Expensive Upkeep

I took a couple photos today so you could see and appreciate some of the "behind the scenes" activities in taking care of our beautiful park. The garbage truck was in the shop for some maintenance this past week but the landscaping crew can't stop trimming so all the palm fronds and yard debris piled up. After some expensive repair and a set of new tires, the truck is back at work and has a lot of catching up to do.

This big well digging truck is busy at work with some major repair as well. This is the well located betwen Sites 6 and 7. I don't know exactly what is being done, but it looks expensive. There are many repairs and routine maintenance items that we never think about when we're here enjoying ourselves. Thank you, Wendell and staff, for taking such good care of our comforts.

Still Hot

I know you must get tired of me commenting about the heat....but....it's really hot. Here's a headline page from today:

Scorcher weekend ahead for Valley
Excessive-heat warning in effect
by Lauren Misak - Aug. 29, 2009 12:00 AMThe Arizona Republic

Valley residents won't get a break from scorching temperatures today.
The metro Phoenix area remains under an excessive-heat warning, although lower temperatures are just around the corner.
The three-day warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Temperatures today are expected to reach 112 degrees, just 1 degree shy of the 113 degree record in 2005.
Steve Sipple, a National Weather Service meteorologist , said excessive-heat warnings are announced when temperatures rise 8 to 12 degrees above normal. Thursday and Friday had record-tying highs of 113. The heat won't let up at sunset. Sipple said temperatures at night will remain unseasonably high.

Sunday will be partly cloudy, reaching a high of 110 degrees. Later in the week, Valley residents can expect the forecast to range from 108 degrees Monday to 105 degrees Friday with 10 percent chance of midweek showers, the National Weather Service said.
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Connie, my son Kevin, and I drove over to Maricopa today to play bingo at the Ak-Chin casino. We were quite surprised to get there and find the casino without electricity. The generators were going to keep emergency items alive but there was no air conditioning nor overhead lights. You can bet the slot machines were still working but it was so dang hot in there, I don't know how the people could stand it. We hung around while they handed out $25 off coupons for another game of bingo next weekend but then we were lucky to be able to leave. Those folks who came by bus had to wait till their bus leaves at 3:00. Yuck! I'm now back in my nice cool home and ready to cozy up with a good book and perhaps a nap. Life is good.

Weekend News

Good Morning, Readers:

After seeing the movie "Julie/Julia", I feel like Julie and share her curiosity at being a blog author wondering who all the people are that are reading this each day. We had 223 hits again last week. Who are all these people?? Every now and then someone will send an email my way to say hello ... which makes my day. Thanks! (Ken & Pat Hanson) I hope you'll all stop by to say howdy when you return.

By the way, if you haven't seen that movie yet "Julie/Julia", you must do so. Meryl Streep deserves a true academy award for her role. Wow. I dragged Don along with me and he said he really enjoyed it too because the acting was phenomenal. I can't say the same for the recent Harry Potter movie, however. Went to see it this weekend but there's no way they can make a movie as good as the books. I'm a true fan of JR Rowling. Her writing takes you away to "never never land".

Connie Morin, Billie, and I went to the American Legion Friday night for bingo. I won two games in a row! Awesome. There's obviously a hidden child in me somewhere who loves bingo and Harry Potter movies. The Legion has good bingo and they're some pretty serious players. I see the same people there every time I go.

Saturday Connie and I went over to the new high school to tour the school/city library. It is certainly a beautiful campus and I hope the kids appreciate what they have there. The library didn't have many books on the shelves as of yet but there were quite a few people doing the same as we were--just visiting out of curiosity. They have a nice big computer classroom with 30 on-line computers where they can hold classes or the public can come in for web access. All you need is a library card and you can use a computer for an hour. Alongside the classroom is another lab room with an additional 10 computers where people can access at all times the library is open. Students are not allowed in the computer rooms during daytime city library hours. I'm still upset with myself that I didn't take my camera with me. Sorry folks...no photos to post.

I think we were all wondering what affect the school would have on traffic in our Palm Creek area. To date, there is no effect at all. Maybe the fact that the school is only open for freshmen and sophomores has something to do with it because very few of them would have a drivers license yet. Cottonwood Lane is being completed as four lane which will help traffic patterns in the future.

How many of you have laminate flooring in your home?? We just tore out all the carpeting and laid new flooring..not wood...just a laminate flooring. I'm still experimenting and reading to find the best method of cleaning. Any suggestions?? I dust daily with a microfiber dry mop but haven't figured out the best way to "wash" the floor. The internet says laminate doesn't like water but we should instead use a light spray of vinegar and water. I'm finding that if I don't dry the floor, it tends to streak. Feedback from those with more experience would be appreciated. I gave my big beautiful Dyson vacuum cleaner to my sons for their apartment since I no longer need it and bought a tiny Hoover cordless Linx stick vac. It is the cutest darn thing, works like a charm, and easily fits in my closet. Does anyone use that new Shark steam cleaner?? Would love to hear your comments about it. Please email me at sue77hepler@yahoo.com

Thanks...and have a great day.

Summer Newsletter

Thought you might enjoy reading the September Newsletter. Looks like we have more fun events to occupy our time during this hot weather. No relief in sight yet. Weatherman still predicts over 100 everyday for a while.

Today's Dispatch News

There were some interesting tidbits in today's paper. Thought you might be interested.

I try not to shop at Wally World very often because the store is usually a mess, but my visit the other day was a pleasant surprise. Here's an article from today's Dispatch: (Pardon the fact that I got a little scissor happy down the left side of the page!)
Another story was about "Prickly Pear Season". The Boyce Arboretum is offering a one hour class so visitors can learn how to harvest the juicy fruit of the prickly pear without damaging their hands with painful cactus spines. I've tried several samples of prickly pear "stuff" before and always found it so tasty. It would be fun to attend the class and try to make some sauce. There are certainly plenty of the plants around!

The Dispatch is starting an "electronic edition" this week. The website will have an exact replica of the printed version. I checked it out this morning and it really is great fun. I found a few flaws but since its so early, I'm sure they'll work out the kinks. It is supposed to have a direct link so that if a website is listed in the paper, you just click on the link and it will take you to that page. So far, I found two links that didn't work, but need to give them time. The project is FREE until sometime in September, so check it out for yourself. www.trivalleycentral.com and click on the e-Edition link in the white navigation bar at the very top of the page.

Thank you to our troops

Kris Riedel (one of our house watch customers) recently forwarded this message. I thought it was great and want to share it with others. It's a quick way to say "Thank You" to our military when we pass them on the street or an airport. Take a moment and check it out.

Something well worthwhile to learn!!

This is pretty neat.....(30 second video)... Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how, or it felt awkward?Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which couldbe used to express your thanks and has started a movement to getthe word out..Please everybody take just a moment to watch..... The Gratitude Salute...and then forward it to your friends! THEN START USING THE SIGN.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfFYxSdKdo


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EVENTS NEWSLETTER

Okay Everyone: Here's the big news letter of the year.....where all our upcoming events are listed and ticket sales become available. Just received this in my mailbox today and knew you would be anxious to see it. The very last page is a detailed listing of 09-10 rental rates.

To read each page full screen, click on the first page and after reading it, hit your "back" button to return to the blog and select the next page. This seems to work best for everyone. Let me know if you have problems loading on your computer.

Tree Trim Time

I hopped in my golf cart and was headed to the pool for morning water aerobics when I saw tree trimmers in action so had to run back in for my camera.

The trimmed trees look scrawny as if they've had a bad haircut but new branches grow back quickly and look their absolute best when you return in the fall. Trimming all the trees in this park is no small project as you can imagine. After trimming, a crew has to follow behind and pick up all the branches and debris. Last year our handy dandy park garbage truck hauled over 100 TONS of palm branches to the local land fill.

Here is a good before and after view as you look down our street.

We haven't had a single day below triple digits in a long time. The weather man said we're only a few days away from having the hottest summer on record. Sure am glad my job is indoors with cool air conditioning as I don't think I'd last long out there picking up all those palm branches and loading them in a truck. Whew!!

August Newsletter

Click on a page to enlarge it for reading. Then click your "back" button to return to the blog. Be sure to read about new TV options Dish Network coming our way.

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



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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.