Wednesday Afternoon

Today Zachary passed the written drivers exam for Arizona.  Congratulations to him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JctH9xwfuQ

I guess I have been a little bit lax in keeping the blog up to date.  Mostly it is because I'll ask "What did we do on Friday?" No one can remember.  I think that once I've slept, those recollections are set aside.

Today, we arose early (6AM), had coffee and went to the clubhouse for the weekly park meeting.  There wasn't much discussion because so many people are leaving on the 31st when their reservation is finished.  Most of the Canadians can only be in the U S for 180 days before they are responsible for income tax.  So naturally they beat it out of here before that happens. There are a few folks who live here year round, but not many.

We have already started to pack up a few things as we intend to head for Oklahoma City to stop and see Lela's brother H.E..  Our plan is to leave here on Monday or Tuesday and take three days to arrive home.

You might have trouble recognizing us when we get home.  We have changed a little bit.

We plan on BBQ-ing this afternoon.  Lela has some ribs and baked potatoes for this afternoon.  It is about 86 degrees for a high today, but mid 90's are forecast for the weekend.  Because the humidity is so low here, the 80 degree temperatures are very comfortable.

Friday, March 20, we went back to the Mesa Swap Meet.  They close up for the summer next weekend so Lela was on the bargain hunt.  She had been watching some "Arizona" dishes for a few weeks.  She managed to get 50% off the original price and then 10% off that number so she was in shopper heaven.  We picked up a couple other odds and ends bargains, too.

Saturday, we were invited to Paul & Christy's for a BBQ.  We sliced some pork tenderloins and also had chicken leg quarters.  Lela made baked beans and real mac and cheese.  Courtney supplied a cheesecake dessert.  We ate pretty good and then Paul and I had a cigar on the back patio behind the screen we put up the week before.  We are so blessed and thankful to God to be able to do these things.

Sunday, March 22, we returned to Queen Creek Church of Christ.  The guest speaker was Michael Evans.  He had a really great message and was very good in his delivery.  I envy the men who can make it seem so easy. 

Laura, Ross and Granddaughter Carly with Mike Evans 

After worship we had a pot luck for about ten people.  Lela bought a ham and the others brought sides.  We didn't leave there until about Three O'clock.  We are really getting to know these folks and feel very comfortable with them.

Monday Lela went to her "Walk away the Pounds" class at the small clubhouse.

I played golf at Queen Valley golf course in the Gold Canyon.

It is a mountain course at the base of the Superstitions.  The front nine is lush and green, while the back nine is a desert course.  I lost one ball to the desert.  I shot 37-39 for a total of 76.  Now, before you get excited it is a short course par 69.
http://www.queenvalleygolfcourse.com/

 Tuesday Lela went to exercise and I did nothing but I did do my "add on the pounds" class.

We did manage a Wal-Mart run, but that was about it.

Thursday Night

Today we awakened to rain and chilly temperatures (50's).  The plan is to climb the Hieroglyphic Trail on the Superstition Mountains.
http://gosw.about.com/od/bestdaytrips/a/superstitions.htm

 The girls had a shopping day planned while we went into the wilderness.

Lela made a dozen sandwiches and we had a couple bags of chips for lunch after the climb.  We headed to their house hoping for the weather to clear.    The weather did clear and we were excited to get going.

Check the cape on those socks.

 

 

We arrived at the trailhead at 9 AM.  We all got two bottles of water and two energy bars to carry with us.  The boys had backpacks and G'pa had pockets. 

Up the mountain we went.

This is where we are headed.

I needed to throw a rope on Ben and Quintin.

 

Flowering cactus

The boys stacked rocks to mark the trail.

We came across a fallen cactus.

Petroglyphs

Zach checking the ancient art.

Trails end at the spring.

Don't go in the cave, Ben.

Below the spring.

Small waterfall.

Where we've been.

We had a wonderful time hanging out together.  The climb took 3 hours and about 600 feet in elevation.  We were back at the parking lot to have our lunch at about noon.  Everyone agreed the climb was rewarding because of the country we traversed and the sights and antiquities we saw.

We were all tired, but looking forward to our next opportunity to "climb a mountain."

The girls got home with their "bounty" about an hour after we arrived.  Lela and I were back to the park at about 3:30.  Pizza was on the menu for supper.  Skyline Pizza was the choice and it was very good.

March madness is our evenings entertainment.

Wednesday Night

Hear ye, Hear ye!  Be it known that 6 year old Jessica Rock has been posted on the Lunker Board at Montauk State Park.  She recorded a 3 pound 2 ounce trout and her family is veeeeery proud.

Sitting in the Silver Star this evening as it has turned cold here (67 degrees) with rain. 

Lela and I went to the HOA meeting this morning.  She stayed but I left with Bruce and John for Bear Creek Golf Course in Chandler AZ.  It is about 45 minutes away.

I finally got to play golf today.

 

I have been in AZ for 5 weeks and this was the first time I got the clubs out of the truck.  I played relatively well as I had some rust to shake off.  I hit 11 fairways but only 4 greens. 42-46 for an 88 was an okay round.  The course was pretty good.  I was only in the desert one time.

Yesterday was St. Patrick's day. We wore our green, but we didn't party anywhere.  We made a shopping run and a propane run, but otherwise we stayed in the park.

Monday we stayed in the park.  We are getting to know a few people, so we visit a little bit with the denizens of the park.

Sunday Night

Today was the first time we turned on air conditioning for this year.  It worked.  It is always comforting when the systems in the Silver Star operate properly.  We turned it off and opened up at about 7 PM as the outside temperature dropped into the upper 70's.

This morning we returned to The Queen Creek Church of Christ.  Today's attendance was 17.  Our minister today, Louis Joseph, is a 6' 8" Army Veteran who had been injured (Blown up) in Iraq in 2005.  He had quite a story to tell.  He had a very good lesson and was a talented speaker.  His wife and two children attended.  He drove up from a town south of Tucson.  The man who was originally scheduled had a family emergency and couldn't be there.  It just makes you realize you need to be ready in and out of season whenever you may be called upon.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)
² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

After church we returned home and took the day off by resting in the park and doing nothing.

Yesterday, March 14, we went over to Paul & Christy's house for burgers and brats.  They had purchased a lawn mower and a sunscreen to help with the sun on the back patio of their house.  The back of the house faces west so the afternoon sun gets pretty warm.

Paul has a nice size yard with grass to take care of. 

Many of the lots here are only gravel.

We had a good time there and I put the older boys to work mounting the sun shade.

Zach and Ben (Day Labor)

Zach & G'pa taking the measurements.

Paul was charged with cooking.

Attaching the base to the portico.

G'pa, Paul & Zach

G'pa, Christy, Paul & Zach

The finished product. (8' by 8')

 

After the sunscreen and the meal S'mores were the order of the day.

Toasting marshmallows

I had forgotten to mention last week that they have bought a Toyota Sienna minivan to replace the failing Chrysler they had driven for several years.

  We are all quite excited to be travelling in a more dependable car.

Friday, March 13, we met Bob and Adrianne Burgoyne for Lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Serrano's. 

It is an old AZ family and restaurant experience.

 Bob and Lela worked together several years ago.  Bob and Adrianne live near where we are in the San Tan Valley. We had a wonderful visit with them. I neglected to get a photo of them this year.  I guess I'm losing my focus.