Did we take a wrong turn?

We were planning to spend at least two months in the sunshine of Arizona, but after six weeks, I am wondering if we are in the correct state. Right now, I have the electric heater plugged in, I am wearing sweats and drinking coffee, and as I look out the windshield I see nothing but a dark gray rain-spattered view across the park. And it has been like this off and on ever since we arrived. We would have had better weather had we stayed home in Steilacoom.

But we have no control over the weather, and I can't say that we have been terribly inconvenienced except when it is time to walk the dog in the douwnpours. We have had some MAJOR fronts come through that have beaten a thunderous cacophony on the roof.

We still manage some socializing here in the park, and if need be, we just move Happy Hour inside. We have had two sets of friends depart for home or other points west, but now have two Canadian couples who will be here for one month. Both of the guys are retired Canadian forces and Gary and Ken worked together while we were in Halifax.

My former boss (from real estate days) and his wife just purchased a home in Trilogy which is a lovely planned community in the northern part of Peoria. We joined them for lunch last week and toured their new "digs" which will be lovely when they finish their redecorating. And long-time friends from Davenport and Navy days (Larry and Lynn VanAusdle) had a get-together at their home in Sun Lakes last week with several couples who winter in this area.

Mike and Mary were here for a short visit last week, and we spent one full day driving to Tombstone (don't bother; it is a scruffy, poorly maintained town where every activity will cost you) and on to Bisbee. We didn't stop in Bisbee, but Ken and I have been there before and it is quite an appealing mining town with both an historical section and a new section.

For a mere fifty or sixty more miles we made our way to Sierra Vista to have dinner at Ricardo's which is an authentic Mexican restaurant that has been in the same location for something like 30 years. Keith and Janet discovered Ricardo's when they lived at Ft. Huachuca, and we never miss an opportunity to stop. M&M treated us in honor of Ken's birthday. Then full circle back to Casa Grande.

My quilt projects have barely seen the light of day. In order to really get into a project, I end up trashing the motor home from one end to the other including the ironing board on the bathroom sink, the sewing machine on the vanity in the bedroom, and the cutting mat on the dinette table. By the time I get everything out, I am almost too tired to sew, and then it all has to be put away if we want to eat dinner.

The kitchen remodel at home is coming along on schedule with all the upper cabinets in place and new window installed. Base cabinets and countertops and backsplash are next. Our contractor is excellent; not only in his quality workmanship but in his ongoing efforts to stay in close touch as the work progresses. It will be fun to go home to a new kitchen! Ciao