Sabino Canyon

This lone saguaro cactus stands guard over Sabino Canyon.

Sabino Canyon

Rock formations provide breathtaking viewing in Sabino Canyon.

The grand canyon

Imagine a garden hose that has been cut in half and then folded open. Then that hose is stuck out through the abdomen with a plastic bag to catch the material that continues to flow out of one opening.

Last week, my doctor cut cut around the segment of colon, pulled it out and sewed it back together to allow waste materials to resume flowing through the original plumbing.

Instead of closing the wound surgeons allow wounds like this one to fill in and close naturally. I'm told it may take about three weeks or so to fully close.

Kathy's garden

Here is one of the plants from the new landscaping around the pool.

Kathy's garden

More yellow flowers.

Kathy's garden

Another pretty flower planted by Kathy.

Kathy's garden

An orange colored flower.

Kathy's garden

Kathy's yellow rose.

Kathy's garden

Some more of Kathy's recent acquisitions.

Kathy's garden

Kathy ended up in Home Depot. You know what that means.

Kathy's garden

Another fancy pot and plant.

Kathy's garden

The planter box on the north side of the pool.

Kathy's garden

Another fancy pot and plant.

Kathy's garden

More of the fancy landscaping around the pool.

Kathy's garden

That cactus plant has a special perch.

Kathy's garden

Another plant is Kathy's garden.

Happy birthday

Guess who turned 56 on Feb. 27. Kathy made Dave a devil's food cake to match his personality.

A visit from home

Kathy's cousin Algera and her significant other Dennis spend the winter months in Eloy, Arizona. We had a chance to visit with them on a recent Sunday. The rest of the year, Algera and Dennis call Wyoming home.

A Christmas Computer

Our grandson, Zach, is an exceptionally bright 8-year-old in the third grade in Billings, Montana. We made a the decision to bring them to Tucson for Christmas and to purchase a MacBook computer for Zach's use in his studies at Lockwood School.

As you will see, it was not under the tree during the opening of other presents. Kathy brought it out from our bedroom and the rest is evident in the video below.

New Car

The Internet is a wonderful thing. Kathy has been looking for a new car for a couple of years. While she looked at several makes and models, her dream car was a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Last week, she received an email from a salesman in Peoria, Arizona (north and west of Phoenix) that they had a used 2008 model that had been leased for a year and only had 6100 miles.  The dealership hired someone to drive it from Peoria to our house in Tucson where we signed the purchase papers on our dining room table.  Kathy will now have a ride for her 40-mile daily commute that gets 27 miles to the gallon in the city and it has seats that better accommodate her tender lower back.

Landscaping

The landscaping, including a dining patio by the pool, dresses up the backyard.

Landscaping

Desert landscaping adorns the area around the new swimming pool.

Renunion

Bill and Lorie Hougland, my sister and brother-in-law try out the new swimming pool.

Reunion

The first weekend in October featured a mini-reunion of sorts as my sister Lorie and her husband, Bill, from Houston, and our second cousin, Judy, from near Melbourne, Australia, came to Tucson for a short two-day stay.

Judy had visited Tucson nearly five years ago. Lorie and Judy had not seen each other since she had moved to Australia in the 1970s.

Gully Washer

For those of you who think Kathy and I live in a bone dry desert here's proof to that it rains from time-to-time. Last night it rained harder than we have seen in a long time. Here's the proof, a rain gauge that Kathy deployed about a year ago. It reads 2.8 inches of rain.

Gully Washer

The rain gauge used to be in the middle of the backyard, but was displaced by the swimming pool. Now it resides at the back wall.

Waterworld

Kathy's Daughter Carla and grandson Zach are spending the weekend, flying in Thursday night from Billings, Montana.

Waterworld

Kathy's grandson Zach enjoys the new pool.

Waterworld

Zach uses a water toy.

Waterworld

Carla and Zach have been in the pool constantly during their visit.

Waterworld

Carla uses one of the float tubes to blow water at Zach.

Waterworld

Zach is pleased after his morning swim.

Pool update

Before the water comes the pebble tech.

Pool update

The pebble-tech grew coates the inside of the pool shell.

Pool update

Ready for a quick dip. The water temperature was 91 degrees without using the heat pump.

Pool update

Kathy couldn't wait.

Pool update

Kathy starts the never ending battle to rid the pool of leaves and other debris.

Pool update

Kona was happy to see the pool was ready to use.

Pool update

Kato just plain beat by all of the pool construction.

A lazy Sunday

After the chores are done on Sunday morning, the dogs like to spend time in the laps of either Kathy or Dave. Here we see Kato laying half on Dave's chair and half on the end table. He's actually guarding the remore controls.

A lazy Sunday

Kona rides shotgun for Dad as he uses his computer from his easy chair.

Pool update

The decking and patio were coated today. No word on when the pebble tech will be applied to the inside.

Pool Update

Kathy just couldn't wait for the water.

Pool Update

Where's the water?

Pool update

Halfway done. The concrete was poured for the pool.

Pool update

Not enough water for swimming yet.

Pool update

Mr. Kona demonstrates what he thinks of the pool construction.

Pool update

The forms for the pool decking were formed on Wednesday.

Pool update

The deck for the pool was poured on Thursday.

Pool update

It was about 105 degrees as this concrete worker was finishing his task.

Pool update

We arrived home today to find the concrete guys putting the finishing touches on the bottom of the pool. Kathy wanted to fill the pool and jump in but she returned to her senses and decided to allow the concrete to set.