Lunar Eclipse

I got up in time this morning to watch the total lunar eclipse happening in full view of us in the northern hemisphere.  Were you able to see it where you were?  I started watching at 6:45 from our upstairs bedroom window and took pictures until 7:15 when the moon completely disappeared from view.  I waited for it to reappear but it never did - the sky had lightened during that half hour and the moon had set behind the houses behind us.  This is what I got.

That's how my day started.  It promises to be a busy one.  Five of our kids and their spouses are congregating at our place tonight for the annual MacKenzie Adult Christmas Party.  Not as racy as it sounds - it just means that our adult kids get a night out with their parents and siblings without having to ride herd on their children for a few hours.  Food, fun, food, gag presents, did I mention food. 

Hope your day is a good one.

Quinn's Hospital Moments

It's good to be back home, in time to get ready for Christmas....among other things.  First order of the day yesterday was to go with Sara at 6 am for Quinn's appointment for surgery.

Ever since she was born 16 months ago Quinn has had a blocked and/or infected tear duct.  At times it was hardly noticeable and other times her eye was red and gummy and runny.  Her doctor told her that it usually clears itself up by the time a child is a year old so it's best to wait it out.  Quinn's didn't clear up, and Sara, a professional photographer, got tired of having to photoshop every picture she took of Quinn...not to mention Quinn's discomfort with the runny sore eye.

Quinn at nine months - a good eye day

Yesterday was the day for dealing with the problem.  I went along to help Sara and keep her company.  It's a bit of a challenge entertaining a hungry (she had to be fasting), tired baby in a strange environment.  Luckily our wait wasn't too long.  (The following pictures were taken with my phone, hence the iffy quality)

In the waiting room with Sara - an ironic choice of t-shirt for Quinn

Trying to pick the hospital band off

The doctor told Sara that they'd be clearing out both eyes, since the right eye was also partially blocked but not near as bad as the left one.  Poor Quinny didn't like the prep work, hated the hospital bracelet, but strangely enough was totally calm when they put the mask on her face in the OR as she dropped into sleep.

The procedure only took 15 minutes and before long we were summoned into the recovery area.  Poor baby was so upset and groggy for awhile.  Apple juice saved the day - she just drank down all she could get and ate a whole popsicle before it started to melt.  We were on our way home by 10 with a prescription for drops to be administered 4 times a day for 5 days.  That'll be a challenge!  Hopefully the procedure worked and Quinn won't be bothered by sore eyes any more. 

Post-surgery. That left eye was swollen and yellow.

The popsicle made her feel better

And the cuddle time made me feel better

She hated the red light monitor on her toe and rebelled by laying on her blanket on the floor

I was glad to be able to be there with her and Sara. Luckily we don't have too many hospital episodes to deal with...knock wood.
 

Surprise Party - Day 2

I got home from Arizona just after midnight this morning and  have had a busy day today.  It's always good to come home, even with the cold and the snow.

Yesterday afternoon Mickey and I went back to the Surprise Party - what a great way to finish up our stay in Arizona.  This little city sure knows how to plan community events.

As promised, there were elephants and camels and ponies and much, much more for the enjoyment of young and old alike.

These female Asian elephants were lovely gentle animals

They had interesting markings on their trunks and heads, and looked very feminine and sweet with their flowered wreaths.

As you can see, Tai has a Hollywood career doing commercials and movies, including Larger Than Life with Bill Murray

They seemed to enjoy performing, bowing and posing while carrying children on their backs.

It looks like she has freckles

One of the miniature Shetland ponies for the kids to ride on

And the camels gave kids a ride - not my favorite animal

The lower jaw seems to move in a totally unhinged manner

Mickey was embarassed to learn that this 'statue' was alive when she told me to pose with it/him

This super tall couple juggled their way around the park

This beautiful cockatiel sat on his post watching the crowds while his friends, the macaws slept the day away just beside him

 And then there was the antique car show - always a hit with the men and boys.

I loved this darling little 1959 Nash convertible.  It looks like a car a teenage girl in those days would have loved to drive to the beach.

I took this picture for my grandson Max who loves the transformers, particularly Bumblebee, who was modelled after this car...too cool!

And this was the style of car that was new when I was born - a 1948 Chevrolet, I think.

After spending a lovely time at the party, Mickey and I headed back to the house to get ready to head to the airport and our flight home in the dark.   I had a lovely two weeks down there, first with Lloyd and then with Mickey.  I'm looking forward to doing it again.

Surprise Party

Since the party had been advertised for at least the two weeks we've been here, I'm sure noone was surprised when they attended the event.  Our city of Surprise put on an amazing 2.5 day Christmas party in the beautiful recreational compound not far from where we live when we're in town.  Mickey and I went tonight and mingled with hundreds of happy families, seniors, babies, dogs, and everyone in between.  It was cool enough that we had to wear jackets but not so cold that we were uncomfortable.  Perfect for a 'get ready for Christmas' party.


There was the official turning on of the Christmas lights

Taken by Mickey

and the beautiful hot air balloon glow from nine balloons including a spider-pig one.

 

Even the family pets got into the spirit of the season.

Another picture by Mickey

Everywhere we looked there were bright lights and people trying to take pictures in the dark.  I certainly enjoyed it.

Photo by Mickey

And so did Mickey.  Just look at the nice purple glow we have.

There were food consessions, visits with Santa Claus, a midway with rides and game booths, jugglers, and live music.  I'd like to attend it every year.  This city really knows how to throw a party.

Just wait till you see what's in store when the party continues tomorrow.  Cars and elephants and camels, oh my!  We'll have to squeeze as much in as we can before heading to the airport at 5:00 tomorrow afternoon.

Life's A Bed of Roses! With cotton sheets, of course

Yesterday's post was about cotton fields, todays is about fields of roses. Literally! Acres and acres of them just a mile or so from yesterday's cotton fields.

They came in all colors...red, pink, white, orange (?)

 

We couldn't get as close to the roses as we wanted to - I had to zoom in as far as my camera would let me in order to get the above pictures.  We were separated from the flowers by a stretch of tilled ground...

and  by an irrigation trough.

This is the head of the irrigation trough - a supersized faucet that spills the water into the trough where it somehow manages to keep the fields watered.  I have no knowledge of how the water gets from the trough to the flowers.  This irrigation system is nothing like anything I've seen in Alberta, which relies heavily on irrigation for it's wheat and corn crops.  There's more than one system I guess.  Anyway, this one looked cool.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Arizona Snow

On our way to a scrapbook store in Peoria today, Mickey and I passed this field.

Field of Cotton

Cotton as far as the eye could see.  To northerners like us, seeing cotton growing is cause for excitement, and picture taking.

Each plant had dozens of flower-shaped cotton balls and they were as soft and fluffy as the ones you buy in the drugstores

So pretty and soft

On the left there's one ready to pop open.

And that was our sightseeing for today.