De pamplemousse rose

This is a fun sidebar story to the visit of Aunt Catherine and Aunty Pat. They rented a "Park Model" here in the Valle Del Oro RV Resort. One of the features of this park is the citrus trees growing everywhere. Behind the little rental was a grapefruit tree. Here is one of the fruit that we harvested. Note the little color of pink near the leaves.

When Gramma opened the fruit (note her beautiful hands) we saw it was pink. We have had pink grapefruit before, but this was the first time we picked one.

The rig parked to our left is from Quebec. Jean Luke and Francoise are very friendly. They speak French as their first language. They taught me the French word for pink grapefruit is De pamplemousse rose. Fun, yeah?

A visit from my sisters

This is Patricia Vercelli, or Aunty Pat. Becca calls her Little Pat and feels very close to her.

This is Catherine Connelly, or Aunt Catherine. Becca calls her Missy when she thinks her bossy.

This holiday weekend has brought a rare event to us, a visit from my two sisters. Pat is ten years older than me and Cath is 4 years younger. Pat's Dad was Beryl Baker, Nana's first husband. So her maiden name was Baker. Cath and my Dad was John Connelly. Interestingly we never felt other than sisters and brother. Never "half sister" or "half brother". I think we have enjoyed a close relationship.

Over the years, life took us in different directions, and although we got together at various family functions, I don't remember a time when just the five of us spent four days together.

Pat and Cath decided to go on a road-trip. Cath drove down from Sacramento to Azusa to pick up Pat. Then they drove to Mesa. I helped line up a rental here in the park. These inside shots were taken in their "Park Model," as they are called.

We had Thanksgiving dinner together (see last post) on Thursday. On Friday we went to see the new Muppet movie. On Saturday we drove over to Phoenix to try a fast food place we had heard about called "Maui Dog" only to find they were closed for the weekend. We had a lot of time to visit and reminisce and laugh. Sunday morning they continued on their road-trip to Sedona where a friend of Pat's lives. We hugged goodbye in the driveway of their Park Model. It was a special weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holidays are special events at Valle Del Oro. Decorations are everywhere.

This is a big stuffed turkey sitting on the stage in the ballroom

The ballroom is transformed into a dining room to feed Thanksgiving dinner to 1000 of our closest Mesa friends.

Making this Thanksgiving extra special for us is a visit from my two sisters. This is Aunt Catherine beside a Mrs Scarecrow decoration on the wall.

This event is BYOTS (bring your own table setting). This morning Aunt Catherine helped us put out our plates and stuff. There is a marvelous albeit a complicated plan to have a 1000 person potluck. One of things they do is let folks sign up for a specific table but not specific seats. So if you don't reserve your places by putting your plates, etc. early, your group might not get to sit together. We were early enough this year.

Becca helped us with our Thanksgiving theme paper goods.

So at 3PM social hour began with dinner starting at 4. Here is my sister Pat (Aunty Pat) and Aunt Catherine at our table #10. They drove here yesterday from California. They made good time across the desert but when they got to Mesa they got a little lost and didn't get here until it was dark. They were safe but exhausted. After resting over night in their little Park Model (single wide) rental, they were up to joining us for the turkey dinner.

VDO RV Resort provided the turkeys (they cooked more than 400), stuffing and gravy. Everything else is brought by the diners. Our assignment was to bring potatoes. Gramma and her new oven prepared "Funeral Potatoes" using Amanda's recipe--very yummy. Plus she made broccoli with lemon butter--also very yummy. Our table was heavy with all of the traditional Thanksgiving fare from pupus to dessert. Aunty Pat spoke for us all when she said "I should stop eating, but I can't! Everything is so good."

Definitely a day to be thankful for. Hope your was too.

Hi Tea

Today (11/16/11) Valley Del Oro threw one of their gala parties. This one was a luncheon affair for ladies only. The ballroom was decorated to the teeth. (Gramma found out today that Glenda, the park Activities director is a Mormon, which may account for experience decorating cultural halls.) Anyway below is a shot of one of the displays.

Of course the hall was done up in pink and hot pink. On this stage the entertainment came on later -- a singer with a guitar, which Becca really liked. He sang "on pitch," which Gramma really liked. He performed for an hour, mixing music with comedy, some a little "blue" which was enjoyed by the some 400 ladies, most with blue hair.

Here is Buffet Becca, going through the line with Vickie, one of the LDS ladies staying in the park as "a winter visitor" with her husband

Here's Gramma, wearing her Hi Tea finery, with Vickie and Becca. The ladies left for the party at 1o:45 on scooter and bicycle and didn't get home until 1:45--my party ladies!

Auswanderers' plan update

As many of you know, our Plan A was to spend the winter "season" here in Mesa, Arizona. In April we planned to go east, doing family history research and visiting friends and family across the USA. We didn't plan to return to Idaho until July (in time for the Rexburg 4th of July parade). And not getting back into Utah until August. However, two major family events have caused us to make plan changes.

Ganon and Heidi are having a new baby! It will be our 24th grandchild--our 11th grandson, we understand.

And Jennifer, our oldest granddaughter, is getting married on March 10, 2012.

So, Gramma and I puzzled over what to do. We knew that we needed to be present for those important family-changing events. We ruled out taking the motorhome into freezing weather and we didn't want to drive the car up there again. So what's left? Flying! We dread flying and all that that entails. But we began research. Have you ever heard of Allegiant Airline? We hadn't either. Amanda had heard about them, known for cheap rates. She was right. The three of us, round trip can fly for about half the cost of Southwest. Howeva, we soon found out why. First of all it doesn't fly to Salt Lake City

The closest we could get is Idaho Falls. Well, that's OK. Amanda's family lives near "IF". Which is also close to our dentist. The pretty good news is Allegiant (pronounced like pledge of allegiance) flies out of a tiny airport near us. See below. So getting to and from the airport won't be too complicated. So why the cheap rates? Well, they don't fly everyday. And on the days they do fly, they only have one flight. And checked baggage is expensive. We haven't actually seen one of their planes. We hope for the best.

So, here's what our, always tentative, plan looks like. We are here at the Valley Del Oro RV Resort here in Mesa. This is our third year here and we are comfortable with the weather, the place, the people and the community, and did I mention the weather. And we are what they call "Winter Visitors" at our ward here, where these folks have made us feel welcome. As an added treat this year, Papa's sisters (Aunty Pat and Aunt Catherine) will be visiting with us for a few days at Thanksgiving. And at Christmas time, Ganon and Heidi's family will be coming to Mesa where her parents have a home. Gramma and Papa are looking forward to a little time with David, Rebecca, Sarah and TJ.

Our flight to "IF" is on February 23. We hope to spend a few days with Emma, Lily, Carson and Macy (and their parents). On March 2, we will drive down to Utah to spend time with the UT families, meet the new grandson, and participate with Jennifer and Sam on their special day.

The Auswanderers fly back to Mesa on March 13. On April 2 our plan goes back to Plan A. We'll try to keep you in the loop.