Thanksgiving

Congratulations to ALL the volunteers who helped with that wonderful, delicious Thanksgiving dinner!  It amazes me how you can turn out such a delicious meal to so many people out of that small kitchen……and have it served while its still hot. 

While we (as guests) sat comfortably at our tables, there was a flotilla of volunteers serving up the plates over in the ballroom and another group delivering the meals to us.  It worked like clockwork.  Very well organized!

See the lady with the blue shirt dashing across this photo in a blur??  That was our Special Events Manager, Joy Covell making sure we were all happy.

The pretty centerpieces at each table served as great door prizes donated by Jim Dawson and his landscape crew.

The weather was cooperative too.  We were predicted to have rain and cold for the day but precipitation held off until evening.  The sunset was awesome and made a wonderful way to end the day.  Of course, photos just don’t do it justice but I thought the trail of clouds over our house was pretty.

Monday night was Bingo up at the ballroom.  Nice turn out.

Paul Theriault from Alberta was a lucky winner of the Game 6 jackpot.  $479.  Congratulations Paul.  Flo Fillipi got to write the check for the payout.

The jackpot for Game 12 increases again as no one was able to bingo within 57 numbers.  The pot grows!  Again, I must take time to thank the volunteers who staff the snack window on Monday night.

And….the folks who do the call backs and get to pay the winners of each game.  Congratulations Bob for winning this game!  Notice how Doris has her eye on that cash. 

Here’s hoping everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Enjoy those leftovers and turkey sandwiches.  For those of you who are still out east or up north in the cold…………..sorry you aren’t here with us.  The weatherman said we’re going to be in the 80s this week with LOTS of sunshine.

 

A Great Day in Paradise

Oh my gosh…………Another beautiful day at Palm Creek.  Don and I rode all around the park this morning just enjoying the scenery and stopping to chat with friends and strangers alike.  Everyone always seems in such an upbeat mood.  Here is a batch of miscellaneous photos we took as we toured the park this morning.  We had no destination in mind…..just took a cruise.

Waved at the water aerobics folks up in the north pool.

Stopped up at the north end to see how the new bark park is coming along.  Looks like the grass is coming in nicely.  (No…that’s not rain puddles.  I think its just an over active sprinkler.)

The gardens look awesome!  Lots of tender loving care going on here.  Horticulture at its finest.

We met several teams of landscapers out delivering the pots of petals that were purchased at the Welcome Back party.

Site 1788 is now the home of several planters.  Lookin’ good!!

Sure can tell that the residents along Oasis are returning as their street looks nice and cheery with new plants, yard ornaments….and lit up palm trees.  One of the neighbors is really camera shy, however, and he wouldn’t come out from behind the tree!

Another new park model under construction along Oasis.  I think it’s Site 1873.  (I think.)  Somebody tell Jerry Smith he’s getting a new neighbor.

Whoops………….another flower delivery.  I like to photograph the hard working landscape crew.

Aha……up front we found Fernando helping to load up the carts and giving instructions for more deliveries. 

Next we drove through the non pet side of the park and laughed when we saw this scene.

And we found more “pets” over there.

Dave Hardy is a good friend of Don’s so Don said I had to add Dave here as another odd looking pet.

We came across a cheerful group of Red Hatters enjoying a great brunch in the warm sunshine! 

We were even invited for a cup of coffee!  Thanks for the friendly greeting!

We noticed the front parking lot was busy with incoming rigs full of folks who want to share our fun and sun.  Rangers and hostesses were busy greeting the newcomers.

On the way home we stopped to watch the players at shuffleboard.

Hi Irene!!

Even this scene down Cole Circle is beautiful on such a sunny day! 

Hope you enjoyed today’s tour of Disneyland for Seniors!

 

Bridge

Good Morning, Readers:
Last week I overheard some folks talking about the game of Bridge as they walked by the Sonoran Room.  Someone asked what those little red boxes were for.  The reply (from another non-bridge player) was that they had to hold up cards because they weren't allowed to talk.  "Not allowed to talk??!! That can't be much fun."


Well....I'm here to tell you that playing bridge IS fun and we have a good time playing.  The purpose behind the little red bid box is so you can't use voice inflection to indicate how strong or weak your bid is.  It is supposed to prevent us from "groaning" or "cheering" to indicate our card strength.

Yes, it is a game of concentration and the reason we're 'supposed' to be quiet is so others can concentrate and the other tables can't hear how we're bidding or playing a particular hand since they will soon be playing the same cards.  It is a competition to see who can play that hand and get a better score.  That's why it is called "Duplicate Bridge."  Several partners play the same hand and try to do better than the rest.

At least if you're having a bad day and can't get any high scoring cards...you're not alone.  Everyone else playing those same cards will have the same opportunity but you can see how others played that same hand.  Sometimes you're happy and sometimes you're NOT.  That's the fun of the game.  Anytime you can sit down with fellow Creekers to play games....it is a good day.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Welcome Back Party

WOW!  We had the perfect weather for the Welcome Back party today!  It’s surprising to see such a big attendance this early in the season.  That’s a sign that folks don’t want to stay away any longer than they have to.  Today’s extravaganza was just like Disneyland for Seniors.  Games (basketball throw,  golf chipping, pinball, and TRIKE riding!) music, entertainment, dancing, lots of great food, vendors to visit with, RVs to tour, flowers to plant and pots of petals to lease, beer and refreshments, etc etc etc.  Lots of fun for everyone.  A great time to mingle and say hello to old friends and meet new people.

Buy your food tickets here.

Sign up here for the Pots of Petals program.

Save $5 and plant your own!

Feel free to ask the experts for help.  Jim Dawson, Fernando, and Eddie on duty.

Lots of flowers to choose from.

I think the tricycle races were the most fun to watch.

Folks came to the finish line laughing so hard, they could hardly pedal anymore. 

Send these photos to the kids back home if they think Mom and Dad are sitting back in a rocker while in Arizona.

And the band played on.

And the dancers danced.

At center is DeeDee Dougherty who teaches all our line dance and square dance classes here.  She is awesome!  She won some big awards at the International Square Dance Music Awards in Vegas this year.  Best Overall Female Caller, Best Female Patter Caller, and Best Female Singing Caller.  Congratulations DeeDee!!

A little business was also conducted along with the gayety.  The Dish guys signed up a bunch of new customers.

A-Z Dermitology had a booth to advertise their services.  They’re even sponsoring some free skin screenings next week.  (Sign up is already filled.)  (Dr. Gamoth is seated.)

RightWay Healthcare was present and sponsored free ice cream.

Chick-fil-A sponsored free iced tea.  They certainly have served hundreds of free breakfasts to us this season.  Be sure to support their business next time you are out for a lunch or quick snack.

Henry Brown Auto had a few cars on display and LaMesa RV had some beautiful new rigs to tour.

You can always find Yogie working at the Budweiser stand.  We Wisconsin people know what’s important.

Linda and our new Special Events Manager, Joy Covell, were busy at the wine cooler station.

I tried to avoid taking pictures of people eating – which most events are famous for – but I did have to include this picture because John said I’d better not post it on the blog.  Sorry John!  Here you are.  (At least they were done eating.)

It took many many people to put this event together and have it so successful.  Thank you to everyone for all the hard work. 

Dora – head of our housekeeping department

And many volunteers at the various booths.

And…..those who stayed behind to direct traffic.

On my walk home through the golf course, I had to smile and stop to say hello to Helen Vosburg who was the lonely starter on duty at Hole #10.  She had a nice quiet afternoon with a good book while on duty.

It was a beautiful day in a beautiful park.  Hope you all had a great time.