Windy night and a pool surprise!

We endured another dusty and windy haboob last night.  Remember how we were so surprised last month when a small STRONG gust of wind took off our awning but didn't damage anyone else?  Well.....last night proved the same kind of isolated winds.

Just when Fernando thought that huge outside brick wall was ready to fill with concrete, the wind did a number of damages.  

Strong wind gusts actually blew down the block wall in a couple places.

Other than the usual tipped over potted plants, we didn't see damage anywhere else around the park.

It is a busy morning for our crews as today they're replacing a leaking valve on our main water line.  We are without water from 8 till noon today.  The part being replaced is over on the corner of Mountain Mirage and Cole Circle.

Fernando Luna

 These two gents are wizards when it comes to digging with the backhoe.

Earlier this week, I posted a picture of the new building and said I didn't see much action.  Wow.  Was I ever wrong.  The area is all smoothed out and it looks like pavers will be placed all over in that area.

AND.......the swimming pool is well under way!!

We already have furniture for the future patio area.

Including a hot tub.

Little baby oleanders have been planted all along the outside wall.

We're going to need a bigger landscaping crew!

It's interesting to watch how well the new palm trees are doing.  When first planted, they just had brown stems tied in a bundle but now that the trees are getting established they are sprouting out nice fresh green fronds.

Alert

Alert Alert................our park wide water will have to be shut off Thursday morning from 8 till about noon while a big repair is made to the main water line.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  

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We were at Lucky's for dinner tonight when every cell phone in the restaurant announced a dust storm warning.  Our friend, Manson, had just washed his car this afternoon so he could drive us to dinner.  We laughed when we came out of the restaurant as his car looked like he hadn't washed it in a week.  Lots of dust and just enough spots of rain to really make a mess of his clean car.  Ya gotta love the desert to live here in the summer.  LOL

How does this look for a boring weather forecast?

Progress continues on construction over in the new north 40.  The new dog parks are being finished.  More bricks and pavers on the way.

Piles of gravel all over waiting to be spread out on new sites.

New houses are popping up all over out there.  We picked up this map from the sales office this morning.  Red circles indicate SOLD, blue indicates spec homes, and yellow shows where the models are located.

Don't see a lot of activity at the new center or pool yet.

The crop duster was busy as a buzzing bee again this morning.

Don and I went about our usual morning chores as we toured around the park.

Repairing irrigation lines.

Refilling water buckets for houses and RVs.

Sweeping down the spider webs before entering houses.

Every now and then we have to stop to enjoy the wildlife.

When we're finally home after morning chores, we have our furry friends to entertain us.

It's a hot quiet summer here.

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Next week will be the date of my father's birthday so I find myself thinking of him quite a bit with fond memories.  He had several crazy sayings but I saw these pillows while going through houses this morning and immediately smiled.  

When he had no use for something, he would say it was as useless as a screen door on a submarine OR as useless as buttons on a pillow.  Wouldn't he laugh if he saw that buttons now tend to be a fashion statement.  If he was still on earth with us, I would buy him one for his birthday.

Maverick Flies Again

Hey......another morning with temps less than 104 degrees.  Time to fly the drone again.

Tidbits and storms

We are definitely in the throes of monsoon season as we have some kind of storm almost daily now.  Last night brought some LOUD thunder and lightning and enough rain to finally make puddles in the street.  That gave us delightfully cool temps in the mid 70s this morning.

These are definitely "isolated" thunderstorms as you can easily spot them off in the distance. 

Spotted some beautiful cactus blossoms again.  I am always amazed at how such a beautiful flower can suddenly appear from a prickly cactus plant.

Busy Bees!!

Lots of future blossoms too.  Look at all the buds.

We certainly live in a pretty resort!!

And we have some dedicated staff members to keep it a wonderful place to live.  Thank you to one and all as they go about their daily routines.

Patching and painting.

New houses coming in on a regular basis.

Loads of gravel getting ready to spread.

Don and I stopped in at the Big House restaurant for breakfast last week.  OMG!!  I just love their french toast!!  If you haven't tried it yet, put it on your "to do" agenda for when you return this season.

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Kat likes to curl up by the warm computer but I wish he didn't always rest ON the keyboard.

Must open the blinds when Mouse shows up so he can watch the hummingbirds and doves.

Mesa Awning has us on the calendar for August 27 to replace our roof.

We will be soooooo happy to have it back!!

Stormy Weather

You may be hearing on the national weather about the big rain and wind storms we're having.  Those heavy rains are definitely NOT here.  Phoenix and surrounding area gets severe weather but we are relatively mild in comparison with mostly just more dust and dirt.  Haven't found any damages in the park other than a few sun screens and tipped over pots.  

We had plenty of thunder and lightning last night but only a light amount of rain.  We awoke this morning to a mild 75 degrees!!  Almost jacket weather for us.  LOL  It felt wonderful but quickly rose once the sun came out by 9:00.

It looks like we have a rather pleasant week ahead of us.

I can tell that we're getting close to fall because the spider webs are appearing on doors and houses we watch.  Time to start carrying a spider brush with us.  The daddy long legs and harvestman spiders just love door ways for some reason so I need to sweep them away before entering.

Weather Stories

Our area meteorologists are busy recording new high temperatures again.  I felt sorry for the UPS delivery man yesterday when I saw him go by with a big wet towel wrapped over his head and shoulders as he tried to cool off between deliveries.  

You have to be tough to live and WORK in Arizona's heat.  Our landscapers and construction crews just keep at it day after day.  Just read another story in the Casa Grande paper about a 13 year old boy in Coolidge that collapsed and died from heat exhaustion as he and his brother were walking to a friend's house.  Here are the current temperatures from the 10:00 news last night.  It finally cooled down.  LOL

Can't complain too much about the heat though as I've received emails from some of you readers telling about the HAIL storms you've experienced.  Look at this picture from Fred and Deb Wyss in South Dakota!!

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I had to laugh when I tried to put up the new Neighborhood Watch decal in our front window.  Kat and Mouse were very curious.  I had to put the decal way up high and out of reach as they managed to pull it down twice already.  Those of us enrolled in the program can pick up their decal at the front desk.

Finally a view from Maverick

There was hardly any wind and the temp was less than 100 for a short while this morning so Don finally took the drone out for a spin.

YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/j487eRa1nAc

We found Neil Jeffers putting up the new Neighborhood Watch signs.  Thank you, Neil.

Weather

Big storms and flash floods were on the news last night but, as usual, they passed right around Casa Grande.  No need to worry about us here.  

We had some wind and lots of dust but no rain as usual.

It's quite a boring forecast.  LOL