2/18/18 Dan and Carla

Today we drove 40 miles south to Green Valley to visit some friends we met in Africa last year.  Dan and Carla live most of the time in Madison, Wisconsin, but come to Arizona January through April to get out of the cold.  There house here is lovely - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with a gorgeous view of the Santa Rita mountains.  Green Valley consists of many little developments with 8 community centers and 6 golf courses within 5 miles.  They stay busy while here with dancing lessons, swimming, yoga, hiking, and golf.  We sat and chatted for a bit and then went for a drive around the neighborhood before driving out to Madera Canyon.  We stopped at a birding place and watched the birds for awhile.  I caught a pic of a nuthatch and a Mexican blue jay, but couldn't quite get a good photo of the hummingbird.  Someone said that a coati mundi has been coming by lately to the area, but he did not show up while we were there.  We then drove to the top of the canyon and I took a pic of the great view back toward Green Valley.  The light hill in the background is made up of tailings from the huge  copper mine nearby.  On our way out we passed an enormous pecan grove.  One would think that would not be a good tree to grow there as it uses so much water, but apparently they flood the rows every once in a while and they seem to be thriving.  We then went to visit Tumacacori Mission.  It was started by the same Father Kino who started the San Xavier Mission.  The mission was started in 1691, but moved to its present site in 1751.  The mission that we visited was rebuilt in 1820 and abandoned in 1848.  This was a totally different mission than that of San Xavier as this one was in ruins and has not been restored.  There was a local woodcarver showing off his wares in the church portico.  He uses a machete and a utility knife to carve both the wood and the root of the cottonwood tree.  There was a wonderful herb/flower garden beside the church and I took a picture of the lovely purple flowers there.  They also had plum, persimmon, and quince trees in the garden.  I must be a wonderful place when everything is in flower.  We then drove into Tubac for lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant and then went into the downtown area to visit a kitchen store named Tumacookery.  They had every kitchen gadget known to man.  It was great to just wander around!  We stopped at a bar, Dos, to have soda and beer because they had a live singer on the patio.  She was very good and we enjoyed listening to her original songs as well as some oldies.  On our way back to the car we saw a couple with their bulldog.  I had to take its picture - bulldogs are so ugly, they're cute.  We stopped at a giant permanent yard sale to poke around.  The fellow who owns the place goes to storage units and bids on abandoned ones.  He has been on the show "Pawn Stars" and was interesting to talk to.  We wanted to buy a horseshoe as the young man who does janitorial work at the Habi-Store loves horses and is having his birthday this week.  When I told the owner what we wanted and why, he gave the horseshoe to us for free - quite unexpected, but very nice.  Carla bought a beautiful Chinese-style robe that she is going to use as a Halloween costume.  We went back to their house, but didn't stay too much longer as Dan looked like he was tiring.  He had hernia surgery last Monday, but looked amazingly well, if a bit tired.  We had a wonderful day and hope that they will come to visit us in Connecticut.  The last picture is of Dan and Carla on their patio.