Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Update, ballfield, newsletter

Saturday was another torrential downpour up in the Phoenix area......but not here in Casa Grande.  We've been fortunate to miss the flash floods and could actually use a little rain for a change.  A person just has to be careful of what we ask for though.
 
Tried to do a little tour of the kitchen expansion and ballroom for you today but it's impossible to get through without getting trampled by busy workers.  Here's part of the new kitchen area showing its newly painted floor and the new big refrigerator (or freezer....I don't know which is which yet.)
 
 
The ballroom is obviously still under construction.  Look at the pretty ceiling with all the crown molding around the sections.  Newly painted ceiling and lots of nice new fans.
 
 
 
Painters are busy at work everywhere.
 
 
This tree outside the main office will really be pretty once the flowers get planted.
 
 
Barbie and Veronica are just waiting for you.  They're both new so be gentle and patient when you register.
 
 
The library looks lovely.
 
 
The mailroom is really busy as residents return.
 
 
 
The ballfield was just seeded this past Friday and look how fast it is turning green.
 
 
I'm sure they've added an extra pound or two of seed for the doves too! 

 
The October newsletter is published and available on line at October newsletter
 
(*This article copied from PC nextdoor article.  Thanks, Sandy.)
 
This map shows the expanded pet section of our park.  There will be a new fenced dog run just east of Site 667 on the south end of Cole Circle.  This will include a covered pavilion, seating, and new landscaping.
 
More and more RVers are traveling with their pets.  This expanded area will make reservations much easier and allow our business to grow.
 

 
 

Friday, September 26, 2014

Potluck Dinner

We had another potluck dinner yesterday.  Quite a few people showed up so we had a nice crowd and LOTS of good food.  I'm slipping in my old age though as the camera never left my pocket.  Whoops. 

Look at this beautiful new concrete work at Site 1963.  Never saw anything like it before.  It's just awesome.

 
 As we were standing out front looking at the masterpiece, this gent stopped by with his concrete truck and asked us what we thought of the project.  He seemed very proud to be part of the installation.  Nice job!
 
 
 

We see another new home being installed along Diamond Lane by the south wall.
 
 
 
Our landscapers have reseeded Palm Park, the ballfield, and the big dog run. 
 
 
It will soon be a brilliant green color once again.
 
 
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Monday, September 22, 2014

Quiet Weekend

Another photo of the never ending landscape work.


We met up with some of our maintenance crew this morning as we all stopped for a brief chat.  Eddie, Neil, and Luis.  Howdy guys! 

 
It's that time of year again when Maldonado and the other power wash vendors get busy with fall cleanup before your return.  If you plan on getting the house washed before your return, call your favorite vendor now to get on the schedule.

 
Look at this beautiful bush in front of John and Sharon Pilkington's place.  There doesn't seem to be room for another blossom as each branch is completely full.  Very very pretty!

 
Awwww...........we found this poor little hummingbird laying on the street in front of our house.  He was still alive, but not by much as he wouldn't even sit up or stir when we picked him up.

 
We held him to the feeder and he drank big gulps for a long time.

 
He recovered enough that at least he sat upright but still made no attempt to fly. 

 
We made him as comfortable as possible but ... alas, he did not survive the night.  So sad.
 
 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Hurricane Odile was a dud

I'm guessing all our meteorologists are humbled by their missed predictions for the aftermath of Hurricane Odile.  We were predicted to get hit very hard by torrential rains in our area............but all we got was a light mist for about 10 minutes.  We were looking forward to some real rain...but at least we didn't get flooded like Phoenix did in the previous storm.  Guess we'd better not complain. 

Our landscape team is hard at work EVERY DAY to keep our park so pretty.  Today we spotted them out with leaf blowers cleaning between sites and along the canal.  Thanks guys!
 
Spotted a pretty red cactus in bloom at 1781.
 
 
Not much to write about today but wanted to let you know about the weather.  We're back to bright blue sunny sky.  No storms.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Waiting for Odile

I'm going to call this photo...."Waiting for Odile". 
 
We had a spectacular sunset last night.  We came out of the movies, saw the sky, and couldn't wait to get home and bring out the camera before it was too late. 
 
 
Weather forecasters are warning us regularly that the hurricane is on its way.  Phoenix is making up sandbags by the tons in preparation in case the storm hits like it did the last time.  Keep an eye on the weather news tonight and keep your fingers crossed that we don't get hit too hard.
 
 
Today we have gray sky with heavy cloud cover.  Right now we're at 82 degrees with 61% humidity.  That means there's already a lot of moisture up in "them there clouds".    It should be an interesting day.
 
 
We met Fernando while out on rounds this morning.  His crew is prepared and ready to have a rainy day.  If it rains, the whole crew will be indoors painting all the yardage markers and doodads from the golf course. 
 
They will be reseeding the ballfield and palm park next week.  Yesterday we stopped to chat with the landscaper who was trimming these trees.  He was just recovering from another scorpion sting.  Ouch! 
 
 
Trees on the golf course must get trimmed so all the debris is picked up and cleared before reseeding.  Soooooo much work and planning to do to keep our resort beautiful.
 
 
Have you heard about Casa Grande's "Doggie Dive-In"?  Every year when the city closes the main pool, they sponsor this one day event.  Sandy Morin sent this article and the pictures.
 
Doggie Dive In September 13, 2014
This event was sponsored by the City of Casa Grande Community Services Department. Dog owners brought their four-legged family members to the Palm Island Family Aquatics Park to soak in the pool or soak up some sun on Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Admission was $2.00 per dog and humans were free. They had contests, prizes and vendors for your precious pets. Contests included: Bathing Suit Contest, Dog Paddling Contest, Water Retrieval Contest (Long Jump) and Best Dressed Family (this one includes humans!!).
Several members of the Palm Creek community came, both to participate and also to support others.  There were at least nine members of Palm Creek there.  Fours dogs came that I was aware of and two of the dogs won prizes.  Grace (Sandy Morin) won 1st prize in the bathing suit contest, while Sophie (Sam & Donna Cox) won a close second. 
One special dog came to enjoy being cooled off in the water Villa (a beautiful Lab Retiever owned by Phil & Cathy Paramore) who was suffering from kidney failure, died on Sept 15.
The event was well organized and had separate entrances for small dogs and large dogs.  Mark your calendars for next year 1st Saturday after Labor Day 2015!
Here's Sophie on stage:

Cathy Paramore and Villa

Grace
 
 
Sandy Morin (Grace) with Donna Cox (Sophie)


After looking at all these photos of sunshine.....be sure to check out the link at the top of the page called "notes from fellow residents".
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How about some "one liners" today?
 
 
* I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.
 




* I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years.  If my wife finds out, she'll kill me!
 




* Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won't be reporting it.  The thief spends less than my wife did.
 



* We always hold hands.  If I let go, she shops.
 



* My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed.  My wife calls it the Dead Sea.
 



* My wife and I revisited the hotel where we spent our wedding night.  This time I was the one who stayed in the bathroom and cried.
 



* My Wife was at the beauty shop for two hours.  That was only for the estimate.  She got a mudpack and looked great for two days.  Then the mud fell off.


Have a GREAT day (and watch the weather report for Casa Grande).

Monday, September 15, 2014

Updated Remodeling Photos

Walked up to the clubhouse a little while ago and took some photos now that much of the artwork and photos are hung on the walls.  The place certainly looks nice.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are you dreaming about owning a new home in Palm Creek?  This would be a Great time to purchase one as there seems to be big reductions on the new spec and model homes!! 
 
 
We swam with the wildlife last night up at the north pool.  This cute Sonoran Desert toad jumped in and swam around capturing any insects that haphazardly landed in the pool.  It's always handy to have my cell phone camera along for moments like this.
 
 
It was certainly a surprise to see this cactus cluster in full bloom this morning.  I thought the cactus plants would be done blooming for a while but this one certainly ignores the calendar.  Too bad Bob and Lucy Cadwell on Putter Place aren't here yet to see their blooming beauty.
 
 
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With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

'May I see the new baby?' I asked.
 
'Not yet,' she said 'I'll make coffee and we can talk for a while first.'
Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, 'May I see the new baby now?' 
'No, not yet,' she said. 
After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, 'May I see the baby now?'

'No, not yet,' replied my friend.
 
Growing very impatient, I asked, 'Well, when can I see the baby?'

'WHEN HE CRIES!' she told me.
 
'WHEN HE CRIES?' I demanded. 'Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?'
 
'BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, OK?!'