Sam's Club

The long awaited day has arrived!  Today is the grand opening of the new Sam's Club here in Casa Grande.   Construction started last year on the 136,000 square-foot building and hiring started in November.  There are 609 Sam's clubs nationwide.  The Casa Grande store is the 16th Sam's Club in Arizona and it's about 10,000 square feet larger than stores in nearby communities.  Unsold fresh foods will be donated to an area food bank.  They expect to donate anywhere from 100 to 150 pounds of protein to the food bank every day!  About 8000 people have enrolled in the store membership so far.  A photo center, bakery, optical and hearing aid departments, and pharmacy are part of the store.  Store manager is Eddie Valle.

To add even more fun to this event, we took Ed Brown with us on the excursion...as a passenger in the back seat of our little Fiat.  I'm happy to report that he made it in and out without pry bars or assistance.

 

Doors were to open at 8:30 so we arrived in time to hear a few dignitaries give a welcome speech and watch the line up of folks waiting to enter.  The parking lot looked busy and the line was long but once the doors opened, things moved along quickly.  It's nice that they were handing out free bottles of water while the line waited.

 

 

We spotted Sandy and Chip Milner already in line.

 

Farther along we met Rex and Peggy Fetzer. 

 

We met quite a few other "Creekers" once inside the store. 

Wave Hi to Vic and Mic Bourcier.

 

 

Here's Jan Waters enjoying her new job as friendly cashier.

 

Mayor Jackson was present but I was more anxious to get a photo with the bakery bear.  He was cute and cuddly.

 

 

I must say that I was quite impressed with the store and what they have to offer.  Having their deli department here will make going to pot lucks and happy hours a lot easier. 

 

____________

 

We've been watching all the construction activity at site 688 for the past week or so.  Looks like the job is finally completed so we stopped to congratulate Dennis and Joy Miller for the great project.  They have completely resided the building and added some new windows.  It looks really nice! 

 

Meanwhile, Faustino continues the never ending job of trimming all the bushes and oleanders.

 

Sad news continues for mama duck.  There are only two eggs left and one of them is very small.  All the other eggs have been robbed by predators.  Mom continues to nest though and pants with her bill wide open in the hot afternoons.  So sad!!!  She is certainly dedicated.

Phoenix Mart still alive

We haven't heard anything about that HUGE Phoenix Mart complex for quite a while but this article appeared in Saturday's Casa Grande newspaper so the project must still be alive.  At least they're starting to scrape the ground.  If you're not familiar with this project, you can read about it from my blog entrance back on November 30, 2011.  I think this link will take you there.  Phoenix Mart Nov 2011

 

We spotted Painter Bob Herinck working away at another casita this morning.  That man appears to be a dedicated workaholic.

 

The casitas always look very attractive.  Nice brick work around the bottom with greenery. 

 

 

 

How do you trim an oleander bush??  Use a HUGE hedge trimmer and whack away at it.  I don't think its possible to damage those bushes.  They just grow back with a vengeance and put out even more pretty blossoms.

 

 

 

That's our major news for today......other than mama duck is STILL holding out hope for those eggs.  Poor gal in this blistering HOT summer afternoon sun.

 

 

__________________

 

New dog breed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Cream Social plus more

Just when I think the cactus blossoms are done for the season, they continue to surprise us.  Look at this beauty!  (found at 1631 - Tevy & Alice Black)

 

 

 

We have several duck families around now.  They gather by the creek and ponds.  Always fun and entertaining to watch.

 

 

Those of you who keep asking about mama duck that lives on Oasis....she is still sitting there.  I don't know when she laid those eggs but I checked on the internet today and they say the incubation period runs from about 28-35 days.  Anyone know when she laid the last of those eggs?  There are only 3 eggs left.

 

I posted a picture of these yucca plants about a week ago.  They're in full bloom now and as they fill out, they obviously get weighed down.  Very strange fascinating plants.

 

 

We came across a killdeer nest in the gravel along the golf course.

 

 

Mama killdeer, of course, did her wounded bird act to try to lure us away so we didn't stay long.

 

 

Thank you to the Activities Dept. and the volunteers who served us delicious banana split sundaes on Friday!  From left to right:  Jeri Lahart, John Engel, Mary Ann Brown (Activities Director), Mark (Golf pro), Donna Cox, Ed Brown.

 

 

 

Yummy good!

 

 

Fun social time for us desert/dessert rats.  :)

 

 

 

Meanwhile, our landscape crews are diligently working to beautify the park.  Hand spraying weeds.

 

 

Constantly trimming the ever fast growing oleanders.

 

 

....and palms.

 

 

Afternoon temps have been 104 to 107 the last few days but thankfully still cooling to the low 70s by night making our evening visits to the swimming pool a true delight.  We can still enjoy that morning coffee on the patio too.  Life is good!

 

This is probably just blah news for now but that's all I have for you.  I stalk Mr. Dawson on a regular basis but he just replies that he's waiting for approvals before he can begin summer projects. 

 

____________

(Thank you Nina Fields for forwarding the "dog days" of summer.

 

 

 

 

Farewell Social Hour for Wendell Johnson

CONGRATULATIONS and a very special THANK YOU were bestowed upon Wendell Johnson, our retiring General Manager at Palm Creek.  We attended a Farewell Social Hour held in the ballroom today in his honor.  Wendell's wife, Barbara, was there to help celebrate the occasion.

Wendell expressed his gratitude to everyone for the help and support he received in his 7 1/2 years as General Manager.  

Say Hello to Lisa Harold who is stepping into her new role as GM.  Coming in at this time of year should be a big help as she can gradually "get broken in" before the next full season starts up.  Welcome aboard, Lisa!

Cake and coffee was served as we mingled among the residents that are still here.