Visiting Betty and John

On Thursday, September 8th, we hopped on a Southwest flight to Phoenix, to visit with Betty and John Brown!  We hadn't seen them for a year, and a lot had happened during that time!  The weather was toasty warm (109 degrees!) which was a nice change from our cold, foggy damp weather! 

We spent Thursday afternoon and evening catching up.  On Friday we drove up to Pine, where Betty and John have their "cabin", nestled at the top of a mountain, with amazing views!  Betty's brother, Jim, was there, so we got to catch up with him, too.  The weather was a little cooler - mid 90's.  While we were there, a herd of elk were feeding in a field near the cabin, so we grabbed cameras and got lots of shots!

We went back to Phoenix on Saturday afternoon, as we had tickets for Steel Magnolias, which was being performed at the Arizona Broadway Theater - designed by John Brown!  The ABT is a dinner theater - dinner is served before the show, and dessert is served during the intermission - very nice!  The play was fabulous!  It was performed totally in Truvey's beauty shop, and the performers brought back the professional actresses that stared in the original movie.  Beautifully done!

On Sunday, Leslee and her kids and Jim and his family came for a big lunch and get-together.  The kids had grown a lot in the past year, and it was so good to see them, and visit with Leslee and Jim.  Betty and John's oldest son, Jonny, had a conflict and wasn't able to make it, but hopefully we'll see him next time.

All too soon it was Monday, and time for us to head home.  We had such a good time with Betty and John, and are looking forward to seeing them again, soon!  Thanks, guys, for a great visit!

Up at Pine - the vista from Betty and John's deck at the front of the house.

Elk!  There were 12 or more elk in the herd, and here's the leader!

Having an evening snack

They didn't seem to be particularly worried about us.......

On the move - I guess they were following their regular routine - one by one they jumped over a fence, crossed the road, and began dining in another field

John and Betty at the Arizona Broadway Theater

Family!  Betty, John, Lee, Pat, Jim, Kristi, Leslee, Jennifer and Jayna.

Leslee's daughter, Katelynn, and Jayna's friend, Jennifer

Clean-up crew!  Jayna, Ashley and Leslee chased us out of the kitchen!  Jayna and Ashley are Jim's daughters

Family portrait - Kristi, Ashley and Jim

Family portrait - Katelynn, Leslee and Matthew, with Granddad looking on.  Matt was very engrossed in the football game!  Which, by the way, the 49er's won!!

Katelynn, Leslee and Matt