Friday 2-22-13: Chuck, Lorraine, Sandy and I went for an excursion to the Mission San Xavier. This church was started by the Franciscans in 1783. To complete the interior between the years 1790 and 1815 they imported artists from central New Spain, probably Queretero, Mexico. The artists had to be paid double because Apaches were a constant threat. After Mexico won independence from Spain the Franciscans were slowly forced to leave. The last left in 1837 and did not return to the Mission until 1913. During their absence the local population,Tohono O’odham, faithfully guarded their church and its sacred chalices. This Franciscan church is considered to be America’s finest surviving example of Spanish Colonial architecture. Statues dating to the 1750’s, vivid late baroque altars, and original paintings adorn the interior.
The Mission has been partially restored as you can see by the condition of the white left tower compared to the right tower. As money comes in they plan to do more. For some unknown reason (probably ran out of money) the right tower was never finished. Restoration attempts have been made over the years using modern materials such as oil-based paints and cement. However, cement has failed and they have gone back to using the original adobe brick and natural pigment paints.
Traditionally, a Christian church is longitudinally orientated toward the rising sun, with the sanctuary housing the main altar at the eastern end of the building. Mission San Xavier is one of the few that face north/south.
The main altar.
The east transept.
The choir loft.
The west transept.
A very rare painting showing Mary changing the diaper of the Christ Child.
Saturday 2-23-13: Today Sandy and I went to lunch with Linda, a classmate of mine, and her husband, Bill, who graduated one year ahead of us. We had a great time catching up on what has transpired in our lives. After spending some time in Florida and Georgia they have been coming to Green Valley, south of Tucson, for the last 3 years. It sounds like they plan to keep coming back and we can see why after having been here a few times ourselves.
Sunday 2-24-13: A classmate of mine, Lucille, had some framed artwork of her mother’s that she asked if I could bring down. So on Sunday we took that over and spent the afternoon visiting. When we got back Lorraine and Chuck joined us at the Texas Roadhouse for supper and ate way too much.
Monday 2-25-13: Today we had lunch with Tom, another classmate of mine, and his wife Jackie at their club house in Quail Creek. After lunch we went over to their house to visit and spent some more time catching up on information about friends and classmates. We talked about each other’s travels. They had been to Egypt on a Nile cruise just before the revolution and it sounded like a great trip. Jackie is just finishing her 8th book; she uses the pseudonym Nora Barker. I have read “Murder in Primary Colors” and would recommend it. At this time they are available only as “E” books.
When we got back to the motorhome we moved to the Lazydays campground where Chuck and Lorraine had gone earlier in the day to meet our friends, Steve and Sandy.
Tuesday 2-26-13: Chuck unloaded his SUV so he could use the third seat to haul all six of us to the Saguaro National Park (west) for a sightseeing tour. After stopping at the visitor’s center and watching their film, we hit the trail.
I figured I should have a picture of us doing something other than eating. Here are Lorraine, Chuck, Sandy, Sandy and Steve.
A picture showing some petroglyphs that are hard to see, so you will have to click on the picture to enlarge it.
Friday 3-1-13 We are again on the move, this time to Cave Creek County Campground where we will be spending the month of March. After we got settled in we went over to Ron and Jane’s for Ron’s special chili. Another couple, Dan and Paula, who are their new next door neighbors who had just bought a Lazy Daze also joined us for supper.
Saturday 3-2-13 We woke up to a beautiful morning. It was 53 degrees when we got up and by 9 AM the temperature was up to 71 degrees. It’s supposed to be 82 degrees for a high today with high 70’s for all of next week.
These are some pictures taken from the back of our motorhome at site #8 here in Cave Creek County Campground. Sandy and I have decided this is our new favorite campsite in the park.
By 9 AM Sandy was outside drinking her morning coffee and drying her hair. She kept saying “what a wonderful start for the day. This is what I have been waiting for.”
We had rabbits and quail running around the camp site-----
One quail was in the tree right behind the motorhome. It even cooperated so Sandy could walk up to the tree and get a good close-up.
I’m feeling real good and only have a week to go on my 10lb lifting restriction, and is Sandy going to be glad as she has had to do the heavy stuff so far.
Until next time,
Dave and Sandy.
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