Cave Creek, Arizona

HAPPY EASTER 

 from Cave Creek, Arizona, population 5,120.  This little "cowboy" town is less than 

one hour from Surprise and appears to be there mostly for the benefit of tourists.

Lake - complete with ducks and turtles - at the restaurant.

Me, Kori and Matt

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SO MANY POTS IN ONE PLACE?

AND - THE MOST WONDERFUL METAL SCULPTURES!!

This would be a Gila Monster SLIDE

Cave Creek is also home to the world's biggest SUN DIAL

and is right in the middle of HOT AIR BALLOON country.

California AGAIN

Dick and Maureen Ford holding Rocco and Max

 These lovely people gave me the run or their home while they were in Mexico vacationing and I was providing supervision for their boys.  Aren't they just precious?  Both the people and the dogs?


While in the Bay Area I had the opportunity to join friends and former colleagues (also friends) for meals.

Wente's Grill - favorite place while working at the VA

Alana Howard, Fred MacRae, Melinda Wolf

Kathy Scholten

Vince Gong and Katie Debus

Variety dictated Campo de Bocci - this time.

Friends from Rossmoor:

Marilyn Haupt, ME, Carol Barratt

 Friends from Pleasanton: 

Jan Allen and Dianne Patterson

I was able to spend one evening with my two darling grandsons but this time there was an added family member - see if you can pick him out!!!!  Clue - he's the only one not smiling.  (He's an 8-week old Golden Retriever puppy.)

Noah, Buddha OR Dash, OR Dash Buddha, OR my suggestion "The Dashing Buddha", and Brady

 AND NOW we get to the original reason for this trip.  My Granddaughter, Jenna's Engagement Party.  So first there is decorating the cookies day:

Allison Reichenberg, Kellie Campbell, Jenna Reichenberg, and Denise (Sorry I don't know her last name)

This would be me holding the "cake pops" we made.

 The Party

A Mexican Fiesta it Was

 

Jenna and Chris with their mothers (Kellie and Pam)

Chris Johnson and Jenna - Groom and Bride   

Reichenbergs - Jason, Allison, Holding Lexi and Lilly

(Jenna's brother, my number one grandson)

 

Shana and Mitch Campbell (My number 2 son)

The Zoo

The Wildlife World Zoo

is located in Litchfield Park, Arizona, just a few miles from Surprise.

It opened in 1984 and added an aquarium in 2008.

It is located on 95 acres, has 3,000 animals, and 600 species.

Here are my favorites:

And then there's Kori and Matt trying to pet the stingrays -

 l

And last, but most definitely not least, a picture that was taken by accident but probably the best of the bunch:

Anyone recognize this animal?