Arizona family

This is the main reason we came to Arizona this January. This is my "close" cousin Linda (she is 7 days older than me) her husband Johnny, my Aunt Esther (my dad's sister), and cousin Beverly. Phil and I are in the back.

And here is Linda and Johnny's daughter Stephanie and her daughter Brieanna 5 and son Tyler 9. Her husband Rob was at home. Steph reminds me of a young Linda (her eyes mainly) and a little of Johnny.

Saturday we spent the day Mission hopping. This is Mission San Xavier Del Bac just a little south of Tucson. Built in the 1700s. It is in the constant act of refurbishment, inside and out. This is a corner of the inside where a wooden statute lies, under the blue blanket, people think that it you touch the blanket and lift the head you are blessed.

Phil went out in search of food and this Indian
called him Santa Claus so he stopped and they talked before Phil asked for Flatbread. It reminds me of left over pie dough that mom would put in the oven and bake and then sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on it. They take a bread like shell and deep fry it and then sprinkle the cinn and sugar on it. It was pretty good.


This is the Tumacacori Mission in Tubac. It is in what they call "adobe ruin". It went without a roof for 60 years. Built in the 1800s it is slowly being refurbished. But I enjoyed seeing the way it was built. You can see the adobe bricks and such.

On the inside you can still see some of the paintings on the wall in bits and pieces. You can see the new roof. Under the steps they say are buried a couple of the Franciscan priests.

We ended our mission hopping with a picnic lunch I had packed. It was a fun day

After attending church with Linda and family I went shopping and Phil went for a motor cycle ride in search for Wyatt Earps outhouse door handle. The lady at the museum said that was just a urban legend. But he did find the gulley when Tom Mix had his car accident and died. He thought it was strange that they had a statute of "Tony" his wonder horse but no picture of Tom Mix. I think this proves that he will find any excuse to go on a "Road Trip".

Lazy and frustration

We are fast becoming really spoiled and lazy. This laziness could become addictive fast. We are enjoying having no committments. But I do feel this could be a problem with older people. We need committments, we need to be doing something constructive. If I stayed here or anyplace in a retirement setting I think I'd volunteer somewhere or get a little job. Something that would fit my hours (late morning hours.)

Thursday I didn't do much of anything. We were going to a chicken bbq for supper and we had to bring "a dish to share". I made a salad so I sat outside in the sun and cracked pecans for it. It cost us each $3 and we each got a 1/2 chicken and lots of sides/deserts. It was pretty good. We brought home Phil's 1/2 chicken and my salad was gone. End of the month the park has a pig jig roast. This RV Park has alot of things going on.

Friday I went to brunch with my cousins Linda and Bev and my aunt (there mom) Esther. Had a great visit we sat and talked for 3 hours. It was great-we will go to church Sunday and then out to eat with their families.

This is where my frustration comes in-I'm trying to find walking shoes. Something with a toe in them to keep gravel out. I have worn Birks for forever and my feet have spread. I'm not excited about putting my foot into a full shoe so I thought I'd just go with clog like shoes first. Well New Balance (who claims they can fit any foot) couldn't so they sent me to another store, Alans Shoes couldn't and they sent me to SAS Shoes. They had a clog but I think I want a tennis shoe. Ooh me Oooh my. I'm walking twice a day and riding my bike at least once a day.

We had supper with another couple from TK. They were working in the area and called and we made a date. We never get to see other TK people so it is nice when we can. We hear alot of "office gossip". This is a nice couple who have been with TK for a few years more than us and now work part time. Filling in for techs on vacation. We are considering doing this also. It was a fun evening.

It got up to 79 yesterday. The air is dry and causing my nose to bleed. It is cold at night and hot during the day-these changing temps is giving me a cold I think. Aren't we funny creatures -we complain no matter what. And I broke a finger nail.

home for us today

Welcome to a tour of the RV park we are staying in. Prince of Tucson is just off of I-10 and is one of many many many other RV parks. The people here seem to be really nice and friendly.

The picture on the Left is the office and area

where they meet for games, parties, crafts. The

pool is in the back of the building. The BBQ is there in front (you can see it better in the picture

below. Also below is the shuffle board area and the only place where grass is growing.

Here is the pool if you look close you'll see the
steam rising up off of it. I took all these pictures

early in the morning on my morning walk.

This is the laundry building and restrooms and showers. It has 6 washers and dryers. Look at

the moon in the Western sky.

The picture below is looking to the NE of our

home (5th Wheel) Palm trees are all around
us but no coconuts.

This picture shows our home looking to the South

Our neighbor to the right has a little tree with a

few oranges on it. They have been here since Nov

from Washington so they have flowers etc.

The picture below is standing in our driveway
facing the West. (notice the moon) and look
closely you'll see the mountains. When the
sunsets the sky gets pink and purple it is
really beautiful.

A couple doors down from us the RV still has it's
Christmas decorations up, but notice the lamp in
the yard it has southwestern decorations on it.

The houses here in Tucson have no grass in
there yards. It is either plain dirt and sand
or they haul in gravel. Some yards are white
some red.

This yard has lots of cactus and bushes. You
can't even see the house. But they do have
sorta paths thru the bushes. Once you get
used to the different things growing in the yards they
are actually nice.

It is just that some yards you could never walk
thru due to the "prickly pear" cactus. I'll try
and get a picture of a yard that has nothing but
prickly pear in it-even up close so you can see
why it is call prickly pear.

This is just a gravel yard with bushes and a
tall saguaro cactus in it. Looks nice doesn't it.

Several years ago Phil and I came to AZ on a free trip, you had to listen to the sales pitch about buying land here. Well I said I'd never live in

Az because I wanted grass in my yard. I still
like grass in my yard only I have never had "grass" in my yard. My yard may have been green but I think in was mostly weeds.

Well that is the place that we call home for a few
weeks. Hope you can now feel like you know
where we are.

Phil went to a car auction in Scotsdale today not just any ole auction he said the bids were going up to $50,000 and plus. So when he gets here he will probably have more to add so watch for his tomorrow.

I'm learning alot about Tucson. These are just a few things that I know:

-The sky is so BLUE I mean pretty BLUE

-There is no water in the big river that runs thru Tucson

-They play fresbee in that dry bed

-You can make u-turns at most intersections

-There Left turn signal flashes after the green light

-There Left turn signal flashes before the green light

-That's right it is so confusing to me

-You start the day with long sleeves, strip and end with long sleeve

-Beautiful weather

-They have awesome sunsets

-They have lots of castus

-Good mexican food

-They have a Golden Corral

Spent the day with Linda and Johnny yesterday. She is doing so good just after 1 1/2 week post surgery. Her stomach was actually in her throat. Now she can eat citrus, tomatoes but can't eat meat and breads yet. Has drs appt Thurs. Both her and Johnny look great and we had a super day talking and talking and talking. I'll send pictures when I take them (I was lax on taking pictures yesterday).

Our vacation was extended so we are now off until 2/16. No plans for today but I bet Phil will be on his motor cycle when it warms up alittle bit. More relatives to visit and more places to see, but we do have a couple weeks left.

Yes, Loni we sometimes feel we are on vacation all the time with our job, but, I can honestly tell you----we are on vacation now. I like this one better. love ya

Sorry to diegress but this picture is from Bottomless Lakes. The pinkish is the cliff, the grey the grasses and then you have there reflection in the water. It was absolutely breathtaking. I actually looked in the water saw the reflection and thought that it was an empty hole.

We went thru the Saguaro State Park and saw alot of these cactus. They are so tall and almost human looking. The birds make a nest in them but they heal themselves and so the nest dosen't hurt them. They are so awesome to see especially against the blue sky. The windmill behind in the picture just reminds us of home-Kansas. I'm just a little homesick today can you telll?


OK the Yucca plant at the top of the page was supposed to go here. We took the picture along the highway as we got into Az. We wanted to stop so we could get one for Michelle since we killed her other ones. How many did you want?????

We started our day today with a pancake breakfast here at the RV park. Phil made some peanut butter and took up for the pancakes. Tonight they play BINGO. They say no kids allowed - I'm wondering what kind of BINGO do they play. Phil was tired so he went to bed by 7 so I guess we will find out next time.

I think we will like this park it is smaller than most but still probably 150 sites. We can see palm trees and also the mountains when we set outside on our cement patio. Has a heated pool at 84 and the sun shines and is warm feels good. They have a monthly calendar with lots of activities. Granted these activities I always thought were for OLD people, whoops I think we might belong in that group here.

We paid this morning for a month, it was cheaper than 3 weeks, we have a post office box and a news letter and I cried. Yes you read that correctly. I called home and telling about our vacation I was overcome with emotion that we might actually be gone a month.

We are enjoying our no schedule, no alarm clock, do as we want, when we want time. We miss our families back home alot. So cards, letters and phone calls are welcome.

These Phil named Larry Moe and Curly

Haven't been able to get internet sorry so late on this but here we go.

We left VC around 11 on Jan 06,2009 excited but sad. I think Ivy said it when she came home from school "Well there trailer isn't here so I guess they are really gone." Yep we are gone made it to Liberal and then had to fill up the fridge with Braums milk and the truck with fuel. Then we drove on into Tucamcari, NM about 9pm stayed with 4 other RV'ers at a K-Mart.

Jan 07 we headed to Roswell,NM saw our first snow covered mountain (later we found out it is called "El Captain"). We crossed the Pecos River as in the old cowboy movies we were now "West of the Pecos". Went to the visitors center and found all the museums to see and where to stay the night. We first went to the Robt H Goddard museum father of the rocket. It was really quite interesting (that is the first rocket sorry I haven't figured out how to place my pictures).

Then we went to the Bottomless Lakes State Park. Very nice place to stay and beautiful sunsets.

Phil went to the UFO museum (I'll send a picture when I figure it out on how to place them) When I asked him what he thought about it he said what can you expect at a UFO museum. haha

We had a great day with a beautiful sunset to end it.

What a wonderful Christmas we had. Our excited 6 grandchildren make it so special. The faces they make when they are opening there presents. And better yet the facial expressions they make when there cousin is opening theirs. I love making people happy. Not just at Christmas time with presents, but with laughter, with fixing biscuits and sugar water, sewing up a hole in a stuffed pillow, with just us walking thru the door. The weather has been nice and the kids were able to play outside in shorts a couple of days.

The New year came and went dosen't give me much excitement except the 2 minutes it takes the grandkids to walk outside bang on the pots and pans and hollar happy new year to the tops of there lungs. Then I say good night and go home and go to bed.

Phil, I and Becki ended up with a severe stomach bug which took us 3 days to finally say I feel better. Yet some of us still question that statement.

We are packing up to move our home once again. This time we are going on vacation. We have been on vacation every year for the past 3 years but we come home to go on vacation which is wonderful. Well this year we are going on vacation to AZ to visit some cousins of mine. I have been wanting to do this for several years and now that we are actually going I feel terribly sad to leave my kids and babes. If is always so very hard to leave them.

Tomorrow I go and visit my mom and dad for a short time. They already think I have left town and will question me as to where I was and where I'll be going. They can now receive email so my goal to is email them and send them pictures of where we are 4-5 times a week. They won't remember from one day to the next but Peggy, social director, has said she'd help them to re-read them so they know that I do contact them. Is this for me or for mom and dad? That is the 62,000 dollar question.

How is this for my first blog since July? I just hope I can remember how to do it all again. haha