Helen comes to visit, Monday Jan, 7 to Tuesday Jan. 15, 2019

Because of possible bad weather in New England, Helen rescheduled her trip to come a day earlier than planned, arriving Monday evening.  She immediately fell in love with Paulie, our newly adopted rescue dog.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Helen got to dog sit while Patty had cataract surgery and next day followup with the doctor.  Otherwise, the days were low key and quiet, walking the dog and eating at home.

On Friday we drove to Gilbert and saw the Water Tower with surrounding park.



We went to the Gilbert Food Tour run by Taste-It-Tours - we had skipped lunch and it was a good thing, as we ate more food between 2:00 and 5:00 on the tour than you can imagine, all of it excellent.

1

Liberty Market

Liberty Market features farm-to-table cuisine including wood-fired pizza and home-made pastries in one of Gilbert's most historic buildings.

2

Romeo's Euro Café

Romeo's Euro Café offers home-made baked goods, Mediterranean lunch specials and coffee in the heart of Gilbert's Heritage Court.

3

Joe's Real BBQ

Joe's Real BBQ is a family-owned, Texas-style barbecue joint featuring pecan smoked meats and special recipe BBQ sauce.

4

The Clever Koi

The Clever Koi specializes in Asian-fusion mixing flavors of China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam and stylish craft cocktails.

5

Barrio Queen

Barrio Queen showcases Mexican street tacos and over 400 tequilas, and has been featured on "Diners, Drive Ins & Dives."

6

Petersen's Ice Cream

Petersen's Ice Cream brings a Chicago favorite to the Valley, specializing in rich and hearty flavors of old-fashioned ice cream.

On Saturday, we joined up with Anne and Shawn to see "Assisted Living the Musical" at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.







Then we had an early dinner at North Italia Restaurant in the Arcadia section of Phoenix, at 40th Street and Camelback Road.



On Sunday, we had a wonderful time at Liberty Wildlife Rescue.  We got to see a great horned owl and a bald eagle.

Before the raptor show, they brought out Indian Runner Ducks and we got to feed them live worms and grain.

The raptor show had a horned owl, a red tailed hawk, a peregrine falcon and a western screech owl.

We learned that Liberty has one of only two Non-Eagle Feather Repositories in the USA, legally providing feathers to Native Americans - this helps stop the killing of birds for feathers.

And we toured the area where they keep birds that have been nurtured back to health but that cannot survive in the wild, becoming part of the shows done at the center and used for educational purposes in and around Maricopa County.

Visitors can tour the grounds, but cannot tour the area where birds are rehabilitated.

On Monday afternoon, Anne gave us a tour of Aspen University's School of Nursing facility.  Helen took many photos to share with her granddaughter Ashley who is studying to be a nurse.

Monday evening, we enjoyed cocktails at Gertrude's Restaurant at the Desert Botanical Garden, followed by the Klip Collective Electric Light show.



And Tuesday, all of us (Paulie, too) were sad when Helen left for home in Massachusetts.

Miss Paulie Girl, A.K.A. Velcro, has entered our lives, Jan. 6, 2019

In December, we decided that it was time to adopt another dog.  We started by applying to DLRR - Desert Labrador Retriever Rescue.  After the application, we had a home visit to make sure we were an appropriate family with acceptable living conditions for adoption.  We were excited once we learned that we were approved - the approval started our receiving DLRR's twice weekly newsletter with labs that were available for adoption.  We found one in whom we were interested, Jasmine was her name.  We called the foster family but found out that there was another adoptive family that called before us.  We learned to look at the Dog-a-log newsletter as soon as it came out and promptly call the foster family.

In the Friday Jan. 4 newsletter, we learned about Paulie:

Paulie is an approximately 6+ year old chocolate lady who was a stray and on the euthanasia

list due to hair loss on her hind quarters. Based on her condition when we commenced

fostering her in August, we speculate that she may have been a backyard breeder gal and

undeservingly kept outside. After being with us for just a month, she developed a shiny full

coat of fur and has turned into a super sweet and very laid back beauty. Although Paulie is

not on any special food, she is on meds for arthritis and allergies (Gabapentin, Prednisone

and Dasequin).

Paulie adapted quickly to being an inside dog with free roam of the house whether we are home

or not but she just loves to be with her humans. She has been good with other dogs, including

our senior resident cocker spaniel, but cats and pools are unknown. She has not had any

accidents in the house and knows how to use the doggie door. Paulie has not shown any

interest in playing with toys and has been non-destructive in the house, but does periodically

pick up one of her Nylabones from one room and drops it in another area.

We are looking for a forever family that enjoys the company of a chill dog and that is home for

most of the day. The adopter(s) must be willing to provide her with daily exercise and to show

her all the kindness that she deserves.

Friday afternoon, we called the foster family about Paulie, found out we were first in line and set up a visit for Saturday afternoon.  The foster parents drove Paulie from their home in Gilbert to our condo and we got to meet Paulie - it was love at first sight, both us of her and her of us.  Per the DLRR rules, we had to wait overnight to make sure we were certain.  Sunday we called, then visited their home in Gilbert, signed the adoption paperwork and brought Paulie back to our home.  She has been a delight, bringing many smiles and laughter to our home.

We have nicknamed her Velcro - she sticks very close as seen here at 5:00 a.m. one morning (yes, we sit often on the floor with her).

She is a real sweetheart.

We had a first visit with Dr. Thurman at Desert Sage Veterinarians on Thursday, Jan. 10.  Other than being old and having problems with her rear hips and right leg, she had been nursed back to good health by the foster family.  We have added six sessions of laser therapy for Paulie's hips, on six days within one week.  Each time we visit Desert Sage, we get to see the artwork on the wall at the back of their parking lot.

And now Miss Paulie rests more easily in our living room, whether on the floor or on her new bed.

We are very lucky to have found Miss Paulie!!