Heat on the downhill?

We started off August by celebrating Bethany’s 21st birthday at Olive Garden.  While her birthday was the end of July we could not all get together until Sunday the 2.  We had a great time and just about closed the place down.  We also celebrated Krista’s birthday and instead of cake, both 'girls' wanted pie so Bethany had a lemon meringue pie and Krista had a pecan pie, both very good.  

Birthday girl at Olive Garden

                              

Bethany's birthday 'pie'

Colby and Krista closed on their new house on Friday Aug 7 and started moving that night.  We had told them we would help them UNLOAD since their apt. was on the second floor with no elevator.  It took them a lot longer to load than they anticipated since many of their boxes were books and they had to go down step by step.  It took them 7 hours to load and with Dawn and our help only 1 1/2 hours to unload.  They both had the next week off to unpack and get situated.  Their new house is very lovely.

Kitchen in Colby and Krista's new house on move in day

Our realtor called on Aug 11 to say the house in Prescott had been broken into and the central vac was stolen from off the garage wall.  The door locks on the slider door and the side garage door were broken and the door knob to the side garage door was missing.  That door standing open was what alerted a neighbor that something was wrong and they called our realtor.  Larry quickly called Doyle who painted the house and asked him to see about securing the house as soon as possible.  He was able to get both doors repaired and secured that evening.  We tried to get rez for a campground in Prescott but all were full up so we ended up going to Verde Valley in Cottonwood for nine days.  Cottonwood is about 5-10º cooler during the day and 20º cooler at night than Phoenix so it was a nice break from the oppressive heat of Phoenix.  We took just the bike and went to Prescott via Jerome on the 20th and then returned by way of I-17 after meeting with Doyle.  Our realtor was away on a mini vacation after being in the hospital for a few days, so we did not see him.  We enjoyed our time in Verde Valley.  The views there are awesome.  They were having power issues so they restricted the 'A' section we were in to only 10 sites open so it was really quiet.  One morning I awoke to an odd sound and when I looked out the door saw a hot air balloon had landed just across the street from us!

Looking out our front door

                                   

The view I had each morning for my devotion time at Verde Valley

 Friday night we went to the campground’s restaurant for the Fish Fry and to hear The Hired Hands Band.  We have been following them for 15 years when Molly was just a little girl of five.  She is now a very talented young lady as she plays five different instruments.

Molly, Jesse and Michele- The Hired Hands Band

                                                              
Vince called us on Aug 18 to say they had their permit to build finally and it would start Monday Aug 24.  I told him if we had known all it took was for us to leave town, we would have left weeks before!

We had the MH washed and hand waxed on Tuesday Aug 25 since it has been over a year since it was last waxed.  Four hours after the fellow was finished we had a downpour that lasted well into the night.  At least the motorhome was 'protected' even if the nice wash job didn’t last very long.  It was a very reasonable price and was done with RO water since the water at Verde Valley is extremely hard.  Rain water is 'soft' so it didn’t take much to touch up the few spots Wednesday morning before we left.

When we returned to Phoenix on the 26th we stopped at Copper Star Indoor Shooting Range in Camp Verde so Larry could 'sight in' his new rifle and scope.  It is the only 100 yd indoor range in the state.  Larry 'said' we would stop for an hour but it was three hours before we left.  I was talking to the range master while Larry was on the range.  He is a retired Eugene, OR police officer so we were talking about all the neat places in OR that we both have visited.  He said he was last in Eugene in July 2015 at Premier RV Park and because the temps. were near 100º which is unusual for there, that park was having power issues with everyone running their A/Cs all the time.

Larry's rifle and new scope that he sighted in at Copper Star

We ended the month by going to Golden Corral to celebrate Larry’s birthday and our 55th anniversary on Sunday Aug 30.  Then Monday Aug 31 we made two trips to the property, the first at 9 AM to meet with the contractor and septic fellow.  The inspector was just leaving as we arrived and he had approved everything so the contractor said they may be able to pour the footers that afternoon which they did around 2 PM.  We made it up there in time to see the concrete truck washing up.  They will be back in the morning to finish up.  Once the permit was issued, things are really starting to hop.  Hopefully it will continue to move along smoothly.

Larry's candles in two different cakes

Vince and Bethany at Golden Corral

 

Colby and Krista at Golden Corral

Ellen and Dawn at Golden Corral

First footers poured on the new property

Revisiting old places

The A/C on Larry’s Man Cave has made a world of difference!  Where the inside temperature was running from 110º to 116º it now is a pleasant 84º and he is able to spend the time doing his projects without “cooking”.

Larry putting the new A/C in the roof of his Man Cave

Cover that shows inside the Man Cave

We took another midnight bike ride out towards Lake Pleasant.  We returned on I-17 and could immediately feel the different the pavement made with the heat radiating off the pavement.

July 4 we attended the park dinner and Dawn and Vince joined us.  Along with the brats, country fries and beans we had birthday cake, celebrating everyone who had a birthday in May, June and July.

Vince and Dawn at our 4th of July park dinner

We spent a week in Dewey, AZ just to get out of the heat for a few days and it was wonderful!  We took just the MH and the bike.  It was the first time for the new bike on the re-done bike rack and although it did fine getting there and back, Larry has been re-doing it since to make it 'better' since he is a perfectionist.  While we were in Dewey we went to Larry’s Mom’s house twice and met with our realtor for an open house.  We spent Saturday with the Guthries, friends from many years ago and had a great time catching up, studying the Torah, watching a video and enjoying a bar-b-que dinner.

sorry for the fuzz but a picture of the lovely table for our meal with the Guthries

Sunday morning we went to the park’s church service and then went out to eat.  After we came back home, there was a knock on our door and there were friends from OR Coaches for Christ who we last saw in 2005!  I had wondered what happened to them (they went to AK) so it was good to see them again and catch up with what was going on in their lives.  God is good all the time!

On Tuesday while we were in Dewey, we took the bike for a ride to Jerome and ate lunch at a Bar-b-que  place.  As we came out it looked like it might rain so we hurried to leave.  We had about three drops of rain on us but from the looks of the sky behind us we just missed a storm so we were very grateful.  We stopped at another RV park to look around and if we go back north again we will try this RV park as it is less expensive and we should be able to get satellite TV which we could not get in the Dewey RV park because of the trees.  At least they had cable so we did have some TV although not the one channel I watch on Wednesday.

Larry in Jerome looking down at the outhouse that people try to throw coins into!

Outhouse in Jerome with lots of coins around it

Our meal in Jerome

Our spot in Dewey, AZ with the bike loaded for our return trip to Phoenix

We returned to Phoenix on July 16 and so far have been fortunate to have 'somewhat' cooler weather and only one day of rain.  There were actually two days in a row where the temperature didn’t reach 100º!   Of course the rain cools things off but also makes it more humid.   Larry was able to sell one of his projects for a nice profit and immediately ordered a scope for another one of his projects.  All these projects keep him busy and his mind sharp.

Back in Phoenix so Larry can improve the bike rack

The heat is on!

May was a fairly nice month, weather wise but June came in with a vengeance as the temperatures have been hovering around 110º with the lows in the mid to upper 80’s—way too hot for us!  I had an 'episode' and ended up going to the doctor.  It was determined I was dehydrated even though I carry water with me where ever I go, I just wasn’t drinking enough for the hot weather.

We went to see “American Sniper” at Dawn and Vince’s and I recommend everyone see it so they know what really is going on.

The 11th of June I did another dinner shop and we enjoyed our meal and had leftovers which is always nice.  I have decided one shop a month is good for now since I am not too keen on going outside when the temperature is so hot.  I have stopped walking because of the heat and I’m not a morning person although I did try walking a couple of mornings.  I did have to go back to bed afterwards.  It was still too hot.  I’m beginning to wonder how we survived living in Phoenix for nearly 30 years!  We have decided the weather has changed since that time with so many buildings and asphalt roads adding to the heat.

June 19 was a red letter day as Dawn and Vince finally closed on the property they are buying.  It took 91 days and lots of headaches and setbacks.  To celebrate we went out to eat at Red Robin near the property and then after eating, visited it, sitting in lawn chairs enjoying the view until nearly midnight.  We were shocked how late it was because it was quite pleasant sitting outside with a breeze looking at the city lights to the south and the mountains to the north.  It reminded Larry and me of our place in Tucson that we built in 1979 as we used to go out and sit at night after Larry got off work on the swing shift and view the twinkling lights of Tucson, while it was being built.

Looking north from the middle of the property

Looking north northwest

Looking south from where the house will be

Looking west from the property line

Some of the cacti on the property in bloom

For Father’s Day we went with Dawn and Vince to Golden Corral and also met Vince’s younger son, Alan who looks like his Dad but he is taller.  We all ate too much but that is par for the course when you go to all you can eat places.

Since it seems like we will be staying most of the summer in AZ, we broke down and ordered an A/C for Larry’s Man Cave.  The inside temperature has been 110-116º everyday and that is just too hot for him to get anything done.  It is due to arrive today and Larry was up early in hopes it would arrive early but so far it has not arrived.

Still in AZ

We started off the month of May by going to Chompie's with Vince and Dawn and then went shopping.  The food there is always good and we had leftovers, always good.

Larry took his BMW to Scottsdale for his 600 mile 'check up' and left it there while we went to Prescott for more cleanup.  We ordered new carpet and set up an install date of May 19 then visited briefly with our friends, the Guthries who have returned to AZ from Medford, OR. We also talked to another realtor who recommended we do something about the landscaping and gave us the name of the fellow who does his landscaping.

Larry working hard to clean off the putty that kept this door closed for 20 years

On the 7^th of May I had a delivery pizza shop which is really nice since I didn't have to go anywhere, they came to me.

Delivery pizza that was extra good

For Mother's Day, we met Dawn, Vince, Colby and Krista at Red Lobster.  Bethany had to work but we had a great time and stayed longer than we should have since it was a busy day for Red Lobster.

Krista and Colby at Red Lobster for Mother's Day

Dawn and Vince at Red Lobster

Larry at Red Lobster

We again went to Prescott on Monday (trash day is Tuesday) May 11 and met with Julio, the landscaper and were a little disappointed as nothing more was done inside with the painting. Doyle assured us he would get it done by the 19^th when the carpet was to be installed.

Sunday May 17 we celebrated Vince's birthday at Chompie's with Vince, Dawn, Bethany, Colby and Krista.   We had the back room to ourselves and had an awesome evening, laughing and enjoying each other's company, leaving after they closed the doors at 9 PM.

Larry and Bethany at Chompie's

Us at Chompie's for Vince's birthday

The birthday boy and his cake

Colby and Krista at Chompie's

Since we needed to be in Prescott on Monday and Tuesday we decided to take the MH and spend the night. When we drove up we were pleasantly surprised at how good the landscaping looked! It completely changed the 'feel' of the place.   The inside painting was done and we finished getting everything ready for the carpet fellows.  Both the carpet cleaner and installer came Tuesday and got the carpet done. We decided we needed to spend another night, leaving the windows open to make sure the carpet dried properly and made an appointment with the realtor to list the house.   Everything was done including the outside repair and painting and we left Prescott at 6 PM Wednesday night May 20 hoping we will not have to return anytime soon.

The new landscaping in Prescott

Where we had to park for two nights, very unlevel!

Larry doing the finishing touches to the porch in Prescott

For Memorial Day, Dawn and Vince joined us at the clubhouse for the annual pulled pork BBQ and then joined us on our patio while we looked at pictures we brought back from Prescott.

Our Jet Pack died on Memorial Day and we were unable to get on the internet. The battery expanded to double in size so it didn't work anymore and it would not work without the battery installed. We added a 'hot spot' to Larry's phone for two days while we waited for a new Jet Pack that didn't cost us anything since we were eligible for an 'upgrade'. We are back in business after a few false starts. We still have not decided when or if we are leaving AZ this summer.   We are needed here for a while longer so will be staying.   May, weather wise, was very nice with 100º the first of May and then not again until May 29. That made it easier to stay in AZ during May.

The heat is on

Our church gave us a Easter lily after the service on Resurrection Sunday which was really nice.  It lasted over two weeks.

Easter Lily with eight buds

April was a very stressful month as we made many trips to Prescott cleaning up in preparation to get it ready to be painted and ready to sell.   We thought the auction would get rid of everything in the house but many folks bought the lots and then took out what they wanted and left the rest. 

Some of what was left from the auction that we gave to The Salvation Army

It was very frustrating to say the least.  We made appointments with carpet cleaners and painting fellows as well as realtors to try and figure out the best way to go with the least amount of outgo.  We also rented a cargo van one week to bring back all the boxes of personal items we missed the first few times we went before the auction.  One week I spent 38 hours going through all the boxes we brought back, sorting out which relative got what and boxing them up and sending them off.

Some of the boxes we brought back for me to go through and sort out to send to relatives

I have learned there is a silver lining to all this since they saved EVERYTHING including letters I wrote years ago with information I really don't remember.  My niece commented one of the letters I sent her was written when she was 10 weeks by her mother that said she looked like our son, ate like Larry's brother's son and had Larry's brother's daughter's disposition.  She said it was still 'right on' even after all these years.

Larry has been working on re-modifying the bike rack for the back of the MH to fit his new bike. It has been more of a challenge than he first thought but he has just about finished after welding and re-welding when the first time didn't fit right.

How we get the bike on the bike rack, I crank and Larry holds the bike to guide it on the rack

The bike on the rack after Larry modified it.  (We tested it on the ground first)

We had planned to leave Phoenix now but since the Prescott property isn't ready for us to leave just yet we will be staying around another two weeks.   Hopefully then we can at least go to Cottonwood for a few weeks where it is a little cooler than Phoenix.

Last night we went for a bike ride and then stopped at Sonic for a malted milkshake.  It was a nice night for a bike ride after reaching 99º during the day.

Moving right along

We started off March with Colby and Krista’s wedding reception.  Rain was predicted but God is good and there was no rain during the celebration.  A good time was had by all.  They are quite excited as they signed up to have their first house built with move in sometime in August.

Photo shoot at Japanese Friendship Gardens for Colby and Krista's wedding reception

Krista taking off the top layer of cake for later

Colby and Krista dancing their first dance by the pool

Larry had a VA appointment to be fitted for a knee brace Mar 4 and he rode his bike.  He really is enjoying his bike.

I had a ‘to go’ pizza shop and I went by myself while Larry was working in the man cave.  It is always fun to go to different restaurants and have someone else pay for it!

'To go' pizza I brought back while Larry worked

Vince had a childhood friend visit for a week from Chicago and he had never been to AZ before, so Vince gave him the grand tour.  Even though he is from Chicago he is a ‘gun nut’ too so Larry went with he and Vince for some practice shooting.   God again, showed how good He is by placing them at point where they met the owner of 85 acres of land and he allowed them to shoot on his land and told them they were welcomed to return anytime.  They had to fjord the Agua Fria river to get to the property and the water was going over the hood of Vince’s truck but they made it both ways.  The owner told them the river had been a foot higher the day before because of the rain we had a few days before.  Normally it isn’t a big deal since AZ doesn’t get much rain.  They had a great time and want to go back again soon.

We went to Red Lobster for Colby’s birthday and we rode the bike.  It was a nice evening and great for riding plus we had a good time and were able to see pictures of the model home Colby and Krista are building.

March 28 was the auction for Mom Clark’s personal things and we spent the entire day there as the auction ran from 10 AM until 4:30 PM with an hour beforehand for “look-see”.  I have never been to an auction before and it was quite an experience.  We had thought we had all the personal items removed (like pictures and records) but two different buyers gave us things they found in their buys.  One was a box of old letters dating back to 1953 and as I since have been going through them I found a letter I wrote in Oct 1960 when we lived in San Diego which told of the gal who lived in front of our apt., her baby and I walking 11/2 miles to Balboa Park pushing a grocery cart with the baby in it since she didn’t have a stroller, to see then President Eisenhower take off in a helicopter after visiting the area.  I had forgotten all about that but after reading about it, memory of it is slowly coming back.  Wow! that really dates me that I saw Pres. Eisenhower.

April 1 we went to a Seder and had a fabulous meal.  It is always good to look back and remember where we came from and how God has supplied and protected us through it all.

Bethany and Dawn enjoying our Seder meal

Larry and Vince chowing down at the Seder

Enjoying warm AZ

Our AquaHot was acting up again and by process of elimination, Larry decided the thermostats were bad and ordered new ones. On Feb 5 he put them in and we are back in business again. We didn't realize how bad the AquaHot was getting until he installed the new thermostats and now we have HOT water all the time. We were planning to go to San Clemente, CA to visit Girard and have them put new awning fabric in and try to figure out why we go through awnings so fast but the fellow we need to see has been out since November for shoulder surgery and is so far behind he did not want to deal with us so the company sent us the fabric (to put on ourselves) for free! That arrived Feb 14.

I did another pizza shop on Sunday Feb 8 after church. It is always fun to have our lunch/dinner paid for. This pizza place, although the same 'chain' has a much nicer décor than the other ones of the same chain we have visited before (two others) and so it was really more enjoyable.

Larry took possession of his new BMW bike on Feb 10 and so far is really enjoying it. He looks for excuses to ride it as much as possible.

Larry's new BMW

The park had their Valentine dinner on Sat Feb 14 and we enjoyed it very much. We sat with new to us neighbors and had a very nice visit with them. We had yummy birthday cake to celebrate Jan, Feb and Mar birthdays too.

Stacy from Awnings R US came out on Feb19 and put up Larry's new awning on his Man Cave and put the fabric in our Girard awning so we are all set with new awnings all the way around.

Stacy measuring for the new awning on Larry's Man Cave

     

The new awning done on Larry's Man Cave

               

Stacy putting in the new fabric for our Girard patio awning

We made another trip to Prescott, now that Larry and his brother are official personal representatives of their mother's estate. We have an auction of her personal things tentatively set for March 28.

A former customer is now a resident of our park and she is a Tweety lover too and gave us a collectable plate that is 3-D and really cute. It is Tweety looking for four leaf clovers. She has the complete collection and had an extra one of this plate. I thought it was really cool to see her again after so many years AND that she shared a Tweety plate with us!

The cute 3-D Tweety plate my former customer, Cindie, gave me

                           
     God is good all the time!