Last entry for 2013!

Hi everyone, I thought I would do a quick entry highlighting what we have been up to for the last 2 weeks as we are leaving for Yellowknife tomorrow morning to spend Christmas with Catherine. We are spending 10 days with her. The days she has to work will be cooking days for me as she wants me to fill her freezer before we leave to head back to Arizona. We are both excited to be going but definitely dreading the cold, cold weather we will be exposed to. I'll post pictures from that trip once we get home just before New Years. Hopefully I'll have some good northern lights pictures!

We went for our last ATV ride prior to us being away for Christmas. We trailer-ed our ATV's to a trail head south east of the town of Florence. It was about an hour's drive from where we live. It was a gorgeous Arizona morning but as it is desert, still a bit chilly when we first headed out.

 The guys are just unloading the ATV's getting everything ready to go

 The parking load was among a bunch of the neatest boulders but it was such a shame that they were all desecrated with tagging. I can't believe people would ruin such a beautiful landscape with spray paint!

 Everywhere you looked there were these piles of boulders that looked like they had been spewed up from the centre of the earth

 Our destination was the Gila River again but we are now on the west side of the river farther up from where we were a few weeks ago. We hoped to be able to cross the river and get up to the Coke Ovens. Here we are arriving at the river and there was a Brahma bull standing there and he wasn't too impressed with us so we had to keep a watchful eye out for him!  The river was way higher than we expected so it dawned us we were not going to be able to cross today. We figured all the snow that had fallen in the high country was now melting.

 The scenery at this spot was just spectacular but as the bull had no intention of leaving and in fact was looking a bit threatening, our farmer friend Craig suggested we better move on before he decided to charge us!

 If you read the blog from our Walnut Canyon ride, you can see how much higher the river is. We decided we would ride along the river and go further east to see if the river was lower up ahead and we might be able to cross there.

 We had to go a ways back up into the hills to get around one mountain and then back down to the river's edge. Doug and I were leading for a bit and two very healthy, large javalina's ran right in front of us! Of course I didn't have my camera ready so they were long gone before I could get a picture. It was the first time we had seen wild ones in the desert so was exciting for us.

 We are just about around the mountain you see on your left and then we will head back down to the river

 The scenery was so neat - to our right the hills were smooth rock like either the wind or glaciers at one time had worn them smooth and on our right they were jutting mounds of sandstone that went straight up!

 We are heading down to the river here and can see the railroad bridge where it crosses the Gila River in the distance

 We had to go through a rancher's gate and there was an old stone building that was slowly crumbling, it is amazing how they build their homesteads out of the sandstone rock from the area

 We are now under the railroad bridge by the water's edge but again it is too deep and fast running to consider crossing

 We went up river a bit farther trying to find a spot to stop for lunch. It was so beautiful along the river's edge

 This is where we finally stopped as there was a bit of a sand bar where we could put our chairs and enjoy the sun and scenery as we ate our lunch. The water is still pretty muddy from all the run off from the mountains

 Doug is setting up our chairs on the little grassy spot.

 Talk about a piece of heaven! You couldn't find a nicer spot to spent a bit of time relaxing

 This was looking back at the rail bridge. It made for such a nice picture

 This is just looking in the other direction. You can tell the people who come from northern areas, we are in shirt sleeves and feeling nice and warm, the others are still in their coats even though it is in the high 70's temperature wise!

 Doug is just turning around at the water's edge so we can head back up the trail and for home. We took a different trail home so did a big circle and it made for a very enjoyable ride

 I had to take this picture as the sun shining through the trees with the bridge in the back ground just looked so neat

 Of course, rarely are you on a trail out in the desert when you don't see a wind mill. These wind mills pump water to the surface so the cattle roaming in the desert can get their water

 As the fellows were loading the ATV's back into/onto the trailers, I had to take this picture of a little chipmunk sitting watching us enjoying the heat on the rock

 This is a picture of a crested saguaro, a very rare occurrence. They are really cool looking when they do this. It was a great day, excellent weather and good friends. We do lead the good life!!

Later in the week, we went on the Christmas amateur railroad tour. Local amateur rail roaders open their yards specific days before Christmas for people to come and see their displays. We picked 2 specific displays to go and see and then our group went out for dinner after.

 We are just waiting to get into the first display. From left is our friend Grace and her friends, Holly and Greg from Mesa (all Canadians) and then Doug and our friend Beth

 The first display is absolutely spectacular. The fellow uses over an acre of his backyard for his train display and it is valued at over $100,000.00!

This video gives you an idea of what his display is like

You will hear Doug'd voice as he tells a small child not to touch the trains as they derail when the kids do that. The fellow who owns this display has a very popular Mexican restaurant and he has 5 fellows who work in his restaurant for half a day and then come over to his place and help with the trains

 Just another view of his display.

 He just has it so realistic! Here is a train derailment that hasn't been picked up yet!

 He has miles and miles of track

 Sharon & Bill in the Christmas spirit wearing their Santa hats

 Sharon, Beth and Bill

There were 5 different trains running around the property at one time

 Some of the different buildings that were displayed around the different tracks

 Doug and I, boy I wish he would shave that ugly beard off!!

After we finished at this display, we went over to the Carrden Children's hospital where the Mesa Amateur railroaders had set up a display in the lobby.

 This display was set up especially with kids in mind and was so cute

 They had done such a good job of the scenery and the town set ups. We could stand there for a long time looking at all the buildings and people and still see something we missed the first time

 There was someone with a good sense of humour who set this up. Gave us lots of chuckles

 All the buildings, people and animals were so life like. No detail was missed

This display was also well done

 This was my favorite! The moose eating the snowman's nose! Reminded me of home and the %$#@& deer eating all my flowers and anything they could get at in my vegetable garden!

 Very kife like and also very Arizonian!

 The train going into the tunnel

 It was another fun evening with good friends, good entertainment and good food!

 This was taken December 17th. I am sitting out in the backyard finishing a "Canadian toque" for one of our American friends! it was and still is in the low 80's (about 26 - 28 degrees) and just lovely. You can't beat weather like this in December

 Our friends Kerry and Marg Hamblin came for a visit. They live in Hedley during the spring/summer and have brought their 5th down here and are staying at his brother's in Maricopa City, about an hour from our place, south of us about half way to Tuscon

 Doug and Kerry trying to look cool as they pick some lemons and oranges for Kerry and Marg to take with them

 Doug and I in front of the one orange tree with most of the oranges picked

 Later that evening we had to run over to Wal Mart and the sun was setting as we drove over. It was so beautiful I had to take a picture through the truck window.

On Tuesday we drove up to Fountain Hills to spend the day with friends Kurt and Connie. They are our American friends who come to Brown's Bay every summer in their motorhome. We had never been to their house and I forgot to bring my camera in so we could get some pictures but OMG do they have a beautiful place. It is high up on a hill (the second house, pale cream colour) with solid walls of glass looking down over the city of Fountain Hills and the beautiful fountain that goes off every hour. We had a lovely meal and visit with them and plan to get together in the New Year and go ATVing with them.

We have had a very busy month and are now off to Yellowknife to spend 10 days with Catherine over Christmas. Watch for a blog entry in the New Year with pictures from that experience

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

December at the Dixon's

Well here it is mid December already! Boy does time fly when you're having fun. I have been busy updating my cabinets in my laundry room and kitchen and painting the closet, bedroom and bathroom doors and adding new brushed nickel  push door handles rather than my ugly gold turn handles. Doug and I both have trouble with the turn knobs, we must be getting old! Doug keeps reminding me I said the house was perfect when we bought it! Boy you would think after nearly 41 years, he would have it figured out!

This is what my laundry room cabinets looked like prior to renos. Ugh.... Doug put one new cabinet handle on to try and convince me they looked good with just a new handle, no painting needed! Didn't work

Soon the laundry room looked like a cyclone had gone through it

Luckily the weather was gorgeous so I was able to paint the cabinet doors outside

Now Doug has the fun of putting all the new hinges and cabinet handles on.

This is the result of my painting the cabinets  in the laundry room . The cabinet doors are solid wood and the cabinets themselves are laminate so they were two different colours. Of course Doug doesn't even notice the difference but I hated it! All the hardware was gold which makes me gag! So they were all changed also.

 This is my finished laundry room. I painted the cabinets white and with the new hardware I think they look terrific.

 I was amazed at how bright the laundry room is now with white cabinets. I guess Doug didn't particularly like them as he informed me in no uncertain terms I wasn't to paint the kitchen cabinets white! My response to him was "Do I tell you what to do in your workshop" but he got his way, I caved even though I really wanted to paint the cabinets.

These are some of the kitchen cabinets prior to staining them

 Since my dining room suite is pecan wood, I decided to try staining both the cabinets and doors pecan colour and see how I liked it. Hindsight is wonderful but next time I paint! The physical labour of sanding all the varathane and stain off the cabinet doors and cabinets and then doing 2 coats on everything took nearly 10 days as the stain/varathane takes so long to dry before you can re-coat. Every muscle in my body hurt after the first week. I was surprised since I do aerobics twice a week and water aerobics 6 days a week! The stink in the house from stain and varathane was pretty bad! It is a good thing we are in Arizona and every window and door were open and all the fans running!

 

This is the finished version with new hinges and hardware. Doug ended up putting 82 hinges and 64 handles on between the laundry room, kitchen and dining room. What a difference though. I am a happy camper

 Looking into the kitchen from the dining room. Now I just have to convince him I "need" a glass back splash - stayed tuned and we'll see who wins this one!

 The china cabinet looks so much better now it is the same shade as my dining suite.

Now this is what my closet doors looked like. Kind of an off white colour with gold knob door handles - tacky or what??

The end result - much nicer and certainly easier to open!! Four closet doors down and five more to go. I promised Doug a couple of days off and then I am at it again to get them done.

Last Sunday two couple friends and us went to the Apache Junction Museum for the afternoon. Most of the displays are outside and there were lots of booths with Christmas items for sale. It was a fun afternoon and then of course out to dinner after.

 This was a model train display showing how it used to look like at the base of the Superstition Mountains when there was active mining taking place.

 And of course you can guess who had the camera and took the pictures. He just can't stay away from anything train related.

 Of course he catches myself, Ann and Sharon in one of the shops trying to spend the fellows hard earned money!

 Sharon and I are just coming out of the barn behind us which was full of vendors with their displays. I was pretty good and didn't spend much money much to Doug's relief - "Scrooge!"

 We had a weather system come in for a few days and it created such beautiful skies at sunset.

 This is sitting out in our backyard

 The colours changed and looked so different as the sun set

 This is our local ACE Hardware store. I just love it!! It is an aquarium made to look like a tool chest. The fish swim amongst the drills, rulers, hammers etc. 

 Of course Santa has to have his picture taken in front of it.

Doug and I just hosted the Dixon's third annual Christmas dinner and Apache Junction Christmas Parade night. Of course as you people are having such freezing weather, the same system has pushed south and we are also experiencing 10-15 degree below normal temps so it really did feel like Christmas when we went to the parade! We started out with a big meal at our place then off to the parade.

Doug tried to get a video of us ladies all bundles up with our toques, gloves and blankets. It is hard to believe we are in Arizona! We were warm though. The temps were just in the 40's so felt very cool to us spoiled by the warmth people!! There is myself, the other Sharon, Ann and Grace

 Doug was the one taking pictures because I wouldn't take my hands out from under my blanket so you can guess what he took pictures of

 Of course all the big trucks and decorated ATV's!

 Of course you can't have an Apache Junction Christmas parade with out the septic truck decorated as Rudolph!!

 The floats were beautiful and appreciated by all.

There was a whole slew of Model T' cars in the parade and they were all decorated and lit up. I think they were the best part of the parade.

 This one was our favorite but blurred unfortunately. It was the Grinch and very well done

 My girl friend Grace made me the Christmas runner and brought me the poinsettia. Looks lovely on my dining room table

We all came back to our place after the parade for warm drinks, I see the bottle we used to warm the drinks is hidden and desert - choices of lemon pie, pumpkin pie or apple pie. Not too shabby at the Dixon's! As you can tell, we haven't totally warmed up yet as we are still all wearing our extra sweaters etc. It was a fun night with good friends.

Now Doug and I are off to a Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller show tonight at the Ikeda Theatre in Mesa. That is our Christmas present to each other. I can't wait.....