Calm Sunny Day, Temperatures Rising, Friends Leave and Arrive, Surprised!

It was 5:30 when I first woke up, checked the time and rolled over to go back to sleep. Which I did. At 6:50, I stretched the old muscles and rose. Getting dressed in the dark used to be a challenge but now I know how to lay my clothes out the night before and I ‘feel’ my way through the socks, pants, bra, top then slippers. The hardest part is feeling for the back and front of tops and bottoms. I’m getting pretty good at it!

I do like the silhouette of the rv's in the morning

I walked across the desert this morning and back along the blm road
behind the park

 Clemson came downstairs before I got out the door so I took him out so Bill didn’t have to get up. We came back in and one of us a dirty bum and it wasn’t me so I lifted him into the sink and he got an early morning bath. He is such a good little guy as if he knows he’ll feel better after I’m done. Doing this by myself, Bill and I both realized that this is the way we’ll try trimming him a little bit. He needs a haircut so badly but with the cooler days, we weren’t in a rush to get him done.

Morning pictures can be so pretty

Over tea and coffee, Bill admitted to feeling a bit antsy. He thought he’d like to go into Yuma to pick up a few things for a couple of repairs around ‘home’ as well as look for a small model airplane to put together. He likes to be busy with his hands and sitting and reading just doesn’t satisfy that need. I’m all for him finding something to occupy his time and informed him that I also had pulled out my craft stuff the other day. I need inside things to do when the weather is on the cool side like it has been.

He chatted with Rob next door and then came and got me. Pat suggested a trip to the Arizona Market today since it will be a nice day. I’m all for it as long as Bill gets what he needs before we return home. So, we had bacon and eggs and got cleaned up. Since George and Suzie are pulling out today, we walked over to say goodbye before we left around 10. It shouldn’t be too cold to walk around the market but I’m dressing warm anyway. Layering is the way to go.

And this morning, our friends arrived
from Wheatley after a difficult trip
We're glad they're safe

Just as we were leaving the park, we got some inside info from Rob that Marlene and Benno from Wheatley, Ont. arrived already this morning. This was the couple we were concerned about yesterday after hearing they’d broke down on I-8 just around Gila Bend. It seems no one, well not many, are exempt from travelling woes this winter. After huge expenses for repairs, they are making it safely to Arizona but with some very frustrating challenges.

Some of these rigs are huge
This is a 4-seater and looks quite comfy
although it still isn't my thing

We swung back and stopped for greeting hugs, welcomes and introductions before Bill drove to the market, leaving them to get settled in. We’re happy that they arrived on time to also meet George and Suzie, after following their blog for years, before they pulled out. It was a nice day for the market and I was certainly dressed appropriately. We found a couple of things we had on our list and so did Rob and Pat.

From there we went to Home Depot for parts to fix our chairs, I think I forgot to tell about those, and then a quick stop at a hobby store and Big Lots. No purchases made there. Back home, we all remembered that it is Friday and hamburger/chicken burger/hot dog night at the clubhouse. That sounded like a cheap supper with no planning whatsoever so I hopped on my bike to go sign us all up.

Both of our lawn chairs broke in these places

I stopped to see if Marlene and Benno were interested as well and walked up with Marlene. She was also needing to get on the clubhouse wifi to communicate with her Mom, to let her know they were safe.  I had pulled a large sirloin steak out of the freezer earlier so placed it back in the fridge for another night. Hopefully the rain tomorrow isn’t a wash out day and we can barbecue.

These are tasty crackers

We needed a snack around 1:30 so he made himself a sandwich and I cut some salami and cheese with crackers. I love these crackers that I bought at Fry’s the other day. I’m glad they were 2 boxes for $5 and I bought 2. Bill went outside to start working on our lawn chairs and soon, Rob had joined him. We already know these guys work well together, 2 minds and 4 hands are better than, well you know.

Bill working on taking the broken arm off

I finished my snack and instead of sitting out and having Clemson getting in their way, I pulled out my corking/spooling stuff. Y’all may have another name for it but this is what I call it. I tear 1” wide strips of old sheets and using that to make a rug.

My corking and the early beginnings of my rug

I’m using one colour theme of beiges/light browns and whites but even a mish mash of colours were make it nice too. Doesn’t much matter because this is one (er, another one) of those projects that I started a while ago and may not be finished for 10 years.

Using Don's dremel tool, 4 hands make it easier

The chairs were finished right on time for 3:30 Happy Hour and Marlene and Benno arrived with Rob and Pat soon after. The sun was warm and we didn’t need jackets today. How lovely not to have any wind! At 4:45 we parted only to meet again to walk to the clubhouse for supper at 5. It was cute to see little Reggie come running out of Marlene and Benno’s trailer to say hello, like a little runaway. As we walked up the ramp to the clubhouse, at the top stood our friends, Ken and Nancy.

Wha?? It threw us all for a loop, thinking one of the others had invited them to join us all for supper. No problem there but then they said they were neighbours and had pulled in today to camp. Woohoo! That is too funny! The story followed and it just goes to show you that no matter what plans you have, things can go awry and you have to scramble to make alternate arrangements. We are all happy to have them and we shared a table for 10 once more.

$5 supper

If I haven’t said it enough, I’ll say it again ‘we are blessed to have so many friends. It was a great meal and my only screw up today (repeated twice) was that I didn’t get a picture at Happy Hour nor did I get a group shot at supper. There will be another time before we all go our separate ways. So, tonight, I’m dragging in photos from previous meetings.

Our chairs are as good as new
thanks Rob for your help

We walked back to the Suite and Bill and Rob walked back up to take part in Texas Hold’em. This will be the last night for Bill so I was happy he went for another go at the game. I settled down and finished this post and then worked away at corking. The tv remote was mine, all mine, tonight so I found something to watch for a couple of hours. My Sex in the City movie was my choice and I enjoyed seeing Jennifer Hudson (whom I like from the Voice) in her early acting days.

I borrowed this nice picture from Ken's FB
Ken and Nancy

What a great day, full of fun with friends and a wonderful surprise! I hope you have had a great one as well. Thank you for stopping by, I love reading your comments.