Tom, Preston, and I arrived at Palm Creek Resort in Casa Grande on Monday, November 17, at 2:00 p.m. Tom's son Jon had turned on the our trailer refrigerator and he had opened the three slides. So, all we had to do was "move in."
That evening, Jon joined us at Texas Roadhouse for a very nice "Welcome Back to Palm Creek" dinner.
November 17 was my sister Wendy's 71st birthday. I was texted a photo of both Wendy and Carrie celebrating Wendy's birthday at a restaurant in Bend, Oregon.
The Arizona cloud formations are so beautiful. Tuesday evening, I captured my first "4th Season at Palm Creek" photo of the nearby fountain.
My sister Carrie has a Bend girlfriend who is spending the winter in Palm Creek. Betsy Scherr is 70 years old. She grew up in Rosemead, California. Rosemead is several cities away from my hometown of San Marino. Preston and I went to meet Betsy and say hello.
On Wednesday, I was walking Preston in Palm Creek. I walked by the home of my friend Oland Durst. I told him that I lost Kelsey and Jamie over the summer. Oland shocked me. He told me that he lost Cathy on October 16. Apparently she had a sudden heart attack at age 66. It happened in their home while Oland and his dog Chuy were off on a walk. Darn! Below is a photo I took of the two of them earlier this year.
Oland himself has been battling prostate cancer for a number of years. He never imagined that Cathy would go first. Oland is going to leave Palm Creek the middle of next month and move to northeast Ohio. He is going to live with his daughter, Jennifer.
Later in the afternoon, we had rain. The bonus was a beautiful double rainbow.
While Casa Grande got rain, Williams received some slushy snow.
The next morning, there was a very nice sunrise.
Thursday morning, I took Preston to a small Dog Park. Since it had been raining, the astro turf --- not grass --- option was perfect.
Preston even met an 11 year old retriever named Bree. Fred, her owner, plays at a 3.75 pickleball level like me.
Tom had 2:00 pm appointment in Surprise on Thursday, November 20. Tom and I drove up early to have lunch. We found a great Mediterranean/Greek restaurant. Yummy!
This Surprise appointment is at Barnet-Delaney-Perkins Eye Center with Dr. Christine Funke. Tom was referred to Dr. Funke by his Flagstaff ophthalmologist. She is known widely in the glaucoma disease world for her surgical prowess.
Dr. Funke told Tom that he is a good candidate for a surgical procedure where a hole is opened in his eye to allow proper drainage. It is not a complicated surgery like ones experienced by Tom's sister and brother. Tom agreed to move forward. He is scheduled for this procedure in December.
Tom and I had raw oysters as an appetizer at the Angry Crab Shack in Casa Grande.
We also enjoyed adult beverages and good dinner entrees.
Our town of Williams loves the holiday season. The Christmas tree is all lit up on 2nd Street.
Preston was dropped off a day ago at Paw Ranch Pet Resort --- as Tom and I had to go to the Phoenix area for his doctor's appointment. So, I picked him up at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. It was fun seeing Fernando and Lou again. They really enjoyed meeting Preston, too.
Flagstaff has received a lot of snow on Mt. Humphreys. The Arizona Snow Bowl opened up the ski season with 37 inches of fresh snow!
Friday evening, the sunset did not disappoint!
I played pickleball Saturday morning. The 3.75 mixed round robin is at 8:00 a.m. It is an early play time, but I enjoy that pickleball group. In the evening, Tom and I went to a Thaddeus Rose dance at the ballroom. We like this band.
Over the summer, much of the wallpaper in our trailer has pealed off or wrinkled. Tom and I knew that we needed it fixed. On the Nextdoor App, I found a fellow who came to take a look at the situation. Eric Muhammed is a contractor and handyman who dropped by our trailer Sunday afternoon.
Eric said that the wallpaper would have to be stripped off the wall.
Eric explained that there is no way to salvage it. His recommendation was to paint the wood. Eric's cost quote was $900.00. As he was available the Thanksgiving week, Eric will start the project immediately.
While I was walking Preston that Sunday afternoon, I met Oland's daughter Jennifer. They were sitting in the sun in front of Oland's home.
Preston and I also walked the pathway between Cole Circle and Granite Drive. There are newer homes along the greens.
That evening, the skies gave us another sunset of tremendous beauty.
Unfortunately, my cellphone camera does not capture what my eyes saw. But, it still was pretty.
On Monday morning, Eric started the project of stripping the wallpaper and painting the one large wall.
It took a little over two-days to complete.
I had a hair appointment with Miranda Palmer at Bloom Hair Artist Collective. It has been so handy to have her the past three seasons!
I set up the outside accents around our trailer. The two memory stones from Chewy.com were placed near the solar lilies. We miss Jamie and little Kelsey.
That evening, we went to Su Casa Grande for dinner. Mondays, they have margaritas for $5.95. So very tasty!
I took Preston outside the park for a walk. He loves the green grass.
Our RV site in Palm Creek is ideal. Tom and I enjoy it's location --- nestled between two park models.
The street north of Palm Creek Resort is Cottonwood Lane. The farmer who owns vast acres of land still produces cotton. At this time of year, the cotton is harvested.
Tom decided that it was time to get new brakes for his Subaru. He took his SUV to Brake Masters.
My brother Peter and his wife Terry went to Santa Rosa for Thanksgiving. Several other Doan family members joined Terry's sister Mary and her husband. Peter texted a cute photo of the "pre-Thanksgiving" festivities.
Thanksgiving was a low key event. Jon came over to visit.
It is always fun taking a photo of father and son!
Tom and I went to a 2:30 p.m. lunch at the Francisco Grande Resort. We dined at Duke's.
Later in the day, I walked Preston by the 7th hole fountain.
The next day, our Williams friend Alie Rico, posted a cute photo of her two sons --- Brandon and little Mateo.
That evening, the sunset was spectacular in Casa Grande!
On Sunday, November 30, I went to church at the Pinal County Cowboy Church.
My friend and massage therapist, Cathy Kelly, joined me. While I didn't get a photo of Cathy at church, I snapped a photo of her later.
My sister Carrie and her husband Brent paid a $5 fee to go into the national forest near Bend to secure a Christmas tree.
Carrie is always so good to capture photos of my brother John's baseball cap. Later in the afternoon, I visited our next door neighbors --- Merilee and Ron McCartney.
Our town of Williams hosts a Christmas Tree Lighting Parade the last Sunday of November. While we were not in Williams for the event, it is always nice to see photos.
