Activities & Stuff

Okay Gang......it's getting harder and harder to find time to blog!!  Too much fun going on with all the residents coming back so soon this year.  We had our big annual Welcome Home party this past Saturday and it was an overwhelming success.  There were about twice as many people as expected and the place was jumping with activity.  The only problem with this huge crowd is that our poor kitchen staff was unprepared for so many people.  We had long lines and ran out of food.  Beer was donated by Budweiser so naturally that well ran dry as well.  I don't think anyone truly suffered though as the weather was perfect, there were so many friends to chat with...........and we didn't starve either.  We munched on free potato chips, ice cream bars, and iced tea.  

Monday morning was the first meeting of the Photo Club for the season.

 

I'm going to join again this year but will silently sneak out the back door when they start talking about F stops, aperture settings, focal lenses, etc.  My little point and shoot camera never leaves the auto setting and suits me just fine.  I still like to attend though to see the awesome beautiful photos these folks bring to the meeting each week.  I wish there was some way to share their work so you could all see their photos.  I try to talk them into a blog of some sort but I guess they need to protect their photos as their own property.

 
I still learn a lot about photo composition....little tricks of the trade....where to stand and what angle to look for to get the best photo.  There is ALWAYS something to learn even for rookies like me.  I also truly enjoy the Photoshop Elements workshops they conduct.

 

 
In the afternoon, I needed to sneak into the Ocotillo Room to work on the TV connection.  Liz was conducting her card stamping class so I took the liberty of sneaking around the room to see the great projects they were completing.  

 

 
They were busy bees but also had the opportunity to chat and make new friends.

 
Here is the instructor.....Liz.

 
She must have spent her whole summer getting these kits ready for her eager students.  I guess you just choose a card kit and sit down to create your finished item.  Whenever I receive one of these beautifully handmade cards, I hate to throw them away.  

 

 It was a beautiful day for golf too.  There must have been some kind of special outing or something because we saw so many people backed up at this tee box.  

 
The golfers still had fun though.

 
Today was our first craft fair of the season.  Many new vendors plus some of my favorites returned.  The most fun today was having lunch with friends out on the patio....and later having a cold drink at the new bistro.  

I'll keep posting a couple times a week but no more daily posts.  I plan to keep busy with other projects.  Besides............I'm hoping management will start posting stuff on their new blog during season.  You can find it on the palmcreek website.  Go to www.palmcreekgolf.com

Then click on "My Community" and then on "Blog".  The park also has a Facebook page if you're willing to sign up for Facebook but nothing has been posted since September.  I don't think anyone has time to keep up with it.  Too much other stuff to do to keep us entertained.

Wednesday Activity

The weatherman was more than kind again today with warmth and sunshine.  I hopped on my bike for a lovely morning ride so thought I'd share some photos from along the way.

This beautiful red hibiscus flower made me slam on the brakes for a closer view.  Wow!  It's a dandy.  Connie McKinnon certainly has a green thumb for her plants and shrubs at Site 1567 on Cole Circle.  

 
Next I saw Eddie from our Maintenance Dept out with the water truck flushing the sewer lines again.  He gets this chore a couple times a year.  

 
Our tennis players are back to enjoy their new courts!  It's so nice to see that group growing in numbers.

 

 
Over at Palm Park work continues on a feverish pace to get the area ready for our big "Octobeer" event this Saturday.  The project was held up over a month by our city fathers as they required several specific changes to the original plans.  As I understand it, we had hoped to have storage space under the floor of the stage but city fathers protested so now the internal structure is being re-engineered and it will be filled solid with a brick floor.  Thus new rebar is required.  That's okay.....I'm sure we can come up with a Plan B.

 

 

 

The pretty orchid tree that was in this central ring last season succomed to the hard frost last winter.  Looks like we're getting a new tree.  Can't wait to see what comes next.

 

Next it was time for the first computer club meeting.  Since our president is still out on the road, I filled in as guest speaker and gave a presentation on all the updates on the Palm Creek websites and club blogs PLUS a good introduction to the Nextdoor program.  If you're not logged into that program yet, talk to your neighbors and get an invitation to join.  It is a new electronic bulletin board restricted to just Palm Creek residents for buy, sell, trade.

 
Wednesdays are lunch on the patio days!  Today's specialty was taco salads.  There was also a rep selling ladies clothing, jewelry and watches.

 

 

 
Musical entertainment by Donna and Larry.  Thanks!!  Your music certainly adds to a festive atmosphere.

 
What a pleasure to stroll through the new bistro area.

 
These gals were enjoying the comfy chairs in front of the fireplace and soaked up some warm sunshine and friendly camaraderie.

 
Finishing touches continue.  Pretty plants now surround the walls where stucco is finished.

 
And there is also fun and games at the pool.  This photo should make the folks back home drool with envy.

 

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I tend to post a lot of old timer jokes so today it's time for the younger set.

RC Flying and More

What a beautiful morning to be out and about the resort.  We could see some remote control airplanes buzzing around the airfield so we drove out to see the action.

 
Talk about boys and their toys!!

 
We saw all kinds of air craft including helicopters.

 
Keep your eyes to the sky.

 

 
Here's a picture of launching a glider aloft into the wild blue yonder.

 
We read more and more about military drones.  Here's a prime example.  Gene Bond was trying to explain to me how it works but when he got into terms like linear and logarithmic curves, variable rates, and logarithmic exponential....................I smiled, nodded my head, and wished him a good day.  LOL

 
That's a pretty fancy controller and probably costs more than my fancy laptop computer.

 
This little drone launches and lands on the table top.

 
On Wednesdays they sometimes have a competition among the flyers.  They place a dollar bill on the table.  Whoever can land their aircraft on the dollar, gets to keep it.

 
Watch the monthly activity report to see when the big fly ins are.  It should be fun to go out and watch them.

 
While we were out in the field, we noticed how full the storage area has become now that folks are returning in such big numbers.

 
Elsewhere around the park, construction continues.  The painted lines on the roads are "trying" to get done but with so much traffic already it has to be quite a challenge.

 
The big crunch is on to get more done in Palm Park so we can hold the Octobeer Fest party this coming Saturday.  Some quit expensive specialized soil is arriving and will be spread along the walk ways in Palm Park.  This stuff compresses like the dirt on the ballfield.

 
I spotted this couple putting up their Christmas decorative lighting.  Couldn't resist a photo of these eager beavers.

 
Over at our lovely new bistro, we spotted folks coming in for a cup of java.

 
A crew is working on the finishing touches.  Wait till you see the beautiful fireplace with the nice plush furniture in front of it.  Next they'll be planting these pretty trees and shrubs in front of the wall as soon as the stucco is finished.

 

Hi to the folks back home

Welcome back to the sunny state of Arizona!!  Our winter residents are coming back in droves these past few days!  The weather is gorgeous and folks are loving it.  I thought since so many folks were either on the road or were already here that the blog hits would go down but that doesn't seem to be true.  In fact, the folks that are here already are even asking why I'm not posting regularly.  You readers are so spoiled!!

One lady approached me today and asked if I would hurry up and get this water volleyball picture posted because she wants the folks back home to see her out in our beautiful sunshine having a great time while it is starting to snow back home.  Here ya go!

The pool was a busy place today.

 
Jack Rathert says howdy to the folks back home too.  I had to smile to see Alaska Jack in the hot tub.  I would think someone from Alaska would want ice water.  LOL

 

 I haven't taken many photos but I wanted to show off how lovely our new bistro looks now.  The finishing touches remain to be done but we're open for business.  This photo was taken quite late in the day so the crowd is gone already.  The place is just awesome!  Many fun times ahead.

 

Have a great day everyone!