We were out for dinner with friends last night and had a few groceries we had to get after dinner. Doug filled the truck with gas for under $32! Gas is down to 58 cents L and we get gas points where we buy gas so Doug actually paid 39 cents a L last night! Makes you just want to go for a ride!
Our park has an annual Christmas Caroling night so Catherine and I were dressing in red getting ready to head out
Our neighbour Rena was working so she let us use her golf cart as we've sold ours. We are just heading out to the club house
A fellow in the park has an old International tractor (he has restored it to pristine condition) and a hay wagon he keeps down here. Starting last year, it gets decorated and everyone who wants to go carolling, piles into the hay wagon and around the park we go. Fun!
Catherine and her selfies! Beth and I and Catherine were cuddling in together for the warmth. It is surprising how quickly it cools down in the desert when the sun goes down
Technology! Catherine was using the light on her cell phone to light up our carol sheets so we could read the words to verses we didn't have memorized. I never even thought to bring a flashlight! Usually Doug remembers things like that. We didn't let Doug come this year as he is just recovering from the flu and it was a cool night. It was back to the club house after for hot cider and Christmas treats. A fun evening
A couple nights later we took Catherine to downtown Mesa to the Mormon Tabernacle where they do a fabulous job of Christmas lights and decorations on their property. It is a free event so always fun to walk through. We were lucky this year that we arrived right when the evening entertainment was starting so got to enjoy a quartet of men singing Christmas Carols. Very nice! After our time there we went out for dinner before heading home.
The camels and three wise men greet you as you enter the property
There were lights everywhere! I think they have added to their display since we came two years ago when Christopher, Laila and the kids were visiting for Christmas. It really is awe inspiring.
Every possible tree, bush and fence is decorated
I think I counted five different nativity scenes spread out over the one city block property
Catherine trying to do a selfie with her father
Another nativity scene
I had to wear my beaver skin headband as often as possible while Catherine is here so she knows I get some use of it here in Arizona as she gave it to me for a Christmas gift a few years ago.
The centre pond with lights reflecting in it
This gives you an idea of how many lights there are and this is only one small area!
All the gardens are decorated and some even have lights that look like flowers (hyacinths)
More flower bouquet lights
This star was over one of the managers and they way that it installed made it look like it was really up in the sky!
I think this was the nicest manger
Cool picture eh? really well done
Another manager scene, all of them beautiful
This was on our way out. It was a very enjoyable evening and a wonderful job done by the Mormon community!
My friend Sue gave me a knitting pattern for a sweater that you can make using up all your odds and ends of yarn. I knitted this one for Hannah and am now working on one for Luke. Gorgeous little sweaters that will make great play sweaters
We decided to make a road trip over to Lake Havasu to show Catherine the London Bridge. We went over one day, stayed overnight, toured around then next day and came home that evening
Catherine and Doug outside the entrance to the walkway under the London Bridge - Doug isn't looking too cheerful!
It was a bit of a dull day, warm though but still enjoyable. London Bridge with a few holiday wreaths lit up
Catherine enjoying the walkway
Catherine certainly more cheerful looking than her Mother!
I don't think Santa is bringing Catherine anything this year!
We could see the whole walkway was decorated with lights so thought we would come back after we had dinner in the evening so we could enjoy the lights
We decided to do a before and after picture - this is after it got dark!
The bridge was very pretty with all the lights
Looking across the channel to the restaurant on the other side with the Santa sleigh and reindeer
The colour reflections on the water were so pretty
All the stores and restaurants under the east side of the bridge were all decorated and looked great
I took a video of the lights in action but as usual it is too big for my blog so I will have to post separately on Facebook. They were really well done
A couple of sail boats and pontoon boats were decorated at the marina. They had probably been decorated for the holiday boat parade that had happened earlier in the month
It was such a pretty walk along the channel with all the light decorations
This was a series of pontoon boats moored together with the Santa sleigh and reindeer attached to them
London Bridge from a distance
Nice reflection on the water from this angle
When we got up in the morning, the sun was out again with beautiful blue skies so we thought we would go for a walk under the bridge again and get pictures with a blue sky.
So pretty with the gorgeous magenta blue Arizona skies!
There are very large koi swimming in the waters of the channel that leads out to Lake Havesu. Entertaining to watch them
Of course all the ducks that think you are going to feed them if come over to the edge of the water. They are big and healthy looking so must get well fed!
We left Lake Havasu city about lunch time stopping to visit all the State parks along the way to see if we might want to come over here for a bit after we sell the house. The State Parks were gorgeous so definitely a destination point for us once we are Rving again
This is near the end of Lake Havasu on our way to Parker
It is such a beautiful area
I have always wanted to stop and take a picture here with this sign. We had just left the town of Hope AZ. I think someone needs a grammar lesson though as I would assume it should read: "You're" not "YOUR" Oh well I think Catherine is insinuating I am beyond hope!!
We took the route through to Wickenburg on the way home to show Catherine some different scenery and decided to drive into Alamo Lake State Park to see if the lake had more water in it this year.
This is the dam at the end of the lake and it is way down from last year when we camped here in April. It was at the white line of the dam last year but I guess it is higher in the spring due to snow run off from the mountains
It was gorgeous and warm here although the wind was certainly blowing
I am guessing Catherine had the camera here! I didn't even know she had taken the picture. We are looking out over the lake
The lake was really low. Two of the three boat launches were closed as the water was no where near the end of the boat ramp and the only one open would have been a bit of a rough launch as the water was a good 6 - 10 feet below the end of the cement launch
I love the mountains in the background. We had a lovely trip and sure didn't cost us much for gas! We are now taking a few days off to enjoy Christmas and then we are off to the Mannheim Steamroller concert Boxing Day and then the Zoo Lights on the weekend. That's about as far ahead as we are looking so far! We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas no matter where you are!
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