Feb 11 - 17
We started the week with another Manager's Special Happy Hour. Yep, more 25 cent beer and wine. Gorgeous sunny afternoon although a bit on the cool side. But the company was great and we had a blast. Met some folks from the Niagara (Ontario) area. By the time we wandered back to our site, we decided we didn't feel like cooking supper, so we called Papa John's. We've never tried their pizza before, and we won't bother again.
We started the week with another Manager's Special Happy Hour. Yep, more 25 cent beer and wine. Gorgeous sunny afternoon although a bit on the cool side. But the company was great and we had a blast. Met some folks from the Niagara (Ontario) area. By the time we wandered back to our site, we decided we didn't feel like cooking supper, so we called Papa John's. We've never tried their pizza before, and we won't bother again.
Tuesday we had a 4th Street South pot luck dinner in honour of Valentines Day. There were about 30 of us and as always, a great selection of food and desserts. In the past, we've played a game or two for prizes at these get togethers, but another group had reserved the room and we only had it for two hours so it was pretty much eat and run. A pleasant evening and a chance to catch up with folks we chat with periodically.
Wednesday night the rains started. The forecast for the coming couple of weeks is not great. We've been here for 8 weeks now, and there's no indication of a tan anywhere on my body. My legs are still blindingly white (they will usually be a soft beige by now) and my arms bear only a slight hint of tan (usually a full-on tan by now). I know most of you are thinking "Wah, wah, wah!!" and I don't disagree. We could be dealing with freezing temperatures and white out conditions. But it is a very real problem for us snowbirders - everyone here is whining about the weather, and it could be affecting our mental health. In fact, I think we should see about getting a telethon going. 📺💲😁
Thursday, Feb 14th we joined the regular crew for a Valentine's pot luck dinner. John and Fran smoked up a brisket and some pulled pork, and everyone provided the sides and desserts. Mike and Lynn offered their carport at their park model, and he had the sides all tarped up and a heater going inside, so we were toasty and warm and dry while we listened to the rain pound down on the metal roof. Always fun times with this wonderful group of people, not to mention we're always well fed.
I think I have a new rule when deciding a dish for these potlucks – at least with this group. No scalloped potatoes. The last time I decided to do this, the darn things took forever to cook up in the toaster oven and we basically ended up having them for dessert. Decided to give it another go and cheated by using the instant stuff. But for some reason, my combo convection/microwave oven decided to not work properly on the full bake setting. I set it to preheat and it was almost up to temperature when I put the dish in. Initially it seemed to be continuing to come up to cooking temperature, but I looked at it a few minutes later and the temperature had started to drop. Turned everything off and started over, but the temp continued to drop. Ended up doing a micro/bake combination for the first time, and everything turned out – aside from a bit of stress since I had no idea how much time to cook for, the instructions in the manual didn't make complete sense, and they weren't done until the last minute. But it was good and hot when it arrived, and everyone must have thought they were OK, because there were no leftovers. I tested the oven again when we got home, trying various temperature settings, and it worked just fine. No idea what went wrong the first time around.
Friday afternoon we headed over to a gorgeous home here in Mesa, to pick oranges. The home belongs to a couple from Calgary who are the parents-in-law of the daughter of our neighbours, Marvin & Linda. Three couples (John & Fran, Phiil & Paula and ourselves) and Marvin headed over to Al & Kerry's place and filled up almost half of the back of John's pickup with oranges in very short order, and you'd hardly know we'd been there to look at what's still left in the trees. Al then invited us to hang out for a while and enjoy some vodka and orange juice with – you guessed it – fresh squeezed orange juice. Couldn't be rude and refuse. Of course, we had sampled one of the oranges while picking and OH MY!! We brought two full grocery bags back to our rig, some were shared around to other neighbours and we will possibly collect more from John's once their juicer is returned and we get a chance to borrow it. Robin also picked a couple of huge lemons and a ruby red grapefruit. We're not supposed to eat grapefruit (medication interaction), but one little wedge now and then won't hurt.
Wednesday night the rains started. The forecast for the coming couple of weeks is not great. We've been here for 8 weeks now, and there's no indication of a tan anywhere on my body. My legs are still blindingly white (they will usually be a soft beige by now) and my arms bear only a slight hint of tan (usually a full-on tan by now). I know most of you are thinking "Wah, wah, wah!!" and I don't disagree. We could be dealing with freezing temperatures and white out conditions. But it is a very real problem for us snowbirders - everyone here is whining about the weather, and it could be affecting our mental health. In fact, I think we should see about getting a telethon going. 📺💲😁
Thursday, Feb 14th we joined the regular crew for a Valentine's pot luck dinner. John and Fran smoked up a brisket and some pulled pork, and everyone provided the sides and desserts. Mike and Lynn offered their carport at their park model, and he had the sides all tarped up and a heater going inside, so we were toasty and warm and dry while we listened to the rain pound down on the metal roof. Always fun times with this wonderful group of people, not to mention we're always well fed.
I think I have a new rule when deciding a dish for these potlucks – at least with this group. No scalloped potatoes. The last time I decided to do this, the darn things took forever to cook up in the toaster oven and we basically ended up having them for dessert. Decided to give it another go and cheated by using the instant stuff. But for some reason, my combo convection/microwave oven decided to not work properly on the full bake setting. I set it to preheat and it was almost up to temperature when I put the dish in. Initially it seemed to be continuing to come up to cooking temperature, but I looked at it a few minutes later and the temperature had started to drop. Turned everything off and started over, but the temp continued to drop. Ended up doing a micro/bake combination for the first time, and everything turned out – aside from a bit of stress since I had no idea how much time to cook for, the instructions in the manual didn't make complete sense, and they weren't done until the last minute. But it was good and hot when it arrived, and everyone must have thought they were OK, because there were no leftovers. I tested the oven again when we got home, trying various temperature settings, and it worked just fine. No idea what went wrong the first time around.
Friday afternoon we headed over to a gorgeous home here in Mesa, to pick oranges. The home belongs to a couple from Calgary who are the parents-in-law of the daughter of our neighbours, Marvin & Linda. Three couples (John & Fran, Phiil & Paula and ourselves) and Marvin headed over to Al & Kerry's place and filled up almost half of the back of John's pickup with oranges in very short order, and you'd hardly know we'd been there to look at what's still left in the trees. Al then invited us to hang out for a while and enjoy some vodka and orange juice with – you guessed it – fresh squeezed orange juice. Couldn't be rude and refuse. Of course, we had sampled one of the oranges while picking and OH MY!! We brought two full grocery bags back to our rig, some were shared around to other neighbours and we will possibly collect more from John's once their juicer is returned and we get a chance to borrow it. Robin also picked a couple of huge lemons and a ruby red grapefruit. We're not supposed to eat grapefruit (medication interaction), but one little wedge now and then won't hurt.
We may return to pick more, in part to help out Al & Kerry. If the oranges don't get picked soon, they'll either have to pay someone to come and pick them, or they'll have to be left to rot off the trees. The trees are starting to form buds, and once they bloom you don't want to pick as it could knock off the new blossoms.
Saturday I headed off to a quilt show at another resort park. Fran joined me and we met Bev at the show. Incredible works to look at, several demonstrations with written instruction copies. and I left inspired. Whether that inspiration still remains by the time we get home remains to be seen. The three of us went for lunch, then we drove Bev home and returned to our own park. The sun kept popping out from behind the clouds, so I pulled out one of the new loungers and stretched out for a good read. Needless to say, after a hearty lunch and several minutes of sunshine, I was nodding off. Eventually the clouds increased again and it was getting to be too much cold, so I moved inside.
Sunday, Feb 17th we headed back to Woo Chi again, this time for a late lunch with Lance and Ursula. OH DEAR!! We all walked out feeling stuffed to the gills, and dinner was definitely out of the day's plans.
Another week gone, and 6 weeks until we start making our way home. Looks like we'll have to wait until March to get the weather we're used to, but at least there's no snow and even when it's overcast, it's warm enough for just a sweater or light jacket.
Until next time, dear readers.
Saturday I headed off to a quilt show at another resort park. Fran joined me and we met Bev at the show. Incredible works to look at, several demonstrations with written instruction copies. and I left inspired. Whether that inspiration still remains by the time we get home remains to be seen. The three of us went for lunch, then we drove Bev home and returned to our own park. The sun kept popping out from behind the clouds, so I pulled out one of the new loungers and stretched out for a good read. Needless to say, after a hearty lunch and several minutes of sunshine, I was nodding off. Eventually the clouds increased again and it was getting to be too much cold, so I moved inside.
Sunday, Feb 17th we headed back to Woo Chi again, this time for a late lunch with Lance and Ursula. OH DEAR!! We all walked out feeling stuffed to the gills, and dinner was definitely out of the day's plans.
Another week gone, and 6 weeks until we start making our way home. Looks like we'll have to wait until March to get the weather we're used to, but at least there's no snow and even when it's overcast, it's warm enough for just a sweater or light jacket.
Until next time, dear readers.