Our winter home.......

After a beautiful sunrise, we left Tucson and headed out to Phoenix...I just can't get over those Arizona sunrises and sunsets! On our trip to Phoenix, we noticed the cotton fields had been harvested! Apparently, a special tractor (cotton gin?) picks and bundles the cotton. Not sure how the plastic cover gets on the batch of cotton, or how it is picked up, but it was certainly interesting to us.

Tucson sunrise

"packages" of cotton right on the fields

the top of the bundled cotton is covered in plastic

We were a few minutes from the campground we will be calling home for the winter, when we passed the stadium where the superbowl will be held. Not far from us. Just sayin'. (Rob, Robbie, anyone else?)

home of Superbowl 2015

almost at the campground we will call home for the winter

we have arrived.....

The campground is a 55+ community and it is like summer camp (including a golf course) for old people...hahahah. There are so many things to do, as in the Tucson campground we stayed in. There are also lots of "park models", besides RV's. We are a little early....so the campsites are not all taken yet, but they are expecting a full house here right after Christmas, straight through March...spring training draws quite a few tourists as well. The holiday festivities are in full force here. The day after we arrived, there was a holiday parade, with golf carts and bikes all decorated with lights, lots of christmas carols and music, and a chili dinner at the banquet hall. Fun!

the festive parade

here they come now

yes, I'm having fun too...hahahah

here comes the musical float (they really go all out here!)

the festivities are in full force....they throw out candy too!!!

 Yes, that's right. There is a banquet hall!  (There is also a rec hall, many "classrooms" for all the craft activities (yippee), the gym, two pools and a hot tub, a great library, etc). We had a great time at the chili dinner, with lots of laughs. Even though there is a lot to do right here in the campground, we are planning to explore the surrounding area! I know...we are retired, and not on vacation, but.....we will be exploring, but probably at a slower pace than previously. I'm working on that!

our campsite (which will be surrounded by lots of other campers any day now!)

going on a little tour..there are 5 buildings of fun here....like a campus

the "small" pool

the larger pool (for lap swimming and water exercises)

you can just walk in to the pool-kinda like the ocean or a wave pool with no waves :(

oh Vanna....stand in front there so we get the big picture...hahhaha

the hot tub, with adjacent fireplace (we may sit around the fireplace, but we aren't into hot tubs)

some of the "campus"

Okay...let me just share one more sunrise....it was so pretty, and the vapor coming off the heated pools....wow! I think I'll go for a swim one morning early, at sunrise, just for the magic! The whole sky lights up too, as you can see from my walk back to the camper. So pretty!

the pool area at sunrise

I know...but I was taking a walk and it was stunning, so I went back for my camera

They are removing the heat cover right now from the pool...as the sun rises...nice!

oh and they have cabanas for those that don't like the sun (hhhmmmm....that would be me!)

you can't make this up! Its really that beautiful!

another view

walking back to the camper...the whole sky colors from the sunrise going on behind me!

Lots of people have decorated their RV's or park models for the season, so Tom thought we could have a little holiday spirit outside too. He was experimenting with a lit-up tree outside, using things we had, like the lights and the tripods. (We really need to travel light.....no room for extraneous stuff!). I thought it was pretty clever, but he wasn't really happy with it. We enjoyed another gorgeous sunset...okay...I'll stop!

hey Susie....got an idea for Christmas lights outside

we aren't looking at their lights....just the gorgeous sunset behind their house

really nice!

does this look like a Christmas tree...sort of???

So, there is a golf course right here, and our camper is pretty close to the green. Yesterday, we were sitting outside reading when a golf ball winged out of nowhere, hit and dented our car (ugh!), and bounced right near me. OOhhh. We aren't golfers, so we did not realize that could happen if the golfer is overzealous! So...we talked with our friend the security guard that happened to come around for a visit, and, well, long story short...we are moving our campsite later today. Note to other campers.....try not to get a site near the greens!! Who knew? We are lucky it didn't take out our RV windshield. Or us.

We have a lot going on right now....but I wanted to be sure to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) and a happy and healthy New Year!!!! May it be peaceful and bright!!

Merry Christmas!

The little things.......

Tucson's 4th Avenue Fair is a huge street fair happening annually in December and in the Spring. It is quite large, the largest in Tucson, covering about 4 city blocks or so. Many of the artists selling their wares are at the booths, and you can talk to them about their pieces.

Of course, there is plenty of entertainment throughout, as well as all kinds of food. Lemonade and Barbeque, Indian fry bread and fruit on a stick....it was all available and delicious. Especially the fry bread.

Since we knew parking would be an issue, and this is not really Tom's thing at all, I took the bus from our campground and went by myself. It was great! I may have scored a really nice silver bracelet! I also brought back some Arizona seasonings for our barbecues, and some fry bread for  Tom us to ease my guilt over my purchase. Haha. Anyway, I just took a few random pictures there to capture the feel. I was afraid to use my camera actually, because so many of the booths had a sign up requesting no photos be taken. (The artists don't want to see their stuff knocked-off and in Walmart next week)!

took random pics....had no idea that stroller held a dog!

it was pretty crowded for a Friday afternoon 

with random entertainment everywhere

you never know what you will see or hear

this was a colorful tent! Most had signs..no photos...

The fair was about 3-4 city blocks long, plus side streets 

fun times

the crowds all seemed to move in the same direction, which was nice

The sunrises and sunsets here in Tucson are something to see. Some are more spectacular than the others, but they are all great. Once back from the street fair, we were hanging around outside and saw a really good one! The whole sky seems to have streaks of color, and you can see it because there are no trees or hills or tall buildings to block the view. It really is magnificent....I just can't seem to capture it in a photo.

check out this sunset

can't get the whole sky at once...but its amazing

view down our street

just glorious!

The next morning, really bad weather was expected in Tucson, so I got up with the sun so I could take a walk (remember, the fry bread?? ) before the rain came.  Everyone was buzzing about the bad weather we were on target for....rain for a few hours and cold (58 degrees). I really wanted to walk, so like I said, I started out and after about 15 minutes, I turned the corner and saw the biggest rainbow I've ever seen. I ran back to the RV to get my camera.  I could not get the whole thing in the frame....ugh. About that wide lens...hmm! Anyway, I did the best I could. I even went in and woke Tom up to  come out and see. Lots of others were coming out of their campers and houses to check it out and snap a photo or two. Of course, I just kept clicking away myself. It was a sight! Who expects to see a rainbow in the desert? We were very lucky.

what??? why did you wake me up?

check THAT out!  

so bright too

that is really how bright it was

more

so vibrant

another

what a great show

About an hour later, we did get the rain...which is also a sight in the desert. Okay...well....I'll admit it...we even turned the heat on in the camper during the day!! It was one of those raw days to hunker down with something warm to drink, and read or blog or knit (or do some electronics) ...you get the picture. We had a big hot lunch and before you know it, the rain let up and it was just cold. Well, relatively.(Hahahah...and I claim to be a winter girl!).

I did venture out to the library here at the campground. At each place we stay, I like to read a good mystery set in the location we are staying. The author I found that writes mystery books set in Tucson is J.A. Jance. I am just about finished with "Queen of the Night" and so I picked up a couple more of her books.

When we were in Wyoming-Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons-I was reading some books by C.J. Box. The one I really liked was "The Back of Beyond", about murders happening in a backcountry trailride/campout.  Ooooo.........scary one!  In Lake Powell, I was reading Nevada Barr's book "The Rope", set in Glen Canyon. Also scary and creepy-but realistic. I read another mystery when we were in the Black Hills, but the book name escapes me. All these books are really entertaining, no matter where you read them, but are especially chilling when you read them in the area.

Its the little things! A beautiful sunset... An amazing rainbow... A big hot cup of tea...A scary book...(some chocolate would have been good too!)....heaven!

not too bad!!

the "rain" let up....now its "cold"