Twenty Down and Twenty Four to Go

Another week is finished!! And all is going well. Ken had his weekly visit with his doctor this morning, and was told that if he were going to have any temporary symptoms as a result of the treatments, they would be evident by now – and he doesn’t have any!! We love receiving emails from all of you and willingly accept all your good wishes and prayers!

Ken drove me to Blythe last Saturday where we met Colleen and I went on to Phoenix with her. We had a good visit, and it was fun to have some girl talk since most everything here centers on men. We did a half day drive into the mountains east of Phoenix and ate out a couple of times while I was there. I visited my favorite quilt shop (and refrained from buying anything) and made a run to IKEA.

Colleen has a very nice, very Christian landlord (her cottage is at the back of his property and they share the pool and the yard) who had dinner with us twice this week. He is single, an administrator for ASU, and the love of his life is Toby, his golden retriever. Bill isn’t a very savvy drinker so Colleen has managed to thoroughly corrupt him. We had him over dinner one evening and had wine, and the next evening she made cosmopolitans (which she had introduced to him some time ago). While having our drinks, he said, “You know I have some steaks in the freezer that I could put under the broiler.” And of course we said, “Sure and we’ll make the salad and open a bottle of wine!”

Colleen has brokered a deal between Bill and the new hire in her office to rent her cottage when she moves to Seattle in January. Bill said he rented it to Nick and his wife for the same price as he had rented it to Colleen – which is dirt cheap for Phoenix. That is because he said he gives a discount to renters who have a dog!!! They have a Schnoodle who will be a buddy for Toby as Skyla has been.

Speaking of Blythe, here is an update for the Spragues, Robinsons, and Ouseys:

After getting gas in Ehrenberg yesterday, we did a spin through River Breeze to see how it looked. Of course all the grass is a lovely green!! And even though we didn’t stop to check, I’ll bet the pool and the spa are working fine as well. It looks like Michelle still has her job as it looked like her truck parked in front of the park model. About half the sites were filled, and just about every one of them had a toy hauler with a big jet boat parked beside it. I think there were one or two more park models since we were there. The membership park next door was virtually empty.

And Gary and Carolyn, we ate at El Ranchito yesterday before coming home.. It was six in the evening, and as usual, there were just two tables occupied. We got our dinners to go and sat out on the patio so we could have Cooper with us. Tasty as usual.

It seems my friend, Karen, took exception to my calling our crazy little lady Minnie since that is what my mother used to call her, so Ken has renamed her Hattie. Actually, Hattie has been on very good behavior, and if not, she is keeping her door and windows closed so we can’t hear her. She still sails in and out several times a day, hat on her head, in her little Scion going we know not where!

I am so excited…….Karen is coming to visit the first week in October!!! In addition to doing something quilt-like, I said I would lay in a supply of beverages and we could sit on our little patio and guess the lifestyles and comings and goings of our neighbors here in the park. We wanted her to bring Rod, but she is going to make him stay home and work!!

Speaking of neighbors, a couple from Nampa, Idaho arrived recently and are parked directly behind us (and right beside Hattie). Ken described them as older, but I’m afraid to use that term anymore considering our age, but I guess he meant older than we. Ken talked to them when they got here and learned the husband is here for proton therapy. Then this morning I was hearing some lovely trumpet music which was coming from their little trailer. He is quite talented (I’m making the assumption it is he) so we will have some occasional entertainment. I wonder if I could coax him to play in the afternoons while we are sitting outside having a drink?

The week end is here, but we have no plans. We are expecting to hear from our friends, the Bakers, who are supposed to be coming through one of these days for a visit. Otherwise, we will just be staying close to home. I will probably dash out to a local sewing machine shop tomorrow as my machine is acting up. I took it to Phoenix to make doggy pillow covers, and the sewing machine did not cooperate so I was only able to finish one of three. The other two I brought back with me.

Ciao