Munday's the Arizona Roadrunners

While in the LA area took a little time to visit the Grammy Museum.  Neither of us are big on keeping up on all the latest singers however they had a special tribute to Frank Sinatra and oh my, what a grand tribute.  This place is 3 or 4 stories and how much fun to see snippets of all the singers over time.  Well worth the visit.  They had a section set as tribute to the Supremes too with their gowns and what nots but the Frank Sinatra tribute was very tastefully done.  Right next door they were kicking off a promotion weekend for the latest Star Wars movie.  We are not big star wars fans but fun to see all the people out for that too.

While in LA for the weekend, took a little ride up to Griffith Park Observatory.  What a pretty day; albeit cold!  The wind was wicked but the sky was clear and it was so pretty.  This is a fun place to go for a view of the city and all folks out biking hiking and walking and just enjoying the day.  So glad we took the time to go up there for a look-see. It is not often we take time any more to just do fun things like we did when we were nomads. ha!

This year our dear Aunt Tootie turned 90!  Wow!  What a fun time.  Drove over Los Angeles for a few nights and enjoyed the 90th party with relatives and sister Sandra and brother-in-law Tom.  Always wonderful to see this branch of the family.  They certainly know how to have a good time. Besides the family being there, cousin Patrick hired these lovely ladies to sing and oh my goodness they were so good.  We enjoyed it all so much.  

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with some others in the neighborhood.  Our next door neighbor Ellen brought Tom here over for our delight.  He was so cute it was a shame to gobble him up.  A fun time was had by all.  The street we live on is so great about staying in tune with each other.  I know we appreciate all our neighbors and am sure most of them anyway feel the same.  

There is a hiking group here at Dreamland that meets every Monday.  They find all sorts of places to get out for a little hike (sometimes longer).  This was an easy trail about 2 miles round trip to the Salt River out here in the east valley.  Great group of folks. Nice way to get to know more people.  

Each year there is a special program to honor our veteran's in our community.  This year the Dreamsteppers put on a show to Grand Old Flag.  Liberty came out with a blast and confetti went everywhere.  Their performance is the highlight of the show.  It's so great to be able to honor each of the armed services and the folks who have served for us.  Although this picture is not very good, it gives some idea of how they looked.

Yesterday was my first time bowling 9 pin no tap (this is where you only have to get 9 pins down on your 1st ball to count as a strike) and it really paid off!!  Bowled 1st game 265!!!  Me, can you believe it?  2nd game 162 (that is a good game for me) and a 205!!  Wow!  Best game ever without any help is a 202!  My average is a 143!!  Am I jazzed?  Just a bit.  A 265 is a good score and it was just unbelievable.  This old gal still has a little kick left! ha!  Would love to say it was the real thing but close enough for now.   Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are still in our holding mode, so to speak with our association.  It's nuts and not worth explaining here but suffice it to say, we volunteered and are now in a fight - ridiculous as it sounds, sadly it's true.  The hummingbirds are out in droves today.  I have seen so many in a very short amount of time.  It's cloudy and overcast (possible rain tonight or tomorrow) and flowers are not in plenty now but temps are

Here we go folks, the demolition crew showed up this morning and began tearing apart our master bathroom for major remodel project... How exciting.. ha! Our cast iron tub is no longer... wow!  What a mess but they are very tidy in their work.  Work is estimated to take up to 2 weeks and part of the problem is not all the parts are here yet... oops.. that old backorder thing is going to hit us.. But that's ok.  We will manage... We'll see how it goes.

After a few years, we finally came to a decision about what we wanted to do with the flooring.  Had a few helpers come over and give us a fresh coat of paint in living room and dining room and redo the flooring in the living room only. Still don't have all pictures back up yet but loving the flooring.  Put the rug in the dining room and it barely fits.  Not sure what we will do in living room yet but we'll eventually get there. Nothing like a little change.

Back at the homestead we have been busy with waiting for monsoon's to hit and doctor appointments.  So, we had a nice rain on the other day that washed the air and cleaned all the trees and plants. ha!  First order was to get a recliner he could sleep in because laying down caused his pain so had to get him elevated - So off we went to find a recliner.  Then after a number of  tests  and MRI we have learned that Early has a few pinched nerves (thus the swelling of hands).  Both shoulders have arthritis and his knees have brittle bones.  Now we know we have more doc appointments and able to treat the symptoms.  Can we fix it - probably not but there is treatment so that's good.  Meanwhile we are holed up most days enjoying the sight of pretty days because it's too bloody hot to spend any time out of doors!  Even at night it may cool down in the 80's if we are lucky.  After a monsoon hits we have humidity for a few days and then it is sweltering.   For all the heat life

Once again it would seem age is creeping up on us and this time it was not a blood clot; no, it was unseen and misery - Earl's hands swelling up and arms hurting.  Neither one of us getting a good night sleep due to pain.  It was miserable to the point of cancelling out and heading for home and doctors!  It has been a few years since we had stopped in at Trout Lake and oh my goodness what a wonderful time we had visiting with our good friend Candice!!  She is great!  She took us on another tour of the area and of the cheese factory her son and daughter in law are working on.  She is happy and content and you can't ask for more than that... We loved every minute of our visit with her and it came to a halt all too soon.  Thanks again Candice!! Leaving Trout Lake is Mt Hood popping up all over the place.  It's so funny to see this mountain peeking out from here and there; just like Mt Rainier.  These mountains are like old friends and its always a joy to see them.  You can

Meet the new Mr and Mrs.  My nephew Bill chose this lovely woman as his bride and oh my goodness, what a wedding!!  You couldn't have asked for a nice spot on Whidbey Island with Mount Rainier in the south and Mt Baker in the north and all the water in between!  Bill has a good eye!  He told me he chose this spot back when he was still in High School!! A few years ago now and never lost sight of it which was amazing in itself.  This was several days of prep work and family and friend time clamming, eating, socializing and just plain having a good time!! Our Bill arranged a house for us all to stay in on the island and so my sister Karen flew in from Georgia, Sister-in-law from Montana and of course Bill's mom from California.  We all shared this darling little cottage and had a fun time just being sisters.  Unfortunately brother Mark was off on a fishing boat up in Alaska and couldn't make the big event. The last time all of girls were together was when our mother pa

Each year for the past 17 anyway, Jason and Mary's church puts on a "Freedom Celebration" as a way to have a church picnic; and give back to the community.  This is a very costly endeavor however they find it is cost effective as the community comes out in droves - at no cost to them whatsover!  Again, we worked the cotton candy booth and since there are so many volunteers we did have time off to view the other areas.  A big favorite of course is the cake walk and watermelon eating contest.  This year they even had their photographer flying a drone taking pictures of the event.  Quite a deal and it's fun being able to join in the festivities.

 Grandson Micah just turned 13 the official teenager!!  Let's hope he relishes his youth a little longer and the hormones don't kick in yet! ha!  For a different spin (and lack of knowing what to do for a child that age) we made him a lei of candy bars and dollar bills... cake was 4.5 liters of ice cream surrounded by kit kat candy bars!  He apparently doesn't like cake - we topped cake with 13 long candles set in 13 dollar bills rolled up as candle holders.  He was very a very happy person!  Afterwards the family went down to the river for cool dip and swim across the river... I normally would be very apprehensive over a prospect of river swimming but this year the water is very low (only waist deep) and next to no current so no problem.  

This year for grandson Micah's b-day we took him to Century Link stadium for a guided tour.  The tour guide was full of information.  It is obvious he has been working there many years.  His wife also works there and in fact he also works across the street at Safeco field.  Micah loved the tour as we all did; going from top to bottom, to out on the field to press boxes and locker rooms to private suites.  It was informative and a lot of walking. A fun time and the best part of course is it was not during an event when parking and traffic is a nightmare.  I personally do not have any desire to attend an event just because of those reasons but this was fun and of course special due to being with family.  

It is official:  Miss Jordan is now a High School Graduate!  The ceremony was held at Safeco Field on a Friday evening!  Poor choice; traffic was horrific and there was a lot of outside noise?  What was with that anyway?  The graduates made it all worth while however and we enjoyed it very much.  So thankful we were able to get there in time!  A large class of about 460 students and Jordan says next years class is even larger and the one after that is even bigger yet around 750 students.  Where did all these children come from??? ha!  Interesting and fun.  Such a fun time for the students and family alike.  I guess we all reflect back a little; know I did and always enjoy a graduation no matter who it is up there.  We are so happy for Jordan.  She will be continuing her education in the fall at a school in California.  

Taking a little time off from our nice little community in the desert we stopped first in the Los Angeles area to visit relatives.  When a cousin came down with a contagious disease (cold) we decided to take that time and find the house we presume Earl's folks lived in at time of his birth.  We are sure this was the home where his older sister first arrived but not definite on Earl's timing since it was a few years later.  In any event, found the address on the marriage certificate and found it still here after all these 70+ years about a half block from LAX.  Makes sense since Earl's dad worked for aerospace industry.  He probably walked to work in those days.  It was fun roaming around and seeing the sights and then we could be so thankful we don't live there!  Always something to be thankful for to be sure.  Had a wonderful visit with Earl's Aunt Tootie and cousin Patrick.  Weather was a little warm but still bearable and the ride was okay too.  

The new wall has received it's 1st coat!  It really looks so different... It's hard to want to put too much yard furniture out when we will be leaving for a time so hesitant to get that all set up at this time.  Thinking and looking though and for now think we will make do with what we have...   It is really wonderful having the palm tree for some shade.  In time we will put a roof on and perhaps a shade we can use during the time the sun is setting in the west and hitting the porch the time we like sitting out best - early evening... we'll see.  One thing at a time.

Although the new porch is poured and set and now getting 1st coat of paint on new wall - it is hard to get a good photo of the actual porch.  Can tell you the old walk way is gone - all that river rock (that goodness) and new walkway (nice and smooth) is added with two little tiny gates (to keep little critters in) it really is a bit larger - will work to get a better photo... need new furniture and perhaps painted?  we'll see... tree helps to keep shaded part of day so that is great and there really is room out here to have a good bit of company without crowding.  We just love it and think we will really enjoy over time.  Still have a bit of work to do and I am no decorator but will work on it. ha!  Next, still have two bathrooms to do inside, an AZ room and a new patio out back!!! oh the projects!!  No rush... one at a time...

Again this year at the annual Fashion Show/Tea put on in our little community the guys stepped up as "singing" waiters.  Oh my, they all look so nice and played their part so well.  They are the highlight of the show!  They not only seat the women as they enter, but do the serving and then at half time go up on stage and put on quite a show singing Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland and I Want A Girl just like the Girl who Married Dear Ol Dad!  Goodness was that ever fun.  The theme this year was Roaring 20's and amazingly enough there were clothes pulled out of old chests that dated back to that era as well as one gown worn in 1812!  Who would have thought and we found women who could fit into the gowns (they made women smaller back then).  A heck of a lot of fun!

Ever since we moved into our little home here in AZ we have been enjoying sitting on the front porch and watching the birds and occasional neighbor!  However, our porch was very small and at times when the neighbors do appear and join us it gets just a bit crowded... A plan we had in our minds finally came to fruition and a new porch was designed and new walkway from the sidewalk!  So exciting to see our little wall go down and plants to be moved and the earth disturbed ... To watch these guys in their rubber boots walking around in the wet concrete and eventually form a lovely new porch and wall... pics to follow.  

Since moving into this community (this is our 3rd winter) we have been immersed in so many activities and one was to come up with some sort of fundraiser.  You can see by the picture what our fundraiser has been. Took months of gathering information and coming up with a plan and getting all volunteer help to put this together.  Today we began laying the bricks and it's incredible the help that come forward for this whole project.  We have met some of the best folks who have volunteered their time and talent.  So it's official now - we are in carved in stone... Added a brick for Earl's folks too and had them placed side by side so no one would think Earl had a wife they were not aware of.. Our project will soon be done and now it will just be maintenance of the project so should go much smoother.

Took a little time to meet up with nephew Ryan and fiance Meredith for a delightful short visit!  They are planning on the big day in March in Venice Italy so we are very happy for them and wish them only the very best for a lifetime together!  So happy we were able to see them. While in Tucson took the time to visit this National Park.  Didn't do much with the weather being so cold but did drive through the park and stop at the visitor center for a film on the park.  Really fun seeing all the Sqguaro's and their funny arms.  They are a wonderful protected cactus only grown here in the sonoran desert.