Let’s Go For a Fun Fly! Happy Hour Weather, Finally! Collage Fun

I woke up at 5 am on Saturday, Feb. 23^rd.  Checked the clock and rolled over to go back to my dream. At 6, I was still awake and to the sound of Bill’s slumber breathing, I got up and got dressed. By the time I came out of the bathroom and got downstairs, I heard him get up. He has to be the fastest ‘waker-upper’ that I’ve ever known. From a deep sleep to appearance at the bottom of the stairs fully dressed in what seems like seconds. 😃

And a beautiful day coming our way

I knew the morning was a busy one with things I wanted to do and things we wanted to do so I sat first to finish my post. Bill made our tea and coffee and sat with me at the table. Once my tea was done, I hopped in the shower and then he did the same. I slipped out the door for my walk. It was just before 8 and I wanted to get a sneak peak of the Park Wide Yard Sales before we headed out.

Looks like the Event Centre/Office got a bit of a facelift

I found only one thing interesting enough to purchase and that was a set of Arizona coasters and table runner for $1. Sold! Back home, Bill was getting a piece of toast and jam for breakfast so I did the same. I honestly which came first, the walk or the breakfast but nevertheless, both got done. I packed up the sandwiches I’d made yesterday and drinks into our small coolers. The weather was going to be perfect!

And I think my quail family approves!

Today, was the Fly Yuma R/C Air Show 2019 put on by the Yuma Aeromodelers at the Contreras Field. The field is located at Hwy 95 and Rifle Range Rd, fitting as there were numerous rifle sounds coming from the range during the flight show. 

We arrived, with Rob and Pat and Clemson and set up our chairs at the northerly end of the runway. This is a 600 x 60’ paved runway, by the way. There are shaded pits for morning and afternoon flying and AMA and MAAC pilots are welcome.

An aerial view of the field
We were sitting at the top right hand corner now far from the runway

Bill wasn’t flying today, however, he could have, after the show or tomorrow had he brought a plane. There were 47 pilots today and only one mishap during the whole 4-hour event. That’s pretty darn good, unfortunate for him, but a great turnout. We’d taken Clemson’s tent along rather than leave him at home. He enjoyed the outside air just as much as we did. Ken showed up almost immediately after we got set up so squeezed in beside Rob.

And it started with their National Anthem
and
then ours
The Civil Air Patrol Cadets Colour Guard performed for us

I tried not to go crazy today with the pictures, leaving that up to Bill and Ken, but I did get a few good shots of the action. Between radio controlled ‘foamies’ (exactly that, Styrofoam planes) quad-copters (drones), jets, para-gliders, dancing helicopters and even electric kites we were surely entertained from start to finish. After the flying part of the show ended, the pilots lined their planes up on the runway and invited spectators to walk around, take pictures and talk to them about the hobby or the planes.

The collages show a few favourites of mine
Bill can name the plane replicas

Three electric kites
Look Ma! No string!

We said goodbye to Ken around 2:15 and drove home. Clemson, of course, needed to be fed and Bill needed a nap. I was feeling tired out too, from the glorious 63F sunny day. 

The static display of 47 planes drew a huge crowd
and at $5/car, it was a 'good' day for the club

Some planes did not participate during the show
These two were pretty original

Bill pointed out this Stinson Reliant
like the one he finished building and had a test flight on this past summer

We know this guy! It's Ken!
Getting some blog pictures, no doubt

The wind was minimal, as if everyone’s prayers were answered for a calm flying day. Hey, I guess they indeed were! Feeling the heat, we changed into shorts and I poured myself a diet gingerale for a refreshment and once caught up on my writing, took it outside for a bit more of that Vitamin D.

I think this was one of my favourite performances

A close second
I love the big plane aerobatics when they hover over the runway by inches

As I stepped outside and around the corner to my chair, Rob and Pat were just coming out for Happy Hour. Yay! How nice that the weather has finally cooperated so we can spend some time outdoors. Bill was snoozing in his chair so I let him sleep for another half hour before tapping on the window. “Are you joining us?” He poured himself a drink and came out. Wow, was that sun ever nice!

Can you tell which picture is a real para-glider?
The left two are models, bottom corner, the happy rider
Top right - the real thing

We all sat and enjoyed each other’s company chit chatting about travel, Yuma, parks in the area, memberships and next year. Before we knew it, it was 5 o’clock. I certainly wasn’t cold, I was basking in the sun, but we came in to start thinking about supper. Bill downloaded his pictures from today while I got my soup and breadsticks from Olive Garden out of the fridge. Just a warm up is all they would need and Bill decided on toasted tomato sandwiches for a change.

A couple more show offs
I would too if I had the ability

Supper turned out good when we finally got to it and then after dishes, we both worked on our pictures. Clemson was zonked tonight, he has been in one of our chairs (with or without us) ever since he ate his meal when we got home. He has lifted his head a few times, remade his ‘niche’ a couple and dropped it back down again. It is obvious that he just needs more fresh air and walks to tire him out. It just goes to show you that a 14 + year old dog still has energy to burn off.

Are you tired of planes yet?
This bottom one looks a like a bumble bee
as he flies upside down across my view

I poured myself a glass of Rum Chata for a change and sat to finish my blog post. This has been a really nice day. We had fun with friends, took a lot of pictures, lunch ‘out’ and saw a lot of great entertainment at the same time. 

My supper
ps - I shared the bread sticks

Yup, a great day. I hope yours was as good and that the snow in your area (if you got some yesterday) is gone. This is Arizona, after all!

Clemson was so good today

This is more like it
Happy Hour!

Thank you for visiting today.

Lazy Labour Day? Walk with My Man, Bird Watching, Tree Trimming, Collage Fun

It was 6:30 when I first woke on Monday, Sept. 3^rd. I had opened my little window around 4:30 and the fresh air felt wonderful on my face. It had rained through the night, a fair bit as the chairs that I neglected to put away were soaked through. Bill and I got up at 7 and Clemson was already downstairs on his ‘couch’ bed after going out at 6. When I mentioned that it was a day for a walk, Bill decided to go with me. What a treat for me!

Sights from our morning walk together

After dropping the recycling and garbage at the gate, we walked down Baptist Church Road to the turbine road and back. Such a gorgeous morning. When we returned just after 7:30, we could feel the humidity even though it was a leisurely stroll. 

We had our tea and coffee and read blog posts. It is always nice to keep in touch with our friends, many doing the same thing we are, living and travelling in our rv’s. The fun thing is that they are stretched across two countries and yet it seems like we are mere minutes away when we chat online.

and more
the moon still hangs around, shadow walking
recycle and garbage pick up day
puddles are proof of overnight rain
Bill walks the wagon back

Bill had picked up some nicer hinges and latches for his Hangar doors than he’d originally picked out so went down to replace those. I have some rubber matting, not sure what it is called, but it is the grip stuff to put on cupboard shelves to prevent things from shifting during travel. 

All set to measure and cut

I bought a roll of many feet years ago from someone on our work Swap Shop and have only used a small portion. Today, I’m going to measure some of the upper cupboards where the plastic ware continues to move and lay this stuff under the dishes.

these overhead cupboards got the liner

And under these cutlery trays so they should stop shifting too

Well, that took no time at all and half an hour later I was idle again. I walked more recycling down to the road since today was pick up day and the bins were already down there. On the way back, I stopped and pulled weeds from the front bed with geranium and tiger lilies. It was looking pretty bad. I had no gloves on though so I’d have to return with them to pull the thistles. Such a nuisance they are! I wonder why God included them in his creation of plant life.

Bill made these small ramps out of leftover wood he had
This puts the truck on enough of a slant for draining the water bladder

I made our breakfast at 11 and after cleaning things up we drove over to the Acreage before Donna and Gerry headed out for home. I wanted to borrow her palm sander and their stain for our king chairs. That is my project for later this week. They’ll need a good day to dry. Bill needed to replace the washers on the filter fitting as well, it was twisted too tight which caused it to leak. 

when I was trimming, I searched for the names of the trees on my
new app Picture This
 left and upper - american cherry
bottom right - Halls crabapple

When we returned, Bill went to work again and I took the clippers and the wheelbarrow out to trim saplings down in the field. It makes it difficult to cut and weed trim when branches are hanging low and new growth hugs the trunk.

This was very overgrown and going to be right in Bill's way
He will get the chainsaw out to clear it out later but this was a temporary fix

These caterpillars were clinging to the branches I cut

After dumping a full load of trimmings, I cut back the messy brush and trees at the corner of where he has the cargo trailer and Hangar. We’ll be taking the saw to those for sure so it is just a temporary fix and I think I cleaned it up a lot. You can walk through there now and Bill won’t poke an eye out walking around his trailer. It was humid though so we were extremely grateful for the lovely breeze.

Today, you could say I stopped to smell the 'roses'
and the bees took a fancy to the goldenrod

It is one of those ‘what’s it going to do’ skies as white clouds, blue sky, sunshine and gray clouds fought for dominance. When I finished cutting things up and dumping it in the brush pile, I poured us each an iced drink. I was done for the day and Bill carried on working on his plane. I sat for a while up under the small cherry trees with my book, phone and my camera with the zoom lens. If I sat still enough, the hummers and finches made themselves at home.

Above, the new location for the bird feeder was discovered, yay!
The finch went back and forth between the feeders
but I'm not sure what kind of bird is sharing the spotlight

After a while, I took my stuff down and sat in the shade outside the Hangar door. I could have sat on the porch but Bill was back and forth so didn’t want to get in his way. 

this will be a nice spot to park myself but up on the porch next time

Bill's Stinson Reliant in a state of repair

We were able to chit chat while he was working and then after he cleaned up, we came back up to the Suite. He settled in his chair which meant siesta time and I made up the Easy Meatloaf recipe for supper.

I could watch these guys all day
Wait! I think I did for a lot of it!

Clemson had eaten and been out so I caught up on my post and sat with my book. I’m enjoying these Jack Reacher stories a lot and zipping through them, falling into the action in the pages. Bill and I earlier discussed the plans for the rest of the week. Seems like a busy time even before the weekend. Black Beauty goes in for a recall fix in Harriston in the morning, so I will drive the Rav into Durham early and pick up a few groceries at the same time.

This little guy was determined to get into Bill's trailer
until Bill talked him out of it

We are expecting company for lunch tomorrow and I’m going to help Bill put some boards up for rafters in the Hangar. That is something he cannot do on his own and I’m happy to be of use where possible. The meatloaf needed to cook for an hour and at that time I will make up a salad to have with it. We have done really well avoiding potatoes and trying to eat less sugar and carbs. A few of you are doing the same thing so I know you know how challenging it can be.

Funny sky and clouds in the late afternoon

Supper was ready at 6 and it was very good. I’ve never failed with this meat loaf yet. 

Supper was good
and of course we had a dish of ice cream for dessert

We cleaned up dishes and laughed our heads off watching a rerun of Jeff Dunham: Unhinged. He is our favourite ventriloquist. Oh my. We’ve seen it many times an d we still kill ourselves laughing. Peanut and Achmed the Terrorist are my favourite ‘dummies’. If you haven’t ever seen him, check one of his shows out, you will enjoy Jeff. 

Jeff and Peanut

This is my favourite puppet

And Achmed says things we all want to

There wasn’t much on, probably because of the holiday so I finished my post and continued reading about Jack.

This cloud is very pretty, just hangin' out

 At 6:30 it was still a balmy 77F outside so we likely will use our a/c for tonight’s sleep. Checking AccuWeather it looks like we might even have some rain overnight again so I closed up the windows in the bunky and put our folding chairs under the nose of the Suite. Best to be prepared in case it gets windy at the same time. This has been a great day and I hope you’ve also had a good one.

And a Good Night to all on this holiday Monday
Happy Labour Day!

Thank you for stopping in. I love to read your comments if you care to leave one.