Catching Up - Back to New Mexico, to Green Valley, Atlanta and Tucson

I haven't written for a couple of weeks as we either didn't have a good signal or were just too busy to sit down and do it. For my own sake, I will write a short synopsis of our doings in the past two and a half weeks.

October 22, 2014

We paddled with Kathy and Mary Lou again until it was time for them to pack up. Once they were hooked up and ready to leave they came over and ate lunch with us before going back to Green Valley. We had a great time with them and would see them again in a couple of days.

Mary Lou

Green Heron

Kathy

October 23, 2014

We waited around in the morning to move to another site and it was about noon by the time we were set up. We aren't sure what else we did but I am sure we just wandered around the campground and I expect I worked on the cornucopia quilt that I am making for November. They called us from the Ford dealership in Demming to say they needed the motorhome so they could rewire it in order for the new transmission cooling pump to work. We went to bed early for a long drive to Demming and back.

October 24, 2014

We left before sunrise for the six hour trip to Demming, New Mexico from Patagonia Lake, Arizona. We made good time and were there a little after eleven. The reason they needed to wire the motorhome was for a switch for the pump that is now mounted on the dashboard (the switch not the pump). If the car is attached to the motorhome and the car is plugged in, there is a terrible alarm in the motorhome if the switch is not turned on. It is just a reminder that Ford doesn't want to replace the transmission a third time and they installed the $2500 item for free and we better well use it.

Sunrise 

Sunrise

We had to wait about five hours for them to finish the work and then had a long drive back in the dark on not always great roads.  In fact we were held up for quite a long time for a bad accident on a narrow winding road where the car went off the road and was almost standing straight up on its bumper in the ditch. We finally made it and were happy to be back in the campground having seen the sun rise and set on our travels.

Sunset

October 25, 2014

After a late start, we met Kathy and Mary Lou in Rio Rico and followed them on the long road in to Pena Blanca, another man made lake on the other side of I-19 which runs from the border in Nogales to Tucson. The road was built back when the United States was considering changing to metric (probably when we were kids) and is the only highway in the United States that is measured in kilometers. The ride in to the lake was spectacular. The hills were covered with bright yellow flowers that we believe from Kathy's flower book are called cinchweed. We meandered around the lake enjoying the flora and fauna. There are many kinds of cactus and we saw green herons, kingfishers and several kinds of woodpeckers. 

Beautiful Yellow Hills

Who Knew There Was Such Color in the Desert

The Color Went On and On

Mary Lou Was First On The Water

Ted And Kathy After Parking Cars

Water Like Glass

Exploring The End Of The Lake

When we were done paddling, we drove back to US-19 and went north a way to a spice shop. They ground their own spices and you could get any type and combination of spices imaginable from a to z. They had some samples and great chocolate and honey as well. I bought a few spices that I knew I needed as well as some local honey.

Not much further up the road we stopped at Tumacacori National Historic Park. This is an old mission started by Jesuit Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1691 to minister to the Pima Indians. Although never finished, the mission was sustained for over a hundred fifty years and there is still much remaining of the settlement and church. Kathy, Mary Lou and I wandered around the place while Ted sat outside in the shade. Before we left, Kathy and I had burritos with fresh tortillas that the women were making right in front of us...a dollar well spent. We were still tired from our long day driving yesterday so decided to go back to the RV which was probably at least twenty-five miles away on not great roads.

Narrow Church

What It Probably Looked Like

What It Looks Like Today

Pantry??

Hard To Believe How Cool It Was Inside

October 26, 2014

We took our time getting ready in the morning as we didn't have to be out until noon. I caught up the laundry and packed my suitcase and backpack as much as I could before driving to Kathy and Mary Lou's in Green Valley. There are border patrol checkpoints on all roads leading out of Mexico. The border patrol are usually no nonsense and we are serious in return. When we stopped, the guy looked at our license plate, looked at Ted and said "Got  any bodies in there?". We laughed and he said "Have a nice day" and we were on our way.

They had got permission from their property owner's association for us to leave our motorhome in their yard while we flew to Atlanta to visit with Aaron, Titina and our grandchildren. We had to prune the mesquite trees in order to get the rig far enough over in the driveway so they would have access to both sides of their garage and then we could only put out the long slide on the driver's side to sleep.

They have a beautiful home with a big yard that is landscaped with palms, yucca, cactus and other dry weather plants and have small rocks instead of grass. It is so different from New England but I really love it. I could handle having a yard again if we didn't have to mow a lawn. Their back yard borders a reserve area and they have a magnificent view out the front at the mountains we were seeing the other side of while at Patagonia. Unfortunately, I don't think I took a picture of the view.     

Kathy made a wonderful pot roast with fixings for dinner and we chatted for awhile before turning in early for a four o'clock alarm.

October 27, 2014

Our flight was at six-thirty so we met Kathy in the yard for the half hour trip to the airport in Tucson at four-thirty. We arrived at Aaron's in Alpharetta around seven after having flown to Los Angeles to get there. They fixed a great meal (I'm sorry to say all the days we had there run together so I don't know what we ate when. I will say that both Aaron and Titina have turned into good cooks if still a little shy of green things.)  It was great to see them all and to get hugs and kisses from Pietra and Arthur. Six months between visits is just too long.

Sunrise At Tucson Airport

October 28, 2014

Today was Arthur's day. Because he just got out of the hospital last week with a respiratory virus, he was still not his active self. The good news was, especially since he has been sick,  he still wants to be held and I rocked him to sleep several times which I thought would have  ended. We played all morning and after his nap we went out back where grampy (Ted) was putting together a swing set and "castle" as Pietra called it. We played ball, raked leaves and he carried the rake around and managed to get a few leaves in the pile. When he got frustrated with the rake, he just picked up the leaves and carried them over to the pile. I pushed him around on a toy dog with wheels and then in a big plastic tote and he laughed so hard I couldn't help laughing with him. He especially liked helping grampy and got to push the button on the drill without a bit and laughed some more. He is such a happy child and we had a wonderful day. Once we came back in, Arthur and Grampy had a nap together.

October 29, 2014

Today was supposed to be Pietra's day but it was raining so we kept both kids home with us. I played mostly with Pietra and Ted watched Arthur who is pretty laid back and will play by himself. Pietra and I play with foam stickers which only show up when we are there. It is one of the ways she remembers us when we are not around. She can get the paper backing off almost all of them by herself now and makes great pictures on construction paper.  After we did that for awhile, I brought down little bags of small items that I had picked up for them and were small enough to carry with us. The Disney Frozen t-shirt was a big hit as well as the Elsa and Anna socks which she put one pair on her feet and one one her hands.

After lunch I dug out the sewing cards I had bought and left there that are similar to what I played with as a child. I taught her to "sew" and we had fun with that. By then, it had dried up so we put on her helmet and went out in the driveway to ride her tricycle. She is still a little too small for it but if she goes straight, her feet can barely reach the pedals and she is getting the hang of it. By then, we were all tired and they settled down with grampy to watch a movie. It was another fun day and we are so happy that they didn't have to go to daycare. Unfortunately, Pietra moves so fast and is getting camera shy so I don't have many pictures to share of her. The best ones are movies I took of her riding her bike.

October 30, 2014

The kids had doctor's appointments in the morning so didn't go to school again. Aaron had planned on going back to work but didn't make it. When they came home, they all fell asleep   and after lunch we went out to "help" grampy again. This computer keeps changing grampy to grumpy. I wonder if it knows something I don't. They played around on the base of the swing set and then I gave them rides on the rake which they loved. I'm not sure the white pants that Pietra had on will survive it. We also got out the big tote for rides and to just play in. Both kids are such fun ages. It is hard to believe that Pietra will be three the beginning of next month. Sometimes she seems so much older. I am so impressed with how well she talks in both English and Portugese and how she knows who to speak which language to. I said something to her in Portugese and she corrected me and said I couldn't say that. Arthur gets what he needs without talking and will probably be like his father and talk in full sentences when he is ready.

Finally Some Good Pictures Of  Pietra

October 31, 2014

Since it is Halloween, the kids went to "school" so they could be in the costume parade. Pietra was Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Arthur was a dragon. They both looked so cute. Aaron had some errands to run so picked the kids up early while he was out. We went out to play again and had a great time. Both kids got to play on the "castle" while we watched to make sure they didn't fall. The initial building was done on the cement patio under the addition so it would have been a hard landing.

For Trick or Treating, the whole family was dressed as The Flintstones with great costumes that Titina's mother had made. Aaron stayed with Ted, Arthur and the candy while Titina, Pietra and I went out after candy. Last year, Pietra was really into it but one yard was really scary with the guy giving out candy in a wolf mask and a giant spider that jumped up at you coming out of the bushes. It scared her and that was that. A half dozen houses and we were back at home. Unfortunately, there weren't as many kids this year and there was lots of candy left over. We all had chocolate highs the next couple of days.

Wilma and Pebbles

Wilma and BamBam

Fred and Family

Pebbles Again

November 1, 2014

In the morning I went with Titina and the kids to get Arthur a haircut. The place she takes them has a huge toy room where they wait and then the kids sit on a motorcycle with a toy basket on the handlebars. Once they get to a certain age, they get to choose which movie they want to watch. It is really great and their hair is cut before you know it. I watched Pietra getting her hair cut there just a year ago.

For lunch we went to El Porton, a favorite Mexican restaurant of Aaron and Titina's. The children are used to going out to eat and are amazingly good. Pietra really likes restaurants and sat in a regular chair and ate almost everything on her plate.

It was a cold day so no one worked on the swing set or played outside. The kids took naps and the guys watched the Patriots win. The rest of the day was just a lazy time.

November 2, 2014

Ted and Aaron spent all morning digging holes and putting in leveling blocks in the backyard for the swing set. They moved it out and finished the roof and attached the swings so in the afternoon when their friends, Josie and John, came for a visit we all went outside and Pietra got a chance to try out the swing and to put on a show for us all singing Let It Go from Disney's Frozen. She loves to sing, knows all the words and what a little ham she is. Arthur was sleeping so missed out but I'm sure he will get his fair share of time. The ladder, slide and climbing wall will be added in the spring when it is not so cold and they are old enough to climb without getting hurt.

Almost Done

Proud Dad

Singing "Let It Go"

November 3, 2014

Titina was just getting the kids in the car for daycare when our airport shuttle arrived. It was sad leaving them. The week flew by so fast but we had a wonderful time. The flights were pretty uneventful except for a forty-five minute delay leaving Los Angeles. Kathy and Mary Lou were waiting in the cell lot and picked us up once we got our luggage. We can't thank them enough for making this trip so worry free. We didn't stay around to chat but were in bed shortly after we arrived. It is always so good to be back in your own bed after traveling. The great thing about traveling in a motorhome is that you do go back to your own bed every night.

Off To School

November 4, 2014

I worked on getting caught up on a week's worth of laundry and once Mary Lou was done with the lines, hung the clothes out to dry. In the sun with the wind blowing they dried really quickly. I did five loads in my little front loading washing machine but still need to do sheets and towels. Kathy took us on a tour around Green Valley and we visited the cute small house that they have for sale. We checked out the Green Valley RV Resort to see if we might want to spend the winter there but didn't get a great feeling about it so will probably go elsewhere.

Besides the great company, one of the highlights of the day was seeing one of the javelinas that frequent their back yard and also seeing "Buddy", the neighborhood roadrunner that a neighbor feeds.

Javelina In Backyard

Front Yard With Buddy In The Shadow

Buddy The Roadrunner

We left to go for an early dinner at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants south of Green Valley. They were having a two for one deal on Margueritas and the place was packed. We would have had to wait a long time for seating so drove back to Green Valley and found another Mexican restaurant that we thought was really good. It was an early night for the weary travelers.

November 5, 2014

Ted drove up to Tucson this morning to the VA Hospital to get a prescription that is somewhere in the mail between Florida and here. Late in the morning, Kathy and I went to a farmers market in Green Valley which had lots of crafts for sale as well as different fresh food items. I had a ball. I don't get shopping very often and found all kinds of things to buy.

In the afternoon, Mary Lou, Kathy and I drove out toward the mountains they can see from their house and hiked up Madera Canyon. It was a beautiful hike up the side of the mountain. There were still some wildflowers in bloom and it was just a crisp, fall-like day on a really nice trail. 

Great Views

Kathy And Sheila

Kathy - The Foliage Kept Changing As We Climbed

Mary Lou

Their grilled chicken and potatoes and my four bean salad made a great dinner and then we went wine shopping. Most of the wine (at Fry's, the grocery store) was on sale already and then it was all twenty five percent off the sale price. I bought twelve bottles of wine I normally don't buy because of the price and wound up getting it all for half the regular price. Good deal and I will enjoy it all winter.

November 6, 2014

We left Kathy and Mary Lou's about nine in the morning intending to stay at Gilbert Ray Campground in Tucson Mountain Park. Someone we had met in our travels had recommended it and Kathy and Mary Lou had said it was a really nice place to camp. The directions online were sketchy and we came to a sign that said the road ahead, Gates Pass, was limited to vehicles less than 12,000 pounds. Knowing that we were heavier than that and not knowing whether the road we were on turned into Gates Pass, we took the first opportunity to pull a u-turn and went back to Tucson.

Two Great Homes

We found one of the campgrounds Ted had on his list to check out and signed up for three nights. After lunch we headed out to check out some of the other available RV resorts in and around Tucson. The one we are staying in is a lot less expensive than the others and is already booked for the winter months. It is right beside I-10 with a railroad on the other side of that...noisy! It didn't take us long to figure out that we were willing to pay more to get a nicer park with more amenities. We found a couple places that had some acceptable sites that were still available and were places we might consider. It will be a long process to work our way across the state to find the place we will want to settle and hopefully they will still have sites by the time we make up our minds. I came back and set up a spreadsheet with our criteria on it and started filling it in so we would remember what was what.

November 7, 2014

Today was another day of resort searching. We went to three more resorts and found two we liked and one of those we really liked. The drawback with that one is that it is more than five miles to a grocery store. We will have to see if we even want to stay in Tucson before we worry about that. It takes quite a long time to check out all the facilities, walk through the area and drive around to look at sites. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to write this blog and made it through thirteen days. It will be nice if I ever catch up.