and Rio Samba

 

The sweet smell of Jasmine !

Nasturtiums and the white onion bulbs

 

 

My new rain barrel

 

 

 

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Flag with Jan and Dave Payne.  Janice and I have been best friends since 7th grade.  They now live back in the Phoenix area, so it is great to be able to do things with her again

Elk up around our Flagstaff townhouse

Janice at the lava fields at Sunset Crater

Dave, Janice and Gary

 

Wapatki Indian ruins outside of Flagstaff are on the loop road with Sunset Crater

 Gary and I go dancing every weekend when we're in Phoenix.  It is so fun.  Our favorite dances are the Tango and the Waltz.  We're getting pretty good

Gary and I dressed up for the Red and White Ball

Practicing for the Black and White Ball at the Hillcrest Dance and Social Club in Sun City West

 We went to the Wool festival in Flagstaff the first weekend in June with our dancing friends, Kimberly and Brian

This mother in law tongue actually bloomed this year.  I've never had one bloom before and may not again as it is very rare.  They may bloom once every 10 years if they are stressed or root bound.  At the base of each blossum is a clear drop of very sweet nectar!

 October 2016 brought the Walkleys! We had a wonderful visit with Kelsea, Philip, Romey, Archer and Beckett.  The kids had such fun together creating art work, having a club with entry code names under the peach/ apricot trees, etc.  The weather was wonderful, so we were able to eat outside on the patio.  They also went to visit Grandma Dorothy (Larry's Mom) in Payson and then spent a few days in Flagstaff.  It was such a joy having them here!

 

Who is not being silly in this picture?

Look at these cute kids!