MORE BUTTERFLIES

I had trouble adding more pictures-here's one that landed on my arm.

Can you see the blue one in the background?

How many can you count in this picture?

The stadium was for the gentlemen-and this one was for the ladies!

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS-PHOENIX

Thought I'd share another experience we had last winter in Phoenix at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I'll show you the cacti some other time-but this time I thought you could use a little spring. We were fortunate to arrive at the butterfly building shortly after they let a new supply loose. Apparently it takes them a little time to adjust to the new surroundings, so they land on everything and stay for awhile, so it was great for getting a few photos. (We were in a butterfly building in another town where I couldn't get four pictures in an hour, because they wouldn't land.) Hope you enjoy God's beautiful creatures! This was the building full of spring flowers, which were also a treat.

Amazing what's inside!

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM

I've been feeling guilty about the lack of blog entries lately, since we haven't done any sightseeing, due to my inability to walk more than a few yards without pain. At least I'm grateful for a little progress. So, we had planned on sharing some pictures from our travels prior to the blog and since the Super Bowl is this weekend, I thought this would be appropriate. Last winter we took a tour of the Cardinals stadium in Glendale, right after the Super Bowl was held there, and this year the Cardinals will be in the Super Bowl. It is a cool place-so here are a few highlights, starting outside.

And inside, showing the retractable roof. They were setting up for a show.

This is cool-it lights up according to the amount of noise in the stadium-their goal is to cheer loud enough for the light to go clear to the top.

This is even cooler-the field rolls outside so the grass can get some sunlight, and they roll it in for games. After the Super Bowl, they donated the sod to a local high school, and those kids got to play on that famous sod.

Apparently no one is allowed in the Cardinals locker room, but we toured the visiting teams. Notice that it isn't pink like Iowa's-guess Hayden Fry hasn't been there.

And now, for the ladies-the shower room.

We got to sit in the press box.

The box seats are plush with a room behind them with a dining area and room for catering, with a bar and a bathroom. Very nice!

Looking toward the seats from the dining room.

Now that you've visited the Cardinals "home", maybe you can cheer for them on Sunday!

CASA GRANDE STREET FAIR

On Saturday, Don's sister Kathy and husband Jerry who are staying in Surprise for 3 months, brought Don's brother Jerry and his wife Pat, who are visiting from Iowa for a week, to see us. We went to Mimi's for lunch and then to the street fair and car show downtown. Don rented a wheelchair for me for a week, so I got to see things at the level of the strollers and dogs. We had a nice visit and certainly enjoyed the weather.

Back to front-Kathy (sister) and Pat; Jerry, Jerry (brother) and Don.

Jerry hid in the other picture.

We found a few chuckles among the booths.

UPDATE

It's been a busy week. I've been to the Dr. to find out I have a herniated disc and sciatic nerve pinched , which I knew already. He tried to give me all sorts of "serious drugs", which I refused. After three sessions with the physical therapist, I'm making progress. I've been able to handle "sit down activity", so I've been to many activities at the park, which is good diversion. One night we went to see Penny Gilley, who was having voice problems, so she didn't sound as good as she did in Branson. Her keyboard player sang several songs and covered for her.

MESQUITE GRILLED PORK CHOPS

Doc is our self-proclaimed activity director and keeps us all going and having fun! Somewhere he heard about a mesquite grilled pork chop dinner, on the second Thursday of the month, at the Legion in Coolidge, about 20 miles away in the desert. So, we were to follow them (tow cars don't hold 6 people), and he "knew the way". Well, we drove clear through Coolidge, and he actually stopped for directions-which is very unusual for a man! So, we turned and drove into what my mother would call, "not the best neighborhood", and of course, it wasn't there. We made a few circles and he stopped and asked a gentleman for directions again. (Keep in mind this is the guy who wants to "help me".) Finally he found it and certainly redeemed himself. For $7, we got a nice sized chop, baked potato with butter and sour cream, green beans, tossed salad, a roll, applesauce, a roll, a small cream puff, and water or coffee. We even could have had 2 chops for another dollar-one to take home for a sandwich. Anyway, even though we had a little two much fun teasing him, we had a good meal and fun!This is a picture toward the end of the food line-I wanted you to enjoy the ambiance-Grinnell people will notice right away that it's a Larry Wilson place!

Something unusual-Don took the picture.

So far, I haven't heard any comments about what happened to us last night on the way home. I don't think they saw us stop-but we had to get a picture of the sign on the highway with lights and flags-that Doc passed twice, but didn't see. In fact if he didn't see it on the way home-then it was three times! I told him today to watch the blog, and hope his good sense of humor is intact!! I also told him my mother used to tell me that people don't waste time teasing people they don't like. I'll bet you all wish I dislike you immensely!

IOWA OMELET BREAKFAST

It's been a busy week-Monday it was muffins and scones with Doc and Shirley; and shopping, Tuesday it was the omelet breakfast, a stamping class, and playing 65 with Ludekings; Wednesday Willy and Karen Brown arrived and the six of us went to Bingo; Thursday the six of us went out to eat (you'll see in the next blog entry); today I went to the Dr., always an interesting experience. I ended up with a cortisone shot and pain pills and advice on where to go next if the pain in my leg doesn't stop. (Of course, Doc has been trying to get his hands on me-but that's another story!)Anyway, back to the omelets-the Iowa group started making omelets in plastic bags several years ago, and they have it organized to perfection! You mark your name on a baggie, and choose what you want to put in from pork sausage, ham, onions, black olives, cheese and green peppers. They put in the two eggs. You also can put salsa on top if you wish. They boil them about 15 minutes-it depends on how many goodies are in the bag. They look and taste like omelets. Yea Iowa folks!! You have to hurry to get tickets-we went at 7:30 and Ludekings went at 8:30 because someone had to cancel. Here's part of our table.

The cooks.

We did these with the grandchildren and we all had fun. Great idea for you campers too!