2/4/2015 The QUAIL Is Born

(Arizona City, AZ)

Last night when I got home from the Piano Men I wanted to post something to Quail Run’s Facebook page of which I have been the main contributor for several months now.  I wasn’t able to post anything and it took me a few minutes to figure out that I was removed from the page as an editor.

This came as a complete surprise because I posted nearly all the content, on a daily basis no less, and all the pictures.  I had posted a link here some time back so that you could check it out.  I wasn’t given any warning that I was going to be taken off the editors list nor was I given a reason.

Baffled, completely baffled I was am.

Well, I’m not one to play games so I started a new page.  I named it The QUAIL and I will keep Quail Run residents up to date on things, post my many pictures that I take and generally keep things going.  I was told time and again by the residents that they enjoyed my pictures, depended on the FB page to keep up to date on what was happening when and that they enjoyed my writing.

As I learn the what for and why, I’ll let you know.  I don’t like to be blindsided in any way.

2/3/15 Piano Men

(Arizona City, AZ)

Twenty six Quail Run residents went to the Signal Peak Campus of the Central Arizona College to see a show this evening.

We traveled back in time this evening.  Traveled back to the days of paisley print polyester shirts, hip hugger bell bottoms and platform shoes!  Back to a time when your choice of car may have been a  Ford Pinto (that’s what I had) a Pontiac LeMans or maybe a VW Bug.

Back to the days when All in Family, Green Acres and The Mary Tyler Moore Show were on TV for the first time and not in reruns.

We were transported back to the day when we were all glued to the television when Neil Armstrong took that “giant step for mankind”.  Back to the day that Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States.  Back to the late 60’s and the decade called the 70’s.

Whether the audience members were just a fan of the cool 70’s or actually lived their youth through those years, we all went on a heartwarming stroll back in time tonight.

While waiting for the show to start trivia questions flashed on the screens on either side of the stage.  Oh the memories!

Piano Men.  This title can belong to no others other than Elton John and Billy Joel.  Jim Wittier played their songs all night long.  We sang along, we swayed to the music sitting our seats, and stood and danced.  Oh the memories.



Jim Wittier and his band are so good at what they do that they made us all feel like we were surrounded by long lost friends.  Actually, Jodee and I had conversations with several around us and felt like we made new friends by the time we left.  When a song was played we all looked at each other as if to say,,,,remember this one?!?






At one point volunteers were asked to come up on stage.  I considered it and started to get up but by the time I did others had already made it to the stage.  Sitting on the other side of the room, my friend, Bonnie did make it to the stage.  She’s the redhead on the left.



What a great night this was!  I’ve always been a fan of Elton John and Billy Joel and have seen both in concert.  Of course this was when I paid $22.00 for a concert ticket to see Elton John in Philly.  Those days or long gone my memories will be with me forever.

1/31/2015 Second Craft Fair of the Season

(Arizona City, AZ)

I love going to the Craft Fair here in the park but I always leave at the end wishing I was one of those who does crafts.  Any craft.  I used to do ceramics back in the day and I did enjoy that and I was pretty good at it but I don’t have room for that stuff anymore.

I also play it smart and don’t take money with me to the Craft Fair.  I want one of everything I see and again, I don’t have room for it.

Here are some of things I saw today.


Now this I would really like to have!


This is our friend Jodee, she and her husband Steve made all of these.


Look at the detail in this!


There were also the Craft staples of crocheted pot holders and pretty wreaths made of all kinds of things.

Next year I’ll take money and allow myself on indulgence.

We’ve been having a lot of rain these past few days.


 
The pool is almost full.


Our mini golf course is under water. 






 
Enough with the rain already!

1/28/15 Fashion Show & Sale

(Arizona City, AZ)

Today, we had a fashion show and a huge trunk sale.

Racks and racks of clothes were brought in and set up in every available space.




After a luncheon, models, all of whom were Quail Run residents, strutted their stuff in outfits they picked out to wear.  Here are some of them.

Bev G. looked lovely in this black and white outfit.

 

Fran L. rocked this pretty pant set.

 

 

When Adreanna walked across the stage in this  outfit her husband, who was in the audience, yelled out SOLD!  Yep, she got this outfit.

 

All of our models.


Lots of people were shopping the racks and some did buy a few things but I kept hearing, “Wow, pricey aren’t they?”  I thought they were on the high side and I didn’t purchase anything.

All in all it was a nice way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.

1/27/2015 Goodbyes Are So Sad

(Arizona City, AZ)

One of the first people I met in this park was Lin Stover.  It was in line dancing class 7 years ago.  I can’t say we were great friends, but friends all the same.

Lin met and married Dan here in the park.  We were invited to their wedding in Idaho that summer but we were in Delaware and just couldn’t make it.  When we all returned to Quail Run there was a big party and I took the pictures all evening for them.

The following summer we went to Alaska and we stayed at Lin and Dan’s place for a week.  They stayed in their motorhome and had extra hookups for our 5th wheel.  We had a blast with them that week.

Over the last several years we talked with them often here in the park.

Well, today they left Quail Run for good.  Everyone hated to see them go.

These two will be missed by many in the park.

They will come back to Arizona from Idaho but not to this area.  The nearby cotton fields cause health issues for Lin so they’ll settle in a different area for the winter months.  Hopefully, we will see them here again for a visit or we’ll be in their area.

So today they left…..









So long Lin & Dan,,,,safe travels our friends.

1/25/2015 What Did You Do With Your Monday?

(Arizona City)

What did you today?  Did you go to work?  Did you do laundry?  Were you on the road in your Rv traveling to a new place?

Well, I didn’t do any of those things either.  What I did do was hop on my golf cart and I took a ride around the park to see what everyone was doing with their day.

I found Frank on his porch smoking his pipe, lost in his book.



Kim was dog walking.

Robert was seeing what was wrong with his fellow workampers golf cart.



This group of men was playing cribbage.



It was a day for a bike ride.



And last but not least, but which rendered the most pictures, it was a good day to take a craft class.



Pastor Carol and her completed card.

So this is what went on all around me today on this Monday.

1/24/2015 Ladies Luncheon

(Casa Grande, AZ)

Today nearly  50 of us met at noon at the Olive Garden in Casa Grande for a ladies luncheon.

 
The ladies in the park enjoy these lunches where we all meet at the restaurant and no one has to cook anything or do any dishes afterwards.


Of course spending time with our friends trumps the no cooking and no dishes thing.


….and some of us even get silly.
 


We’ll be back next month Olive Garden.