Munday's the Arizona Roadrunners

Our good friends Joyce & Dave are visiting from Seattle so took a long drive up to Jerome for the day.  Perfectly lovely day and since they had never been before it was a treat for them.  Of course we all dined at the Haunted Hamburger (famous eating establishment there).  Can't beat the view of the Valley below.  Jerome is an old mining town that was built very steeply on the side of a mountain.  The sidewalks are mostly uneven so must watch your step and all the little shops cater to the tourist of course.  A fun day was had by all!

Each Monday evening we join in at the club house to play a little cribbage.  We have a pretty good turn out each week and it has been a good way to get to know some of the other residents here at "Dreamland Villa".  One of the ladies suggested we (Earlymun and I) host a little Christmas gathering so that is what we did last evening.  After playing only 4 games instead of the usual 6 we broke up to partake and sample some of each others goodies.  Oh my!  Although I only ate a small salad before coming it did not take long to fill up on all the different treats.  So thankful we have such a good group and folks watching out for each other .  

This year has been very good to us and we can only hope the new year will be just as good.  As you can see, we are well fed and although there are a few more silver strands up top we are both feeling fine.  Wishing you all a Very Happy Holiday and may you be blessed in the New Year!

This year has been so different for us with decorating.  1st time with real tree in 13 years!  We have ornaments from all over the country so all with memories attached besides older ones we did manage to hang on to when we 1st went full-timing.  We even have a few strings of lights out in the front yard.  Our neighbors were feeling like grinch after seeing our house so have joined in the fun of decorating too.  It has been a busy time - went to Senior Talent show here in our little community and that was fun.  92 year old lady in red sequin dress; wow!  She looked and sang like 92 but she was having a gay ol time and we loved it!  I was impressed with the "tappers"; a group of about 6 ladies all seniors with their old tap dancing skills and the cutest outfits that one in particular had the skill to make for all!  Very nice indeed.  Last evening had a local church choir put on a show for us older folks which was very nice and so great they came to us. ha!  Enjoying this comm

This is my favorite holiday!  One to be with friends and family and just enjoy good food and each other's company!  Our blessings are many with all the good friends and family we have and it was so great to in our little house and share the time with everyone.  Brother John and son Roy with his special friend Natalie. Earl's workmate John and a very old and dear friend of mine Mary Lou and our new neighbor Lois from New Hampshire!  A great day was had by all and instead of the turkey being stuffed, it's more like we were the ones being stuffed; full of great food that is... Hoping the same for others.  It's been many years since we were able to entertain in such style and we certainly enjoyed having everyone over.

A good breakfast is the best way to begin the day!  Famous last words... well, this guy seems to think so anyway!  He quietly came back and was peacefully munching away or at least plucking feathers when we spotted him on the new wall this morning!  Glad we did not witness the kill and you know when he was done there is nothing but feathers on both sides of the wall but no bones so glad about that too!  As much as we do not want to be a smorgasbord for Mr Falcon we do love him too and know he has to eat!

A day early and not too soon!  Finished replacing all the old aluminum windows and very pleased with new low e thermal windows.  So much quieter and easier to open. Oh they look so nice!  Great guys doing the install and didn't seem to take too long either.  No more rattling windows when the door opens and closes and the wind blows!

After taking down the lump of rock last year we have been thinking about what would go in it's place.  We now have a few plants; prickly pear, a limon tree (what's that? who knows (something like a mexican cross of lemon/limes) and a few rosemary plants!  Early is happy with all his projects and our generous neighbors want us to take one of their little fan palm trees and another plant that is popular down here (no idea what it is called).  So our plain little yard is changing.  Tonight the "sock hop" so we'll see how our 1st Halloween goes... ha!

One of my favorite things about living in the desert are the fantastic sunrises and sunsets every day!  Seems as there are very few days when one is not out there either in morning or evening.  Sometimes I have to hurry to get dishes done so I can run outside just to watch the sun set!  It's crazy but they don't last long so have to hurry.  And speaking of lovely days, we just finished piling our new little raised garden with dirt and sand!  Ah, now we are ready to plant!  So excited.  Our little garden is about 4 by 15 ft.  It's not huge but should be large enough for now.  Have to plant something that will be able to stand the winter and be done by the time we leave in spring. ha!  So we'll see what we can do.  Have two little tomato plants that have to be moved into this area and then we'll go from there!

Oh good morning Mr. Hawk!  I looked out the kitchen window this morning (standard procedure) to see our daily gathering of neighborhood birds and lo and behold guess who is standing there in bird bath!  Mr. Hawk is looking quite pleased with himself.  Needless to say I went running for camera and found it on wrong setting so took a little while; meanwhile calling Earl's attention to our backyard visitor.  As soon as camera was ready he took off and we noticed a dove caught in these wires (to be used for garden yet to be created) - anyway, Mr. Hawk decided now was time for breakfast and I couldn't stand it so sent Early out to chase him away.  He did not go until last second and fortunately dove was ok.  As soon as Earl lifted fence dove flew off.  We think Mr Hawk nicked him and had him trapped and would have picked him apart if given the opportunity.  I love hawks and feel bad but ya know, that is a tough call right there in your back yard!  So, Mr. Hawk will have to go elsew

We were so impressed with the workers who put this wall up in 1 day working from about 8 to 4!  What  great job and it's so wide and tall!  Looks good though now we are getting all the misc junk cleaned up!  Will make a little raised garden and we'll be set.  No more communicating with backyard neighbor but oh well.  That is what they wanted so for now that is one thing we can check off the "to do" list! ha! 

This is it!  No more open back yard!  Quite a process of having the blocks delivered and the cement truck coming and pouring the foundation.  3 day curing period and then walla!  A brand new 6 ft wall 80 ft long... good grief Charley Brown!  Our guys really know their stuff or appear to anyway.

Our man is the "Concrete Cowboy" and he has been hired to build a new 6 ft block wall in our back yard!  OH my goodness!  What a mess - but shouldn't be for long.  As I am writing the blocks are being delivered!  Still prep time to get ready for cement truck tomorrow! How exciting. Neighbors should be happy when done!

Made it back to Arizona in time for Missy Jaylee's 4th birthday!  Fun to see Daddy putting toys together - nothing like having to be a mechanic for play time. ha!  All this during Sunday morning football. We had a great time visiting with them.  Nice to see Roy's new house too.

This year upon arrival we found our tree looked pretty bad with all the dead fronds... so to work we go.  All sorts of little projects and one by one they are getting knocked off! Notice the cute bike helmet this year!  Beats getting banged in the head with end of a palm frond! 

After leaving family and friends behind, we stopped over at a truck stop on the Grapevine overnight before pushing on to Palm Springs.  Oh my, it's been years since we were at this park and the best part was it wasn't crowded!  Nice time of year to visit this one for sure!  Of course that wasn't really the best part - the best part was seeing our little friend the real "Roadrunner" in the park!  He is a cutie and not all that big!  Colorful though and definitely on a mission!  Last stop on route!

Early was really looking forward to this reunion since he has not been to any other previous ones.  He has been in contact with friend Jess but otherwise didn't really know too many people any more.  We had a great time.  It was fun getting to know new people and just enjoy the evening with all these other people doing the same thing.  Did see a few of Early's old "flames".  It was a good time had by all, at least at our table. ha!  Always good to see Jess and Pat again but didn't get much of a chance to visit with all the excitement from everyone "getting together". ha!  

Always wonderful to see family and all looking so well.  Of course Earl III has a foot issue but Amanda, bless her heart is working and going to school!  Can hardly believe Karl's son is 7 soon to be 8 years old!  The years just seem to fly by so especially nice to see them all again.  

You know how little children get excited about playing with a box or plastic containers, well that is about how we are when we see mobs of birds!  It is so enjoyable to see hoards of birds flying all crazy like - Natural Bridge is a very cool little beach where the birds congregate and there is a little park here and for some unknown reason the monarch butterflies also come here during migration.  We were a little early to see too many butterflies but did manage to see a few.  Notice how all the birds are facing the same direction - that is how they are wherever they are - or so it would seem - always facing into the wind.  Nice that there is a place for birds so many places with no birds anymore.  It's awful for bird lovers like us but this day was pure joy!

Talk about a picture perfect day!  OMgoodness, we had a great time yesterday!  My Early struck gold with choosing the right day and off we went with our picnic lunch over the hills to Santa Cruz for the day!  The beach was nearly deserted when we 1st arrived which was fine.  It would appear the rides may only be open now on weekends.  Not sure, but that is what it looked like.  Not a problem for us since we don't "do" the rides but what a festive and colorful place!  This is where we began our day really and there is a wonderful long pier with shops of all sorts right here too.  We heard the barking of the sea lions and had to go over for a look see!  They are so noisy and big and we love them.  They really crack me up - we enjoyed our time here so much!  One of the best days to be sure.  No big hotels but lots of smaller ones and a "Darling" B&B - Actually that is the name of it and am sure it is!  By the time we left the beach there were many more folk

One of our most favorite places is the Redwood forest in Northern California!  They are such giants and so peaceful and quiet!  Of course saying that I hope and pray I am never in the vacinity to hear one of these monsters fall!  That would be scary!  We were told by one of the volunteers that they were there when a tree fell and thought it was an earthquake!  These trees really splinter when they fall too so it could be deadly with the giant splinters!  Despite all that, we love it here and although we have been here many times, the magnificent trees always enthrall us!  As big as they are, they are are nearly impervious to fire and although they are too large to suck up the water from the ground their tree top, they thrive on the fog that comes in off the Pacific!  I do wish sometimes I could be a child again so I could romp and play hide n seek!  I never visited here when a youngster and each time I do now I just know it would be so much fun to be child and able to climb and run an

There is small Golden Bear Campground right off Hwy 101 on the coast of California right at the mouth of the Klamath river where we have made home for a few days.  We are out from under the dark trees and no we did not leave the foggy days behind!  Can't feel bad about the fog though because that is the nourishment the wonderful redwood trees need to thrive!  We have a great view out our front window of the river as it winds around a bend and opens up to the Pacific ocean.  Big problem here for locals and Indian tribe that lives here is the sand bar that has developed over time.  For what ever reason they are just now worrying about it cutting off the river and the route for the salmon! Anyway, could see where the sandbar could be a serious problem but why no one ever worried about it as it was building over these many years is a mystery.  Anyway, it's mayhem out there at the mouth of the river with boats all over the place and fisherman and nets running from all angles..  

Working our way south we stopped here in Florence for a few days.  Always fun to see the old "Classics" and customized cars.  They just happen to have a car show while here... amazing how people put so much into these cars and to think we thought they were old and wanted new cars way back then. A funny thing here on the coast is how much cooler the air is compared to the rest of the state and country.  Again, here we are on the coast and lucky to get into 70's if that for the day!  It's been so cool.  Planned to tramp up and down the dunes but fog doesn't life until late in the day if at all so gave that up. oh darn!  ha!  All kidding aside it has been fun and we have enjoyed visiting with old friends here and getting out and about some...

Heading south the rain began and really ruined so many of the blackberries we had planned to pick. ha!  Did manage to get a double batch of jam made as well as a pie and cobbler!  Then we heard the rain was coming back in a torrent so decided to take off a little earlier and cross on over to Oregon.  1st stop is shopping spree time!  All the empty space we started with is now all filled up including the space behind the sofa which is now housing our new 60" TV.  Our sleep number bed that has been with us since the beginning is being retired and a new mattress purchased for RV since weight is not the main issue any longer!  All these pieces of sleep number bed are now tucked away in various places in the coach!  Crazy but fun. What the heck.  Our trek so far has been fun meeting up with a few old friends.  Hanging out in Oregon until this weekend when we cross over in to California.  Original plans were to go to Yosemite but since the fire we changed plans and now heading to Re

Met for supper with friends Joyce & Dave and brother John and son Alex and friend Katy as final dinner out before heading south.  Fun time was had by all!  Good thing too since next day John left in between rain squalls on his way to Junction City, Oregon.  Day after we hit the road in between squalls and just made it to Chehalis before the great deluge hit!  We did get some on road but not too bad. Seattle really got hit and even had some flooding in basements.  Over an inch in record setting time.  Not like Seattle drizzly rain at all.  For now we are enjoying the wonderful Labor Day holiday picking blackberries and making pie and jam and getting some much needed exercise!

As a last outing with daughters Mary and Scarlett and granddaughter Rebekah we did the Sculpture Park in Seattle - walked down to the grain terminals and back up the waterfront.  Turned out to be a lovely day, although it didn't look it to begin - I used to go down to this area a lot when I worked downtown for so many years... it's all changed now and I no longer feel as though I know anything about this city.  Enjoyed the walk and visiting with girls though.  Earl did fine too even though outnumbered by the fair sex. ha!  

It is time again for these two granddaughter's birthdays.  Actually their birthdays are in Sept but since we will be long gone down the road we try to celebrate while we are here with them.  We have been doing this for years - they are young ladies now and instead of a little cupcake we took them to the Space Needle for lunch.  47 minutes to make the full circle while you are eating.  They enjoyed the view and the time on the observation deck.  Pricey but they are worth it!  Good grief Charley Brown, where has the time gone?  Hard to say goodbye to family and friends but time to roll on...

On a pretty day there is nothing quite like hiking to the top of Deception Pass for a picnic lunch and a lovely view of the San Juan Islands.  One of our favorite things to do while in the area.  Afterwards we drop off lunch gear and hike down to beach.  This year the beach was wall to wall fisher people!  Have never seen so many fisherman here before but were told the salmon were coming and they were all hoping to catch at least one!  It is quite a hike but oh the view!  Can't beat a day's trip here when the sun is out and weather nice and warm.  Those lucky boaters too; so many of them!

Although I myself am not a real car buff, I still enjoy the classic car shows.  Always fun to see the old cars and how they are all fixed up.  Of course I am married to a walking encyclopedia!  He knows every car's year and model etc etc...  He loves looking at all these old cars and telling me of some the cars he has owned over the years... a fun time and this car show also had old boats on the dock as well which we enjoyed.  The old boats are so much work to keep up but then guess that is why you own them? 

Friday Harbor is one of our favorite places to visit while in the Pacific Northwest.  On a clear sunny day, we hop on the ferry and enjoy the ride through the beautiful San Juan Islands and walk the town and all the cute little shops in town.  This year we stopped in a quaint little deli and they packed us a lunch so we could join these other folks and picnic at the marina!  Can't beat it for beauty! Mount Baker was out in all her glory too!  What a view.. just love it and by the time we caught the ferry most of the fog was gone and what was left soon disappeared as we rode thru the islands.