Guess I should end up our blog now that we have been back in Missouri about ten days. We left Casa Grande with very mixed feelings. We had such a wonderful, wonderful 2 1/2 months there, mainly due to our dear friends, Bob and Judy Howell. Thank you, Bob and Judy, so much for showing us such a good time, for driving us all around showing us sites, for the meals you fixed for us, and for entertaining us. We wouldn't have had as much fun if it hadn't been for you two. You are truly great friends and we are anxious for you to get back to Missouri. We miss you!
We also want to thank Harry and Sue Foster for entertaining us when we were in Mesa. You guys have such a beautiful home there. We were hoping to get together again before we left, but the time just went so fast. We are anxious for you guys to get back also so we can go out and eat and then play some dominoes!
It has been great to get back home and see our families and our sweet little granddaughter, Ella. Now we are anxiously awaiting the birth of our grandson (and so are his parents and sister)!
Our trip back home took us three days. The first night we stayed in New Mexico and the second night we stayed in Oklahoma. Got home about 6:30 on Monday, March 17, 2008. It rained most of the day on Monday. We had a Welcoming Committee on West Gale Road meet us in their yellow rain suits! It was good to see them.
Our last week in Casa Grande went so fast. We spent our last night in Casa Grande by going to Cracker Barrel with Bob and Judy. Left Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. Larry drove the RV pretty slow as we left the RV park for the last time this year. We are signed up to come back next year for January, February, and March and were able to get the same site.
Thank you all for taking time to read our blog. I wasn't very good at keeping up on it and I apologize for that. Hopefully, next year we will have WiFi from our site and it will be easier to blog.
Until next winter..................The Bowling Snowbirds
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Cactus Fly-In and Apache Trail
Monday, March 10, 2008
Last weekend (3/8-9/08) was full of fun activities with Bob and Judy. Saturday we started out by going to a craft/senior health fair at the Southern Arizona University in Coolidge. It was a senior health fair plus several craft vendors. Judy and I sure enjoyed it and the guys just tagged along. The weather was cloudy, breezy, and cool.
About mid-morning we got to the Casa Grande Airport for the 50th Annual Cactus Fly-In. Boy, Larry was in “seventh heaven”! He was grinning from ear to ear all afternoon. There were probably close to 150 small airplanes, antique bi-planes, old military planes, etc. There were airplanes taking off and landing and making pass-by flights all afternoon. We got to see a lot of the airplanes take-off to go home. One of the highlights for Larry was to see a military airplane that was used in Korea and Vietnam Wars called the “Skyraider” fly and to hear the sound of the engines roar. We also got to see 4 antique Stearman bi-planes take off together and they made several pass-by flights in formation. Each time they passed by, they ejected smoke out. Took lots of pictures and 30 video clips. Mike and Scott – bet you can hardly wait to see Dad’s videos! The sun finally came out and by later in the afternoon, it was almost 80 degrees out.
The Apache Trail was on the agenda for Sunday. Bob so graciously volunteered to drive their Jeep as he knew what the road was going to be like; parts of it were gravel, narrow, curvy, and rough (with a capital R). Ha! Fortunately, the day turned out to be gorgeous – clear blue sky and warm temps. The Apache Trail goes through the rugged Superstition Mtns with their jagged peaks, the Sonoran Desert with various forms of cactus, and two beautiful desert lakes—Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The desert is real green now and has a lot of yellow and orange flowers blooming. The Apache Trail was built to transport materials and equipment, hauled by 20-mule teams from the nearest railroad to the construction site of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. It was dedicated in 1911 and is the world’s largest masonry dam. On the way to Roosevelt Dam, we went through a town called Tortilla Flat with a population of six! It is a resurrected ghost town and has a café and country store that had once been a stagecoach stop. We had lunch at a restaurant along Canyon Lake and ate outside on the lakeside patio and looked at the mtns. – so beautiful and peaceful. The drive was so breathtaking and scenic. Bob drove over 200 miles that day, but it was so worth it for me. That drive was one of my highlights of our trip to Arizona. Sure hope we can do that again next year, Bob!
Next week will be our last week in Casa Grande. The time has gone way too fast. We have decided to come back again next year for January, February, and March if we are able.
Hope everyone is beginning to warm up back in the Midwest. Will see you soon.
Love, Glenda and Larry
Last weekend (3/8-9/08) was full of fun activities with Bob and Judy. Saturday we started out by going to a craft/senior health fair at the Southern Arizona University in Coolidge. It was a senior health fair plus several craft vendors. Judy and I sure enjoyed it and the guys just tagged along. The weather was cloudy, breezy, and cool.
About mid-morning we got to the Casa Grande Airport for the 50th Annual Cactus Fly-In. Boy, Larry was in “seventh heaven”! He was grinning from ear to ear all afternoon. There were probably close to 150 small airplanes, antique bi-planes, old military planes, etc. There were airplanes taking off and landing and making pass-by flights all afternoon. We got to see a lot of the airplanes take-off to go home. One of the highlights for Larry was to see a military airplane that was used in Korea and Vietnam Wars called the “Skyraider” fly and to hear the sound of the engines roar. We also got to see 4 antique Stearman bi-planes take off together and they made several pass-by flights in formation. Each time they passed by, they ejected smoke out. Took lots of pictures and 30 video clips. Mike and Scott – bet you can hardly wait to see Dad’s videos! The sun finally came out and by later in the afternoon, it was almost 80 degrees out.
The Apache Trail was on the agenda for Sunday. Bob so graciously volunteered to drive their Jeep as he knew what the road was going to be like; parts of it were gravel, narrow, curvy, and rough (with a capital R). Ha! Fortunately, the day turned out to be gorgeous – clear blue sky and warm temps. The Apache Trail goes through the rugged Superstition Mtns with their jagged peaks, the Sonoran Desert with various forms of cactus, and two beautiful desert lakes—Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The desert is real green now and has a lot of yellow and orange flowers blooming. The Apache Trail was built to transport materials and equipment, hauled by 20-mule teams from the nearest railroad to the construction site of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. It was dedicated in 1911 and is the world’s largest masonry dam. On the way to Roosevelt Dam, we went through a town called Tortilla Flat with a population of six! It is a resurrected ghost town and has a café and country store that had once been a stagecoach stop. We had lunch at a restaurant along Canyon Lake and ate outside on the lakeside patio and looked at the mtns. – so beautiful and peaceful. The drive was so breathtaking and scenic. Bob drove over 200 miles that day, but it was so worth it for me. That drive was one of my highlights of our trip to Arizona. Sure hope we can do that again next year, Bob!
Next week will be our last week in Casa Grande. The time has gone way too fast. We have decided to come back again next year for January, February, and March if we are able.
Hope everyone is beginning to warm up back in the Midwest. Will see you soon.
Love, Glenda and Larry
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
We are on the downhill side of our winter vacation – only 9 more days of warm weather and relaxation. BUT I can honestly say that I am getting anxious to get home even though it means coming back to colder weather! I am ready to get back home and into a normal routine. I am sure after being home for a few days, I will be wishing I was back in Arizona again.
Last week we enjoyed having Don and Sylvia Kimsey here for a few days. They flew into Phoenix last Wednesday morning, and visited with Harry and Sue Foster in Mesa. Then on Thursday afternoon Harry and Sue brought them to our place. Later that afternoon Bob and Judy Howell had all of us over for a cookout of “Howell burgers” – Bob’s delicious fat (¼ lb. to ½ lb.) burgers. What a wonderful meal we had! Harry and Sue left to go back to Mesa afterwards and Don and Sylvia came back to the RV with us.
Friday we took Don and Sylvia to Eloy where the skydivers are. Bob and Judy met us for lunch. After an enjoyable day of watching the skydivers, we all went to Mission Royale Country Club for a fish fry supper. We had delicious fish and had a choice of regular FF, steak fries, or sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were delicious even though I don’t really care for sweet potatoes. We all enjoyed the meal and had a great time visiting. Everyone came back to our RV and had cherry pie and ice cream.
Saturday we took Don and Sylvia back to Phoenix to catch their flight back home. Before going to the airport in the afternoon, we took them to the Mesa Swap Meet and did some shopping that morning. After having lunch at a Mexican restaurant we headed to Harry and Sue Foster’s. Then we all went to the airport for Don and Sylvia’s 5:30 flight back to KC. We all enjoyed having them here and hope they will come again next year.
This week has been rather quiet and relaxing. Larry has been doing a lot of genealogy work – going to the local library and then coming back and working on the computer. I have been busy reading books. I enjoy reading and not feeling guilty that I should be up doing housework, but that will soon end when I get home!
One evening Bob and Judy came over and we played pitch. Judy and I let the guys win two games out of three so they wouldn’t feel bad. Right, Judy! The guys always get in such a bad mood when they lose. Ha! Right, Judy! We also went over to Bob and Judy’s one afternoon for Happy Hour. We have been riding our bikes every day in the late afternoon.
Tonight we are going to a spaghetti supper here in the RV park. It is a fundraiser for one of the activity groups. Tomorrow and Saturday is the 50th Annual Cactus Fly-In at the Casa Grande aiport. It will consist of small antique airplanes, WWII planes, and some military aircraft. Larry is looking forward to that. Judy and I are going to a health/craft fair at the Univ. of AZ campus here in Casa Grande. Sunday Bob and Judy are taking us on the Apache Trail sightseeing road trip if the weather is okay.
Happy Birthday, James (March 5)
Get well wishes to Amanda and Ella! Take good care of them, Mike.
Well, that should bring you up to date on our happenings since I last wrote. Will probably be headed home the next time I write.
Love to all, Larry and Glenda
We are on the downhill side of our winter vacation – only 9 more days of warm weather and relaxation. BUT I can honestly say that I am getting anxious to get home even though it means coming back to colder weather! I am ready to get back home and into a normal routine. I am sure after being home for a few days, I will be wishing I was back in Arizona again.
Last week we enjoyed having Don and Sylvia Kimsey here for a few days. They flew into Phoenix last Wednesday morning, and visited with Harry and Sue Foster in Mesa. Then on Thursday afternoon Harry and Sue brought them to our place. Later that afternoon Bob and Judy Howell had all of us over for a cookout of “Howell burgers” – Bob’s delicious fat (¼ lb. to ½ lb.) burgers. What a wonderful meal we had! Harry and Sue left to go back to Mesa afterwards and Don and Sylvia came back to the RV with us.
Friday we took Don and Sylvia to Eloy where the skydivers are. Bob and Judy met us for lunch. After an enjoyable day of watching the skydivers, we all went to Mission Royale Country Club for a fish fry supper. We had delicious fish and had a choice of regular FF, steak fries, or sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were delicious even though I don’t really care for sweet potatoes. We all enjoyed the meal and had a great time visiting. Everyone came back to our RV and had cherry pie and ice cream.
Saturday we took Don and Sylvia back to Phoenix to catch their flight back home. Before going to the airport in the afternoon, we took them to the Mesa Swap Meet and did some shopping that morning. After having lunch at a Mexican restaurant we headed to Harry and Sue Foster’s. Then we all went to the airport for Don and Sylvia’s 5:30 flight back to KC. We all enjoyed having them here and hope they will come again next year.
This week has been rather quiet and relaxing. Larry has been doing a lot of genealogy work – going to the local library and then coming back and working on the computer. I have been busy reading books. I enjoy reading and not feeling guilty that I should be up doing housework, but that will soon end when I get home!
One evening Bob and Judy came over and we played pitch. Judy and I let the guys win two games out of three so they wouldn’t feel bad. Right, Judy! The guys always get in such a bad mood when they lose. Ha! Right, Judy! We also went over to Bob and Judy’s one afternoon for Happy Hour. We have been riding our bikes every day in the late afternoon.
Tonight we are going to a spaghetti supper here in the RV park. It is a fundraiser for one of the activity groups. Tomorrow and Saturday is the 50th Annual Cactus Fly-In at the Casa Grande aiport. It will consist of small antique airplanes, WWII planes, and some military aircraft. Larry is looking forward to that. Judy and I are going to a health/craft fair at the Univ. of AZ campus here in Casa Grande. Sunday Bob and Judy are taking us on the Apache Trail sightseeing road trip if the weather is okay.
Happy Birthday, James (March 5)
Get well wishes to Amanda and Ella! Take good care of them, Mike.
Well, that should bring you up to date on our happenings since I last wrote. Will probably be headed home the next time I write.
Love to all, Larry and Glenda
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