Day 29... already !!

My pineapple plant, Mel playing horseshoe, near by mountains

************************************


Hi, Happy Sunday! 29 days gone already. Time sure flies. Yes, I am listing to the Grammys. Not to bad. Bon Jovi was the best so far. Patchely(?) was good. Oh, I liked the M Jackson thingie too. Haven't heard Dave Mathews yet.
We went to breakfast at the hall this morning. Then to church. But we had the wrong time so when we got there it was half over. This afternoon we enjoyed the Music Jam here at the park. Awesome musicians. Seeing so many guitars I often wonder if by chance John A. might have made one of them. :-)
After the music jam we went into Quartzsite to see a car show and craft show. But we were to late. It was closing as we got in the parking lot. So we just walked around a bit. Had to buy something.... so I got something I really needed...a ring.
ha! Also found the rug I wanted for the deck. A throw rug in a Southwest Pattern. Just fits in the center of the deck to give it some color.
We had supper at the Black Rock cafe and home again. No dishes to wash tonight.
Dave Mathews was just on. Terri, he was good, eh?
Must be time for some ice cream. Good night and God Bless.

PS... Forgot to tell you that we seen a little lizard and a coyote today. The lizard was here in the park and the coyote was on the side of the road as we came home from Quartzsite. Fun !!
*********Happy Birthday, Pastor Karen*********

Day 28...Cleaning day

Here is our deck. I wish you all could come over for a glass of wine, coffee or what ever.
*************************************************

Hello, come on in. Coffee is on. Another beautiful day in Arizona. We didn't go anyplace today. I cleaned house and Mel worked in his shop.. Lots of neighbors stop by and compliment us on how nice the deck looks. Mel played horseshoe for a while then back to the shop. We had chicken wings for supper. Did you see the moon tonight? So big and so bright. Awesome!!! Just a nice quiet day. Next job is my garden.
Tom, you should have honked your horn when you flue by... Good night & God Bless

Day 20 - 27...Uffda!! what a week..

I don't know where to start.. I guess I ended in a storm. And did it storm. Rain and wind. The desert was like a lake. that night my computer said it wanted to do a virus check. I clicked on yes and that's when the trouble began. The "anti virus" was a virus. It went threw the whole computer just that fast. I could turn the computer on but could not open anything. Not even solitaire. I was so frustrated I just went to bed. Then to find a repair shop. Only one was 50 miles away. Then thought to just sent the computer home to a shop there. But finally found one in Blythe. Thanks to a clerk in Ace Hardware. By this time I didn't really care if I had the computer anyway as I came down with a real sick cold. (Yes, Ginny, my computer also gave me a virus). On Sat. our new bedroom furniture arrived so spent the day getting the bed made. Then to hook up my TV in here. Couldn't make that work either. plus we didn't have the cord that goes from the receiver to the TV. A trip to Quartzsite and got a cord. Still no picture. Trey, didn't you hear me call for help??? So had to call Dish TV. I guess we just had bad ends on the cords and wasn't making a connection. It works. But what good is a second TV in a second bedroom without a computer and with a cold? So on with fixing up the deck. We got a carpet and picked up the repaired computer at Blythe.
Now I am excited. I get a computer back. But no..... When they fixed it they had to take out a lot of programs including my Verizon hook up. I had no program with me to get it back. Call Verizon and yes they will send my one via Fed Ex. It came this afternoon. But we were in the middle of laying deck carpet. Then supper. Finally...time to get on the computer. But oh no..... Can't be that easy. I couldn't get it to work. So another teck call. On hold for a half hour ... finally a gal answered. Spoke English and everything. :-) She walked me threw the same thing I did myself but it still didn't work. So she dug deeper. Another 45 min and a bunch of clicks...IT WORKED. So now I am sitting on our new bedroom, listing to my shows on TV and writing on my computer. The carpet is laid on the deck, the rope lights are up around the edge of the ceiling, furniture back on. Only one problem left to deal with.... this dumb cold.
Thanks to all that have called to see if we are ok. Love and hugs, God Bless.

Day 19...Big storm

This was going on to Phoenix. Can't hardly see the mountains. But so much worse coming back. I was to nervous to take pictures then.
*********************************************

Hi everyone, Welcome to sunny AZ! ha.. not so sunny today. It has rained alll night and day. There was even a tornado about 22 miles from here. Knocked down 17 light poles so we don't have any elec. and only one little candle. But we have a couple of flashlights. The wind took some of the AZ room netting at a few places here. Bent up the poles. So glad we decided to get a hard metal roof. I made stew in the crock pot. Needless to say it didn't get done. We left for Phoenix about 11 this morning. We got our shopping done. Had to get bedding for the new bed. It rained lightly all day but on the way home it rained so hard we could hardly see the road. The exit to our place was flooded so had to turn around and take the next exit. Now I have the stew in a pot on the stove so I hope it gets done soon. I am hungry. While we were parked in front of the store a big guy came up to the car and was begging for a doller. He said he was out of gas. Mel, being the giver he is, he always hands out when someone asks. Anyway, this guy took the money directly next door and bought beer. Funny but kind of scary too when he came to the car. I hope your all safe from the ice. Take care and God Bless

Day 17...Still cold and wet

Mel putting the deck table together
***********************************************

Hello there, Boy, did it rain and blow last night. The sun came out today but was pretty cold. Might get more rain tonight. I guess I shouldn't complain as MN and Iowa is getting ice. About all I did today was go to the grocery store in Brenda and wash cloths. We tried putting our green carpet (what we had on the ground last year) on the deck but it looked terrible so we took it off again. I hope we can find some kind of rug soon. Oh I squeezed grapefruit juice too. Tried out our new elec. juicer machine. Worked pretty good. Got about a gallon of fresh juice now.
We are planning a little trip to Phoenix tomorrow. Actually it is Buckeye, AZ.
Just a little shopping for maybe a rug and curtains for the bedroom.
Take care and God Bless

Day 16...Rain Rain....go away!

We are in front of a grapefruit tree in Sharon and Art's front yard in Black Rock, CA......
This cross is said to be the tallest cross in the Eastern Hemisphere.
********************************************


I have been complaining about the wind and rain but I hear it is worse in MN and Iowa. I hope the ice doesn't get bad. Our furnace has been running all day. I guess it will be raining the rest of the week. I guess our place is waterproof anyway. No leaks. And the high winds don't even make a wiggle. We made a trip to Parker today. Got a bedroom set and desk. It will be delivered on Sunday.
And a nice surprise to see friend Sharon & her neighbor in the furniture store. Mel broke his hammer yesterday so he got a new one. Then back home just in time before the rain started again. Not much happening in the Park. I think everyone is staying inside. Mel came down with a cold so he went to bed early.
Stay safe, stay warm. God Bless

Day 15...Brrrrrrrr cold !!

Pictures were taken east of Tuscon when we first came into AZ.

**********************************************
Hello,

It has been raining of and on all last night and today. I hear it will be like this all week. Lots of snow in Northern AZ. Cold and windy here too. Can't enjoy our deck this way.

We went to Quartzsite today and got the nuts and bolts needed to put our patio table together. What a crowd there. Had to wait for a parking space. We looked around a bit but just to crowded. We will go back again another time.

In case you aren't familure with Quartzsite, it is a town of about 3300 people that grows to about 100,000 people in the winter. One big flea market. You can find about anything there. Almost. RV's & campers everywhere. Even in the desert. These are called Boondockers. Free camping there but no water or elec hookups available.

Good night and God Bless

Day 14.... "24" is on

Good evening. Glad your here. It has been a good day but a long day. It was a beautiful sunny day about 68 degrees. We had a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and fruit at the club house. Then on to the "Little Church in the Desert". Home for a quick sandwich and then back to the clubhouse to hear some awesome music at the Music Jam. Home again. I washed our big bedspread that fell in some bath water... (yuk) Good news that the Vikings won. Supper was meatloaf and scalloped potatoes..(from a box). Then, as I was flipping TV channels I found my favorite show was on. "24". I thought it started on Tuesday but it is tonight and tomorrow night. Mel was so excited that he went to bed !! ;-) He really hates these kinds of shows. Tomorrow we will make a trip to Quartzsite. Need some screws to put our deck table together. Will also check out carpets.
Back to the show. Good night and God Bless.

Day 13...Old shed empty

Welcome. Come on in. I will pour you a glass of wine.

Mel finally got the stuff our of our old shed. When we left last year we packed everything we wanted to leave into it. Lawn furniture, rugs, tools, ornaments, flower pots, artificial flowers, and much more. It took 2 pickup loads and a trunk full in the car. Much of it is still sitting here in front of our place. Can't place it where it goes until we get the carpet laid. One reason for not taking pictures. Wouldn't look so nice yet. Next week we hope to get a carpet and then I will post pictures.

We treated the couple that had the pickup to lunch then home and started to sort things out.

While the guys were loading the pickup, Betty and I went rummage saleing. I did good and only bought a little Southwest design pot. A little candle fits just right.
It was a park wide sale. As if half the houses in Dexter had a sale.

Some where in the packing mess the screws for the table legs got lost. Must be in the tool box that went back home. Tomorrow after church we will go to Quartzsite and get some.

The Black Rock Cafe - down the road about 2 miles - had Prime Rib buffet. Sure was good.
I think everyone in the area was there.

Tomorrow is breakfast at the club house, church, and on to Quartzsite.

So good night and God Bless

Day 12...Deck done

Hello, The carpenters are gone. The building is done. We sure will enjoy our new deck.
Tomorrow Mel and a new friend is going to get our deck furniture out of the old shed. We want to find a nice rug for the deck yet. A job for next week. Not sure if the carpet will be full size or if we will get a smaller rug and paint the edges. Will compare prices then decide. About all we did today was talk to neighbors who wanted to see our project.
They don't use deck boards here like at home. it is just a plywood floor. So has to be covered with carpet of somekind. We made a quick trip to quartzsite to get a couple of things but was home the rest of the day. We had chicken for supper.
I haven't even got my cords out yet so I can get pictures on here. I will when we get the final touches done. Only in the high 60s today but still nice.
There is Park wide rummage sales at the RV park down the road so thats where I will be in the morning while Mel loads up the stuff in the shed. So will say bye bye for today.
Hugs, and God Bless.

Day 11...B-I-N-G-O

Howdy everyone. I hope your all getting warmer weather. It was cool here too. Only about 68 here and pretty windy. We needed a jacket today. My cousin, Virgil and Darlene Qualle from Cannon Falls stopped in for a visit this afternoon. They spend part of the winter in CA.
Our new addition is almost done already. They have the steps and the front rail on the deck to do tomorrow. Not sure what if anything else. We are getting so many compliments already. Just wait until I get some flowers and deck furniture. I guess we will be putting outdoor carpet on the deck. That's what most do, we have been told. We are meeting new people every day. Mel, more so than I am. He will walk up to anyone and talk... I am not that brave.
We went to Bingo at the club house tonight. There was some pretty good money prizes but we didn't win. Not surprising!! But it was fun. I think we will go to the Gospel Jam on Thursday night next week. We put an ad on the bulletin board this morning for our old shed and already sold it. Will have to unload it this weekend. That is where all our deck furniture is. Molly still occasionally limps on her hind leg but not so much. We still can't find anything wrong. Must have pulled a muscle or pinched her toe or something. She is a little touchy when we touch the bottom of her paw.
Good night and God Bless.

PS..........I wish it would let me print in paragraphs but it doesn't. When I type it I do put in paragraphs but won't stay that way. Hope it reads ok.

Day 10...Soup supper

Hi there, Our deck and shop is looking good. Only one problem. we went to get a window for Mel's shop and when we got back they already had the siding on where the window is going. So I hope they know they will have to take it apart again. They work fast though. I suppose they will put the roof on and the rail on the deck tomorrow. It is quit windy tonight. I hope storms don't happen here. On Wed. nights they have a soup supper. I think we have to get some bigger soup bowls. Only took our small ones. One bowl of soup just wasn't enough supper for Mel. It was good though. Tomorrow we hope to have company.
Not sure how long they plan to stay. It will be a good visit though. Early bed time tonight
God Bless

Day 9...Pretty quiet

About all we did today was go to a new comers meeting. They explained the medical care here. There are first responders on site. They claim that help can be at our door within 2 min. Seems pretty fast. We have a hela-pad site a couple of miles from here. this one is State controled. We also have one right in front of our place and they will land there too if necessary. We will be getting company on Thursday. My cousin from Cannon Falls will be stopping in. This will be good. Good night and God Bless.

Day 8...Trip to friends

Hi there, This morning we finally got our satalite TV. What a pleasure to watch TV again. Only problem is that Mel held the remote. :-( This afternoon we made a trip to Parker to get a new microwave. We had to stand and hold the button in for the old one to work. Can't live without my microwave!! We then went to Big River, CA to visit friends, Sharon and Art. They gave us a big bag of oranges and grapefruit. mmmm and some little cactus. So I will be busy making some juice and planting.
Tonight we just watched TV and read emails. Tomorrow we are going to a New Comers meeting. I wonder what that will be all about. Probably just going to tell us the rules of the park. Past my bedtime. I will try to get a picture on here tomorrow.
good night. God Bless.

Day 7...Music Jam

Our clubhouse has a breakfast every Sunday morning. From 8:30 to 9. We were ready to leave at 8:30 but our deck builder came over so when we got to the breakfast they only had two servings left. weww....... talk about just in time! This afternoon there was a music jam at the clubhouse. I loved it!! Must have been 25 musicians. all kinds of guitars, accordions, sax, clarinet, drums, keyboard, spoons. It was on for 2 1/2 hr's and each singer sang one song. The singer would get to the microphone and announce what they were going to sing and in what key and the band could play. No music for any of the band just the singer. Awesome.
Molly stayed home for the first time here and she was a good girl. Tonight we were going out for Prime Rib but when we got there it was baked chicket buffet. Still very good but not as good as the Prime Rib would have been. We were invited to a church not far from here so next Sunday we will attend. Tomorrow our Dish TV comes. yaaaaa
Good night, God Bless

Day 7...Stayed home

Hello everyone, Another beautiful day in Brenda. I think I have everything put away, finally. Will have more when Mel gets his shop. Hopefully next week. We still have stuff in our shed at the park we were at last year. Our lawn chairs, table.........lots of stuff. The carpenter will be back tomorrow to finalize the plans for the deck and shed.
A couple of channels come in tonight on the TV. I cooked a big turkey leg in the crock pot. I wasn't sure if it would work but it did and was so good. Our first meal in our AZ home.
There is a breakfast at the club house tomorrow so we plan to attend. There will be a music jam in the afternoon. Not sure about the rest of the day. Thinking and praying for 3 friends in the hospital. good night all. God Bless

Day 6... Grocery day

Welcome to my home. We are here. So much to do yet. We got the stuff unloaded from the back seat but the trunk is still full. Trying to find a place for everything. We had a great trip. We stopped in Thomas OK (by Oklahoma City) to visit a friend and then spent a night at our friends, Jackie and Don, in Green Valley AZ. This is just south of Tucson.
We were so anxious to get to warmer temps we didn't stop much else along the way. It was below freezing all the way until we got to AZ.
Not much of TV reception yet. Trey, come and fix our coax. We get the Dish on Monday. We got a lot of groceries today. Now to find the slow cooker.
I had such big plans to have a cactus garden here but got notice that the park doesn't want any more cactus in the ground. I will have to have a potted cactus garden like I do in MN.
Tomorrow a carpenter will be here to give us an estimate for building a deck and shed. I will post pictures when it is done. (about mid Feb.} Unless Russ can come and build it for us. :-) We ran out of LP this evening. Good thing it isn't very cold out. Will get more tomorrow. Terri, no mention of Dad or any of the recipients in the Truck museum. shucks...
Thanks for the visit. I hope to write daily from now on. Stay warm - Take care & God Bless

Day 3...Oklahoma City, OK

It was 27 degrees here and felt so warm! Before we left Kansas City this morning we visited the American Truck Historical Society Museum. This was pretty interesting. They show lots of models of old trucks and pickups. Lots of truck magazines and pictures. If I would have remembered to put my camera cord in the over night bag I would have put a picture on. Not much for scenery to tell you about. Just more snow. It is getting less but still to much. We got to Oklahoma City about 6:30. Checked into a hotel and went for supper. Molly can't figure it all out. a different house every night. But she has been a good girl. By this time tomorrow it should be nice and warm. Maybe we can wash the car.
I hope this place has a comfy bed. At least this room is warm. Last nights room was kind of chilly. We plan to get an early start. I guess I better shut this computer off early tonight. Bye and God Bless

Kansas City MO

Baby it's cold out side. We were hoping to be a bit warmer by now but not that lucky. Still 1 below. They must have just had more snow as the sidewalks aren't even shoveled off. I think they need Speed down here to show them how to use the snowplow!! Our room isn't any to warm either. So will use lots of blankets.
Tomorrow we will aim for Oklahoma City. Good night.

Day 2.....On the Way

We are now about 50 miles from Kansas City MO. Still a lot of snow and still cold. 14 degrees. At least it is above zero.

We were at Terri and Bob's last night and this morning. Terri went all out with the food. We had Bobs famous spaghetti last night. There was hordorves(?), wine, lemon pie, turkey pot pie, roast beef, baked potatoes...... to name a few of the goodies.

The kids beat me in a game of Wii bowling. I will get them next time.

We are going to stay in the Kansas City area tonight and visit Antique Truckers museum in the morning.

Molly has slept since we left Des Moines. The kitties must have wore her out. ;-)

Stay warm. God Bless