Back in the USA / May 12 ,13

Monday was D-Day.  As in Departure.  So I packed & unpacked & packed again trying to get both check in bags under 51 lbs. and everything else in our carryons.  Triumph!  Then we spent most of the day with Miss Piper.  I'm sure gonna miss her.  (And her parents too of course).   I really want to thank Dawn & Paul for their wonderful hospitality.  It is not easy having house guests for a month!  I'm sure we disrupted their schedules but they showed us a great time.  They were wonderful tour guides as well. 

Our flight from Johannesburg to London took off on time (8:55pm their time which would be 11:55am our time) and it was not a bad flight.  I took a sleeping pill & got a little rest.  Then after a 7 1/2 hour layover in  London (where I did not find the nice recliner chairs until 2 hours before our flight) we boarded our plane.   Then we sat for another hour and 45 minutes while they tried to find a part for the airplane.  Now the captain informed us that they only had about 5 planes with this certain part and they were trying to locate one so they could take the part from that one & put it in ours.  OK,  so with a toaster that has a broken part I would take it back & say give me a new toaster.... not the part from another used one.   Doesn't happen that way with planes!  So unfortunately we waited for that "used part"  to be put in by some mechanic.  I have to say that was not a real confidence builder for someone who already is not crazy about flying.  But,  we finally took off and landed safe and sound in Phoenix only about 2 hours behind schedule.  That is about 33 1/2 hours in transit plus we were up at 7:30 that morning so pretty much 45 hours since I have layed down in a comfy bed.  :(    Of course we did take the time to visit In-N-Out Burger just outside the airport on the way back to the MH.  :) Took a pill & slept pretty good!

I have to say it is nice to be back in my little tin house inViewpoint!

 Here are a couple of pictures of 5000 Block for those of you who live here in the Winter. 

You can see all the way to North Point with no problem.
 And this row of empty garbage cans all laying down... kind of a sad sight. 

The weather is really nice. Supposed to get really warm tomorrow and maybe over 100 on Friday.  

We will probably be staying through the weekend so we can golf with Scott on Monday then head towards our other home... Watsonville.  Hope you have all enjoyed 

Traveling with the Greensides - South Africa.   

When in Rome... / May 10, 11, 12

Not too far from Dawn's house they have a big farmer's market on Saturday mornings.  Dawn & Paul usually go for fresh vegis & breakfast.  Like they say... "When in Rome" or in our case "When in Pretoria", so we headed on over.  This is where all the people in this area go to visit, shop & eat.

Dawn & Paul saw some of his colleagues from work. 

Well after looking at our choices of the menus on the different signs on the booths, most of which I had no idea what they said.

Not sure if this one explodes in your stomach?

 There was lots & lot of meats.

OK.. how does chicken wing in any language make the Mexican word of the day????

I also realized that those wild animals don't just roam around the nature reserves.  They also farm them for their meat.  Not sure I would want to eat any of them but then I am pretty picky.  

So we had a couple of crepes, one with cinnamon and one with cheese & bacon, (maybe I did eat some of that meat???) and some fresh squeezed  oj.  

 Then we walked around the craft booths & found the giraffe making guy & decided we liked one of these better.  He added some eyes for me & waaala... I have 2 giraffes!  

Dawn, Paul & Donald decided to go to the air show and since I had just been to one in Mesa (and enjoyed it soooo much) I stayed & played with my baby girl.  It worked out well for all of us.  

So this part pretty much looked the same.

And the crowd pretty much looked the same.

But not so much the aircraft.  There were lots of old planes & helicopters. 

A few food & craft booths. 

And who doesn't want to see an old bug with a Nazi flag on the hood?  These guys sure look like they did.

And we don't usually have a Nazi flag flying next to ours.  Not too sure what that was for???

And I don't think we had a plane coming out of a building.   Maybe you had to be there to appreciate it.  

Anyway, there were no Thunderbirds or Angels for the finale!  I guess Piper & I made the right choice.  :)

Sunday was Mom's Day.  Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms!  We went to a nice lunch at a new Casino attached to a bird estuary & show. (The waiter didn't take a very good picture.)

So, they went to see the pretty birds.... 

 And the rats eating the bird food.....YUK!

 And... you guessed it.... I went & played a little blackjack.  Didn't win!

 But I had to take a picture in the baby changing restroom.  They also had a little tiny toilet for toddlers who don't need the diaper changing table but a real potty!  Nope, Piper's not quite ready for this one.  It's hard to tell the scale of this but it was so little!  I've never seen anything like it.

Sorry to end Mother's Day in the toilet... but couldn't resist.  ;))

Bunnies & Ballet / May 8, 9

Thursday was a relaxing, slow kinda day.  We went out to lunch (Donald ate fish - even said he liked it).  Then we headed over to the bunny farm.  Really it's a little zoo but Dawn takes Piper there to visit & feed the bunnies & guinea pigs.

After a little quality time with the bunnies & guineas we headed back home.  I had to get a picture of this guy on the corner.  What do you think he is selling?

Yep... a boom is a tree and sloping means trimming.  He liked getting his picture taken & didn't even put his hand out for a tip.

And, just like at home, you have 4 city, county, or state  (some government) workers standing on the corner.  1 is digging & the rest are leaning on their shovel.  Pretty normal sight there!

 However you will find guys like this in almost every parking lot.  They guide you in & out of your spot or find you one if you need one.  Then you tip them (usually about 50c) and tell them thank you and good day.  Much more pleasant and cordial than Macy's parking lot at Christmas!

Speaking of Macy's I bought Piper a halloween costume for next halloween. It was after halloween and on sale for about $4.00 so how could I pass it up.  :)  When we got back to the house I  discovered it in the closet.  However I realized today that it is an 18 month size and it probably is not going to fit by halloween. :(  So, we decided to try it out...

I have to say this is the cutest little zebra I have seen since I got here!  

She loved it so we paraded her around to show the neighbors.

Friday is the day the gardener comes.

This is Isaac.  He does the landscaping, gardening, car washing and the windows.  He also does any other odd jobs Dawn needs done.  He starts his day with a cup of tea & bringing Dawn up to date on the weeks goings on.   She goes & gets KFC for him and Grace for lunch.  He has done a nice job on the yard.  Someone with 4 dogs lived here before & there was just dirt in the yard.  

It is pretty nice out today so he very kindly works around Piper & all her outside toys.

It's not really that warm so there is no water in the pool... but she doesn't seem to mind.  Just sunbathing & relaxing.

And sitting with Papa.

We went to the Russian Ballet at the Casino tonight.  

Well, let's just say it wasn't the Ballet Dawn & I went to at the Kennedy Center in DC.  Of course it was $25 each instead of $150.  The music was not good quality and  the dancing not much better.  After the first half intermission there were many more empty seats than before.  Donald and Paul also went.  Donald has never been to a ballet & wasn't thrilled about going but he was a good trooper.  I told him he still hasn't really been to the real Ballet.  I doubt he will be willing to give it another try.  The second half was much better.   Thank Goodness.

The best part of the night was probably the dinner.  Look at the size of this prawn, fish, & green pepper kabob with some white rice.   And she ate the whole thing!  I guess that's why she's so skinny.... nothing on there is fattening!  I on the other hand had a steak & fries.  Hmmmm.