as with all good things...

 ...we are heading back to New York tonight...it's been such a nice vacation.  We haven't done tourist-y things, but we have relaxed outside, gone out shopping a few times, had phenomenal dinners, and swam in the heated pool.  I've done my water aerobics every day, but shh, there's no way I'm coming home slim and trim.  Riley baked molasses cookies from Paul's grandma's recipe (picked us up from the airport with homemade iced Americanos and fresh cookies!)...we've had homemade raspberry pie, and the cookies:

Birthday cake, chocolate crinkle, frosted sugar, snickerdoodle, pumpkin, oatmeal chocolate chip with cookie butter frosting, peanutbutter with Nutella, lemon...

We weren't total barbarians, we used forks, but we definitely all tasted all of them...the one in the plastic container was a lime/coconut frosted with raspberry sauce...

Aaron and the pups and a small bit of charcuterie...

...when the sun sets on the desert...

Chicken wings grilled...

Christmas!  It doesn't seem to belong here...but we smelled all the candles.

Cilantro for 47 cents!

Milk is so cheap here.

Just a car window pic...the landscape is amazing.

Grocery store geek, Safeway!

The creme brûlée from last night...yes, that's torched sugar on top...oh dear.

Who are those old people?!  :)

Right beyond their back yard...

Surprise! A wild pig showed up!  He was about 60 pounds, and cute, but scary too.  He came right up to the fence to greet us.  

I'm headed out to the pool for one last dose of warm sunshine until who knows when.  We leave for the airport this evening for the red-eye to NewJersey, then a quick flight, getting in around ten in the morning...Kathryn will be picking us up. 

The kids at home:  I miss them! I am glad to be going home, but also sad to be leaving these guys...it's been so nice.  

actually just chillin'....

 

This device is spoiling me to death...just press the button, it grinds the coffee and makes whatever you select, I like an Americano...

Tomatillos...we're having chili verde tonight.  We peeled these, Riley roasted them and blended them with the roasted pepper assortment, oregano, and the onions...and cilantro...and fresh roasted garlic...

Dinner last night:  pork chops stuffed with shredded potatoes and apples, and sage...

Just the flowers, so pretty...

Sunset in the desert...

Our afternoon charcuterie...

Paul, relaxing after a run...

Banjo, Lily, and Pretzel in the back...these pups do NOT get tired of chasing the ball...they've definitely expended a lot of energy with us here, by evening, they're a-snoozing.

And me, happy in the sunshine...

just roasting in Phoenix...

 

Their kitchen...I'm trying not to envy that double oven...

The landscape...so different...

Blogworthy?  I don't know, but a gallon of milk for that price?  

It is a fun store, never been in Fry's before...I am a super market geek.

Our Asian inspired dinner last night:  Wagyu beef,  jasmine rice with soy sauce and egg, cabbage/kale salad with stir fried orange beef and crunchy noodles, and roasted cauliflower in the small bowl. 

Aaron and Paul...

Paul and his older brother Alan...(Didn't get a pic of his wife Robin!)...they are travelers, RV'ing, and have a daughter who is a surgeon in a local hospital (I think 4th year med school), so they happened to be in this area.  I'm so glad visit worked out!

Behind the back yard is dessert...wild donkeys sometimes come right up to the fence, but I haven't seen them yet, nor the coyotes.

Banjo and Pretzel...

We haven't done much, but have had a nice relaxing time so far.  I'm headed out to the backyard pool soon.  

Here are some interesting things:

A member of the FDA VAX panel said:  "We are killing more people than we are saving with the shots."

NY State Supreme Court reinstates all fired unvaccinated employees, orders backpay, says the state violated rights, acted arbitrary & capricious, nothing, "Being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting Covid-19".

Lifelong Democrats turning against gov. Hochul, saying that crime is rampant.  

I think that in general, people aren't ready for such government overreach.  Here in NY state, it's AWFUL, the way criminals get arrested and are right back on the street.  In Oswego NY,  a 42 yr old man, Adam L. Levea, 42, was arrested for possession of 205 individual bags of heroin/fentanyl, plus some Suboxone.  He was let out on $500 bail.   Criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens with these new bail laws.

A few weeks later, two drug sellers possessing 98 bags of heroin/fentanyl were arrested...the THIRD time in three months! How many lives have been ruined?  How many overdoses have they caused?  Just slap their wrists and let them out.  

I am not saying I have the answers...are drugs flowing like never before through the non-existent southern borders?  Most likely.  What can be done?  I know!  We can give billions of dollars to school districts for electric buses!  Not to hire more teachers, or purchase supplies for so many poor students.  (Some of the city schools are so extremely understaffed, couldn't we use all that extra money (ha) for higher wages to entice teachers?)

And don't get me started on Hochul giving millions to abortion clinics...as if we couldn't use THAT money  for better things...send city kids to camp, Big Brother,/Big Sister programs, public service announcements encouraging parents to be patient with their kids...side walks in suburban areas, more playgrounds and green spaces...or...we could let people KEEP their money...sorry, I'm just OUT there with that one, ha.  

Rant over for the day...I'm going in the pool....

out here in the desert...

 

Riley picked us up from the airport, and the car was parked close to a pole in the garage, I didn't think I could shimmy in without damaging the door (!!!), so he backed the car out with a remote...no one in the car, it was pretty cool.

Three doggies live here, Miss Lily on the couch, Pretzel (she was adopted from the shelter on a whim a few years back, she was very sickly, but now is fine, she's the sweetest...)...

My view from the comfy couch this fine morning ...

Pretzel and Banjo....Banjo LOVES me.  

Behind me, the backyard with the salt water pool....I went in it yesterday, oh dear, it was wonderful.

To be clear, Banjo is not allowed to sit at the table, but Aaron let her, and it was funny.

Riley made homemade savory pumpkin ravioli with browned butter, pine nuts, and I forgot what the meat is...he rolled out the pasta (with the kitchen aid), all from scratch...mmm!

The view from the backyard...I've never been in the desert before...

Cactus...they really are all over, out here...there are wild donkeys and wild boars, and poison frogs, and snakes, and scorpions...I  haven't seen any, but something destroyed the pumpkins and gourds on the porch last night...

The water was 84 degrees....ahhh.

Just a pic from the car on the way home from the airport....

Paul's brother lives not too far from here, and is coming with his wife for a visit this afternoon...I am having such a nice relaxing time...Paul in Vacation Mode is a beautiful thing...:) 

bye bye!!!

 

This fine morning, I went over to watch Rhys and Achilles while their mama and papa went to a dr. visit, and for a sonogram...they're going to have a baby brother!

Rhys...

Awww!  When you say awww!, she automatically hugs...I don't mind!

It's been a slow day, a quiet day, a day of cleaning up and puttering, and sitting in the sun on the deck...of packing, and getting ready, because tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up, Paul and I be heading to the airport!   I've never been to Phoenix before!  Well, I had a layover there once, and could see some of the landscape from the airport...but now, we're spending a week there!  Sunshine and blue skies, and they have a pool!  I am so excited...hate leaving home, but love visiting Aaron and Riley!