Summer Encounters

So what can possibly go wrong with your house while you're away for the summer? Thought I'd share a few of our experiences with the housewatch program.

Don and I have truly enjoyed our housewatch program so far even though it means being out in the HEAT for a couple hours each month. For one, we've met some great people and I feel like they've become good friends since we email back and forth after each house visit.

So far:
We walked into one home where the air conditioner must have quit because it was HOT in there when we entered. It was 97 at 6:30 am when it was only 85 outside. AC wouldn't kick on after checking circuit breakers. We're waiting to hear back from the owners.

We found a dead scorpion on the floor of one of our homes and very carefully disposed of it. Certainly hope we don't find any of his relatives lurking about.

One customer lost a couple sprinkler heads so we purchased a new timer and installed it for them to hopefully save their shrubs and trees.

Wind storm tore a piece of siding from a shed so we pushed it back in place and will watch it carefully during any windy days until it gets repaired.

A car lost its cloth cover during heavy wind so we purchased more rope and secured the cover tighter.

Several nice plant pots were over turned in the wind and we were able to upright them and reinsert the sprinkler system to save the plants.

We retrieved some plastic flower pots that blew down the street and gathered them more securely at their home.

I discovered that one of the plastic water jugs left in a living room had sprung a leak. Luckily the owners had set the jugs inside some plastic pails so the water didn't damage anything. I would have been just sick to walk in and find the water had leaked out and stained their pretty wood floor.

The heat can wreak havoc on us desert dwellers. Just tonight I walked out into our own shed and found a big puddle of something in the middle of the floor. Closer inspection showed that a brand new BIG bottle of laundry detergent sitting on top of a cabinet had split a seam and leaked all over the shelf, down the cabinet and across the floor. I just picked it up and set it in a pail for now. Will figure out how to clean up the mess in the morning. These are just a couple samples of what we've encountered so far.

These are all little surprises that help to keep life interesting. Have a great day!

Bingo at Evas Restaurant

If you haven't been to Eva's Restaurant on Pinal Avenue yet, you must make it a point to do so. The place is absolutely gorgeous. Perhaps these photos will whet your curiosity. Betty Peterson is the new Marketing Director for Evas. You may recognize her as the same lady who hosts the Shopping Bash at Dillards. This was the first attempt at a Bingo party. For $12 we were treated to an all you can eat Nacho bar with all the trimmings and an entertaining hour or so of bingo for some casual prizes from Sephora and Dillards. With a few needed revisions, this kind of event could be a lot of fun this coming season.

Our bingo party was held in one of the banquet rooms.

Here's a few familiar faces from Palm Creek. I thought it was nice of Diane and her crew to show support for Evas and attend the event. Besides.....it was Sandi Feller's birthday celebration! Happy Birthday, Sandi. (Diane Gaines, Linda Balzan, Rosemary Reese, Sandi Feller)

The bar room is really nicely decorated and these vases adorn the foyer near the front doors. I could fill a whole page with nice photos....but we'll save the rest until you visit the place.

Over 300 Hits!

Greetings to all our avid readers! The counter on this blog says we had 331 readers this past week!! I'm guessing the dust storm photos drew an audience. WOW!

Weather has been mild this past week. We had one day of a very brief rain. The sky gets cloudy but then passes over us and the surrounding areas tend to get the much needed rain that we're hoping for. Temperatures are mild now....between 100 and 110. Yes, that's "mild" to us. We don't typically complain till it spikes over 110. Nights are in the 80s.

Don and I are having some major work done in our little house here so have been very very busy. It's a long and I think interesting story so I'll be posting a special blog with lots of photos soon.

Community news: Eva's Restaurant is hosting a cool bingo night Monday so several of us will be attending. Sounds like it will be fun.

 

Remember the new construction in front of Wal-Mart? That dentist office is now open and advertising in the paper. They claim to have the latest and greatest equipment, etc. just like the new office out at the Promenade Mall. We certainly have plenty of dentist offices in town. I'm surprised they can all stay in business since so many of us go to Mexico for treatment!

The new high school at Cottonwood and Arizola will be holding registration this coming week so we'll get our first taste of what the traffic will be. School starts in early August. Will keep you posted.

That's all my news for today. Stay cool.

MAJOR Dust Storm!!

WOW!!! MAJOR HABOOB STRIKES CASA GRANDE!

The wind just seemed to come out of nowhere...which is very typical of dust storms in Arizona summers. I had just arrived home from work about 5:00 tonight when it hit. The big ominous orange dust cloud blew in with a fury blocking visibility to just a block or two from our house. It's always exciting even for those of us who have lived here several years. The neighbors all venture out to chide with each other and gather belongings that blow past from a neighbor's yard or patio.


While out on the patio enjoying the fury of the storm, Don and I heard a huge crash which was undoubtedly someone losing an awning. When the dirt had subsided a little, we hopped in our golf cart to check the houses we are watching. I don't know who lives at 1738, but they definitely lost their awning which faces the golf course. Several homes lost skirting but that's the only major damage we saw. We'll definitely be out in the morning after the wind and dirt dies down to check out the rest of the resort. Will report again tomorrow.


Now for the comedy........I know my camera can take short videos, but I've never really figured out how. I'm going to try posting some of my attempts for your amusement. Go ahead and laugh at me. It's okay. I found it quite amusing myself.

I copied a news flash from the weather bureau for you. Oh....not a drop of rain. Just dirt.

STRONG GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS...GENERATED BY DECAYINGTHUNDERSTORMS OVER PINAL AND SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY...WILL CONTINUEACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING THE GREATER PHOENIXMETROPOLITAN AREA...AS WELL AS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINALCOUNTY...THROUGH AT LEAST 9 PM THIS EVENING. WINDS FROM 20 TO NEAR 50MPH WILL PERSIST...AND LEAD TO AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WITHVISIBILITIES LOCALLY DROPPING TO BELOW 2 MILES. ISOLATED LOCATIONSMAY SEE VISIBILITIES DOWN TO AROUND 1/2 MILE. AS THE EVENINGPROGRESSES...WINDS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF AND VISIBILITY WILLSTEADILY IMPROVE.MOTORISTS ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...INCLUDING THE GREATERPHOENIX AREA...AND OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINALCOUNTY...SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION THIS EVENING AND BE PREPARED FORSUDDEN SHIFTING CROSSWINDS AS WELL AS BRIEF SHARP REDUCTIONS INVISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING DUST.STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST FORECASTS BY LISTENING TO WEATHER RADIOON THE PUBLIC SERVICE BAND. MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLEFROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX ON THE INTERNET AT



Asbestos Cancer

Sunset

If only a photo could do it justice! I just came back from the pool....it's 7:45 pm and the temperature is a mild 104. But look at this gorgeous sunset! That's my only news for today. I have the day off tomorrow so I'm heading to the casino to play bingo for the afternoon. Wish me luck!

More Heat

Greetings from very sunny Arizona,

Whoops.....I missed the ice cream social Sunday afternoon so have no photos to post (again). I had been diligently cleaning house, doing laundry, etc. and then took a "little" nap in my chair. You can probably guess the rest of that story.

I had a fun adventure this past week. I took Thursday as a day off work and drove over to the Ak-Chin casino all by myself for a fun day of bingo. Don't laugh! I like bingo. I was surprised to see a huge brand new Wal-Mart store on the edge of Maricopa by all the new housing developments. There is still a LOT of construction along that stretch of road as they widen the highway and finish off the railroad tracks. I must say that I am extremely grateful for the stop light that has been installed at the intersection where we turn left to go to the casino.

The "Bingotainment center" is closed now and bingo is held inside the hotel in one of the huge ballroom areas. I had three cards for a double action game and was excited when I got a bingo. Unfortunately, four other people also yelled at the same time which meant we split the $300 pot. As they were verifying numbers, I noticed that I also had a bingo on a second card so called the gal back. Sure enough....I was a double winner so instead of just getting $60, I got $120. Anytime you can leave the casino with more money than you went in with....it's a good day so I went home a winner. It made for a fun day.

Other than that......the only news is that our HOT weather continues. I'm posting a blurb from the front page of this morning's paper. Our son, Kevin, is still driving truck all over our beautiful country. He called this morning from Tennessee as he heads down to Louisiana. He said he just had to call and brag about the beautiful scenery he was experiencing of the GREEN rolling hills and wildflowers along the route. He had his window down and was enjoying the fresh 60 degree temperature.....and working on his "trucker tan". A "trucker tan" is a standard joke because they all have a tan left arm from driving with the window down.

That's my blurb for today. Must hurry off to my morning water aerobics class. Ta Ta for now.

HOT

I missed several of the park's summer events...the July 4 potluck party, movie night, and a morning coffee & donuts meeting so I don't have any pictures to post or memories of great food to boast about. Both of our sons have been over for frequent visits so we're having fun but missed some resort events.

The paper this week had a big ad about our local Wal-Mart store being completely remodeled inside and out. Construction has already started as we stopped in at the pharmacy and found it operating but in quite the shambles. The staff had a good sense of humor about it and are certainly looking forward to completion.

The plaza by the old Wal-Mart store....Frys grocery, McMashers Bar, etc is also being completely remodeled on the outside. We know Reggie who owns McMashers. She called us at work and pleaded for a large banner that says "McMashers IS OPEN during construction" because several of her customers said they didn't come in for a while assuming the place was closed due to all the hubbub. Her sign is now up and business is underway. I recommend you stop in there sometime for a good cheeseburger and curly fries. It's a nice sports bar and casual restaurant. Lots of TV screens to watch.

Other than that, the only headline news we have is the heat. Whew!


P.S. For your info.....this site had 176 hits since July 3. Makes me feel guilty if I don't get something new posted each week. Thanks again for your support and feedback.

HOT

I added a little weather box to the blog so you can laugh (or sympathize) with us as we swelter in the summer heat. I can't quite get it to fit perfectly in the sidebar, but it's close enough. If you click on it, you go straight to the weather page. YIPE! We're supposed to be 117 this weekend. Whew. That's HOT.

We had our first monsoon rain Friday night. It was wonderful. Don and I sat out on the patio for about an hour just to watch the rain, and soak up the cool temperature as it dropped below 80 for the first time in quite a while. We had a great thunder and lightning display too but no wind to speak of. That's the first measurable rain we've had in a LONG time so it was much appreciated. We could almost hear the saguaros sighing as they soaked up the precious moisture.