Mesa Fall 2011

We arrived in Mesa last Thursday after 7 weeks on the road. When we saw the cacti and palm trees we actually did feel like we were coming home. The weather welcomes us with close to 90 degree temps so the electric blanket and heater were put in storage for awhile. We got set up in the spot we picked out last spring and were welcomed by neighbors. The park is far from filled yet. The full-time people are here but few of the "winter residents" have come yet so it is pretty quiet around here. More will come this week I am sure. Sounds like temps will drop 10 or so degrees in the week ahead and be more normal.

We enjoyed our stay in Rapid City and the picture is of the park that we like to walk around in. From there we traveled to Colorado. What great times we had helping Linda celebrate her birthday with her whole family. Three little great grand daughters with another one (boy or girl) on the way. The next week we were with Jason and Eli celebrating Jason's birthday. Saw Eli play soccer which was a treat. Visited the coffee shop near Jason's home and met his friends that we had met before. Unique shop where locals have coffee and kind of start their day together. Then on to Colorado Springs to visit grandson Andrew and meet his wife Anna and their precious little girl Abigail. She was just 3 weeks so tiny yet. Went out for supper with them. Great time with the 3 of them. Rode up to see the Red Rock Amphitheatre and had lunch there. The view is so fantastic from up there. What a place that would be to attend Easter Sunrise Services some time. See the sun come up over the mountains with the backdrop of the city.

We have made this trip so often we about know where the (important places) malls and good eating places are. The mall in Golden is just a few miles from where the trailer park is so we got there a couple times. The outlet mall at Castle Rock is always a good place for good brands at reasonable prices so, of course, we had to stop there. Then 3 more days and we were in Mesa. Herb questioned our going to Mesa over Minnisota, he probably really guestions our taking 3 days to get from Colorado Springs to Mesa. We just have no hurry and enjoy stopping along the way as that is part of the fun of traveling for us.

This Resort we are in has a lot of activities as I think all of them do around here. Yesterday they had a different version of trick or treating so we took part in that custom for the first time in our lives. All the park models for sale had an open house yesterday and they were to hand out candy to all who came to look at their unit. We got our walking in as we walked to most of the units that were open AND we got a lot of candy in our little bag. Now just so we felt good about eating all that sweet stuff. I have a hunch it will disappear whether we think it is good for us or not. Cindy, that is why we needed all that fruit, it was to balance out the candy. Does that work? It was fun seeing the different units and also seeing how the various Arizona rooms were used. We didn't see a bed in a one but some had couches that pulled out. Otherwide they were mainly an enlarged living room or even craft rooms.

Today we were anxious to get back to our RCA church in Gilbert. When we drove up people were standing outside and many had less than "Sunday" clothes on altho that is really a mute point now days. Turns out this was their faith in action Sunday and the congregation was dividing up to go work on different projects in the city. We went with a group to a Retirement Center - kids with us sang their songs, adults sang hymns, kids passed out candy and received candy and we all played bingo. Weren't a lot of residents there but those there really thought it was great. Then we all got back to church and the Spanish congregation that worships in the same building as the RCA had a lunch made for all the people. It was great to see how the two congregations work so great together. Rev. Poit and his wife sat with us and commented on how totally they enjoy this church and also how well it has worked out to have another group use the facility. The congregants are also so pleased with his ministry.

Tomorrow we start volunteering at Sunshine Acres. Our schedule has changed somewhat, it looks like we will work on Mon. and Thurs. The boutique really needs help on Thursdays and we were flexible so we will try it. The Warehouse needs workers as well but I hate to commit to more hours right now. The Boutique is even more impressive now that it is all redecorated and the expanded warehouse is overflowing with donated items. What a huge business those two places are and they promise to keep growing. They take in 100's of thousands of dollars a year so are worthwhile. I will continue to work in the "value added" part of the business - in other words clean and improve items that come in. I cannot decorate worth any thing so I will continue to polish silver, dust crystal, cover knicks, wash dishes, organize holding area, etc. If it helps them I am willing to do it. I may have to sort and evaluate items in the warehouse as well, we will see.

Wilmer will work in maintenence again doing odd jobs in the resident houses and other jobs on the grounds. With 10 kids in each home occassionally the wall board gets a hole in it, a light needs fixing, fan needs new parts, etc. The men know they can give him a work order and he can figure out the problem and get the materials to fix it. This is not like some camps where a donation has to be made in order to afford a part or replacement. The replacement and repair building is so stocked, organized and clean it shines.

Most of you are in cooler temps so that means raking and cleaning yards for the winter. Some make it a fun project as pictures we got this week show. I really don't miss that project and can't remember the time I thought it was much fun. "For everything there is a season......"I think I am past that one. We are doing well, hope the same of each of you. Just a reminder you can plan an Arizona vacation this winter, we would love to have you. Love to all, Mom and Dad

Heading South

The summer of 2011 has been interesting and challenging. We came back to the Sioux Center area and had to rent a spot to park the RV. Seemed strange but the spot and price were very acceptable. And we both had good check-ups for our main health issues and were "approved" for more traveling. So start the early fall and we were ready to get on the road again. We spent a couple weeks in MN visiting areas we previously had enjoyed. Altho we enjoyed the areas the weather was not so cooperative as it was cool and rainy. Not the best for camping people. Then we headed for Rapid City Heart Ranch. This place has a pastoral feeling and the weather has been in the upper 80's. Beautiiful.

But back to the summer. Of course the "flood", as it is called, of water coming through the roof of the house in Sioux Falls was an unexpected and unwanted event. Cindy did an excellent job of keeping the contractor and other workers in line and did well with picking out colors, flooring, light fixtures, etc. The outline for what was acceptable, price wise, within the insurance guidelines helped with decisions. Thank goodness for insurance that covered the restoration. The trauma of the event was not good but the outcome of a redecorated house is appreciated. I assume you have seen pictures of the process that Cindy posted.

Back to Rapid City. The one event Dad especially wanted to see was the buffalo round-up. The picture obviously does not show how the men on horses rounded them up from the whole park but shows the final leg of the journey where the buffalo were herded into corrals. All 15,000 people were seated on the side of the hills so no one had a bad seat. There were 2 seating "hills" and we probably got different views but all were good. The picture shows one of the seating hills. The buffalo barbecue was delicious. We didn't stay for all of this but we did see some of the buffalo run through chutes to be sorted, marked, given shots etc. Interesting but last time we were by Kim we watched a DVD that was basically about an autistic young women but in the process she devised a "friendly" chute for animals. The DVD was very interesting and totally absorbed me in the story. They did not have an animal friendly chute here but they got the job done. We enjoyed the day.

Of course, we saw Mt. Rushmore. Again, when we attended the evening activities the Vets were invited down to be recognized and touch the flag that had been flying over the program that had been presented. Dad went down so the ceremony was extra special.

We have been active in the church here and have been very blessed with the service and S.S. Also the S.S. couples included us in a fish fry (so very good) and with tickets to Courageous. Such an inspirational movie. We will miss this church. They taught us much about welcoming visitors to a church.

The fall colors are beautiful here and we look forward to more of that as we travel to Colorado next week. Excited to be able to celebrate with two of our family on their birthdays. And see a new great granddaughter as well as others. When family is so scattered those times are real treasures.

We attended a wiener dog (don't know how to spell the real word) race. Never knew there were so many of those dogs. While walking around before the race we came across this dog and his compassionate owner. This dog has a slipped disc in his back and can't walk so this cart was made so he can get around. In fact, he was in the race and those little front legs go like crazy.

Hope you are all doing well. I like Facebook but a personal message or phone call is nice too. Until later, Mom and Dad, Wilmer and Marilyn or whatever! We even respond to ma and pa. Love you all.