Dec 10th to 12th - Mesa

Dec 10th - Sat
We did laundry this morning and worked on a puzzle while it was in the washers. Terry decided we should look for another Kohl’s as the one I went to had only 3 pairs of undies that I finally decided would be OK. We stopped for a burger for lunch on the way to the store. At the store, luckily we saw the line up for the cash registers before we did any shopping and we walked right back out. A Saturday a couple of weeks before Christmas is not the time to shop!
We visited with Dave & Glo, Billy & Lauri and Sue before Ernie & Dianne picked us up at 5:15 to go to the Arizona Opry which is quite a ways out in Apache Junction.
Barleen’s Arizona Opry is a well known dinner & a show attraction in this area. Dianne made reservations in the spring so we had excellent seats right up front. The entire staff – including entertainers – serves dinner to up to 508 guests in 35 minutes. Dinner is roast beef on even days and chicken on odd days. Our roast beef was superb and the Country Jamboree show was even better. Some of the musicians are members of the Barleen family and all are very versatile on instruments and singing. An intermission allows people to visit the gift shop and get root beer floats if you have any room left after dinner. We were home about 10:30.

Dec 11th – Sun
The day dawned clear & sunny which was perfect for Neal & Judi’s brunch at 11 this morning. They also invited Larry & Julie, Billy & Lauri, Ed & Millie and new acquaintances Rob & Terri.
Judi is a very good cook and loves to decorate so the tables were as beautiful as the food was good. Bloody Marys and champagne – mimosas if desired – started and ended the gathering. We actually moved into the shade after eating as it was too warm in the sun.
It was after 3 when we left which was time for a nap before TV, dinner and a long phone call to sister Marg.

Dec 12th – Mon
We woke early to rain so Terry went out and put the chairs further under the awning. A bit later, the awning was rattling in the wind so Terry pulled the awning most of the way in. When we got up the awning came all the way in and the chairs went under the 5th wheel.
We went to the Casino Arizona to get 12 tickets for a show on Thursday. Again we stayed to gamble a bit and Terry won enough to put our original allowance back in his pocket and to keep him going for a while. We stopped for a late breakfast on the way home and shopped at a couple of stores.
Back at the park, we hunkered down with computer games, cookie baking and reading to pass the wet afternoon. At 4:30ish we went to Ernie & Dianne’s for dinner. She bought a crock pot and made my roast beef with gravy recipe. Their son-in-law and granddaughter (Mike & Kaya) are visiting. Also there were Garry & Steph and Dave & Sandi so it was quite a houseful.
After a good dinner and visiting, we dodged the raindrops & puddles walking back and went to bed to watch TV rather than turning on the furnace and staying up.