March in the Desert 2018

March is in full swing out here in the desert.
The amount of rain we have had since we got here in October could be put into a thimble and you would barely see it.
It is dry!!!!
But of course we are in the desert!

We have met some really nice people that are renting a lot across from us.
They are from our neck of the woods sort of!
They are from Missouri....close enough.
Heike and Pat are a wonderful addition to this group of hooligans!
In fact he calls our little row "The Outlaws"...LOL














We found out that Pat has been in charge of a lot of the mines out here in Arizona several years back, and he is the man with the knowledge to tell us all about them.
In fact, we take a little Jeep ride down Florence Kelvin Highway and make our way to Globe, AZ and we have lunch at one of their favorite spots, "Irene's Real Mexican Restaurant".
The food was great, and of course the company of our great friends was even better.
A trip to Globe always has to be followed by a visit to The Pickle Barrel, so we girls can get out shopping fix for the day!
Great day with Jerry, Konni, Ida, Steve, Heike and Pat.

Taco Tuesday has really become a "thing" to do on Tuesdays.
Our local LB's Cantina is just about the best place around.
We are so lucky to have such a great turn out of people.
Guess margaritas and tacos for two is just too good  to resist.












The corn hole games have been mainly just the usual group, until a few streets over wanted to have a get together and play a big ole game with our group.
March 7th, the vacant lot of Al's was turned into the Corn Hole Competition lot!
We all drew numbers which designated our partners and we played a round.


Jerry brought his "official" score board with him to keep score.
We really had a good turn out.









We knew that Pat and Heike would be leaving tomorrow, so we planned an evening at the local "Riverbottom Bar & Grill.
The live music even got a few up on the dance floor.
Another fun filled evening.
































March 11th, our weather station showed we got some rain....LOL
I say that only because it registered .02"
Like I said earlier, not even enough to get the rigs dirty!












March 12th
Sitting on the patio this evening, we had a visitor to the area.
A coyote was standing out there just looking back at us.
Funny thing, Bronco didn't even know he was there.














Ida wants to make another trip to the quarry to get some rocks, so we head out on March 14th and do just that.
We got out fairly early as the sun is really beginning to heat up rather quickly during the day.
This is not a bad thing, as the evening still are dropping into the high 50's.
It is just about perfect!






March 17th we go to the activity center to partake in a bit of the Irish festivities.
We really didn't stay that long, but at least I got pics of a few of us wearing the green hats that were supplied on the tables.

March 19th, we decide to take a drive to Tubac, AZ.
Ida, Steve and Benji tag along in their Jeep.

















We had a nice lunch and checked out all the Mexican pottery at Tubac.
It was a fun get away.















March 20th another Taco Tuesday has rolled around and we had a good group to share tacos with this evening.















March 21st.....Chuck's Birthday  :)
We had a little get together this evening to celebrate the boy getting a year older.













I had bought him his very own Corn Hole game.
The shop in Florence sells them.
They are kind of unique I think as the prisoners over in the prisons build them.
They paint them as well in all different themes.
I think the group that came for the party had a good time playing.














Heck we played until way after dark.....made for an interesting game for sure.


















March 24th.
One of our newly planted cacti has decided to show off a bit and bloom.
It is an "Organ Pipe Cacti".
The bloom only last a day, but I sure did enjoy seeing it.
There are more to come as there are buds popping out all over it.















March 25-26-27
Ida decided to order blinds for her trailer from me.
They are due in any time and she has also decided to recover her cornices in the trailer.
We have set up an upholstery shop in her shed.
This was quite an undertaking, and with the help of Steve (he took off the old fabric) Ida and I were able to get the cornices done before the blinds show up.





The blinds are here and the fun begins.
Chuck and Steve have their work cut out for them installing the new blinds and cornices.
I am happy to report that they are all in and I think the finished product look wonderful.
I think Ida was very pleased with the outcome.









If you didn't know it, the guys have been playing Disc Golf.
They even come up with a name for their group...."The Cholla Chunkers"....since they are always flying the disc into the dreaded Cholla!
I contacted our son with Pro Line Designs and had some shirts made for the guys.
They showed up just in time for the guys to debut them on one of their recent games.
Pretty spiffy if I say so myself.






Our last Taco Tuesday for us was quite a big get together.
Our friends Lesa and Larry joined us as well.





It was a nice evening seeing them before we start packing up to head back to Oklahoma.















Hopefully we will see them next season.






















March 30th.
It has come to our attention that our rig is in violation of a rule in the park.
This rule has not ever been discussed until someone decided they needed to stick their nose in other peoples business.
You see we have a toy hauler....and the back opens to make a patio.
We have designed our beautiful lot to accommodate our rig as it sits.
The powers that be have decided that our "patio" area is sticking over into the "common area" by 27" and we have to move it forward or close it.
Funny how this hasn't been an issue until this year.
It isn't a permanent structure and can be raised at any time.
When we purchased our lot we discussed with the developer this exact thing.
He assured us since it wasn't a permanent structure, there would be no problem.
Well, guess what!


I will not bore you with the details of this little ongoing argument, but it looks like we would have to move the rig forward and by doing this, all our patio pavers won't line up with our rig and our outdoor TV will no longer be able to be viewed from sitting on the patio.  Instead, one would be back in the unlevel driveway gravel.
This is just not how it was designed to be used.
It is at this point in the game just that....The point.
We have done nothing wrong.  It is actually a new rule that the newly elected board of directors have chosen to accept.
All our plans for our lot were given to the appropriate people and signed off on 2-3 years ago.
Now because someone has decided to worry about our 27" of air that we are intruding on the common ground instead of worrying about some of the real issues in our park we have decided that we will not be coming back to Desert Gardens for the next season.
In fact, we will be selling our lot.
It is not fair to have floating rules that are made and taken away in a whim.
I guess this is part of being in a Co-op, and not being one of the "big wigs" that make the rules.
I am totally sick over this whole mess.
We aren't the only ones they have picked on, but we are the ones that will not tolerate it and will do something about it.
You can't fight city hall and you know life is just too short to sweat the small stuff.
March has really ended up to be a very sad month for us.
Chuck and I have some things we have to decide on and let this part of our life go.
More to come on this in April.








March 31st.
We attended the "Pre Country Thunder" that is held on the main street of Florence, AZ.


















This is a warm up to the Country Thunder that will be happening the first week in April.
I guess it is quite a big thing here in Arizona.









It was fun to get out and enjoy some local music with some of our friends from the park.
Pretty much our last hooray for the season.









April begins tomorrow and we start packing away everything and prepare to go head back to Oklahoma.
Bittersweet right now, but we do what we have to do!!!