(ADDED PICs Jan.2017) Family visit in Cincinnati and Pics from Carlsbad, NM . . . . . finally.

   We made it home by Sunday May 4th after stopping in Cincinnati for 2 nights. We had a nice visit with my sister, Laura and some of her family. I'm finally posting pictures, time flies. I found some of my pics, my cell phone crashed & I lost some.

Since we've been home we haven't slowed down. 1st it was cleaning up dead tree limbs and yard work for a few days and unloading the 5th wheel etc etc etc. Then we spent close to a week catching up with family and friends. I had to have major dental work done so that slowed us down a bit. Below is pictures of Carlsbad, NM. I will post more of Texas and Tennessee later.

Bill, living the dream.

Below is pictures of Living Desert Zoo State Park (Carlsbad, New Mexico) where they provide a natural environment for displaced and/or injured wild life.

An injured bear that they brought back to good health.

Prairie Dogs conversing

Last night in Pigeon Forge, TN

   Although we've had some rainy, cloudy weather here, it sure is beautiful country. Today it's supposed to clear up so we hope to go hiking one more time before leaving in the morning. The weather forecast here for the next week is sunny, but it's time for our final journey back home.
   Yesterday we had lunch at the Applewood Barn before our last trip through the Gatlinburg Art District. The lady who owns "Thistle Dew" gave us a free pass to attend a new show in Pigeon Forge last night. It's called "Sable" and the grand opening is this weekend. It was awesome with the beautiful horses, dancers and an artist drawing pictures in the sand on the big screen.
   We have many, many pictures to post yet from Carlsbad Caverns Nat'l Park, Atlanta, TX State Park and Smokey Mountains Nat'l park. I will post them after our return home next week.

(Jan.2017-ADDED Atlanta? State Park in TX) and Pigeon Forge, TN April 28th

We drove 3 days across Texas before arriving at Atlanta? State Park in NE Texas to meet with Lori and Jim, our friends from Michigan. The campground was very nice and quite secluded. A nice change from the busy Mesa, AZ lifestyle. We camped next them and took turns cooking each night. We did a lot of hiking, horse shoes, strolling around the lake with beautiful sunsets across the lake.

We road to the historical town of Jefferson, TX and spent the day.

On our way  to Pigeon Forge we stopped over night at campground in Memphis, TN 50 feet from the Missippi River.

We arrived in Pigeon Forge, TN area around the 15th. So far we're really enjoying it here. Although this evening we're watching the weather on TV as they're broadcasting live coverage of the severe weather which includes tornado warnings and golf ball size hail heading our direction. It appears the tornados and hail will miss us by 10-20 miles. This has never been as big of an issue for us until now while we're sitting in a 5th wheel. I'm using my cell phone to write this as our wifi is not working. God is watching over us and I believe he wants to keep us on earth for a while.We'll keep you posted.

Last day in Mesa, AZ

  We are really going to miss it here, especially all of the wonderful friends we've made. There is so many things we didn't see and do that we had hoped to. We'll do them when we return.
   We really enjoyed seeing Aunt Shirley and Uncle Frank last Thursday, March 27th. They have a gorgeous home here in Mesa and have 2 of the cutest little doggies. They took us out to Mac's Grill for dinner and it was wonderful. I meant to take pictures but it slipped my mind.
   We were able to make one last trip to Boyce-Thompson Arboretum park on Saturday for a final hike and take a few pictures. They had a wonderful band playing outside and hot dogs on the grill.

A Gila Monster

 

We'll miss our silversmith friends for sure. Learning from such talented, dedicated people was quite an experience. I just hope I can remember everything I've learned next year. On Sunday there was a going away party for 2 wonderful monitors, Herb and Don and there spouses. They have spent many winters here and will not be returning after this year.

 

  The Pool party/Luau was the best party we've been to here yet. We had great seats and were surrounded by some of our closest friends we've met here. We'll truly miss them all. The 50's and 60's band was awesome and many of us danced a lot. There there were Polynesian dancers and a Hawaiian fire dancer.

Bill took many pictures - here's a few.

 

 

  We're off to our next adventure in the morning. We'll drive east on 60 threw Globe then south to eventually Hacienda RV Park in Las Cruses, NM for 1 night. Then we'll arrive at KOA, Carlsbad, NM for 2 nights. FRom there we'll venture to Atlanta State Park, TX where we'll camp near our friends from Michigan for a week or so. We'll stop overnight on the way for a rest at an RV park somewhere west of Ft Worth. God only knows where we'll go from there. We're thinking Tennessee or North Carolina for a few weeks before arriving home sometime in May. 

March 11, 2014 update.

   Your comments are welcome as we enjoy hearing about how our family and friends are doing as well. I've finally learned how to change the settings to allow comments. Life's a dance, you learn as you go.

   We've been so busy we loose track of time. Before you know it a weeks gone by, then a month. Now we only have 3 weeks left of beautiful Mesa, AZ . . . . until next time that is. ;) We really enjoy all of the amenities of the resort, sunshine and mainly enjoy all of the wonderful people. Boy do they know how to have fun. February 11th was the annual Mardi Gras Party where they have a parade, 3 bands, food and free beer & wine. I joined the Zumba group in the parade and we were right behind the Silversmiths.

Silversmiths group, some of our favorite people.

Zumba on the patio with friends.

Fun with our special friends.

 

   Many of the cactuses are in bloom out at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. We hope to get out there again a few more times before we leave.

 



 

 

   Our friend, Leslie was out visiting her daughter, Christy. They are both ultimate athletes. They asked us to meet them at Camel Back mountain trailhead. Bill finally got to go "mountain climbing". I opted to only join them a third of the way up and went back to the truck. It's a very rugged, strenuous trail. We enjoyed a great lunch in downtown Scottsdale afterwards.

Top of Camelback Mountain

                               

                                  Leslie and Christy                            

                                

Bill found a friend at the top

 

    The rain over the weekend had cleaned the air so we decided to go for a long hike out to San Tan mountain again on March 3rd.

  

Pictures from San Tan Mountain

 

March 5th we hiked Moon Rock Trail at Usery Mountain.

Pictures from Moon Rock Trail

 

On March 7th Bill joined Lee, a friend from Michigan, to the Good Guys car show in Scottsdale.

 

March 8th we met a group of friends at the Huey Lewis and the News concert at Encanterra Country Club. Great concert and we had a lot of fun. Huey still has a great voice and plays wonderful music. 

 

 

Today we met with friends to see/hear a tribute to Patsy Cline concert at Superstition Skies Pub. No pictures though. I hope we are able to meet with the same group of friends at Filly's Grill in Apache Junction to dance under the stars Sunday evening.