The Venture Back To WA

We left AZ on Sat 4-19 and traveled to Laughlin Nevada stayed there tell Monday am. On Saturday evening we spent the evening with Jerry's cousin as they were on their way to WA as well. Sunday we spent some time with our friends that live at Bull Head City. NO we did not win a bunch of money but we had fun.

Monday we headed west to Paso Robblies it is along the coast of CA on Hwy 101. This is a very beautiful area and lots of wineries. We stayed here tell Thursday AM.

Below is a picture of a winery that we could walk to from our RV park. Ark and Saw was disappointed they could not go to the wine tasting. YES we bought a couple bottles of wine and plan to have a little wine tasting party here at the house.

We also spent a day at Hearst Castle WOW what a great day. It is hard to believe that back in the 18th century there was areas like this. That people had that much money and bought so much land 250,000 acres from Mexico.

This is a picture of the castle from where we had to park our car at the Recreation center. If you look straight up from the fence post to the top and on the left is the castle. It is a 15 to 20 minute drive up there by bus.

This is the out door pool and there is a indoor one as well just as big.

We left this area on Thursday and headed up the 101 Hwy through the red wood forest area north of Oakland and San Fransciso we skirted these two towns but it gave Jerry more experience driving the coach through towns with traffic. He done just fine. Also driving through some of the red wood forest area was very windy roads but we did just fine. We had no rain on the trip home. We stayed in Florence OR on Friday night and we were close to the sand dune area so we took a little drive down towards the beach and had the opportunity of watching individuals riding quades and dirt bikes up these dunes approximately 30 feet high. I was worried we would witness someone getting injured or killed but nothing happen guess it was not their first time doing this activity.

Well here we are at the end of our 7 day trip home. Now it is getting things cleaned up and doctor, & dentist appointments made and get on with spending the summer doing what ever.

So until next week I will end this blog writting and send our greetings to all our family and friends. Barb

Good Bye AZ Hello WA

Well we are leaving Sunny AZ in a couple days. Yes, we are leaving the sunshine and heading for cloudy skys. It is starting to get warm here in fact two days ago it was 106 in Chandler. But now it is back down in the 80's so that is a good thing.

The plan is to spend two nights in Laughlin and then on to Paso Robbles CA two spend to nights. We will drive down to Hearst Castle for a day. Then will travel Hwy 101 along the coast of CA, Oregon and WA. It will depend on the weather as to how many days we will take going home.

It does not seem like we have been in AZ for 6 months. The kids tell us it seems like 6 months to them though. They are anxious for us to get back to WA.

I will try and do posting along the way if I have Internet Service.

Do hope this finds all our family and friends well and happy.

As ever Barb and Jerry.

Great Week

Hi to family and friends. This past week we got company from WA. My daughter Teresa, Scott and Gabby come for a vacation. They arrived on Saturday the 5th and left today the 10th.

We had a get together here on Sunday company come from Florence AZ and then my sister and family come.

On Monday we went to Clarsdale which is north toward Flagstaff and went on the Verde Cannon Railway ride which is a 4 hour tour through the hills and cannons and leaned some history about how the railway was built in that area. It was a long day about 12 hours.

Tuesday Teresa, Gabby and I had a girls day out went and had manicures and pedicures and then to starbucks and did a little shopping. In the evening we went out to dinner.

Wednesday Jerry and Scott golfed and us girls went to Starbucks again yes, we love that place.

Thursday today our company left to go back to WA. We had a good time but the time went by real fast.

Well now we will be getting ready to head back to WA ourselves. We leave on April 19 sowe have 9 days to get things in order here to head back to WA for the summer.

As you see by our pictures Ark and Saw got into the action also. They are ready to travel but of course they don't have much to prepare for traveling.

Do hope this finds all well and enjoying life.

Love from the Watlands.

Wrapping Up The Month of March

Time is flying by. We have been in AZ for 6 months. In a couple weeks we will be heading back to WA. Weather has been very nice in the 80's. There is always a nice breeze which make it nice expecially when you are golfing in the middle of the afternoon.

March 24 th wrapped up the bowling for the year and my team took 1st place so am pretty proud about that.

On Friday the 28th the Sun Bird Golf Resort where we live did a "Mini Relay for Life For the Cancer Survivors in our development. It is a small fundraiser put on by the resort so the older individuals can participate which the larger Relay that the city of Chandler puts on it is a overnight function and goes for two days is to difficult for some of the older individuals. Luminaries will light the path for the walk. Other luminaries are lit to spell the word HOPE which is placed on the edge of the driving range of the golf course. I volunteered to help and participated in putting sand and candles in the bags. Then my sister joined me in the afternoon and we purchased two luminary bags in memory of the loved ones in our family that have died from cancer. I am attaching a couple pictures. The Amerian Cancer Society headquarters in Atlanta sent a photographer and film crew to document this years event. It was very rewarding to participate in this event. One should be so thankful if they have not been stricken with this disease. When you see all the individuals that have survived having the disease.

This concludes this past week and we also are not working any more at our winter job.

Greetings to all and take care and enjoy each day.

Love from Barb and Jerry

Busy Week March 16 Through March 23

Well last week was a busy one. Tuesday our friends from Orting come to visit us. They were vacationing in the Sun City area and attending some Mariner spring training game. Here is a picture of us at lunch at the club house.

On Wednesday our contractor finished our patio and garage and drive way. Here are some finished pictures of the project. Ark and Saw are checking out the new barbecue and praying that they don't end up there when the fire is on. They are tired of sitting on the back of the sofa and are excited that the weather is getting nicer and they are looking forward to start doing some traveling again soon. On Wednesday when the final coat of the verithane went on the drive way it was a very strong order so we decided to drive to Apache Trail that our contractor takes his ATV's to and he said it is a nice Jeep ride and thought we needed to get some dirt on that Jeep. Of course I didn't agree about the dirt but we did take the ride. It was a great drive and the flowers and cactus is starting to bloom so was a nice drive. YES, the Jeep got dirty because 22 miles of the trip was dirt road. I am including some pictures where you can see the road from a short distance you will see how winding and narrow it was. But Jerry took the Jeep to the car wash the next day so it looks good.

Friday Evening we were invited to a Margurita Party two doors from us so we met some more new people.

We went to dinner Easter Sunday at my sisters. It was sweet of her to do the cooking.

Then we add our regular schedule of Bowling, Golfing and Water Volley Ball and we keep out of trouble wouldn't you think.

Wishing you all well and will chat with you next week. Barb and Jerry

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hi to all our family and friends. First of all I am answering the request from Teresa for a picture of my bowling team so the first picture is the four some. Left to right is Ron, me, Barb, and Marilyn. When I first started to bowl with them I felt so sorry for them because they are all very good bowlers. Ron use to teach bowling lessons. He has even given me some tips which I really appreciate. I can't imagine what they thought the first couple times I bowled why they got stuck with me. Then there has been a couple times I bowled way over my average. Last Week we were in first place, tomorrow I will see where we are. Last week I bowled my average but the other two ladies bowled below their average a couple games. They keep praising me for the great improvement I have made. I really enjoy it and can't wait for next year to start in the fall. So hopefully I will keep on improving. We only have two more sessions.

Well the next pictures are of a project we are having done on our patio. The first picture is one taken a year ago at Easter. It was pretty plain and we just had a used barbecue that we rolled around the patio when we barbecued. The second picture is work in progress and the third picture is a almost finished job. Our contractor that is doing the work got called to Florida because his father is suffering from esophegus cancer so he had to leave for a few days while they were operating. I will send final pictures next posting. We spend so much time on our patio because of the view of the golf course and nice weather most of the time that it will be an extension of our house. We will enjoy the gas fire place on the chilly nights. A lot of neighbors have these gas lanterns on their patio and we thought about doing that but decided to put in a gas fireplace instead.

Well we have just finished another week end of working and are counting the days tell we will say good bye to working at the Mesa Flea Market. We only have two more week ends left.

All is well here and weather is very changeable like it is all over the US. We have a few 80 degree days and now today and the next two days it will be 60 degrees.

We are praying that all our family and friends are well and having fun in what ever they are doing. Take care and Love from Barb and Jerry.

Life Is Good

Hi to all our family and friends!
Life Is good in AZ.
We have had some warmer temperatures in the low 80's. I am improving my bowling scores and only have three weeks left for this winter session. I will start with them in October again. Also my golfing score is improving and I am enjoying playing with the womens Niner's and meeting a lot of new ladies so that is a plus.

Jerry and I have managed to avoid the flue bugs that are going around. Hope I did not speak to soon.

We are having a built in barbecue and a fire pit put in our patio. We are excited to have it finished. Will send some pictures when it is complete. Here in AZ you spend a lot of time on the patio so it is like an extension to your house.

Only about 6 weeks and we will be heading back to WA. Time sure flies when your having so much fun and busy.

Do hope this finds all our family and friends well and happy! Love you BARB