The Living Room

The living room was being used as Denny's bedroom the first 3 weeks we were here so not much was done to it. After he left and we collapsed the bed we went and picked out paint. Decided on Mesa Tumbleweed (how appropriate) which is like a sandy khaki. The woodwork was painted a crisp, clean white. We did not paint the ceiling. It needs it but there is no way we were going to tackle that darn popcorn stuff. It is miserably hard. We would like to eventually have them knocked down. It is going to have to be OK for now.
Then the furniture (what little we have) was arranged. It looks somewhat stark and empty because it is lacking pictures and some knick knacks but to be truthful I do not mind that. I like the clean, empty look. It really does need curtains and I am not sure what I want. Also, need some end tables and a coffee table and more lamps. And--I am rethinking the pillows on the sofa and the pictures hanging above it. Oh!! All these decisions can drive me crazy. But now I have a place where I can go and watch my own TV or not watch TV and have it quiet.
I do need to mention that tackling the living room did not come without its trials and tribulations. Picking out the paint color was an ordeal. Our difference in taste and trying to communicate what each of us wants to one another is really a trip. I do like the couch and chair. Those are slip covered and they are very easy to remove and wash. Also can replace with different ones when the mood strikes. Love that!! I am really liking the crisp, heavy, white, denim ones that are on there now. All in all it has been fun. Now I need to start thinking about the kitchen. But frankly, I am happy with the condo. Sure--it still needs a lot but I refuse to let that get in the way of my happiness. I want to do the activities and events around here and not spend all my time painting, cleaning, and fixing up. We do have a guy coming to put in new ceramic tile in front of the door. So far we both agree buying this condo has been a good thing. Especially hearing about the winter back in MN. We love to have company so the invitation is open to come visit.
The back of the condo. It doesn't look very private because of where I am standing to take the picture but it really is. Pudge is sitting on our patio and there is a brick wall separating from the neighbors. He loves sitting out there and watching the golfers.

The front of the condo. Lots of consistency and not much diversion. It is palm tree, orange tree, and so on. I have passed our condo a few times because they all look alike. It does make things look nice and neat.

The credenza bought at the store known as "The Dump."

Couch and chair was bought on Craig's list. Tree I got at the Mesa swap meet. Ottoman being used as coffee table-Ikea. On the other wall that you cannot see there is a sofa table with TV on it. I got that at a thrift shop.

Pudge painting the LR.

Bits & Pieces

Just some recaps and thoughts.

• There is not much I do not like about being here in Arizona.
• I like the condo. I want to do lots of things to it--like painting, decorating, fixing and changing some things.
• Mom is here. She came Monday, Jan. 18th and will be here till March 1st.
• Mom bought herself a glider rocker which she loves.
• Denny is still here. He has been here for 2 weeks. He plans on leaving next Wednesday. He is fun to have and really knows how to make himself at home. He has been going to all these car shows around here and is loving it. He comes back here with all kinds of stories and he is sure excited about everything he has done and seen.
• Painted the guest room and the guest bathroom. They are a very pale green. Didn't have much time to really think about the color. Just had to hurry and pick. Bought new twin beds for the bedroom. They do not have a head board but I like that. Bought bright green and white bedspreads and shams, crisp white eyelet trimmed sheets and a warm, fluffy blanket for each bed. Bathroom has bright yellow rugs, thick white towels, & some cheery flowers. At Kohl's I bought a kit where you rub a saying on the wall. Denny helped me with this. I put it above the towel rack and the saying says, "Laughter sparkles like sunshine over water." It is different and I like it.
• I have been really having fun shopping on Craigs List, estate sales, garage sales and thrift shops. The thrift shops around here are somewhat disappointing. They are kind of junky. Not nearly as good as the ones back home. But I still have made some hits--like a vacuum cleaner that works like a charm, this wonderful bathrobe that I wear every single night and love it, some glasses that were needed, some golf pictures, a nice dresser for the guest room.
• Mary Beth is supposed to be coming tomorrow for a few days.
• Terrible storm day before yesterday. Wind was terrible and it rained hard.
• Gloria and Jim are well and good. They have been busy sprucing up their condo although they did not have to buy so much. Everything was left there. We went shopping today. I value her advice.
• Pudge walks over almost every morning to see our friends John & Shannon. They have lived here in Arizona year round for about the last 10 years. They have a home across the fairway from us.
• Love my tap dancing group. They are so much fun but I sure am rusty--need lots of practice. I am impressed with how professional and hard working this group is.
• Today was SVE (Sunland Village East) the name of our 55+ community had its 25th birthday party.

• Guest room completed--well maybe not completed but kind of done. Small white chest was bought at a thrift store. The 2 pictures are from Ikea.
  

This is the guest room before. This bedroom set is now in our master bedroom. The ugly quilt is being used for a drop cloth when I paint.

Our back yard. Pudge is on the patio waiting to cross to go visit John & Shannon and their 2 dogs (which he loves) Beau & Max.

Mom in her new glider rocker. She loves it. This is in the family room or what we call "Pudge's room." Pudge is lounging on his recliner. The couch, little tables, bookcase (not seen) and large screen TV (not seen) are all housed in this room. Also, the dining room is at one end of this room. The decor is "golf" being as we look on the golf course out the sliding glass doors.

Guest bathroom-bright yellow rugs cannot be seen. Note the saying reflected in mirror above towels.

Life is Good

Pudge & the boys playing one of their very many games of cribbidge

Denny & margarita in the Arizona room. No furniture yet. Had to haul out 2 dining room chairs. This looks out onto the fairway of the 7th hold on golf course. There are a lot of golfers that go by during the day making it fun to sit out there and watch.

Denny in the boys bathroom at Tortilla Flats which is a touristy town about 20 miles into the mountains.

Eating at the outdoor patio in Tortilla Flats. There was entertainment and the day was gorgeous. The drive there is breath taking.

Owen & Timmy at Tortilla Flats.

The Trip & The Condo

G Guest Bedroom - this furniture got moved to MBR.

MBR - ugly curtains

Going into the den or

Left Willernie, MN December 27th at 4 am. We said good bye to the cold, snow and ice. Shut and locked the door to the house after prepping it for our absence. This is going to be a new experience for us.

Drive through Iowa was horrible. Snow blowing and icy highways. I held my breath more than a few times.

At our stops for breakfast and motel stays it would be filled with retired couples heading to Arizona. On the highway we noticed many MN and Iowa license plates with older couples and their car would be packed like ours. This would be a dead giveaway that they were heading south for the cold months. I felt like it was some kind of a major exodus of old people heading out to warmth and fun. Sort of like the Joads in Grapes of Wrath looking for the "good life."

Got to 2311 South Farnsworth, Unit 72 in Sunland Village East in Mesa, Arizona at about 11 am on Dec. 29th. We were excited to see our new home being as we did the purchasing long distance and we had only been in it for about 10 minutes 2 times last winter. I did so want Pudge to carry me over the thresh hold but there were neighbors out and about and the ones that weren't out I got the feeling were watching from their windows. Also, I did not want to take the chance of any injuries should he trip or wreck his back picking me up.

Now I had looked at & studied the pictures of the condo so often that the realtor sent that I had a good idea of what were in the rooms and how they were. The key is turned and we walked in LR. Yep, there were the very ugly pink curtains that I knew I could not live with. Into the kitchen-quickly opened a few cabinet doors and my mind is racing--I can put this here and that there. Onto the FR toward the back of the condo. Not any surprises there. Just like I thought. Then the screened in porch. Smaller than what we remembered and dirty. MBR-big and mental note made-those ugly curtains will be going. Glad the walk in closet had bigger shelves in it. Guest room had furniture in it but we had plans to move that furniture in MBR. Lots of thoughts as we walked through. Some of them made out loud to each other and others kept to ourselves.

First Leg of Journey

Out of house at 4:10 am after gingerly walking the icy sidewalk and driveway to load the last things in car. On the road about 3 minutes when I asked "did you turn down heat." Answer "Nope." Back to house to do that. There is a lot to think about when leaving for as long as we are.

Uneventful until we got into Iowa. Terrible, icy roads. They sure do not clear as well as MN does. The left lane was so scary. The exits were not plowed. We wanted to stop at a rest area but did not want to take the chance of not getting through. By the time we did stop we both had to make a dash for the restroom. Sun started to come up about 7 am and that made it somewhat easier but still difficult. Sun started to melt some of the ice.

Missouri was much better and Kansas was clear sailing. We are in an EconoLodge in Pratt, Kansas. Stopped about 5:30. Pudge is exhausted as he did all the driving with very little sleep last night. He has had a bad cough that kept him awake. I got caught up on my magazine reading and started a book. It was very pleasant for me.

Have tomorrow planned out. We will see how it goes.

The Beginning of Something New

Wow!! It has been nothing but a whirlwind of activity these past few days and even the last week. Trying to get ready for 2 big events just about did me n.

Christmas. Now I know everybody gets busy with the preparations. I told myself that I was not going to be putting up all of my decorations this year. Well, I didn't but I still put up a lot. Everyday 2 weeks prior I kept digging in my boxes and discover something that I felt needed to be out. So I had to find a home for a lot more things than planned. To make a long story short Christmas day all of my family come to my house for present opening and brunch. Then it is up to Mom's for more family members and present opening and dinner and of course, plum pudding. Then clean up the mess up there. Get home about 8 pm and clean up brunch dishes and put them all back. Also Christmas night we took down the tree and all the other decorations. Fell into bed about 1 am. Up early to start laundry and packing the van. That took some doing. Had to go through clothes and decide what was going. That was not an easy task. Organized decorations and boxes and they all went back into the attic. Cleaned refrigerator. Packed spices and some staples. More things into the van. This was not easy either because our driveway is icy and full of hard ridges so it made the job more difficult. I thought to myself "why would I want to leave this"---NOT

Well after everything is all said and done--the van is very full. I have my magazines and books ready to go. We will be leaving early --4 am. We are both excited to start this new venture in our lives. It will be different.

So I bid you all farewell. I am saying good bye to the ice, cold, snow, shoveling, slop, slush, heavy bulky clothes and boots.

Hope to keep you all posted about this experience via blogging. Stay tuned.

Visit With Relly's

Monday, Nov. 16th, 2009--We picked up Barb & Butch (Pudge's sister and brother in law) at 7 am. Plan was to go to Northwood, North Dakota to visit their 94 year old aunt who was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. She was moved into assistant living the first of the year.

Northwood is about an hour and a half from Fargo. This is where Pudge's mom was born and raised. Barb would spend summers there often with the grandma and of course, the aunts and uncles as well. This is the last surviving aunt.
I loaded myself down with books and magazines for this long, boring ride across the North Dakota plains. The day was beautiful-sun shining and warm. Much visiting was done in the car and the time and miles went fast. In Mayville, ND which is about 20 miles from Northwood we got a motel room. Then off to our destination. First we took a drive around Hatton where we tried to fined Louise's home. I remember visiting this person many years ago. She isn't a relative but her sister married one of Pudge's uncles. Anyway, what I remember about this home was that it was a big Victorian with pocket doors, a sitting parlor that had sun streaming in from big windows and it was filled with beautiful antique furniture, a very old fashioned kitchen where Louise served us a "little lunch." (Remember we are in a region with all Swedes and Norwegians and they really do talk like that.) We were not successful in finding the house. We think it probably got torn down.

Got to Northwood about 1:30. Found the assisted living facility with no problems. It is not a big town. Now before I go further I need to tell my thoughts previous to this whole trip. My memories of Aunt Euny was that she was a small, cute and attractive woman who was always fun and pleasant to visit with. In my mind I had prepared myself to see a frail, sickly, bedridden woman. After all she was 94. I had also prepared myself for a "nursing home" type setting. So after finding the place the four of us ventured in only to find a very pleasant big room with fireplace, comfortable and very nice furniture at one end and a kitchen,m dining room at the other end. It was all windows and the sun was coming in from all sides. Lots of cute fall decorations brightened the place. Nobody was in sight to get any information. Pudge started down the hall and each door had names on them. He found Euny's apartment and motioned for us. We stood at the doorway. Pudge knocked and we heard this strong voice proclaim "come in--doors open." Much to my surprise when we walked in there was this woman looking strong and healthy and very good. She was tiny but not frail. Upon seeing us she clapped her hands and with a huge smile and her eyes twinkling she hugged each of us. You could tell she was thrilled to see us. We sat down in her pleasant little apartment and started to get caught up. Shortly her daughter, Kay called and instructed us to go to the common dining room. We took the short walk and on the DR table there were cheerful cups and dishes, an assortment of bars and 2 pots of coffee awaiting us. More visiting and catching up. I was amazed at Euny. She is slightly hard of hearing and does walk with a walker but those are the only things that give away her age. She was on top of things as long as she could hear. Her hair was thick and she had just gotten a perm and it was lovely.

John Sundquist (Kay's husband, Euny's son in law) came through the door and joined us. He is 100% Swedish and is the 3rd generation to live on his farm. I would have really liked to have visited this farm. It is about 19 miles from Northwood. I have a feeling that many books that I have read about the Swedes immigrating to the Dakotas may have come alive somewhat on this farm. There was not enough time. Kay (Euny's daughter) joined us after her dr. appt. More coffee, bars, and catching up.

The plan for later was to go to a restaurant where Sherry (Euny's other daughter) was going to drive from Fargo to join us. She would not be able to get there until 6:30. Euny was getting feisty much earlier than that because she wanted to leave . We managed to hold her down until about 6 pm at which time we left for the 5 minute drive. We did take a tour of the town which was hit hard by a tornado about 2 years ago.

So good to see Sherry. We appreciated her making the long drive. Everything about the evening was fun.

After we ate we went back said our final farewells with hugs.

Up the next morning. It was dark and gray and cold. I looked out the motel window at the desolate North Dakota plains and it sure looked bleak. We walked to Paula's restaurant for breakfast. It looked like this was the restaurant where the farmers met for breakfast. You could tell they were discussing all the world's problems. There was no mistaken that these were North Dakota farmers. Everything gave them away--from the way they dressed to the way they talked.

On the road again heading toward Grand Rapids. First a stop in Crookston, Minnesota. Pudge's cousin, Lois and her husband own a candy shop there and we deicided to try to find it. Found it with no trouble and really surprised Lois. It was fun. Candy store was really neat. They make all their own candy and this store had been handed down through the generations. Some quick visiting was done. I purchased (well I tried but they would not let me pay) some cute, little chocolate turkeys and they gave us a box of chocolate potato chips.

Before our stop in Crookston we did stop in Bemidji for a purpose. A while ago we were given some barbecue sauce that was wonderful and the only place you could get it is in Bemidji. Went into a grocery store and found it. The break was nice--just to get out and walk around.

Day is beautiful. Sun is shining and conversation in car was great. Talked and laughed about the word "uffda." It really is used a lot by these people. We did see a lot of deer hunters.

Pulled into Lorna's driveway at her farm in Grand Rapids about 1:30. Lorna is Barb and Butch's daughter. We had a tour of the newly built house and did some visiting. Then we took a long walk to the pasture and Tommy's (Lorna's son) house to see the cows and the big bull. It was starting to get dusk and cold. We also toured her tack room in the garage back at Lorna's farm. Lorna used to ride and show horses and there were very many trophies and ribbons that she had on display.

We left to go to a restaurant for a very nice dinner. Said our goodbyes to Lorna after and we got a motel room in Grand Rapids.

Up the next morning. Destination - home. We dropped Barb and Butch off at their house about noon. We all agreed that it was a great trip. We were very glad we went. I know many memories were created and boy!!was it fun.

Barb, Butch and Lorna at Lorna's house in Grand Rapids.

Sign in restaurant. I think most of this was serious because people do tend to stay a long time over coffee.

Pudge, Barb, their cousins-Kay & Sherry and Aunt Euny

Pudge & his beloved Aunt Euny

In the sunny dining room having coffee and bars.