Another Season at Cactus Gardens

Before long, it was time to leave Bluewater Lake and head once again toward Yuma, AZ.

One of our favorite stops along the way is at Golden Valley near Kingman.  Have to admit, one of the reasons is the frozen yogurt available within walking distance at the Maverick convenience store.  My favorite this stop was the Caramel Apple.  Too windy to sit outside, we took it home with us.

It’s always a good feeling when we get near Yuma.  It’s a feeling of coming home, and we know we’re almost there when we start to see the agricultural products and fields.

The cotton…

  

The baled hay…

and the fields being readied for the winter’s green vegetable crops.

 

Then we’re on Ave 9E and at Cactus Gardens!

Sunsets are often spectacular in the desert southwest, as these photos from October prove.

     

It didn’t take long for Ron to be back into Shuffleboard, playing several times weekly, at the park, in the Y.E.S. league and in the A.S.A. league.

Birthdays always find us somewhere celebrating with food, often ice cream as these at Dairy Queen.

    

Tiki Hut…

and these at Linn’s Buffet  are from Ron’s Birthday Celebration.

On one of our visits to Los Algodones, Mexico, I couldn’t resist getting this handpainted pottery.

  

Bernice purchased one with orange tones.

It fit well in my garden…It is bottom drilled to hold a light so that the windows of the pueblo glow after dark.

The first social event of the season is the Halloween party.  The employees were asked to make Jack-O-Lanterns…mine is the little lace trimmed one second from the left.

    

Refreshments and Costume Party are followed by Card Bingo.

   

Before we know it, it’s time to decorate for Christmas.  Mine are modest.

This year, I rode with Kathy from Desert Paradise in the Christmas Golf Cart Parade.

Morris, our resident office cat, has become a permanent fixture…He really adds to staff and customer enjoyment!

     

Ron offered a Sudoku class again this year.  It was well attended during the 8 weeks of classes.  Once a teacher, always a teacher. 

For the first time, I decided to participate in the monthly craft shows with my beading.  Bonita and I shared a table each time.  I was pleased with my sales.

Our vegetable garden produced extremely well this year.

We attended some of the entertainment shows both at Cactus Gardens and Desert Paradise.  The left photo is of the Bost Family and the right is Jack Jackson and Friends.

  

Once again this year, the Chili Cookoff was delicious and fun!

  

I don’t play much shuffleboard, but we began playing on Tuesday evenings in February.  The evenings were mild, and it was nice playing without the sun in your face.

No one has more fun than our park ladies at the Annual Ladies Tea.  This year was a “Make your Hat” event, and there were all types and sizes of hats.  As usual, Gwen and her crew prepare a fabulous luncheon.

These were the winners of the hat contest……………………………….I went as Channel 10’s Star Ace Reporter.

                                         

One of the highlights of the year for us personally was a visit from Granddaughter, Cassandra and her husband, Logan!

Ron made sure they found time to participate in playing shuffleboard and pool at the park.

 

We went hiking with them in Tumco National Recreational Area, explored the grounds at The Center of the World and picked citrus during their visit, but I’ll cover that in a separate post.

Our Quilt and Art Show was very impressive and well attended.  The talent represented in this exhibit is amazing!  I had 3 small projects entered this year

Seems like we’re only in Cactus Gardens for a month or two and it’s time to think about leaving again.  We were there this year for a little more than 6 months, but it sure didn’t seem like it as the crowd gathered for the Farewell Party.