Two hang out in Tucson ...!

Hello blog lovers - welcome back!

Can't believe Saturday has come round again so quickly!  I don't know about you but I always struggle with what to cook for dinner on a Saturday night  As our weekends are usually laid back catching-up-as-a-family type affairs, it has to be something that doesn't take much effort and which involves minimal time in the kitchen (and more time for sitting outside/swimming/catching a local festival etc).  I saw Ree Drummond make this easy Mexican Chicken Soup on an episode of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network channel recently, and as all the ingredients are just chucked in the slow cooker and left for 5 hours, I thought I would give it a go for tonight's supper.  I'll give you the verdict next week!  My slow cooker is turning out to be the best thing I have bought since we moved to Arizona.  The perfect way to cook dinner without heating up the whole house and only one pot to wash up!  (not that I do washing up you understand ... that's Mr B's job :D)

Our very own 'Bear Grylls' returned from his trip to Catalina Island last night and so today I have mostly been washing the smelly, wet contents of a duffel bag and emptying half a beach load of shingle from water shoes.  He had a great time - kayaking, snorkeling, hiking - including a night hike (there was no choice evidently, lol), making Smores round a campfire and even managing to survive 5 days with no phone or wifi!  Apparently though he wasn't that enamored with dissecting a squid or having to get the lens out of it's eyeball ... **bleugh!**   Normal service has now been resumed though and he is currently ensconced in his room on his Playstation with headphones glued to his ears **sigh**  Oh well, it was good while it lasted!

Views from Catalina

Whilst he was away, Mr B and I decided we would make the most of the opportunity and ventured down to Tucson for a couple of days R&R.  

   

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Marana, which was nestled into the side of Dove Mountain, and a very lovely spot.  Everywhere was so beautiful with lots of palo verde trees, flowering shrubs and cacti still in bloom (although this turned out to be somewhat of an annoyance by the end of the trip as we both left with streaming eyes, runny noses and constant sneezing fits!).  The weather was kind to us with temps in the low 80s, if a bit windy (hence the allergies!), which made it perfect for lounging about outside (with a packet of Claritin and a box of tissues) and a spot of sightseeing without being too hot.  

Breakfast with a view!

Didn't think much of the Kids Club though ...

We visited Tucson itself ... not a lot to see there to be honest ... the only thing I saw that looked interesting was the old Cathedral.  

Wondered why it was decorated with a large purple bow ... probably left over from Easter I thought as I bowled in through the door.  Oh.  Turns out it was a funeral ... **exits quickly whilst trying to stop flip flops from flip flopping ...**

We also took a ride out to the San Xavier Del Bac Mission about 20 minutes outside Tucson.

Gorgeous against the bright blue sky!

ding dong ...

It had some beautiful original carvings and artwork ...

But not sure what the dudes in frilly dresses were all about ...?!

Freaky if you ask me ...!

Outside in the garden we spotted a couple of ground squirrels.  They are the cutest things you ever did see!  They are like mini meerkats and just stand like statues enjoying the sunshine. 

so cute ...!

this one was enjoying a quick snack ...

Back at the hotel we really enjoyed spending the evenings taking a little light refreshment outside around the fire pits  ...

After dark it got quite chilly, and just as we thought we might have to go inside, we were handed a snuggly blanket each ... yay! 

Hiawatha & Pocahontas!

It really was lovely sitting under the stars (the clear dark skies of Tucson are perfect for stargazing!) watching the flickering flames of the fire with a nightcap in hand.  What better way to spend a couple of days to ourselves!

Anyway, back to reality ... I better go and fold all that laundry and check on the soup.

Hope you are all managing to get some R&R in this weekend and hope to see you back here next week - same time, same place, same Bat Channel!

TTFN

Bev x

App-y Weekend ... !

Hi folks!  How's your weekend going?  Up to much?

I am in the midst of helping Ethan pack for his school trip on Sunday night ... well, when I say helping, I appear to be doing all the packing whilst he stands there looking gormless.  I had to smile at the instructions received from school ... "students should be dropped at school by 12am (to avoid confusion that's 11.59pm Sunday night)..." If they had just put midnight I am sure it would have been clearer.  But then again ...

They are off to Catalina Island in California for the week to study marine biology (which is infinitely more exciting than the day trip to Scarborough on a rattly old coach that stunk of hard boiled eggs and sweaty cheese sandwiches that I recall at the same age!).  Kayaking, hiking, snorkeling etc., not to mention bunking in basic 'open air cabins'  ... ugh, my idea of hell!  Strangely, Ethan is actually looking forward to it, although is already having an anxiety attack at the thought of having to live without wifi for 5 days.  Lol.  And, what's more, they may actually have to talk to each other face to face instead of on Snapchat as apparently there is no mobile phone signal either ... shock horror!  :D

Whilst on the subject of Apps (ok, so it was a rather tenuous link), I have to admit I would be completely lost without mine (although not for talking to people ... I still use the old fashioned way for that).  There are some really great ones out there, if you can find them amongst the dross (and yes, there are also lots of rubbish ones.  Did you know that developers are currently submitting over 1,000 new apps per day to Apple for approval?!).  Anyway, this week I thought I would share with you another  of my 'Top 10' lists, this time for the Apps I am loving right now.  I am not sure whether all of these are available for Android platforms as well as we are all Apple disciples in this house, but I know some of them definitely are.   I am not including Facebook, Instagram or Twitter on here as it goes without saying that I am a BIG fan of those, but am assuming everyone already knows about those. You will also note that my list is heavy on 'photography' type apps, as I love to take photographs (but you knew that too didn't you?!)

Here are my favorites, in no particular order (please note that I am not affiliated with any of these, nor do I receive any renumeration/commission from any of them):

1. Project Life  (Available on iTunes and Android).

Whilst most of you know that I am big fan of scrapbooking and have used the physical version of 'Project Life' for the last 3 years to capture everyday moments and record them in family journals, this app now gives the option to capture digitally if that is your preference.  You simply drag your photos onto the virtual page, pick a journalling card, add your related thoughts and memories and Voila!  Done in a flash.  What's more you can now get these printed as individual pages or as a complete bound book.    As I am still more of a physical scrapbooker, I tend to use it as a planning tool to decide which (of the many!) photos I want to put into my album, see what they look like on the page and then capture my journalling on the go ... waiting at school pick ups, at the Orthodontist (where I seem to spend a lot of time hanging around for Ethan!) or even whilst on holiday, so that I don't forget any of the little details. Here is a link to the main website if you are interested in reading more about it.  Project Life App

2. Little Moments - Photo a day app.

If like me, you like to take lots of photographs and want to improve your photography whilst having a bit of fun doing it, Fat Mum Slim runs a daily photo challenge.    For example, here is the list for this month:

The iPhone/iPad app sends you a daily reminder of the prompt and from there you can use the fun editing tools and also upload directly to FB or Instagram if you want to play along with others.   

Pic stitch

3. Pic stitch (available on iTunes/Android/Windows)

This is a free photo editing app which allows you to make a collage with your photos.  Useful if you want to print photos and don't necessarily want an individual 6x4 print of a particular shot but want to include it somewhere in your album.  A collage is the way to go!

Over

4. Over (iTunes/Android)

This app is great for adding text and artwork to your photos.  You can buy additional artwork to add to your photos from the app if you choose, but it also offers free daily artwork too.
Over

Producer

5. Producer

This app is a really fun free app which can turn any of your photos into a Meme!  There are also some stock photos for you to use and then you can just whatever text you want over it.  There are lots of other apps which do this too, but this one was the first one I found which was free and is very easy to use.  (In case you have been hibernating for the last few years and are wondering what on earth a Meme is, here is an example). Lol

Wunderlist

6.  Wunderlist

I would be lost without this app!  I love a list ... or two ... and especially as I have advanced in years **ahem** I find I have to make more and more of them in order to organize my life!  Groceries ... items for school ... packing for holidays ... books I want to read ... films I want to watch ... you get the idea.  I like that I can create a list on my iPad whilst I am watching TV in the evening and it automatically syncs to my phone so that when I am at the supermarket the next day I don't have to worry that I forgot my list! I love it!  It also gives every item on your list a little checkbox and has a very satisfying 'ping' as you check something off.  (I have been known to add tasks to my lists in the past that I have already  completed just to have the satisfaction of ticking them off! #saddo).  You can read more about it here ... Wunderlist 

My Fitness Pal

7. My Fitness Pal

Whilst I hate to admit that a Fitness app is included amongst my Top 10 apps, I have to confess that I do use this one on a regular basis.  I cannot 'diet' to save my life... the minute I think I am 'on a diet' I immediately want cream cakes, chocolate and chips, when ordinarily I do not crave these things .. well, maybe the chocolate occasionally.  Whilst the app does more than just count calories for you (you can link it up to one of those Fitbit contraptions if you are an addict, mentioning no names ... Mr B and Sharon!) that is really all I use it for.   Every so often, when I realize that I have perhaps been 'over indulging' somewhat I go back to the app.  You enter your current weight and how much you would like to use and Hey presto! it works out how many calories a day you need to eat (or more importantly for me, not eat!) and pretty much every food I have eaten is on there, together with not just calories, but how much fat, carbs, protein etc. is in each thing if you are tracking that too (I just sticking to calories).  I am not very strict with it (understatement!) and usually end up going over my daily allowance, but not as much as I would if I were not using it.  It just makes me question whether I actually really need that extra glass of wine or not ... OK so that was a bad example ... maybe an 'extra biscuit' would be a more appropriate example here :D   If by some mere fluke you do happen to accidentally exercise during the day, you can add that in too and it will work out how many extra calories you can then have as a result.  I started using it again two weeks ago to track what I was eating and without consciously 'dieting' have already lost 4 pounds!  Result!  

Spotify

8.  Spotify

I have always loved listening to music and love the fact that with Spotify I can listen to more or less any song I like, by any Artist (with a few exceptions ... although the Beatles catalogue has now recently been added .. yay!) whether I actually own a copy of it or not.   The free version (which is what I use) does have the odd commercial every few songs or so but it is no more annoying than listening to the radio and I tend not to notice them.  You can also pay a subscription for the premium version which is Ad free.  You can make up your own Playlists and save them for future listening; listen to other people's playlists, listen to the latest new releases or golden oldies if that is your thing.   Currently, as I type this, I am listening to an old Funk/Soul compilation and yesterday it was tracks from the latest hot new Rock bands. Connect to your Bluetooth speaker and crank up the volume. Love it!

Around Me

9.  Around Me

Visiting somewhere for the weekend and need to find the nearest ATM? The nearest coffee shop?.  En route to a friend's and need to buy some flowers?  This App will show you where plus give you the walking and/or driving directions to get you there.  We have used this many times when on holiday and didn't want to pay the hotel's extortionate prices for a decent breakfast!

Cascade

10.  Cascade

I am not generally one for playing mindless games on my phone or iPad.  I never really got the whole Candy Crush thing and requests from Facebook friends to help them grow crops on their farm used to drive me insane, but I have to say that I am totally hooked on this game that I came across recently.  It is totally addictive!  Mr B has been away this week and I have sat down after dinner intending to just have a quick 5 minutes and the next thing I know I have lost two hours!   Great if you are stuck somewhere and have time to kill, but probably not a distraction you want to indulge in if you need to actually get anything done!  You have been warned!

So that's a quick look at my current favourites.  I'm sure there are lots of similar apps that do the same thing - its all a matter of personal preference - and I'm sure if you ask me for my Top 10 in a couple of months they may all be different but for now these are the ones I use on a regular basis.  Check 'em out and who knows, maybe you will find a new favourite!

TTFN

Bev x

Keeping fit ... and all that Jazz!

Hands up who likes exercising?  (Marcus Barlow put your hand down ... nobody likes a show off).  I'm taking a wild guess here that I am not the only one who hates exercising?  In my list of 'favorite recreational activities', exercise would not even make the top 50!

Over the years I have lost count of the number of gym memberships I have taken out, gone a handful of times and then never darkened the doors again.  Hideous smelly places ... full of sweaty body builder sorts who feel the need to grunt and groan as they lift weights or stick thin women with immaculate hair and make up who never so much as perspire, never mind go red, and look like they last ate a crisp in 1982.  Ugh ... it's making me break out in hives just thinking about it.  (The only machine I ever liked at the gym was the one that sold Mars bars, Hoola Hoops and crisps).  Let's face it, if Taylor Swift can't manage it I stand no chance (if you didn't see her recent commercial for Apple click the link below ... Lol)

Taylor Swift's Apple Commercial

I have bought endless exercise videos ... Jane Fonda, Rosemary Conley, that bird from Eastenders whose name escapes me, even the lovely Davina's workout (which I seem to recall watching from the comfort of the sofa with a glass of wine and a packet of peanuts before deciding it was all way too much effort), which all ended up at at the back of the cupboard gathering dust.

Then there were the exercise classes ... aerobics (spending an hour every week gasping for breath whilst I turned a very unflattering shade of beetroot was not my idea of fun);  zumba (ditto); step classes (I actually didn't mind those too much and lasted over a year until I had problems with my knee ... *coughs and looks shifty*).

I have tried swimming ... ugh ... just one whiff of chlorine takes me right back to those hideous school swimming lessons at the local 'baths' - getting shampoo in your eyes as you tried to have a shower with your swimsuit still firmly attached and then trying to maintain a shred of modesty as you struggled to get dressed in those awful communal changing rooms as you wriggled around under your towel (invariably dropping your knickers in a puddle of water in the process).  The only good bit was sneaking off to get a packet of crisps out of the forbidden vending machine (oh ... I can see a theme was emerging even then ...), followed by the long walk back to school stinking of chlorine and cheese and onion.

I  even tried cycling once (given that I never learnt to ride a bike as a child that was interesting to say the least) ... the one and only trip resulting in a badly bruised backside and a bike for sale in the next week's Friday Ad.

Mr B on the other hand is an exercise 'swot'.  For several years now (and I mean at least 3 or 4) he has got up at the crack of ridiculous every day to complete some torturous circuit training routine on his FitStar app, which he switches up every 6 weeks or so so that he doesn't get bored ... bored???  after 4 years?!  Oh sorry, I forgot ... he does have Sundays off ... because he goes for a run instead.  He is also obsessed with his FitBit and if for some bizarre reason he didn't manage to complete all his allotted steps during the day he will jog up and down the lounge at the back of then sofa whilst watching TV in the evening to make them up.  Don't get me wrong, I am really proud of his efforts to stay healthy and it is clearly doing him good. At his last two annual check ups he was told that his heart is as healthy as that of an athlete!  I hasten to add though, this was not before both of the doctors concerned (one in the UK and one in the US) had done an ECG and referred him to a heart specialist for further tests as his heart beat was so slow.  Thankfully both confirmed that there were no issues ... he is just super fit apparently :)

Given the above, I'm sure you can imagine the constant nagging I get from Mr B over my sustained resistance to participate in any form of exercise whatsoever and of course he is absolutely right, exercise is important, especially we get older when it becomes even more important and a necessary evil *sighs*.  The trouble is that there is there is nothing that I find even remotely enjoyable ... well, except walking perhaps ... but only if it's on the flat... and it's not too hot.   Right, well that's that out then.

Then, a couple of weeks ago (well, it may have been before Christmas now I come to think of it), a neighbor mentioned that she had gone to a dance class at a local fitness studio just down the road from us one Saturday morning and how much she had enjoyed it.  Hmmm ... well I like dancing, so maybe ...

I had been meaning to investigate for ages but kept ... er, forgetting *clears throat* ... and so whilst Mr B was away on one his work trips this week,  I sat down on Monday evening with my iPad and a glass of wine to check it out (my favorite kind of exercising). Ah yes, here it is ... click ... now let's see ... Classes ... click ... well, there seems to be quite a variety.  Zumba? ... don't think so ... Barre? based on ballet moves apparently *snorts envisaging Gloria from Madagascar in a pink tutu and ballet slippers* ... perhaps not ... Pound? a workout based on drumming - sounds weird ... U-Jam? described as an urban athletic dance fitness workout - maybe, although the word athletic is worrying ... Bollywood Fusion? also sounds like it could be fun ... Warrior Sculpt? "Get in shape “boot camp” style!" - er, just no.  Jazz? ... hmm, that might be a good one to start with.  I remember taking a jazz class at The Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden when I was 18 and working in London ... it was a hoot.  The instructor was a very camp 6' black guy called Sylvester, who used to wear a hot pink leotard and matching headband ... he was hysterical!  Arlene Philips also taught classes there back then too (so you can tell how long ago that was!).  I had completely forgotten about that! Lol.

Meanwhile, back to the Class Schedule ... click ... oh look, there is a jazz class tomorrow morning... click ... Ah.  I seem to have booked myself a place. Oh God!  (Pan to other side of the room where youngest has been observing from a distance and is now in fits of hysterics ... "were you trying to order wine?! *snort*" ... Rude). Oh well, suppose it won't hurt to go along and check it out.

The following morning I gingerly tiptoed into the studio, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible so that I could do a quick reccie and then beat a hasty retreat at the first sign of a leg warmer or a neon leotard.  The previous class was just finishing up (a Warrior Sculpt class!) and I was pleasantly surprised to see a small group of reassuringly average looking women file out, who all seemed very friendly. So far so good.  Two of them were staying on for the Jazz class - one looked to be in her late 60s maybe and the other maybe 40 ish - and we were then also joined by another lady, again maybe in her 60s, who advised that she was also new to the class.  So that made four of us! The instructor arrived, welcomed us newbys and then went on to explain that this class was half Jazz and half Tap ... *gulp* but not to worry if we didn't have tap shoes as trainers would be fine.  Tap shoes?!  After 30 minutes of a fairly straightforward (if slightly cheesy) routine to some number from a Broadway musical (not really my thing ... and yes, jazz hands were involved) we switched to the tap section. All great fun but trying to do a shuffle ball change in clumpy trainers does not have quite the same effect and it was more thump than tap!  So in summary, whilst it was great fun, I'm not sure that Jazz/Tap is really for me  and so have signed up for a different class next week ... on Monday ladies and gents, I will mainly be doing Hip Hop Cardio!  (Ethan is mortified).  I had some concerns that the demographic in this class might be slightly younger than me *coughs* but one of the 60-something ladies from the Jazz class told me that she also takes this class and she was 71 (as I looked at her in amazement the other 60-something lady told me she was 79!) so I guess I might be ok after all. Lol.  Oh well, in for a penny and all that ... I'll report back next week! 

Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go and find my baseball cap and look out those M C Hammer trousers ...

TTFN

Bev X

A taxing time ...!

So it's tax season here in the US with everybody scrambling to get their taxes submitted by the April 18th deadline.  Mr B is no exception, and whilst he has had some help in completing them in this his first year, he is still liable for their submission.  Simple, you would think?  Just a click of the mouse or at the very worst, an old fashioned envelope with a stamp popped in the mailbox?  Sadly dear reader, you would be wrong.  At his final meeting with his tax advisor last week, he was advised that as Ethan is listed as a dependent on Mr B's tax form, he would be required to submit in person at the nearest IRS office (a 40 minute drive away), taking Ethan with him to prove that he actually existed.  Sorry, what?! *sighs defeatedly* (is that a word?)

Back in the UK, I used to complete both our self assessment tax returns and was completely familiar with the process.  All fairly straightforward, completed online and usually took just under an hour to submit for us both.  Here, not only is it way more complicated, (especially as a 'resident alien') ... in addition to the main Federal taxes you also have to complete and file State taxes ... but also I am completely out of the loop and have no clue how it all works here and therefore unable to help or double check that nothing was missing etc.  Mr B assured me though that it was all taken care of and all that was needed now was my signature on the last page. OK great!

In order to avoid any more missed time off school, Mr B decided he would collect Ethan from school on Friday (as school finishes at 1.10pm on a Friday) and drive straight there.  Off he went armed with forms, passports, cheque book etc ...  Like all other US Government Offices that we have had to deal with since moving here - DMV, Immigration, Social security etc. - the IRS operates in exactly the same way ... no appointments are available, you have to just turn up, take a number and wait .... and wait, and wait.

They arrived just before 2pm, completed the usual security checks ... surrender all weapons, turn off cell phones, screen bags, go through body scanner ... and were advised to join the loooooooong queue of people waiting to see one of the preliminary officers who would then allocate a number to determine their priority amongst the sea of other poor sods who looked about ready to take root.  After 30 minutes, they finally reached the clerk and waited patiently for the woman in front to finish her rant at the impassive IRS employee. It seems that she was wanting to pay her taxes with old fashioned cash, but 'the man who dealt with cash payments' wasn't in (?!) so she could only pay online or by cheque. Seriously? She was not amused apparently and after ranting at the IRS officer for another 10 minutes she finally slammed her paperwork on the counter and stormed off.   I would have been equally miffed I have to say, especially after having waited for hours on end (the average wait time was 3 hours ... !!!).  When Mr B and Youngest finally got to the window they were advised matter-of-fact-ly that they were not able to process any more of the type of filing he needed to submit because it was 'too late in the day and they closed at 4pm' adding helpfully that he would 'probably want to avoid Friday as it was the busiest day' ... no shit Sherlock!  Arrrrggghhh!!  As Mr B is now travelling from Sunday to Thursday next week and then the same the week after that only leaves a Friday or ... erm ... a Friday to file before the deadline.  Quite frankly I would have lost the plot by now, but Mr B managed to keep his temper in check and determined from said IRS officer that he could file at an 'approved agent's' office instead (for a fee obviously) and passed him a list under the window.   

Mr B scanned the list to see where the nearest listed agent was ... now let's see ... ah yes, here we are .... the nearest one is .... Oh.  Right opposite Ethans school ...great ...  After a quick phone call to explain his predicament and enquire whether could see him that afternoon ... "well, we are fully booked ... it's tax season you know?!" ... they took pity on him and promised to squeeze him in at 4pm.  

Several hours and several hundred dollars later ... oh, plus the $195 charge from the 'approved agent' (I did ask Mr B later what they were called ... R Hood & Company perhaps?...  Ripoff & Scarper?) they arrived home looking shifty.

"Did you get it all done?" I asked

"Erm ... kind of ..."

"What do you mean kind of?"

"Erm, well we were able to do most of it but there was one other place on the form where we were both supposed to sign and so you just need to pop in next week to sign ..."

"So what would have happened if you had arrived at the IRS office earlier in the day and waited 3 hours to see someone only to then find that there was a signature missing?"

"Er .... well .... er ...."

Good grief.  

I hope you all have a great week and look forward to seeing you back here next time!

TTFN

Bev x

One year on ... and what a year it has been!

So this week marked the one year anniversary of our momentous move to Arizona ... 12 whole months!  Can you believe it?!!

Luckily we all still love living in the valley of the sun (phew) and even though we miss family and friends back home, the wonders of modern technology means that we can still catch up thanks to apps like FaceTime and Skype and of course keep up to date on everybody's news and events via social media (as you all know I am a BIG fan of social media! 😊)

This milestone also means that we have now completed one whole round of local & national holidays and experienced each of the four seasons (which really just translate as getting hot, hot, hotter & hottest).  I have to say my favourite definitely has to be Spring.  I know seasons can vary from year to year no matter where you live, and I think this year has definitely been above average for Phoenix, but it has been really beautiful.  Temperatures have mainly been in the 70s & 80s, sunshine almost every day (we have had no rain since January!) and the desert is just alive with colour.  

Palo verde trees (Arizona's state tree) are everywhere and are a mass of frothy yellow blossom

Brightly coloured blooms in pink, yellow and orange are bursting from prickly cacti of all shapes and sizes

the bright orange flowers of the bird of paradise bush (a hummingbird favorite). 

Mr B managed to snap this hummingbird last weekend at the Botanical Gardens ...

purple orchid trees (this one is from our friend John's garden)

and bougainvillea plants heavy with the prettiest of papery fine blooms

 

We became members of the Desert Botanical Gardens last year (many of the photos above were taken on our visit last weekend) and whilst we are not gardening nuts by any means, it is a lovely place to visit regularly to see the ever changing flowers and foliage and sit in a shady spot for a while and watch the birds and butterflies.  Well worth the annual membership fee and we will definitely be going several times more over the coming weeks before the searing heat arrives in another month or so.

Whilst there is no doubt that summer temperatures here are fierce (think we were above 100 degrees every day from the end of June to late August last year!), they are also accompanied by some of the most amazing weather phenomenon that I have ever seen!   Torrential monsoon rains and spectacular electrical storms with dazzling lightening and ferocious thunder ...

and hot winds that whip up dust storms and 'haboobs' *snort*

We have witnessed some stunning sunsets, more colorful than any I think I have ever seen



We have experienced some wonderful bird & wildlife sightings ... quail, cardinals, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, eagles, road runners ...

coyotes, deer, javalina and even had a visit to our pool from a bobcat!

Thankfully I have only seen one scorpion (which was making its way into a store at a local Outlet mall ... probably stocking up on ...) and one snake, which slithered across the road in front of the car one morning *shudders*

We have met some wonderful people and made many new friends.  Mr B and I even learned how to do the Arizona Two Step, Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing and Salsa!

We have gone on road trips to Tucson, San Diego (twice!) & Las Vegas; witnessed a gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone; driven through a forest of Joshua Trees and through real desert sand dunes in Yuma; we accompanied Mr B on one of his work trips to New York and finished the year with a few days on the Florida Gulf coast in Sarasota & Naples.  Phew! We definitely managed to pack a lot of adventures into our first 12 months!

Thanks Arizona for an amazing year.   I can't wait to see what adventures we get up to next ...
Bring it!

not my picture sadly, but isn't it great?  It looks like a painting!

TTFN

Bev x