First day of balloon watching!!

October 7 – I woke up at 6 after setting my alarm for 6:45!  I had my coffee and relaxation time and saw Jean and Paul out setting up their chairs for the morning balloon lift off.  I changed into long pants and long sleeves and my hoodie and took my chair over.  Bruce

Once things got going!

and Sharon were set up as well.  Bill was still in bed.  We all chatted and waited for the balloons to start making their way and it was a beautiful morning!  There were a lot of the same balloons we saw in 2017 but that doesn’t change the thrill of watching them gradually fill the morning sky.  Once the sun got a little higher and the back lighting hit the balloons, they were so stunning as they slowly made their way

Nice teardrop!

across the skies.  We didn’t have any land in the area today, so maybe tomorrow!  Bill managed to come out for a while.

I went in to get breakfast going, rhubarb muffins, Dave’s delicious sausage and fresh fruit!  Yum!  I took muffins out to the rest of the gang since I made a dozen.  We discussed our plans for the day.  Bruce and Sharon were going to make cookies after a power nap while Jean and Paul and us were headed to downtown to a trading post, to lunch and a few shopping stops.  Before we

One of my favorite views!

left I baked an Almond Cream Cheese Pound cake to go with our cookout tonight.

The 4 of us left about 9:30 and the trading post we normally go to is closed and out of business.  How sad!  We went to Palms Trading Company and it was packed!  They have tons of jewelry, kachinas, blankets, baskets, pottery, just everything you can imagine that is made by Native Americans.  Paul got a nice ring, Bill got a bracelet and I got the mother lode!  I was interested in orange spiny oyster and found a ring, pendant and earrings that matched perfectly, and a gorgeous bracelet.  Once I checked out, Bill showed me more bracelets and I got another one in a totally different style.  It didn’t match my outfit today but I wore it anyway!

Since we didn’t follow directions too well in getting there, by the time we finished our shopping it was noon, so we went to Standard Diner for lunch.  Bill and I had eaten here years ago as it was on Diners, Dives, and Drive Ins by Guy Fieri.  Bill had a gift card there from Kam so it worked out well.  The food was great and the waitress was a trooper!  Bill said “thank you Kam”!

We crossed town back over near our camping area and went to the shopping area.  Mostly we went to Sprouts for some produce but we did drive around and see what stores are in the area.  On the way back to the RV we stopped at Freddy’s.  Paul got a milkshake and I got a single vanilla custard.

By the time we got back Larry and Clarissa had arrived and were settled into their space just 2 up from Paul and Jean.  We gathered in front of Bruce’s RV and set up a table and Larry went and got his propane fire and we visited a long time!  Bruce had set up his grill and we each grilled out own meats and each brought food to share. I think everyone got to try something new and no one left hungry!  We were out there for a long time and once it got colder it was time to call it a night!

I was pooped!  We watched a bit of TV and called it a day!