Wrapping it Up! Clouds Move In

Park Place RV Park

On Sunday, Dec. 22^nd it is really hard to get our heads wrapped around that this month is almost touchable. Where did it go? On one hand it doesn’t seem like we’ve been in the park for almost 2 months but on the other, we’ve done a lot so it is believable. 😊 It has been great weather, that is a for sure, and now that we’re into winter, officially, I doubt much will change in that front.

Good morning!
A view to the east and
then the pink mountains to the west.

Bill heard me moving upstairs at 7 so came up and started sorting laundry. He was on the ball! It was around 7:30 when we loaded two machines and it felt quite chilly outside. I wasn’t dress as I usually am at that time of the morning but thought to myself ‘I’m glad I’m not walking this morning’. That’s just silly because I’ve walked in colder morning temps than the present 42F/5C.

We were all outside before lunch.
Gibbs watches Bill go back and forth
and decides when he is ready to go in for lunch.
💖

Bill and Duncan left to fly and I finished the laundry, bringing the basket of folded clothes back around 9. Gibbs and I went for our walk and then Patty and I walked around the big block. We met Black Beauty just as we got onto Riggles Ave. 😊 It had warmed up a fair bit by then, or maybe it was because I’d been back and forth and around the park already with Gibbs.

It clouded over late morning into the afternoon
We never really had full sun at any point today.
Oh well, them's the breaks!

When I got back, Bill was outside in the gazebo staining one of his early gifts (sssh) so I took the opportunity to wrap his, Gibbs and a few other gifts while he was out. Gibbs was on the back of my chair and kept sneaking peeks but I don’t think he’ll spill the beans. ♥ I love his furry coat but this new look, after a groom, is quite endearing with those big brown eyes.

This is the Christmas puzzle
I'll be working on for a few days.

It was lunch time when I finished so we had our own kind of sandwich. I toasted some keto bread and had Mesquite honey on them. Oooh, that was delish! Not keto, for sure, but good all the same. 😊 After lunch, Bill went back out and at 1 I popped over to put one puzzle away and start another. It’s the Christmas one that Sue asked me about doing. I’ve done it, a couple of years ago, I don’t mind. It’s a nice one.

Company! Yay!
Love these guys.

While I was overturning the pieces, Duncan asked if I wanted to play Scrabble with him and Patty. Sure! So he set up the game in the clubhouse and Jess joined us. After 2 plays, Fred informed me that we had company back at our site. When I saw 2 Indians (motorcycles) over there, I turned in my tiles and nipped home. I never want to miss an opportunity to visit with Lori and Roland. It is so great to see them!

Next door, these are Bette's
pooches.
Della on the left, Annie on the right.
So peaceful, they work hard you know!

We caught up until 3:30 and they were off! I almost forgot a picture, my bad, but remembered just in time. 😊 P.S. - Nancy, they asked about you. ♥ They stay right now at Holtville, CA so had a 2 – 2 ½ hr. ride home and wanted to get there before dark. Finding a very familiar site in the dark is not fun, I don’t care who you are! 

I sat with Bette for 20 minutes when I saw her relaxing (for the first time ever!) and then came inside to add something to a Christmas card I had previously addressed. I can't show you in case she happens to read my blog. 

Madame IP cooked 2 pork shoulder chops, I fried potatoes and cooked corn and sprouts in the microwave. It was a good, filling supper but I had to give Bill the last piece of my pork. I’d had enough. 

It was a good supper but
I had to share my portion of pork.

Gibbs and I went for his afternoon walk but I didn't get out on my bike today. By the way, I've decided on her name. Because she is purple, I am partial to Lilac (a favourite flower) BUT, because I had a cousin, my age, who lost her life to cancer a long time ago, 'LILA' is now parked in the gazebo each night, thanks to my sweetie. ♥

I think the name suits her.

Tonight, I’ll be watching The Floor at 7, they are getting down in players so it is quite fun. This has been a bit cooler day, at times, because of the overcast sky but we reached 67F/19C so still pleasant enough. Bill managed to get his presents wrapped and put under the tree today too so I can put our wrapping stuff away for another year. I hope you are being good, Santa pays extra attention with just a few days left to ponder his list. 😊 

Gibbs and I walked before I started supper.
The clouds were breaking up a bit.
It will be a decent 47F/8C overnight.
Good night!

Thank you for your visit today!

A Cloudy Start, The Puzzle is Done, Relaxing Sunny Afternoon

Park Place RV Park

On Wednesday, Feb. 21^st we got up to Hump Day around 7. I find I sleep really well from 10:15, when I drop off, straight through until 5:30, when I wake up. That’s a good sleep even though it may often be jam-packed with dreams. 😊 I seem to visit with a lot of people in my ‘life-group’ when I’m sleeping so it is kind of nice.

Good morning!

Same walk, different direction

Bill was getting ready to go to the field when Gibbs and I came downstairs. At 8:15, Gibbs and I were ready and went for our walk. It was warm already. The sky was cloud-filled so when Bill left, he did not disconnect us from power. I had a bit of cleaning to do, the floors in particular, so took care of that and helped M back home post an ad on Kijiji. Then I walked over to join Susan & Nancy and finish that pretty puzzle. Sadly, there are 3 pieces missing.

Still a pretty picture
I enjoyed this one.

Back home, I changed into my shorts and sat outside with my book. I’m not sure, without going back in my posts, if I told you about the book I started. It is a thick book called The Other Side of the Story by Marilyn Keyes. Well, I’m 95 pages in and had to finally close it for good. It’s a dumb story – a 31 yr. old single lady’s reactions to her Mom’s reaction to the man of the house leaving for another younger woman. The Mom, I understand, but the daughter? Come on! Stupid story.

I love how this picture turned out.

I went to my cupboard and brought out one I know I’ll enjoy. Getting back into the mystery genre, Sue Grafton’s Q is for Quarry will keep me reading. I’ve read a few of hers, not in any order so it is a good thing I keep notes! 😊 Bill and I had a chat with Nancy for a while and then lunch was on the agenda. I felt no need to go back to the clubhouse so sat outside again to read (and sneak in a bit of a snooze) in the sun. Beautiful day! While outside, a roadrunner ran through the park but I couldn’t capture him on my camera. Darn!

You can hardly see Nancy
Gibbs loves here and visa versa 💖

FYI, we do have chairs she can sit in
Ha ha

Bill puttered with his planes and I came in for my cup of tea. The winds had picked up with the occasional gust to 17 mph and the white fluffy clouds moved across the blue sky periodically. It was a warm 70F/21C today. Still nice weather in the forecast. Bill had the Check Engine light come on yesterday and this morning in Black Beauty so will go to Blythe to get it checked out in the morning. We don’t take chances with our tow vehicle.

Sometimes your home becomes a work room
The winds made what he was doing a bit difficult

For supper, after Gibbs and I walked the ‘park block’, was chicken pieces and chips. As usual, they were good. Not sure what the evening will bring. I might pop over to see Nancy one more time, she leaves in the morning. ☹ This has been a relaxing day yet again. You’d think we were retired! Hoping all goes well with the truck in the morning, we’ll enjoy our evening.

Yummy.
I was hungry so we ate early for once.
Good night!

Thank you for the visit.

Clouds, Sun, She’s Pretty Again! Experiment

Park Place RV Park

Sunday, Feb 12^th we woke up to mostly clouds and they stayed around until 10:00 or so. Bill and I skipped our ‘usual’ morning routines other than I did take Gibbs for his walk. Bill had his cereal and we each made a hot brew to take with us to Parker. Black Beauty was happy for the ‘run’ and we'd decided to get the bulk of our groceries at Walmart. It has never steered us wrong and today was no exception. We got quite a pile of groceries for $205! 

a cloudy start to our Sunday

When we reached Walmart, the sky was showing 
improvement

Before leaving town, Bill pulled into Terrible’s for a DIY truck wash. $4 for 14 minutes. A definite improvement. We had no other stops so headed home, arriving soon after 11. It was close to noon by the time we had everything stored away and I’d separated the chicken thighs, pork chops and sausages into meal size baggies. The freezer is now full and we are well stocked again. Now, our shopping trip to Yuma, on Tuesday, will be easier, with fewer stops to make there.

The Royal treatment
for Black Beauty
Bill actually came out of this dry!

We had lunch, another cold plate for me. It was a full plate because now I had all the things that I liked filling it. My eyes were a bit bigger than my stomach (really?) as I was stuffed and pawned some cheddar off on Bill AND Gibbs. 😊 By now, the clouds had moved out of the way and Bill had been wise in his thought to turn our power off and the inverter on before we left. Every penny saved helps.

The sky just improved throughout the day

I knew today was Super Bowl Sunday, of which we’re not fans at all, and there was a potluck at 3 in the clubhouse. That being said, we were not participating BUT I did want to work on the new puzzle for a bit before it began. A couple of hours was enough and I returned home. I must admit that Patti and Rick’s pulled pork, that was cooking in a crock pot, smelled yummy!

this is a nice puzzle
Not too difficult but we all seem to be enjoying it

I painted for a while back home and used the clear coat spray that I just bought this morning to finish a few. Then, I joined Bill in wiping down Black Beauty. She looked much improved after the wash but the spots on the windows and body were frustrating. I used my Norwex cloths, wet and dry, to wipe it down and Bill followed me with his cleaning products that cover everything with a water repellant. She’s glimmering now and very happy. I can tell. 😊

I came in at 4:15, my job done, poured Bill a Coke 0 and made a cup of tea for moi. Every once in a while, the winds would gust but for the most part, this gorgeous day seemed never ending. It’s great to be in shorts and sleeveless tops again, while it lasts ♥ I’ve heard from Mitch back home and he reports, as does Donna, to having a beautiful day there too. Sunny and 4C/40F. That’s good for Ontario in February.

When Gibbs and I came inside, he
had to keep watching Daddy out the window
Bill was on a break from applying the two coats 
rub on rub off - twice, I think

Okay, I mentioned an experiment. If you'll indulge me, I'll tell a story in between today's pictures. Throughout November and December I was pestered with bouts of shingles often. I mean, sometimes 2 and 3 times in a week. Before one ended, another would begin. I’d take my pills and apply cream often but it didn’t seem to matter. It became quite painful and annoying! Around Christmas I had 3 breakouts in 7 days, that lasted until New Year’s Day, actually Jan. 2^nd/23 to be exact.

Sitting inside, I took this picture
Can you guess what it is?
I held the camera up to photograph
the sun disappearing behind clouds and when I saw this
effect, I snapped it
So much for the scene outside!

I had 5 bottles of 50 pills from Algodones and decided to bite the bullet and take one a day for the month of January. Usually, the dosage is 2 per day, morning and night, during the breakout. I didn’t have one single bout from that day on. So! The experiment was to NOT take them for February and see what happens. I was good until yesterday afternoon when I noticed one on the back of my upper right thigh. Drats! It was so nice not to have the pain, itch, and temporary scars. Last night, I started the pills again.

Here's BB all decked out

Whoot whoot!
Bill took these pictures for me

I hope you don’t think I’m asking for sympathy, I’m not, and it isn’t necessary for you to remind me about the vaccine. I’m fully aware of it. Unless you’ve had shingles and then got the vaccine, you can’t really know if it will work. I did have the first one, Zostavax, in ’97 or ’98. It didn’t stop them.

The newest 2 dose Shingrix (which I’m not sure of my faith in either) is available to me and I may decide this summer to get it OR since our friend, Nancy, has picked me up 3 bottles from L.A. on her last visit,I may just take one a day and go with that. Until it doesn’t work. 😊 Anyway, that’s where I am. Well, that was a long ‘story’! Now it is also on record for me down the road to answer ‘when did I get the breakouts, when did I take the pills’ etc. if I should forget.

Supper was tasty and I pulled 
a piece of cherry pie from the freezer
for each of us 😍

I took Gibbs for a walk around the park around 5, still a lovely evening. 

For supper, we had leftover hamburger ghoulash (?) with a couple of baby potatoes and a vegetable. Easy peasy and tasty at the same time. It was a quiet evening, nothing on tv, so we watched the second dvd of The BeeGees. The first one, last night, was their life story. This one is mostly a concert. We enjoy them and have had and watched the dvd's for many years. Another great day for us here in the park, which is quiet with many sportsters inside watching the game. 😊

a beautiful evening sky
Good night!

Thank you for the pop in.

A Cloudy, Cooler Day, Puzzling, Christmas Parade

Park Place RV Park

On Saturday, Dec. 3^rd the day started off at a moderate 50F/10C and by the time I headed out for my walks, it was under a sky filled with a blanket of clouds. The sun tried really, really hard to break its way through with no success. The day was cloudy from there on in. Gibbs walked well this morning and I was prepared for walking where the grapefruit tree was. I had a grocery bag in my pocket.

A few things in my path
this morning on both walks

The plane is at the town park

Before returning home, I was able to pick another couple of grapefruit and 4 oranges. I hadn’t noticed the reachable orange tree yesterday. 😉 My walk by myself took me a bit further this morning and on my way home, I met Black Beauty again as Bill made his way to the field. One day, I’ll walk there to see him and the ‘boys’. Back home, I had my tea and I turned the furnace off.

Quite a few pieces added today

My sister asked where Gibbs' stocking was
Here it is, near where he spends a lot of his days

We didn’t have heat on all night but Bill turned it on when he got up at 7. I’d mentioned having a shower so the furnace heats the Suite up quickly. Since the day didn’t warm up beyond 61F/16C, inside our home felt cooler than it was outside. There is no wind today which certainly helps but we’re ready for our sunshine to return.

An early supper of chicken thighs, potatoes and vegetables

The Quartzsite Christmas parade is tonight and we’d like to partake in the viewing of that. I went to the puzzle for a couple of hours before Bill got home and after we had some lunch, we drove in to Roadrunner Grocery Store for a few items. 😊 When we got back home, I went back over to the clubhouse around 2. I’m making good progress with the puzzle and Susan is on duty today again but has popped over a few times to help.

I made a cup of tea and began my post when I got home at 4. Bill and Gibbs finished watching a movie and since we have evening plans, I started supper around 5. Tonight, air fried chicken thighs, a potato and a vegetable. Bill loaded the dishwasher and we washed the pots that were used by hand.

The parade starts at 7 so we drove out towards the Desert Flyers field around 6:30 and parked not far from it along the side of the road. That’s the road the parade came down and it wasn’t much after 7 when it started. The surrounding streets were already pretty packed. We were both very impressed with the number of ‘vehicles’ that participated. It was a great effort and although we didn’t count them, it lasted 30 minutes.

Like most winter parades, it ends 
with Santa Clause
pulled by a camel? 😂

We drove from there to the Community Centre around the block and the ladies had a variety of drinks for us and homemade cookies set out for everyone. How they would ever know how much to make, and how many would show up, always amazes me. Nothing else was going on, unless when Santa arrived the kids were involved in something, so we walked back to the truck and returned home before 8.

Like all good parade watchers,
we gathered up the candy tossed to us just like
our younger counterparts

We are here for 4 months and need to get out more often to enjoy some of the local events if possible. 😊 It was a good day and a wonderful night. I’m glad we went!

the town ladies had hot chocolate,
coffee and cider to offer everyone
as well as a selection of home baked cookies
Good night!

Thank you for popping by.

Cloudy Day Brightened by Friends and Silly Al’s!

Quartzsite, AZ

When we got up on Monday, Jan. 20^th, it was almost 7 o’clock. We slept in a bit and that was nice. We knew it was to be a cloudy day but still warm so weren’t expecting a sunrise. Bill had his coffee and before 8 we headed out. 

This was totally unexpected but delightful
This is looking to the east over the mountains

It was so calm outside and warm at 51F. It was a nice walk up the main road towards the front, past the dump station and garbage before cutting across to the west. I was surprised to see that we’d covered 2 ½ miles. I was also delighted to see such a pretty sky and an unexpected sunrise.

Looking to the southwest

The east again

It didn't last though. The clouds were going to rule. The day would unfold differently only because I was in no hurry to sit around outside with no sun. It just makes a difference to me. We discussed what we wanted to do today but we already had plans to go to Silly Al’s for Pizza (‘you haven’t been to Q until you’ve been to Silly Al’s’). This would be another venture where we will be thinking of George. He introduced us to the area, the town and the places to eat. 😊

The sun did rise for a short period of time

George will be laid to rest today and we will certainly hold him (and Suzie especially) in our hearts during this emotional time. We decided to sit tight this morning and so after Bill had his shower, he went out to hang with Keith, Ken and Tom.

Ken, Keith, Bill and Tom

I’m sure a few world issues got solved in that period of time. Inside, I got washed and cleaned up before tackling a tangly mess.

The hat wig and Higgins in my lap

At a garage sale at Yuma Lakes RV Park over a month ago, I found a ball cap with a partial wig attached. Who am I to pass on a chuckle for $1 so I bought it and wore it home?  It wasn’t until I turned around did Bill notice the long gray locks. I got the chuckle I was looking for and it also got new friends across the drive wondering just how many ‘wives’ Bill had! Too funny. I’ve worn it a few times just around our friends.

All braided up

Well, it was and is a bit tangled so after Kim and I Googled how to de-tangle doll’s hair, I decided to comb it out. I didn’t need to use the fabric softener today but learned how to use it I want to later. I finished and then had to put it on to braid it properly and easily. So, there you have it. Instant long hair if I want it! 

The trick is to hide the blonde hair

Bill and Keith took their small planes out just to the area in front of our sites and took them up for a flight. It was so calm that it encouraged them.

Oreo was patiently watching the men
in their chit chat

I popped over to visit with Kim and show her my lovely braid and of course to chat up the morning. The 3 guys left for town, Keith needed a cervo for his plane and Ken went along for the ride too. When I invited Kim over to see Rosy, my air fryer, I realized how dirty the Suite was inside. Yikes! It is good encouragement for me to get the dishes done, sweep and dust. I know it won’t last long but it looks better with just that small amount of attention.

Keith gets his plane ready for a flight

Bill does the same with Timber

When I took the mats out to shake them I could hear Higgins barking. I hadn't heard him until a few minutes ago so I walked over and let him out. We didn’t even get for a walk yet, he beelined over to see Shirley all excited. While we were chatting, Bob drove up which caused Higgy to get even more excited. 😊 I handed him back to Mama and finished the mats and then dried the dishes. Now that the dirty work was done, I changed into my good red shorts.

I saw Deb returning from a walk when I was inside
cleaning

And then she rested on her patio
The heat sneaks up on you when you walk
I know Bill and I were very warm

That didn’t last long because as I was sitting outside waiting for the boys to get back, I discovered it was too chilly for shorts after all. When they returned, I came inside and put my long red pants on and sat down inside to read. We had offered Keith our shower whenever he wanted to use it, so he came over around 2:30 and gratefully accepted that offer. He has outside shower capabilities but there is no point when we have one available.

Keith's in the air

I think this is Bill's Timber
Hard to tell up that far

We loaded into 3 vehicles at 3:20. Ken W. drove Kim, Bill and I. Ken K. drove Shirley and Keith and Tom drove Deb, Bob and Jo-Anne. When we arrived, we pulled in behind my sister, Gayle, and John. Huh! The parking was between minimal to none so you had to wait until someone left. Good thing Ken has a small car. He eventually got a spot and I walked in to get our name on the list. 15, I said and we waited for quite a while watching others get called in to tables of 2, 4 and 5.

Small lobby at Silly Al's where we have to wait
but it was worth it!

This table of 5 got seated first
Deb, Jo-Anne, Bob, Keith and Tom

It was then I told them we’d take any number of tables, that we were willing to be split up. Things moved along then and the first table of 7 went to Tom, Deb, Keith, Jo-Anne and Bob. A table opened up for 4 for Ken W, Ken K, Kim and Shirley. Soon after, a table for 4 beside them became available and I asked if they would move them together and find 2 chairs for the last 6 of us to sit. That worked well. G & J’s friends, Matt and Karen, from Alberta, drove down from Midland LTVA and it was nice to have them join us.

Matt and Karen ordered a Goliath 18" or 20"?

Our drinks and pizzas weren’t too long in coming and we’ll say it again – the best pizza we’ve ever eaten. That is Bill’s and my opinion anyway. I had 2 pieces left that I brought home for tomorrow night’s supper. We said goodbye to Gayle and John with the understanding that we won’t see them again this winter. They will go in a different direction after leaving this area. We rode back with Ken and Kim and made plans for another trip through the tent and Tyson Wells. We’ve also invited Keith along.

Gayle and John ordered the Goliath as well
Look at how big it is!!

Our Large
1/2 Meatlovers
1/2 Hawaiian

When we returned back at camp, Bob invited everyone over for a drink in their trailer for a drink. I was almost too tired and hadn’t written my blog but Bill and I went for a short visit, as did Tom and Deb and Keith. I felt like Higgins, who fell asleep with his head in my hand and came back home 40 minutes later. It felt like a full day. The rest of the evening would be with our books while 2 programs recorded on our pvr.

Now that is one happy group and a table full of Pizza!

Thank you for taking to time to drop in!