Our Final Days In Arizona

We are on the road, headed home but before I post any travel photos, I want to post a bit about the last twelve days we were in AZ.

Monday, April 8th

This is what the Goldfield Mountains behind our house looked like from our kitchen door during the dust storm. We are not often here during the times of year when they experience these. The temps were nice so the breeze felt great and, being newbies, we left our doors open all day. You should have seen the dust...luckily, we have so little furniture!

That evening I was invited to sub at the neighborhood Bunco group and shortly after we started, the rains began and didn't stop until the next morning.

Tuesday, April 9th

Here is a shot from about the same place as the one I took during the dust storm. Being able to clearly see the mountains again was so very nice!

Wednesday, April 10th

Driving around we saw this gorgeous Prickly Pear cactus in front of a house near us. Ours were not in bloom yet and I didn't often see this color anyway.

Come closer, but watch out for those needles!...gorgeous, huh?

While we were out, I also got this fabulous shot of the Goldfield Mountains. Our house is at the base and to the right. 

Thursday, April 11th

Can you see the bottom of our pool? That's dirt from Monday's dust storm!

The kids' and my pool noodles. No reason, I just think it's a cool shot.

We were so thrilled to get to go to Shelby's swim lesson this evening. The girl swims like a fish and loves the water...I wonder where she gets her love of the pool???

Friday, April 12th

My mom suffered a massive heart attack on this morning so I was at the phone waiting for news, helping make decisions and calling family. She is one tough cookie and was stable enough to be released from the hospital and return to the nursing home on Thursday afternoon. That is why we are heading home a couple of weeks earlier than planned.

Sunday, April 14th

We met Sandee, Shawn, and our grands at Red, White, & Brew for an early dinner on Saturday and the kids came on home with us. They brought a couple movies and we just chilled, spending this last weekend being together. On Sunday morning, I baked a favorite family treat...Monkey Bread. Guess whose fingers were the first to pull off a piece?

Yep, it was Jackson...he LOVES Monkey Bread!

Following that nutritious breakfast...teehee...we all went to the Swap Meet. We took them there a few times last winter but this is yet another thing that we were not able to do because of my injury. And then we got so busy with the house and all. Just look at those shoppers!

When we got back to the house, Shelby and I had time for one last quick swim before their mom came to visit and take them home.

Monday, April 15th

He will most likely never enter this pool because it's just not his thing but he has spent a considerable amount of time trimming a cover to fit before we leave it for the summer. For me...he does these things for me...what a lucky girl I am!

For my part, I was nearly useless on Monday because my ankle hurt so bad from walking around the Swap Meet on Sunday. I wish I was making faster progress but it is slow going.

Tuesday, April 16th

The last session of physical therapy was somewhat emotional for me because of my frustration with the slow rate of healing. Rich made me two simple pieces of equipment that will enable me to continue the exercises wherever we are. He is amazing. Maybe I'll post pictures of them someday.

Saturday evening when we brought the kids home with us, three coyotes took their time crossing in front of us after we turned onto our street. The kids were all so excited to get to see them and thought they were so beautiful. Tuesday evening Rich and I saw four, in about the same place. This time I had my camera handy!

Wednesday, April 17th

Years ago when I walked into Dunkin' Donuts early in the morning, they would just hand me my cup of coffee with the perfect amount of cream and sugar without me saying a word...but they saw me five mornings a week...forever! After taking care of some business on Wednesday, Rich and I went to Cantina Laredo for our final lunch there until we return. When we walked in the hostess smiled and said, "I remember which table you prefer." and led us to the table that I have always requested since the first time we ate there this year when I was still in the wheelchair. But wait...then the waitress comes to our table and says, "Will you be sharing a Margarita again today? That's frozen, with salt, right?" I didn't think we ate there that often! But here's a sample of why we do.

Thursday, April 18th

I haven't mentioned that after it was clear that Mom had a good chance of making it, we spent every spare minute tying up a multitude of loose ends to close up the house and prepare for our trip home and move everything from the house back into the motorhome. On this, our last evening in AZ, we finally got to see Sandee's library when we picked her up from work. She has the good fortune to work in this beautiful, mdoern facility!

When a library employee places a returned book on this, the RFID code is read checking the book in and sorting it into the appropriate cart for shelving. Mega impressive to me! See Rich back there? Checking out the electronics!

Again this week, we got to be there for Shelby's swim lesson. The girl has one powerful back stroke. 

This was the final lesson in this session so at the end they got to jump off the diving board which she was so excited to do!

Shawn was at a meeting so we didn't get to see him again. Sandee fixed tacos for dinner and Dylan fixed mashed potatoes to go with his tacos. What a combination...no one asked him to share...teehee!

We got to visit with them around the table before leaving. It was a perfect last evening!...except for the goodbyes of course.

We are just entering Amarillo, Texas after a very long day on the road. We stayed in Lordsburg, NM last night so 522 miles worth of tired is what we are tonight. Rarely do we drive that many miles in one day; we do plan to take a break here tomorrow.

Lovin' Life ~~ Here, There, Everywhere