And Winds Abate Again, Suite Clean, Horseshoe Challenge Among Friends, Donations

I was awake and ready to get up 6:45 but waited the 15 minutes until 7 on Tuesday, Nov. 27^th.  With my leg stretches done, I crept downstairs to open blinds. We had both been awakened at 12:20 and then at 3:40 when Clemson hopped off the bed to go out. I think someone’s tummy is upset, this is quite unusual for him. I’m grateful for Bill, as he is self-nominated to take him out through the wee hours.

can you say 'Beautiful!' ?

When I peeked out the window and couldn’t see the branches on any trees moving, my heart skipped a beat. I looked across the room at the weather station and it showed a big fat ZERO for wind speed. It doesn’t take much to excite me as I got my runners on and slipped out the door. The air was cool though at 57F/14C. I know that doesn’t sound cool to the folks back home in Canada but our bodies are now accustomed to 75F/23C.

Before I get too far, did anyone see that moon last night?
Bill tried to get pictures for me. Here it is just a wee ball
with a large glow

And then it rose and was huge!
Just like the Great Pumpkin!

I took a bag of 3 items of clothing to donate to the ‘free table’ in the clubhouse so walked those up first. I don’t want to carry them with us for the rest of the winter and my ‘clothing exchange’ girls have seen a couple of them before anyway. The trick for me is to get things out of the Suite once I decide I don’t want them before I change my mind. I walked up and down every street in the park this morning and it was a workout for sure. I was good and well-warmed up when I returned.

My walk this morning was peaceful and beautiful

Clemson got up within minutes of my return and Bill followed soon after. Rob had just returned from a walk himself when I was out with Clemmy. We had our tea and coffee together while reading blogs and I’d felt hungry upon my return, so cut up a Honey Crisp apple. Pat and Rob discovered these years ago and I’ve never tried them although I know George and Suzie also enjoy them. They are very nice, pricey but nice for a change.

I made us omelette sandwiches for a change this morning and after cleaning up and a discussion about hair and craft products with Rob and Pat, Bill set to cleaning the remaining west-facing windows on the outside of the Suite before the sun hit them. I shooed Clemson up to the bedroom and removed mats to start the floors. I was just going to sweep but decided to wash them as well, since we had free water here.

I climbed the hill beside the office

Bill moved from the windows to cleaning out the ‘garage’ or ‘basement’ as some people call it and then tiptoed the perimeters inside to relax for a bit while the floors dried. I made a coffee, biding my time and looked up a recipe for supper. I’ve planned on a Sausage Casserole so Bill doesn’t have to barbecue. I took a walk up to the clubhouse once more with some of the soda water that we had in the Suite garage. We'll never drink it and hopefully someone else will make use of it. 

And from the top, I could see over the park and beyond

Look at the windows in this home on the hill

I remember seeing this tree last year
Not sure what it is but the bark is incredibly interesting

Bill was outside reading while I put the casserole together. I covered it in Saran Wrap and put it in the fridge. Nice to know supper is ready to go in the oven. I joined Bill and soon enough, around 2, Rob wandered over and said “Well?” Oh yes, I had challenged him earlier to a game of horseshoes. “Let me finish this page/chapter”. Bill and I donned our ball caps and Rob carried a comfy chair up for Pat.

The park begins to get into the season
(love the footprints)

Pat isn’t a fan of playing the game, her right shoulder isn’t what it used to be, but she loves to watch. She was our support and was very happy to sit in the shade while Rob and I started first. I’m pleased to report that I beat him……not by a lot but by a few points at least. It was a great game and a very close match. Then it was up to Bill to put me in place and he sure did with a win. Rob and Bill finished it off and  even though Rob and I got a few ringers, Bill turned out to be the big winner today.

There is some serious stuff going on here

It was fun and we all agreed, dusty and tired, to go back to our place for Happy Hour. I made myself a Vodka Caesar and we sat outside in the sun and shade and enjoyed the next hour and a half together. The quail came down the hill on queue and the little grey chipmunks were soon to follow. Bill accurately tossed some peanuts to feed them and we got a kick out of watching the chipmunks stuff their cheeks before running to hide them.

Pat even got a picture of yours truly in the play

We came in about 4:15 and I popped my casserole in the oven for an hour. That was easy! With 10 minutes left on baking, I placed the last 4 crescent rolls in the oven and pulled the salad out of the fridge. The smell was amazing and we both enjoyed this meal very much. There are leftovers too and the fun part is that we could eat this for a breakfast meal as well and still have leftovers for a supper meal.

I really was pleased with this dish tonight

With dishes done, I finished my post and sat with Bill to watch some tv. There are reruns on a few shows so I’m not sure exactly what we’re watching other than The Voice. This has been a fun day. I enjoyed the walks and the horseshoe games, not to mention more fun times with our friends, Rob and Pat. I hope you’ve had a great day as well.

Cheers from the Shadows!

And from the Sunny corner
Have a great evening!

Thank you for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated.

A Night Full of Dreams, Waking with Clemson Beside Me, Puzzle Work, Company

On Monday, Nov. 26^th I could hear the wind again when I woke up. I’d been awake off and on since 3:45 when Bill had to take Clemson out for a piddle. When the little bum got back on the bed, he climbed over me and curled up near my belly. He remained there until 6:30, even after I rolled over with my back to him, when he moved over under the covers with Bill. He never sleeps on that side of me! Gosh, they are so special in the little things they do.

I got a chuckle out of this picture from a couple of days ago when
I walked up to the clubhouse, texting my sister
The door is mirrored

 We got up, Bill and I, at 7:30 which was proof of a later night and weirder sleep for me. So many strange dreams! I made a tea and Bill had his shower before making his coffee and joining me. We read some blogs and had a bowl of cereal. Not my favourite thing but when you are trying to get ready for something, you make concessions. No bacon and eggs this morning, Rob and Pat had invited us to go along for the drive today into Bullhead City.

And then I took a selfie in the reflection

We were ready shortly before 9 and watched to see Rob go out to his truck. We will be glad to go to Walmart since we need milk again. It is Bill’s favourite thing to drink and we go through a lot. I have a grocery list on the go and as soon as our pension $ goes in the bank, we will be heading into Smith’s, Sam’s and/or Walmart to stock up. The freezer is looking bare for meat meals. It was about 9:30 when we left and just before 11 when we returned.

do you remember this picture I posted a few days ago
of the new house being built on the hill?

Bill and I made a coffee and Rob brought over a couple of pieces of brownie for a coffee break treat. Yummy, but not sweet-tasting. Just chocolately, my favourite flavor. 



I had one with a Nutter Butter cookie and then I walked up to the clubhouse to work on the jigsaw puzzle. I was up there for close to a couple of hours before returning to the Suite. I met an interesting man up there, someone in the Entertainment business who personally knew Lisa Marie Presley and the Hallmark family. I wish I could remember the details of his stories. 

I know this is a different angle but one of the walls has blown down in the strong winds
I missed getting a photo yesterday before the workers returned to clean some of it up
It's crazy how the wind can take down a structure with such air flow

Bill had kept busy by washing outside windows on the shady side of our home and retreated indoors just before I got back. He had also finished setting up our pvr for taping the programs we are unable to watch tonight. We settled down to watch a new Christmas movie and it didn’t take long before I realized that it wasn’t any different from many of the others I’d seen Bill watching. I sat for a while with him and then occupied myself starting preparing for supper. 

This morning, our weather station shows how strong the winds got in the last hour
That is the 19 mph showing in the top corner
The 13 beside it is the current wind speed, constantly changing

At 4:45 Bill lit the Weber and put the potatoes on to bake. We’d have chicken thighs and salad along with them. Within 10 minutes Rob came to the door and said we were expecting company, all of us. Rose and George were in Fort Mohave which is a suburb of Bullhead City, so very close. They were popping in for a quick pre-dinner Happy Hour. How nice it will be; it was August since we saw them last at the Ridge. Bill turned the Weber off and we walked over to Rob and Pat’s when the Goodens arrived. Supper can wait.

this was my first attempt at the puzzle, yesterday

 We had a nice visit and a drink together catching up and discussing the world issues and where to find good deals. Always a good time. We will see them next week when we are in Lake Havasu City. We said goodbye around 6 and re-started the barbecue to finish grilling. Once it is dark, it is difficult to tell when the chicken is done so it took a couple of shots at it before Bill brought them in with the spuds.

And when I left today, I had accomplished something
Eventually, I'll get the border done

Supper tasted really good tonight, it is seldom that we have potatoes so we really enjoyed them. While eating, we watched The Voice and then continued for the remainder of the night watching some news and recording 9-1-1 and The Good Doctor. We always have enough programs recorded for the rest of the week after Monday and Tuesday are behind us.

I missed getting a picture of Rose and George
but I did get a picture of their car before they left
And at the same time, caught some of the pink sunset

This has been a good day with not much going on but I did get some puzzle time in, which I love to do. We saw our friends, Rose and George for a bit at Happy Hour and got a bit of shopping done too. I hope you’ve had a great day too.

Supper was good

Thank you for popping by!