Twenty-Five Things

I've been tagged on Facebook half a dozen times to post a note called Twenty-Five Things About Me. I've been thinking about it for awhile now and have finally decided to do it on this blog instead of (or maybe as well as) on Facebook. I don't know if I can think of 25 things, but I'll give it a shot. The idea is for each person to write their 25 things and then tag 25 people to do theirs. Here goes:

1. I love the sound of the cry of a very young baby.

2. Although my sister and I are just under a year apart in age, we didn't become friends until we were married and had children. I love her a lot.

3. We own a house in Lethbridge and one in Arizona, yet we're living in the basement of our daughter's house in Edmonton. Go figure.

4. I used to think I was shy but I'm not - I'm just reserved.

5. I've discovered that I can make friends who I treasure, outside of my family.

6. I've also discovered that I don't need a lot of friends in order to be happy - just a couple of really good ones.

7. The music of the 60's is still my favorite.

8. I used to worry about dying young of a heart attack. Now I worry about living too long and getting Alzheimer's.

9. If I'm still alive and rational when I'm 80, I'm going to take up sky-diving with my big sister.

10. I've always considered having and raising 7 beautiful, successful, law-abiding, decent, talented kids to be my greatest accomplishment and my contribution to the world.

11. I was made to have babies - with 7 full-term pregnancies I didn't have one day of morning sickness and loved the feeling of carrying a baby under my heart.

12. I've lived in 6 of the 10 Canadian provinces, one foreign country (Germany), and now I guess I can say I live part-time in Arizona as well.

13. I love going on road trips with Lloyd.

14. I've never been able to understand how people who live their whole lives in one small area think their area is the best in the world, when they haven't seen or experienced anything else. Expand your horizons people. There's a lot of beautiful world out there to be explored and enjoyed.

15. Although scrapbooking has been my hobby of choice for six years now, I sometimes miss cross-stitching, which I haven't touched since I picked up scissors and glue.

16. I've always been proud to be left-handed like my Dad. I was disappointed that none of my kids were southpaws in spite of both of their grandfathers being blessed that way. I guess the gene skipped a generation. Now I have left-handed grandchildren. We're special ;-)

17. Lloyd and I are perfect for each other...still very much in love after 38 (almost) years of marriage.

18. I buy lottery tickets when the jackpot reaches at least $10 million...it's my retirement plan.

19. For years I didn't like my first name, Millicent. Then my sister's sassy girls started teasing me by calling me Aunt Millie. I've liked it ever since - especially the way it looks printed out. I was named after Dad's mother who I loved. Still, I'm glad to have a simple name like Pat to fall back on.

20. I think I have pretty feet, my best feature, but they're topped by gross kankles so the effect is spoiled. Thanks Grammie Logan. I'm envious of nicely shaped ankles when I see them.

21. Still on the subject of feet, I find it impossible to wear flip-flops (remember when they used to be called thongs?) or anything that goes between my toes. Ridiculously uncomfortable.

22. I believe in the existence of life beyond earth. I think it's supremely arrogant of mankind to think that we're the only intelligent species in all the universe.

23. I'm opinionated and stubborn - can you tell?

24. I got my ears pierced when I was 18. I sat in the kitchen of my cousin's friend's house and held an icecube to my earlobe until it was numb. Then the girl held a bar of soap behind my earlobe while she shoved a needle through my ear and out the back into the soap. Then she quickly put a sleeper into the wound. The sound of cells popping was so gross that I almost didn't get the second ear done. Never had any infection from it though.

25. I'm a middle child - that explains a lot about me.

Candy and Earrings

My 6-year old granddaughter, Kenzie, and I finished off a box of See's chocolates that I brought back from Arizona. They were sooooo good, hand chosen by yours truly.





Kenzie enjoyed them as much as I did




And was disappointed when they were all gone.



She also got her ears pierced today, so the chocolates were by way of celebration.



Her little sister, Sydney, got hers pierced today too but she wasn't around for the chocolate...at 3 years old she prefers marshmallows anyway.

Super Bowl Sunday

We got home from Arizona last night - sad to leave that beautiful place but I guess all holidays have to end sometime. We'll be back. It was exciting to be there when the Cardinals won the right to go to the Super Bowl. We have adopted the AZ teams as our second favorite teams to support, right behind the Edmonton Oilers hockey team and the Edmonton Eskimos football.

Lloyd, the Cardinal fan

We were excited to watch the Cardinals make such a good showing in the Super Bowl today - for the underdogs, they sure gave the Steelers a run for their money. They were great. That was the first football game I've ever bothered to watch, and although I don't think I'll ever be a football fan, it was fun to see 'our' Arizona team do so well.

Montezuma's Castle

We spent a lovely day today travelling through the mountains (small by Alberta standards) to the cliff dwellings called Montezuma's Castle - a misnomer since Montezuma never got this far north and it really isn't a castle. But it was spectacular anyway. That's it way up where that cave in the cliff is.


Wendy and Randy standing by a sign on the trail. It was the most beautifully arranged monument I've ever seen - very quiet, peaceful and natural with a hushed, reverent feeling about it. The actual cliff dwelling is fragile now so people aren't allowed to climb up to it.





At the base of the cliff there's an expanse where the cliff dwellers used to farm, with this river, Beaver River, running by the edge of it.



There were lots of beautiful white trees, Arizona Sycamore, that had smooth white bark with mottled patterns.

A small grove of Arizona sycamores.

Lloyd and Randy resting against the sycamores

I'm sitting here on the lower ledge of the cliff dwelling of "the people next door". It isn't in as good condition as Montezuma's Castle but it shows where the second group of people used to live.

This is part of their wall with windows built into the front.

Now here's three more shots of Montezuma's Castle. We really missed having Mickey on this little expedition. At one time or another each one of us mentioned how much she would have loved it there, with so many pictures to take. Next time you're down here Mickey, we go there for sure.

This last one is a picture of a diarama that had been built to show a cut-away of the interior of the dwelling, explaining what each area was used for. Quite ingenious people back then. No one knows what happened to the ancients who lived there for over 300 years, or why they deserted their home. The cliff homes were warm in the winter and cool in the summer, although I'd hate to have to raise kids up there.


I'd recommend it as a 'must-see' to everyone within a half day's drive of Camp Verde, Arizona.

Mesa

Ever since I first saw a picture of the LDS Mesa Temple back when I was a young girl, I've wanted to go and see it for myself. Today, with Mesa only an hour away, I finally went to see it.


It was as beautiful as any pictures I'd ever seen. Because it wasn't open today there we had the area to ourselves to walk around and take pictures. That's Wendy and Randy in the picture.


Another picture of Wendy and Randy, this time standing among the beautiful cacti in the cactus garden. They were very large and very old (the cacti, not W&R!)


Wendy and I were able to get up close and personal with the huge beavertail cactus, which wasn't prickly at all.


Lloyd and I are standing in front of a huge piece of a petrified tree which the sign says predates Adam and Eve. There were several of these petrified pieces on the temple grounds.


And, last but not least, here's Randy with a grapefruit he stole...er...picked from a grapefruit tree just outside the gates of the temple.

Layouts

Today has been the first day in a long time we've had to just relax. We went to church at 10 and then drove Wendy and Randy around Sun City to see houses for sale and for Randy to pick an orange from Cath and Clyde's tree - that's becoming a pilgrimage we take all our visitors from the north on! Then, while Randy and Lloyd spent the afternoon on the golf course, Wendy and I just stayed home for a change. Wendy read and I did some scrapbooking and both of us even slept a bit. When the guys got home we went out for dinner and now we're home again and although it's not even 10:00 yet everyone's heading to bed.

I've only done three scrapbook layouts since I've been here. They're very simple ones because I don't have all my stash of supplies down here with me so I'm limited to using the few I've purchased here. It's also more challenging because the album I'm using is 8.5 x 11 inches instead of the 12 x 12 that I've been using for so long now. I'll get used to it though. So, keeping that in mind, here are the layouts I've done so far. I'll probably add some finishing touches to them when I get home.

Elly is featured in this Water Baby layout. She loved floating in the pool in her baby floatie.


I loved this picture of the oranges so featured it on this layout. I journalled around the border.

Max and the oranges.

No Pictures

Wendy and I have been busy these past few days. Our days are falling into a nice routine. Every morning Lloyd and Randy go off golfing while Wendy and I go shopping and/or exploring. We eat lunch out, come home, swim, have dinner, read or watch movies, and go to bed.

Last night we watched Mamma Mia - the third time for some of us, but it's such a fun movie. Tonight we're going to watch Grease...one of my all time favorites. Lloyd and I were astounded to learn last night that Wendy and Randy have never seen it! I couldn't believe it - it's such a classic. Wendy bought a copy today when we were out. They are in for a treat! Who doesn't love Grease??



Wendy is a serious chocoholic. The other day we went to See's and each bought a one-pound box of their famous chocolates - it's so neat to be able to pick and choose your favorite candy to fill the box with, and it really is delicious. Today we found a new chocolatier - Chocolate Surprise - right here in Surprise. What a wonderful shop! and the chocolate is exquisite. We bought a few pieces there to add to our stash.



Today we happened across an Arts and Crafts fair at the Peoria stadium. Lots of interesting stuff there. I bought earrings and necklaces and special 'scrapping' t-shirts. And watched a girl prepare fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade for us...delicious.





Speaking of drinks, the very best ones we've found are at Sonic - their fresh lime slush. It is so good, with three quarters of lime in the cup when you're finished. The best thirst quencher in Arizona.

We only have one more week of this idyllic lifestyle left. I hate the thought of returing to the cold, snow, and real life of Edmonton. But we'll make the most of our week, and do some real sight-seeing if we can tear the guys away from the golf courses long enough.

We were so upset to hear from Mickey after she got home. Her laptop, which was in her carry-on luggage, was stolen at security in the Phoenix Airport. She's doing everything she can to recover it, but she was told that it's an ongoing problem at the Phoenix Airport. It really spoiled the trip for her.

Other than that, it's been a wonderful vacation so far. I'd do it again in a minute!