Might as well blog!

Pa's 80th Birthday!

2008-09-08T18:27:00.008-07:00

A perfect day in Madera Canyon just a few miles from Green Valley, Ariz. It rained when we got there but cleared up in 20 minutes and the sun came out. Just a small group including Jenny and Dan, friends of Ma & Pa who have two darling little girls.

This is little Asia having a roll.

Good food and good company!

Here's Asia and her big sister Rainie looking at a butterfly.

FIVE MORE PICS

2008-09-08T18:09:00.013-07:00

This is especially a good pic of Ma!

And this is what happens when you try to take a "serious" shot! (We look better blurry, anyway!)

Jan & Sam

Juan and I

Staley Reunion 2008

2008-07-22T07:43:00.002-07:00

Whew, finally got a chance to upload our pics from the Staley Reunion 2008! Seems like we did a LOT more activities than I have pictures of, but I guess that's the way it goes - you either take part, or take pictures! Anyway, I'm hoping a lot more of those attending will also upload their pics to give a more well-rounded view of the great time we all had!

I should mention that if you see a strange face or two, it's probably just a relative you don't remember! But if you see one you just KNOW isn't related, that's probably Jonathan, Juan's cousin from Phoenix who was kind enough to agree to come along to help us meet our minimum count (required by Ft Worden), and he brought his 4-yr-old son, Alejandro, who was a big hit with the "younger" crowd!

Wouldn't be a reunion without the food!

2008-07-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Fort Worden pics

2008-07-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

More people pics

2008-07-22T07:15:00.003-07:00

People shots at Fort Worden

2008-07-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Victoria Ferry

2008-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

At the beach just below Ft Worden

2008-07-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

Scenery shots

2008-07-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

Great meal and great company!

2008-07-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

Campfire after the big meal

2008-07-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

After the reunion at Tim & Josie's new house!

2008-07-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

2008-05-25T14:13:00.001-07:00

Here's what we did this weekend (mostly Juan):

And the finished product!

A few garden pics

2008-05-21T07:11:00.005-07:00

Went out to take some pictures of my blooming watermelon plants and had a surprise visitor! (See upper left corner). Those are young tomato plants below the hummingbird.

There are three corn stalks in the background and three watermelon plants in the foreground (along with some cantaloupe and zucchini).

Snow peas are looking scraggly but still producing enough for at least two servings a week!

Garden update!

2008-03-29T13:19:00.007-07:00

We've been eating spinach and radishes and the snow peas just now are ripe enough to munch on. Planted some summer stuff... watermelon, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and corn.

Broccoli and cauliflower are about midway to harvest. Bloomed last week and I'm starting to see broccoli-looking stuff starting to develop.

We've all heard the phrase "like two peas in a pod". I always thought it meant two identical little green peas sitting next to each other inside the pod. Now I'm wondering if the saying hasn't been changed somehow over the years and really started as "like two pea pods on the stalk" or something. Turns out peas bloom in twos and produce in twos! Every stalk has two identical blooms, and eventually two pea pods to harvest. Really cool!

Free counter

The garden begins!

2008-01-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

Turning the soil

2008-01-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Even I worked!

2008-01-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Creating the "path"

2008-01-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Fence posts

2008-01-01T13:18:00.002-07:00

The gate

2008-01-01T13:18:00.001-07:00

Rabbit proof fence

2008-01-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Planting seeds

2008-01-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

One week later - sprouts!

2008-01-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Those are radishes coming up. Cauliflower and broccoli are also peeking through, and snap peas and spinach should show up pretty soon.

Next I plant basil and peppers, then around mid-January I will add carrots, cilantro, lettuce, parsley and tomato. Anybody for salad?

The Last Workday

2007-10-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here's me hard at "work" on my last day! (Yeah, right!)

Dolores

2007-10-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here's my coworker, Dolores, putting the finishing touches on a perfect event.

She not only arranged every last detail of this party, she also learned every single detail of the job I left so she can carry on after I'm gone. I couldn't have left it in better hands! (Just call her Wonder Woman!!)

The Gift

2007-10-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

My generous coworkers were so glad to see me go they pooled their loose change and bought two trees and a bench for my backyard!

They even came and planted them for me! (Well, not the bench. They just dropped that off.)

The Husband

2007-10-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Fortunately Juan was able to leave his work early and attend.

We held the party at Bo's toolroom which is located just beyond the centerfield fence at Sancet Field on campus. What a great view!

The Family

2007-10-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

The family was well represented. Jan and Ma & Pa made the perfunctory appearance. (Thanks!!)

Generous Vendor

2007-10-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

RSC Equipment Rentals catered lunch for everyone! They're one of our favorite vendors, of course.

Good Food

2007-10-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

And Good Company

2007-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Some More of the Guys

2007-10-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Gold Watch

2007-10-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I chose a nice clock, instead of a gold watch (or the standard plaque).

That's my very LAST boss, Bill, representing the dozen or so I worked for over the years.

Carrot Cake, Of Course!

2007-10-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Kathia

2007-10-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Kathia worked with me in Grounds for many years before transferring elsewhere in the department.

Texas Red Oak

2007-10-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Planting day!

They even brought some fall flowers for color while the trees are getting established!

This Quercus texana will be a medium-to-tall tree whose leaves turn red-orange in the fall.

Purple Orchid Tree

2007-10-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

I loved the White Orchid tree on the UA campus so thought this variety would give us some interesting color.

See more about it at this website: http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/bauh_var.cfm

3:1 Ratio

2007-10-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Let's see, three supervisors and one hard worker. Yup, must be a Government job!

Just kidding! They all worked (some) and everyone had a great time. Thanks SO MUCH everyone!!

2007-08-15T12:18:00.002-07:00

MEXICO TRIP - Aug 2007

To start our trip we drove to El Paso, Texas, to visit Juan's cousin Irene and her sister Nellie along with Irene's husband Jim. They were gracious to drive us to the Juarez airport where we caught a one-hour flight to Chihuahua.

(CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO SEE IT FULL SIZE)

2007-08-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Juan's cousin Chayo and her husband Ron (from California) made plans to visit Mexico at the same time we did. They met us at the airport, helped us arrange a rental car, took us to dinner at this nice restaurant in Chihuahua, and got us on the right road to Anahuac where Juan's cousin Pavi and her husband Juan were expecting us.

2007-08-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Pavi's husband works at a big factory in Anahuac and they have two sons and a daughter, Paola, Josua, and Luis Carlos.

Paola and Josua took us to their neighborhood pool for a quick swim the next morning. Paola competes in swimming in school.

2007-08-15T12:04:00.003-07:00

We met up with Ron and Chayo in Rubio where we visited this little church. The entire town block was owned by members of the Julian Marin (brother of Juan's Grandfather)family in the past, although this church dates from more recent times.

2007-08-15T12:04:00.001-07:00

Ron, Chayo, me and Josua.

From here we drove out to Colonia Chupaderos to visit Juan's Uncles Chema and Carlos. Josua, who is 14-going-on-25, was our guide!

2007-08-15T12:02:00.001-07:00

Juan was born at Campo 45 -- a tiny hospital about 5 miles from the family properties. This is the area but the hospital has since been torn down. Marlene Hebert was the Obstetrician for Juan's precious mother.

2007-08-15T12:01:00.002-07:00

The church and school at Campo 45.

2007-08-15T12:01:00.001-07:00

Uncle Chema hadn't seen Juan in years.

2007-08-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Uncle Chema with Juan, Chayo and Ron.

2007-08-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Juan's cousin Paco runs a tiny store in the front room of his house. Here's me and Chayo shopping, of course!

2007-08-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

I asked about the post-it notes on the counter and was told they were reminders for people who needed to pay their bills at the store! On the left are the people being politely reminded what they owe (see inset). On the right are the people who will no longer be extended credit!

2007-08-15T11:56:00.001-07:00

Everywhere we went they had these wonderful old stoves. They had modern gas stoves, too, for cooking, but these older ones were still used to heat the houses in the winter. This is Paco's kitchen.

2007-08-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Paco and Mimi are brother and sister and live next door to each other.

2007-08-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Vianey Susana immediately adopted us as her new best friends! She's a darling little 10-year-old who wanted us to stay forever. Mimi is her mother.

2007-08-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Paco's house.

2007-08-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Uncle Chema and Aunt Eva with their daughter Beatrice (center) and family. Her husband had just been injured by a horse who kicked his hand, requiring many stitches. The elder boy is starting at an engineering technical college in Cuahtemoc.

Yes, Aunt Eva really is that tiny! They all live together in this large house.

2007-08-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Cousin Carlitos (with bucket) helps his brother run their farm down the road from Chema and Eva. The big storage barn was hand built from rocks in the area.

2007-08-15T11:45:00.002-07:00

Cousin Conrado in front of his barn.

2007-08-15T11:45:00.001-07:00

Chayo grew up in this house as a little girl. It was about half a mile down the road from the others.

2007-08-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Carlitos with the cows at feeding time.

2007-08-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Conrado and his son had help from Carlitos to milk the 10-15 cows. They had some kind of milking machine to help. Some of this milk will become cheese.

2007-08-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Nothing like fresh milk!

2007-08-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Cousin Conrado makes cheese in a room at the back of his house. We took some as thank you gifts to all the other uncles we visited. It's a delicious light cheese that reminded me of a mozzarella in flavor but more firm -- it can be sliced like swiss cheese.

2007-08-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Uncle Chema and Aunt Eva in their dining room. The cabinet behind them held their good dishes which they proudly served all our meals on.

2007-08-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Another darling old stove in the corner of Eva's kitchen.

2007-08-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Uncle Chema let all the cows out to pasture except this little bull who wasn't all that happy about staying behind!

2007-08-15T11:16:00.002-07:00

Aunt Eva fed the chickens every morning.

2007-08-15T11:16:00.001-07:00

Saying goodbye to Uncle Chema.

They call him "Stringbean". I wonder why?!

2007-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

On the road to Colonia Ortiz, we ran into Uncle Carlos who likes to ride for miles on his horse.

2007-08-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Uncle Gabriel lives in Colonia Ortiz just up the road from where we stayed.

2007-08-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Uncle Roberto (Beto, for short) and Aunt Emma had a very nice house with a more modern kitchen, but they still had a wonderful old stove that was mainly used to heat the house in the winter.

2007-08-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Colonia Ortiz is a very peaceful rural town of around 35 residents, according to Juan's cousin. Everyone has fences or walls around their property, but horses, cows, and sheep seemed to roam freely.

2007-08-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

This canyon is a very popular tourist destination in the region. A rough dirt road just beyond Sainapuchi accesses the picnic area. They call it Maize which means corn. I think it's due to the strange rock formations that sort of look like corn cobs turned on end.

2007-08-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here's Juan with his Uncle Roberto, Josua and cousin Baraquel. This was just before the rain started! We had to take cover a few times, but the weather eventually cleared.

2007-08-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

Great barbecue! Lots of Juan's cousins and their spouses and kids came from Sainapuchi and there was, of course, lots of good food.

2007-08-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

The next morning Josua helped get the sheep out to pasture for the day. Baraquel and his wife live just beyond Roberto's barn.

2007-08-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Here's Baraquel milking the cow. He recalls many years ago Juan's mom would come out with her coffee cup so she could have fresh milk in her coffee!

2007-08-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Juan looks like a natural!

2007-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

I even got a chance to ride a little!

2007-08-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

The Jacobo and Marin family including Juan's parents donated funds and property for this small rural school in Ortiz. The inset shows one of the two classrooms. They still use it for preschool, although I think the older children in the area go to a different school now.

2007-08-15T10:58:00.003-07:00

Here's the plaque on the side of the school. It was established in 1960 so Juan was too young to ever attend. Luz and Arturo probably went there for a couple years. Juan's parents left for the US just a few years later.
Juan's father was born in Clifton, Az., and Arizona was to be their new home. His uncle Nicholas Cazares, Great Aunt Tina J. Hernandez and other family members played a major role in his father's decision to bring the family to Arizona. This was after a major land deal ended in failure in Ascencion, Chihuahua.

2007-08-15T10:57:00.001-07:00

Juan's uncle has a beautiful horse named Tornado.

2007-08-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye to Juan's uncles was difficult because you never know when it might be the last time.

Baraquel and Rosario and their little daughter were very fun to be around.

2007-08-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

We headed back to Anahuac to spend the night with Pavi again and to return her son, Josua! Pavi runs a home business photographing weddings and events and producing DVDs for her customers.

Here's me with the sisters, Tencha and Pavi.

2007-08-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

Cousin Tencha and her husband Juan didn't want to say goodbye!

We were escorted to the Chihuahua airport by Pavi and her husband Juan the next morning and we flew back to Juarez. To our surprise, Jim, Irene and Nellie had come down to meet us at the airport. The drive back across the border took a long time but we had good company and filled them in on our trip.

After a wonderful dinner at Landry's in El Paso, we drove the 4 hours back to Tucson. Glad to be home, but it was a wonderful trip!

Dad tries bottle feeding

2007-07-15T11:33:00.001-07:00

Meeting my new mom!

2007-07-15T11:32:00.002-07:00

Tasty ankles!

2007-07-15T11:32:00.001-07:00

I didn't ask for a bath!

2007-07-15T11:31:00.001-07:00

Nap Time!

2007-07-15T11:30:00.002-07:00

Another nap location

2007-07-15T11:30:00.001-07:00

The buddies!

2007-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

2007-06-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Pitching in a little ourselves!

2007-06-17T07:33:00.002-07:00

The really cheap labor is always the best looking!

2007-06-17T07:33:00.001-07:00

The trench goes all the way down to the Mesquite tree on the north corner of our property.

2007-06-17T07:32:00.001-07:00

Now the valves have their own little house.

2007-06-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here's all the pipes in the trench before covering it up.

2007-06-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

We plan to put pots with flowers in front of these windows.

2007-06-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Cazares house gets drip irrigation! (Click on photos to see the larger version)

We placed the valves right next to the carport since it was recommended they feed off the main house water line at that location. The four valves will serve the trees, shrubs/groundcover, lawn, and garden, respectively. They are split to send one to the front yard and one to the back. The lawn will only be in the backyard -- and we haven't fully decided whether to put in a small lawn area or not. That will be phase 5 maybe!

2007-06-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

Closeup of the valves before all the connections were finished.