November 19 - 23 What is Happening in Tucson

Santa Catalina Mountains and
Sonoran Desert

Carole and Herb picked us up at 8:45 to go with them to McDonalds where they go every Friday morning for coffee and/or breakfast with their fellow bus driver retirees and their spouses. We had eaten breakfast but tagged along to meet their friends and then the 4 of us were going to run some errands. They had a nice crowd over in their regular corner of the place and such a nice group of people.

From there we went across the street to Big Lots, but we didn’t buy much, just some odds n ends. Then we made quick stops at Home Depot, JoAnns and Micheals and a long stop at Sunflower Market. Those are really great grocery stores. They remind me of Whole Foods at home but have some bulk food items, which is nice. I picked up some stuffed chicken breasts for my turn to cook dinner on Saturday night and some bulk items I will probably take home.


Rincon Mountains

After they dropped us off we had lunch and did some duties around the RV. We picked them up at 4 to go to the swap meet that is from 3 to 11 on Friday nights and we thought that would be less crowded than going on Saturday or Sunday. It was really disappointing. During the 23 years that I have come to Tucson with Bill and gone there we have always had fun looking in the silver shops, the Mexican import shops, and of course the various clothing and “junk” shops. Well I guess this was the last time we will go back. There must have been 15 – 20 candy shops catering to the Hispanics along with produce stands and stands selling Mexican chips and snacks. There was only 1 remaining import shop and a handful of jewelry places. The orientals have started setting up their $1 items like at the Webster Flea Market at home and there were lots of clothing that was catered to young people. So no more Swap Meet for us in Tucson. Bill and I spent a whopping $4.50 on a bottle of Avon powder and 2 bungee cords.

The plan was Mexican dinner at Casa del Rio which is pretty much just up the road from the RV and their house. We only had a short wait for a Friday night, which was nice since the parking lot was packed and the place was full. I had the best tortilla soup and a green corn tamale which I never see at home. Herb and I shared a ½ liter of sangria too, so for me it was a great meal! We dropped them off and headed home to some TV and reading.

November 20 – One of our propane tanks was empty this morning so after breakfast Bill loaded it in the truck and we headed out on more errands. The furthest away was Mac’s Silver shop to pick up the items I had dropped off earlier in the week for repairs. Bill looked at some things but what he liked was not his size so he left empty handed but did find they could repair a couple of his silver items so we’ll ship them when we get home. We stopped at Trader Joes and got Cindy 2 bags of orange chicken until I see how much room I’ll have in the freezer. Got some wine to try also. They even had a dornfelder that was really reasonable so will give it a try.

Barrel cactus

We stopped and got the tank filled and then a quick stop at Fry’s for the last items I need for my part of the Thanksgiving meal. We were home in time for lunch. I did a load of wash and put some of the medallions on our walking sticks but it was getting really windy outside and so I put it away for another day. I put the I-hooks in and we adjusted the new bungee cords to them so maybe now the TV won’t be on the bed when stop at the end of our travel days. Luckily it hasn’t gotten damaged so far.

I got busy and made a blackberry crisp for dinner then when it was time I put the stuffed chicken breasts in the oven and snapped my green beans for lemon dilled beans and made a dill krauter with my only cucumber. Carole really likes it so thought it would be a nice addition. Didn’t make a starch tonight since we’re having dessert. They arrived a little early and I put out some goat cheese with pepper jelly and crackers. Herb and I tried the dornfelder and it was yummy! Will be getting a couple more bottles to take home on my next trip to Trader Joe’s.

We all decided to go to the movies to see “Morning Glory”. It was slow starting in my opinion but once it got going it was really funny. Everyone really enjoyed the movie so it was a good night. They drove so they dropped us off and headed home. No TV tonight, just some reading and lights out.

Sonoran Desert

November 21 – When I got up and awake we dressed to go for our morning walk around the park. We critique the various park model trailers and how the tiny yards are done and the size of the lots. We bid “good morning” to all the other walkers as we pass. Bill would like to spend a winter in a place like this and make friends and socialize with everyone, but when we already live in Florida it would be crazy to spend the money and winter here. When we got back I made Bill’s Sunday special breakfast. I had my tiny bagel with leftover goat cheese and pepper jelly, 2 pieces of turkey bacon and my bowl of fruit. The plan was to wash the front of the RV but it was overcast first and then when the sun came out the wind really picked up so Bill did what he could reach from the ground. I baked 6 ½ dozen sugar cookies for Thanksgiving week for everyone and put more medallions on the walking sticks until I got tired of the wind again.

We had a light lunch since we were going to dinner with friends of Bill’s in Green Valley tonight. Then we met the challenge of taking down the window dressing over the dining table that was coming apart. We took a while getting all the staples out and Bill suggested I see if there is an upholsterer that would staple it back instead of buying a staple gun and the sizes of staples. Good idea, so it’s ready to go. Then putting it back up all in one piece will be fun, since we took it down in one piece. I called Carole and asked her to look up upholsters in the phone book and she has a chair she wants to get done so tomorrow we will try to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Jumping Cholla Cactus

On our way to Green Valley we dropped Xena off over at Carole’s. They enjoy having her and she loves their back yard. Poor Molly, home alone again. We drove to Ed and Mary’s and visited at their home for almost an hour before heading to the Desert Diamond Casino for dinner. They have a nice sit down restaurant right in the lobby area. We ate with them there the last time we were here. The food is very good. The service was a bit slow but worked out well for us since we wanted to visit anyway. Bill and Ed coached together back in Ohio when Bill was just starting out. Since the casino is between Tucson and Green Valley we followed them there and left for home from the casino. Actually we stopped very briefly to pick up Xena then came home. There was a Sherlock Holmes show on at 9:30 that Bill wanted to watch and I was 3 days behind on my journal. I made Bill and hot chocolate and I had a cappuccino. He had crisp and a cookie and I just had 2 cookies. I was good at dinner so that was my reward.

Bill went to bed since he’s taking the truck in to get the valve stems replaced in the morning. Time for me to follow!

Prickley Pear or Paddle Cactus

November 22 – Bill left at 8:15 to take the truck in to have the valve stems all changed on the truck. I made a bunch of phone calls. I found someone to repair the valance Bill and I took done at the table and he can do it over night so we can put it back up before we head home. I was just finishing my calls when Bill got back. I finished washing up the dishes and then we went for our walk. Then Xena wanted to go so we took her for a long walk. I put a load of wash in. Carole finally called and once we all had lunch they picked us up to go to the upholsterer. They have a chair they wanted redone so it was a good time to take both items. Once Carole picked a fabric for her chair and discussed if they could do it by Wednesday, we headed to the mall to the movies. We went to see Harry Potter. There were hardly any people there for the 2:20 show. The movie was good. A bit darker than the last one but left us all waiting for the final chapter in July.

Carole and Herb dropped us off to take Xena for her walk and I put the clothes in the dryer and Bill feed Molly, then we went to Carole’s for dinner. She made the famous orange chicken from Trader Joes. It was really good. We had spaghetti squash and a mixed vegetable dish with mushrooms and pearl onions that was really good too. There were cookies for dessert. Then we went our separate ways to watch TV. I was in the computer room, Bill and Herb in the living room and Carole at the bar in the kitchen. After our shows Carole and I went through her paints to pick some for her to do our kokopelli stone with our names on it. Then we came home and watched Hawaii 5-0 then read.

Saguaro, the big boy cactus

November 23 – Bill left at 6:30 to take the truck in for an oil change and to check for a noise in the front end, but they found nothing wrong. He was gone 4 hours! While he was gone I did 2 loads of wash, spot cleaned some of the carpet, took Xena for a walk, did the dishes, did some email and made a couple more phone calls. Once he finally returned we went for a walk around the park. The mobile RV guy, Gene Kelley, finally called and said only one of our parts came in yesterday and he should have the other today and would call and let us know. So we made our plans for the day.

After lunch we drove out to Saguaro National Monument. There are 2, an east and a west. The east is only 8 miles or so. They have a loop drive that’s 8 miles with lots of turnouts along the way and several hiking trails. We hadn’t been there in 22 years and it looked so sparse compared to the number of cacti back then. We did a very short hike, more of a nature walk and stopped several times for photos. The highlight of the day was a stop at Javalina Rock. First we were just taking a look but then I saw there were people up on the rock, so of course I had to be on top of the rock. It seems like it took me forever to make it around and back and forth to get up on top. I was too short to get up where everyone else was climbing so I went a little further around and found some foot holes in the rocks that would get me up. Then to get down I was the last person up there and I couldn’t go back down the way I came so I had jump down where everyone else had and I had to push away from the rock to keep from scraping my back. Well, these old knees don’t have any spring left and I got down OK but fell backwards on my butt. The only injury was to my dignity! I did brush against several cacti going up and back down and the rest of the day I was picking the stickers out of my clothes.

Javalina Rock

From the park we went to Wal-Mart to pick up my prescription. Then we stopped at the gas station that sells propane and got our tank filled. It’s been cold here at night and we forgot to turn on the spare tank and we ran out of gas during the night so it was cold in here this morning. I needed a couple of last minute items at Fry’s so once we made that stop we headed home.

I made a blackberry crisp from the last of the berries I brought to take to dinner over at Carole’s. Bryan and Janet got there before noon and Janet and Carole were going shopping for the after-noon and we were invited to dinner. We took Xena over with us and Carole had fixed a pork tenderloin, scalloped potatoes and mixed vegetables. After dinner we all watched NCIS, then they were going to watch Dancing With the Stars so we came home to was NCIS Los Angeles. Bill went to bed and I watched The Good Wife. About time for me to head in too.