Oh No Snow In Apache Junction!

Feb 20th 2013

Okay family and friends back in Minnesota your going to love this. 

We have had snow in the Superstition Mountains, but never in our own back yard.  Mike may have to buy a snow shovel or move the motorhome.  Actually it was sleet, but it was white and cold.

The picture of the mountain was taken this afternoon it snowed over night in the higher elevations, not that Superstition is that high.

Our steps coming out of the motorhome and the walkway is covered with white stuff. 

Mike installed some blue LED lights on the steps for what ever reason not sure why but they do look very nice especially with the snow.  Cold again tomorrow, this is the coldest winter we’ve in Apache Junction AZ

 

Birthdays And Ballet

Feb 14th 2013

  

Our very good friend, LeeAnn has a birthday on Valentines Day, a double celebration.  Mike smoked a pork butt for pulled pork sandwiches, and everybody brought side dishes what a party it was.  There was 11 of us in the new gazebo a bit crowded but it worked okay. 

By the way she is a very young 67. 

 

Sunday Feb the 17th 12 of us took the light rail to downtown Phoenix to Symphony Hall for the Ballet, Romeo and Juliet.  It was amazing we had great seats, and the hall was packed.  Only one problem it always ends the same, you just wish their love could have been for always.

The weather is a little chilly this year, makes no difference we are keeping very busy.  Loving life as always.

  

Happy Valentines Day

Thursday Feb. 14th 2013

Rich my son called the other day and asked when I was going to start the blog again.  I said I would do it today.  I guess I got pretty lazy or really busy, just seemed like it was never the right time.

We were lucky Rich spent a long weekend with us here in Apache Junction, well not really with us, him and Ken and LeeAnn's son Marcel came for the big Barrett Jackson car show.

Rich and Marcel have been friends since grade school.  Marcel lived just down the street from us.  They build forts, raced their dirt bikes, snowmobiled and got into plenty of trouble together as teenagers.  Not any real trouble just boy stuff.

 

A couple of really good looking guys.  Rich on the left and Marcel on the right.

 

Our friends in the park, Sandy and Dave Beckett had us all over for lunch on Sunday before the boys flew back to Minnesota. 

LeeAnn took  a picture of Rich and I at her house. 

Happy Valentines day. 

Back in Apache Junction AZ

We pulled into the RV park here in AJ the 3rd of Nov, it was so nice to get off the road. 

We loved our trip to Alaska and Canada and the west coast.  We did so much and saw so many beautiful sights, it was like a dream.  Would we do it again, not so sure, 7 months on the road was a long time, I was ready to settle down and just enjoy life for awhile.  We traveled almost 12,000 miles just in the MH.

We averaged 6.5 miles per gallon and spent almost $7000.00 for gas once again just for the MH. The highest for gas was in Prince George BC $1.45 a liter and I think that comes to approximately $5.48 a gallon.  I did not keep track of the truck that was more figuring then I wanted to do. 

The temps had been above normal for the first 6 weeks here, in the 70s and 80, sunny everyday, now we are having winter, a little rain and temps in the 50s and 60s, but we know it will warm up again.

Mike has been pretty busy since we got back to AZ.  He has been doing some work on our lot.    

 

We laid pavers and put up a gazebo, he also built a little deck and steps to get in the motorhome. 

The gazebo has worked out great with the chilly weather able to have happy hour in there and play Mexican Train and Farckle. 

Napa Valley California

Sunday October 14th 2012

Who can be in wine country without going to Napa Valley and visiting a few wineries, not me. 

Another warm sunny day perfect for doing some sightseeing.  Miles and miles of grapes vines, in Minnesota we have corn fields, I like the grapes way more then the corn.

V. Sattue winery is a small family owned winery operated by the fourth generation Sattui family.  They have been operating since 1885. 

  

The grounds at all the wineries were landscaped to the T.  Flowers and topiaries everywhere.  We spent most of time walking the grounds at the wineries.  Tours of the cellars at most of them are between $25.00 to $125.00 and you pay for the tasting of the wines. 

 

There was no charge to see the cellar at V Sattui. 

 

What a setting for a picnic, many of the wineries have picnic areas, some let you bring in food others you have to buy there’s.

  

Our second stop of the day was Beringer Vineyards.  We stopped at vineyards that we have actually drank their wines, made it a little more interesting.  I know many of you are thinking we could have stopped at them all because we probley have tasted most of the wines, not true.  

  

We had a little wine and cheese while watching the dancers and listening to the band.  We spent some enjoyable time here, talking with the people.  Beringer’s allows you to bring your own food for your picnic, nice place.

  

Once again the beautiful landscaping, it’s a place you would love to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Next was lunch at the Culinary Institute of America, built in 1889.

 

The castle looking exterior is a contrast to the modern interior with it’s gleaming kitchens.

  

I don’t care where you are in Napa Valley the views are amazing. 

For lunch we split an order of mussels in white wine sauce that was to die for.

 

The final stop of the day was an authentic looking 13th century Tuscan castle and winery, built in 1993.  121,000 square feet includes 107 rooms on 8 levels, 4 below ground, 900 feet of caves, a draw bridge and moat, dungeon and torture chamber.  We did go inside the castle, we did not take the tour which was $35.00 and up per person.  What we saw was very limited without paying. 

The draw bridge.

  

Once again just walking the grounds was to cool, love the barrels.

         

What fun to see the farm animals running around.  Families with children were a big thing at the wineries.  Each place seemed to have something fun for the kids.   

 

My favorite chicken.  Love his long feathers on his feet.

It was just the best day for relaxing and fun, we took our time at each vineyard to enjoy what they had to offer.

Fun on the road.            

Hop on Hop off Bus Ride

Friday October 12th 2012

When we explore a new city we like to take a bus tour first, the red hop on hop off buses are perfect to get to know the city.  We have done this in Rome, Paris, and many other large cities in Europe and the US.  You get the lay out of the town, and pick places you want to spend more time exploring. 

It was our first cold, cloudy, foggy, drizzly day in San Francisco.  I started out sitting in the open air on the top of the bus but after a few miles I got cold and went inside to warm up and pretty much stated there. 

  

Not sure the name of the green building but I loved it.  Union Square with Saks Fifth Ave and Tiffany's in the back ground, two of my favorite stores.  

If your feeling like a dare devil you can rent a little Go Car and bop around town.  You get fitted for a helmet to go with it, makes me feel much  better.

City Hall, and the Louis M Davies Symphony Hall.

The city hall building looks more like a state capital building.

  

Everyone has to go see the Golden Gate Bridge when in San Francisco, it happened to be the 75th anniversary of the bridge.  We drove over the bridge on the red bus and got off and walked a bit, just to say we did it.

That is one large cable. 

We drove thru the Tenderlion District, which they recommended tourist stay out of.  Haight Ashbury is another neighborhood with a colorful past and still a great place to visit.  Golden gate Park has so much to off with museums and the Japanese Tea Garden.  Nob Hill was another area we drove through.   The tour took 3 or 4 hours with getting off and on. 

The tour started and ended at Pier 39 a large tourist attraction.  After our bus ride we stopped at Pier 39 for a late lunch at Market Pier Cafe. Lunch was wonderful, Mike had clam Chowder in a sour dough bread bowl and I had Cioppino is a fish stew, with dungeness crab, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels and the catch of the day. It was to die for. 

 

 

What a surprise to see a huge merry go-round on the pier.  We did a little more walking on the pier and watched the street performers. 

It was getting late and we wanted to home before 8pm so we hopped on a bus back to the BART station to catch our train back to the MH.

Another wonder full day filled with fun and love.