Monday, January 20, 2014

Queen Creek New Olive Oil Pressing Festival.

Or something to that effect.  It's Queen Creek Olive Company in Queen Creek, AZ.  It's a two hour drive up I-10 to SR87 and then meander north and east and sometimes south on country roads, past hydroponic grown vegetable patches and very large prisons.  It was an adventure.  The GPS was right on so that wasn't a problem.  We drove through several small towns, none of which I'd ever heard of before today.  Queen Creek is just outside Sen Tan, AZ.  Sen Tan and a couple other towns look really new and just built.  Side walks and gutters with beautiful landscaping. 
The festival was in honor of their olive pressing that they completed the third week of December 2013.  We saw some of the trees that were a part of the landscaping but none of the main crop. We saw where they press the olives by centrifugal force after they whole olive is crushed to bring out the extra virgin olive oil that they sell.  I purchased Myer lemon infused olive oil and Ron got a jar of olive tapenade.   Lots of healthy food, we think.   Couldn't get close to the lunch counter to check it out but the food that was on people's plates as they moved outside to enjoy their lunch looked very inviting.  We opted for a cup of their fresh roasted coffee and sharing a lemon/cranberry scone.  Then stopped in Marana on the way back for a late lunch at Cracker Barrel. 
It's not real big nor is it fancy but the combination of the trip and the place was a  good experience.  One we agreed we're be more than happy to repeat if our friends, Gerry and Larry, wanted to make the trip in the future.  Sorry, I didn't take any pictures even though I had planned on it. 

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Retirement Life

84 and sunny.  Life is great in southern Arizona.  The front door is open and the screen door put into use.  Enjoying college basketball this afternoon and doing nothing.

Last night was a pot luck supper in the park.  It was not well attended but the people who did come brought great tasting food.  In my humble opinion, the reason for the small turn out had to do with the new Entertainment People.  Even though they live in the park, they have never participated in any of the activities before taking the job. They made the pot luck on a Friday night at 6:30 pm.  6:30 is to late for most of the people to have dinner.  So they changed it to 6 pm but not everyone got the message so some people showed up at 6:30 to a room full of people just finishing eating.  Now these late people are also new people.  If the schedule says 6:30 you better be there closer to 6 pm.  Eating starts at 6:30 sharp.  That's the way it's always been.  Everything starts on time so if you want to sit with people you'd like to chat with, get there early.  You know us old people, we're set in our ways.

We usually don't do anything on weekends.  We leave the stores and such to the working families who only have the weekends to get things done.  Another advantage of not having to keep a rigid schedule.  We're enjoying it all.  To the Olive Groves on Monday.  Will try to put up some pictures.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Thank you Lord for giving me.....

Before I open my eyes every morning I do two things.  First I think of what day of the week it is and what I have on my agenda for the day.  Then I thank God for giving me another day to enjoy all the blessings He has bestowed on me.
This morning's agenda included a request to be with Pat and Sharon and David as they say goodbye to their mother.  Loosing that last link between you and death is a real wake up call.  All the years before you knew you had a long life ahead of you.  Your parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles were all older than you so if they were still around, you would be to, for a long time.  You were immortal. 
I should apologize for all the negativity in my last few posts but it's that time of year when things end and life get's ready for a new beginning......Spring.  Enjoy this quiet time and renew yourselves for a new start.

Friday, January 10, 2014

77 and Sunny

Yep, it's 77 degrees at 4:30 pm (1640 hours) on Friday afternoon.  Ron is cleaning out the gutters from the last of the leaves.  All you can eat pizza at the Rec Hall for only $6 per person.  Made fresh while you wait.  Anyone interested has to wait till 6:30 pm (1830 hours) to eat.  Not going to be me or mine.  Guess new activity directors are taking the advise to heart......Change things around.  Now pizza doesn't have to be on Tuesday night like it's always been and it doesn't have to start at 5:30, like it always has but.....since it's to late in the day to suit us, we're not going.  Looks like the same story for Pot Luck next Friday.  I'm trying to decide if we're being party poopers or sensible eaters.  6:30 is just to late in the day for a big meal.  You say, "you don't have to eat a big meal?"  Then why go to all you can eat, that you have to pay for, and not eat?  Looks like there's quite a few signed up for pizza tonight but none for the Pot Luck next Friday.
That's my rant (blog) for today.  Enjoying the beautiful Tucson weather and friendship of fine friends and neighbors.  How's it going for you?

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Three's a Charm?????

My last two blogs contained information about two people you had just died.  Well, this is the third post and the third death.  We're praying that the "old wives tale" of death coming in threes is correct.  Our sister in law's mother died Monday morning.  We're sorry that we can't be there with her and her family for support like they have done for us over the years but the distance and the weather are both prohibiting factors.  They live in the Milwaukee, WI area and we're in Tucson.  We're having 70's and they're having minus 40+ with snow and wind. 
Otherwise this has been a nice week.  Life is back to normal after the Christmas and New Year's clamor.  Quilting today and bingo tomorrow.  Yippee...Seems like I haven't seen some of my bingo friends in weeks.  That's because it's been three weeks since bingo. 
All our decorations are down and put away.  Still got Christmas candy that needs to skip my lips and disappear someplace.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and I'll set you up with a couple handfuls for Hershey's assorted Chocolate.  

Saturday, January 4, 2014

January 2014

It's been almost a month since I last blogged.  The real reason I haven't blogged is simple.  Just to lazy to sit down and start striking the keys. 
Speaking of striking, my former place of employment went on strike just before Thanksgiving.  I'm sure it was rough on the breadwinners and it will be even rougher on the "scabs".  They chose to cross the picket lines and will face the person who is the next sheriff's wrath.  You see the current sheriff is retiring.  I'm glad I'm retired and out of there.  Election time was always a rough time.

Christmas and New Years went well.  We spent Christmas day with Wayne and Norma (Ron's foster brother and his wife).  Most of their kids and grandkids have moved to where they could find work so it was a small gathering but full of good food and fellowship.  After everyone else left we put on a prime rib roast and enjoyed cds from past birthdays.  Their friends sure know how to throw a party.

New Years was a day of me watching the Rose Parade in HD commercial free and Ron watching Bowl games.  Culminating with pork and sauer kraut for our traditional New Years Day meal. 

We enjoyed the holidays and the beautiful decorations our neighbors exhibited but now we're happy to have ours all put away and lives back to normal.  I'm been walking the park with another Illini friend in the park.  Yesterday afternoon we learned of the death of our neighbor across the street.  He's had a long hard journey of fighting for life but yesterday he joined his maker.  We feel so sorry for his wife, she's been with him all the way.  She even quit working at the park this past fall so she could be with him.

We're glad to see so many of our park friends have arrived for the rest of the winter.