Boy, it has been awhile since I posted a blog. My husband and I had been busy traveling. First to Belgium, then to Australia and New Zealand. Now we are back, and Southern Arizona is just as beautiful as ever. We don't have the snowstorms that the East Coast and Europe have to contend with. Even in winter, we can still go hiking during the day, enjoy the beautiful sunsets, and meet relatives and friends for lunch and dinner at the various terrific restaurants in the area. In our opinion, life is good in Southern Arizona.
We are going to be hosting a girl from South France in February, and we are going to show her the best of Tucson and Southern Arizona. It is a perfect time of year for her to come, as many events are in town each February: the Accenture Match Play Golf Tournament will be played at Dove Mountain in Marana, the Mineral and Gem Show will be in Tucson, and the world famous Rodeo will also take place. Lots of fun things to show Juliette.
Likewise, there are also many exciting (and in some cases, tasty) events in January in the Tucson area, so come and enjoy what Southern Arizona has to offer. A very Happy New Year to you all, and enjoy your travels!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Home Exchange
We were away on a trip to Europe for awhile and it was a lot of fun but now we are happy to be home. The monsoon season has finally arrived in the Tucson area. For the last couple of years, the monsoon has not been as spectacular as in previous years. There is not as much rainfall either. Maybe this is another sign of global warming.
We were in Belgium on a home exchange for a few weeks at end of May and in June, and really enjoyed the trip. For us, a home exchange is really a good way to travel. You get to see how the natives live in real daily life, with shopping and cooking, and also usually get to know the town and the neighbors very well in a longer stay. A house is much more comfortable than a hotel room, and is very convenient, especially for a casual breakfast before heading out on the day’s adventures. My husband and I have been exchanging for about four years now and we really recommend it. We haven’t had a bad experience and typically the homes are even nicer than their writeups describe. And the visitors are careful about your home too because they understand the situation. Last week a couple of Swiss women came to stay at our house. We are hoping to visit them next summer. They promise us a great time and already have an agenda made up for us. Nearer term, we have arranged to visit Australia and New Zealand (four cities and four home exchanges!) towards the end of this year. We are finding that sunny Arizona attracts people who want a mild winter, and we have had many offers from various parts of Canada. This interests us and we have to make the time to visit the Great White North.
The summer months in Southern Arizona doesn’t bother us. We simply schedule our activities to avoid being outside mid-afternoon. Most of our visitors come to our Tucson area in the winter or spring. So we were really surprised when the Swiss women emailed us for an exchange in July. We warned them about the heat, and they said they could handle it because they had been to Thailand several times, and it is very hot and humid there. Well they did handle it very well and said it is nowhere near as humid as Thailand was. One advantage for them visiting in July is that there are numerous restaurant and museum discounts in the summer because of the relative lack of tourists. So they had a very nice trip here, and really liked seeing the town and meeting us. We liked them too and took them around for several of their days here.
We were glad that they did not mind the temperature when they were here, and they spent a lot of time sunbathing by our community pool. They said the Swiss crave the sun. Now, the Swiss have gone home, our son is back at college, our daughter has a new job and is on her own. So we are back to our normal routine, doing things early in the morning, staying indoors during the heat of the day, enjoying our occasional siesta, and arranging to do things with our friends in the evening when it is much cooler, maybe even 30 degrees cooler. There is no lack of special events and social life in the Tucson area in the summer time. So don’t stay away from our city just because it is summer. There are still plenty to do; your simply need to adjust your daily schedule.
We were in Belgium on a home exchange for a few weeks at end of May and in June, and really enjoyed the trip. For us, a home exchange is really a good way to travel. You get to see how the natives live in real daily life, with shopping and cooking, and also usually get to know the town and the neighbors very well in a longer stay. A house is much more comfortable than a hotel room, and is very convenient, especially for a casual breakfast before heading out on the day’s adventures. My husband and I have been exchanging for about four years now and we really recommend it. We haven’t had a bad experience and typically the homes are even nicer than their writeups describe. And the visitors are careful about your home too because they understand the situation. Last week a couple of Swiss women came to stay at our house. We are hoping to visit them next summer. They promise us a great time and already have an agenda made up for us. Nearer term, we have arranged to visit Australia and New Zealand (four cities and four home exchanges!) towards the end of this year. We are finding that sunny Arizona attracts people who want a mild winter, and we have had many offers from various parts of Canada. This interests us and we have to make the time to visit the Great White North.
The summer months in Southern Arizona doesn’t bother us. We simply schedule our activities to avoid being outside mid-afternoon. Most of our visitors come to our Tucson area in the winter or spring. So we were really surprised when the Swiss women emailed us for an exchange in July. We warned them about the heat, and they said they could handle it because they had been to Thailand several times, and it is very hot and humid there. Well they did handle it very well and said it is nowhere near as humid as Thailand was. One advantage for them visiting in July is that there are numerous restaurant and museum discounts in the summer because of the relative lack of tourists. So they had a very nice trip here, and really liked seeing the town and meeting us. We liked them too and took them around for several of their days here.
We were glad that they did not mind the temperature when they were here, and they spent a lot of time sunbathing by our community pool. They said the Swiss crave the sun. Now, the Swiss have gone home, our son is back at college, our daughter has a new job and is on her own. So we are back to our normal routine, doing things early in the morning, staying indoors during the heat of the day, enjoying our occasional siesta, and arranging to do things with our friends in the evening when it is much cooler, maybe even 30 degrees cooler. There is no lack of special events and social life in the Tucson area in the summer time. So don’t stay away from our city just because it is summer. There are still plenty to do; your simply need to adjust your daily schedule.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Desert in Bloom
This past couple of weeks have been fantastic for us. We had a relatively wet winter and now the desert is truly blooming, spring is here. We see wildflowers everywhere we go (even in the street median islands in town). The cacti are blooming in a variety of brilliant colors. And the weather is great; sunny during the day, a breeze most of the time, and cool in the evenings. This is the best time of year to go hiking to enjoy the desert wildflowers, and the local critters too... rabbits, tortoises, and javelinas. My husband especially loves the smell of the acacia tree right in front of our home.
We enjoyed the Open Studio Tour on April 3rd & 4th in Tubac. This is the second year the Santa Cruz Valley arranged for a Hidden Treasures Open Studios Tour. This event offered us an opportunity to see and experience the true creative process, in the studios of working artists throughout the Santa Cruz Valley. We picked up a brochure at the Tubac Center of the Arts and followed its map, and spent both Saturday and Sunday visiting most of the studios. My husband and I, and some good friends who came along, now really appreciate the hard work, time, and talent that go into the paintings, bronzes, clay and wooden sculptures, and blown glass pieces. During the Studio Tour we also very much enjoyed the live performance of Native American Classical Guitarist Gabriel Ayala.
Southern Arizona is well-known for its charitable fund raising events. The Rotary Club is one of the many organizations that raises money for good causes through a variety of ways in several venues. Last Saturday (April 3rd), The Tubac Rotary Club organized the Taste of Tubac at the Tubac Golf Resort. Most of the Tubac restaurants had booths with representative samples of their foods. It was a great event and enjoyed by all who attended. Yesterday (April 11th) The Rincon Rotary Club organized The Taste of Chocolate at the Double Tree Hotel at Reid Park in Tucson. About 25 different chocolate specialty stores and restaurants participated... lots of chocolates of all sorts (even chocolate chicken - Chicken Mole) for people to sample. We tasted for about two and a half hours. I think my blood got thicker and browner with all the chocolates I had!
The 32nd Annual Blessing of the Vine Festival is going to be on April 24th at Sonoita. Ministers and priests bless the grape vines to foster a bountiful crop at harvest time, free wine glass and samples, live music, dancing, $10, horseback riding is also available throughout the day, from 11 am - 4 pm. For more information call 520-455-5893 or http://www.sonoitavineyards.com
We'll see you there.
We enjoyed the Open Studio Tour on April 3rd & 4th in Tubac. This is the second year the Santa Cruz Valley arranged for a Hidden Treasures Open Studios Tour. This event offered us an opportunity to see and experience the true creative process, in the studios of working artists throughout the Santa Cruz Valley. We picked up a brochure at the Tubac Center of the Arts and followed its map, and spent both Saturday and Sunday visiting most of the studios. My husband and I, and some good friends who came along, now really appreciate the hard work, time, and talent that go into the paintings, bronzes, clay and wooden sculptures, and blown glass pieces. During the Studio Tour we also very much enjoyed the live performance of Native American Classical Guitarist Gabriel Ayala.
Southern Arizona is well-known for its charitable fund raising events. The Rotary Club is one of the many organizations that raises money for good causes through a variety of ways in several venues. Last Saturday (April 3rd), The Tubac Rotary Club organized the Taste of Tubac at the Tubac Golf Resort. Most of the Tubac restaurants had booths with representative samples of their foods. It was a great event and enjoyed by all who attended. Yesterday (April 11th) The Rincon Rotary Club organized The Taste of Chocolate at the Double Tree Hotel at Reid Park in Tucson. About 25 different chocolate specialty stores and restaurants participated... lots of chocolates of all sorts (even chocolate chicken - Chicken Mole) for people to sample. We tasted for about two and a half hours. I think my blood got thicker and browner with all the chocolates I had!
The 32nd Annual Blessing of the Vine Festival is going to be on April 24th at Sonoita. Ministers and priests bless the grape vines to foster a bountiful crop at harvest time, free wine glass and samples, live music, dancing, $10, horseback riding is also available throughout the day, from 11 am - 4 pm. For more information call 520-455-5893 or http://www.sonoitavineyards.com
We'll see you there.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Things to do this weekend
The weather is fantastic again here in Southern Arizona, and there are many interesting events taking place in both Tucson and Tubac. So many things are going on that I do not know where to go first this weekend. The 4th Avenue Street Fair near the University of Arizona runs from this Friday through Sunday. The Pima County Air Show at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is on Saturday and Sunday. The Mata Ortiz (Mexican)pottery exhibit and demonstration featuring Goyin Silveira and Celia Veloz takes place on Friday (tomorrow) and Saturday at the always lovely Tucson Botanical Gardens. You can watch the pottery being made from scratch and the firing begins at 11:30am on both days.
Lots of things are happening in Tubac too. On Saturday 3/20, there is the St. Patrick's Day Parade at 10:00am, the Cowgirl Ugly Fashion Show at 2:00pm, Chuck Wagon & the Wheels are performing at the Old Tubac Inn at 6:00pm. From 1:00pm to 3:00 PM there is a book signing with Philip Cavuto at TJ's Tortuga Books & Coffee Beans. At 7:30pm Cool Breeze (Latin American Rhythms) is performing at The Tubac Center of the Arts.
From 10:00am to 3:00pm, on Saturday 3/20 also, the Agua Linda Farm (an all-natural farm)in Amado (just north of Tubac) is having its Farm Day. Look at their website for directions. http://www.agualindafarm.net/
There are so many fun things to do and enjoy in Southern Arizona. Take advantage of the gorgeous weather, and try to attend at least some of these events. Good Weekend!! Have Fun!!
Lots of things are happening in Tubac too. On Saturday 3/20, there is the St. Patrick's Day Parade at 10:00am, the Cowgirl Ugly Fashion Show at 2:00pm, Chuck Wagon & the Wheels are performing at the Old Tubac Inn at 6:00pm. From 1:00pm to 3:00 PM there is a book signing with Philip Cavuto at TJ's Tortuga Books & Coffee Beans. At 7:30pm Cool Breeze (Latin American Rhythms) is performing at The Tubac Center of the Arts.
From 10:00am to 3:00pm, on Saturday 3/20 also, the Agua Linda Farm (an all-natural farm)in Amado (just north of Tubac) is having its Farm Day. Look at their website for directions. http://www.agualindafarm.net/
There are so many fun things to do and enjoy in Southern Arizona. Take advantage of the gorgeous weather, and try to attend at least some of these events. Good Weekend!! Have Fun!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Visitors in Tubac
I like being in Tubac through all the seasons the year. The summer heat does not bother me. My husband and I enjoy the fantastic lightning storms which occur in the afternoons and evenings during monsoon season, which is the latter part of the summer. So for us, we have a mini-vacation in Tubac whenever we have the opportunity, and we do not need to go away in the summer to escape the heat.
Most visitors, however, feel the best time to be in Tubac, and in Southern Arizona in general, is from September to April/May. Our area is the destination of choice for these people who are fleeing the hard winters in their hometown. During these months, Tubac hosts many tourists and snowbirds from Canada, the US East Coast, the North, and the Midwest. Some people we've met come from even further away: Europe and Australia. We have been fortunate to meet many nice people who come here to enjoy the weather and the cozy, safe small town atmosphere of Tubac. Everyone seems happy and very friendly, and we meet many visitors simply walking around the town, in the art center, in the library, and in restaurants. They enjoy everything that Southern Arizona has to offer. They go hiking, swimming, golfing, biking, horseback riding, eating out, and reuniting with old friends. They enjoy the Thursday lunch for seniors (this is really a social event in the town; not something targeted for people in difficult economic straits), they attend the breakfast forum every other Thursday (with knowledgeable speakers discussing a wide variety of topics), they search (successfully!) for unique finds and old artifacts using their metal detectors, investigate ghost towns and old abandoned mines, visit the Titan Missile Museum (a scary reminder of the Cold War), and many, many more fun things.
For North America, Tubac is a very old town. I recently came across the following website detailing the history of Tubac through four centuries. http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/tubac/toc.htm It offers some very interesting reading. If you have a chance, come visit Tubac. I quite sure you won't regret it.
Most visitors, however, feel the best time to be in Tubac, and in Southern Arizona in general, is from September to April/May. Our area is the destination of choice for these people who are fleeing the hard winters in their hometown. During these months, Tubac hosts many tourists and snowbirds from Canada, the US East Coast, the North, and the Midwest. Some people we've met come from even further away: Europe and Australia. We have been fortunate to meet many nice people who come here to enjoy the weather and the cozy, safe small town atmosphere of Tubac. Everyone seems happy and very friendly, and we meet many visitors simply walking around the town, in the art center, in the library, and in restaurants. They enjoy everything that Southern Arizona has to offer. They go hiking, swimming, golfing, biking, horseback riding, eating out, and reuniting with old friends. They enjoy the Thursday lunch for seniors (this is really a social event in the town; not something targeted for people in difficult economic straits), they attend the breakfast forum every other Thursday (with knowledgeable speakers discussing a wide variety of topics), they search (successfully!) for unique finds and old artifacts using their metal detectors, investigate ghost towns and old abandoned mines, visit the Titan Missile Museum (a scary reminder of the Cold War), and many, many more fun things.
For North America, Tubac is a very old town. I recently came across the following website detailing the history of Tubac through four centuries. http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/tubac/toc.htm It offers some very interesting reading. If you have a chance, come visit Tubac. I quite sure you won't regret it.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Southern Arizona Events
Hard to believe but February is almost over! I was so busy having fun that I totally forgot about my blog. Barry and I together have enjoyed so many things in Southern Arizona since the New Year. We've met with friends that Barry had not seen in years. They originally met in Denmark over 30 years ago and had since lost touch. It was very nice to meet with them again, and we also met their friends, who have recently retired to Tucson. Then we went to Los Angeles for a bit of a mini-vacation. We enjoyed many different restaurants in Chinatown, in Koreatown, and in Little Tokyo. We also liked the Getty Center - the artwork, the buildings, and the tremendous overview of the city. But we were glad to get back home to Southern Arizona after being in LA a week. The legendary LA traffic was so stressful and congested that by the end of the week we were very happy to be out of that city!
Winter in Southern Arizona is the best. Our relatives and friends in the East Coast are all jealous of the beautiful weather that we have. For the last couple of weeks, Tucson hosted its (really world famous) annual Gem Show, Tubac has its fascinating Festival of the Arts, and then Chinese New Year coincided with Valentine's Day this past Sunday. This week Marana hosts its annual Accenture Golf Tournament, this year at the fabulous new Ritz Carlton Golf Course at Dove Mountain. So, we crammed in many fun activities over the last couple of weeks. We went to the Gem Show and the Tubac Art Festival. We also volunteered to staff the booth for the Tubac Hearts and Hooves Organization. This Organization is in the process of getting its non-profit (charitable foundation) status. The Organization has two delightful 5 year old mini-horses, and it is trying to raise money enough to buy a trailer and a small truck in order to take the mini-horses around to the various hospitals in Southern Arizona to cheer up the sick kids with a horse-drawn cart ride. It should be great fun for these kids, who otherwise may be shut in at the hospitals.
In the coming weeks, we are looking forward to meeting more friends for lunch, attending wine tastings, going to classes that we have joined, and in general, participating in all the events in this active community. The Rodeo Parade is going to be on Feb. 25 and different events are going to be at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds from Feb. 20 to Feb. 28. Of course, I work in between doing all these fun things :-). Life has been sweet and good for us in Southern Arizona. We are grateful, and we are really enjoying it.
Winter in Southern Arizona is the best. Our relatives and friends in the East Coast are all jealous of the beautiful weather that we have. For the last couple of weeks, Tucson hosted its (really world famous) annual Gem Show, Tubac has its fascinating Festival of the Arts, and then Chinese New Year coincided with Valentine's Day this past Sunday. This week Marana hosts its annual Accenture Golf Tournament, this year at the fabulous new Ritz Carlton Golf Course at Dove Mountain. So, we crammed in many fun activities over the last couple of weeks. We went to the Gem Show and the Tubac Art Festival. We also volunteered to staff the booth for the Tubac Hearts and Hooves Organization. This Organization is in the process of getting its non-profit (charitable foundation) status. The Organization has two delightful 5 year old mini-horses, and it is trying to raise money enough to buy a trailer and a small truck in order to take the mini-horses around to the various hospitals in Southern Arizona to cheer up the sick kids with a horse-drawn cart ride. It should be great fun for these kids, who otherwise may be shut in at the hospitals.
In the coming weeks, we are looking forward to meeting more friends for lunch, attending wine tastings, going to classes that we have joined, and in general, participating in all the events in this active community. The Rodeo Parade is going to be on Feb. 25 and different events are going to be at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds from Feb. 20 to Feb. 28. Of course, I work in between doing all these fun things :-). Life has been sweet and good for us in Southern Arizona. We are grateful, and we are really enjoying it.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Our Pleasant Southern Arizona Living
A New Year is upon us. The past year has been good for my family and me. Our daughter will get her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California this May. Our son is getting a very good educational experience and more, spending his college Junior Year abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is definitely enjoying it, and we would certainly recommend it to anyone considering doing that for their kids. We feel very fortunate: our family is better off than many many people in this world. We are living in a great area in Southern Arizona. We enjoy great weather, good friends, varied social life, and activities that keep our mind and body going. There is nothing more that we could ask for.
Of course, I worried nearly every day whether our daughter will be able to get a decent job after she graduates. I hoped that our son would not get into trouble or danger while touring around in different countries in Europe during his academic breaks. I thought about the economy of this country. I thought about all the people who are out of work and barely surviving. I believe that what it comes down to is that many more of us should volunteer more of their time for the people around their areas who are less fortunate.
One great thing about the Tucson area is that many people who relocate here are retired or semi-retired, and they do spend a lot of their time volunteering for various causes. I especially commend the 500 volunteers who run The WHITE ELEPHANT SHOP, at:
601 N. La Canada
Green Valley, AZ 85614
520.625.4119
Website: gvwhiteelephant.org
In 2008, the WHITE ELEPHANT SHOP distributed $1.4 million to over 130 different schools and charitable organizations.
I recommend everyone in the Southern Arizona area to frequent the White Elephant Shop, either by shopping or donating. This is for a great cause in the community.
Of course, I worried nearly every day whether our daughter will be able to get a decent job after she graduates. I hoped that our son would not get into trouble or danger while touring around in different countries in Europe during his academic breaks. I thought about the economy of this country. I thought about all the people who are out of work and barely surviving. I believe that what it comes down to is that many more of us should volunteer more of their time for the people around their areas who are less fortunate.
One great thing about the Tucson area is that many people who relocate here are retired or semi-retired, and they do spend a lot of their time volunteering for various causes. I especially commend the 500 volunteers who run The WHITE ELEPHANT SHOP, at:
601 N. La Canada
Green Valley, AZ 85614
520.625.4119
Website: gvwhiteelephant.org
In 2008, the WHITE ELEPHANT SHOP distributed $1.4 million to over 130 different schools and charitable organizations.
I recommend everyone in the Southern Arizona area to frequent the White Elephant Shop, either by shopping or donating. This is for a great cause in the community.
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