50 Year Reunion at HHS

Hubby joined classmates from Hosmer High School for a 50 year reunion last summer. (I was at my family reunion.) The photos shared by a classmate are worthy of a blog post.

Is that firetruck as old as they????

reunion organizer

the parade

waving class members of HHS '65

a replica of their yearbook cover

Time For A Cure

This is the eighth year our resort held a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It was a transition year, so the number of activities were fewer in number. The auction was again, the highlight event.  Plans are underway for next year's cancer benefit.

the South Dakota basket, which I purchased

donated and purchased South Dakota products

Thanks to CowboyIII, convenience store & liquor store;

Glacial Lakes Distillery; Watertown Confectionery; 

& Mary Johnson for the donations

decor in the ballroom

'my cancer' colors

this fabulous quilt sold for $2000

the highest bid item

$11,617 to help fight cancer

A Little CA$H

We arranged to complete one more geo-art with geocaching friends from Canby MN who are staying in Apache Junction for two months. We have cached with them a couple of times in February and March. It was a warm day, so we started earlier in the morning. Our destination was north Scottsdale.

the cash in the final cache

had our snake sticks along- didn't have to use them

a globemallow bush/plant - sphaeralcea

our completed caching project that day

an interesting sunset to cap off the day

love knowing about the sunset setting on the camera

great color along the horizon,  thanks to the smog

Back in Time

We attended a MOST AWESOME concert this week. Neil Sedaka, 77 years old, played and sang all of his old hits to a room full of seniors, who tapped their toes, wiggled in their seats and sang along. Ninety minutes of non-stop Neil Sedaka.

he played a classical piece and some of his greatest hits

a little older, but then, so are we!

still has a great voice

Riding the Rail

The last day of Bill & Donna's visit was spent riding the rail; the Phoenix Light Rail, that is. We rode the train to the west end (3 more stops have been added this week) and after getting off at our usual parking area, we drove to the east end to check on the size of the parking areas. The goal for the day was to do some walking downtown and then enjoy a meal at one more of our favorite eating establishments.

outside decor at the Herberger Theater

four generations in the statues

basilica across the street, St. Marys

a flutist playing while Hubby went geocaching

our snack break location

checking out the sports facilities

baseball venue across the street

waiting for our train

our Tempe destination

delicate bougainvillea near the train stop

our chariot arrives

Riding the Desert Belle

Hubby and I have been on the paddleboat on Canyon Lake on two occasions, so when it was time to think of touristy options for our friends, Bill & Donna, I decided to step out of the box and book a reservation on the Desert Belle on Saguaro Lake, a trip we had not done previously. I have eaten at the Saguaro Lake Marina and thought the food was better than at Canyon Lake. Decision made. Temps were near normal today because of the cloud cover and the weather system moving through AZ. It was a great day for a boat ride.

flowers at the marina

the Desert Belle is on the left

Captain Mike giving us instructions

Four Peaks in the distance

sharing the lake with kayakers

Elephant Rock

folks out on pontoons

a crested saguaro

black lines are rain paths

a blue heron

three blue herons

paddle board

water temp about 58º

the four of us

some of the boats moored at the marina

the Stewart Dam

some of the house boats docked at Saguaro Lake

My choice of Saguaro Lake over Canyon Lake was a hit. The food was excellent; the boys raved about the battered fish. We did not see the wildlife we might have seen on Canyon Lake, but Captain Mike was an excellent tour guide on our 90 minute ride.

What Have We Been Up To???

What have we been doing? Nothing much. You will get the idea as you look at the post.


February 23rd: the Canyon Vistas geocachers gathered in the backyard of Neal & Marlene for a potluck and some geocaching games. We did not win any of the games, but we enjoyed the gathering and the beautiful sunset that evening.

Marlene, our hostess

Working the landscape and the dusk/dawn setting to get some amazing color and sky.

February 25th: Five CV geocachers and two geocachers from 'back home' headed to Casa Grande to complete another geo-art.

Gene & Karen checking the grave marker of a dog

There were some interesting things in this modern day ghost town, but the camera wasn't handy, so this one grave marker is it. As for the modern day ghost town, this area was plotted with roads for a housing development in maybe the 1990s before the economy and housing hit a low. It was never developed beyond the paved roads which are deteriorating. Desert shrubs are taking over the lots. Surveyor's spikes are a reminder to drive on the 'roads'.


February 26 - March 1: OFD arrives for a weekend visit. She and Hubby saw some college women's softball games on Saturday. She and I shopped at the Mesa Market on Sunday and drove by St. George to check the flowering cactus. We ate at San Tan Flat Sunday evening, did some geocaching and had backyard fires Sunday & Monday with chocolate wine and s'mores. On Monday she helped us at a geocaching event and was rewarded with margaritas and Mexican food.

we watched a hot air balloon glide and land

cadon blooms at St. George's Catholic Church

another blooming cactus

February 29th: Leap Day, a REALLY big deal in the geocaching world. I hosted an event and had about 120 people stop by during the two hours.

March 5th: We picked up the geocaching friends from 'back home' at 7 this morning to attend the first of three events. At 7:30 we and 30 or so other geocachers walked into the desert and collect trash, a community service project and a thank you to the state for allowing caching on state trust land. At 10:00 the four of us drove to Canyon Lake and meet with cachers, did some caching, and enjoyed the early afternoon.

that is a lot of trash

friends from 'back home' - Gene & Kay

Canyon Lake

Dan, our host for the Splash & Cache Event

light lavender star-shaped flowers

Hubby & Gene looking among the boulders

enjoying some time along the lake

So that is what we have been doing; nothing too exciting. Friends from Watertown arrive this weekend, so we will be doing things other than geocaching. Stay tuned...