Windy Wakeup, Slovenly Sunday, Ice Cream Social, Wizard

It was 5:30 on Sunday, Nov. 25^th when I woke up and eventually, I got up at 6:15. Bill slept on, probably another late night for him. I was in bed really early at 9 pm so it was time to get out of bed. When I opened the blinds, I noticed it was windy and that Bill had risen through the wee hours to pull the awnings in. We’ve had 3 glorious wind-free days and that’s just another thing we’re grateful for here.

It's Pancake Day (for us)
These are the easiest pancakes I've ever made

 Kind of like being on our Ridge at home some days, with the wind and a similar name here too. Ridgeview. Cool! I made my tea right away and sat to read up on comments and blog posts to see what our friends are up to these days. Then I moved on to Facebook, which I don’t visit for long but I went into one of my Groups, RVing Rocks! I noticed that my painted rock that Pat and I hid had been found.

and fool proof every time

Wasn’t it exciting for me to see that the person who found it posted it on the Groups page?! Upon searching further, I found that my rock from Page Springs RV Resort had also been found and reported. Yay! I had picked up a couple more of the smooth rocks yesterday to paint and maybe one day pat and I can paint some together.

They always turn out perfectly
Shirley - again, thank you!

Bill was up within 30 minutes and Clemson followed about an hour later. Just so you all know, I’m heeding your advice about letting him out at night by himself. As annoying as it is, I’ll go out with him each time. Well, at least the times that Bill doesn’t, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to our baby. Bill continues to think he is playing games as all day and most nights he has a normal routine. Game or not, we love him and he has us trained.

Watching the quail and pigeons, this little guy caught my eye
First chipmunk I've seen in Arizona
and they're a little different

With the wind, I wasn’t encouraged too early to go for a walk even though it was a mild 57F/14C. At 8:30 I mix up a batch for 4 Greek Yogourt Pancakes and they hit the spot with butter and maple syrup. I sliced half a banana as a side this morning. We did dishes up and then at 9:30, I went for my walk. First, I wrote out the recipe for the pancakes and slipped it next door to Pat.

He's saying, I've never seen you here before!

I carried our cardboard down to the garbage dumpsters and carried on to the clubhouse. It was early enough to start a puzzle so got a 500 pc. one out. Lorine and Gary were up there so we chatted about Canada for a bit. Turns out when she was late teens or early 20’s she hitchhiked across Canada, coast to coast. Very interesting lady. She used to be a welder in her working days and spent time in Fort MacMurray, Alberta years ago.

I got the border 99% done but some pieces just didn’t seem right. I gave up while I was ahead and walked back to the Suite. Bill had been waxing Black Beauty and fixed a cupboard door inside before stopping to have a coffee with me and a couple of Nutter Butters. (aka peanut butter cookies for those who’ve never heard of them). They’re a nice treat and all 3 of us like them dunked. Clemson gets a couple of little corners.

an afternoon treat for all of us
I had half of a banana leftover from breakfast so made mine
a banana split sundae

At 1:30 the four of us left Clemson in charge of the Suite and walked up to the clubhouse. It was Sunday and that means Ice Cream Social! We all ordered a 2 scoop Sundae, with many choice toppings. Mine was dulce de leche ice cream with pineapple topping and nuts. Oh, and a cherry. Pat and I admitted we were a little over zealous and should have only taken one scoop. Our guys finished them for us.

Pat and I were so excited about my painted rocks being found that we each searched our area for a few more nice ones to paint. I sprayed 4 to prep them for some added colour tomorrow. They should dry overnight. At the clubhouse, we’d been talking about card and other games. When we returned to our sites I went next door with my tea. I learned a new game.

At supper time, I noticed that God painted the sky

Wizard is a card game with a teeny hint of euchre and a lot of guesswork. Oh, and luck is involved too. The cards dealt can take away all visible game skills and throw you into a whole lot of mumbled ‘oh crap, what am I gonna do and holy moley’ verbiage. There is some snarling at your opponents too when tricks are ‘stolen’ but that just increases the laughter. I had fun and we played for a couple of hours before I returned home.

It was stunning

Bill and I decided on grilled cheese sandwiches for supper. Without a regular oven our choice is to ‘fry’ them so it works out that that is my first choice anyway. I added fresh onion to mine and used rye bread instead of whole wheat. They were quite good! I even added a slice of dill pickle for that extra crunch.

I thought I'd share some old pictures with you
In case you don't recognize that smile
in the back row on the right
It is Mom
(she is here with her siblings)

And again, Mom in the back row on the right
in her airforce uniform

After dishes, I settled at my laptop and Bill turned on Madame Secretary. Our Sunday evening program. The rest of the night went quietly. We heard from Donna that the Ridge back home looks fine and that is always nice to hear from so far away. 

And then a peek at my siblings (can you tell by the homemade skirts?)
I wasn't born yet, Mom is in the back holding Bruce who was 20 mths older
than me

Today, I also chatted with my cousin’s wife, Rita, about pictures of my Aunt Joan. She was looking for some old pictures. It was fun to copy some and send them to her. I enjoyed seeing them all again.

And that's me in the bottom left hand corner
and my sister, Donna, standing behind me

Hope you don't mind me sharing some old memories with you. It was a nice day here in the land of Ridgeview. I hope you’ve enjoyed your day. Thank you for stopping by!

Getting Into the Season, Quiet Day One, Practice, Happy Christmas Eve!

When I woke on Sunday, Dec. 24^th, Christmas Eve day, it was 5:55 am. I didn’t feel tired enough to drop off but I also wasn’t ready to get up yet. My mind took over. Something from a message yesterday from my daughter stuck with me and that was all I could think about. It was all good but she is responsible for the thoughts that came into my head. Thanks a lot, Bridgette! (said with an outpouring of love, of course!)

In an hour, after a few more tosses and turns, I sensed that Bill was still sound asleep so I got up and went for a walk. I’d opened the blinds and it looked like another lovely calm day coming our way. This time, no clouds anywhere! Yay! It was brisk at 5C/41F but I had my mini gloves on to keep my fingers warm. I did the park perimeter, didn’t meet a soul this morning and returned after a mile and a quarter.

First time for everything
I've never seen one of these in bloom

Bill and Clem were still in bed until just before 8 am they came downstairs. It is nice when Clemson sleeps in like that. I made our drinks and we sat and read up on what our blogger friends have been doing. Now that Bill and I are on Messenger, we took the time to send a Christmas message to our contacts. Sorry for those who I put in a group, I’m new at this! It is a wonderful way to let people we know, but don’t communicate with often, that we are thinking of them at this time of year.

Pretend the blur wasn't there
This is what we sent to everyone with our wishes

I had my shower and then made my eggs while Bill showered. He likes an omelette so I had his ready with a toasted bun.
I have our Christmas music playing, sing it to me, Willie. 😊 Bill and I went for a walk with Clemson to take the garbage over. It is such a gorgeous day!! 68F already at 12 noon. No wind so it is perfect! When we got back, I cleaned up breakfast dishes while Bill used his California Duster on the truck.

Interesting what a little flash will do
This picture of the knot in the fence was with flash

This one is without and shows the shuffleboard game on the other side
Why is that interesting? I don't really know

He got out the vacuum and I put all of our dvd’s and cd’s back in the cupboard. Oh, I guess I didn’t tell you about that. Best laid plans………..you know. Over a year ago, Bill made two shelves for one of our wide open shelf-less cupboards using an adjustable system. We have sorted and repurged our collection and these are ones we are definitely keeping. Dvd’s and cd’s, I mean. In other words, we aren't lightening the load by getting rid of any.

I do move quickly when I walk in the morning
not quite as fast as this depicts though

Our Suite and site from the back

It didn’t quite work like we thought so the other day I emptied everything so he could re-examine the ‘system’. The shelf tabs seem to be breaking and not holding the weight no matter how much moving around I do with the cassettes. After looking at it, we decided to wait until we can get into the city again to work out his idea. I don’t question it, he’ll make it work and that will be that.

Right now, everything is all stacked on top of each other
Temporary

this is the cupboard on the other side
showing the shelves Bill made and installed

So, Bill moved outside to read after having finished a couple of things on his short list for today and I walked up to the clubhouse. Of course, I have my phone, Canon Powershot and new tripod with me. I have to practice! At the cactus garden, I wrapped Cam*Rah around the pole and posed. 

Hmm, worked well. Up at the laundromat seating area, I wrapped it around the wishing well and posed. Yay! so far so good.

I warned you!

There was already a small 500 pc. puzzle started when I went in so I prepared to sit and work at it. But first, check the books out and I noticed a Michael Connelly and a James Patterson novel. I’ll take those, thank you very much! I’ve finished my Stuart Woods and as good as it was, I know it isn’t one Bill will enjoy so I dropped it off in the box. It was then that I realized that the puzzle border wasn’t done, although many other ‘easy’ pieces were put together. 

Mom would slap our fingers if we did this
The border pieces are in the bag

Better

That’s not fair and in my learning, that’s not the way to do a puzzle. I have Mom’s voice in my head, obviously, so set to work putting the border together before doing anything else. Then I carried on. I made good progress, as I said it was too easy, and Kate the lady who started it came in and joined me for the last 15 minutes. I think the puzzle was special to her as she told me it came all the way from Wisconsin.

Suzie texted that they were going to the Ice Cream Social at 2 so I walked back and the 4 of us wmeandered up together. I probably didn’t need it, but I had a vanilla AND a chocolate scoop with syrup, nuts and 2 cherries. Oh my goodness! It is a good thing we have already decided on a light supper tonight.

Yum!

As usual, we had a nice chit chat with George and Suzie only to be continued at their place at 3. Yup, Happy Hour is a daily thing when we’re with friends. Today is a day when my mug will hold tea though. The clouds have rolled in and a breeze has kicked in.  I’ll be taking a sweater over in case I need it.

This flag was just hanging limp until 2:30

I just remembered something that I found out in Mexico on Saturday. We stopped in at the Purple Pharmacy to check pricing on my shingles medication and cream. And….. I was blown away. They don’t have the exact same name but it is still for shingles and the pricing was excellent. I’m going to Google the two names she gave me and check also with my doctor back home. I don’t need any more this winter so I'm in no rush.

It was the cream, Zovirax, that was the biggest surprise. At home for a 4-gr tube their price is $99. In Los Algodones, a 5-gr tube is $13.44. Wha??? I know where I’ll be buying it from now on. I was perfectly willing to purchase a substitute over the counter itch cream but now I don’t have to!

We carried our chairs and drinks over to the Yates’ for Happy Hour at 3 and it was soon apparent that I didn’t need my sweater so it hung on the back of my chair. It took Clemson a while to settle down, first on Dad’s lap, then mine, then Suzie’s lap. Up and down, up and down and then I understood the problem. Our puppy dog was excited for Santa to come!

And the sun sets on Christmas eve

 After a few more things discussed and resolved, we toted our seats back home to the Suite. It was only 4:30 so I sat outside for a while in the sun, perusing the Avon books I picked up at Teri’s Avon Store in Lake Havasu. I’m not sure until I go online which campaign they are working on but I see quite a few great deals. I have a nice credit already on my account so want to be sure to take advantage of some good buys.

Shortly after 5 I went for a walk up to the clubhouse with the 500 pc. jigsaw puzzle I ‘borrowed’ from Ridgeview RV Resort. Now I can rest easy and I’m in St. Nick’s good books again. After all, that is what this honour system is all about. Borrow from one park and donate at another.

The puzzle I was working on was finished and I wasn’t surprised one bit. Such a small thing. If I get to pick the next one, it will be a little more difficult and a little bigger. I came out of the puzzle room through the pool area and bent down to test the water. Oooh, that is nice! Maybe I’ll be taking a swim early on December 25th for the first time ever.

When I got back from my walk, I fulfilled a promise I made before I went out. The dryness down here in the southwest is doing a number on our feet. Well, on our heels specifically and I know how much my sweetie loves me to pamper his feet. So, I got out the stool and the emery foot file and cleaned up his cracked heels. Finishing off with a foot cream, they should be good for a couple of days. I don’t mind doing them at all, I’ve always said he has baby soft feet. TMI, (too much information) yah I know!

Grilled cheese, onion and tomato sandwich
The pickles and olives are the 'salad'

Just before 6 I started pulling things out for supper. Buns, cheese, butter, onions, tomatoes and a fry pan. We’d decided on grilled cheese and boy, they hit the spot, especially after a nice ice cream sundae this afternoon. We cleaned up dishes and by 6:30 we were ready to relax on this fine Christmas eve.

I hope it has been a fun day for you, if you have little ones or not. I’m sure back in Ontario that they are all tucked in bed. At least they should be, it is almost 9 o’clock! 

A few things I’m sure of:

Stockings are hung and the kids are in bed,  trying to put Christmas out of their head.

They know if they’re awake when Santa arrives, they may end up simply with oranges and chives (?).(better than hives!)

I do miss the moments, when I was bustling around, wrapping last minute gifts, all the things that I found.

We had fun, all those years ago
making children happy

Making adjustments to penmanship and special paper I had bought, tiptoeing like a church mouse, hoping all wasn’t for naught.

My children are grown now and are picking up the trend, and if I have my wish, the dream will ne’er end.

Bill and I helped out at a secondary school in 2008
this little girl was whispering her wishes to 'Santa'
so her parents couldn't hear
It warmed my heart then as it does now

Merry Christmas EVE everyone! Crack the bottle and the snack and enjoy the only December 24^th we’ll ever have in 2017. Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment.

See if you can recognize Santa Claus from 2008

And just before I posted this, Bill's phone rang. It was Jessica, his youngest daughter. 

This young lady has been in my life since she was 5 years old and feels like one of my own. She gave us the wonderful news that she and her boyfriend, Matt, have just become engaged!! Wow!

We are so thrilled for Jess and Matt. Congratulations!!