Since arriving at Palm Creek, we've participated in some of the activities, such as the neighborhood happy hours, presentations, softball games, water aerobics.  I decided to try my hand at one of their beading classes--a three-strand multi-beaded necklace.

After spending nearly 4 hours threading almost 450 little itsy-bitsy crystals onto various lengths of wire, I definitely have more respect for jewelers or crafters who have the extraordinary patience and steady hands to work with these little beads.

My eyes were tired, my shoulders ached, and my fingers cramped, but here's my necklace!

After bidding farewell to Patty & Jim at the SkyHarbor Airport about mid morning on Friday, we hit the Sam's Club to replenish some of our staples.  Sam's Club in Fargo does not sell alcoholic beverages.  However, here in Arizona, you can buy booze just about anywhere.  And it's far less expensive than in ND or MN.  Anyway, suffice it to say our visit to Sam's Club provided us enough liquid refreshment to stock a small tavern!!!

Our "family" time continued Friday evening when Corky's North Dakota cousins joined us for Happy Hour.  Jackie & Chuck Knutson and Carol & Ernie Mathias were in Casa Grande to visit their sister Barb Harris who, with husband Doug, live in a community only about a mile from us.  We all enjoyed a fun couple of hours on our patio before driving to the Harris house for grilled brats and fixin's.  Nice evening.  We'll be getting together again before the end of the month.

Chuck Knutson, cousins Carol Mathias & Barb Harris

Cousin Jackie Knutson and Ernie Mathias

Fixin' brats at Barb's & Doug's house:
-Corky, Carol, Barb, Chuck and Doug-

Corky, Chuck, Ernie and Doug

We were ready to go by 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday (does that seem late to you?  Remember, we are RETIRED; there's no big rush to be anywhere!)  Google maps gave us three options for our  route to the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson.  Our neighbor suggested taking the scenic road through Gates Pass.  WOW!  As we snaked up the narrow mountain road at mach speed (15 MPH), you could almost touch the vegetation on the roadside.  We stopped at a trailhead near the top to take a few pics and enjoy the breathtaking panorama: mountains, valleys, and thousands of cacti:  Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Cholla, and other species we can't name.  

 Our journey continued down the mountain and through the Sonora National Forest to our destination:  the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum.  

This Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place!  The exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more.  There are almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert.  And we covered every acre!!!!

Harris Hawks are only found in this part of the country 

There's a BIG kitty lying on that ledge!!

The day's activity took a toll on our footsies as did the sunshine on our nosies!  We were all beat by 4 p.m. when we headed back to Casa Grande.  We opted to return via Marana, AZ where Corky reminisced about having jumped out of a "perfectly good airplane" back in the early 80's.  

Though we were rather hungry, nobody wanted to move from the comfort of the coach so we used our techy skills and ordered DOMINO's via the internet.  How high-tech is that?!!!  Well, it maybe a state-of -the art, techie process, but it's not without flaws:  the pizza arrived with sausage in lieu of mushrooms!

Tummy's are full.  Time for BED!

Don't forget--to see all the photos and read Corky's comments on our activities, check out Corky's website at http://www.sites.google.com/site/ccrodine/

Wednesday was another sunshiny day.  Patty & Jim came over in time for our weekly special lunch at the poolside bistro.  Today was taco salad (your choice of chicken or beef) with salsa, guacamole, & sour creme, drink and dessert.  Pretty tasty and VERY filling. Afterwards, we waddled around to the Pro shop to check out their bargains.  Souvenir hats and shirts are a must!!!

Palm Creek Resort not only serves Motor Coach and RV owners, but they offer modular homes for sale and rent.  The Park has plans to expand the Park to more than 2,000 spaces in the next few years.  Four model homes are available on site and are open for inspection, so we took the opportunity to walk through them.  We had planned to take the tour of the new homes offered by the Park's sales office later in the day, but the time conflicted with our Happy Hour plans; we explained our dilemma to the agent who graciously gave us a private tour right on the spot!  We toured the Village Homes that were ready for sale and also got to walk through the newer models that are going to be built on the golf course in the expansion area.  Good experience.  Who knows...maybe Arizona will be our next address!!!!

Happy Hour around here begins at 4:00.  Might seem a bit early, but it's all about the outdoors here, and once the sun goes down it gets rather chilly during the winter months.  So, neighbors gathered on our patio to do a little wining and dining.

Charlotte & Chuck (Texas)

Patty & Jim (Virginia) and JoAnn & Peter (Canada)

Texas, Canada, Virginia, Minnesota & Wisconsin were all well represented!

Hank & Gail (Canada)

We grazed on Happy Hour munchies, so there was no formal dinner.  So we called it a night rather early and prepared for our trip to Tucson on Thursday.

As promised on Monday morning, Corky attempted to make breakfast outdoors on his reclaimed antique tri-burner gas stove.  Though the gusty wind tried hard to extinguish the flames, he managed to get the bacon fried, but we all had to retreat to the coach for the rest of the meal.  Eggs, bacon and sausage/biscuits with juice/coffee----rib stickin' good!


That afternoon we toured the Casa Grande Ruins where the ancient Hohokam civilization once thrived.

On Tuesday, we took in a couple of games at the Park's softball field.  It was fun watching the seniors snag fly balls and pull off double plays.   Corky may join the team next year!

On Tuesday evening, after a delicious steak dinner grilled to perfection by Chef Corkee, we attended a 2-hour comedy presentation by a couple of Park residents who have experience in stage production.  Their skit spoofed the Park's Cable TV channel and included some rather risque jokes and some crazy videos.  It was cute and provided a lot of laughs.

A little wine night cap back at the coach and we called it a day!

Next post:  Wednesday doings!

Well, here it is Saturday again; another week has flown by.  It was quite a week. Cathy's sister Patty and husband Jim arrived at Sky Harbor just after noon on Sunday; all flights were timely so they were standing at the curb as we pulled into the Arrivals area.  Less than hour later we were sitting at Kimm's & Steve's enjoying the warm sunshine before the start of the SUPERBOWL GAME!   But Jenna managed to get in some aunt and uncle time before all eyes turned toward the TV!  

Jenna is telling Patty & Jim all about meeting Minnie Mouse when they went to Disneyland.

Jenna's friend, Amara, gets a "good girl" sticker from Patty

Big girls (Patty, Kimm & Cindy) enjoy the game too!

Go Team!

The ladies are checking out Madonna's Half Time Extravaganza!

Watchin' the Game!  I think the Patriots were still ahead at this point.

Daddy makes owies feel all better.

I like Uncle Jim!

Jenna & Momma

Jenna's friend Nathan pose on the Bouncy House!

Playmates Nathan and Amara and their Mom Cindy watched the Game with us.  Nathan and Jim exchanged some good hearted bantering throughout the game--Nathan was a Patriots fan and Jim was rooting for the Giants.  It's a good thing that the "little guy" had to go home before the end of the game, 'cause the "big boys" would have shown no mercy in teasing him about the outcome!  Sorry, Nathan.


We left after the game to return to Casa Grande.  Patty & Jim stayed at the nearby Holiday Inn Express where their window provided them a view of the Palm Creek resort.  

Tomorrow, we'll tour the Park a bit and Corky is planning to cook breakfast .  Afterwards we'll go to the Casa Grande Ruins.

Later.

  

Well, here it is Saturday already.  The week passes very quickly.  We've established a comfortable routine starting with rising about 7:30 or so, sipping coffee while checking e-mail and solving crosswords; while Cathy is at morning swim aerobics, Corky and the boys have breakfast and are chomping at the bit for their trek around the Park by the time I return.  As I've mentioned, we are located in the "Pet Section" of the Park where it seems everybody knows each other through their canines.  As you can see, the pups are making lots of friends: 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we bike to Palm Park to cheer on the Park's softball teams and help support the activity by buying a couple of burgers or dogs at their Home Plate Grill.  Sunshine, ball game and hot dog--It doesn't get much better than that!

And then on Wednesday's, the Park's Poolside Bistro makes a special lunch that we've found to be quite yummy and very reasonably priced.  And the setting is so pleasant!

In the working world, Wednesday was called "hump day," and Fridays would be the "happy hour" day. Remember??? Not here.  There are always several "happy hour gatherings" going on at about 4 p.m. just about any day of the week, just about anywhere in the Park.  This past week we were invited to Bob's & Glenda's.  They live Colorado Springs and are here until the end of February.  They have quite a lively bunch of neighbors whom we enjoyed meeting.  Somebody wanted to learn the "Electric Slide," so Glenda obliged by pulling out the boom box and turning up Billy Ray's "Achy, Breaky Heart."

Neighbor Judy is trying to keep up with Bob.

Glenda's got her groove on!

On Friday evening, the Park held a Cancer Awareness Event that featured a supporter/survivor parade, a silent auction, music, and refreshments (cocoa and cookies).  The streets of the Park are lit up with hundreds of luminaries, each honoring a loved one, cancer victim or survivor.  It's quite impressive.

All lined up ready for the parade

Chick fil A was one of the sponsors of this event

A bit blurry; quite a large group leading the parade!

Here come the golf carts with participants who chose not to walk the mile or so parade route

The rest of today will be filled with laundry chores and a little shopping to get ready for the Super Bowl party at Kimm's & Steve's tomorrow afternoon.  We will go to their home in Chandler after picking up my sister Patty & husband Jim from the airport.  They plan to visit and to soak up some Arizona sunshine for a few days.  

In addition to showing them around the Palm Creek Resort, we hope to visit the Casa Grande Ruins and tour a bit around Tucson.  Will be posting some photos of their visit next week.

Gotta go now--the washing machine is calling me!   Later.