I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful our stay in Arizona was…overwhelming, wonderful, happy, beautiful, exciting, moving…extraordinary…
And I have fallen head over heels in love with saguaros = huge, tree-like cacti (or cactuses) that can be seen all around Phoenix, even in people’s yards…wow…I wish we could have one in our yard in Florence! 😉
I have heaps of wonderful (I hope!) photos, but I don’t have time to download and go through them now, so that will have to wait until Stefano and I get back to Italy.
Let’s see. Just briefly, Stefano, Mom, Dad and I returned to Cape Cod last night. What an adventure THAT was…I don’t have time to tell you about it now…but, just to give you an idea, on December 17 we left for Phoenix in the middle of that major winter storm that hit the East Coast (flights were delayed and canceled…a mess!), and only narrowly escaped returning from Phoenix to Boston in the middle of ANOTHER blizzard! Sheesh.
But the main thing is that we’re safely home now. This morning I got up at dawn and went outside to take photos of my parents’ house covered in snow. I also got some photos of a big, fat robin perched in a tree. And Stefano and I are about to set out for the beaches to see what we can find. My biggest hope is that we will also come across a snowy owl…apparently there are many here this year, and I’ve never seen one in the flesh…Will we get lucky and see one today? Mmmmh…
Okay, really must go now. A (belated!) very Happy New Year to everyone!!! 🙂
Check Cornell’s ebird.org…sightings are posted there. Happy birding!
Hi Margaret
How great that you have had such a wonderful time. I do hope that 2014 is really kind to you. Also, I do hope that you are not having the kind of weather we are being told about along the East Coast New York area.
I am sat in our study, torrential rain, howling gales (80m.p.h. off The Needles, Isle of Wight this afternoon) – and it has been like this since well before Christmas. Do you know where I can get a good pair of webbed feet?
All the very best to you.
Hi Margaret,
If you are looking to see Snowy Owls while you are visiting, you could take a ride from Cape Cod to Newport/ Middletown, Rhode Island ( A drive of about 2-3 hours from Hyannis ). Several snowy owls have been visiting the Sachuest Point Refuge (National Park) and the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Along the paths, there are several lookout points where you can see the owls perched on the rocks. Bird watchers and photographers have been coming in droves to observe them because there are many more this year than usual. Some wonderful pictures were in the Providence Journal yesterday.
I have been following your blog without comment since my diagnosis (smoldering myeloma) three years ago. I check in regularly and have been taking curcumin for the last 2 years. I am feeling fine and appreciate all your hard work and research.
My husband and I visited Italy last fall and enjoyed your beautiful country especially Venice and Florence.
Thanks for your wonderful blog and encouraging attitude,
Sharon