Monday March 28, 2016

Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  We attended the Queen Creek Church of Christ as usual.  Lela was not up to par, but we made it anyway.  It was the last Sunday we will be here before heading home.

After church we came home, changed clothes and headed to Paul Jr.'s house for an early dinner.  Easter ham was the fare along with slaw, fruit salad and a baked potato casserole, chips and bread.  Everyone enjoyed the family time. We even got to finally celebrate Ben's 16th birthday.

Ben's 16th

 

 Christy's mom came and brought a friend.  They both had Chihuahua dogs with them.  Shady Who had to protect her turf against the invaders.

Courtney & Shady Who, Star & Tinkerbelle, Jeanie & Paco.

Paul Jr. and I finally got our cigar ritual done.  The weather was great so we sat on the front porch in the shade.  We solved most of the world's problems in just a couple hours.

Two Pauls

Today, I moved the Silver Star over to the Ranch to begin cleaning and loading for the trip home.  It was quite a blessing that it fit under our awning. 

 

The measurements were within a couple inches as to whether it was going to be on the driveway or in the street. We are planning on leaving Saturday morning, but we are unsure about our arrival date.  We are not going to push it too hard this year.  I think our route will take us through the mountains in Payson, AZ and on up to I-40 at Holbrook. Then it is I-40 all the way to Oklahoma City.

I took the annual Pictures of the Arizona Ploussards.

Quintin, Nicolas, Courtney, Christy, Paul Jr., Benjamin & Zachary

 

Paul

Christy

Courtney

Zachary

 

 

Benjamin

Nicolas

 

 

 

Quintin and Shady Who

After the egg hunt

 

 

Courtney and Shady Who

Friday March 25, 2016

Another week has passed without much fanfare.  Lela spent most of the week on the couch recovering from the sinus infection and flu. We watched a lot of basketball this week as the March Madness Tournament is in full swing.

We did make our way to the grocery store yesterday in preparation for Easter Sunday at Paul Jr.'s house.  I think Paul and I are finally going to get our cigar smoked this weekend.

Lela did manage to get outside today and show the neighbors she is still alive.  Many people were asking about her as she wasn't participating in the park as she normally would.  There is dust on her bicycle.

I got the rest of the decorative stones from Paul's house on Tuesday.  Zac helped me load them in the truck.  Today I placed them in the front "yard" under the watchful eye of the lovely one.

The star ball is lighted at night

 

  We then went to Wal Mart to buy a few bags of rock to cover the ground, but there were no bargains so we passed.  I think rock will be our big expense when we return next season.

I played golf in the regular league Wednesday.  I was kind of hot and cold shooting 41/46 for an 87.  Not too bad but I was expecting better. I probably won't play any more while we are here as there aren't enough bodies left for the league to play.

Here are a few random pics we took since the last entry.

dresser cabinet Lela found for the guest bedroom

More in the guest bedroom

Ana's artwork

Moonset in the western sky at 6 AM

Doves are everywhere and unafraid, even on my truck

Quail on the back wall

Cowboy shot one down

Quintin channeling Sinatra

Ana at the zoo (via facebook)

Waiting for Granny and G'pa to get home.

Friday March 18, 2016

We have had a pretty uneventful week.  I recovered from my cold, but Lela has gone into her annual sinus infection.  We traveled to a Walgreen's clinic last Saturday in Gilbert, AZ for some meds.  They gave her an antibiotic and sent us home.  She continued to get worse and was holed up on the couch all week under her sick blanket. Yesterday we decided we needed more help so we went to Banner Hospital E. R. here in the neighborhood.  They took a culture and diagnosed her with influenza B.  She received new and stronger antibiotics and a steroid to combat the sinus infection, but we just have to wait for the flu to run it's course. 

We were looking forward to Tim and Tracy to come here this weekend, but we had to cancel that visit.  We even stayed home from church and bible studies this week.  Even this Sunday worship looks pretty much in doubt.

A woman from church had given Lela a wall hanging that she admired.  It now hangs over the TV in the living room.  As you can see Turner Classic movies are a staple here.

I finished the installation of the sun screens on the south side of the ranch.  We expect that it will help keep the truck and the ranch cooler.

The Meyer lemon tree is budded out and is looking pretty good.  I think, although it is small, it will bear fruit while we are gone and again in the winter months here.

 

 

I played golf twice this week.  Tuesday at Toka Sticks Golf Club in Mesa.  It is next to the Mesa Airport.  I think it was once an Air Force base. http://www.tokasticksgolf.com/index.php

I shot 91.  I wasn't very happy after my last outing.

 

Wednesday I played in our regular league.  I started out 7 over on the first 4 holes.  Things were not going well.  I righted the ship to card 45/41 for 86.  I was only 7 over on the final 14 holes, so I didn't feel too bad at the end of the round. We still have enough players here for next week, so league play will continue.

 

We are looking forward to Lela's recovery as our time here is growing short and we would like to enjoy the remaining days.

 

 



Friday March 11, 2016

This has been a week full of birthdays.  Ben was 16 on Monday, Dan was 68 on Tuesday, and Drew was 21 on Wednesday.  We are supposed to celebrate with Ben on Saturday, but everyone is sick.  I have had a head cold with the running nose and cough for the past couple days.  Paul Jr.'s family have all been sick and Christy was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday.  Lela is starting with a cough today.  Several at church have also been sick with the same symptoms.

We had our regular bible study last week, but had to cancel yesterday because of my cold.

We went to an Airstream luncheon in Mesa, AZ last week.  It is always enjoyable to meet new folks.  They were all from Region 8 which is our Midwest region.  Many were from Iowa with a few Nebraskans mixed in.  We were the only ones from Missouri.

Friday I tackled the front stairs and railing.  It took most of the day even though I had learned valuable lessons on the back stairs and railing.  It turned out well.  I think most of our outdoor projects have been accomplished.

Front door (north side)

Saturday we took Christy's card and went to Costco, as they had our sun shades for the south side of the ranch on sale.  We needed one for each section on the south (4). I haven't decided yet how to anchor the bottom in the wind but I'm thinkin' on it. I installed them on Monday with Paul Jr.'s help.

One of the four shades (south side)

Of course, you can't leave Costco with only what you went there to buy.  We also came away with the Meyer Lemon tree that Lela wanted.  It is planted and ready to serve lemons when we get back next year.

Meyer Lemon tree

Some friends, two doors down, from Idaho had to leave Sunday so we had a going away party for them on Saturday evening.  They will return next year.

North side entertainment area

Sunday we went to church and afterwards a pot luck lunch at one of the members home, which turned out to be near our neighborhood.  We had a great time and great fellowship.

 Wednesday was my regular golf day and I played even though I had been under the weather on Tuesday.  I had my best round of the year at 42/37 for 79.  If you notice (Curt) the back side is par 37 as was my back nine score.

  I was a happy boy and was recognized in the clubhouse.  We have one more week of the league.  I think I should skip it and leave with that par score, but I'll play and hope to follow up with another good score.  I now have "street cred" to protect.

Yesterday I spent the day on the couch with my Kleenex and Robitussin.  Today I feel better but still need the Kleenex.  Lela has started with the cough as I did.  I hope she doesn't end up as I did.

South Wall showing the rodeo used lariat we bought in Wickenburg.

Back door

 

Front garden

Wednesday evening Mar. 2, 2016

It has been a busy week here in the desert.  We had our normal bible study at Ross and Laura's home on Thursday evening.  We are studying Acts 16 tomorrow night.

Friday afternoon we headed to Home Depot for lumber to finish the outside stairs and railing and for shelving in the closets.  After unloading we headed to Paul & Christy's to check out the job ahead of us on Saturday.

They used their tax return money to buy laminate flooring for the downstairs living room and family room.  Since I was "experienced" I volunteered my services.  I also own the saws and other necessary tools.  We laid flooring all day on Saturday and finished up the trim and one closet on Sunday afternoon.

Getting started (G'pa, Paul Jr. and Zac)

Measure twice, cut once.

Paul placing end board

G'pa and Zac placing the last piece.

The "A" team

Zac, Paul Jr. and G'pa

 

 I must say it turned out very nice.  I do, however, have floor burns on both knees as I was working in

 shorts.  (lesson learned).  They plan on doing the upstairs later.

Sunday was a great day with the faithful in Queen Creek.  We had a visiting speaker from Tucson. We had seen him at a gospel meeting last year in Apache Junction, AZ.  He is a black man and has the typical rhythm and style of black preachers.  It was really a great sermon.

Monday came and I started cutting lumber for the closet shelves.  I could barely move as I was sore from the floor job.  I accomplished two shelves in two closets, but ran out of necessary 1x4 for the last closet. That is a job for another day (and return to Home Depot).

Yesterday I finished the stairs and railing for the back porch.  It took most of a day as I had to cut three stringers and figure out the angles for the railing.  There was a lot of trial and error involved in getting the railing right.

Trying to get it right

Placing the last deck screw

Admiring my new stairs and rail.

Today, Wednesday, was golf.  I finally got a decent round, 44 / 42 for 86. I had several makeable putts that did not fall.  I played better than I scored.

Lela continues to "Walk Away the Pounds" four days a week, and rides her bike in the park.
Today is the first Wednesday of the month which means an extra 10% at the grocery store for older folks.  Lela did the grocery shopping while I was golfing.

This evening we sat out on our back porch and watched the sun goes down.  The temperatures in February were running 15 degrees above normal and set several record highs.  Today was a record 90 degrees.

Tomorrow we are heading to Mesa, AZ for an Airstream luncheon involving a bunch of snowbirds like ourselves.