A page from my parents wedding album given to me by my aunt who visited last week. Mom and Dad were 23!
A strange thing happened during my aunt’s visit. I glanced over at the sofa and Olive the cat was sitting next to my aunt licking her fingers! Now this is a first. Olive has never let a guest touch her or vice versa. Olive does sleep with my daughter, but that doesn’t count because she was my daughter’s cat until college took my daughter away.
My aunt and I did most of the things on my list and we found ourselves very compatible. We both got hungry at the same time, wanted quiet time in the afternoons to ourselves and went to bed early to read. Having a house guest doesn’t get much better than that!
It cooled down considerably, we lit the outdoor fireplace and cooked s’mores. We hiked in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We went to the farmer’s market in Carefree and explored consignment stores in Cave Creek. We had some delicious lunches and dinners out, plus I cooked. We visited the Musical Instrument Museum and to my delight, they changed up a few exhibits so there were new things for me to enjoy.
You might wonder what would be exciting about visiting a museum of musical instruments.
From the MIM, here’s the Artists’s Gallery experience:
ARTIST GALLERY
Celebrate music’s most influential artists.
In every time and place, there are musicians whose art deeply touches the lives of many. MIM’s Artist Gallery highlights these personalities with ever-changing exhibits that span sound, style, and era. Through generous partnerships, MIM features historic instruments owned, played, and loved by the musicians who have created a shared soundtrack to our lives for generations.
Nearly 40 displays showcase instruments and artifacts from some of the greatest musicians in the world. See and hear instruments played by icons such as Elvis Presley®, Tito Puente, the Carter Family and Johnny Cash, Roberta Flack, Glen Campbell, Joan Baez, Maroon 5, and many others.
https://mim.org/artist-gallery/#
The exhibits not only have the artists’s grammy awards, gold records, costumes and instruments, they have a large screen that plays selections of their songs on the headsets you wear. I think my favorite was “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison. On display is his hand written lyrics on a yellow legal pad. So not only do you get to sing along with Roy, you get to see how he wrote it, along with a photo of him and his pretty woman. There are many other galleries from all over the world. I haven’t touched the whole of MIM yet.
Here are a few photos from my aunt’s visit:
What is your idea of a perfect house guest? What do you like to do when entertaining company?
Oh wow, I’m glad you guys got on so well. The photo from your parents wedding is beautiful.
Thank you! It was nice we were on the same schedule.
Yes it makes entertaining someone much more easy.
Definitely!
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Be still my heart! I love every bit of your fabulous visit. Thank you for sharing with us. The photo of your parents makes me smile…but so does the sweet pic of your aunt and Olive. Adorable. 🥰
Thank you! I Will treasure our time together!
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I’m struck by how young your parents look in the picture. They look very happy. Interesting too about olive! I’m a firm believer that our pets are better judges of people than we are. Your aunt must be pretty awesome if Olive feels comfortable with her. 😊😊😊😊
I can’t believe how young my parents look also! I agree that animals are great judges of people. My aunt is pretty special.
Olive knows a good thing. Sounds like you had a great week. Good for you!!!!!😎😎😎
It was fun and I’m looking forward to the next visit.
So great that your aunt can share memories with you. Beautiful wedding photo as well, I love old photos even if I have no idea who the people are 🙂
Olive has a new friend 🙂 Clearly the visit went well for everyone!
I spent several days with my aunt in March when we spread my mom’s ashes at our riverfront property by Granite Falls. It’s so nice to have her in my life. I really need to make a point of getting together with her on a regular basis. She is Olive’s first friend 😊
You know, spirits communicate with us through animals…just saying.
I love that you had a good visit with your aunt. I love the picture of the two of you.
Thank you! I do think animals are spiritual in nature, especially cats.
Yes!
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So fun! She sounds like a perfect house guest. So sweet about Olive. I’m glad you had such a great visit with your aunt, especially in this first year after your mom’s passing!
Yes. We shared great memories and stories about Mom.
Your aunt is the best! What a great guest and obviously Olive approved. Love all the pics, you look so happy, and the one of your parents marriage is adorable. Hugs, C
Thanks! My aunt is truly so sweet and kind. It’s a joy to be around her. Olive thinks so, too.