Our Neighbors Arrive

Our neighbors to the north of us usually don't arrive until after Christmas. This year though, we were beginning to worry as they had not arrived when we got back from our little trip back home. I was going to give them one more day before I made a phone call when I noticed life in their little cottage. Miriam flew in on Monday, but Al was driving from MN with a trailer. He arrived on Wednesday, a day after Hubby in the jeep.

But it is what was in the trailer that makes this event blog worthy...

It was a LONG trailer, at least 28' 

Yep! That is an airplane in the trailer.

Al is a pilot. He bought this little plane a couple of years ago

and brings it to AZ each winter to get in more flying time.

Last year he flew it to AZ in October.

This year it arrived by land.

The wings are detached and stored along the side of the trailer.

It took up most of the length of the  trailer.

The plane is now at an airfield waiting for good weather 

before it once again is in the AZ sky.

Not too many dull moments here at senior camp!

Another Trip to Flatiron

At least once a year the hiking club makes a trip to the top of Flatiron, a five-mile difficult hike with a 2800' elevation gain. Hubby agreed to help three female hikers to the top. Also along on this trip was a football player from Hubby's first year of coaching in my home town. Steve is newly retired and spending some time in AZ. We connected in early January and Hubby invited him to join the Flatiron hike. All agreed it was a successful hike. Here are some of Hubby's photos from the day.

The sun was just coming up as they began the hike.

The halfway point...Siphon Draw

A view of Apache Junction from near the top

Nice framing job, Hubby!

That's the group minus the photographer

The lower, first level of Flatiron

Taken from the second level

Some of the rocks at the HooDoos, the upper level of Flatiron.

Enough 'til next year!

A nice break from the photos of last week.

Walking in the Rain

The Phoenix weatherman said the rain would start at 10:00 PM on Friday evening. Sure enough, a few drops fell just as a warning of what was to come. Around midnight it started raining more seriously and rained all night. It was raining at 7 this morning when I woke up. A quick look at the weather on the computer said it would rain all morning, take a break at 11 and then start back up by 1:00 PM. That was pretty much how the morning went. Not ideal conditions for a 3 to 5 mile walk.

Steam was rising from the pool.

Humidity was 97% when I looked this morning.

We had made the decision to hold the pre-walk events on the patio. 

Raffle baskets had to be moved from one building to another.

Umbrellas and large sheets of plastic came in handy.

Pat on the left and John on the right have been invaluable

throughout the week, moving tables and chairs for each event.

They are work campers who have exceeded their hours

during cancer week.

Stretching before the walk.

These 11 cancer survivors showed up this morning.

Some were ready to walk despite the rain.

Umbrellas opened

Ponchos and rain coats for some protection

This was my motto this morning as we monitored and 

adjusted plans to accommodate the rain.

Jerry & his crew built the arch this year for the walk start and finish.

The ballroom was all set for the luncheon honoring cancer survivors.

Ceiling decor was TOO appropriate!

The boots and flowers were used all week as

table centerpieces and room decor.

Bidding for the Silent Auction items was hot and 

heavy just before noon.

A good sized crowd came for the luncheon.

And this concludes the 2013 cancer benefit week.

Donation total to the American Cancer Society 

will be announced on Monday, February 4th.

Live Auction & Social for Cancer Week

I will have to back up and post some photos from the Decorated Bra Display & Contest which was Wednesday's event. But for tonight, you are getting an update on the Live Auction & Social, held this afternoon in the ballroom. This was the third year for the Live Auction and as with the other events, it grows bigger and better every year. 

There were fifteen items for auction again this year. Bill and his team have the event so well organized; it runs as smooth as silk. 

The stage was decorated to go with the theme-

Stomp Out Cancer.

The crowd gathers. Anticipation is high.

Chuck is the auctioneer. He does an outstanding job

of squeezing bids and dollars from the crowd.

This was his last year, too.

And we are off and bidding!

This handcrafted cheese & cracker tray was not only

beautiful, but did very well in the bidding - $410.

Dick from Montana creates these beautiful clocks and mirrors

(last year's auction) from cowboy boots. The right person wanted it

and paid $550. Thank You Sharon & Andy!

This basket came from the residents of 8th Street. 

It has items from throughout the US & Canada.

The crate weighed 60 pounds! 

I was a little worried about our SD standing when this

basket sold for $725.

This painting and the other were donated by the

couple who teach "the Bob Ross" oil painting technique 

in the resort. I have registered for the February class.

This was the Kansas basket bought by our neighbors

from Kansas. Thank You Herman & Sondra!

This is the Minnesota basket. 

It is now in our kitchen. Hubby is a smart bidder.

He gets an early basket (#3 in the auction) before the prices 

get out-of-sight.

Basket contents will be displayed later.

Another "Bob Ross" oil painting.

This was a basket of goodies donated by some of our 

Canadian residents. They also had a square basket of

Canadian goodies for the auction.

There was a trip to Las Vegas and...

a trip to Laughlin.

This was the Northeastern basket.

Janice of ND designed and sewed this beautiful quilt. 

 It was bought by a very good friend of Janice. 

Marge paid $525 for it.

I don't have a photo of the Michigan basket.

But I do have a picture of the South Dakota donations!

We had so many wonderful donations from Watertown businesses.

It did not fit into the two boxes.

Nor did it fit into the large basket I had found at a garage sale.

It took two baskets! They were the last auction items.

Thank you to the other SD residents who donated items

for the Live Auction basket.

This gentleman from WA won the bid.

For the third year in a row, the SD basket got the highest bid

at the auction.

$800.00!

Isn't that amazing? 

Bids from the Live Auction totaled

$5190.00

All for the American Cancer Society!

The residents of Canyon Vistas are very generous with their

time, talents, and dollars. It truly was a most amazing afternoon.