Downtown Chandler

Alvin and four other clay artists were commissioned by the City of Chandler to make tile for 10 benches, 5 pedestals and 6 tables for the new renovated downtown Chandler. They are located on Arizona Avenue from Chandler Boulevard to Frye Road. They are all different and show each artist's personality and style. They have been working on this project since before July and finally the project is finished. In fact, tomorrow the City is closing the downtown roads and having a "block party" to show off this new downtown. I like the look. The renovation was started because a new four story city hall was built. Here are pictures of Alvin's projects.

The first bench is in front of Serrano's Mexican restaurant and the design is of cactus.



The second bench is on the corner of Arizona Avenue/Boston basically in front of the wedding shop. He did this bench in conjunction with Sue Berzelius. Alvin made the tiles and detail and Sue finished it off by adding the color. I am not sure how to describe this one. It has lots of interesting characters, things, and etc.




The table is about coffee table size and they have chairs on each side for people to sit.




The five artists are Sue Berzelius, Kathleen Escobedo, Steve Fitch, Ted Wolter and Alvin Pace. Their company name is "5 on Tile". Take a walk thru the towndown and enjoy what you see. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Birthday is over - - -

Yesterday was my birthday! The big one where you can order from the senior menu, and you start spending your social security money and then the choice of all those medicare plans. Fortunately, we skipped the medicare business because Alvin's job has better coverage and even cheaper.

I had a marvelous day. First I went to Cooper's baseball game at 10:00 and afterwards Gretchen and Chelsea took me to lunch. Then we went piano shopping because Chelsea is looking for one and then Gretchen and I went to a store in downtown Mesa so she could buy a half prize Halloween decoration. It was very cute - worth the effort to get there! Then we went to the apple store because Alvin bought me a "IPad" for my birthday and I needed to make an exchange from a 16GB to a 32GB. (why? I am not sure)

What a surprise that he bought me an Ipad - and he did it all on his own. Many of you know his history of buying any kind of present. So, I was so amazed that he actually did make such a great purchase. I do love it. It will take some time to get the hang of it but I will. Everybody is very jealous of me and rightly so.

So, I ended up back at home around 4:30 and Alvin and I went to dinner at Zetas. I love that place. The food is never bad and always such new and interesting dishes to try. Of course the chili pie is a must have for dessert even when you are filled to the brim with the main course.

Today, being Halloween, we went to Chelsea and Stephen's for dinner and birthday cake and more presents. I wanted necklaces and that is what I got. I love them all and they are all totally different. The kids dressed up for trick/treating and Alvin, Grandma Helen, Gretchen and I sat on the front porch and handed out candy while they all went out knocking on doors.


Chandler was Michael Jackson. Tatum a princess. Cooper a baseball zombie.




Can't forget my little guys in Washington! I talked to them on the phone and they had many activites to attend the last few days and were very proud of their costumes. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy! They sing a great happy birthday song too!!!!


Thanks everyone for a great birthday. I enjoyed it all!!!!

Fall Break Over!

Actually, the break was over for Chelsea today but the kids don't go back until Wednesday. So, today Chandler, Cooper, Tatum and I went for some amusement! I had read in the newspaper last week that Bret Michaels actually takes his kids out of school on occasion and takes them to "Cracker Jacks" in Scottsdale. His philosophy is they have more fun when not so busy with kids. It is an amusement park with golf, bumper boats, bungie jump, batting cages, race cars, food and arcade games. So, I took his word for it and decided to see just what kind of fun he has with his two little girls.

It was not busy because kids are in school this time of year except the Chandler schools. They had fun. First we did the golfing.



Chandler was very precise with every swing. Cooper swung his club with a vengeance every single time. Golfing didn't keep Tatum's interest.




This obviously was the favorite activity! Tatum didn't want to get wet. I couldn't drive very well. Cooper was always bumping into me. Chandler got soaked when he got stuck under the waterfall. I stayed away from that area but did try to get Chandler's picture when he was getting wet.


The little cars were rather small. Tatum couldn't ride because her legs were to short. I couldn't ride because - well you know why! They had bigger cars and obviously the kind we wanted to ride but Chandler wasn't tall enough and I didn't want to ride them myself.

We then went inside and ate pizza and drank Dr. Pepper and played the arcade games for a while. I think they had a good time! I did. Would I go back? Probably not!

Swimming Season Over!

The whole month of September was still very warm so that extended the swimming season for a few weeks longer. It has now started to cool off a little and that makes the pool water cool off very quickly. We seldom swim past the middle of September but this season it was way to the end of the month.

It is time however. Our big water blowups are leaking air, Cooper's swim trunks have no elastic left, and Tatum's swim suit gives her a major "wedgie". It was a fun summer with lots of swim time. I think Chandler and Tatum could swim forever. With Cooper that is a different story - he always gets "itchie" and needs a shower.

Little Froggies!

Usually on Friday the kids go swimming after school. That was the plan today as well but little frogs (about the size of a dime) were swimming in the pool. We had a huge rainstorm several nights ago so that is how they got in our pool I am sure. I can actually say that it rained - cats and frogs. So, we proceeded to catch them and put them in a bucket. Then we noticed they were actually sticking their heads above water trying to breath. We then thought they must not like the water. Have you figured out we don't know much about frogs?

When Chelsea arrived she called a fellow science teacher at her school and she said they were probably tadpoles yesterday and today were "Colorado bullfrogs" and would die if they stayed in the bucket. Of course the kids wanted to take these little darlies home and make them their pets. I thought that sounded like fun actually - a little Snesko home science project. But no, the teacher with all the knowledge said they needed to be in muddy soil where they could burry into the ground and also find food. Eventually they would grow bigger and we would hear their frog sounds.

With much talking and explaining, especially to Tatum, that they would die if we didn't let them go it was decided to release them in my flower bed.





Now - little frogs grow up to be big frogs. Do I need to remind my family that I have found many times "big" frogs in my swimming pool skimmer. They can't get out so you know what happens don't you? I wonder how long it takes them to grow bigger than a "dime."

I was actually curious enough to google "colorado bullfrogs" and this is what they write about them.

"Tadpoles may remain in the tadpole stage for almost 3 years before transforming into frogs. Adults reach maturity after 3 to 5 years. The average bullfrog lives seven to nine years in the wild. The record lifespan of an animal in captivity is 16 years. A bullfrog may bury itself in mud and construct a small cave-like structure for the winter. Bullfrogs are active both during the day and at night. Bullfrogs are very aggressive predators. They eat snakes, worms, insects, mice, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, and aquatic eggs of fish, frogs, insects, or salamanders."

So, maybe they will live in the flower bed for a few years before falling back in the pool. I hope so!

Final product!

Remember the lesson on throwing a pot several weeks ago? For those of you not familiar with the process of getting a finished product this is what has to happen. You make it - it dries - it is fired in the kiln - it cools - you dip it into a glaze - it is fired again! That is it and usually is at least a two or three week process. Depends on how busy things are in the ceramic room. Anyway, the kids went back to the studio weeks later to glaze their bowls and princess crown. When they were finished the first thing they did was eat cereal out of them. They were proud of their work.

Diamondback Game!

Gretchen called and said she had 4 tickets to last nights game and wanted to know if I wanted them. I said probably not since Alvin had been so busy lately. When she said they were on the first row I quickly changed my mind and invited Chandler and Cooper to go along. So, check this ticket stub out! Do you see row 1 - or row I?

Yes, it is row I which is eight rows from the front. Tickets go by the alphabeth in that section. We were kind of disappointed but like Chandler said, "these are still really good seats." And, yes they were.

The boys were extremely excitied to sit so close and had their gloves ready to catch the foul balls and even catch the t-shirts that are thrown. Unfortunately none came our way. However, Baxter did and that made the night extra special.

He signed their gloves and was very friendly to them.


He just kept hanging around behind us so I told Cooper to go have him sign his shirt. The first thing Baxter did was put his shirt over Coopers head and then proceeded to take about ten steps with Cooper still under the shirt. He uncovered him and proceeded to sign the back of the shirt. What a memory for the little guy!




It is just amazing to me that Chandler is so interested in the game. He really watches what is going on and asks questions about things he doesn't know and even does a good job of "booing" the umpire.

Cooper likes being there but not quite the game watcher like Chandler.

It was fun to see the "legends" run their race and then hang out among the crowd.



It was a great night but I am afraid I have been spoiled with the $150.00 seats. Get more Gretchen!