We have just settled right in here. The temperature was about 90F when we arrived but is now in the 70sF. It is quite comfortable although a little chilly in the morning sometimes when I walk. It actually did rain one day. Not very much though.
We have been doing pretty urban things like shopping. We went to a 2 mile long shopping area in Gilbert just south of Mesa. The liquor store there has 8000 labels. There were more types of beer and wine than I have ever seen in one place. You could easily spend the day in the area because there are lots of restaurants as well as boutique type stores and big box stores.
We noticed some houses being built in Gilbert so that was a positive sight. We had remarked last year that there seemed to be no residential development at least as far as we could see. Maybe the economy is finally picking up.
We have been to the big flea market a couple of times. The booths are pretty well full now. It takes most of a morning or afternoon to look at all the displays. You can buy home decor things like wall art, rugs or pots, clothes, as well as games, food products, exercise equipment....I could go on and on. You have to see it!
I have been attending a quilting class with Dee (Donna B's sister). There are about 10 in the class. It is free with our $25 guild membership that gives us access to the guild's equipment as well as any classes that members decide to put on. Donna, Dee and I have hit the quilting store and the craft store (JoAnn's) that sells quilting material and notions. JoAnn's has great sales. For the quilters in the crowd, the package of Steam-a Seam (for appliques) was $13.99 at home. It is regularly $3.99 at JoAnn's and I bought it for 60% off this week. Not everything is that much cheaper but good quilting fabric is about half the price of similar fabric in Saskatoon.
In addition to my quilting activities, I have begun a Spanish class. Free for resort residents. The teacher keeps it fun and light so it is a good learning atmosphere. Besides, learning a new language is good for your brain.
Dalton has played pool with the guys at a nearby resort where Norm and Ramses live. They have quite a group playing now. Six. Pretty soon they will have to form a league! They miss Ron and Gary who are in Texas but who play with them in Saskatoon. We hear that Ron and Gary are keeping their skills up in Brownsville.
The Sunseekers (our Good Sam RV club) will find it amusing that as we SKYPEd with Ron and Arlie, Gary and Carol arrived at their place and then Don B. arrived at our place. We laughed that pretty soon we would have quorum.
Yesterday Dalton, Norm and Ramses went to an air show of RC (radio controlled) planes. Some had little jet engines (burned something like household kersosene) and others were electric. The ones Dalton and David used to fly were a liquid fuel. They had a good morning looking at the planes since all three of them used to fly RC planes so it was interesting to see the changes and advances in the hobby/sport.
It is amazing to think that some of our Canadian friends are going back home for Christmas in less than 2 weeks. How time flies! We aren't leaving until about Dec. 12th. We hope the weather will cooperate as we drive home. We hope to see a lot of you while we are home.
