Back in business

We have definitely been in the height of the monsoon season as we had rain or thunderstorms several days in a row!   Our desert and drought conditions love the rain but it certainly held up all the construction here at the park.  Mr. Sunshine is now back to his intense summer rays and is drying things up again.

 
Here come the gravel trucks to lay the sublayer for the roads.  We're expecting a parade of 56 truckloads today and the grader will be busy smoothing and compacting it all.  

 
Granite Drive is coming right along with its string of new houses....most of which are already sold.

 
The big dog run is all leveled out now.  Grass will be planted in early fall so it is nice and green when our residents return.

 
Ernesto is still at work in Palm Park.

 
Came across this pretty orange cactus this morning and listened to Don grumble when I made him stop for a photo.  

 

 

Concrete on the tennis courts has cured.  A crew was here yesterday and put the rails back up so the next step will be ready. 

 

 
A whole truckload of new trees has arrived and are ready for planting.  I don't know where their new homes will be though.....at least not yet.

 
The bistro area is back under control after clearing out all those trees and concrete debris.  I'm going to guess that the pink painted squares are where the fire pits will be located.  

 
Luis is busy sanding down each and every street corner sign post.

 
Nick follows closely behind with paintbrush in hand.

 
And then comes Lillie as she applies all the lettering and gets the signs ready for mounting.  The signs are made with a reflective coating so they'll be easier to read at night.

What a fun way to spend a hot afternoon in the nice cool air conditioning!  Ed Brown and Sam Cox got a helping hand and learned new apps for their iphones.  Now they can text, play games, use their flashlight apps, weather apps, organize each of the screens, but most importantly....read my blog on their phones.  They get gold stars for all their accomplishments!

 

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Many of you are asking about Steve Endsley.  Here is a copy of a recent email I received from him. 

Hello Sue,    I am doing ok. I am still very sore because it was a painful surgery. My old pain seems to be gone which is good. They took out my #10 thoracic vertebrate, building a cage like device from my #9 to #11 and filling that cage with my old bone marrow so my #9 #10 #11will be a solid vertebrate, or a fusion as they call it. I was in the hospital for 6 days coming home last Tues evening. I have to go really slow so my fusion takes hold. I am bored but what can I do, have to follow orders, I don't want to do this all over again. Well that's about it, take care and THANK YOU for all of your help. Sincerely  Steve Endsley   PS your blog is pretty awesome I enjoy looking at it.

Here's Steve's photo from back in his fit and healthy days.

Many of us certainly miss having Steve's Handyman Service available.  We wish him a very speedy recovery!

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CASA GRANDE NEWS:  
Sam's Club plans to open in spring of 2014

Thank you to Connie Morin for being my loyal newspaper reporter.  Since she subscribes to the Dispatch, she brings over any articles she finds that may be of interest to blog readers.

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Take time to read the page on this blog called "Notes from Fellow Residents".  Some of you have sent newsy items to share.  Here's a link:  

Notes from Fellow Residents

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Have a GREAT day!

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A first-grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first graders, six-year-olds, because the last one is a classic! 1. Don't change horses until they stop running. 2. Strike while the bug is close. 3. It's always darkest before Daylight Saving Time. 4. Never underestimate the power of termites. 5. You can lead a horse to water but how? 6. Don't bite the hand that looks dirty. 7. No news is impossible. 8. A miss is as good as a Mr. 9. You can't teach an old dog new math. 10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning. 11. Love all, trust me. 12. The pen is mightier than the pigs. 13. An idle mind is the best way to relax. 14. Where there's smoke there's pollution.. 15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents. 16. A penny saved is not much. 17. Two's company, three's the Musketeers. 18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed. 19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose. 20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder. 21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded. 22. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries. 23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box. 24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way. 25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you. And the WINNER and last one! 26. Better late than pregnant.