Pima Canyon

Isn't this a gorgeous canyon? These photos are by my hubby and father, so I haven't seen it myself, but I was impressed with just how BIG the country is. On the last day of our Christmas trip, Dad and James decided to hike a 12.3 mile loop in the mountains just outside Tucson.

The starting point point and ending point didn't quite make a full circle, and they didn't want to leave a vehicle there all day, so the plan was for my mom to drive them to one side then come pick them up at the end of the day on the other side. The hike had a lot of elevation change, taking them up into the mountains, across a saddle and back down; when they chose which side to start at, they chose the uphill side, knowing there would be plenty of up and down to complete the hike. Also, since the days were short, they knew they needed to start early and keep moving to make it back by dark.

When my mom dropped them off at the trailhead, there were a few law enforcement people around but they didn't realize until after she was gone that the trail was closed due to a tracking operation they had going. Dad and James quickly realized that they weren't going to get on the trail anytime soon, so my mom went back and picked them up and took them to the other end of the route. It was a later start than they intended but off they went.

By the time they were close to the saddle, it was already 3pm. The last little bit before the saddle was the most elevation change and the route down the other side was unfamiliar to both of them. They had started from the opposite end from what they intended, making the elevations even more challenging. So... they turned around. They had to almost-jog to make it down before dark and it took the last bit of the light to get back to the trailhead. It was over 11 miles - still a great hike!

The pictures are so beautiful that it makes me want to go too. We're thinking about a hiking challenge to have all of the family that feels up to it make the 12.3 mile loop next Christmas. Considering there were 13 of us (yes, all staying in my sister's house) this year, we could really have a fun hiking contingent next year!

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum

When we were in Tucson we visited the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. This is a really small museum but it is fun for little and medium ones. Zack liked the telephone style recorded information on all the displays and Sammy liked the train table at the entrance. We all loved the huge engine outside! This is in the downtown historic area and we also walked around a little looking at some nearby historic hotels. I recommend it for a light outing. And, with the beautiful weather, I wish I'd gotten some really great shots of the kids in front of these green doors!

The Zoo

Thisweek we took the kids to the Zoo in Tucson and had a great time wandering around and playing. It was a beautiful day, just slightly chilly in the shade. The sun was toasty and the animals were all out and about. We took a picnic and enjoyed every bit of awake-time we could squeeze out of Sammy's day.

When we started, Zack had a copy of the Zoo map. He was really thrilled that he could read the animal names and figure out where we were. We were less thrilled to find that he was so interested in reading the map that he was ready to go to the next animal immediately after arriving at the present animal! When he lost his map, he was bummed but we were a little relieved. After that, we got to enjoy each animal a bit before moving on!

Oops, I forgot to post this the day I made it! Well, here it is anyway.

Ready for more chickens?

Ok, are you tired of chicken pictures? Because I'm loving this set. Check out Mr. Zack marching purposefully out to the chickens' area with his little cup of scraps. He really gets a kick out of bringing them "treats".

And after Mom went through the Funky Chicken Coop pictures with me and saw our friends' young son picking up his chickens (he told us each one's name and breed in turn), she decided hers needed a little hands-on treatment as well. So, we've been trying to pick them up a little at a time and get them used to it. We had some comical moments getting ahold of them. Here, Zack got to hold this silky black one. Look how pleased he is! They handed it to me next, but I got her wing kind of scrunched and as I was trying to smooth it back down to her side, she escaped my arms. Missed my photo op!

In Tucson

Here we are! After half a day, Zack's already keen on taking out bit of scraps and treats to the chickens. They are not chicks anymore, but aren't full grown either. They don't lay eggs yet and make sort of babyish chicken sounds. There may be three roosters rather than two, but none of them crow yet. The coop has progressed since the pictures I showed here, but the decorative elements aren't done yet.

The desert is looking especially beautiful today in the stormy light and with the little bits of desert spring. I'm eager to share of photos of that in the coming days too.

The flight (flights, since they got rid of our direct flight) was challenging with two little ones, but it really went as well as I could have hoped. All set for fun with Granny and Grandad!

Desert Beauty

As I was looking back through some pictures today, I was struck with the beauty of some of the desert photos from our stopover at my parents' house in Tucson during our Christmas trip.

My mom has her front porch converted to a sort of greenhouse area. I don't know exactly what this one is, but it is one of many beautiful and interesting plants - a lot of them euphorbia or echeveria.

She keeps zebra finches in a large cage at one end of the porch. She was doing some daily cleaning in the cage and Zack was "helping"... and before we knew it the finches were out of their cage. They were skittish, darting from one end of the porch to the other as we tried to come near them, but most often lit on the pencilstick euphorbia (at least that's what we call it, I can't seem to find the info under that name online). It's a large plant, scraping the porch roof. The birds congregated on it whenever they got enough space from us people. It made the porch feel like a little aviary, but it was a little nerve-wracking whenever anyone entered or exited. At nightfall they went back to their roosts, I think relieved for their little adventure to be over.

The yards in Tucson don't look like most people are used to. There is little to no grass in individual lawns, especially in the front yard, though you see at little at businesses. The front yards have "desert landscaping" or, as it is more recently called, xeriscaping. You see part of the front in this (adorable, I couldn't resist!) picture of my mom and Sammy. Grass will grow there, as evidenced by the georgeous golf courses, but it takes a level of water that most individuals can't justify in a desert climate.

Some people have a small lawn in the backyard, but my parents' is pavers surrounded by flower bed. The amount of plant life my mom can squeeze into those beds is amazing. There are two grapefruit trees, other trees, and many plants. Although it isn't pictured, I've always love the iceplant that overflows some of the edging on the beds. The hummingbirds come to her feeder, as you see here.

And finally, one of the most magnificent features of the desert landscape are the mountains. Tucson in ringed in mountains so that pine trees and cooler air are always a short or medium car ride away. At sunset, they light up pinks and purples in the fading light, as you can see from the view from the road in front of my parents house. Wow!