Tiny Home Repair

On October 21st a major hail storm moved through our winter resort causing damage to many RVs and many park models. A major wind storm had moved through the area earlier in the summer causing damage to roofs and carports. Our home did not receive any damage in the first round of weather related issues, but it did sustain damage from the second rare and unusual weather phenomenon.

Here are a few of the pictures reported to the insurance company:

carport was dimpled with hail stones, facia and panels

kitchen skylight

(only outer layer of glass was broken)

bathroom skylight

(again no damage inside the park model)

The insurance company paid the claim last fall before we came to AZ. We were put on the list of a repair team we know and trust. Cecil thought he would get to us in January, but did not. His list of homes to repair grew as more people returned to the park or as other repair folks turned out to be scoundrels. Cecil also said he had trouble getting the needed windows, shingles, and awning pieces. Wrong sizes would be sent or they wouldn't come when said they would. Interestingly enough, most of the needed replacements are made right here in the valley area. But so many resorts and parks received damage, it was very hard to keep up.

Cecil and his crew finally arrived last week. The skylights were replaced several weeks ago, but the shingles and carport were replaced in two days.

the shingles were unloaded onto the roof two weeks ago

on March 25th, the old shingles were removed

there is a team of 4, 2 older guys and 2 younger

one on the roof, two on ladders, one on the ground

several damaged pieces are removed then replaced with new

so the ladders do not have to be moved so often

look at that shiny, new awning

just a few panels to go

the shingles were finished that afternoon

just one piece to go...new windows

the new windows were to be here on the 26th

then the 28th

now maybe April 4th

or the 6th???

the kitchen window, also broken during the hail storm

luckily, also only the outer pane of glass

We are both hoping the project will be done before we leave!

Cache In Trash Out

Geocachers are encouraged to collect trash as we geocache. Hubby and I could do a much better job than we do. Headquarters encourages events in the spring specifically for cleaning up our environment. This year the Cache In Trash Out (CITO) events have a 2 month window (rather than 2 weeks) which is much better for parts of the country where snow banks or flooded waters are a hinderance to cleaning parks or ditches. I have hosted several spring CITO events in Watertown. I think our new community also has geocaching CITO events. We were able to participate in one last Saturday.

I took some photos while collecting trash...

a pin cushion with a couple of flowers

lots of buds (hard to tell) on this cactus

this is the flower on this cactus

a memorial in the ditch

maybe a pet?

our collection after 60 minutes

some of the trash collectors

 more trash collectors

(and there were others!)

field of yellow and orange

desert marigolds

Cougar on the Mountain

March 20th was the official spring equinox which means it is time to look for the cougar shadow on the Superstition Mountain. I had put a reminder on my calendar beginning Wednesday, but as luck would have it, I was busy on Wednesday and Thursday at sunset. A friend had sent a message on Tuesday evening saying she had seen the shadow and it was perfect! So I was a little worried when Friday rolled around. The sky was cloudless and the air quality wasn't too bad. But...would I be too late?

I left the resort at 6 with the camera, trying to remember which street I had used last year for the viewing. There were LOTS of cars parked along Goldfield road. Lots of cameras, but also lots of lookers.

I found what I hoped was the right hill and parked the car. A dog behind a fence was not very happy to see me hanging out, but it finally realized I meant no harm. He relaxed, but did not leave his post, keeping me in his line of sight.

I took some early photos just to show how very green it is this spring. 

it is green all the way to the top of Flatiron (peak) on the left

and 5057 Peak on the right

The cougar shadow starts appearing about 6:15, but doesn't take shape until about 6:40. In the first photos the shadow looks like a dragon eating someone wearing heels.

gradually the person and the legs and heels are swallowed

and the shape becomes more of a cougar face

this was my first location for photos

orange flowers caught my eye while I waited

horses also kept me company

I moved 1 block north for the final shots

by 7:00 it was all over

I had to get some sunset photos

I lucked out with  perfect conditions to catch the cougar as it appeared on the face of the Superstition Mountain. 

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Once again we headed to Fountain Hills on Sunday morning to see the famous fountain spout green at noon. Local geocachers gathered to watch the water show.

Wait for it... Wait for it...

And there it is

spouted for almost 30 minutes and then again at 1:00

a rather windy day

finding a nearby geocache

On the way back to the vehicle, Hubby noticed this gentleman's hat – a WWII Veteran. Hubby stopped to thank him for serving our country. The WWII veteran told Hubby he is 100 years old!!! Hubby insisted on a photo of the two of them, veterans who have served their country.

one of the reasons for our spike in allergies

a statue near the library in Fountain Hills

no luck finding the geocache, but I enjoyed the statues

lunch wall decor

this was the next geocache

Terry getting instruction on opening the 100 year old lock

on the little jailhouse

the cell blocks are plastic containers for 

geocaching travel bugs

the guard for the jail cells

the cache owner came out to visit

the jail cache is in his front yard