Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

January in Cactus Gardens

It’s always fun to try to grow tomatoes in the winter.  We had a few from our plant, but these are much smaller than the photo implies…. look good for January, though, don’t they?

2012-01-06 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens - Tomatoes in January

Interest remained high in the Y.E.S. (Yuma Encore Shuffleboard) Monday tournaments.  Here, Foothills Village played Cactus Gardens.2012-01-16 - AZ, Yuma - Y.E.S. Tournament Foothills vs Cactus Gardens (13)

We have a Ladies Only Luncheon at the park annually.  The past few years, the organizers have tried to put fun twists on the event.  This year was no exception.  Mona McIlvenna put together a Mystery Luncheon.  Not only was it a mystery as to who “killed Sharon Activities”, but the menu itself contained mysterious items.

2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (6)          2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (32)

Pat Gisler was our “on the spot” reporter, and eventually reported that the murder wasn’t actually a murder at all, and that Sharon Activities had been revived by her fellow co-workers.

The waiters were several of our husbands, and as they brought our choices, it became apparent that the items on the menu were our eating utensils as well as our food.

     2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (18)

 2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (21)

For example “Lovers Cuddles” was a spoon.  Some were eating their soup with a knife!  My first course included my dessert “Layers of Heaven”.

2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (23)     2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (30)

 2012-01-18 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens  Ladies Mystery Luncheon  (8)

Every season has to include a few visits to The Farm, a U-Pick-It citrus grove.  We go prepared with our ladder, and come home with grapefruit and oranges.

2012-01-23 - AZ, Yuma - Trip to The Farm for Citrus (1)       2012-01-23 - AZ, Yuma - Trip to The Farm for Citrus (2)

Did you know that Yuma has the reputation of having more sunny days than any city in the U.S.?  (See World Facts and Figures)  Along with the sunny days come some spectacular sunrises and sunsets, such as this sunrise.

2011-12-29 - AZ, Yuma - Cactus Gardens Sunrise (1)

We finished out the month by attending a Pajama Dance.  Steve and Patty Porter sponsored the square/round dance , encouraging the dancers to come in their pajamas.  It was a fun evening (I won a Teddy Bear door prize, even though we didn’t wear our pajamas.)  Ron’s foot allowed us to dance a couple of tips.

DSC01943    P1190925

P1190924     P1190958

I also started two online challenges this month, one an embroidery, and the other a crazy quilt project.  I plan to combine the two.  This is my first month’s block, Starry, Starry Night:  You can read about the project on my new craft blog, Spare Moment Stitching.

2012-01-29 - CQJP - January Block - Starry Starry Night 

Thanks to friend, Bernice Odom, for several of the photos in this post.  I don’t always have my camera with me, and she’s always ready to share her photos with me.