Settling In!

I suppose that we are settling in but there is still not enough routine to suit me!!?  This is just like owning another house - there always seems to be something to do!  Over the past couple of days I've raised the border stones in our front rock bed so the rocks don't keep spilling out!  I think that they have been driven for the last fifteen years so were sort of level with the road!!  So, this morning I hosed down the deck, driveway and road out front to clean things up a bit.   That seems to be the only way to solve the dust problem - the hose!  There are still lots of  little jobs to be done however.

We are starting to get into our routine of walking again.  Until we got the work done and the weather cooperated, we didn't get out much but it is better now.  Up until a couple of days ago the temp has been cooler but now it seems to be regularly over 14 or 15 so it is nicer to get out!  The long range forecast is quite goo as well - warmer and drier than usual during Feb.

Golf is also getting better - slowly.  I had my best game of the year last Friday so am looking forward to this Friday a bit more than I have been.  We have our usual game on Friday and then a best ball on Saturday.  This is the annual 'Bob Rock' tournament.  He was the organizer of the Friday game who died of ALS a couple of years ago.  It is a fun event with a banquet and party in the evening.

There is a group of people who go out and pick oranges somewhere every Tuesday and Thursday for the food bank.  Apparently the bank isn't able to take them any more so every Tuesday and Thursday, there are huge tubs of oranges and grapefruit out in front of several units for the taking!!!  Needless to say, they are great.

We have also been quite enjoying the hockey games lately!!  Big Surprise!!  Especially the done last Saturday night.  My golfing buddy. Cliff is a Jets fan so we get some good conversations going!

We are starting to enjoy our new abode even though sometimes it does not sound like it!!  It is quite a change moving from the fifth wheel to something a bit more permanent but as time goes on, I am sure that we are going to be all in.  This is especially true when it comes time to go back and forth from Calgary!!  The extra room is very nice as well.  There are few more responsibilities though - like killing the weeds on one's lot and stuff like that.  Not a huge job though when has a bottle of roundup.

It Is Done!!!

Finally!!  Today we got the last inspection done on the trailer, got it registered, got it sold, went to the bank and started relaxing!!?  We sure had to jump through a lot of hoops to get this far.  Customs to import both vehicles - at the airport (50 mile round trip) - two trips!!; then inspections - appointments had to be made for these, emission tests for the truck, letter of compliance for the truck, and then standing in line at MVD and then dealing with a lady that did not really know how to register the fifth wheel and then driving another 65 miles miles back to Power RV who bought the two vehicles.  It was 65 miles because we had to go to all the way up to Scottsdale for the inspections and registrations.  This was three trips!!  It cost $124.68 for the truck and 264.83 for the fifth wheel!!!!  I should be able to get most of that back when I cancel the registrations!!I suppose that I should feel sad but I don't really.  Kit feels sadder than I do!!  Now to get on with the rest of our life - what ever that may be.

Most of you know now that Mike brought our Acadia down on the weekend.  It saved us a trip up there so it was very much appreciated.  He volunteered - It is not something that I would ask anyone to do.  He drove to Vegas on Saturday and then here on Sunday and back on Monday night on Air Canada!!!

Anyway, I've run out of things to say right now, but seeing as I am done worrying about the vehicles, I should have a few more things to think about and do and talk about sooner than last time!!??

Happy New Year!

Yes it is!  The start of another new adventure!?  We have had a very interesting time here so far with all the changes in our 'life'!!  We are finally able to sit down and relax which is about time for Kit as she has done most of the cleaning ( with the help of some of her friends!) but it was a huge job.  The house was unbelievably dirty but it is excellent now.

On Christmas Eve we were invited over to Phil and Betty's for supper, along with Cliff and Suzanne.  We had a very nice time with lots of laughter and jollity that one gets with that group!

Our Christmas was a bit different than usual but enjoyable just the same!  Us, and 14 of our closest friends and allies had a table in the ballroom and everyone supplied a dish to go along with the ham that Cal-am supplied, and we had a very nice time.  The food was plentiful and outstanding - some of the tables were smart and supplied go-boxes after the meal!!  We just took our stuff home and then distributed it to others, because there was a lot left over!

Yesterday Phil and I went out to Sky Harbour (air port) and 'imported' our fifth wheel so that I can get it inspected and registered so that I can sell it!!  No problems, just a lot of driving!!

Last night we had a bit of a New Year's 'get-together, with the usual other two couples and another couple who are friends of Cliff and Suzanne and who just arrived yesterday after driving through the horrendous storm to the north and east of us here.  They were all very impressed with the clean up job that Kit had done.  As usual, everyone brought a 'snack' - wings, dips, fruit, cheeses, shrimp, and pastries - so we had a very nice time.  We were going to play some games but with eight of us, it was not really possible.  The other 'event' that happened yesterday, and list night, was that it rained!!!!  As a matter of fact, it poured - for about 5 hours.  Oh well, that was better than the snow that fell in northern and eastern Arizona.  The temperature only got up to about +8 or 10 and went down to + 4 overnight so that is something that we are not real happy about.  Oh well, the sun is trying to shine today and we are supposed to get 3 or 4 days of sunshine now, so it should warm a bit.  I'm glad that I brought several long sleeved shirts - but it is still shorts weather!!!

Tomorrow we take the truck up to the MVD in Scottsdale to get it inspected to get the registration done and then next week it is the fifth wheel's turn.  I will sure be glad when all this running around is done so that we can get down to 'living and relaxing'!  At least now, we are able to do a bit of relaxing, as the major work is basically done (clean up).

Happenings

And a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

I am sitting in my 'dining area' at 8 AM and I decided to do this as I wait for the guys to pick me up to go golfing!!  Kit is off to exercises so I decided this is as good a time as ever!! 

Something different and unusual (at least for us) happened last night - we lost our power!!  I checked the breakers outside and the main one into the unit would not reset so I called Phil and we decided the best thing to do was to call security which he did and got the manager's number and he got hold of the maintenance guy and they showed up at 7:30 this morning and put a new breaker in!!  I am very pleased with this outcome - at least we had several flashlights so we weren't running into things too much!  At least we had water and heat - the furnace is on a separate breaker.  It gave us (Kit) a bit of a break from cleaning so I guess that was a good thing.

Speaking of cleaning, we(Kit) are basically done the main portion of the unit - now for the Arizona room.  That is where we put most of the stuff to get it out of the way!!  This is a very nice unit but it was VERY dirty.  Mostly dust and dirt but there was sure a lot of it.  Thank goodness for Betty and Phil.  They gave us a lot of help and loaned us things - like a vacuum!!  Several other friends have also volunteered their labor so it has been very nice.  Still a lot of work though.

Of course with tomorrow being Christmas Day it will be quite different for us.  Tonight we are going over to Betty and Phil's for supper - along with Cliff and Suzanne - so that should be very nice.  Tomorrow we are going to the 'ballroom' for Christmas dinner.  The table of sixteen will include mostly Canadian friends with a couple of 'token' Americans!!  The park supplies the ham (this is the USA!) and we do the rest.  It should be fun.  Of course Kit is doing a double sweet potato recipe.  I even made some peanut brittle this year and have be spreading it around to special people!!

That's enough 'news' for today.  More next week!!  Have a great day tomorrow.

New Goings On!!

Well, we did something that I swore that we would never - we purchased a Park Model at Sun Life RV Park!!!??  We decided a couple of weeks ago that we needed a change if we were going to continue enjoying this place and this would involve not only what we were living in and also what was involved in getting here and getting home afterwards!!  It was nice coming down without the snow and ice and winter driving and it is nice staying here without the winter snow and ice.  We really do like our fifth wheel but, everything else around here, it is showing  signs of age!!  So, we decided to take the plunge.  We started out looking for something that we could afford - did I tell you that we have also made a deal to sell the fifth wheel  and, of course, the truck!!!  If we don't have the fifth wheel, we certainly don't need the truck!!  Unfortunately, the returns on our two vehicles will not quite cover the cost of the park model!!!  Oh well, the story of my life.  Hopefully, we can get the financing etc. done in the next few days and take over on our possession date of Dec. 20!!! or before if we can get everything done that we are supposed to!  Then, we have to move all of our 'stuff' and get the vehicles over to the outfit that is buying them.  Then, we (I) can relax and enjoy life again!!

We had a bit of an unusual happening at golf yesterday - a FROST delay of about 30 minutes.  It was a bit cooler down at Queen Creek than here - about 4 degrees C.  Basically the coldest morning yet.

Even socially we have been a bit busier than usual.  Thursday we had a Street Christmas party and had 80 people attending.  Probably the most participation of any social event for the street in years.  We did not have a pot luck which attracted quite a few.  Yesterday, the south end of the street had a 'pancake supper'.  Along with bacon, sausages, eggs, juice, sweet buns and fresh fruit.  Everyone either contributed food or assisted with the setup and cooking.  Kit was on the organizing committee with about 7 other ladies who all did a fantastic job.  After that, there was parade of decorated golf carts organized by the sales people that had about 15 entries and carrying folks that were feeling no pain.  I think that there was some sort of prize at the end but we did not go down to the awards ceremony!!  Anyhow, some interesting things!!

Not much else has been going on, thank goodness, but we will be busy over the next few days.  Here are few pictures of some of the decorations in the area and a few of the carts from last night.

The weather today is not wonderful!!  It is 'showering' on and off for most of the day and is supposed to be the same for tomorrow - golf day!!  Oh well, we all have umbrellas and jackets.   The temperature is only in the low 60's this week - that s about 15  to most of you!  At least we don't have to shovel the rain.

Not a lot to report this time.  I had to buy and change a tire on the unit yesterday.  From somewhere I got a cut in the tire that could not be repaired so I had to get a new one  and change it myself.  I had forgotten how difficult that could be be but it did get done!  Now to get started on the cleaning and upkeep on the outside!!

We stopped in at a wine and cheese early this afternoon.  That is after going around looking at all the open houses of the units for sale in the resort.  'We' have sort got the idea that it might be a good time to have a more 'permanent' abode down here rather than pulling this unit down year after year and wondering how long it is going to last and whether we will outlast it!!??  We found a few possibilities but ones 'we' really like are out of our price range.  We will keep looking though as more come up for sale each week.  I also went over and checked out a dealer that buys used RVs so that gave me more to think about.  That is what Cliff did a couple of years ago and that worked out quite well for him.  Lots of things to think about.

The Bob Rock Memorial Golf Tournament is going to be held in January for the third annual time.  We will be going to take part as it is very much fun and for a very good cause - Bob was a long time resident here who died of Lou Gehrig's Disease.  He was the son-in-law of Keith Hyland (from Okotoks) who does our Friday golf setup. 

Kit has been spending a lot of time getting to know people over at the sewing room and quite enjoying it.  She has met a lot more people doing this - something like me and my golf on Fridays!!

Our street Christmas party is next Thursday afternoon so that should be a bit of fun.  Kit got 'pulled in' to be on the organizing committee and it is actually going quite smoothly!!  We also are part of a table of 16 to take part in the Christmas dinner in the hall.  It is also supposed to be quite nice.  Most of our table are Canadians but we are allowing few special Americans to be part of the group!!

Other than that, not really too much to report.  Maybe more next time!

Well, here we are on our third week anniversary of arriving, and getting caught up in the frenzy of decorating for Christmas!!  It seems that the only thing that is holding us back is the lack of storage of things after the season is over!!  There are advantages to being in a fifth wheel!!

Kit has been very busy finding 'things' that we can decorate with!  This is a small tree beside our TV that she found at Sunshine Acres and has been looking for a few small decorations for it ever since!  We do not have room in here for anything larger!!

The tree that was in that box waiting to be born has now been born!!  As there is no room inside, it has been relegated to a spot close to the door on the outside!!

Of course, above the tree is another Dollar Store addition to the display!

And then, of course, because it seems to be the thing to do, the palm tree gets lit up as well - at the trunk does as far as my ladder will reach!

You will also notice our street lamp beside the three that is also decorated - by the park!!  There is also a Santa hat on top of the lamp.

And of course, here is another Sunshine Acres special - our Santa flag!!

I am pretty sure that that will be all that we do to our site.  Many of the sites are really impressive with the decorations, but most of those are in the permanent sites.  Like I said, there is a problem with storage of the stuff after they come down!!!  Anyhow, that's the excitement for here for now!!!