Back in Utah

 Riverton, Utah   High 63 Low 34

We drove back to Utah from Yuma on the first of April. I don't know if it was because it was Easter weekend, but we had almost 700 miles of lots of traffic with more police than I ever remember. Las Vegas was especially bad. We did have nice weather all the way with only a little wind. 

For the first time, the border check station south of Quartzsite was closed and the news keeps telling about all the immigration at the Mexico border.

It has been a little cool here with quite a bit of wind. It even snowed one morning but it all melted by noon. 

I needed to get back to do some quilting for my only customer. She had three quilts for me to do. I got those finished and have started on Cindy's quilts.

I felt like I needed to see a dermatologist to look at some spots on my head and when he checked me out, he told me that some were pre-melanoma and used liquid nitrogen to freeze them off. He did suggest that I wear a hat more when I'm outside in the sun.

Our quilt store told us that batting was scheduled to get a price increase, so I bought enough to last me a while. 

Cindy has been making more quilts and doing lots of yard work. She still over-does and ends up with her back hurting every night. She has started planting flowers and getting the garden ready. My daughter Paula is supposed to come out this afternoon to help Cindy plan the garden. She also wants to plant some things.

One reason Cindy wanted to come back so soon was to see her Daffodils which we haven't been able to see for a while. She got to see a lot of them this time.

We still don't know if we are going to do any traveling this summer but Linda, Cindy's sister, has said she would like to see Olympic National Park in Washington. We haven't seen it either and think it would make a good trip. We're not sure what there is to see and do there and I'm sure Linda will research it. We all like the coast. We were close to the Park once but didn't make it there. I still need to work on the trailer brakes. 

We went to our first yard sale yesterday and Cindy found some material for a good price. She got about 5 yards for $3.00. We also found a few other things that we didn't know we needed.  

Sorry, no pictures this time.

Thanks for visiting.

Nice Weather and More Quilts

 Yuma, Arizona          High 84 Low 52

We have had nice weather for the most part. It was windy a couple of days but has been fairly warm.

We got our second virus shot a week and a half ago. Hopefully we won't catch the virus. I really want things to get back to normal, that is no more masks or all the deaths from the virus. We both were tired and cold the evening we got the shot and didn't feel exactly right the next day, but the next morning we both were okay and haven't had any problems since.

We noticed that Penny had one of her eyes stuck shut and had to wash it out several times. During one of the washes, I got a small piece of dried leaf. She has been doing a lot better since we got the leaf out. I guess when your only 6 inches from the ground, the wind must have blown dirt and the piece of leaf into her eye. 

We went to a yard sale a while ago and Cindy was able to get two bags stuffed with scrap material for a dollar each. At the same yard sale, actually an estate sale, there was a brand new Accuquilt Go with several long dies. They normally sell for about $400.00 for the Go and the dies we got sale for about $100 dollars each. There were four dies. We haven't bought one because of the price, but Cindy asked how much they wanted and was told $10.00. Sold! Since, we have made some squares with it, and it sure makes it a lot easier to cut out the squares. Cindy says I seem to have taken over the machine. It is a hand operated model, but I really like using it.

This is one of the blocks we made using it.

We are looking to go back to Utah around the first of April, but it will depend on the weather.

Cindy counted how many quilts she has made since we have been here and says seven. Pretty good considering we have only been here 2 1/2 months. 

Here are some of the finished quilts:

The first one was on an earlier post but without the outer border. 

Thanks for visiting.

March Already

 Yuma, Arizona             High  Low 52

Todays weather is pretty much what we've had for a little while. It is supposed to get windy and cooler later in the week but still a lot warmer than the frozen north.

Penny was due for her kennel cough shot so we took her to the vet. They check her over and found sore gums and recommended we get her teeth cleaned. So two days later we had to take her to the vet fairly early in the morning and the moon looked huge. I got a picture but we didn't have anywhere to pull over so it's not the best.

The moon is the large circle above the palm to the left of the sign. It looked a lot better in person.

When we got Penny back home, she was pretty out of it for a while, as they had to put her out to clean her teeth, We felt it was better than if she lost any more teeth. 

The next picture is how we feel the whole last year and start of this year have gone.

I have been playing shuffleboard three times a week. We don't have near as many people playing but of course there are very few Canadians here so I guess it's to be expected. I think the most players we've had is 20 when in a normal year there are usually 32 or more. Last Friday we only had 8 players. We were playing every other court with everyone wearing masks, but this last week we went to two empty courts between used courts so we could be further apart and not wear masks when  we shot if the person desired.

I enjoy playing shuffleboard for the 2 hours it takes.

Cindy still is busy with making quilts. 

We left for a while one day and we have a Roomba which does a good job vacuuming, but it got hold of one of Cindy's thread spools and wrapped itself with blue thread. It took me a while to get it all cut off. 

To give some idea of how much tread it wound up, the spoon by the pile is a large serving spoon. Roomba almost emptied the spool of thread. I'm sure if we hadn't got home when we did, it would have emptied the spool. 

We still don't have our second virus vaccination but should be able to get it soon.

Thanks for visiting.

Staying Busy and Enjoying The Weather

 Yuma, Arizona          High 75 Low 48

It has been very pleasant here for the last while. Today isn't quite as warm as some other days but we have had no wind today.

Last week I went to San Luis to go to the dentist in Mexico, Dr. Bernal, that Sandie had recommended. The first day I went, he got my teeth ready for 3 crowns and a three tooth bridge (yes, my teeth were terrible). When I got ready to come back into the USA, there wasn't any line. I could walk straight through. The second day more than made up for the easy time the first time. When I got to the parking lot the lady told me the border was closed, so I backed up and went to check it out. By the time I got to where people and cars entered Mexico, there was a large crowd going into Mexico and the cars were backed up for about 3 blocks moving slowly. The police were leaving the blocked road. So I went and parked and walked into Mexico. By the way, all the people I saw in Mexico were wearing masks, even those walking along the sidewalks, so I felt good about going. They are a lot better about wearing masks than people I have seen at the local Walmart.

Dr. Bernal fitted the teeth and I was on my way by 11:00. It took less than an hour. from the price I was quoted in Utah, it saved me over $6000.00 dollars to go to Mexico. 

When I went to leave Mexico, the line to go to the USA was very long. It took almost 2 hours to get through security, so it more than made up for the easy time I had the day before. I can only think that because the border was closed, all the people leaving were very late getting into Arizona.

For entertainment Cindy and I look at some of the open houses in our Park. In the one we looked at, we saw a lamp that we would like to have to replace the ultra-modern floor lamp we have.

I also got a picture of a sunset looking past our clubhouse. Arizona sunsets seem to be pretty spectacular.

Cindy saw a use for an old lamp we have back in Utah with the glass sides broken out. She thinks the small cactuses look nice.

We signed up with the Regional Hospital for the covid vaccination. I was on hold for almost 30 minutes to sign up last Thursday and we were told that they would notify us when we could get the shot, but probably about the 25th of this month. Last night I got a call telling us we could go in today at 8:40. and to be there 10 minutes prior. When we got there there was a line but the people were divided up into appointment times. It didn't take very long to get our vaccination. They asked us to wait 15 minutes to make sure we had no problems and during that time they helped us sign up for text notifications for the second shot. Neither of us have had any adverse reactions to the shot. 

Of course Cindy has been busy quilting and thanks to Nancy with some of her blue scraps, we think this quilt turned out nice. I'm sure Nancy can recognize some of it.

Life is good.

Thanks for visiting.

Lots of Rain and Penny is My Buddy Again

 Yuma, Arizona         High 57 Low 43

Yesterday it rained hard for most of the morning. It is as much rain as I have seen since we have been in Yuma. Then it got very windy and cold. It has been cold all day. All the retention ponds in our Park got full of water but today there is only one with any water left. The people that live next to it say they have river view property.

After Nancy left, Penny wants to sit on somebody's lap, usually mine. So I guess Penny and I are still friends.

We have been busy working on quilts and Cindy finish one large quilt. She has another one almost finished.

Cindy tells me that she wants to be sure I can stay busy when we get back to Utah. From the pictures, you can tell Cindy likes scrappy quilts, most of which are king size.

Meanwhile we have mostly been staying home. There is not a lot going on here in our Park.

We do get out and walk a lot more here than back in Utah.

Thanks for visiting.

Penny Is A Traitor

 Yuma, Arizona       High 81 Low 57

It is way warmer than Utah. We have been here a week and have worked hard every day. Lots of bushes and palm trees to trim, weeds to pick and we had to repot some small palm trees. We did loose some plants over the summer. One of our friends cleaned up some of our patio. We were very grateful for what they did for us.

Nancy Kissack made it to our park yesterday. She brought some fabric scraps for Cindy, Which delighted Cindy. After Nancy left, she spent 2 hours looking and sorting through what she brought to her. While Nancy was here Penny climbed up onto her lap and went to sleep. Since Penny never does that, I thought she was a little traitor.

Today we went to Mexico with Nancy to get Cindy's meds. After the trip to Algodones, we went to the Arizona Market. They both bought fabric. It is one of our favorite fabric stores. 

One day when I took Penny to the grass, I saw a road runner stretched out on the grass. I thought maybe it was hurt, but as soon as I got too close it got up and ran off. Maybe it was just stetching in the warm spot on the grass. 

At the Arizona Market there was a large ship that we haven't seen there before. We have no idea why it is there.

We did find out it was made of Styrofoam.

Right now we still don't know if we will be able to stay here very long. Our granddaughter has a spinal tap scheduled for tomorrow and we hope they find out what is going on with her. 

Thanks for visiting. 

2021

 Riverton, Utah          High 41 Low 30

It is a lot (for here) warmer. It is the warm ahead of the next storm. 

Poor Penny has had her jacket on every time she has gone out since her haircut and she wants to be under the covers at night a lot more than before the haircut. We went for a short walk this afternoon. there was enough wind to make it a little uncomfortable so we made it a short one. Penny is always ready to go for a walk and when it was 19 degrees I didn't feel like going. Yesterday there wasn't any wind and it was mid 30s so went went for a fairly long walk. 

We have been busy getting finished up before our trip south. We have both been busy, Cindy getting her blocks ready to make another quilt, me, busy quilting. 

The first one is one I finished last week.

This pattern is one we haven't used before. It was designed as a block, but we both like how the four blocks fit together. 

The next quilt is one we bought as a kit, probably 2 years ago. I saw it and liked the quilt they had, other than they did an overall quilt pattern on it. Cindy gave it to me to quilt and told me to do with it what I felt was best. I told her I thought an overall would not do it justice, so I played with the patterns. I think it turned out nice.

It's easier to see the different patterns by looking at the back.

Cindy did tell me that we bought extra material to make the quilt into a king size instead of the full that came with the kit. For you quilters, it took almost 10 yards for the back to do the quilting. That is a lot of material! 

I hope 2021 brings better times than 2020.

Thanks for visiting.