January Ends

Wednesday -  Today I went on a long walk with Deb in the Saddlebrooke neighborhoods.  We put in about five miles.  Good for both of us, but wore us out. Gary was home working on fixing our Sleep Number bed - he had ordered a new pump because one side has not been working correctly since before we left SD. Today he also fixed up a brace for the bottom of the bed - we have a foam insert we put in by the headboard to give us more length in the bed when we are sleeping.  We have a short queen size bed, so the insert really helps.
He picked Deb and I up after our walk and we went in town on some errands.  He needed to stop at the hardware store for supplies for the bed brace.  We also went to Sprouts to get our favorite dessert - dark chocolate covered espresso beans.  And then a stop at Total Wine to get all the beverages needed for the Super Bowl party and company coming to town. We always get thirsty shopping (imagine that!!) and had not had lunch, so we stopped at the San Carlos Grill for margaritas and quesadillas.  Then home for the day.

Thursday - Cleaning day!  I took all the rugs to our park laundry room and got them washed.  Then hung them out on the community clothes line.  It did not take much time for them to get dry in the sun and breeze.  Gary finished putting together our tax information for the accountant.  I vacuumed and then did some mending with my sewing machine.  We sat outside in the afternoon - a very productive day.

Friday - today we get company from the north.  Our dear friends, Jean and Jerry are flying in to spend five days here and escape winter there.  We packed up our overnight bag, we will stay in Deb & Joe's neighbors' casita for the next two nights, and then headed to the Mesa/Allegiant airport to pick them up.  It takes about one and a half hours for us to drive up.  They came in right on time and we headed back to Saddlebrooke. Unfortunately, today was cloudy and cooler than it has been and a little more breezy - not very good welcome weather for those from the north.  They will stay with Deb & Joe while they are here - they know them very well also.  Joe grilled burgers for us and we had a great time catching up that evening.

Saturday -  Today the sun was peeking out most of the day.  We took Jerry & Jean sightseeing, Jerry had never been to Arizona before.  We went first to the Saguaro National Park.  Another very educational center about the saguaro cactus - did you know they will not start growing one arm until they are at least 75 years old?  We hiked one of the trails there, Signal Hill, where we were able to see the petroglyphs.  After leaving the park, we drove to Old Tucson and went into the gift shop there.  We did not take time to see the park today, but enjoyed the art work and read some of the history of the area.  Then back to town for a late lunch, at our favorite place, San Carlos Grill.
Back home, we rested and cleaned up to go out for supper.  Tonight we are doing Italian at Nonna Maria's in Oracle.  Deb & Joe came home from Mass and we went to the restaurant.  Great food and a good time together.

Petroglyphs at Saguaro National Park

Jean & Jerry love the desert

Kissing the saguaro

Eating Italian together

Sunday -  10:00 Mass at St. Helen's in Oracle.  There was one pew remaining that we could all sit in. Today the visiting priest led the entrance and processional hymns.  A pianist played other music during offertory and communion.  The church was full - we enjoy the small mission friendliness and devotion there.  We took Jean and Jerry back and they left with our car to drive to Casa Grande to visit a friend from Phoenix.  Gary and I borrowed Deb & Joe's car and moved our things back home and changed for the Super Bowl party that would be at Deb & Joe's that night.  We got back and helped Deb get everything ready for the festivities.  Everyone was bringing a dish to share so there was plenty of good food.  We had a great time, although the game and commercials were not anything great this year.  The wrong team won too!
Jean and Jerry returned from their visit and got to meet all of Deb, Joe, Dan & Connie's friends here in Saddlebrooke.  They fit right in - we had a great time and a lot of laughs.

Monday -  Happy Birthday Jerry!  He said he had never traveled on his birthday and now we are even going to golf on his birthday - another first for him, with a February birthday.  We stopped at Walmart on the way and bought golf gloves to use, Joe was able to get everyone golf clubs to use today at his course, El Conquistador.  It was cooler and cloudy today, we all dressed in long sleeves, pants and jackets.  Doris and Leo Smith golfed with us too. The plan was to golf 18 holes, but by the eighth hole the wind came up and it even started spitting moisture, so we all agreed to be done after nine.  By then it was mid afternoon, so we headed to Mi Tierra's for a late lunch/early supper. The waitress heard it was Jerry's birthday, so he got the full treatment of wearing the sombero and the birthday dessert, a huge serving of fried ice cream. Enough to share with everyone.
We went back to Deb & Joe's and enjoyed visiting and ended the evening playing a spirited game of Farkle.

Great friends