DECISIONS

There haven't been many blog entries lately, not because we weren't doing anything-we've actually been very busy. We've been considering getting a park model for quite awhile, and we finally made the decision to do it. A week ago, we bought a new one up in Apache Junction, and it will be delivered on the 9th of March. We've been busy picking a floor plan, deciding on concrete, awning, a shed, furniture, etc. Have I mentioned my frustration dealing with a man with no spacial perception? I know he can't help it, but most of the furniture he liked, would only fit in a millionaires house. He finally found a comfortable chair that would fit in the room-so we're both happy now. The furniture won't come until the 16th, so we won't move in until then. We have the motorhome for sale, and plan on staying here longer each year. We're hopefully going to get something smaller that I can help him drive, so we can still do some traveling. We know we can't handle winters anymore, we like it here, like the people, can live pretty cheap, and of course-Don can play cards! It would be nicer to be closer to old friends and our kids and grandchildren, but this is a mobile society and no one seems to stay in one place very long. Our oldest grandchild is headed to Iowa State-I guess we'll spread our wings at the same time. The other day, we went up to Mesa to meet Fitzgeralds for dinner, so we took them to visit our new home. We told them they were our first "unofficial visitors" since it's still on the dealers lot. The rest of you can take a peek.

Hope you can read the sign on the door.

Please know that all you "special people" are invited to visit anytime!

PARK VARIETY SHOW

Our park had its annual variety show the other night, and there are many talented people here. I'm proud to say that several were Iowans and a few were neighbors. We talked to Caroline Allbaugh from Wilton and Linda Evers from the Amanas before the show.

Their tap dance included kicking up their heels, shaking their "booties" and this ending to a great routine.

Along with musicians, singers and dancers, you have to have a little humor. The Whistling Tophats act was great-especially if you knew some of the men.

Here's a close-up of two of them.

Not only did everyone have fun, but the $1700 proceeds were donated to the Cancer Walk!

CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS

We headed toward Wilcox, where we went into the Chiricahua mountains.

We stopped at the visitor's center and watched an eight minute film about the park.

Then we took a ride to the top where there is an awesome view.

I was happy-two of my favorite things-mountains with neat rock formations, and snow on trees.
Don says I'm never happy, because I have suggestions on how to make things better. This time, my carmates agreed that the top was awesome, but it would have been nicer if they had trimmed the trees along the road to be able to see better. They only have a few places to pull off-they probably can't do anything about that. Anyway, what you can see is beautiful!





Can you find an animal in this picture?

After this, we went to Wilcox for a late lunch, a pie place, and since it was late, we headed home.
It was a very nice trip!!!

CRANES CONTINUED

It was fun watching them land.

They were everywhere. They suddenly picked another spot near us to land.

Look closely at a few cranes in the middle of this picture, so you can see their skinny little legs. They all fly one direction, turn around and swoop down, facing the same direction, and land, leaning back, holding their legs forward until they land digging their heels in the dirt. It's similar to watching skydivers-only they don't have skinny legs.

Within moments, there were hundreds in that small space.

It's impossible to show the thousands on the ground and in the air. We all left in amazement-even a couple skeptics were smiling.

As we went down the road, they continued to come out of the clouds. It's amazing that everyday at the same time, they appear just like this. Quite a sight!!!

SAND HILL CRANES

We stayed overnight in Tombstone, ate dinner at the Longhorn Restaurant, played 65, (one of our favorite card games), and ate munchies. After a free breakfast at the motel, we headed up toward Wilcox to the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, to try and find the sand hill cranes that winter in Arizona. When we arrived, there were a couple cranes and many ducks and snow geese.

Apparently you can hear the cranes from a mile away, and they did make a lot of noise. We were happy when we could see a few of them.

Then we heard more noise, looked up, and saw more.

And then, they started coming out of the clouds, thousands of them!

And coming-

And coming!

Absolutely awesome!!!

COPPER MINING IN BISBEE

Before we left town, we stopped at the Copper Queen Mine, which was closed in 1975. It's very deep.

It's quite colorful.

We learned a fact at the museum which Don found amazing-there are 2000 miles of tunnels underground that connect the different mines in the area. They had a map in the museum showing all of them. You can take a tour of this mine if you wish.

Of course, the town had to have a copper statue.

BISBEE AZ

Last Monday and Tuesday, we were invited to go with four other couples for an outing in southeast Arizona. We went down to Bisbee, looked around town, ate lunch and went to the mining museum. It's an interesting little town, with houses built on the hillsides-kind of reminded me of Dubuque.

The museum was first rate with an association with the Smithsonian. We learned a lot about copper mining and found the exhibits of various gems and minerals fantastic. The historical/genealogy library in the building was a gold mine in itself. I wish I had relatives from the area. They don't allow photography inside, but this is the neat building outside.

When mining was thriving, they needed a place for people to stay, so the Copper Queen Hotel was built. It's still open today.

The lobby had a beautiful staircase.

Don blows his nose, as Marilyn, Etta, Sue and Anna look at jewelry.

Even the restaurant looked pretty.