Christmas Time

Just a few pics to show you what I've been up to this Holiday Season.  First of all this is my busiest time and most fun time of year at work because I get to work all the Champagne and Sparkling wine tasting bars.  This means all day  I just pour bubbles for customers- yay!

On Christmas Eve Matt prepared a delicious dinner for his family who joined us for dinner and then Christmas Eve service at our church- yay!

Christmas morning revealed many a wonderful present for me.  The first thing I found were these beautiful Champagne glasses in my stocking.  I of course could not resist filling them with the bubbly on such a wonderful morning, even though it was only 9 AM!

Visiting the Janks

Last weekend we headed south to to see the Janks at their new home in Mexico!

It was the first time since we have driven down there in over five years.  One hour to the border and then three hours south to Hermosillo.  The drive was uneventful and the roads have gotten much better since we last drove there.  The Janks met as at the Hermosillo toll and lead us thru the city to their hacienda.  

We were able to stay over two nights.  We had tons of fun catching up, eating authentic Mexico food (carne asada tacos and burros, Fancy steak, fresh piggy cookies from the local bakery, and Yunuen's homecooking), playing spades, shopping for and drinking Mexican wine, smoking cigars and hookah, checking out the beautiful Mexican casas in their neighborhood while walking the dogs, going to church with them (with crowing roosters) touring the city center and driving up a mountain to overlook the city.  It was a fantastic time and we can't wait to go back and see them again.  Thanks for having us AMIGOS!

Together Again

We are so happy to be back in Tucson however, it is quite sad for us that most of our friends have moved away in the last few years.  Recently we had an opportunity to be together again in Tucson do to a funeral for a great man of God from our church.  Here are a few pictures from the evening we spent together having a lamb dinner and enjoying some hookah afterwards.

Birthday Feast

So my birthday was a while ago but I forgot to blog the feast we had.  Such special occasions always call for my favorite wines.  To start with  Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne with cheese, crackers and fruit.  And then I cooked myself my all time favorite meal- Thanksgiving!  Sandi came over and joined us for birthday dinner.  The wine of choice was Souverain Cabernet Sauvingon, Winemakers Resevere, 2008.  This meal wasn't about pairing food and wine as much as it was about eating my favorite food and drinking my favorite wine.  YUM.  Forget going out to eat for my birthday, a day of cooking is much better!

Family Visitors

 

Michael, Bill, Annie and Matt

Last month Matt's older sister was in town for a visit.  We don't see her very often as she lives in Texas.  Also, visiting was Matt's grandma from Pennsylvania.  Good times!

Sandi and Villia

Pics from Tres Parejas de Patio, Mt. Lemmon 2013

Parking at bottom of cabin driveway

Hike up cabin driveway

Dinner first evening

Lunch in Summerhaven



After lunch hike



Ryan needs a beer at Summerhave general store for hike back



After lunch hike

Deep talks after lunch

Hookah time Saturday night

Tres Parejas de Patio 2013

Preparing for Tres Parejas 2013...

 
 

13 Years of Friendship

 

Sad Goodbyes

Last month we had to say goodbye to three different couples we know in one week!  How sad it is when friends move away! But how awesome it is to know that our friendships will continue into eternity!!

 

This picture is from the last night Cori and Derel spent in Tucson before they hit the road for their new home in Vancouver, Washington.  We have gotten to know Cori and Derel over the past several months in our small group and have enjoyed them so much.  We were very sad to see them go and hope to visit them in the future. 

 

The other couple in the picture with us is Betsy and Nick with their adorable son Silas.  The 5 of us LOVE Tucson and are holding down the fort  here as people come and go. 

 

Our other friends who moved away are the Jankowski's, who moved down to Mexico and the Evan's family who moved back to Texas.  We expect to see the Jank's often as they will come to Tucson regularly and we will go visit them in Mexico once it cools down.  The Evan's are planting a church in San Antonio and we wish them well.  The sheep of that flock will be extremely blessed to have Luke as their preacher as he is unusually gifted.  God Bless you guys!! 

Old World Visitors

Last month we had the pleasure of hosting friends from... IRELAND!  My good friend Catrin (who is originally from Wales) and her new husband Len came to the U.S. for a nice long holiday and made a stop in the Old Pueblo to see us for a few days.  It was great fun having them!  While they were here we showed them around Tucson, took them to our favorite stores and restaurants for real Mexican food, to San Xavier Mission, to Nogales, Mexico, to hear Mariachi,  Matt took Len shooting guns for a real American/wild west experience, and most importantly we introduced them to American wine and taught them how to play spades!  Here are a few pics from their stay, which also happened to fall over Matt's birthday.

At San Xavier Mission

Indian Fry Bread at the Mission

At La Roca restaurant in Nogales, Mexico

Ordering at La Roca

Len and Matt proud of their targets

Spades 101

Matt's birthday spoil

 What a good time!  Catrin and Len, we love you and are happy to have you anytime you're stateside!

Tucson Wildlife

Spring is here and so are the quail- yay!  I love to see the babies following their parents around.  Each morning droves of them march through our front yard.  They are so cute!

This rabbit was caught cooling off in the damp soil near my rosemary bush.  Lucky for that rabbit I didn't catch him eating my rosemary or I would have let Indi at him!