AZ III: More Reunion Fun

After an extremely expensive breakfast at the hotel on Monday 26 April, Hank, Colette, Kris, and I took a hotel shuttle to Sabino Canyon nearby. Because we were on a tight schedule, we rode a tram round-trip to the top of the canyon and back. With ample time it would be a fun walk/hike. The morning was beautiful and the desert canyon is spectacular.

After a quick pit stop at the hotel, we picked up Stephen and Ann before heading south to Kartchner Caverns. Being claustrophobic, Kris was apprehensive and Colette was adamant. So we left Colette with a book and had an awesome (in the true sense of the word) tour of two of the three major caverns; the third is full of pregnant bats. The cave is a recent discovery (1970s) and was cleverly kept a secret until it was protected by clandestine legislation and made a state park. The Kartchners on whose ranch it was discovered were LDS and apparently related to our Kartchner cousins. Just so you'll know the tour was a bit creepy for Kris, but she enjoyed it and was glad she went.

That evening we met at Casa Molina, a grubby Mexican restaurant that has been a favorite of Kelly's family since they moved to Tucson. Sounds like our family's relationship with La Casita. Like Lacapizza, it also is reputed to have the best chiles rellenos in the world. We were all very excited to try them, but because of a recent kitchen remodel they were not serving them! The Taylor branch of the Hansen family was sorely disappointed. The cheese crisps with green chiles, however, were delish.

We finished the evening at Kelly's neighborhood clubhouse sharing memories of the family. It was another terrific day.

Hank, Colette, and Kris on the Sabino Canyon tram

The ladies and the canyon

It has been a wet spring and there is water

The desert has it own great beauty

I had the Hastings on my mind: they
would love this hike

No photos allowed in Kartchner Caverns,
so this is pilfered from the internet

The cave has been so painstakingly protected and
controlled that it is still alive and growing

Casa Molina for dinner

Some of the cousins enjoying cheese crisp

We enjoyed it too

Polly, my Tucson cousin Kelly's wife and her
daughters Allyn, Gloria, and Peggy

In the dessert gloaming

A beautiful evening

Sharing memories: telling family stories

Just one great day after another!

More to come in subsequent posts above.

OXO

D.

AZ II: Sunday in Tucson

On Sunday we traveled from Mesa to Tucson and settled into Lowe's Ventana Canyon Resort. It is a very posh place where they charge for everything! For example, WiFi in the room was $11.00 a day and a small box of cashews that we thought was complementary, was actually $10. Being a confirmed tightwad, I dragged the laptop down to the lobby where WiFi was free and we avoided any further contact with the minibar.

That evening we gathered at "Rat Hill," the home of my cousin Allyn and her husband Hugh Thompson for supper and visiting. Her great Spanish-style home sits at the top of a hill overlooking Tucson below. Hugh is a very fine amateur sculptor and his work is displayed in their beautifully-landscaped desert garden. We visited, ate, ate, and visited. Before we left Utah, I made an iMovie and DVD of all the Hansen slides I had recently scanned. We played it for the cousins, but it was hard to get through it because they continually paused the DVD to identify people in the pictures. We had a great evening.

Ventana Canyon Resort is Frank Lloyd Wrightesque

The view from Allyn's Rat Hill

Great sculpture in a beautiful garden

Chris Christensen, Kreg and HB Calder, HB's partner
Norma and her children

Kreg and Kelly (background) HB and Gloria (foreground)

Millie, Polly, and Stephen

Anne, Kreg, Chris, and Stephen

Hank, Peggy, and Cameron

Stephen, Ann, Kreg, Kelly, Millie, Kris, Cam,
Heidi, and Anne ready for "grace"

Tamales, chili chicken, and other southwestern delights

Colette, Stephen, and Ann tucking in

Kelly providing instructions for the next couple of days

These cousins are loads of fun and it was great to be together.

Look for further adventures in subsequent posts above.

OXO

D.

Annual Visit to Arizona - Part One

We are in the midst of our annual pilgrimage to Arizona to visit Grandmother Boynton and Maren and family. This year, as an added bonus, we also had a Hansen cousins' reunion in Tucson (see the next post that will follow above).

On Tuesday 20 April I arrived home from my last finals to find Kris essentially ready to go. We were twiddling our thumbs waiting for morning to leave so I suggested that we take off and drive as far as Beaver. Kris thought that was a bit rash for me, but agreed and we were off. Our trip was marked by weather of every sort from snow to dust storms. Arriving in Phoenix the following day, we stopped at Maren's so I could meet baby Beckham before proceeding to Mesa.

Arriving in Mesa we found Grandmother very ill with what seemed to be flu. We put her to bed and did our best to nurse her along. On Saturday I drove back to Peoria to see Finn play soccer while Kris stayed with Grandmother. She was worse by that evening and we took her to Urgent Care where they gave her some meds. That night her fever broke and she seemed much improved. So on Sunday we left Winnie and her in the care of her sisters, Raye and Bonnie, and headed to Tucson for the Hansen reunion.

The haboob (Google it) on the Navajo
reservation north of Flaggstaff

Harry, Maren, and Finn in Peoria

Beckham and Harry

The Young boys

Finn is an enthusiastic defender

Finn keeps his eye on the ball

Introduction to Smash Burger after the match

We are back in Mesa and I will try to get a few Arizona posts cranked out before we head to California.

FYI: When we arrived back in Mesa from Tucson today, Grandmother was actually worse, so we made her go the emergency room where they discovered she has pneumonia. She was admitted and will stay until she is well enough to come home. She will be fine but could certainly use your prayers and positive thoughts.

Watch for more posts from Arizona.

OXO

D.

The Green Hills of Home

On Saturday, 17 April, I joined the Hastings for a hike up the hills above 11th Avenue in Salt Lake City. I spent my junior-high and high-school years in SLC and this was all East High territory. As I mentioned in a much earlier post, most of our recreation took place in Utah County rather than Salt Lake County. So in spite of this area being home for several years, I had never been on this hike. When I saw Anna's post last year about a similar adventure, I expressed a very strong interest in going along should the hike ever be repeated. The invitation was extended and I was on my way.

It was a beautiful day and the hike was wonderful. Our destination was Twin Peaks which turned out to be a perfect goal. There were beautiful views of SLC and the mountains and valley beyond, and the air at the top was cool and fresh (OK, windy). The main trail was good but shared with hundreds of bikers. We broke loose from the main trail and pushed up the steep inclines to the summit where we ate our snacks. When we returned to the car we all had wobbly legs, but were well rewarded for our efforts.

We returned to Provo where Tucker passed off some scouting requirements by grilling for us all. It was a very enjoyable day.

The two humps in the distance are the Twin Peaks

SLC spread out below us

Trekking along the trail

Anders and Clara make the assault on the summit

Steep going

With all that stuff around my neck it's a wonder
I wasn't choked to death or garroted

We did it!

Twin tops

The Hastings, Salt Lake Valley, and the Oquirrh Mountains

Snack break with the Wasatch Mountains behind

Snacking in the hollow of a rock out of the wind

The first hint of spring

The cub-scout chef and his brother

Clara was pleased to be there

After the hike, everyone was STARVING!

What's next, a canyon hike?

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Happy Birthday to Katy Kathryn!

Kathryn Taylor
City Wall, York, England, 1988

Katy, this post is to wish you a very happy birthday. You know how much I love you -- I still have a list. I hope that this milestone in your life will be joyful and that there will be many happy returns of the day. You just go right ahead and have a great day and remember how much I love you. We will see you in person very soon.

OXO

D.