The Park Bench



Last year the park put in a security gate to the entrance and part of the landscaping was a 25-foot bench.  The young lady in charge of the beautifacation project talked about the tiles that she wanted to put on the face of the bench.  When Vonna arrived at Wagons West this fall, she began creating the tiles for the bench.  She said there were about 21 people who met 4 hours a day 4 days a week to cut out, glaze and create these tiles.  She then created different panels and it is beautiful.  If you want to read a more in-depth article about the bench, let me know and I'll send you the article that we'll be putting in the newsletter.

 

 

 Our beloved San Xavier Mission just south of Tucson.

 This panel depicts the saguaro cactus.

You need to look closely at the above picture to see the mariuchi (sp) band.

 These show the kokepelli dancers.  There are different cacti on each panel.  The little black things at the bottom run the entire panel - they're the ants that go marching on.

There is even a list of "can you find" items that Vonna put on the bench.

Putting the panels on the bench.  I don't have a picture of it completed yet.  It is such a beautiful addition to our park and this is from a daughter of one of our long-time members.  Vonna became a member of our park just last year and does an enormous of good-will within the park.

Can't wait til you two get down here to see this.  Oh, that's right, DeAnn, you won't be coming this winter.  Maybe you'll decide to change your mind and come anyway just to see our bench.

Love to you all,
Gramma and MOM

Shuffleboard

Saturday night Dad decided to get in a little shuffleboard practice.  We played with Marvin and Judy but didn't play teams.  Marv and Dad played well against each other.  Marvin's an old bowler and did a really good job of knocking dad's pucks off the board.

 

 

 I beat Judy the first game and the second game I was ahead til the last frame when she got a 10 and a 7 and ended up beating me.  She was thrilled and I was bummed.  I really don't like to loose at anything.  Oh well, it happens.

 Dad beat Marvin 15-13 but Judy tromped me at 17-9 - all of her score in the last frame.

We had a nice time and enjoyed an hour or so of playing.  Til next time, love from

Gramma and MOM

PS:  Tonight we went to Sweet Tomatoes with Uncle Rich and Aunt Henrietta for Uncle Rich's birthday.  If you go early, you get your meal plus your drink for $7.49 - a huge saving over going after 5:00.  Had a nice time with them, as we usually do.  Happy 74th Birthday, Rich!!!!!

Arizona

Coming from Barstow, CA to Needles and then through Arizona to Tucson we came across the Mojave Dessert.  The scenery was quite different - lots of sand.

 and then I spotted my first saguaro cactus.  When we come to Tucson, I always wait anxiously for my first sight of this mighty cactus.

 This is a scene of the mountains from the shuffleboard court here in our park.  We were playing a couple of practice rounds with Marv and Judy and the sun was shining on our beautiful Catalina Mountain.  Gorgeous.

That's it for today.  Downton Abby just started so guess what I'll be doing for the next two hours?  Tomorrow - shuffleboard.

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM