Enjoying Our Winter Home.

We've cut and trimmed roses.  Pulled weeds.  A contractor's bag full and trimmed yuccas.  Now its time to enjoy.
We went to church yesterday and greeted old friends and family.  As you probably already know, yesterday's sports scores weren't what the male in this household wanted and I had an interesting afternoon with sore feet.
Saturday was the first gun show of our stay so we went.   By not leaving till later in the morning we were able to avoid the mongrel hoards and get a front row parking spot.  However it's still a good walk to the exhibit hall.  Then we walked up one side of a row and down the same row.  I took to a picnic table outside to wait for Ron to go back and make his purchases.  Then it was the walk back to the car.  I think I started out my walking for health a little to quickly.  At least I hope that was the reason for the foot pain.

Getting Settled !!!

Sunday was spent putting more stuff away.  Didn't think we brought a lot but finding a place is another matter.  One of the few drawbacks is no storage.  If here wasn't a man cave with homemade cabinets I don't know where we would put things.  Probably end up buying a shed and cabinets anyway. 

When that task was done, time to tackle the list of groceries.  As the season winds down we stop replacing stuff and make a list for the start of next year.  And then there's the stock up things like milk, bread, eggs, lunch meat etc.  We started by going to the furthest store north.  Sam's Club.  Since it was Sunday we were able to cut through downtown Tucson to shorten our trip.  During the week it's better to get on I-10 and drive the few extra miles.  Then south to Costco and on closer to home, Albertson's.  With a final stop at Office Max because my printer that I leave here was out of ink.  (Albertson's is owned by the same corporate that owns Jewel.  They also have Osco Drug in their stores)

Today has been dedicated to yard work.  When they said they had a wet Monsoon Season, they meant lots of rain.  Our front yard is so full of weeds that if the rose bushes hadn't sprang to six feet tall (I'm not kidding) we wouldn't be able to see the roses.  Our bougainvillea even came back from the dead to make me very happy.  I was ready to go buy another one as soon as we got here, now I don't have to and I can sit on my patio and enjoy it and the roses. 

Safe and Sound in Tucson, Arizona

We're not standing on that corner in Winslow, Arizona but we are enjoying our second home in Tucson, Arizona.  The last day of the trip was a dream compared to the day before.  Sunny skies and mild breezes carried us down 25 through New Mexico to I-10 and home. 
We did encounter a surprise outside Lordsburg, New Mexico at a Loves Fuel stop.  We were standing at the check out ready to pay for our one big splurge of the trip, chips and pop, when someone came up behind Ron and told him not to move.  Of course he did and there stood his niece and nephew.  Sarah and Nick were enroute to Kansas City, MO for Sarah's new job.  She graduated with a degree in accounting last fall and had been having a hard time finding a job in Tucson area.  We'll miss them but glad they're following their dream. 

Day 3

Ron and Dee Great Adventure http://ronanddeegreatadventure.blogspot.com/


Having trouble blogging on my notebook.  I'm sure it's something I didn't do.  Another day on the road.  When we left Weatherford, OK at 7:30am it was still dark and raining.  It continued to rain the entire trip and though it lightened up, the sun never peaked thru.  We extended our destination plan since we gained a hour from Albuquerque,NM to Socorro, NM.  Possibly Tucson tomorrow.

Des Moines, IA to Weatherford, OK

Ron and Dee Great Adventure http://ronanddeegreatadventure.blogspot.com/

Night One

We're on our way back to Arizona for the winter.  This year seems different.  I can't quite put my finger on why.  I want to go, so that's not the answer.  It's definitely getting to cold to sit on my front porch swing so I'm glad I'll be able to sit on our covered patio in AZ. 
The only difference that I can think of is we didn't leave the house vacant this time.  Our son and youngest grandson will be living there while we're gone.  I'm glad someone will be there most of the time.  They moved in the week before we left so I got to cook for them.  What a treat cooking for two hungry men.  We don't eat a lot anymore.  I tried to make extra so there would be leftovers.  Must have waken up my mommy genes.  I miss them.

It's Getting to be That Time of the Year.

Yep, it's time to head for the southwest.  Days are getting shorter and colder.  Hoping this year the trip will be the easiest.  By now we have about everything divided up between the houses and don't have to bring much back and forth but the clothes for travel.  There is a case of kraut already in the back of the van but that's because we can't get it in AZ and I would be hanged if I didn't bring smoked sausage and Sauer kraut to the monthly pot lucks. 
This year it will be a little difference in the IL house.  Our son and grandson have graciously moved into it while we're gone to keep an eye on it.  One works days and sleeps nights and the other works nights and sleeps days so beside the alarm system it will have human content. 
It's been a nice change having them here this week before we leave.  Cooking for Ron and I isn't very interesting but adding two healthy appetites to the mix makes for a lot more enjoyable meals. 
Sorry I haven't been a consistent blogger but the body was willing but the spirit was not.