The Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum

One of the highlights we like to show to our guests is the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.

Every time we visit the museum we learn something new and greet old friends - coyotes, javelinas, and so on.

Rose even tried grinding some corn for dinner.

We believe that the museum is a true gem here in Tucson and will continue to share it with our visitors.

Hiking with Rose and Stacy in Ventana Canyon

Stacy and Rose Kanda came to visit - we have tried to get them to visit for quite some time and we were very excited to see them.

We went hiking in Ventana Canyon.

There was actually water in the creek for the first time since we've been here.

Another great visit

Michael's medical school roomate, our best man, a long time friend and his lovely wife Gail visited us last week.

We managed to 'squeeze' in a few visits to the Gem Show which was a first for them.

Also visited the Karchtner Caverns and took a tour of the Big Room which is always fascinating.

They found many pieces to take back with them to Surprise, Arizona.

Somehow I failed to get a picture of Gail but this one is a gem of Jon keeping warm while we watched Tombstone. However, Michael got a shot of Jon and Gail when we went for Happy Hour at El Charro.

More acquisitions for our home

We found a pair of chairs for the living room that are not just comfortable but look like works of art to us. They were made by a local architect as his college project a few years ago. We love them.

An Acamana vase, a bench for the pool side door for people to sit on to remove or put on their shoes, our first Kachinas and a few stone plates and bowls.

Still looking for a bed for us, dressers, nightstands and a leather sofa.

A great visit with fellow circumnavigators

We were in Finike, Turkey, when we decided to take a tour to Cappadocia in the center of Turkey - along with stops at Konya to visit the home of the whirling dervishes, a carpet manufacturer, a jewelry manufacturer, old churches, ruins, etc.

The gentlemen who sold us the tour got up very early in the morning and drove us to Antalya where we met the bus for the tour.

We sat down and introduced ourselves to the people in front of us and lo and behold they were also sailors - Alan and Adele Walls from Huntington Beach, California.

We became fast friends on that tour, met them again when they had a car and came to Finike to tour more ruins, and in many anchorages after that.

We have kept in touch and have visited them in their home in the past but this time they came to see us and to see Tucson for the first time.

Snow high in the mountains greeted them.

Among many activities which included much eating and drinking we visited the Sonoran Desert Museum and went gliding.

Alan and Michael flew with Paul and Adele and I flew with Ali originally from Ankara, Turkey. Both pilots were great but Ali reminded us of our time in Turkey together. The weather was perfect and we all had great rides! A first for Alan and Adele who loved it.

Had a great visit!

Our newest aquisitions

We have found a few more pieces for our home here.

However, still looking for a bed and a sofa!

The air mattress is comfortable but it would still be nice to have a real bed!

We found the Gorman print and the sofa table when we were visiting the Messinas in Scottsdale.

The Boomerang coffee table, the two dark brown recliners and the rug we found in Tucson.

Tonight's Desert Colors

Michael took some photos of tonight's usual boring sunset.

Life is hard here in the desert - we are awaiting the 20 Mule Train for our supplies.