Drone Video

Just a quick tour with the drone.  

Outdoor Activities

Talk about weird climate change issues!  We've been stifling hot for so long that this temporary cold spell put us in long pants, jackets, and a warm scarf.  At 63 degrees this morning, we were chilled as we made our morning rounds.  The forecast, however, looks perfect.  (Still not a drop of rain in sight.)

We have softball games every Tuesday and Thursday!  So fun to watch the guys at play.  Yes....everyone is conscious of social distancing whenever practical.

Nice crowd this afternoon.  We stopped at the Snack Shack for one of their yummy burgers.

Evenings are spent at the poker table.  We can still chat, laugh, and harrass each other via Messenger.

Attention Mahjong players:  I have 9 extra 2020 National Mahjong cards for sale that were ordered in error.  Normally $9.00 each but will sell for $7 to try and recoup some of the money spent in error.

Lawn bowlers are out enjoying the weather.

Golfers are chasing golf balls down the fareways.

Mouse is waiting impatiently for the door to open.  It seems he's always on the wrong side of a closed door.

Pretty view on a cloudy morning.

The green spring time grass.

Don complains of a stiff neck from watching the hummingbirds at our feeder.  

The cats are waiting for doves to stop by for a visit.

Mahjong

Attention Mahjong Players

Due to health concerns, I am no longer the chairperson for the Mahjong group.  I understand there are several tables playing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Sonora Room at 1:00 if you care to join them.

Denise Gaither is mailing our check to the local Valley Humane  Society in the amount of  $273.  This is the reimbursement our club received for ordering our 2020 Mahjong cards as a group.  If you wait until January, the group can again place a group order for the 2021 cards to quality for that reimbursement or you can go ahead and order on your own this year.  The deadline for ordering new cards is February 5.

Note from Denise:  If you hear of anyone who ordered their 2020 card through me but didn't get it, please let me know, I can call the League office and have them re-sent.   A caveat that you might tell those who didn't get their cards  -- the replacement cards will be sent to the address on the order.   The League will not send them to a different address.   Thanks!   Denise 

Marvelous cards can be ordered NOW and will be shipped out in early January.  Order through their website at https://marvelousmahjongg.com/

If you want to set up on-line games with friends, you can do so at:

https://myjongg.net/

Enjoy!  May the jokers find their way to your tray!

Front Nine

Drone tour over the front nine on opening day.

If for some reason, you can't get the video to work here, go to YouTube and search for Sue Hepler.  You'll find a page with all my videos there and you should be able to view them just fine.

Parades & Softball

October 31 was Halloween.  A huge long line of golf carts streamed through the park.  Most occupants were dressed in costume and the carts were decorated for the occasion.  I was pretty far away but managed to get a couple photos as they passed by the end of our street.

My best guess is that there were between 30-40 carts in the parade.

It's always a real pleasure to see people having FUN.

Last night a couple enthusiastic voters organized a parade to support their favorite presidential candidate.

I know some folks take offense to any kind of political endorsement, but it was nice to see folks out having fun.  

I learned today that our FOUR softball teams will start their play tomorrow!  Go teams go.  I will definitely be there to cheer them on.  Games start at 9:00 a.m.  The players all practice safe social distancing and are careful about sharing equipment, etc.  

I copied this week's schedule from the club's website:

The Softball website has a new professional appearance.  Check it out:

Palm Creek Softball

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Stop by the Golf Shop and take advantage of the big sale.  There was quite a crowd there today.

Drone Video of the back nine

The back nine is due to open November 16.

Guess I'd better find another place to rest as my favorite chair seems to be occupied.

Activity Update

While our normal entertainment, dances, and events are canceled due to the ugly Covid monster, some activities are held within the guidelines.

Line Dancing:  A favorite of many!

I'm also told that a few avid Mahjong players are gathering in the Sonora room on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:00.  

I've been complaining about the heat for the past six months but this morning we were dressed in long pants, shoes and socks, AND jackets!  It was only 47 degrees when we arose this morning and we reached a high of 64.  We went from summer to winter overnight!   Don't worry though:  This cold front will only last for two days and then we'll be back into the 80s.  Mother nature has gone beserk with her weather wand these days.  Folks up in northern states are shoving 8-10 inches of snow already.

RC Flyers & November Calendar

Here's a news release from the RC Flyers:

Big Changes for Casa Grande RC Flyer’s Winter Events

 

As the weather turns cooler, the Casa Grande RC Flyers winter major event season begins with some major changes due to the COVID-19 virus.  The club usually encourages and welcomes visitors from all over the valley to their events, however this winter, the airfield will be closed except to Academy of Model Aeronautics members.   There will not be food services at the club’s 2^nd Saturday events this season either.  Those and the other changes, such as controlling the number of members inside the field grounds, are following the recommendation of the city which are designed to keep the club’s membership and the public safe.  The club’s winter events usually draw hundreds of visitors for all over the valley.

Masks will be required of anyone on the airfield grounds and social distancing will be practiced, both at the flight tables and pilot stations.  The charities who usually stand at the entry gate collecting donations will not be allowed this year, however the club will be working to solicit donations and distribute them later in the year.  According to the club president, Alan Friedman, donations of three thousand dollars have already been received and earmarked for the “Valley Humane Society” and the “Pets in Need Action League”. 

Although the public cannot enter the field, they can view the flying while parked along the roadway or across the street in the public shooting range parking lot.  The first major event this winter will be a celebration of National Model Aviation Day on Saturday November 14, 2020 at the airfield located at 2725 S Isom Road in Casa Grande.  Other winter events were to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Casa Grande Valley, the Casa Grande Food Bank, and the Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona.  Should safety concerns diminish, and less stringent field regulations be needed, the events may again be opened to the public and the charities again be collecting at the entry gate.

”Although this will be a challenging year, the club hopes to continue its eight-year tradition of providing interesting events for the public’s enjoyment and educational programs to area schools and 4-H clubs.  Unfortunately, everything is on hold until this virus in under control”, the club president stated in a press release.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers is one of the top Academy of Model Aeronautics’ award-winning clubs nationally and an Arizona non-profit corporation.  They promote the hobby of model aviation by offering free flying lessons to newcomers.  They raise money for local charities and offer many interesting events for the public’s enjoyment.  Details about all they do for the community and membership information can be found on the club’s web site: www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com

PHOTOS:  Flying Class On 10-15-20 and Flying Students, both show the club’s lead instructor, Maurie Sumption of Casa Grande, teaching new flyers, including several from Robson Ranch, how to fly.  Note all are using the required face masks.

Hurry to get your tickets for Octoberfest.

The November calendar is published.

Here's another outdoor event that provides social distancing.  

Covid can't get in the way of our desire to play a little poker.  We've set up some private tables at Poker Stars.  It allows us some get together time with definite safe distancing!  We also do the same for Mahjong.

With the Messenger app, we play, chat, and laugh.  Just like being in the same room although several are in different states and/or Canada.

Playing at home also allows me to keep an eye on the cats!

From today's Dispatch:

A monthly drought status summary posted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources earlier this month said that the summer’s record-setting high temperatures were combined with 50% less precipitation than average. Casa Grande and northern Pinal County are considered to be in an “exceptional drought” period. About 45% of the nation is in drought, the highest level in more than seven years.

“The monsoon season ended with the hottest and driest summer since 1896,” the summary said.