The Sun Going Down on a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

 Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023

The last of the sunlight touching the mountains around us.

My first thought this morning as I opened the shade was I cannot believe the sky is filled with clouds with no blue showing through. As I wrote my sister this morning the first thing I wanted to be thankful for today was blue skies and sunshine. Before noon my wish came true. We had eight people joining us for a Thanksgiving meal today and I was hoping we would be sitting outside to eat though before the sun shown through I did figure out how I could sit ten people in here crowded but sitting...lol

Though I do try to be thankful for the many things God has given Tom and I on a daily basis Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on those many blessings. We are thankful for our children, and that includes our daughter-in-law, and our wonderful grandchildren. We are thankful for our extended family and we are thankful for our friends. Those we have known for many years and those we have met as we travel along living this fulltime life style we have chosen. Today eight of those friends, Deb and Riley (On a long and lonesome highway....), Kim and Ken (Journey with Ken and Kim), Patsy (Chillin' with Patsy) and Bill (On Our Way), and Sue and Lorne (A Place Called "Away") all Canadians chose to join us to celebrate Our Thanksgiving Day. Yes, we were outnumbered...lol In fact just as we finished eating another Canadian, Ivan (Roadtrip 2023) stopped by. (It was nice to see you Ivan wish you had stopped by a little earlier to have dinner with us. Now that you know where we are hope to see you again.)

We are thankful that Coyotes Fresh Foods in Quartzsite sold a very tasty Thanksgiving meal. This was the easiest Thanksgiving meal I have ever done; all I had to do was warm everything up...🦃 Thank you Deb for helping us supply today's meal. Thank you, Patsy for  the pumpkin and pumpkin cheesecake pies. Thank you Sue for the apple crisp. Thank you Kim for the coleslaw and Ken for the butter tarts. Everything was so delicious!

Today's meal: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Stuffing,
Green Bean Casserole, Mixed Vegetables, Cole Slaw, Cottage
Cheese, Bread Rolls and the bottom left what is left of those deserts. 

As delicious as the food was the best part of today was spending it with these friends pictured below.

Thank you all for joining us!

We had hoped to end the day with a campfire but the wind picked up as the sun light left the day. That just means we have another gathering to look forward to. As much as Tom and I enjoy/love the lifestyle we have chosen during this season of our lives we do miss our children and grandchildren and on Holidays we feel it even more. So when we can say, Our day was spent with friends enjoying good food and wonderful conversations, that often filled the air with laughter, we add today was a very good day!

I know you have read it before in this blog and you will again: Today and everyday Tom and I are Thankful to be living our Retirement Dream. We know how lucky we are because we know people that never will or never got the chance.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Thursday, November 23, 2023

To our Family and Friends

Enjoying Our Time in the Desert Parked Near Friends

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

The sun was up before us this morning and when I finally stepped out the sun had made it way up in the sky and was shining over our neighborhood. There was definitely some coolness in the air at about 48 degrees but the sky was a beautiful blue with a few fluffy white clouds. We had coffee from Mexico Tom perked for us from Sue and Lorne to try, thank you we enjoyed it, and friends to sit out and share it with. It was a wonderful way to start the day.

Our homes left to right: Ours, Kim and Ken, Deb and Riley,
and tucked in on the right Sue and Lorne

The views surrounding me as I took the above picture.

The sun going down on our day.

The sun slipped behind the mountains this evening as we ended our day at a Happy Hour listening to and sharing wonderful stories with friends. The time just seemed to slip by and the light of the day slowly disappeared replaced by the desert's darkness. With the darkness came a chill and a dampness telling us it was time to go into our homes. It was a wonderful way to end our day.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The last couple of days here in our neighborhood have been days spent near friends. Friends doing what needs to be done in our everyday lives. We have come together for Happy Hours sitting and chatting until the sky is dark and there is a chill in the air. 

Tom and I sat out with our second cup of coffee this morning discussing some plans for the next few months. Happy Hour this evening started with Kim and I then Riley walked over and joined us for awhile. Tom stepped out to sit with us and then Ken walked over. We all chatted for awhile then headed in for dinner. Sue and Lorne planned a Movie Night and we were all looking forward to the evening. When we went in Tom popped popcorn, if we are watching a movie we are pretty much always munching on popcorn. Bill and Patsy drove out to join us and it is always nice to see them pull up. I am guessing they think movies and popcorn go together, also, as they brought popcorn too. Sue and Lorne have an outdoor blowup screen they set up and we watched The Long, Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It is an old movie but one that is always fun to watch. I think the fact that we are all RVer's it makes this one even more fun to watch. The question is: where are those RV Parks where you pull in and they drive your rig to your site, a site that includes lovely landscaping, and set it up while you relax in the office or take a stroll around the park...lol 

Side note: For some reason I could remembered reading that after the filming of the movie that Lucy and Desi moved the trailer to their backyard where her daughter said they played in it. Before writing this I googled ii and found out that was true and the daughter mentioned they used it as a playhouse and had fun opening and closing the door to hear the chimes...The second question is why don't we have any chimes when we open our door...lol

Thank you, Sue and Lorne for planning a fun evening. 

From a distance the Saguaros in the center of the picture
looked like someone standing at a lecturn.

Even closer that is what I could see.
I wonder what he is lecturing about and to who.

Pulling back into the neighborhood after my pedicure 
everything looked peaceful and calm.

The Dome Rock Mountains 
I just really liked how they looked with the noon sun
shining down on them.

While I was in the Cactus Curlers Salon I was ducked.
She is just a tiny baby duck and so cute.

Life is good and we are thankful to be parked out in the desert Living Our Retirement Dream while enjoying the company of friends!

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

The Wind Is Visiting

 Sunday, November 19, 2023

Leaving for Blythe this morning just after 8 o'clock there was a breeze but the air was still fairly clear and we could see the mountains in the distance. The sun was already up and shining as we made out way out of Roadrunner BLM then to AZ-95. In Quartzsite we merged onto I-10 and headed West. As we were riding along, maybe I should say bumping along it is a little rough, we realized it was our first time on I-10 this year. I always enjoy this ride driving through the Dome Rock Mountains then coming out the other side looking down at Blythe I just think it is a pretty ride. The ride back is just as pretty even when some of the mountains are lost in the dust like they were today.

"Q" Mountain in the early morning light.

We are now on I-10

and I said to Tom is this new or did I just not see it last year...😎

Coming out on the West side we can see Blythe in the distance.

The same as last year on I-8 we are being waved through
the "fruit and veggie" checkpoint.

Mass was at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Blythe, CA
Very pretty church, A sure sign we are in the Southwest is
when we start seeing pictures or statues of 
Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic Churches.

Tom and I both like going to Church on Sunday and we have three choices: 3 o'clock in Quartzsite, 8 o'clock in Parker, or 8 o'clock in Blythe. Our usual choice is Parker but it is nice to go into Blythe once and awhile. With the time change it is 9 o'clock Arizona time and we get to sleep in an extra hour Sunday morning.

After Mass we stopped at Denny's for breakfast then we made a stop at Dollar Tree, another reason I like going to Blythe...lol Two stops for a few groceries at Smart and Final then Albertsons and we were back on I-10 heading East. The first thing I noticed was the dust in the air ahead.

i

Coming back into Quartzsite 
some of the mountains have disappeared 

and the dust is evident in the sky above the town.

The "Q" was visible.

Driving back into Roadrunner the mountains to the East 
are behind the dust.

The ones ahead are just faint outlines in the distance.

Then coming up to our neighborhood it looks like it is in
a dust free clearing with sun shining down. 
Though the color of the sky above says differently.

Archie stopped to visit during Happy Hour.

Happy Hour gang minus Sue who was out shopping.
She did join us later.

The sun going down on our day. On thing about the dust
it did bring some beautiful color to the sunset.

Another good day parked out in the desert by good friends to be filed in our Memory Book

Saturday, November 18, 2023

My plan for Saturday was a "Do Nothing Go Nowhere Day" and I must admit I did very well and accomplishing my plan. The farthest I wandered was next door in front of Kim and Ken's home on wheels for Happy Hour. Tom on the other hand had a plan to fetch us some fresh water and he did accomplish his plan. Thanks to Lorne and Sue was able to head over to La Posa South to fill up our bladder.  Isn't it wonderful when all your plans come together. 

Through our dirty front windshield. I did not want
to disturb whatever world problems the three of 
them, Ken, Lorne, and Tom, were solving by letting
them know I was taking their picture.

Happy Hour
Kim, Ken, and Deb

Lorne, Sue, Riley, and Tom

Our Happy Hours have been filled with wonderful discussions and laughter and I seldom think about taking pictures. Personally I do like that I can make that statement. Tonight I remembered to take one of the group but missed the sunset.

I did see and take a picture of this one lone pink cloud after
the sun had set.

Plus there was a lovely orange afterglow but the camera would
not pick up the color and I tried several different things.
With some "enhancing" I was able to get a little orange but
 not anywhere near what my eyes could see.

Tom and I are both enjoying our time parked out here in the Sonoran Desert. Life is good.

Side Note: As I finish writing this blog today, Monday morning, the wind is still howling around us though the air looks clear and we can see the mountains surrounding us.

We are so glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you. 

Our Neighborhood Expanded, Time Spent with Friends

 Friday, November 17, 2023

It may sound strange but even with the highway noise in the distance and an ATV starting up somewhere nearby. There is a quiet in the early morning desert. Because we have a hummingbird feeder out I do hear them flying back and forth but still none of these noises interfere with the quiet softness that is the desert at this time just before the sun comes up. Once the brightness fills the area the sounds become more distinct but until then there is quiet that cannot be explained adequately with words it needs to be felt and this is my favorite time of the day. 

A slight pink in the sky above the Dome Rock Mountains
to the west of us in the early morning light.

Looking out towards the southwest I could just see 
our stars and stripes above the trees.

Our neighborhood just before the sun made
an appearance above the Kofa Mountains.

The sun coming up on our day.

 Standing by the feeder I heard the distinct sound of  a hummingbird.
I looked down and I felt like it was posing for a picture.

The temperature was slightly chilly, 47 degrees, when I stepped out this morning but as I write this it is headed in the right direction, 57 degrees. The sky is blue and as the sun came up there were a few clouds on the horizon. There are friends parked nearby. It is going to be a beautiful day in the desert near Quartzsite, Arizona.

Thursday, November 18, 2023

The sun kept trying to make an appearance through the clouds during the day and sitting out at times I could see blue along the edges but I never took any pictures. More times than not I get caught up in the enjoyment of the moment and do not think about taking a picture until the moment is long past. Like while I am typing this I wish I had taken more pictures.

I am sharing this picture from this morning a
second time it was my favorite.

Just before 2 o'clock this afternoon this motorhome pulled
into our neighborhood with Kim and Ken inside.

It was wonderful to see them coming our way. It has been several years since we last saw them and we are looking forward to doing some serious catching up.

After some hugs and glad to see you's it was time to sit down and let them park their home in the neighborhood.

After they were parked they joined Deb, Riley, Tom and I and "Happy Hour" began. It was not to long and we saw Black Beauty bringing Patsy, Bill, and Gibbs our way followed by Elva and Jerry in Elva's Silver Jeep. Soon Sue and Lorne walked over along with Archie to join the group. What a fun couple of hours filled with conversations and laughter. At some point the clouds parted and the sun started to shine down on our group. The time flew and soon everyone was saying so long for today. I wish I had taken pictures but Patsy, Chillin' with Patsy, did. Thank you, Patsy.

The sun dropping below the mountains to our West.

Not long after we had a beautiful afterglow light up the sky

pink, gold, and hints of orange

It was a wonderful day at Roadrunner BLM. We gained some new neighbors and friends came out to spend Happy Hour with all of us parked on this pad in the desert. Another day to record in the pages of our Memory Book!

We are so glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.