Sunday was a casual day to unpack the trailer and prepare to put it back in the RV barn.
The dogs are always happy to be home. It is time for us catch up on walks in the neighborhood. This includes visiting Cataract Lake County Park.
Monday was President's Day. Tom went to our local Safeway to buy groceries to restock our refrigerator and pantry. He came back with the Safeway Monopoly Game board and game coupons. I told him that I was obsessed with that game in 2016, but did not play last year. I guess we are back in playing Safeway Monopoly.
On Tuesday, it was time to go to the post office and pick up our "vacation hold" mail. There were three weeks of the local newspaper, Williams-Grand Canyon News. In the February 7 issue, I found a photo of four Williams pickleball players --- and two of them were me and Tom!
So, I guess we will get ready for autographing this small article 😊
I joined the Highland Meadows ladies group for lunch at the Red Raven Restaurant. The Red Raven was closed the entire month of January. It is probably the best restaurant in town. At this time, I noticed for the first time --- a red raven painted on the front window! I have been enjoying this restaurant for the past five years and never noticed this red raven.
Wednesday was a day to go to Flagstaff. It was time to get my hair cut and colored by Shawna at Tirzah Salon. I also ran a few errands.
Tom made plans to go on a ten-day road trip with his 41 year old son, Jon. Jon is thinking about buying some property in Wyoming. Tom bought a plane ticket to fly out of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The flight from Flagstaff goes to Phoenix and then change planes to Denver. The dogs and I dropped Tom at the airport on Thursday morning.
We then crossed over the freeway and walked about an hour at Fort Tuthill County Park.
Granddaughter Emily is graduating from Chapman University in Orange County on my birthday, May 19. Her mother, Donna, has made a tradition of making a "graduation and congratulations" quilt for this special occasion. Donna mails a blank quilt patch with special fabric pens to all friends and family --- for them to create a patch for the quilt. Richard and I created a quilt patch in April 2016 for granddaughter Meghan's May graduation from George Washington University. On Friday, I created the patch for Emily's quilt.
With a strong winter storm today, I will not be able to mail this back to Donna until Monday.
It snowed on and off all day Friday. Nothing better than having a warm home and fireplace inside, while the cold is dancing outside.
At about 3:00pm, the snow took a break. But, only for a short time.
Saturday, the sun was shinning and the snow was beautiful. We received 10 inches of snow --- our deepest this winter.
Needles to say, I did have to fuel up the snowblower to clear the driveway. It was an easy task. The snow was very dry and the machine is so powerful!
Gus and Libby picked me up Sunday afternoon to play pickleball. While I am tackling traditional days, Tom and his son, Jon, are enjoying their road trip in Wyoming and Montana. Here is a photo taken from Devil's Canyon - Big Horn NRA in Wyoming.
Gorgeous!
Tuesday was the Highland Meadows ladies group --- back at the Red Raven Restaurant. This time, I was able to get a shot of the nine of us. The numbers of ladies who attend fluctuates each week.
That evening, I went to an aerobic class with Gus, Libby's husband, and Jan. Wednesday night is a step class. I haven't done step for over 16 years! The instructor, Georgeanna, is very lively. It was a nice change of pace.
We received more snow Wednesday. It was only 3 inches, so the snowblower did not need to be utilized. The dogs and I enjoyed a nice Thursday walk to Cataract Lake.
So, while the dogs and I are here, Tom and Jon are in Yellowstone National Park enjoying nature and buffalo. On this part of their road trip, they caught more snowy weather than expected.
After Yellowstone, they headed toward the Grand Tetons. Interstate 15 was closed at the Montana and Idaho borders, so they took a longer road route to avoid the passes.
Jon's new car, with its all wheel drive, is getting a good workout!
The dogs and I enjoy walking up the "the north 40" of our Highland Meadows community. Up there, you see beautiful views of Mt. Humphreys, the tallest peak in Arizona. Lovely!
Thursday, I drove to Flagstaff to get a facial with Sue Kelly. Several months ago, she moved her practice to her home. It is situated in the woods, near the road up to the Snow Bowl.
The roads to her home were plowed and clear. Thank goodness!
For two weeks, I had to dry out the protea flower I bought in Palm Desert. I hung it upside down in the guest bathroom closet for two weeks. It was time to unveil the project and add it to my vase with the other protea from several years ago.
The purple flower on the left is the new one. I must admit that it is not as colorful as my older one. Interesting!
Sunday morning, I took the dogs out for a walk. When we came back, I was not able to open the front storm/security door. Neighbor Gus came over Monday morning to see if he could open the door. With his help, we saw that the door latch was the problem. I originally thought it was the deadbolt. So, I called Flagstaff Lock and Key and e-mailed them several photos.
Alan, the locksmith, determined that the mechanism inside the door needed to be replaced. He was going to send his partner and brother Donny --- to get the door open, take the mechanism out, and begin the process of ordering a replacement.
Tom and Jon came back to Williams on Tuesday, March 6. Before their afternoon arrival, they stopped in Oatman to say hello to the donkeys.
They also took the back route --- along Route 66 --- through Peach Springs.
It was nice to have them back.
While Tom was away for eleven days, I started going to an evening exercise class with some of the Highland Meadows ladies. Georgeanna is the instructor and for three nights a week, she provides us with a variety exercise. I think I am hooked!
Jon is getting ready to begin the 3,000 mile Pacific Crest Trail. He spent several days getting his gear ready. This included his backpack, tent, first several weeks of food, and he went to Flagstaff REI to buy some new shoes for the walk in the desert.
My spa has several diverters that need to be replaced. The diverters are the knobs that control the jet pressure. I spoke to Scooter at Summit Spa and e-mailed him some photos. Jacob was sent out on Thursday to replace three diverters. Only two were damaged, but as an abundance of caution, the third large one was replaced as well.
On this same day, Donny the locksmith arrived to open the front storm/security door. We are no longer locked in --- having to use the garage doors.
It was Tom's 71st birthday on Friday, March 9. So, Jon and I celebrated with Tom at Rod's Steakhouse in Williams. Jon and I had the prime rib and Tom had a seared ribeye. The bottle of William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon was also good. At the end of the meal, the restaurant server came out with a candle and a complimentary piece of cheese cake. On a low-key birthday, Jon and I were able to sing "happy birthday to you!" Very nice!
