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IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

We made it back from our weeklong visit with my sister Jeanne in Phoenix on Tuesday. We had a wonderful time and it was fun and relaxing to get away from our everyday life. We got a chance to visit with some of her family and grandchildren while we were there. Jeanne has these two Bassett Hounds (Stanley and Stella) that always want attention and they don't move for anyone, so we have to step over them all the time...speed bumps. Their favorite place to hangout is on the stairs so it is always a challenge to step over them while maneuvering the stairs.

Before we left Arizona, the four of us took a cruise on Canyon Lake. It is located about 50 miles east of Phoenix near Superstition Mountain. It was a beautiful sunny day and we saw a lot of birds and Bighorn Sheep. The cruise lasted about 1-1/2 hours going through a canyon with high edges on each side. Afterwards, we took Bob and Jeanne out to dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant in Cave Creek. Of course I ate too much and paid dearly with a sleepless night. I have eaten so much food this trip that I am afraid to get on the scales to see how much weight I have gained. It is back to the exercise program the minute I get back home.

We flew out of Phoenix on Tuesday evening. Bob and Jeanne got us to the airport in plenty of time before our flight left at 6:30. Dave takes his cane along so he will get special treatment (well, he sort of does need it) so we are one of the first to aboard the plane. This is nice, especially since Alaska Airlines is now charging to check in baggage ($15 a bag) and most people are electing to bring their luggage aboard the plane rather than pay. What a mess this has created because everyone is trying to lug their suitcases down the aisles and up into the cargo bins and most of the time it is a tight squeeze. Of course the flight attendants are trying to hurry everyone up because it takes twice as long to get everyone on board and in their seats. We elected to check in our bags because besides our regular luggage, I had to carry a duffle bag full of oranges, grapefruit and lemons to bring back with us. Anyway, it took a good 15 minutes to go through all that. The flight was pretty smooth and we landed in time for Lara to pick us up at the airport in Portland. Of course, it was sunny and warm in Phoenix when we left and cloudy and rainy in Portland by the time we landed but we are glad to be back home just the same.

We stayed in West Linn Tuesday and Wednesday nights as Dave had a Blazer broadcast. I got reacquainted with my granddaughters while he was working. It is amazing what a week away can do. They seemed to all have grown just a little bit more.

It was a visit to the tax man on Thursday, which was good news as Dave was dreading the thought of having to pay but instead, we get a little back this time. Then we stopped at Freddies to get some groceries because I had cleaned out the refrigerator before we left and there was nothing to eat once we got home. Dave goes in with me to help with the grocery cart. He says I block the aisles with it all the time and he has to push it off to the side so people can get by. To prove it, he took this picture. Not tell me, is that blocking? I think there's plenty of room for people to get by - they just have to be a little creative! Anyway, now it is unpacking, washing clothes, reading mail and watering plants time. That took most of the afternoon after we got back. We will be home now for a few days and hopefully it will stay dry so I can get caught up on some yard work.

I talked to Leslie after I got back and they had gotten some piglets for Ashtin to raise for her 4-H project. The names that she picked for the piglets are Boss Hog and Lulu. Ashtin raised two pigs last year and enjoyed showing them at the fair. Afterwards they were auctioned off and she made quite a bit of money to save for a trip to Washington D.C. she wants to take in a couple of years. They have a third piglet for Paige to raise this time and they haven't decided on a name for it yet. While they were at the feed store the other day, they also came home with 6 baby chicks to go along with the four hens that they already have. They are getting quite a farm life going for them. Paige is selling the chicken eggs so she has quite a little business going. Both girls have been busy. Ashtin is just finishing basketball and was given a trophy at the end of the season. I don't know if the beautiful smile is because she got the trophy or because the season is over! Paige got to go to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland last week. Leslie says she was very interested in the physics experiments, but oddly enough (to us, at least) loved the space program display. Odd, because her mother loved the space program and even went to OMSI's space camp when she was a kid. I don't think Paige even knows that!