February, 2004
Are we really in Arizona????    The weather here in the Phoenix area has been termed "unusual for this time of year."  Seems like we've heard that before in many instances.  Anyway, it has been a somewhat cool month for this part of the country.  When watching the weather reports for the rest of the country, however, we are thankful that we are not shoveling snow.  But there was a stretch of several weeks that our plants had to be brought inside at night so that they would not freeze.  The many maintenance workers here in the park had to cover the many flower beds each night and then remove the yards and yards of canvas each morning.  Long pants and sweaters were the dress code for many days.
The cool weather didn't keep us from our many activities, however.  Early morning golf and tennis times found us in warm-ups, but layers were shed as the day progressed.  We made a trip to a local pecan farm one day to see what happens before we get those delicious nuts at the store.  Locally, the pecans are harvested in the winter by shaking the trees and collecting the nuts from the ground.  Truckloads of nuts are brought to the processor where they are dumped onto a conveyor that passes by a team of workers who inspect them all for cracks.  Then they are bagged and shipped to distributors.  Its a pretty simple but time consuming, labor intensive process.  Unfortunately, they weren't shelling any the day we were there.  But they did have samples of the many ways they process them to sell...cinnamon, cajun, etc.  Yum!
Tom surveying the bins of pecans ready to be processed.
Workers inspecting pecans moving along the conveyer.
Our Canadian friends, Bev and Don McGovern and Don's sister-in-law, Jean, with Tom at the pecan farm.
At a local Chinese restaurant on February 10, we helped celebrate our friend Peter Nichita's birthday.  The restaurant owner was excited that we would come there to celebrate and eagerly posed for a photo.  We had a good meal and a fun celebration with Peter and his wife, Kathy, the McGoverns and Vicki and Bob Bissillion. We are the only ones not from Kelowna, BC.
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We had a fun visit from Tom's cousin, JoAnn Blair, and her husband Don on February 6.  After lunch, the guys played golf and the gals toured the park model display and gabbed.  Jo and Don live in Tucson.
Over President's Day weekend we attended the O'Odham Tash Indian Festival in Casa Grande. There was a field of carnival rides, an Art and Craft show, a rodeo and a festival of music and dance.   All ages were represented in the dancing competitions and exhibitions.  The costumes ranged from simple to extravagant and all were colorful.  The music at the dancing arena was provided by several bands that took turns performing the many songs.  The most amazing part of the music was that the groups weren't just "making noise."  They obviously knew the words/sounds and the changing beat as they performed for the dancers.
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Tom took a break from the sun and fun during the week of February 16.  He flew to Washington, D.C. to attend a training session...and he is now a "fiscal reviewer" for the federal Head Start Program.  He will be a member of an eight person team that will go to various Head Start programs to review all the aspects of their operation.  Each review takes four or five days, and Tom has the ability to accept assignments when and where he chooses when they are offered to him. We have the option to also purchase an extra ticket for Mary to go along.  Its an opportunity to do some extra travel and get paid for it!          While in Washington Tom enjoyed a dinner out with Mary's cousin Geoff Close and his wife, Bethann, and on another night with Darin Dew, the son of our good friends in Toledo.  Meanwhile, "back at the ranch" Mary was enjoying the tennis, golf and sunshine.
The Palm Creek Quilters held their annual Quilt Show on February 21.  Although Mary hasn't done any of the quilting, it is always fun to see how much time, effort and talent our neighbors have put into their work.
Our "Happy Hours" this month occasionally had to be held inside because of weather.  But, we were happy to visit with "new arrivals", the Nichitas and the McGraths, here in the park that we'd met last year.  Sadly, other friends, the Eichers and the Kleins both returned to Toledo.  Hopefully we'll see them again soon.  One "happy hour" we attended was hosted by Tom and Diane Connerty from the Denver area.  They are Newmar salesmen and had invited all the Newmar owners in the park as well as some other people to come share food and drink.  We were among close to 100 people at their RV site....lots of fun!

As with any large group of people, there are many differing opinions on any given subject.  Here in Palm Creek, population nearly 4000, it is no different.  The management here at the park has been working hard to maintain the property at the highest standards...and is succeeding.  The monthly "Forum" meeting for residents was held February 27 and as always there were residents who came to "speak their mind."  The biggest topic of concern is the fact that the rental rates have been increased by over 25% for next year.  However......most current residents will be returning, as there is not another park that we know of that has the amenities found here offered at this price.  We have made our reservation to return next November.

February, 2004
One of the "Tiny Tot" dancers.
Performers in a "Community Dance."
One of the Indian bands...members sat around the large drum, which they shared as they sang and chanted their songs.
.....some of the quilts at the Palm Creek Quilt Show
After Mary's usual Sunday morning round of golf with the ladies, we finished out the month on Leap Year Day with a trip into Mesa to visit the infamous "Swap Meet."  We picked a good time to go as the crowds weren't bad.  We made our way through all the buildings in good time and Tom was doubly pleased that Mary didn't spend too much money! 
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