Back in Arizona, November 8 - 17, 2022

On the early morning walks with Piper, we put a collar with red lights on her so that she and we can be readily seen by motorists as we meander through the streets.  One morning, the moon was very bright.

 

On Friday Nov. 11, I volunteered at the Desert Botanical Garden as they held their first Naturalization ceremony - 26 people from 17 countries took the oath and became citizens.  All veterans and their families were also recognized.

We had the Fall Festivus at the Carlyle with grilled burgers and dogs, snacks and soft drinks - people brought their own alcoholic beverages.  We had 40 or more residents show up.  We need to do more things like this to make the Carlyle more of a community.

Even before Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations were up.  This one house in Windsor Square has an over abundance of lights.

Another week in Villajoyosa with Estacion Inglesa, Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, 2022

I flew to Madrid on October 26 and 27.  When I arrived, I took the metro to Atoche train station and quickly got my train tickets to Alicante - when I was here in May, it took nearly three hours to get tickets, this time it was less than ten minutes.  I then walked to my hotel through Retiro Park, still resplendent with flowers and police on horseback. While walking around I also saw this bike in the window, reminding me of Ben and Martha's recent trek.

 After taking the train to Alicante on Saturday, I wandered around the waterfront.

 Estacion Inglesa began Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29.  Maria kept us busy with a good schedule.

 

 

Beautiful flowers were in bloom in Villajoyosa.

As always, Villajoyosa is beautiful, especially the old structures, the flora and the sunrises.  Another beautiful Tuesday.

 Great weather on Wednesday.  We did some group activities - creating a photo journal where we are given the start and the finish and have to create seven steps in between.

We had a tour of the city, the Spaniards did their oral presentations in English, we partied Thursday evening and then said adios on Friday.  I hope to be back again soon.

 

Then it was on the train Friday afternoon back to Madrid. I met up with my former colleague Norm and his wife Linda. Norm and I went to the Friday evening English Speaking Group.  Saturday, Norm got his wife to the airport for her return to Vermont.  He and I visited the Casa de la Moñeda (Museum of Money) and had a great late lunch at a sidewalk cafe.  Sunday, we took a taxi to the Vaughan Town offices - what should have been a 15 minute ride became 45 minutes because of the Madrid Marathon, and we still had to walk the last three blocks to get there.  Norm went off to Gredos for the week, and I walked the 8 kms back to the hotel.  That afternoon I had a wonderful Spanish lunch with Angel and his family -  I had met Angel during Vaughan Town in August. After lunch, we walked through Retiro Park, said goodbye and I continued on to my hotel.  And Monday it was back on the plane to Phoenix.

 

 

Time in Portland, Sept. 26 - October 15, 2022

Martha and Ben celebrated their birthdays by visiting Germany and France.  That meant I had the chance to spend time with Mr. Stowe and work on some projects in their yard.  This included watering new plants and trying to remove a large tree stump.

At first, I tried splitting the stump with a maul, and then with a sledge hammer and wedge.  This was a lot of work without much success.  Fortunately, this gave me time to hang out with Mr. Stowe.

 

 

One afternoon, I had the chance to visit Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

 

 

 While out for one of my many walks, I saw this sign.

 

 

 I regularly updated Martha and Ben on Mr. Stowe and how we were getting along together.

 

 Here are some of the hundred plus new plants that I watered daily.

 

 

Portland is known for the arts.  When I went into town to see a movie, I saw this nice mural.

 

 I continued to work on the stump and to hang out with Mr. Stowe.

 

 

I finally got the stump removed.

 

 After getting the stump out, I spent time with Mr. Stowe, then filled the hole back in.

 

And then it was a short visit with Ben and Martha when they returned, then back to Phoenix.