Wordy Wednesday - a trip review

My visit with friends, S and P, was wonderful. The drives there and back, not as much. On the way there, my windshield took a rock hit from a passing semi causing a decent sized chip. I'll be taking it into the auto glass shop to determine if the chip can be filled, or if I need to replace the entire windshield. On the way home, I ran into heavy rain about two hours from home. There a a lightning storm to the north as well. By the time I reached the turn-off to the secondary highway (about 45 minutes from home), the sun was breaking through. 

Our visit made up for all of that. I arrived about 5 p.m. on Thursday, and after a tour of their lovely home, and some catching up, we headed out to East Side Marios for dinner. I haven't been to that chain for a number of years and we all enjoyed our meals. After dinner, we stopped at Walmart while P ran in to pick up dog food for their shih tzu pup, Bop.  Back at the house we watched some television, before we all went to bed early. S takes a pain reliever around 8:30 p.m. and is ready for sleep by 9.

Despite the early bedtime, I slept in until 7:30 the next morning. I hadn't slept well the night prior and coupled with the long drive, I needed the extra sleep. After our breakfast (toast and tea/coffee), S and I did some laundry and tidied up the laundry room. They recently purchased a new washer and dryer. These things have more bells and whistles than some automobiles! The dryer had options for refresh and steam, as well as about 5 settings for heat levels. S changed the load between the two machines, I folded and hung the laundry the laundry, then P was responsible to put it away.

I had brought along some yarn for a crochet project, but quickly discovered it wasn't the appropriate weight. S and I went to Dollarama where I found what I needed, then the two of us went on a walk about through Home Depot and then Walmart. She and P are looking to replace the upper portion of their deck (floor and railings) so she was checking prices at HD. Let me just say, I'm grateful I'm not the one who will be buying! Over at Walart, I found a pair of outdoor cushions for our bench for $3 each, and two t-shirts and a pair of shorts for Eli, also on clearance. 

After lunch (leftovers) we watched television, and I crocheted, until about 4 p.m. when we took our cold drinks out to the front deck. P built it a few years ago because their back deck faces south and it gets very hot throughout the day. The afternoon temperature reached 28C (82F) - sitting in the shade of the house was pleasant. Bop thought so too.

That evening, P made us dinner, panko breaded chicken with roasted veg, and a garlic mayo sauce. Included in the vegetables were yellow tomatoes he grew in the garden. Oh my, were they delicious, as was the rest of the meal. 

On Saturday, S and I drove out to Ol' MacDonald's Resort near Erskine, Alberta. It's an amazing campground with beach access, several playgrounds, an arcade, movie theatre, a mini-golf course. In addition there is a small convenience store and restaurant. It pretty much has it all! There are group sites where families and friends can gather, with access to a dining area, a fire pit and close to showers and restrooms. It also hosts a farmer's markets on summer Saturdays. S has been a vendor selling teas for a couple of years. She was able to catch up with several people. I picked up a jar of slime for Eli and S bought coffee for P. We stopped at the restaurant for lunch, as P had recommended the burgers. Sadly, they are no longer made fresh so it was a bit of a miss.

We were back in Camrose about 3:30 p.m. just in time for a Happy hour on the front deck. P had made a decision we were going out for dinner again that evening. We went to a local restaurant owned and operated by a former cruise chef and his wife. I certainly wasn't disappointed with my salmon, rice and vegetables. After I had eaten, I headed off towards the ladies room but tried to go the front counter to pay for our meal first. That darned P - he saw where I was headed and got there first, though he did let me contribute the tip. I can thoroughly recommend the Monte Carlo for the food, the service, the ambience, and the reasonable prices.  

Sunday I was up early, packed and out the door by 8:30 a.m. I had thought I might stop at a landslide site about 90 minutes out but changed my mind once I was on the road. I did stop in Saskatoon at Michaels to pick up some DMC cotton. That was a bad idea because of the ctonstruction! But I eventually I made it out to the highway and headed for home. By this point it was beginning to rain, but lightly. That changed just over an hour later when it started coming down in sheets. Visibility was poor so I kept my speed a little lower than the limit. The best part of the rain is it cleared the front of my vehicle and windshield of the bugs. I arrived home just after 5 p.m. Bedtime came early that night too.

The heat is on!

The past weekend was stupid hot (for us at least), so while I did go out and water, the rest of the day(s) were spent indoors. Thankfully, the mini heat wave ended overnight and Monday morning was perfect. I got outdoors and finished weeding the rock areas. I also got the rest of the plants in the ground. The patio lilies were split in three and planted in the new perennial bed. That bed still has lots of weeds, but I'll work on it later and add some mulch. 

The lilac bush took some digging. I'm putting it up in the "ugly" area that was xeriscaped, so that meant I needed to remove a portion of the rocks, cut back the weed barrier (which as you know is pretty much useless after a few years), and dig a hole for the bush. It is a bit of a shaded area, so likely will be a little stunted, but at some point the neighbour's tree will come down. 

I had planned to plant the raspberry bushes behind the garden shed, but there is a pile of crusher dust that needs to be moved around onto the parking area (also gravel/weeds), so temporarily they have been planted beyond the garden fence next to the compost bin. They are small enough now, that I can move them again at some point in time. Like the lilac, this required removing rock and weed barrier cloth before digging the holes. I did discover that the soil back there has a lot of sand in it, so added some of the lovely compost the add some nutrients. If memory serves, the raspberries on our farm when I was young didn't seem to mind poor soil conditions. We'll see how it goes.

The garden grew by leaps and bounds with the heat, with the exception of the green peppers. I've already made a note to plant these in containers next year. The radishes bolted, so I pulled those, but the lettuce is now ready for picking. The corn is catching up to the potatoes which are blooming like mad, the peas have pods, and the tomatoes are putting out fruit. Lots of flowers but no cucumbers yet, hopefully they aren't all male flowers. We've harvested cilantro and basil and the oregano is ready too. 

The gerbera daisy, a plant I've never had much luck with is doing beautifully. It has four flowers on it and more buds. I've got a sunflower too, that is budding again, and the roses which we cut back last fall have decided they are very happy. You'll have to use your imagination but the perfume from them is lovely.

Tuesday D and Eli were off to NTO early, and I did a bit of puttering in the yard before heading to the thrift store. This week, I spent time in both the store and the sorting area. We actually got through everything that had been dropped off since the past Thursday. Woohoo! The store wasn't as busy as it had been the past Tuesday, which apparently was a stellar day with over $700 in sales. Knowing that most items average $2, that's a lot of items that left the store. D had asked me to keep an eye out for clothing for her friend S's daughters. I was able to fill two resusable grocery bags with jeans, legging, tees, a couple dresses, a hoodie and a rain jacket for them for just $15. Everything was a size up from their current sizing, so should help outfit them for the next year.

Back at home, I packed for my week away at my son's in the city. I didn't need to take a lot as I have clothing there, but wanted a couple of things to work on (knitting/cross stitch), a book, and my laptop. I knew I'd have lots of other things to do but wanted options. I left home shortly after 8 a.m. and arrived in Regina about 10, after encountering some construction on the secondary highway. The construction crews are creating passing lanes to improve safety. 

My first stop was Costco, where I picked up a life vest for Eli, some groceries and a Ninja Flip combination toaster oven and air fryer. It was a good price (better than Amazon!), and will allow us to free up some counter space in the kitchen as both those appliances take up a fair amount of room and are used frequently. Then it was off to Michaels to get some stitching thread. I've decided this year to make cross-stitch ornaments for family members, rather than crocheting. We'll see how far I get with that!

At the house I dropped off a few groceries, had a chat with B (who was working from home), and checked the fridge. I was surprised and pleased to see she had gotten some items that I enjoy eating (whole wheat bread rather than white, yogurt, and some extra veg). I did run out again though to pick up some Deep Woods Off and a couple of packages of deli meat. C arrived home about 4:30 p.m. and we sat and had a good chat. 

Thursday morning, I tackled the job I had planned to do while I was here. If you recall, just over a year ago, I planted the back yard with a mixture of grass seed and clover. My son, who I love dearly, is not a outdoor person, and failed to get back there to mow last year and this year. As a result, it is jungle back there...with tall weeds and loads of clover. There are places where the grass is doing well, and has gone to seed. This is the before, the second photo is after a couple of hours pulling and digging weeds and using the mower. 

Friday dawned quite warm with the temperature expected to reach 30C/86F, so I needed to be out early to get as much done as I could. I was in the backyard by 8:30 a.m. and within minutes my progress came to a halt. I'm using an old electric mower that I bought about 15 years ago or so...and I accidently ran over the cord. Shoot! Off I went to get a new cord, and since I was out to pick up a few groceries I needed for dinner that evening, and some cat litter B asked me to pick up. I was back at the house by 9:15 a.m. and within 90 minutes and a lot of hard work, I had the rest of it cleared. I've informed my son that he needs to mow regularly, and spend a bit of time EVERY day to keep the weeds at bay. 

Today, I'm taking a break, and probably Sunday too. The temperatures are rising again, it reached 28C/83F on Friday, and we're expecting temperatures of at least 30C/84F both Saturday and Sunday. I've pulled some yarn from my stash under the stairs and am working on a blanket in the cool of the a/c. I've a book to read if I need a break.

I do have plans for today, as friends I met in Yuma live less than an hour away and I've been invited to lunch. Another friend in the same community works at the Farmer's Market selling her baking on Saturdays, so my plan is to leave mid-morning and hopefully catch up with her. It's been awhile since I've chatted with her, and I know very well that I'll find something sweet for dessert. K and I worked together years ago, at a financial institution and though we don't see each other often we keep track of one another through Facebook.

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Saying my goodbyes and so long to Yuma

I spent much of this week packing, rearranging and organizing my space and vehicle in preparation for my trip home to Saskatchewan. It was bittersweet - I am looking forward to seeing my family, and I'll be happy to see some cooler temperatures too, but I'll miss the folks here. Many of my fellow Canadians are also heading home for the season. There are a father and daughter duo flying out of Palm Springs, and another couple who are heading to a cruise today. I'm planning on leaving by 8 a.m. for my first day of driving. 

My initial plan was to drive as far as Laughlin, Nevada, spend the night there and do the drive through Las Vegas early Sunday morning. I've reconsidered that plan and think I will try to make it to Ely, Nevada, about a nine hour drive, where I'll stay for the night. I had considered avoiding Vegas, and driving through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (park), but the cost to non-residents is an additional $100 USD to visit. I'll keep that money in my pocket to pay for the additional costs of fuel, thanks! 

I did get to Canasta on Wednesday, and coffee hour on Thursday. There was a trip to Walmart on Tuesday to pick out grocery items to take home to my family. These were items that are not available in Canada or at least flavours of things we don't get there. For example, Duncan Hines cake mixes are no longer sold in Canada and my daughter wanted some different blends of Hamburger Helper. The latter is something I don't eat, but she enjoys on occasion. Overall I spent about $100 including two containers to carry them home in. I purchased clear tubs, which along with the ones I brought here in October, should be useful at the border, should the agents want to see what I'm bringing into the country. 

Jose came by shortly before sundown on Thursday to take down the gazebo. It looks so forlorn out there with just the metal structure. He also unhooked the propane tank so I was without a stove and water heater for Friday. That was okay, as I still had the BBQ grill, a toaster and microwave and heated up water in the kettle for washing. 

Speaking of water, I filled up several jugs to be placed around the unit, and put water in plastic bags to seal the drains in the sinks. Both the dinette benches and couch were covered with sheets in the hopes that I won't find them as dusty when I return. This morning, I stripped the bedding, laid the hanging clothes on the mattress and covered it with a fitted sheet. Again, keeping the dust at bay. H did tell me, that even with all of these preparations, I will still come back to a mess to clean up. 

I had done as much as I could by mid-day on Friday, so left the a/c running (it was 88F/31C when I returned after Happy Hour the day before), and went to visit friends. S and L and I had a good visit, before I headed home to grab my last beer for Happy Hour. I tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to not cry as we said our goodbyes but I know I'll miss this group of wonderful people. S and L were extended an invitation to dinner, which I accepted, so I didn't even have to cook or do dishes. 

This morning, I've still got a laundry list of things to do before I leave: empty the black and gray tanks, turn off the electricity at the pole, turn off the water, put the foam pads up in the roof vents, ensure the fridge door is left slightly ajar, put out bay leaves, and load the car. So I'd best get at it, so I can get on the road to home.

So long Yuma, see you in November.

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Many hands, light work and time to pack!

I normally start the week's post by Tuesday, but not this week. It is Thursday and I'm trying to remember what I did and what happened throughout the week. It's gone by so quickly! 

The weather has stayed hot, but not quite as excessive as it was last week. I stayed in most days, watching curling and enjoying the a/c. In addition, I had to stick around early in the week as the chairs were expected to be delivered on Tuesday. I was able to use the tracker and saw the truck had left Calexico about 9:30 a.m. California time (an hour behind us). The drive is only an hour, but I knew the truck would have other stops.

Since I cannot see the trucks from my end of the park, mid-afternoon I wandered down to S and L's to watch from their unit for a bit. By 4 (and time for the next curling game),  no truck had arrived. Around 6 p.m. I called Dome Hepot and they could only tell me that the delivery would likely be made the following day. Later I got a notification that the truck had returned to Calexico.

The truck did  finally arrive around noon on Wednesday. A huge semi pulled into our small park. L spotted him and ran out to tell that he wouldn't be able to turn around at the end of the park, due to the size of the trailer. As I walked down from my unit, one of the permanent residents G, came to assist. The driver pulled the pallet from the truck and dropped the chairs in front of our clubhouse. With the extra hands, we had the chairs off the pallet and into the clubhouse in short order. From there, L opened the boxes, I pulled out the chairs, removed the coverings and delivered the chairs to the patio where S sprayed them with the fabric protection. As she was finishing, J arrived and helped L break down the boxes and move the cardboard to the recycling bin, while I gathered the garbage. We had the whole process done in less than an hour.

That afternoon, I went to play Canasta, though I had my phone tuned into the curling. I was able to catch the last couple of ends. After that was done, we set up for Thursday's coffee hour. S, L and I were responsible for purchasing the goodies and I figured I'd take care of set-up. But, the rest of the Canasta crew stepped in and helped and again, everything was ready for the next morning in a short period of time. S and L ordered the apple fritters (a must have for this crew) and a dozen donuts that afternoon and picked them up early the next morning.

We had a good turn-out at coffee hour, with about 20 people in attendance. I had announced earlier that the old chairs were up for sale, and managed to get rid of fourteen of them, for a $1 a piece. There is still a good number of chairs available, some of which are in bad shape and will be trashed, while the rest will be donated to a local charity thrift store. 

After coffee, H and I started cleaning  the remaining cabinets. At 83, this woman is an Energizer bunny! While I sorted through items she had passed me from the cabinets, she scrubbed down the interiors and laid down leftover magazines. There were empty jugs that went to the recycling bin, while broken items were tossed. Other items went into a box for next year's garage sale, and still others were put in the proper containers out in the party shed. I left about 11 a.m., tired and ready to relax and watch more curling! H continued until about noon, and cleared and sorted out the drawers. I stopped by later with paper towels I'd picked up, and oh my, everything looks tidy and organized. I just need to borrow the label maker from the office to finish the task.

Friday, I was at the clubhouse just before 9:30 and folded up the chairs. I knew there was a group at exercise class from 9-9:30, so when they had finished we moved the chairs inside and hung them on the racks. Finally, I can say the sage of the chairs is over! Though I do need to get to Dome Hepot one more time to discuss an appropriate something something for the trouble in ordering and receiving the items. I'm hoping for a gift card of some amount that we can use next year for the flowers we plant in front of the clubhouse each year. 

At 11:30, H, S, D, and I met with many of the other women in the park for a lunch at the River City Grill. It doesn't look like much on the outside, slightly better on the inside, but the food was fantastic. I ordered an appetizer for my main, crab and salmon cakes, along with a side spinach salad. The salad had gorgonzola cheese, craisens, and walnuts, along with the spinach in a raspberry vinaigrette. The salmon/crab cakes were primarily salmon, but had some kick to them. The meal was a bit pricey, but very, very delicious. I don't eat out a lot and it was a treat.

My packing begins in earnest as I'm now just a week away from leaving. I'm sorting things out - items that were in the unit when I arrived in October, that I haven't used were boxed up and dropped off at a thrift store. Items I purchased for my family, t-shirts and shorts for Eli and craft items for my daughter are packed in a clear container. There are other items I purchased at thrift stores for use at home that will make their way into a tote as well. Something I wouldn't have thought about is clothing items that have elastic (mostly undies) which cannot be left behind as the elastic will be ruined by the high temperatures. I won't be taking a lot of the clothing home, but there are certain pieces I will want to take with me. My current knitting projects will be going with me too, though I'll leave the yarn I found here will stay behind. 

Another tote will carry my bedding - so I'll have clean bedding when I return next November. I'm told that most people cover their bed and bedding with an extra sheet. By fall everything will be covered in a layer of dust that blows in through any possible opening. I have an extra sheet to through over the bed, pads to place in the ceiling vents, and duct tape to close off the stove hood vent. Windows are covered in reflective insulation, bags of water are tucked into the drains, and the toilet, and lastly I'll put out several glass jugs of water throughout the unit. Last year, even with this last trick, the molding on the upper cabinets above the sink partially melted in the heat! 

So, I forsee a busy week ahead as I prepare to head north. There will be curling to watch as well, the playoffs of the Brier are in full swing, which along with my knitting will ensure it's not all work. 

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Settling in

I predicted that the week would be busy and I was right, in more ways than one. I spent the first couple of days sorting through the interior of the RV, emptying cupboards, wiping them down, and sorting through the contents. Unpacking of the clothing and the few personal items I brought with me also happened. It was a disaster in here, but by Thursday afternoon, I was pretty much finished. I took out a couple of bags of broken or damaged items to the bin and put several tote bags of items to be donated to the park garage sale in the back of my vehicle. There were also a number of items I returned to J, the previous owner, as I believed they would have some sentimental value.

Wednesday morning, I took advantage of the cooler temperature early in the day and opened up the shed under the nose of the 5th wheel. It was chock block full of stuff! There was not only the BBQ and mini fridge which I expected, but a patio heater (not needed now!), brooms, mop and pails, boxes of parts for the RV, boxes of various household items, insect spray, mice deterrents, and the motherlode of all...two large containers of yarn. There didn't appear to be any bugs, but I've left them out in the sun for 24 hours, just in case. I did check with J - they are hers but she no longer wants them. So I'm set for yarn for at least 10 years, and that doesn't include the stash I have back at home. :) Actually I plan to go through it at some point and will keep some and donate the rest to a local charity shop. 

H has told me she wants a scarf knit with the purple yarn (top bag on the left). She won't need it here of course. But it does give me another project to work on.

Meanwhile, Jose, the handyman had been here to set up the gazebo for me. He also hooked up the propane so I could cook, though I hadn't had to as yet. The big tank was empty so we used the BBQ tank for the time being. I'm expecting the fuel company to be by next Tuesday to refill the 100 gallon tank. That should last for the entire season. Jose was back at the unit on Thursday as the hot water heater wasn't working properly. I've only just met him, but it appears he is jack of all trades. Good thing, 'cuz this woman has no clue about most of these things. I did, after some help from J, figure out what I needed to do to empty the black and gray tanks. I do tend to make things more complicated than they need to be.

Every evening that the Jays are playing, we have been meeting in the clubhouse. After pizza night, we had L's famous chili, and on Wednesday, L brought potato salad and deli meat. The rest of us brought buns or vegetables. Tuesday, I took advantage of L&S's offer to take some of the leftover chili. I can heat it up in the microwave...again, no cooking!

As promised here are a few photos of my set-up. The living area is cozy and comfortable. It took me a couple of days, but I figured out the television set-up . I may not use it much as I watch a lot of programming on Y-Tube on my laptop. On the other hand the cable subscription is paid for by the park so it is a nice to have. I can sit on the couch or turn the television to watch from the dinette, or even watch from my bed! 

I haven't made much use of the outdoor space as yet, but will do so as the weather cools from the 90's we've been experiencing. It is a perfect place for a morning cup of tea, as it is in the shade until around noon'ish. I hope to find a few more comfortable chairs so others can join me for a visit.

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Outside the gazebo is the mini-fridge. I did plug it in briefly and it works perfectly. However, it is very dirty and needs a good scrubbing. That had to wait until the hot water heater was working. I did some cleaning in cold water (though the water here is never really cold - at least not like it is at home). I envision using the stand beside it for my electric kettle and perhaps a slow cooker. It will keep the heat outdoors rather than in.

I got the fridge cleaned out on Thursday, then met J. We drove to the DOT office to switch the registration on the RV. The plate and title should be in the mail in 8-10 business days. Once I receive the title, I'll be able to arrange insurance for the unit. It was the hottest day thus far, 95F/35C so the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent indoors. I did a bit of finishing work on the scarf, took an afternoon nap, and as expected had the leftover chili and rice for my dinner.

Friday morning, the queen mattress in the bedroom (the nose of the 5th wheel) was swapped out with L&S for a twin that was in their new-to-them park model. I didn't need the box spring so that went to someone else in the park. There tends to be a whole lot of trading that happens here. They also gave me a small fold up stool, and have offered a small crockpot. Meanwhile I had sorted the yarn, and S took the remainder. She'll take what she wants and the rest will be kept until the garage sale. I should note, whatever doesn't sell at the garage sale is donated to a local charity shop.

I was able to fit in a three drawer (plastic) chest, as a well as the container on the left to hold my folded clothing. For hanging clothes I've currently got them in the closet by the door, but I use that for the broom and vacuum as well so would like to get them out of there. I'll look for an extension closet rod that I can fit in next to the window. I don't have much to hang so it doesn't need to be drilled into the walls.

That afternoon, H and I went out to lunch at In and Out burger, then over to Sam's Club. Memberships for new members were on sale for $15 for an annual card, regular $50. I was able to get a companion card for H. Recall she's the baker, and left with a cart full of sugar, oil, chocolate chips, etc. along with a massive jar of minced garlic. There will be no vampires around her place! :) I didn't bother picking anything up as we both had things to do back at the park. I needed to drop off the burgers, hotdogs, and smokies for the evening BBQ, and she was heading home to cook up onions for the burgers.

The watch party grew slightly larger with the addition of J and her friend P. I took care of the BBQ, while others laid out the spread of food. In addition to burgers, there was leftover potato salad from the other night, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, and the usual condiments. J brought a bean casserole made with corn and Rotel spicy tomatoes, and D made roasted potatoes in the air fryer. We never run out of food!

Since there will be a Game 7 of the World Series (go Jays) tonight, we'll be having a "must go" meal. Everything remaining in the fridge will be laid out and whatever remains at the end of the night either goes home with someone or into the bin. Hopefully, the Jays will pull through and win the final game. In any event, it has been a great series to watch and a good time to get together. 

Today, I've nothing on the agenda until evening. The unit is pretty much organized as I would like it, so I'll spend my morning out in the gazebo reading. I'm midway through a Michael Connelly book with Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch. I feel as though I've read it before and it may very well be one of the episodes of that I watched on one of the streaming networks. I can't recall though and am enjoying it very much. The afternoon will likely mean indoor time again and I hope to finish sewing in the ends on my scarf. 

Have a great week ahead everyone! Welcome to November.

Laughlin, Nevada to Yuma, Arizona

This was my short travel day. I was up and out the door by 6:45 a.m. local time, arriving in Yuma at 12:30 p.m. This included a stop for a leisurely breakfast at the Crossroads Cafe in Parker, Arizona. The food was great, and the prices terrific too. 

Laughlin is a short distance from the California and Arizona borders, and at least twice I was "welcomed" by the GPS to one or the other states. Gas prices in Laughlin were stupidly high, at $4.20 a gallon. I'd checked online and found that I could get fuel at a Maverick station in Bullhead City (12 miles away) for $3.09. You can bet I took the short trip for less expensive fuel. 

A note about the Pioneer Hotel and Casino in Laughlin. At a cheap price, it gave me what I needed, a comfortable bed for the night. But, the tile floors were filthy, the telephone flashed as though it had messages constantly, and there was a constant stream of people outside my door until past midnight. It is more of a motel than hotel and I think next time I'll stay at a more conventional hotel. I ended up wearing socks in the room, unplugged the phone, and got up early and left. 

Now, I'm a little confused on exactly how I got to Yuma. My GPS kept telling me it had a shorter route and I kept taking its suggestions. I do know I went through Kingman on Highway 93, then onto I-40, and then eventually Highway 95 into Yuma. The scenery in places was amazing and I was excited to see various cacti as I got closer to Yuma. No photos as I couldn't find a decent pull-out. But I did get a shot from the car of the green desert. 

I was meeting with J about 1:30 p.m. to go through the RV (technically a fifth wheel but the generic term works for me). Since I was early, I stopped at the Walmart Supercenter to pick up a few groceries and drinking water. Another stop at a liquor store for a few beer for Happy Hour too. I had just parked my car near the clubhouse when another winter residents, H, came walking up. After a hug and a brief chat she was one her way.

Since I was early, I stopped in at S & L's new place for a visit. They purchased a park model in the park last winter and have started the move from their small trailer. It was so good to see them, and we had a great chat. I was informed that we'd be watching the Jays game that evening at the clubhouse, and would be ordering in pizza. Nice to know, as I hadn't bought a lot of groceries. 

When J arrived we walked over to the unit, and she ran through the various things I'll need to know. The power had been turned on, but I'm out of propane for the stove and hot water heater. We turned on the fridge and by this morning it was cool. The unit has an RV toilet, so I need to go out every so often to release the handle to empty it into the sewer line. She said once a week would be enough...I'm icked out enough that think I'll do it at least every other day. We also turned on the air conditioning - it was 88F in there, I set the thermostat to 74F and by bedtime it was 63F. Oops, I guess the thermostat isn't hooked up to the a/c. Great sleeping temperature.

There were eight of us at the clubhouse to watch the game. The pizza and company were great, and the game was exciting, though I didn't stay through to the end of it. After the Jays had their bat in the 11th inning, I headed home for sleep. I wasn't surprised to wake to the news that the Dodgers won this morning. It was a true pitcher's battle throughout the entire game.

Today, I'll be busy, as I need to buy groceries, have a interview with the board (a formality), I'm sorting through the cabinets and cupboards*, and we're have another watch party this evening. L is making his chili, M is making rice, I offered to buy shredded cheese and sour cream, and I expect H will show up with one of her homemade desserts. She actually has a outdoor kitchen set up in a shed, though she says her stove isn't working properly.

*When one purchases a unit here, it comes with whatever the former owner leaves behind. In my case, that includes various pots and pans, small appliances, dishes, utensils, containers, bedding, towels, a stick vacuum, an iron and board, and other decorative items. There is also a mini fridge for outdoor use, a barbeque, and the gazebo.  There's far more than I need, or want, and I need to do some reorganization so things are where I think they should be. It's going to be a busy few days. I'll share a few photos when things are tidier.

Have a great day everyone, and thanks for checking in.

On the road

Just a quick recap of the week - it was pretty quiet. Our weather was less than stellar and while I did start weeding the back yard on Sunday, I had to give it up as a "wintry" mix arrived on Monday. It was mostly rain and was quite cold for this time of year. Our high was only 5C/41F. I spent the day indoors doing very little.

My son's roommate B has been dealing with a cold for a few days and C woke up with it on Tuesday morning. B was working from home too so I decided to do a little browsing at the thrift stores. I told myself that I wouldn't buy anything unless I had an immediate use for it. Ha! It probably won't surprise you that some yarn jumped into my cart, along with a brand new photo album, a cute mug and a t-shirt. But.my best.purchase was a pair of slip-on walking shoes for $10.  They appear to be knockoff Skechers but are very comfortable.

As you learned in Wednesday's post, I've decided to try and avoid the potential cooler weather and head south at the end of the week. I needed to do a bit of banking that morning to transfer funds to the previous owner of the unit. I'm the afternoon I went to Stitch and Chat.

Thursday I got my laundry done including my bedding in the morning. In the afternoon I drove out to Moose Jaw to visit with friends from the RV park. They will be flying down in mid November so it was nice to see them ahead of their arrival. They provided lots of information about the trip down as they've been going there for over 10 years. I feel confident about the route I've chosen and have a few ideas for places to stay and even for meal stops.  Back at the house, I loaded the rest of my items in the SUV in preparation for my departure this morning. 

By the time you are reading this I'll be on the highway. It is about a two hour drive to the border. My destination for the day is Billings, Montana. If I find I'm not too tired I'll push on to Bozeman. That would be about a nine hour drive; Billings is a couple of hours less. I know I'll be excited to be in my way but I also know I have two and a half more days of driving ahead.

I'll try to update daily but it may be every second day.  I'm pretty certain there will be photos!

And I know I won't be missing waking to frost on the windshield.

What a difference a week makes!

The photo I shared on Wednesday is of the lilies in the front flower bed. When C bought the house back in the fall of 2023, I had noticed three lilies in the bed, but there was no sign of the them in 2024. I planted a few ground covers, including a dead nettle from the house in town, and two varieties of bugleweed. My goal was to make the bed low maintenance. If you recall I moved the rocks around last fall (I found a bazillion of them in the back yard). Well, apparently moving those rocks provided an opportunity for the lilies to make another appearance. I'm thinking that the rocks would have warmed earlier in the sun. In any event, they have also multiplied. I'm looking forward to seeing them bloom - I have no idea what colour they might be.

It's been a full week with some work and some fun (and more of the latter to come). On Sunday, I had the refuse removal fellow come and he took away fence boards, the plywood and 2x4's that were the wall and work bench that I removed from the garage last fall, and some old metal pieces and other odds and ends we found in the area between the fence and the back of the garage. One old gate we weren't able to remove because a tree had grown through the wire and we would have needed to cut it apart or taken the tree down. This is one of those horrible Lombardy poplars that have a narrow trunk and grow very tall. This one has a trunk about 3 inches in diameter and is at least 16 feet tall.  Can you imagine how long that has been there? I'll leave it for now, and since the fence won't extend across the back of the garage, we'll be able to take care of it later...maybe next spring.

Monday was more weeding. I did a run to the garden center with my handy gift cards and picked up grass seed. Initially I had thought I'd just seed micro clover, but have decided to do a mix of grass and clover. I also picked up a seed spreader, with the hopes of getting a more even looking lawn at some point. 

On Tuesday, D and Eli were in the city for a couple of doctor's appointments. We were hoping that the neurologist would agree that Eli can stop taking the seizure meds as he's been seizure free for nearly 15 months, and his recent EEG was clear. However, Dr. I. wants Eli to see the pediatric neurologist as he specializes in adults, primarily stroke victims. He also suggested Eli's brain is still developing, and he's uncertain what impact discontinuing the meds would have. Eli's been on the waiting list for the pediatric neurologist for more than a year. D had contacted their office last fall and was told to wait 12 months and try again. (I should note that he wasn't considered to be a priority because he hadn't had a seizure after his hospitalization.)

Before their next appointment, an eye exam by another specialist, they met me at the McDonald's in the east end of the city near the Costco. We made a quick trip to Dollarama (in the same area), before enjoying our lunch. It was so great to see them both, and I got a couple of amazing hugs from my special boy. I was able to send back the groceries and other items I've gathered up for her, which is nice, as I'll have less to take with me in a few weeks. 

When I arrived home, I discovered the utility company rep had been out to mark the underground utilities. I had originally assumed the skid steer company had made the request, but it was actually the fence company. I learned this when Kevin called to say he'd be by Thursday morning to complete the skidsteer work in the back yard. 

Stitch and chat was Wednesday afternoon. It was an easy morning, with a bit of housework, before I headed out before lunch. It's been a long time since I've gone for a walk in the old neighbourhood and decided it was time. I ought to have taken my Canon with me but here are a few photos from my cellphone.

I was shocked to see that many of the trees that lined the pond had been removed in the last year or so.

Not only did they provide some shade for the geese and ducks who nest here, but the blackbirds would often be found singing their hearts out atop the trees.

At the other end of the pond, the trees were still in place, as you can see the pair of mallards enjoying the shade. 

On the right, I was able to catch a Canada goose landing on the water. It was so bright, I didn't always capture the photo I was wanting!

Like this photo below there are two families of ducks. Mama duck on the left was leading her brood out of the drainage area into the creek, while the second mama on the right (who I didn't see at first) appeared to be marshalling the troops. 

And, of course, I couldn't leave without a photo of the younger goslings!

Early Thursday morning, about 8:15 a.m., I heard noise in the backyard. I went out to check, assuming it would be Kevin the skidsteer guy, but instead finding Garrett, the fence guy. He and his worker were taking down the last of the fence and gates. He'd had a call from Kevin so came over to get some help removing the fence posts. Kevin arrived minutes later and used the skidsteer to lift the posts out of their holes. We had thought they might be cemented in, but in actuality several of them were dug at least three feet in. No wonder my con C, wasn't able to remove them! The skidsteer did the job in seconds. 

Once the fence was removed, Kevin went to work. Here's the before and after:

This was taken on Sunday after I'd done much of the weeding but before the fence was taken down.

It's difficult to tell in these photos but Kevin moved the dirt higher at the front of the yard by the house to ensure that the rain moves towards the alley. (I put the drain pipe back after the photo was taken). He also filled in a dip between the back yard and the alley. We didn't have to bring any additional dirt into the yard, it's just been moved around. I am beyond thrilled with the work.

Garrett and his helper/Dad arrived on Friday morning to start the process of replacing the fence. First off was digging the postholes. They were able to use some of the older holes but needed to dig a few news ones for reasons not known to me. The materials were delivered mid-afternoon with the exception of the fence boards. Garrett was back just before 5 p.m. to set the posts. I went out to talk to him because I was certain there wasn't enough material - he explained that there weren't enough fence boards, more are expected to arrive later this week. He finished up the posts before heading home for the day and said he might be back Saturday to finish the supporting rails. 

I'm actually hoping he takes the day off. We are currently under a weather advisory due to the smoke that has blown in from the fires in Northern Saskatchewan. By noon'ish on Friday, the smoke had settled in and the view towards the highway looked like this: 

It's only expected to get worse through Saturday. As a result outdoor activities are not recommended. No yardwork for me, instead I am heading to Manitou Beach to meet my friend S for two nights. (I'm hoping the smoke will have passed through there, though the mineral pools are indoors.) We're staying in the resort Saturday and then joining two more ladies in a resort owned small apartment across the street for Sunday night. The apartment has a kitchenette, a 2 bed bedroom, and an outdoor area with a BBQ. Meals have already been planned for Sunday and the other women will bring the groceries; we'll share the cost. Although we can't check into our room until 4 p.m. today, we're meeting earlier in the afternoon as we'll have access to the pools. S was told that we'll be able to get into the apartment as early as noon. I'm looking forward to relaxing and hanging out with the group. I'm more than ready for a break!

Have a great week ahead everyone! 

Back in town

The painting in the basement is complete...at least for now. As I mentioned in my last post, I've decided to hold off painting my bedroom until later this spring or maybe in the fall. I'm glad I did the bathroom first, because it was a small project and, I suspect had I not, that job would have been held over. The foyer, stairwell, and the rec room including the alcove were a lot of work. There were lots of holes in the walls, several cracks, etc. that needed to be filled and sanded before I could even start thinking about painting. It is clear, that the walls were not floated when they did this reno and a lot of it was DIY. If my son ever wins the lottery, I'd recommend he tear it all out and start fresh. But for now, the area looks lighter and cleaner. I've done what I can.

On a vastly different note, we had more snow on Sunday into Monday, about 6-8 cms/2-3 in. I DON'T want to shovel snow again. Yes, I know I got away with not shovelling for two months. Still, it's time for spring...though we're more likely to see fool's spring and second winter before the real thing arrives. I'm envious of all of you, who are seeing snow drops and daffodils beginning to pop up in your gardens and neighbourhoods. Wednesday's photo showed the aftermath.

Monday, I finished the touch-ups and cleaned up the paint supplies, and vacuumed the basement. I did have another oops...this time I accidently hit the switch and turned off the furnace when I replaced the switch cover. It got pretty chilly, though my son didn't notice upstairs. He wasn't happy with me when I told him I thought there might be something wrong with the furnace and we discovered it was just my boo-boo. Oh well, it warmed up quickly and he'll know to check the switch should it ever happen again.

Laundry and running errands was the agenda for Tuesday. I dropped off some donations at the thrift store and got 5 balls of yarn for less than $6. These will be used to make more mittens for Eli's school this fall. I was happy to see my favorite cashier back in the store. She's been off work for several months due to a cancer diagnosis. I wasn't able to chat with her as she was busy with other customers, but I overheard her say, she's worked at the store for 20 years! She's definitely a good ambassador for the store.

Wednesday was mammogram day. I got lucky that there were a couple of cancellations and I was able to get an appointment in just a couple of weeks. Way back, over a year ago, I'd booked an appointment in the city for December. This was pre-purchase of the house in town, and I totally forgot about it. When they called to remind me, I tried to reschedule for March, and they had nothing available until August! I try to attend every year, as we have a family history of breast cancer. I've offered to have them remove the damn things since I don't use them anyway, but the medical professionals won't take me up on this.

I had a bit of a wait at the Breast Screening clinic, but the test took no time at all, and the x-ray operator was as gentle as possible as well as efficient. From there, I was able to visit with my friends L and K. We try to get together every few months to catch up. K introduced me to L, many years ago, as she is a travel agent and has been a friend as well. We talked about our various travels this winter, and upcoming trips. K and her partner J are the ones who drove me from Phoenix to Yuma, and will be off on a trip to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland mid-May for about five weeks or so. In fact, they'll likely be back in Halifax when D, Eli, and I are there in June! L has a trip planned in June, too. She'll be off to Spain for a week or 10 days at the invitation of Spain's tourism board. She and her family spent a week or so in Alberta in February in the Banff and Lake Louise area too. It's likely their last family trip, as their daughter is now 18 and will be starting university (nursing program) in the fall. Thinking back, I met L when her daughter was still around kindergarten age. 

Throughout the week, I had an opportunity to watch some of the women's worlds curling. I did not watch those games that were aired in the middle of the night. Sadly, TSN did not replay those games Curling Canada only provided the highlights on You-tube. However, I was also able to watch mixed doubles curling (also You-tube) which is underway in PEI. (I hope you've enjoyed watching some in person, Marie!)

While watching, I got some addition cross-stitching done. At this rate, I may finish this piece in time for Christmas!

This is from a kit I picked up at the thrift store. Cross-stitch kits are pricey. This would have been at least $40 when originally purchased. I picked it up for $3.99 plus taxes.

This is the front of the package. The kit came with all the materials needed to complete the project, including the felt for the backing. I'll have to pull out the sewing machine, once the stitching is complete to finish it. That will be the hardest part for me. 

If you recall I had an eye appointment a couple of weeks ago. The lens finally arrived on Friday at the north store but missed the pickup for the lab. The dispensary asked if I would mind delivering them myself, and they would put a rush replacing my old lenses in my glasses. I agreed as I wanted the new corrective lenses.

There was freezing rain in the forecast for Saturday morning, and I decided I'd like to get to my daughter's on Friday. I packed up the vehicle with my bags and things I'd picked up for D and Eli, picked up the lenses and delivered them to the lab at the east store. I spent the next couple of hours walking; first to Tim's for lunch, back to mall, around the mall, to the car, back to the mall, to the Dollar store, to the car, back to the mall. (I had parked a good distance from the mall on purpose, wanting to get some steps in.) I arrived back in the mall about 10 minutes ahead of schedule and took a break on a bench while I waited. 

I was back in the car and on my way by 2:20 p.m. and arrived at home just around 4 p.m. D, Eli, and I unpacked the car and put everything I'd brought away. At that point I was done, so sat while D made dinner. She and I watched Blue Jays pre-season baseball, before she took Eli up to bed about 7:30 p.m. I stayed up watching the Women's World Curling qualifier between Canada and Scotland. The Canadian team (Homan) prevailed and went on to win the semi-final overnight. They will be in the final (at 3 a.m. ET) in a repeat of last year's final against Switzerland. The Homan team won the title last year, and I'm hopeful they'll do the same this year.

We've got a couple of things to do here today, mostly tidying and cleaning up living areas. D has an errand she needs to run this afternoon too. But otherwise I plan to continue doing as little as possible. 

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Coming home, work to be done

Over all the trip home from Yuma was probably one of my better travel day(s). Although the Desert Bus wasn't a bus, but a 9 passenger van, there were no lengthy delays, no lost shoes or passport, and there was even an empty seat between me and another woman on the flight from Phoenix to Calgary. And I got about a 90 minute sleep on that first flight. From the time I left the hotel in the morning until I arrived at C's that night, was only 12 hours. That is a short travel day for me, as getting here from anywhere is always a lengthy process.

I spent the weekend unpacking, cuddling the cat, doing a bit of cleaning (my son had vacuumed the basement!), cuddling the cat, watching curling, and cuddling the cat. C and I took Sage, the dog, for a walk too, and she is much better mannered wearing a harness rather than just a collar. Sage does not like other dogs however, and C needs to restrain her. He's looking into obedience classes for this spring. I think it will be good for both of them.

I did some shopping on Tuesday morning. I will be here in the city for a few weeks, with my goal of painting the basement. The bedroom is pink and the main room is a blue that makes it feel very dark. My first stop was Home Depot for paint and supplies, and home again to drop these items off. I had more shopping to do and didn't want to leave the paint in the car, as it was -7C (19F). There followed stops at Value Village, Salvation Army thrift store, Costco and Dollarama. My best deal of the day were two kitchen chairs at S.A. for $20. We've been using fold-up chairs at both houses and I'll leave this with my son. I'll keep looking for other chairs for our house in town. The Costco run was made for my daughter and I purchased everything but the chocolate chips she wanted. At $26.99 for a 2.4 kg/5.3 lb. bag, I thought the price was outrageous - according to my daughter it is not. So I'll have to make a stop before I leave the city - it's on the way out anyway.

BTW, the photo on Wednesday was a vehicle parked at the Salvation Army thrift store. I'm assuming that the individual didn't want to park further ahead as the parking lot has ice on it. In any event, I found it amusing.

On Wednesday, I had a meeting with my financial advisor to discuss moving some funds around. She is expecting in May, but works with a team. Some of the transactions will happen now, but there is one that is pending for October. It will be diarized, but I'll be in touch too, to ensure it happens when I need it too. 

I got started on the basement prep that morning too (after the curling game!). The previous owners clearly liked to hang things on the walls as there were holes even where there were no hangers. I'd decided that painting will start in the small bathroom, so cleared the room out before patching the one wall (not pictured). By the time I finished patching all the holes and a couple of cracks in the main room, it was time for more curling. 

I had an appointment with the optometrist early Thursday morning and walked out of his office a whole lot lighter (in the wallet) than I went in. Progressive lenses are not inexpensive! I had been noticing a difference in my left eye primarily and this was confirmed by the doc. My cataracts, he says, continue not to be an issue. Frankly, I'm not even aware of them, though it seems to me the last time he only mentioned one and now there are two.

I got the bathroom painted on Friday morning with a pint of "oops" paint. You know I have a hard time passing up a bargain, and at $3 for the paint, I thought it would work well with the flooring. There are a few small spots that need touch up, and I'll do that this morning, before putting everything away. 

I did some sanding (and some vacuuming) in the main room as well. Watching curling took up the afternoon before I met friends for dinner. We'd last been together in October, so there was a lot to catch up on. It was a good time, with good food, good friends, and lots of laughter. Back at home, I watched curling - it was late night, hence the late posting of this blog. 

Today, I'll wash walls in the main room before I start painting. This is a large room, with three areas: a hallway/foyer at the base of the stairs, the open living area, and an alcove where I believe they had their television. There isn't a whole lot of furniture, mostly cat stuff and a chair and table that I use for jigsaw puzzles. As a result, I won't be rushing to get it done. The paint is not a oops paint, but a slightly green toned off white. Since the room is the blue that was in the bathroom, this colour should really lighten it up.

More curling today too, a match this afternoon and another this evening, the semi-final and final will air tomorrow. I've been working on my cross stitching while I watch. My bedroom was a former sewing room of one of the previous owners. The overhead florescent lights provide good lighting for this project and my old eyes. And on that note, I'll finish this post...

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Settling in

What a difference a few days makes (and 2810 kms/1750 miles)! The weather here is quite lovely, cooling down to 8-10C/46-50F at night, and our daytime highs have been around 23-26C/74-79F. The skies are blue and bright, just like winter days at home.

I flew out of Regina early Tuesday morning, but it wasn't a direct flight, as I went through Vancouver, B.C. I ought to have waited a month or two to book a direct flight, but I'm not sure that would have provided any difference in costs. We were delayed out of Regina with a full flight of passengers causing a delay in boarding and then the requiring de-icing of the plane. I had about 75 minutes in Vancouver to get through security, customs, and to make my way to the gate. I made with about 5 minutes before pre-boarding was called after stopping for a sandwich at Tim Horton's. 

The flights were uneventful and we arrived about 20 minutes ahead of schedule in Phoenix. De-planing took some time as, again, it was a nearly full flight. I got lucky and my seat-mate and I had a empty middle seat between us. On the plane, it was announced that there might be a delay with our luggage due to some issue at the carousels. Initially, it appeared we were last in a long line of flights at carousel 3, however someone somewhere made a switch and our luggage came out the carousel right next to it. Even better, my luggage was within the first ten bags to come off the belt.

I texted my friends who were waiting for me in one of the parking lots and they came to pick me up at one of the exit doors. Great service! From there we drove to their rental in Apache Junction. Later, that evening, J drove K and I, and another lady, to a nearby community where they were have a line dancing party. I sat to watch, tapping my toes to the music, and chatting with others at the table as they came and went from the floor. J picked us up about 10 p.m. for the drive back to their rental. It had been a long day; I'd been up at 3:30 a.m. so fell into bed quickly after our return.

On New Year's Day, we left their place to head for Yuma and arrived at the rental around 3 p.m. We'd made a couple of stops, one at a rest area for a picnic and another at Dateland travel center. At the latter, we did a little shopping, then J and K shared a Date milkshake while I ate a date ice cream cone. To be honest, I didn't really notice the flavour in the ice cream. I had picked up a container of almond crusted date bars for later and those are delicious. They are nice sweet treat.

My landlords were waiting for us at the unit and proceeded to show us around the property. The place is lovely and the unit is well-equipped. After the tour, we sat around in the outdoor living area before heading to pick up a few basic groceries at Walmart. We looked for a Mexican restaurant for dinner that evening, my treat, but they weren't open. We ended up at Cracker Barrel, which was fine but not really what I had wanted. 

I was awake by 6 a.m. the following morning, but lay and read blogs (no comments) and FB until shortly after 7 when they began to stir. By 9 we were in the truck and on our way to Arizona Market, a flea market near the Yuma airport. The place was quiet, but got busier while we were there, and while there were empty spots there were plenty of vendors to visit. K got grapefruit at one place, while I picked up a huge head of lettuce and green onions at another. The prices were amazing, as I paid only $2.50 for my purchases. 

After lunch, we went to Food City, also within a few blocks of the park (easy walking distance) for a few more groceries, primarily fruit and veg. My landlady had mentioned they have better produce than Walmart and she wasn't wrong. I picked up some other basic items to put in the pantry for later.

For dinner, we drove to Los Charros for the Mexican food I'd been craving. The place was packed when we arrived, and the food was tasty with a reasonable price. It's too far for me to walk there but I noticed a few places close by, that I may check out at another time.

We all slept in on Friday morning, I didn't wake until almost 8 a.m. That's very late for me! We didn't rush, but left for the historic downtown Yuma shortly before 10 a.m. Like the market, it was quiet with few tourist around. We wandered through various places and checked out the windows of others. There is a lovely cafe I'd like to visit again someday, and a few shops with interesting art and gift ideas. I really don't plan to buy anything much as I've picked up hot sauce for my son, and vanilla for my daughter, but I'll want to find something for Eli.

Back at the unit, we made lunch, sat and visited for a bit before J and K left for Apache Junction. I attempted to sit out in the sun, but it was too strong for me for longer than 10 minutes. I'm fortunate I have the outside seating area as it is shaded, so I sat and read a book. 

About 4 p.m. I headed over to the pergola where many of the inhabitants meet for Happy Hour. Everyone I met was from Canada, except for Pat, who is has been coming to the park since 1989. I'm told she is the historian and she certainly had some interesting information to share. While there, I was convinced to join the canasta group that meet on Wednesday (I haven't played since I was a child), and was invited to go thrifting with my next door neighbour and her friend on Tuesday. There is cribbage on Thursday too, and coffee hour is held that morning in the clubhouse. I am certain I won't be bored. :) Of course, I have some crafts I want to work on while I'm here, so won't over schedule myself.

Today, I'm planning to do a load of laundry in the morning, but beyond that it is a time for rest and relaxation. There is a book I've started to finish, and the outdoor living area is calling my name.

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Edit: It appears I gave the wrong impression, as I'm on my own here now. K & J were kind enough to drive me (the 3 plus hours) from Phoenix to Yuma. They stayed for a couple of days before heading back to Apache Junction.