Arizona Opry

Gary and Nancy left to go stay with Gary's Aunt Audrey in Mesa for a couple of weeks.  We followed right behind them and met the three of them at the Arizona Opry for their Rock 'n Roll Show.  It was an excellent show with music from the 60's - I knew almost every song they performed.  Dad and I went with a group from Wagon's West (48 in all) and the Wood's had their own little group of three not far from us.  It was a luncheon show - food was excellent - roast beef, mashed potatoes, chicken breast, rice, vegetables and a HUGE piece of chocolate cake along with lemonade and coffee.  It's a little pricey but well worth it!!!

 

 Barney Fife was there also letting us know the "rules of the parking lot."

 Willie Nelson (minus the pigtails) was also there to entertain us.  All of the musicans perform multiple tasks other than singing.  Most of them are very accomplished musicians and play all sorts of brass as well as other instruments.

 This is called a "keytar"

 and this is one huge saxophone - there was one larger sitting there but he didn't play it during this particular show.  They also have a couple of "Swiss Alp" long horns that they play during their variety show.

 

 

 

 

While at the show, Dad told me to turn around and take a picture of the guy behind me. I thought he was "off his rocker" a bit but when I turned around, here was a couple from our church in Brandon. Last year we "ran into" them at the organ pizza restaurant in Mesa. They purchased a home on the west side of Phoenix. We've decided that next season, we're just going to have to plan a get-together so we can visit.

 

 

We stayed overnight at Aunt Audrey's with Gary and Nancy and the next day went to the Mesa Swap Meet.  It's a huge flea market/swap meet - lots of t-shirts and other clothing, wall hangings, rugs, games, floral decorations, dried fruit and nuts, the "dawgs" sandals I buy every year - anything you can imagine.  I didn't get much for myself but Dad can always find something he can't live without.  It's four long rows of booths.  There are also eating stands and live music - only open on weekends and we usually try to go once a season.

 

After working up an appetite shopping and walking, we headed to In & Out Burger.  There the Wood party persuaded us to stay an extra night.  We sat up playing dominoes and just having a wonderful time.  Next morning we headed home by way of the fruit market.  Good way to spend a weekend!!

Have a great week.  Think I'll go out and lay in my swing and read my book for a while - 76 degrees out with brilliant sunshine.  Promises to be a good day.  Goff's are on their way and will be here tomorrow night for dinner.  What more could we wish for.

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

February

February brought Gary and Nancy to Arizona.  They stayed in our trailer for 11 days while we were in Washington and then moved just down the street to a rental for another 11 days.  We ALWAYS have a good time with they come to Wagons West.

 

 We played Mexican Train with a set of 15 dominos - tooks us three nights to finish our game.  Lots of visiting, eating out and just having good fun with the six of us.

 Dad had a very good year at shuffleboard this year - every year he seems to improve. 

 This was a particularly good game for him!!!!

 Some good friends of ours, Russel and Billie Miner celebrated their 60th anniversary - a good excuse for a night out.  They are such a fun, "young" couple from Springfield, Illinois.  This past summer we camped on their acerage.

 

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Lots of love,

Gramma and MOM

Washington in January

Every January I take a trip to Washington for my wonderful granddaughter's musical.  This year Grampa accompanied me and we had an awesome time.  Did lots of work out at the new house each day - what fun working wtih DeAnn.  We still had time to go to breakfast almost every day - can't give that special time up.

The musical was awesome!!!!  Our Holly, the feather duster was amazing, of course.  My dear Holly, how very proud we are of you.

Each afternoon Katie brings home a book to be read with someone - it was Grampa's turn several evenings.  Doesn't he look excited?  Our Katie is becoming quite the reader - this book just happened to be a more challenging one.

 Katie had to dress up for Book Day or some such thing.  I made this little dress, apron and bonnet for DeAnn when she was about five.  There is also a red calico apron to go with the dress - one for spring and one for the Christmas holidays.  Amy wore it after DeAnn, then many years later Holly wore it and now finally Katie.

The feather duster very upset about something ......

 Here's the feather duster after she becomes human again greeting some of her favorite fans.

 Holly and her friend who happens to be a young man.

DeAnn, guess what - my blog downloaded the pictures perfectly today so now maybe I can get caught up with February and maybe even get into March.  What wonderful memories of our January visit - what a fun, relaxing, tiring, enjoyable time.  Loved it!!!

Much love to all and have a great weekend!!!!

Gramma and MOM

Field Trip to the Missions

In January our park took a "field trip" to two missions south of Tucson.  San Xavier is one of my favorite places in Tucson - it is an active Catholic mission/church.  It is a beautiful place which was built in the 1800's and has had restorative work several times over the years.  We took a guided tour which we have never done before even though we have been to the mission several times over the years.  It was super interesting and informative.

 

 

After going to the first mission, we went to Wisdom Cafe which is known for their fruit chimichanga's.  We did not have one because our meal was so big that there was no room for dessert.  In the courtyard there was a bottle tree - I am trying to convince dad to build me one for our yard.  I'm having a hard time convincing him lately - either of you interested in letting me put one in your new yards????????

 This was the second mission we went to - Tumacocori Nat'l Monument.  This mission has not been restored at all but is really neat.

We went on the field trip with at least 50 other friends and neighbors from the park, including Uncle Rich and Aunt Henrietta.  It was a fun day!!!!

Have a super week!!!!  Amy and Kurt and Chase, we're praying that your house-buying process goes smoothly for you all.

Love to you all,
Gramma and MOM

Uncle Rich's Birthday

Uncle Rich said he wanted to go to the House of Miniatures for his birthday, in addition to going out for dinner, of course.  The House of Miniatures is just that - all miniatures that were collected by one lady.  She added onto her house twice to hold all of them and finally created a museum for them.  It was very interesting and we all enjoyed it.  She is still adding collections to her museum and they said she can often be found in the museum cleaning her miniatures.  We took a little tour which gave us much more information.  There were several small houses with miniatures plus other displays.  The oldest house with miniatures in it was around 200 years old.

 

 

This violin had all small violins hanging on a line along with tools to make them.  They were all in a violin of normal size.  We were told that all of these tiny, little violins could be played and the small tools were all working tools.  I took this picture for my favorite violinist.

 

 

 In one of the rooms, they had a glass insert on the floor and a Christmas village under the glass.  I would love this in my house - what a unique, fun way of displaying a village.

 Small silver Dutch windmills....

 The small bottles of liquor in this display case had the actual liquor in them or so they told us.

 The collector lady bought this miniature gold house with all the tiny furniture, etc from an auction house on the east coast.  It was too large to ship in one piece so it had to be taken apart.  It was quite impressive.

When you all come to visit the next time, I'll take you here.  It was a fun way to spend a morning.

We went to Culver's on the way home for a treat and then went to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner with Rick, Shakayla and Jaylynn.  I think Uncle Rich had a good birthday.

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Arizona

I am still having major problems trying to post pictures to my blog.  Hoping to get some help soon.  Here are a couple of pictures I took when we first arrived.  The one is looking across the street from our house.  It was a beautiful morning and the clouds were gorgeous.

 

 

 

I took this picture from my van window when I was on my way home from lunch with Linda DeBoer.  I have never seen a rainbow with such vibrant color - this picture does not show the colors as they were at all.  It was so beautiful it took my breath away!!

Dad is back to playing shuffleboard with his team again this year.  He has been winning at least one of his games every week.

 Well, I guess this wasn't one of the good ones but he just barely lost it.

 

 

Tomorrow I'm going to work on trying to figure out why I can't load my pictures easier.  Until then, have a great day.

 

Love to you all,

 

Gramma and MOM

 

At Home In Arizona

To all who follow my blog:

I have been trying for two weeks to post a new blog and for some reason, between my computer and the internet here in our park, it will NOT let me bring my pictures up.  I am so frustrated that I'm ready to pull my hair out but I'm not sure how good I would look bald.

I am sorry - I actually have some rather nice pictures.  We are almost all settled in the trailer except for a few windows I still need to wash.  By the way, I HATE washing windows but I sure like the end result.

I will continue to try to post and see what happens.  Til then, hang in there !!!!!

Love to you
Gramma and MOM