-35 POUNDS

WOW, ANOTHER WEEK ZIPS BY. ON THURSDAY AFTERNOONS WE HAVE A COCKTAIL HOUR AT THE CLUBHOUSE AND WE HAVE A FEW FISHERMEN IN THE PARK THAT SHARE THEIR CATCH OF TROUT. MARY AND I BEER BATTERED A MESS TO TAKE TO THE WEEKLY GATHERING. TODAY MARY’S MAKING CHICKEN MEATBALLS WITH HONEY-MUSTARD.

THE DREADED MONSOON RAINS HAVE NOT STARTED YET AND THAT’S GOOD NEWS. WE GOT THE FRONT FENCE PAINTED AND THAT WRAPS UP THE OUTDOOR PROJECT LIST FOR THIS SEASON.

WEDNESDAY HAD US AT THE MOOSE FOR OUR THIRD TRY AT BINGO. HAVING NEVER WON, I’D SAY OUR BINGO DAYS ARE ABOUT OVER?

OUR DAILY QUEST FOR 10,000 STEPS A DAY IS GOING WELL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE DAY WE’VE HAD OUR STEPS EVERYDAY SINCE OUR WISCONSIN VACATION. SINCE FEB 11TH I’VE WALKED 807 MILES AND LOST 35 POUNDS.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

  “SUNNY & 85”

HOT ARIZONA

IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE I CHECKED IN ON THE BLOG, AND SO HERE GOES. MARY AND I GOT A LITTLE BORED WITH THE LOCAL TAVERNS, THERE IS A SELECTION, BUT WITH THE MIX OF INDIANS AND MORMONS THE SELECTION IS LIMITED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE JOINED THE LOCAL MOOSE LODGE, AND WE’VE BEEN HAPPY WITH THE BAR. THEY PLAY BINGO A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK AND WE’VE GONE JUST TO ENJOY THE AIR CONDITIONING. THEN ON TUESDAY WE STOP TO PLAY A GAME CALLED THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, WHERE WE HAVE WON $25, AND TWO FREE DRINKS.

THE SCOOTER ROLLS OUT MOST DAYS AS I USE IT TO GO IN SEARCH OF MY 10,000 STEPS A DAY. YESTERDAY I RODE TO SNOWFLAKE, AZ TO DO SOME SHOPPING.

HERE IN THE PARK, MARY AND I HOSTED THE WEEKLY COFFEE HOUR ON TUESDAY, AND I’VE BEEN BUSY THIS WEEK WITH THE ANNUAL DOCTOR THING. MARY GOES ONCE AND IS TOLD SHE IS HEALTHY AS A HORSE, BUT WHEN I GO, IT TURNS INTO SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS AND A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL FOR LABS AND IMAGERY. IT’S NOT FAIR. I PLAY POKER ON TUESDAY EVENINGS WITH THE BOYS AND HAVE HAD MY ASS HANDED TO ME ON A PLATTER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I’M GONNA NEED A COUPLE OF ROLLS OF NICKLES BEFORE NEXT WEEKS GAME.

MARY STILL SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN HER YARD WITH HER FLOWERS. THIS YEAR SHE’S AT WAR WITH THE DAMN GRAY SQUIRRLS. THE LADY ACROSS THE ROAD FEEDS THEM BY HAND AND THEN THEY COME ACROSS THE STREET TO DIG UP MARY’S FLOWERS AND DESTROY THEM.

WE’VE FINISHED THE HAND WAXING OF THE CAR AND TRUCK, AND HAVE ADJUSTED THE FRONT FENCE. NEXT WE NEED TO PAINT THE FENCE. ARIZONA HAS BEEN IN A HEAT WAVE SO WE KEEP PUTTING PAINTING OFF. EVEN HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN AT 6300 FEET THE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE 90’S. I’M SURE YOU’VE SEEN THE PHOENIX WEATHER STORIES WHERE IT IS EVEN BEEN TO HOT TOO FLY.

“SUNNY & 92”

AMARYILLIS

YOU MAY REMEMBER THE AMARYILLIS FROM LAST JANUARY. IT WAS A GIFT FROM THE HUNTERS. AFTER IT BLOOMS YOU ENJOY THE THE FLOWERS AND THEN CUT OFF THE FLOWER STALKS AND PLANT THE BULB. AFTER IT GROWS ALL SUMMER, IN THE FALL YOU CUT OFF THE LEAVES AND PUT THE BULB INTO A DARK DRY PALCE.

AT CHRISTMAS TIME YOU BRING IT OUT AND START WATERING IT AND IT GROWS A FLOWER STALK AND BLOOMS AGAIN IN THE WINTER.

WE TRIED THIS YEARS AGO AND PLANTED THE BULB OUT IN MIDDLE OF THE YELLOW RIVER FOREST. IN THE FALL WE WENT BACK AND DUG IT UP TO SAVE FOR FLOWERING AT CHRISTMAS. IT FAILED !!!

CHECK OUT THIS YEARS ATTEMPT, WE’VE NEVER SEEN ONE GET THIS BIG AND IT’S ONLY JUNE.

MARY’S FLOWERS

IT’S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT MARY’S YARD AND THE FLOWERS SHE HAS PICKED OUT THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR HEATHER WAS HERE TO HELP HER DECIDE AND PLANT, BUT THIS YEAR IT WAS REX.

FIRST THE BAD NEWS

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WE STARTED ZINNA PLANTS FROM SEED DOWN IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY TO PLANT ON THE MOUNTAIN. THIS YEAR WE STARTED THEM IN FEBUARY SO THEY WERE A NICE SIZE. WE ALSO DUG OUT AND LINED WITH BRICKS A ZINNA SPOT.

THE RULE ON THE MOUNTAIN IS TO NEVER PUT YOUR PLANTS OUT BEFORE MOTHER’S DAY OR A HARD FREEZE WILL KILL THEM. WELL, WE DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE AS WE WERE GOING TO BE IN WISCONSIN ON MOTHER’S DAY, AND WE PLANTED THE ZINNAS JUST BEFORE WE LEFT.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE FROST DID A NUMBER ON THE ZINNAS FOR THIS YEAR.

OUT FRONT

THIS IS A VERY SHADY AREA OUT FRONT OF THE CABIN. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE DIDN’T PLANT ANYTHING. IT’S SO SHADY THAT THE WEEDS DON’T EVEN GROW. WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY THIS YEAR AND SEE WHAT LIVES, AND WHAT DOESN’T.

HANGING BASKETS

THE PLASTIC HANGERS ON THE FOUR HANGING BASKETS BY THE FRONT DOOR WENT TO HELL, SO WE HAD TO DESIGN WIRES AND HOOKS TO REUSE THEM THIS YEAR.

GERANIUM CORNER

WE HAD GOOD LUCK SAVING OUR GERANIUMS OVER WINTER DOWN ON THE DESERT, AND WE ADDED A COUPLE OF MORE TO FILL IN A CORNER OF THE FRONT WALK WITH ALL GERANIUMS.

I’LL POST A BETTER PICTURE NEXT MONTH WHEN THEY ARE ALL IN BLOOM. THERE ARE ACTUALLY SIX PLANTS IN THIS GROUP WITH FIVE DIFFERENT COLORS.

THE MAIN YARD

HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE MAIN YARD, AND EVEN IF I KNEW THE NAMES I’D NEVER BE ABLE TO SPELL THEM.

TOMATOES

MARY STARTED TOMATOES FROM SEEDS SHE GOT FROM TODD IN FEBRUARY. SHE ENDED UP WITH TWO POTS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS. TOMATOES ARE TUFF IN OUR SHADY AREA SO IT’S AN EXPERIMENT.

I MISSED A COUPLE OF OTHERS WHICH I’LL POST NEXT TIME I DO A BLOG ON MARY’S YARD.

  “SUNNY & 80”

PORCH FLOOR

THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN AFTER HAVING THE THREE GRANDSONS VISITING LAST WEEK-END. IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE’VE HAD YOUNGSTERS UNDERFOOT. AIM- THANKS FOR PUTTING US ON YOUR ITINERARY AND WE ENJOYED HAVING YOU ALL HERE!!

THE NEXT PROJECT ON THE SUMMER LIST, IS TO RESTAIN THE PORCH FLOOR.

OUR ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO DO THE WORK IN TWO HALVES, BUT ON THE WAY BACK FROM MY MORNING WALK TO WALMART WE DECIDED TO DO IT IN FOUR SECTIONS.

IT’S NOT A BAD PROJECT JUST A LOT OF TIME ON THE KNEES.

HOPE TO FINISH UP ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY. FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WE HAVE COCKTAIL PARTIES TO ATTEND AND SATURDAY IS THE ANNUAL TALL PINES BUSINESS MEETING, AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS, SO WE ARE KEEPING BUSY.

  “SUNNY & 80”

STICKY BUNS

IT WOULDN’T BE A VISIT TO GRANDPA REX WITHOUT GETTING THE DUTCH OVENS OUT. YESTERDAY WE STARTED WITH STICKY BUNS.

IN THE EVENING EDDIE WAS IN CHARGE AND MADE PAULIE’S FAVORITE STEW. UNFORTUNATELY THEIR ARE NO PICTURES OF TWO DUTCH OVENS FULL OF STEW WITH BEAUTIFUL BROWN BISQUITS BAKED OFF ON TOP. GOOD JOB EDDIE !!!

  “SUNNY & 80”

AMY AND THE KIDS

LOOK WHO IS HERE FOR A JENGA GAME !

IT’S EDDIE AND JOEY TWO OF MY GRANDSONS.

AMY AND HER THREE BOYS ARE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP IN THEIR MOVE FROM DAYTON, OHIO TO HAWAII WITH THE AIR FORCE. THEIR NEXT STOP IS LAS VEGAS TO SEE PAULIE, AND FROM THERE THEY WILL SHIP THE VAN AND FLY.

WE ARE HAVING A GREAT WEEK-END AND VISIT WITH PERFECT “SUNNY & 80” WEATHER. YESTERDAY WE DID SHOW LOW DAYS AND PIZZA OFF THE GRILL.

GOOD LUCK GUYS AND ENJOY THE HAWAIAN PARADISE !!!