July 7: Zachary's Bar Mitzvah

The main reason we stayed in Arizona until July was to go to San Antonio for our grandson Zack's Bar Mitzvah.  We left the motorhome in SMR in the 110+ tempertures and drove by car to San Antonio. 

 

Zachary was absolutely marvelous during the two days of his Bar Mitzvah and did a superb job reading his prayers.  We are so very proud of him.













 Robyn did a wonderful job planning the weekend.  Barb and I arrived in town about 4 days early to help her get everything all set up.  Our most difficult project which involved creativity was to figure out what to use for center pieces for the tables.  We spent one whole day going from craft store to craft store to wherever, to find just the right center piece.  We were so proud of ourselves, when we figured out a way to make the center piece.  After purchases at three different stores, we created a "masterpiece'.  It was a fun day!

The occasion was a wonderful reason for a family reunion. 

Linda with her girls, Susan and Robyn

Linda and Barb with grandkids: Zack, Ashley, Caroline, Nicolas

Back row:  the Rabbi, Linda, Barb, Susan
Front Row:  Janice and Mitch (cousins), Larry (Linda's brother)

Caroline and Ashley had a great time playing together.  They do not see each other very often so it was nice to see them re-connect.



June 12: Linda visits Susan, Nicolas, and Caroline

After all of our visiting in Cottonwood and ShowLow, we returned to SMR for another couple of weeks.  During that time, Linda flew to Wichita to visit her kids.

Caroline, Susan and I went to a Jazz Festival in one of the local parks.

 

I spent time going to Caroline and Nicolas's activities for the summer.

Caroline played on a softball team

Nicolas's summer job was as a referee for softball leagues in the area. 

May 19-June 14: Jerome, Cottonwood, ShowLow

We left Apache Junction for a month to get away from the heat.  During that time we stayed in Cottonwood, AZ touring Jerome, the Lapitka Ruins, and visiting with friends.  We then went to ShowLow, AZ to see our friends who spend the summer months in the White Mountain area.

 

Jerome was a prosperus mining town in the early 1900's. The town was built on the side of the mountain about 10 miles from Cottonwood. It flourished for a number of years until the mine closed and it became a ghost town.  Today it is an artist community with many stores, art galleries, and restuarants.  A fun place to spend the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While in Cottonwood, we toured the Lapitka Ruins where the early Ancients made their home.

 

 

From Cottonwood we drove to ShowLow.  
We were there for the weekend of the annual Native American PowWow. 

 The dress and feathers and colors were simply awesome.

 

 

While in ShowLow Barb and I took a walk around WoodLake Park.  We saw many bird species and I had a great time trying to get good photos of them.  Many would not cooperate and would fly off just as I had my camera set up and ready to shoot. 

SPRING BRINGS FLOWERS AND BABIES

Spring is the beginning of new life and in our rv park, the hummingbirds were prolific.  We found two different nests in neighbor's back yards.

This nest was on top of a pine cone. 

These blooms are from the cactus garden on our rv site.  We planted this garden several years ago but have never been here during blooming season.  It was so exciting to see these blooms.

 

March 9: Sports Day

Our friends Maddy and Sandy plan an annual Sports Day.  It is more fun, laughter and comaraderie than serious competition.  We begin the day with bagels and bloodies
















and end with a wonderful dinner. 








And in between, we compete in golf putting, bocce ball,

darts,        pool and coin toss






Sandy and Maddy spend many weeks planning all the events and determining points on the day of the event.
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Colette and I took photos during the day and then created this montage of the day's events and people involved. 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU SANDY AND MADDY FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL DAY !!!

 

 

 

 

March 1-4: Visit with Zack and Ashley

In March, my son in law, Scott, was hospitalized with a severe infection.  While he was there, I flew to stay with the kids while Robyn was with Scott.  After several difficult days, the meds worked and he was able to come home.  We were all quite happy.

There was not much time to take photos but I did get the kids to sit for a photo with their new puppy Houston.  Yes, Houston is a puppy, less than a year old and already 50 lbs.