December 10th to 16th, 2012.

I've been nursing my back, it seems like forever, enough already! We went for a walk this evening and took a few pictures of the Christmas decorations, walking helps my back feel better. We're also having a hard time believing it's getting so close to Christmas, the temperature and no snow, we remind ourselves by checking out all the lights.

The next day, Wednesday the 5th of December I was feeling a little better, so went to play canasta, big mistake. Sitting in that chair for two hours, I could hardly stand up, and the first few steps made me dizzy with pain. Once I got walking I was feeling better, the pain subsiding, so I took the LONG way home, and was feeling a whole lot better once I got back. We went out and bought some generic Ben Gay, rubbed that on, and by Friday I was feeling almost as good as new. The walking has helped, but that cream is awesome, that is now going to replace the drugs when this happens again!

Friday is fish&chip night and I am craving the 7's fish&chips since we had them last two years ago, so, a road trip to Wickinburg is in order. Larry phoned our friends John and Marie to get the address of where they're living now, I gathered some lemons, oranges, and grapefruit and we were off. John and Marie purchased a trailer last year in Wickinburg and started repairs before they left, and are trying to get it done so they can move in by Christmas. We arrived around 5:00, before the sun set, and got the grand tour of their new home and yard. I can only imagine what it looked like when they started, they've done so much work and it will be perfect for them when it's done. We enjoyed a few beverages and met their neighbours while sitting around the campfire before heading into town at 8:00 for supper. After stuffing ourselves with what I think is the best fish&chips (except, of course, Gibson's here in Saskatoon) in Arizona, we were headed home and able to enjoy all the Christmas light displays along the highway and in the towns along the way.

On Monday Pattie and I went for a much needed manicure/pedicure and the awesome massaging chairs helped my back, should have thought of those chairs a month ago, could of saved myself a lot of pain!
In the evening was our potluck block party, which was wonderful, and I got a recipe for a carrot casserole that I can't wait to make. Back home while watching a bit of TV and computer surfing Larry discovered the weather and roads from here to Saskatoon are clear now. Rain and colder temperatures are in the forecast for Mesa and Southern Arizona, with snow coming on the roads leading home next week, so we made the decision to pack up early and take advantage of the driving conditions. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent packing the car and getting the motorhome ready for storage. Thursday morning after picking and packing two bags of fruit, getting the car hooked up and saying our goodbyes we're off to Brenda Arizona with a quick stop in Salome to top up the propane. With the dollie and motorhome safely parked, and the rain starting, we're on our way home for Christmas.

Lemon & Orange Trees In The Park

Driving Through West Yellowstone

Northern Montana

Home For Christmas

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012.

We've had a pretty slow week, I think we've discovered relax mode, finally! On Sunday the 25th we went out to pick up some lights to string up under the awning so we could sit outside longer and see each other. It gets dark here around 5:30 and we wanted to be able to sit outside and play cards or visit. On Monday around 9:30 I joined my neighbours Fern and Liza for a girls day of shopping for "stuff" to make Christmas decorations. After hitting up several stores we were home around 1:30, had a quick brunch and started hot gluing, twisting, and creating. By 5:00 Fern and I had created her 3 wreaths and Liza had finished 2 necklaces that she had started in the lapidary. Tuesday was lazy day and Wednesday Larry and I spent a few hours finishing our Christmas shopping, just have to pack it up and load it into the car for the trip home.

We decided Thursday morning to drive the Old Apache Trail from Apache Junction, through Tortilla Flat, to the Roosevelt Damn, Superior, and home. Our first stop, around 1:00 was the Superstition Saloon Bar in Tortilla Flat, population 6, for lunch. Dollar bills from all over the world cover the walls of this old stagecoach stop like wallpaper. The barstools are real saddles and some are hand carved with wooden horse backsides. There's only 3 buildings left here, the Saloon, Ice cream Shop and the Mercantile that also houses Arizona's smallest post office.

After our lunch break the real fun began, a 22 mile drive on a one lane grid road, many one lane bridges, and STUNNING views!

We finally ended the twisting grid and joined up with the highway again at the Roosevelt Damn, about 3&1/2 hours later. On the way home we drove through Miami and "the Top Of the World", really it's even on the map! What a great day, we left around 10:00 and were home around 7:00.

On Friday morning I started the laundry, then went to have a shower, where I twisted the wrong way and there went my back. I made it back to the laundry room, finished the laundry and headed back to the motor-home, by this time I could barely get up the steps. I rested for the afternoon and felt OK, so we went to the happy hour and BBQ by the pool, but after, I was a hurting unit. I started on my back pain drugs, Larry went out and bought me a heating pad and I've been nursing my back ever since. I did go for a walk last night and again this afternoon, so I'm on the mend, finally.

Up To Saturday, November 24, 2012.

It seems all the calendar events in the park we're staying in start up the 1st of November because that's when the people start arriving, so we'll have to check the calendar and start being social. At home on Tuesday evenings I go to my mom's and play Kaiser with the residents that live there and I really miss it. Now that the calendar is up and running, I go Wednesday afternoons and Friday nights and play Pony Canasta (it's hand and foot canasta to me).

On Monday there was a block party, cocktail hour and potluck supper that we went to in the recreation hall. We introduced ourselves, and found out there are quite a few here from Canada, Ontario, B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Actually, we were outside today, when the lady across the street heard us playing cards and came over to ask if she had heard correctly at the block party. Was our last name Zerr? She's from Regina and her last name is Zerr. So, here we are in Mesa Arizona, living across the street from a relative of Larry's-there it is again-7 degrees of separation! Weird, eh!

On Tuesday the weather took a turn and the temperature dropped. We dug out the electric heater and turned on the furnace, it went down to 4C that night and only 19C during the day. On Wednesday afternoon, after Canasta, the street was shut down and everyone brought munchies, drinks and lawn chairs and partied until the wee hours. One of the guys here has a friend who plays for events and wanted to practice and get feedback, so we had music and dancing in the streets, it was great fun!

Friday I took Larry to see the "crown cactus".

Crown Cactus

Here's an oldie 

and a close up

We followed the road on to Saguaro Lake. WOW!

 Who'd'a'thunk?

A Marina in the middle of the desert.

Our last stop for the day, Fountain Park in Fountain Hills. The Fountain turns on every hour on the hour and runs for 15 minutes. It reaches a height of 560 feet, and the rainbows must spread out at least 50 feet to the side. We sat on a bench watching the fountain and the different birds, it was so peaceful I didn't want to leave!

On Monday, November 19th, we picked up Liza at the airport and dropped her of  at Camping World to pick up her motor home that was in for repairs while she was gone. We went back home and picked up our next door neighbours, Joe and Fern, and took them to see the Crown Cactus. Next, Larry found the smoke shop on the reserve, bought his carton and off to supper. Joe and Fern wanted to take us to  Organ Pizza, where the pizza was good, but the entertainment AWESOME! A Wurlitzer "French" console, finished in high ebony and real gold leaf rises up while being played. It is the largest and most elaborate design ever created by the company, containing 276 keys and 975 controls. From the mammoth console, the organist controls the nearly 6000 pipes, numerous percussions and raps of the world's largest Wurlitzer pipe organ. The organist played all kinds of tunes and all kinds of instruments all over the room also played, Larry got some good pictures!

Tuesday we sat outside playing cards with the neighbours until it was too dark and cool out. Wednesday morning we went to the grocery store for buns and butter for Thanksgiving supper tomorrow and  Canasta in the afternoon. Thursday morning was laundry and showers for all, and at 4:00 cocktails followed by a wonderful Thanks Giving supper, where we both ate way too much. After supper we went down the street and sat around the campfire with friends from BC and Alberta that we have met. Saturday morning we got up early to go to the Mesa swap meet for breakfast, then finished the Christmas shopping. Larry also bought himself a new motorcycle helmet that I will hide and give to him for Christmas, he doesn't want the traditional lump of coal he usually gets! What's up with that? Well, that wraps it up for the last two weeks, I'll blame my tardiness with the blog on retirement mode. It's wonderful, everyone should try it!