Days are getting longer and busier

Today was Tuesday.  Tuesday means coffee and donuts.  But today the donut man was ill and didn't make the donuts so they had to designate someone else as donut man.  Charlie, the temporary donut man, was late and didn't pick to much of a variety of donuts, but then, he did get the donuts and they are free, so I age two.
10:30 am rolled around and off we go back to the Rec Hall when the rest of the donuts are waiting along with the tables along the outer wall filling up fast with sewing machines attached to various stages of quilts.  I added my machine to the end of the table and started pushing tables together so the sewers will have enough room to spread out and work.  Linda McPhail, one of the quilters who doesn't live in the park now, called during the previous week and offered to help me finish my Sudoku baby quilt.  I was so excited.  We started out by taping my back piece to the pool table top, then the batting and the top.  We used safety pins to make sure the layers were flat of any puckering.  (Didn't work).  After two attempts at the pinning, Linda deemed I should start sewing around 1/4 inch from the end of the material piece (I don't know what they call that piece) and when I got two of the four sides done I ran out of the backing material so I quit.  Linda and another lady put their heads together and decided I needed to tear out the two sides of stitching and buy different piece for the back.  Jessica Lynn and Hailey Elizabeth, I'm telling you right now that it is only my love for you that keeps me from putting the entire thing in a plastic bag and tying it tight never to be seen again.  But I will sit this week while watching TV and tear out the two sides.  When I buy a new piece of material, don't hold your breath.
Sans supper we went to Yoga class tonight at 5:15pm, paid our $3.00 fee and stretched out on a mat to contort ourselves.  Ron did an excellent job of doing the different positions.  How do I know that?  I sat and watched him part of the time.  Some of the moves I could do but some gave me an upset stomach so I sat more out than I would have liked to.  So much so that I turned down the bean soup Donna and Paul brought over to the Rec Hall to share with JC and his new girlfriend, who just pulled in today, Sarah and Ron and I after class so we wouldn't have to go home and cook.  So we ended up coming home and me taking some meds for my stomach.  Poor Ron ended up with a BLT sandwich (bologna, lettuce and tomato).  That he had to make himself.
The walk home was nice......a little chill in the air but the stars, moon and a planet were shinning brightly in the sky.
Then watched Illinois beat Nebraska.  Welcome to "THE BIG TEN" Nebraska.

Day after Christmas

We had such a good time yesterday even though there were no little ones, an adult Christmas was nice for a change.  Our Christmas present from Wayne was definitely unique.  162 DVDs in a huge case.  All movies he thought we would both enjoy.  He even made a "chick flick" section.  wasn't that nice of him?
I've been having problems with my computer.  Some strange tool bar got down loaded due to an error on my part.
Nephew, Nick, Wayne's youngest, is quite adapt at computer stuff.  Not educated stuff like Keith and Linnea but fix regular people's goofs.  Much to our surprise, Wayne called this afternoon saying him and Norma, Nick and Sarah, Nick's wife, were coming down to visit us.  After a fast straightening and awaiting their arrival.  It was such a nice visit.  Norma, Sarah and I walked around the park model homes while Ron, Wayne and Nick drove around the entire park.  By then it was getting cool out so they decided to head back home with a promise that since Norma only has a half day of work and then she's retired they will be coming back for visits more often.

Christmas Eve

It's 51 degrees and the sun is out.  I haven't ventured outside to see if it feels as nice as it looks but I will after lunch.
We're enjoying the piece and quiet one more day till we join in with family and friends for a delicious Christmas morning breakfast combination of traditional and Mexican.  Yummmm
Daughter just called, they're off to see the new grandbabies born yesterday.  Twins, boy and a girl, to Rick's daughter, Nora and her husband.  What a blessing for them all.  They've waiting so long for this to happen.  I'm hoping as the years pass we'll be able to be friends with them and make them a part of our family.
Going to miss being with all our family but prior events prevent it from happening even if we were back in IL.  Sure do feel bad about it but can't control people.  Life will go on at our house and if some feel they can't be there if others are.......it's their loss.
Merry Christmas to all.  Happy Birthday Jesus.

Count Down to Christmas

Since we didn't go out to lunch yesterday we went today.  Got haircuts in the morning and then a quick trip to Sam's Club and back to Red Robin for French Onion Soup and split a burger and fries.  The traffic was heavy but we weren't in a hurry.  Ron got the last parking space on that side of the mall.
The sun is refusing to shine today so he's pretty chilly.  I think it only got up to the low 50s.  Not used to the lack of sunshine.
When we got back and unloaded the truck I took a quick trip to the office to get the mail.  Another surprise box.  Two this week that have been a total surprise as to the sender.  A very pleasant surprise from our son, Bob, and daughter in law, Tara.  The first was apples, pears and tangerines ( I think Cuties) from California and the second cheese and sausage from Wisconsin.  They must know how much we like to snack.  Cheese, crackers, sausage and fruit are all our favorites.
Now that we have an abundance of food, we can stay at home, sit back and relax till Christmas morning when we will join Ron's foster brother and family for a combination traditional and Mexican breakfast.  Looking forward to the tamales and the biscuits and gravy the most.

Winter Solstice

Since today is the first official day of winter I'm going to blame all the changes in routine on the sun and the moon changes.  Today is Wednesday but we're not going out to eat.  Instead I'm making cookies.  Six at a time at 10 minute intervals.  Going to put together a hamburger helper some time this afternoon and that will be our main meal.  Figured I'd get the cookies done so the flavors could meld for a few days.  They're for the cookie exchange at the Rec Hall Christmas Eve and of course our enjoyment, too.
Tomorrow is hair cuts and maybe Red Robin for French onion soup and share a hamburger.  They're really good about cutting the burger in half and fixing up two separate plates.  To bad all the restaurants don't honor the corporate promotions.  It's a beautiful 73.5 degrees and the sun is shinning.  Love this type of Arizona weather.

Rain.

If anyone is keeping stats on the number of times I've used "rain" in my blog since November 1st.  I don't think I want to know.  It's been a really weird November and December here in southern Arizona.
Church was inspired this morning.  Pastor Connor is a man of God with a message delivered with a keen sense of humor.  Today was special because the entire Connor family was present for the first time in over five weeks.  Their youngest son (Caleb) has had major surgery so him and his mother have not been at church.  It was great to see them both this morning.
I got my KFC fix for the noon meal today.  Realized last week after a phone call from dear friends that I hadn't had a bite of fried chicken since we'd been at CCRV.  It sure tasted good.  I ate every bite of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, slaw and biscuit.  Then proceeded to take a nap.  Does fried chicken have that sleeping drug?
I managed to sleep thru a major rain storm, according to WHN .  I did hear some loud rain drops which he tells me was hail.  We haven't been outside to check the official Green Bay Packer rain gauge but I'm sure it will be pretty high.
Well, it's the last week leading up to the day we celebrate Christ's birthday.  Thank you Mary for my first present.
The new activity directors have set up a horse drawn ride thru the desert for Tuesday night.  I think that should be fun.  Just hope it's dried out by then.  Feliz Navidad

Halley Elizabeth

Our daughter, Betsy, got to go visit with her niece and meet her new great niece today.  She is so tiny.  But her birth weight was 4lbs 5 oz and she looks like a perfect little person.  BTW that's her father, mom doesn't need to shave her legs.
Can't wait to get home in the spring and get her in my arms.

More of Rainy Days and Mondays

Well my plan of not making cookies fell thru.  Ron just called from the Entimein Wholesale Bakery with news that he bought cookies and fruit cake.  Plus a couple cans of shoe string potatoes he likes.  Oh yes, couldn't find a breakfast pastry he liked so he bought a pound cake.  Guess I shouldn't let him go shopping so close to lunch time.

Rainy Days and Mondays

No, I'm not going to sing a Carpenter's song.  Lucky you.  But it is a rainy Monday.  I keep saying we need the rain, we need the rain but I'd like some of those famous Tucson sunny days.  The mountains above us are supposed to get 10-16 inches of snow.  That should make the ski places happy.  We were thinking about taking a drive up to Mt Lemon but better hold off for a few days.  They close the road to non residents.
Christmas is coming along nicely.  We have our Christmas Cactus out lit, cards addressed and put in the mail and the two remaining presents being purchased today so out they all will go and we can sit back and relax.  No special cooking since Ron's still hording the caramel and fudge I made for Thanksgiving.  Not much spirit since it's only the two of us and neither need any extra calories.

Sunday Evening

Well, the sun and the temperature have both gone down.  The Packers Won.  It's 41 degrees and falling.  Supposed to be sub freezing tonight and tomorrow night too.  So you see, AZ isn't always hot or even warm.  This is a little worse than normal.
We did have some pleasant memories from today.  As we sat in church this morning the clouds moved enough so we could see the top of some of the Catalina Mountains for a few minutes.  They were just beautiful, covered with snow.  The sermon was beautiful, as Pastor does so well.  Did you know there's a phobia for fear of belly buttons?
After the sermon we met Wayne and Norma for lunch at Olive Garden.  The Taste of Italy I had was delicious and plentiful.  Feeling sorry for our waiter for setting around and talking for so long we added to the waiter's tip.

Sunny Arizona

Well, the sun is out but I haven't been out to see how warm it makes 45 degrees feel.  Instead of steak and caesar tonight it's going to be chili.  I've got the turkey thawing and all the ingredients setting on the counter waiting to start it up.  If nothing else it will make the rv smell nice and feel warm.
Stay warm my midwestern friends and family.

Rainy FridayP

As today is the first Friday of the month the quilters took their usual trek to Desert Cactus Quilters Shop.  10 % off any material except fat quarters and they're 12 for $10 dollars.  I picked up some more pastel design fat quarters for the quilt that should be done but hasn't been started.
Then a stop for lunch at an Italian restaurant  on the way home.  Chicken parmeasan sandwich on delicious Italian bread.  It was so big and delicious that I ended up only eating half of it and brought the other half home to Ron, which he proceeded to eat the other half for his lunch.
It's been raining again and the sun is peaking out and then going back behind the mountains.  Ron's official Green Bay Packer rain gauge says 3/10 of an inch.  That's a lot for here.  Hope it leads to the beautiful desert flowers next spring.
The park is filling up now with some of the regulars.  Unfortunately quite a few of the regulars are being delayed by medical conditions and they are in our prayers.  We miss all our CCRV family when they're not here.