Colorado River Balloon Crossing

We got up early to go watch these then had fun following them through the lettuce fields

Our trek to the San Xavier Mission

Photo's by me...

Text Credit:
http://www.sanxaviermission.org/History.html
Mission San Xavier del Bac is situated in the Santa Cruz Valley nine miles south of Tucson, Arizona.

From the earliest times, the Tohono O'odham settlement in which the Mission is located was called Bac, "place where the water appears," because the Santa Cruz River, which ran underground for some distance, reappears on the surface nearby.

San Xavier Mission is acclaimed by many to be the finest example of mission architecture in the United States.  It is a graceful blend of Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance architecture, yet the blending is so complete it is hard to tell where one type begins and another ends.

After more than two hundred years, the Franciscan Friars are still here serving the needs of the faithful.  San Xavier del Bac Mission is a fully functioning parish church within the Diocese of Tucson.  It is a church that primarily serves the Tohono O'odham, but is open to all.

Garden Beauties

The canna and hibiscus in my yard are enjoying the warm sunshine of the day. The temperature's today are why snowbirds flock to this area from parts as far as Canada and Alaska. Today will be around 80 degrees, not bad for mid November. The nights cool down to 50's.

Saguaro National Park, outside of Tucson, AZ.

Three little morning doves sitting on a fence...

This trio of siblings live in the eaves of the clay roof tiles on our neighbor's home. It's the perfect shady little nook. These youngin' s were warming in the sun and I guess too young to know I was much too close.

And of course, the other camera shy, grey animal that lives here : )

N's dragon pumpkin and E's Death Star. E won 3rd place at his school's carving contest. It took E about 5 hours to carve.

2-1/2 hours to Vote

But that's nothing compared to the sacrifice others have made to ensure that I can. 

The people in line here in this town, some snowbirds who could barely hold themselves up, little ones in strollers, and those in work clothes, were very patient, private and dutiful. E came with me to witness democracy in action and was equally happy to miss a few hours of school.

No matter who is elected today, I just hope that it's fair. I do not like hearing things like many federal ballots of military from VA were tossed due to a technicality on the form, black panthers in Phillie, substandard voting methods, long lines that many cannot stand in, etc.