March 5 - 15, 2024 Our Time in Casa Grande - Part 1

After hooking up and saying our "see you laters" to Sue,  we made our way south and east.

Spring in the desert:

Past the farm fields:

Past the solar farms:

Past the desert flowers:

To our lot in Casa Grande SKP Park:

Where we will be for the next few weeks.  After settling in, we joined a few of our neighbors at Barro's Pizza for a great time.

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 80 Miles

Arizona:  Painted Rock Dam Road; I-8; Montgomery Road

On Friday, March 8th, Andy dropped me off in Chandler and I spent a wonderful weekend with my cousin.  A little background:  Kris and I had no contact growing up and we got together about 10 years ago.  Whenever I traveled this way, we tried to get together for lunch.  So last fall we talked about me staying with her for a few days and I am so glad we made plans.   Have to say, it was a great girl's weekend talking and laughing and getting to know one another.  (Thank you Kris.) Hope to do it again in the fall.

Saturday, March 9th was the Tempe Festival for the Arts.  It is a 3 day affair in Tempe every fall and spring and it is huge.  So Kris and I spent a few hours amazed at the creativity of the artists.  WOW!  Last spring, I bought a pair of earrings from Paula Chang and loved them.  So I contacted her and she was a vendor again this year.  What a wonderful woman!  Very creative.   

Sunday, March 10th, our weekend ended.  Kris brought me back to Casa Grande.  Andy cooked us supper and we said our "see you laters" until the fall.

Kris and I in our backyard:

On Tuesday, March 12th, we took the RV to Southwest RV in Glendale for service: oil, oil filter, and fuel filter change.  They were able to do an oil and oil filter change but not the fuel filter.  Our RV has two fuel filters: One is readily available, the other is not (we did not know that).  So we have ordered the fuel filters and will be having them changed next week near Arizona City.

Those are the highlights of Part 1.  In between the highlights was laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, cleaning out our sheds, repairing stuff, visiting, hanging out, etc.  The normal stuff - LOL!

Thanks for coming along and enjoy today.

December 18–23, 2023 Our time in Yuma

Monday, December 18th, 2023

With exception of a Walmart run, we hung out today and got a few things caught up.

 

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Whenever we come here, we like to have the RV washed (especially the roof) and waxed.  A few days ago, we contacted Robert’s RV Wash (who we have used in the past) and made the appointment for this morning.   Around 10 AM, three guys showed up and within 2 hours, it was washed, waxed and looks beautiful!  Great job and highly recommended.

If you have been following my blog, my cat, Dusty, passed in February.  He had not been feeling well for a while and I had the hardest time finding a vet.  So this past summer, I decided that I would have a vet here in Yuma or Yuma area that I could call when there was a problem.  After much research and recommendations (Thank you to Jenny Shepherd), I found that vet – The Yuma Vet Clinic https://www.yumavetclinic.com/.

I decided to have Bella be the first patient.  She needs to have bloodwork done every 6 months plus she is on medicine that I may need a refill in the future.  I arrived at the scheduled time, they took her in, examined her, took bloodwork, and the vet came out to update me.  We had a wonderful conversation about Bella going forward.  (On a side note: I made copies of Bella’s most recent records to give them.) 

Bella needs to have a dental – I did have them check her mouth and jaw because of her eating behavior.  (Bella was abused before we found her, had to have some reconstruction on her jaw and I knew that we would have dental issues going forward.)  Since she is 12 years old, I decided to get everything done.  My theory is that the older a cat gets, it is more dangerous to go under anesthesia.  Two years ago, they took a lot of her teeth and I told the vet, if you need to take them all – go for it!  Her appointment is 01/09/23.

(I did get a call from their office on 12/21/23 to ask me how she was doing and to tell me that all the bloodwork results were available and she is doing good – YEA!)  Yep!  I like this clinic!

As you know, I do have another cat but he is younger and is healthy so I will establish him with the vet at a future time.

 

Wednesday, December 20th, 2023

First thing this morning, we had a video appointment with Andy’s VA doctor.  We were a little concerned because of our WIFI access but everything went smooth.  Our next appointment is in February.

Late morning, we picked up pizza and headed out to see our friends, Peg and Larry, who are camped in the California Desert.  It was so so great to see them and get caught up.  I think the last time we saw them was New Year’s Eve – 12/31/22.  

What a great time.  Thank you Peg and Larry.

We will be heading their way on Sunday to spend a week with them.  So looking forward to it!

So.. WIFI access..  In 2021, I did the FMCA Hotspot with Unlimited Access…  Up until October of 2023, we NEVER had a problem.  Since then we have had a problem almost EVERYWHERE.  When I called they told me that I used so many Gigs and I was throated back in a high use area.  I reminded them that this was unlimited and getting 0 internet was not acceptable. Also.. I was in the middle of NOWHERE and had 4 bars of service but really bad internet!  Well they were not very responsive.  Sadly I have recommended this to everyone I met and I truly am sorry but this year it SUCKS!

SOO, I can upgrade with FMCA that may give me more priority but I would rather go with someone else…  Any recommendations short of Star-Link… which may be where we go…

 

Thursday, December 21, 2023

CRAFT FAIR DAY! – YEA!   One of my favorite things to do!  This was at Country Roads RV and lots of good stuff.  Yes, I bought a few things but most important was I bought chances on 4 quilts and a sewing machine.   Keep your fingers crossed.  (Last year I won the quilt made by Sun Vista Quilters…on my RV bed now.)

After that was resupply day – Walmart and Fry’s – yes, I did get some good buys so now our pantry is full.  (FYI – defrosted fridge on Monday so we really needed supplies.)

Friday, December 22, 2023

Many of you know my nightmare stories of haircuts on the road!  Last year I found Traci at All Seasons Beauty Bar (https://www.allseasonsfoothills.com/) thru Phyllis Kleinmaier Schell.  So a few weeks ago, I made an appointment and today was the day! Traci really knows natural curly hair and did another great job!  Thank you.

Afterwards I met Andy at the American Veterans Lodge.  Today was their meat draw at 1 PM.  (I enjoy those as much as craft fairs!).  So we had lunch and met a great bunch of folks and I won a big steak!  YEA!   (Side note: Pam and Ross, my meat draw buddies, where are you????)

Weather today was LOTS of rain.  Surprising for the desert but it was windy and rainy!

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Yikees!  Today was laundry day!  They have a great laundry on Payson and Frontage road that we have used many times so that is where we spent our morning! I am not a big fan of laundry day but always glad when it is done!

Back home, we put not only laundry but our outside stuff away.

Our travels to the laundry and gas…. Lots of standing water and mud.  Oh My!   But the farmers need it!

Tomorrow we head to the California Desert so hopefully I will have some pictures.

But since I did not take any pictures, I will leave you wit a few of my favorites from our last trip.

 

 

November 13-14, 2021 Grand Ole Opry and Last Day

Saturday Morning was a relaxing day for us.  Even the kitties enjoyed just hanging out in the sun:

Mid/Late Afternoon, we went for dinner at Cock of the Walk – known for their catfish.

Oh my, this chair in the lobby:

I just had to sit in it.

 

We had catfish and chicken.  The portions were large and it was pretty good.

And then we headed to the Grand Ole Opry where we had tickets for the 7 PM show.

Our view:

The theme tonight was honoring our veterans and that they did.  The first hour of the show was some of the old time country stars.  I need to apologize here but my pictures were not that great.  I did have some videos but having a problem uploading. So I am going to put links to each of the stars that we saw.

Jeannie Seely  http://www.jeannieseely.com/    At 81 years old, she is still amazing!

Bill Anderson  - I will add links below.  This gentleman started out as a songwriter and then moved to a singer.  He has been in the business for over 60 years and has written songs for many artists.  He was wonderful on stage.

https://billanderson.com/wired/biography/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Anderson_(singer)

https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/bill-anderson/

Connie Smith:  An incredible female artist who has been with the Opry for over 50 years.

https://www.opry.com/artists/connie-smith/

https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/connie-smith/

Dale Ann Bradley

https://www.daleannbradley.com/about

---

At this time, the curtains closed and we were told that when they opened we would be live on the radio as well as live on Circle TV,,,

When the curtains opened…

Mark Wills opened with “19 Somethin” and went on to sing a few of his songs.

http://markwills.com/

Next up was Jessie James Decker.  Her dad was in the audience and just retired military.  She sang one of her songs for him.  Very emotional.

https://www.jessiejamesdecker.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_James_Decker

John Conlee was next and sang “Jesus take us thru”

http://www.johnconlee.com/site/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conleehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conlee

And the star… Billy Ray Cyrus opened with Old Town Road and had the audience on their feet and singing – it was awesome! He continued with “Some gave all.”  Very emotional

The announcer brought Lt. General Keith Huber on stage – 40 years in the service – who thanked Billy Ray for his support of our troops.

Afterwards, Bill Anderson came on stage. He wrote “Old Army Hat” and Billy Ray was the first to record it many years ago.  They both sang the song.  Again emotional.

https://outsider.com/news/country-music/billy-ray-cyrus-honors-those-who-served-oprys-veterans-day-weekend-celebration/

And he finished with… Achy Breaky Heart!

When the curtains closed we were asked to stay.  Jessie James Decker was going to record a Christmas song for the USO.  So we stayed.  Very nice.

 

It was a wonderful evening and again I apologize for no pictures.  If I can figure out how to do it, I will upload videos..

If you are ever in Nashville, this should be one of your stops – either at the Ryman or here.  It is just amazing!

There are many YouTube videos of Opry Performances – enjoy.

 

November 14, 2021  Our Last Day

Our last day here!  It has been lots of fun and busy for us.  There is so much to see and do. (Reminds me of NYC – there is never enough time so you have to take it in short bits.)

Some of you who know me, know I LOVE craft fairs.  There were advertising a huge event at the Nashville Fairgrounds so off I went.  It was very nice and lots of wonderful homemade items.  Living in a motorhome severely limits what you can buy – LOL!

So tomorrow we are heading south and west.  Stay tuned and enjoy today!