NEW YEAR'S EVE.

Can't believe it is really here.  I am very glad a New Year will be here tomorrow.  A new year, a new beginning.  I am looking forward to working out my resolutions for the new year. Oh, Yes, I have a list, a positive list. One I can really live up to.  Sorry I won;t share it; you have to make your own list.  Check my year 2012 in review on face book.  That is really cool.  It turns into a slide show of the highlights of my year. A lot of you are probably on it.  See you all next year.

lOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR!

Sitting at my computer wearing shorts and a short sleeve blouse.  I'm so happy to be in a climate that is warm most of the year.  I haven't been sick since last year at Christmas time when I was in the hospital in Florida with respiratory problems. Except for my aging eyes that is.  Which I am working on.  I am going to spend the rest of the day thinking about all that I have to thank God for during this past year.  The sun has been shining today that is a starter right there.  Of course I'm not going to list all of them.  I have made the decision to get the laser work done on my eyes here in Arizona.  There are some good places to go here in Surprise and Sun City.  Not in this little town, however.  Going to Surprise is like driving to St. Louis from Hannibal.  Not so bad. Maybe I can visit Red Lobster while I am there.  LOL. Yes, I would like that.  HAPPY NEW YEAR OUT THERE TO ALL WHO ARE READING MY BLOG.  Sorry I have been letting you all down but that is one of my New Years Resolutions to write more often in my blog again. 

DUDE RANCH

     I finally got a chance to check out the dude ranch - The Flying E Ranch.  It is across the highway from the airport.  I went there on a day trip sponsored  by the Wise Owl Senior Center here in Wickenburg.  It was a most enjoyable trip.  We were served lunch after a tour of the ranch all within walking distance.  At lunch we got to meet and eat with the Dancers who were staying at the Ranch.  The troupe sang a song for us after lunch.  We did not get to ride horses. That tends to be very expensive.   We had free time to walk around.  I talked with a man who was a bird watcher and was part of our group.  He was excited because he had just seen a bird he had never seen before.  It was a cactus wren and a very common bird to the area.  He had looked it up in his bird book.  We talked a while about birds and wildlife of the area surrounding Wickenburg.  After that we boarded the bus to take us to watch a rehearsal of the Interpretive dancers.  It was similar to the dancers I watched at the Del Webb Center.  The practice took place in an Industrial building close to the airport.  Then it was back to the Wise Owl Center on the other side of town. 

First Rain!

     Thursday night we had the first rain since I arrived in Wickenburg,AZ.  We were about 7" below the average for the year, which still isn't much.  Remember this is a desert and I am here for the dry climate and sunshine.  Oh, yes, and remember the bright blue skies.  This is Saturday and the rain is still coming down.  When it does rain here it does pour, like Morton's salt.  When it does stop raining an hour later the ground is dry again and there is no way to tell it has been raining unless there is a deep puddle on the cement.  I can see snow on the mountains surrounding Wickenburg.  It is usually a light snow and melts when the sun comes out strong.  However, the temperature is lower at the higher elevations, we usually don't get snow here. 
     My heart goes out to the survivors  and parents and close relatives of the children and adults who were shot in the school in Connecticut. They will be in my prayers.  A terrible tragedy. A shock to the whole nation.