Look at that happy birthday boy! He's smiling, although he can hardly believe he turned 62 this time around! Funny how that works dear, year after year .. you're getting old(er) hon', no ifs or butts about it. You're still cute though!

On the other hand, he might only be smiling because of the cake ..

I would be too. It was a monster-slice!

So yes, it's the end of January and, like I mentioned previously, the leaves finally have been coloring a bit, and now some are even falling! Yeah gasp! What a concept! Nature is really upside down over here.

Those are grapevines at the community garden above, and I came across this blazing orange tree below at the walking path through the wash.

Lots of birds are over-wintering here (they're the 'real' snowbirds of course) and the House finches especially are always happily chattering and singing away while enjoying the morning sunshine ..

                     

Others live here year around ...
I really didn't see this Coyote until I was pretty much upon him, and only because he all of a sudden went for a wild chase after a rabbit!

He got it too! Good for him, but poor bunny ..

He took off and disappeared into the wash, it looks like he has a den over there. 

Quite amazing so close to civilization! Coyotes really are masters of opportunity and adaptation.

 

The bathrooms have changed a lot in appearance over the last week.

James and the boys grouted the master ...

The (old) counter-tops were removed ..

               

 

And the granite-crew arrived to install the new ones!

 

               

This is the one in the guest-bath

It was a busy day that day because the (new)bed-guys showed up too!

                         

Look at that! You can sit up watching TV or read a book or .. whatever.
Only disadvantage of the queen mattress .. you both have to sit up! Oh, well .. minor detail.

Let's see, James has also started working on the 'Wine-cellar/room/closet', but I'll wait with showing any of that, until there's a little more to show .. ha!

Oh, here's something instead:

I needed something for coffee, and since the pineapples are on sale right now, I made Pineapple upside-down .. muffins!
Let me tell y'a, these little beauties tasted even better than they look! M-m-good!

 

                                   

And look .. James passed his 3rd assistant-appraiser test. Yahoo! Three down, one more to go (which is a short one)!

OK, that's about it for this week. Here's a pic of James' birthday dinner, which we had in the backyard. On the 17th of January. Only in Arizona!

Happy Birthday Hon', and many happy returns!