Airplanes, new houses, people, doves

Patti Illston at Site 1941 leaves her potted cactus plants on the covered patio while she is away for the summer.  I water them once each month on our inspection visits.

Mama dove watches over the plants very carefully as she nests here each year.  It's really a perfect place for her nest....quiet, secluded, and shaded.  I imagine it takes Patti a while to clean up after her "renters".

I spotted this HUGE crane at work over by the main lake on #9 of the golf course.

I had to stay and watch as the driver skillfully navigated the crane back to a truck to pick up this heavy motor or pump thingy.

He very gracefully lowered it into perfect position.

This is just a sample of the huge summer projects that keep our park so nice and attractive.  Our winter guests don't get to see the work it takes to maintain the resort.

The park model on the sales street is being moved to a new location as there is a proud new owner for it.

Our April mornings have been absolutely perfect so pickleball players rejoice.  Still 36 active players on this day.

The poker family still meets nightly for some friendly competition.

From my patio with my morning coffee, I watched the RC planes in a dogfight battle.  I hopped in the cart and drove over for a closer look. 

Gene Bond

All three of these men (Gene, Brian, and Ron) acquired their plane hobby while here at Palm Creek.  The club has 65 members, meets monthly, has elected officers, work details, and flying events.  I didn't realize the group was that large and so organized.

Brian Younge

 I was invited to sit in the pilot's seat of Ron St. Pierre's helicopter.  With the camera mounted on the front of his aircraft, I saw exactly what the pilot would see.  A chair is required as Ron says people can sometimes get motion sickness or fall over off balance.

As you can see by the big smile on my face......I LOVED IT.  How fun!  It reminded me of our days of flying in our AirCam plane.  I'm glad Don wasn't along as he doesn't need another expensive hobby in addition to his flight sim equipment.

Here's Ron flying the helicopter I "rode in".

Ron St. Pierre

The new homes keep arriving as Phase 3 continues to grow.

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Time for some funny animal photos??

Poker, fiber optics, flowers

Say hello to our remaining poker family.  The group numbers well over 100 players during the peak of the season but this is the remaining group as of this week.  We're still playing seven nights/days a week as long as enough players remain.

We spotted Fernando on the tractor yesterday so had to see what he was doing in the parking lot.  He said he was looking for the junction box for the fiber optics line.  Fernando will put in a new line and Dish will pull the fiber optics through this area.  We're hoping this brings us even faster and more secure service for next year.  

Just when I think I've seen all the pretty cactus flowers, another one pops open to say "Look at ME".  What a beautiful RED flower!!

Our weather remains absolutely PERFECT.  It's 7:20 a.m. so I'm rushing off to make a second cup of fresh coffee and head out to the patio to enjoy the cool beautiful sunshine.  Ya gotta LOVE Arizona this time of year.  Have a great day, folks.  

Bingo

The American Legion continues with their weekly Monday night bingo game but has now started another game on Fridays.  If you like to play bingo, this is the place to go.....especially for those of us who like to daub our cards.

713 N. Park Avenue, Casa Grande

Be there on Monday or Friday nights.  Games start at 6:00 but I recommend going at least a half hour early so you have time to mark your cards and wild numbers.  Buy in costs about $30-$40 depending on how many cards you purchase.

Our veterans donate their time to help with the event.

Deanna Taylor is a bingo PRO.  She can handle 18 cards at a time!

To our summer residents:  Hope to see you there!  Need a ride?  Call me at 7707.

Boston's Open, Entertainment Center, Flowers

Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar opened on April 12.  We've been there three times already and know we will return as the food was GREAT.  It's a tad pricey but delicious.  They serve the typical sports bar food with pizza, calzones, salads, burgers, etc. but their big meals are great too.  

There is a HUGE Fun Zone arcade at one end of the building that is loaded with games of all kinds for kids..........and..........anyone techie enough to play.

We also went out to the big Entertainment Center near Akchin casino in Maricopa.  If you haven't been there, mark it on your agenda as a "must see".  It is truly a lovely building entirely smoke free.  It has a couple small restaurants, 24 bowling alleys, 12 theaters, meeting rooms, bars, etc.

Food was delicious and quite inexpensive.

Meanwhile, cactus flowers continue to emerge.  This tiny plant is only about 6 inches tall but sent out blooms twice its size.   

How can one plant manage to put out so many blossoms!  Beautiful!!

Still have a busy time at water aerobics in the mornings.

Other gals gather for golf outings.

Happy 80th birthday to Ellen Bingham.  She enjoyed a delightful surprise party this week.

Woodpeckers

When you choose a home on or near the golf course, you must take the good with the bad.  You have a beautiful view of our green luscious grass but there are hazards besides the occasional stray golf ball.  There are a lot of woodpeckers in Arizona and the Gila Woodpecker loves to drill holes for nesting.  If he doesn't find the right tree, he may try a house.  With that giant sharp beak, he can be very determined.

Greg and Shirley Nelson discovered traces of that determination last summer.  When a neighbor spotted the damage the bird was doing to the Nelson's house, he tried to stop the feathered fiend by applying wood blocks over the spots where the bird was building.

This year the Nelson's put up a more durable defense.  I admire their creativity.  

The Nelson's aren't alone in their battle against feathers.