February, 2006 in Green Valley, Arizona

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A-h-h-h February! In sun and warmth we have been bicycling around Green Valley, Arizona. With temps in the high 60's and 70's we bike to the stores, library, recreation centers, etc. Family and friends have been visiting.

January ended with a surprisingly warm and sunny journey west. After stopping in Columbus for lunch with (Jim's daughter and granddaughter)Karen and Sarah, we watched 5 beautiful sunsets (mostly shining right in our eyes as the sun moved towards the western horizon). We stopped at the capital of the Navajo Nation, and Canyon De Chelley and then proceeded down Rt. 77, a little traveled route through the mountains to Tucson and Rt. 10. We arrived in Green Valley on February 2nd.

Green Valley, as all of Arizona, is having a drought this winter. The Santa Rita Mountians, overlooking the town, are without snow. The danger of forest fires is high.

Jim and I have joined the Green Valley Recreation, where we have every kind of activity available at more than a dozen sights. Our house is one story with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. A carport is out front and a walled in patio out back. It is in the center of all activity, yet private enough. This IS the life!

My daughter, Jennifer, came for a visit on Feb. 6th for 2 weeks. Jim's brother Tom and wife, Jeanie also visited on Feb. 10th for a day. We walked in the Santa Rita Mountains and had a dinner at our house including Gail, Jim's ex sister in law and our farmer friends from North Dakota, John and Peggy Brooke.

We met John and Peggy last March, on our bicycles in Green Valley. They now have a home in Green Valley and Peggy is teaching in the local school district. They still maintain the farm in North Dakota.

We had dinner with Wendy(Jim's cousin) and Tim Drost in their lovely Scottdale home. On our way we stopped at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter "camp". When built back in the 1930's it was completely alone in the desert. Now it is totally surrounded by Scottdale housing developments which are growing fast. Wendy is a real estate agent, a good occupation in this area.

Back in Green Valley we enjoyed the GVR activities, and going on local trips to the Tubac Arts Festival, Pima Air and Space Museum, Walking in the desert at Saguaro National Park, etc. and we celebrated Jennifer's graduation from San Francisco State University with lunch and a visit to the Amado Ranch. Jennifer returned to San Francisco on Thursday the 23rd of Feb.

Jim and I just signed up for table tennis doubles and bicycling in the Green Valley Senior Olympics. They take place later in March. We are now in training until then. I do not expect to win the competition with a comfort bicycle, but I do think we will have fun and challenge ourselves a little. We have no idea how good the competition is in our 65-69 age catagory.

John and Martha Beechler, our hiking friends from Santa Fe, stopped by at the end of February. We were able to catch up on news and travels since April, 2005, when they were our next door neighbors.. They are from Michigan and I am sure we will meet again---somewhere in our travels.

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Photos

1197 Alpine Circle
Our home for 3 months. An improvement over last year when we had a much smaller "casita". Jim is back there working on his bike.

Our back patio
A sunny place to read, do watercolors, garden or bird watch. There are always Hummingbirds,Curved billed Thrashers, Gila Woodpeckers, Cactus Wrens and Gamble Quail.

Back on the bicycles
The first thing we did was ride to the Green Valley Mall to have breakfast with John and Peggy Brooke at La Placita.

GVR
This is one of 14 locations around town, each specializing in different activities. GVR(Green Valley Recreation) is what makes Green Valley so ideal.

GVR Swimming pool
Each GVR location has it's own pool. Pools are open to 7pm in winter---9pm in the summer. Water temperatures are kept at 86. Mornings are chilly at this time of year. Hot tubs are popular.

Jimmy waiting
Joanie is in the fitness center. We will ride home together.

John and Peggy
John and Peggy are fixing up their new home in Green Valley. They also just became proud grandparents of twin girls, their first grandchildren.

Taliesin West
The apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright built the complex using local rocks. At the time it was very "rustic" being a desert camp.

Taliesin West
The roof was canvas to give an agreeable diffusion of light within and to let the breezes blow through. Taliesin was lived in only in the winter.

A family dinner in Scottdale
Wendy Drost, Tom and Jeanie Kern, Jim Kern,Joan Roolf and Tim Drost

Celebrating Graduation
Jennifer graduated from San Francisco State University in December.

Comments

[Maureen Kelly & Bob Tait]

Greetings!
Jim and Joan, Great to hear from you. Sounds as though you are having a great time. Wonderful pictures---thanks. Good luck with the bike competition. The Green Valley Recreation Center is "just your cup-of-tea." We too visited Canyon De Chelley. Our wedding is planned in Cape Cod in June then on to the Maritime Provinces. Our new RV is wonderful and everything works! Please keep September 23, Sat. available, we plan a PITTSBURGH Wedding Celebration in North Park . Meanwhile, Enjoy! Hope to see you soon. Maureen

[Connie Black]

WOW!!!
Hi you guys!!! What a wonderful spot you have chosen! Are you coming back to Pittsburgh??? It would be hard! We miss you! Let us know how the ping-pong tournament comes out. Play hard!!! You're so generous to have people visiting all the time! You love your family and friends and that's a good thing!! We walked from 5th and Shady to CMU campus yesterday - Luc was or guide - to see the large mural of early Pittsburgh. It's floor to ceiling around a large lobby in the Student Activity Center. Lunch then back to the Art Center. Marilyn Ham has had two bouts with pneumonia late Feb/March. Took some soup and bread yesterday after walking. She called and is doing better - on a new antibiotic which she thinks is working better. Blanch Asherman had a heart attack while skiing at Seven Springs and is doing well after a stent placement. Honestly, no keeping those two off the slopes!! Poor Jack is still suffering from his crash in Utah last year!! I'm going to Portland to hang out with Georgia for five days while her parents go to Cancun for a vacation. Will be gone from April 12 - 25th. Thought about an elderhostel hiking at Mt. Hood but really don't want to be away from home that long. Kittty-cat, early gardening chores, etc. Nuff!! Don't have to tell you two to have fun - that's already happening and am so happy for both of you!! Love, Connie

[Laurie]

Wonderful!
Joan, I love hearing all about your travels, I am envious! I'm looking forward to the next blog! Your pictures are wonderful and really add to the text! Your neighbor, Laurie