My nephew, Blake Carroll, and his wife, Nicole, are in Flagstaff for the weekend. They live in Atlanta, Georgia, but Nicole's brother is a senior at Northern Arizona University. Nicole's mother arranged a family get together over the long Thanksgiving weekend. They wanted to visit Bearizona here in Williams, so they were dropped off at my house. I drove them to Bearizona and we took the 3:30 pm Wild Ride Bus tour.
It turns out that Nicole had been to Arizona several months ago. But, it was a first for Blake! The animals were out and about. Sully, the huge buffalo.
The two jaguar brothers.
And, the bears.
Blake and Nicole posed for the signature photo at Bearizona.
Tom and I drove them back to Flagstaff. They had dinner plans with Nicole's family. It was a short, but nice, visit!
Saturday was the Notre Dame VS USC football game. Jon came over in the early afternoon. He LOVES Notre Dame football! Tom, Mike, Jon, and I played several games of Rummikub. Jon won both games!
That night, Tom cooked up some wonderful chili with cornbread and all the fixings. Notre Dame won the football game. They beat USC and had 12-0 season.
Sunday morning, Tom made his famous biscuits and sausage gravy. This time, he actually made scones. Delicious! Mike headed out after breakfast. He decided to get an earlier start on his 19-hour drive back to Martinsville, Indiana.
That afternoon, Tom, Jon, and I went to pickleball. There were ten of us. Nice!
Sunday, November 25, is my brother John's birthday. I was able to post a cute picture of him on Facebook and Instagram.
On Monday, I had a hair appointment in Flagstaff. Shawna is always a fun time!
The Highland Meadows breakfast ladies group decided to go to the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona. The Turquoise Room is a beautiful place to dine. The last time I was there was in 2016, on Valentine's Day, for lunch.Tom had a doctors appointment in Flagstaff, so I went with Libby and Gus Beatty. It is about an 1 1/2 hour drive. There were ten of us and breakfast was delicious!
Jan Chumley made arrangements to have a private tour with the Winslow Harvey Girls group. Peggy Nelson was our Harvey Girl and conducted a very thorough two hour tour. It was so very informative!
Before leaving Winslow, we, of course, had to stop at the famous corner!
Thank you, Jackson Browne. And, thank you the Eagles!
Wednesday was a productive day. Tom was in Flagstaff for several appointments, so I steam mopped the marble floors, drained the spa, and refilled it. I love it when the water is new!
Getting the spa ready for our first snow is always a good use of time.
On Thursday, Tom started a project. The hope chest we bought last year --- to stow our pillows --- had a hinge malfunction. We discovered that some of the chest was made of wood chip particle board. So, one of the hinges ripped off and damaged the board holding the hinge unit.
With wood glue and vice grip clamps, Tom reattached the hinge.
Hope it works!
The next day, Thursday evening, we received our first winter snow. It was just a few inches!
That night, I joined my neighbor Libby for a festive Holiday Dinner and Concert at Northern Arizona University. Libby bought two tickets to go to this choral concert and dinner with her husband, but Gus has been battling a bad cough. So, I went, and Gus stayed home.
The evening was beautifully done. The Christmas songs and the voices of the NAU students were top notch!
December 1st was Saturday. Over three years ago, Richard and I hired Jim Winbourn to put lights on one of the front lawn trees. The lights stay on the tree year round, but I only turn them on over the holidays. Mission accomplished!
Some of the light strings are no longer working --- and some of the light strings have sagged in the tree --- but the lighted form covers so many of the blemishes!
Our second day of winter snow was Saturday night. It was still only a few inches of snow, but covered the ground.
Fortunately, the quantity of snow was not deep enough for me to use the snow blower. But, my neighbor, Jim, felt differently!
Good job, Mr. Ramsey!
Monday morning brought a beautiful sunrise. I was able to capture some of the beauty in a photo.
The Highland Meadows ladies breakfast was at the Depot Cafe at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Neighbor Elaine Brady has been to this buffet and she thought that the decorations were superb.
At the breakfast, Elaine invited the six of us to her home the next evening. She wanted to host a Christmas dinner with white elephant gifts.
Tuesday was another morning of pickleball. Jon was back from his trip to Utah.
Later that day, Jon came over to our house for dinner. Tom used the crock pot and made a delicious beef stroganoff. I readied the floors by using my newly purchased steam mop.
Love that new gadget!
On Wednesday, promptly at 5:00 pm, the six of us showed up at Elaine's home. Her home was very festive --- full of red, green, and Christmas decorations.
Before dinner, we joined in on an art project and we assembled Christmas ornaments.
After dinner, we exchanged and opened wrapped white elephant gifts. A highlight was a gag gift opened by Libby.
Before leaving for the evening, Elaine took a photo of us with our ornaments.
Ho, ho, ho!
On Thursday, Tom had an appointment to pick-up his bi-pap machine. He was given an orientation and was fitted for the machine.
I went to Flagstaff with him --- to buy some Hanukkah cards for the Bernstein family.
Friday was another set of doctor appointments for me and for Tom. At a lunch break, we stopped to eat at Chick-fil-A. I had never been to this restaurant. Grilled chicken nuggets for me --- with honey mustard sauce.
Tom had a chicken sandwich with crinkle cut fries.
On Saturday, the mail brought a hat I had purchased on the internet. After placing the order, I found out that the sun hat was coming from China. It took over three weeks to receive the item. And, it was the wrong hat!
My computer showed the catalog image, and the hat I received is on the right. Not good!
That night, Tom, Jon, and I went to Bearizona'a Wild Wonderland event. It runs the entire month of December on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. In past years, season passholders had a special night. This year, each passholder selected the night that they wished to attend.
From years past, it was a different night. There was no special car entrance for passholders, so we waited in line for thirty minutes. Half of the walk-thru park was closed. No javalinas or foxes opening Christmas packages. However, the jaguar display was very nice!
And, Jon took a nice photo of me and Tom.
After the Wild Wonderland, we all had dinner at Miss Kitty's Restaurant at the Red Roof Plus. Tom and I shared a 14 ounce prime rib cooked RARE, the way we like it, and Jon ordered the Beef Brisket dinner. All was very tasty!
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