Sunday, February 9, 2014

Gilbert

Within hours of our arrival (we will not detail our flight delays) we were on the road to the Mesa AZ area to attend the Gilbert Temple open house and to visit family.  The temple is very very beautiful, and seemed huge compared to the ones we are used to attending.  One of the guides there indicated that it is the largest temple the Church has built for about 18 years.  After the temple excursion mom & I went to visit Uncle Arnold and Aunt Donna and then caught up with the Hogges at the Fishers.  There we had all kinds of fun, including the Hoffmans, but there are no photos as we were having too much fun to think of taking photos.  We yakked it up, ate pizza and watched some of the olympics.  What a lot of fun.
 
 
 
 
 

Misión San Xavier - más que docientos años y aún vive

Since the forecast was for rain this last weekend in YC, we decided to cut out and visit sunny AZ.  Actually, this trip has been planned for a long time, the intent being to avoid the really hot weather later in the year.  We have had some great times here already and are looking forward to more this week.  Yesterday we went to a local Catholic Mission established by the Franciscan Order in the 1690's.  It is undergoing restoration and is quite the place.  Here are some photos from our trip.
As you can see, they are doing a great job of restoration.  The left tower is done and they are starting on the right one.
 
These two are overhead shots of a model of the complex.
The model is very well done and the grounds are beautiful.
 There is a little hill to the east of the church with a cross on it.
In front of it they had a spot where the local native american tribe sells food - navajo fry bread with a wide variety of really good stuff on it.  I was sorely tempted as it smelled so good.
 The two lions guarding the path around the little hill.
 My attempt at a cool shot - an attempt to imitate Leigh-Ann.
 The church and grounds from the hill.
 This is a little chapel to the left of the main church, in a cactus garden.
 A baby saguaro with another pretty cactus behind it.
 More cactus garden, with a little grave marker in it.  I like the way they have the variety of cactus plants located around the courtyard.
 What you might expect AZ to look like.
What it really looks like - all green and pretty.
 I thought this turned out quite well for being in front of a window.
 The gang in front of one of the lions.
Escaped.