Final Days of Fun in Phoenix

You might have noticed that these last few days haven't featured much gallivanting.  But you can rest assured that we have been enjoying our time here in Phoenix. We've just finished three special days where we concentrated on time here with family and friends whom we rarely see.  And, what fun we have had doing just that!

On Saturday, Aunt Susie hosted a lovely get together, where Marty's cousins, who live nearby, popped in to say hello, rekindle memories of past days, and catch up on today's lives.  

As you can see, it was a beautiful day with brilliant sunshine.  The locals thought it was a bit chilly while we found it to be a regular heat wave compared to what is happening back home.   My brother and his wife just so happen to be camping nearby, and they joined us as well for the camaraderie. 

On Sunday morning, we bid fond farewell to Aunt Susie who had so graciously hosted us for the week.

We headed to Scottsdale, where we met up with my cousin Tina and her husband David, and we had a delightful dinner at a place called Oregano's.  Before we knew, time had flown by, and we were soon saying our good-byes and heading to our hotel that is near the airport.

As you can see, the view from the balcony isn't bad....

However, the noise from the airplanes is a different story.  Let's just say that it wasn't quite what I expected.  But I'm hoping that the convenience of the location will make up that in the long run.

Today is our last day here in the area and I must say that we couldn't have asked for a better finale.   Our adventures involved spending the day with my BFF from high school, Tammy, as well as her husband.  An added treat was the company of her father, who just so happened to be in town this week.  And, anyone who knows him can attest to the fact that one would be hard pressed to NOT be entertained in his presence.  He might be ninety, but he certainly has not lost his charisma.

Since it was another beautiful sunny day, Tammy suggested that we head out to Riparian Preserve which is nearby, to admire the various waterfowl.  This place is actually a hidden oasis, located near a library, and is a series of ponds that were developed for groundwater recharge.  

It didn't take long to discover that this place is loaded with ducks.

And they were quite interested in seeing if they could snitch a snack or two from an innocent passerby.

Red winged black birds perched in trees,

and these tiny quail were busy scurrying all about.

There were several different types of ducks.  Here you can see Ring-necked ducks.

This American coot decided to put on a bit of a performance,

and he showed off his greenish legs while doing so.  

This appears to be another Ring Necked duck, but his bill is much bluer than the others that we saw. 

and we spied a stately heron, all the while wondering what the soft pillow like piles in the background could possible be. 

Well, it wasn't long before one of them raised a head, and, much to our surprise, we were looking at a flock of what appears to be pelicans!

And along the way, we kept passing little bunnies hopping here and there. This couple was probably as intrigued by us as we were by them.

I must say that the visit to this preserve was the perfect ending to our trip. 

Marty managed to get one last glimpse of his favorite cactus.

And I was able to spend a full day enjoying the company of this special friend.

As always, time flew by quickly, but I feel blest to have had the opportunity to experience so many memorable moments this week that we will certainly cherish.

I hope you enjoyed this week's adventures!  Thanks for following along!