The Critters are Active

Spring has hit the desert and all the critters are out and about. We've seen quite a few coyote, this morning I saw a Javelina and her baby, and a few days ago our resident Roadrunner was sitting on the ledge to my office pecking at the window. Quail are scurrying about off the west patio and some mischievous critter keeps stealing my flip flops. I was able to find the first one out in the shrubbery, but the one they stole this morning from the other side of the house is yet to be located. I'm thinking it's a Packrat that has hauled it off . We'll see if I ever find this one.

Warm Water

Hooray, they've started heating the pool at the club again. I've really missed swimming laps and my body really needed to start up again. They keep it at a wonderful temperature between 82-84 degrees. Just heavenly. I was actually using the pool to ice my right calf after runs as it's been acting up. It was so cold that it was just as good as an ice pack. It took about 3 days to get it to the current temp.

Christmas

It's strange to think of Christmas plans when it's only March, but I spent half the day arranging our travel. It's a "my side of the family" get together this year with the 8 from Australia and the 12 from the USA all meeting in Hawaii. It was amazing to think that I booked 2 of the last 3 seats on our flights....glad I didn't procrastinate. Many more flights were available, but more expensive and with much worse flight times. When December rolls around I'll be glad to escape all the heavy traffic and know that I'll be able to spend 10 days with my sisters and all the extended offspring. We'll even have a relatively new baby to celebrate. Meanwhile I'm knitting up a storm and turning into a shawl nut. I'm also knitting socks where I have to provide the pattern instead of the yarn. I think my fingers are in really good shape!

The 9th Hole

We went to our first pro golf event today. The Accenture Match Play tournament is being held almost in our backyard. A friend at the club gave us tickets for two days so we thought we should check it out. When I got back home today I found out that our tickets for two days with parking and admittance to one of the club tents were worth $500. Sure glad we decided to go. We do play golf when we're in Wisconsin and could probably be pretty decent if we played with any regularity, but we're petty sporadic at this point. If they show the 9th hold grandstand on TV tonight...I'll be the person sitting up there knitting.

Japanese Fun

While unboxing books yesterday I found a couple items that I had purchased in Japan a few years ago. I immediately opened the package with the wooden tool and hand/ foot diagram and began prodding my palm. It sure felt like I found all the pressure points, although my hands are usually a little sore from so much knitting. Maybe tonight I'll attempt the foot diagram. I could have used the other little gizmo with what looks like a golf ball on the end (it's softer rubber fortunately) at the gym this morning to pound out those sore muscles at the back of my neck. It might be a new me in a couple days. My lovely shawl is probably the cause of my funky neck and achy hands, but it's worth it.

Hidden Treasures

Today our built in shelving was completed. I finally have a place for all my books along with some other odd ball items. It was great to eliminate more boxes from the garage and do a little rearranging. Also came across a few hidden treasures. When you box up a house and put it in storage for almost two years it's almost like Christmas when you can start unpacking. We added six areas for storage and shelves...what a difference!

Tour of Arizona

We have friends visiting from Wisconsin...here to thaw out for a bit. Their visit has inspired us to branch out and hit the road. We visited Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon....and today we headed down to Nogales Mexico and Tubac Arizona for some shopping and wandering. Made a few fun purchases and have gotten in a lot of car knitting. They're really enjoying our mild weather. Milwaukee is supposed to get 16 inches of snow tonight so they've just changed their flights home. Glad I don't have to fly home to that weather.