Kathleen and Stan left for Minnesota this morning, leaving Solveig and Bill in charge of Casa de Golfo in Tucson. They will be assisted in this endeavor by their faithful guard dog, (right), J.D. They are pictured, above, in front of El Minuto, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Tucson that received good reviews from this discriminating California couple. They have agreed to check out the Sunnyside Up Cafe and Claire's of Catalina as well before their departure.
Kathleen's favorite thrift store in Arizona is The Golden Goose, a well-run volunteer enterprise that recycles tons of household items. Volunteers there dart about in bright aprons, organizing and marketing all sorts of donations. These aprons caught Kathleen's fancy, but for years she has been disappointed that they just aren't for sale. This week, however, persuaded by a surrepetious application of cash and shameless begging, the store manager bent the rules and rummaged a serviceable cast-off from the back room. Three Shouts and a wash-and-dry cycle later, the item was gift-wrapped and this morning presented to the surprised and thrilled service person at Cafe del Solveig. The photo above includes all four members of this morning's sunny group. The photograph was made possible by the proper application of a time-delay feature, and a used tripod, purchased this week for $12.... at the Goose, of course!
Sosie's much anticipated, much ballyhooed World's Largest Tiki head has been located. She had awarded the concrete head a prominent position on her carefully prepared "Things To Do While in Tucson" list. Unfortunately, the massive head is still cased and crated, awaiting its ultimate erection at a watering hole in the University of Arizona off-campus area. The supine condition of the head failed to disappoint the Tucson tourist, as Sosie simply proudly laid claim to being way ahead of the curve in the Tiki world. Next "must do?" The legendary Sonoran Hotdog, of course.
This South African aloe specimen bloomed yesterday in the Botanical Gardens near the busy intersection of Grant and Alvernon in Tucson. The exotica provide surprising respite from the surrounding traffic din.
One of our goals today was visiting the 300 year old Spanish Mission south of Tucson. We got there just in time for Ash Wednesday noon mass. Kathleen celebrated inside with a churchful of the devout. Meanwhile, the unchurched posed outside and nosed through the museum, gift shop, candle store, fry bread stands and moneychangers. Then they plotted the next move in a busy day.
Then it was off to Mi Casa to shop Mexican imports, an art gallery to gape at native antiques, the Tiki God head in the University area to laugh and finally to El Minuto to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine, adjacent to El Tiradito, a shrine (left) erected to somebody who got shot for making it with his mother-in-law back in the 1800s. It's all true. Check your wiki. In the evenings locals light candles in hopes of creating life-changing events. Our Spanish-speaking waiter said it was all a bunch of B.S. (How do you say that in Spanish? El Toro?) The city-owned shrine can be reserved for weddings. (Do Zach and Jenn know about this?) 
Sosie enjoyed her first breakfast this sunny morning on the patio named in her honor. Kathleen whipped up her famous waffles while Bill expertly fried the sausages. Stan and Sosie took an early walk, culminating in a stop at the fitness center to watch an 85-year -old great grandmother in short shorts throwing weights around like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The San Xavier del Bac Mission was built between 1783 and 1797 by the Tohono O'odham tribe, under the direction of Spanish Franciscans. The mission opened Tucson's first public school in Nov. 7, 1864. There is no record of the monks teaching the Indians to play poker or run casinos.
Becky Jerdee and her brothers, Steve and Virg, took a moment in the Florida sun today during Steve's visit to see his siblings living there. These photos were taken by Becky Lynn near Virg and Becky's new home in Ft. Meyers. There are other Rolfsruds in Florida these days: our cousin Harold is fishing somewhere around there with members of his extended family. His daughter, Kelly, lives with her husband, Jiro, in Florida. 
Our eldest, Melissa, has returned safely from Mazatlan and is back at work in Eden Prairie. Eager to max out on the sunshine, she overexposured and brought home a bit of a burn. (Our dear granddaughter, Emily, was kept out of the harmful rays and managed quite well.) Below is Missy with the parents of her "adopted" Mexican family, swimming with their four children in Missy's timeshare pool. Over the years, Missy has given much to this family; their youngest child is named "Melissa" in honor of the kindness of their Minnesota benefactor. And Emily learns her Spanish from native speakers.
A record 91 degree day brought some interesting clouds and colors tonight as we looked southwest from the patio at 6:15 p.m. We took a ton of sunset photos, of course, but this was a favorite, all the classic southwest colors. We hope Sosie and Bill are here tomorrow in time to enjoy another show. In the photo below, a bright light appears to be coming from Dove Mountain, where Tiger Woods and his pals are sharpening up for this week's Accenture Match Play.
Blake and the Tiger Cubs of the Blue & Gold followed the age-old tradition of getting goofy for the camera in this photo on the Underwood/Jerdee blog, linked at left.
After 14 days, Steve's marigolds have broken through the earth's crust and have begun their rise to glory. Steve had hoped these plants would greet Sosie and Bill, and by George, they will.
Actual conversation in our driveway as Kathleen was taking our picture today.
Kathleen: Hey Doug, I'm glad you guys are going golfing today. Stan needs practice before he goes to Scotland in March.
The chairman and the vice-chair of Minnesota's Red Wing Publishing were breakfast guests today. Stan spent 35 years with RWP and was the president of the Southwest Division before retiring last fall, so there was plenty to chat about. Arlin and Marilyn winter in Tucson now. Arlin had tried to contact Stan for a round of golf earlier this week, but Stan's new high-tech magic internet phone wasn't responding to Arlin's repeated calls. Fortunately, that's been straightened out now and Stan and Arlin and a lucky third will be teeing it up on Monday.
A Minnesota snowstorm separated Sosie from her luggage during her Christmas time visit to see her mother in Alexandria.
A hungry sparrow swiped bread bait set by Kathleen yesterday to entice shy and skittish Quail to visit our yard for a closeup. Fortunately, the fearless sparrows left enough behind to attract a nice flock for the camera. The result is the two and a half minute clip, below.
A handful of waffle crumbs thrown out back draws a covey of quail in just a few minutes. Quail are very shy and skittish. They mostly just run on the ground but are capable of short flights. We turned the sound up on this video so you can hear their warbly clucking. We're not sure what that comb thingy (at left) is for, but it is most distinctive. (Click on the forward icon to start the short clip.)
Carol and Gary Lussier flew here from Minnesota for a weekend visit with their daughter, Leah, and her fiance', Jesse Sixkiller, who are attending law school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. 
The foursome drove to Saddlebrooke for Sunday brunch and a good chat before departing for an afternoon at the Desert Museum. Carol and Stan were classmates at Alexandria, but courteously avoided discussing inside baseball. Gary is a principal in Minneapolis, Carol teaches music. They keep a summer cottage in Alexandria.
We know about the bobcats, mountain lions, javelina, mule deer, coyotes, quail, hawks, fox, rabbits, roadrunners and rattlesnakes using the no-man's land dividing our backyard from Catalina tee box No. 22. Now add coati to that list.
Admittedly, this discovery doesn't match the excitement expressed by my pal, Wayne Kasich, retired publisher of the International Falls Daily Journal, who last week reported a dead moose beside the railroad tracks running behind his northern Minnesota home. The moose was the apparent loser in a bout with the north-bound Canadian-Pacific. Within hours, predators had thoroughly cleaned the crash site, leaving only flash-frozen moose dung behind. This trace evidence was eagerly scooped, wrapped and mailed by U.S. Postal Service to Wayne's deer-hunting friend for close examination, speculation and discussion about the late moose's eating habits.
Our good neighbor in Tucson, Dick Krueger, is no less dedicated to the outdoor arts. From time to time he can be seen in his backyard, busily sweeping and grooming a patch of ground. Initially, we ignored this curious behavior, allowing him the dignity and privacy earned after a life-long career at a major corporation. After all, if a gentleman in his golden years chooses to sweep dirt, stare at the ground and mumble, is that any business of ours?
Fortunately, Dick eventually approached us with an explanation: He and his Jack Russell, Lucy, keep a patch of loose ground cleared to track the critters patrolling the neighborhood. He's sleuthed a wealth of clues from the usual suspects. But on Jan. 29 he noticed a particularly puzzling set of tracks. He's made a study of what to expect in these parts, but wasn't certain of this find. So as any competent detective might, he consulted authorities with his photos and an opinion. Yesterday, Janice Przybyl at the Wildlife Linkages Program, Sky Island Alliance, confirmed to Tracker Dick that he had, indeed, tracked a coati.
If you don't know a coati from a coyote, check your wiki:
Tucson landscaper Ted Navarro snipped some top branches today from the wind-damaged acacia tree torn by Tuesday's snowstorm. (See story, below) Owners were relieved to learn that the landmark tree should survive, after some prudent trimming, rebalancing and sealing off of the exposed wound. 
Ted and his helper lopped, trimmed, tidied and were on their way, leaving Kathleen to put a thick coat of beige latex paint on the sorry gash. The result is a lighter, more compact version of the original specimen, but hopefully a more resilient one. 
After the completion of the project, a reporter from the Saddlebrooke Times, below, arrived to get the whole story and close yet another exciting chapter at The Cafe del Solveig.
Our stately acacia tree, lovingly selected and planted three years ago by Brother Virg, sustained serious damage last night during a rare Tucson snowstorm.
To see full coverage of the beauty and trauma of this extraordinary winter event, view the entire photo exposition, entitled Tucson Snowstorm 2009, by clicking on this:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Rolfsrud/TucsonSnow2009?feat=directlink
Rick and John flew here from Minnesota for a big adventure in Tucson, sunny days golfing with Stan in preparation for St. Andrews in Scotland. Today they're understandably confused as to just exactly where they are.
