Wintering in Arizona

January 12, 2014

Hello to all our family and friends, Toni here.

We would like to update you on our adventure here in Arizona. We just love our little home in Gold Canyon Golf and RV Resort. We can see the Superstition Mountains from our front porch and watch the sunset from the swimming pool. Everyone here is so friendly and active. You can never be bored because there are so many activities to do.

Our Park model

Day Trip

We have gone to dinner dances, potlucks, live music by the pool while watching the sunsets, Halloween party, wine tastings, lots of dances, Season Kickoff party, and coming up is the Newbies party and Flintstones meet the Jetsons costume party. We are going as the Flintstones!! (pictures to follow). There are trips on tour buses you can take to Las Vegas, Mexico, San Diego, Phoenix to attend symphonies, football\baseball games, etc. and they leave right here from the park. And then there are so many places close by us, yet to be seen.

We could not possibly do everything in 6 months. But we are trying!! Russ has been going to the wood shop and turning bowls on the lathes, he learns new things from other wood working enthusiasts. Hiking is close by and we ride our bikes almost every day. I have done sewing and a stained glass class for Christmas gifts. I just finished making an Antler Basket. (I am going to ask all you hunters out there for antlers. I will make you a basket if you give me some antlers!!) I will be taking a class in horsehair pottery. We both took a silversmith class and I want to learn how to wire wrap my sea glass to make jewelry.

Russ /Bowls

antler basket

stain glass

Russ exercises three mornings a week in the gym. I have been going to Yoga, total body fitness, Pilates classes and swim when it is warmer than 70 degrees. There is a library, computer room, pool tables, beautiful ballroom, and great Hot Dog/ Taco Salad lunches every tuesday. They have started the spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfast as fundraisers for the shuffle board and mens baseball teams. There is so much more and we are looking forward to doing it all some day.

We flew home for Christmas and enjoyed seeing all of our family. Our newest grandchild is Ryan (Elizabeth and Adam) and he sure grew while we've been gone. Hoping some day to have everyone down here to visit, one family at a time of course! We had a Casita built for guests and Russ built a murphy bed and dressers for the inside. There is also a bathroom and washer and dryer. “Room for a few at a time.”

Jacob, Natalie, and Austin (Carrie's)

Addie and Ryan (Elizabeth's)

Lucas (Cheryl's)

Gavin (Ashley's)

We have really enjoyed our “snowbird getaway”. We will be heading home the end of March or first week in April. It might depend on how cold it is in Washington! HA

Our love to all. And we really do wish you were with us.

Our address here is: Gold Canyon RV and Golf Resort

7151 East US Hwy. 60

Site 481

Gold Canyon, Arizona 85118

Russ Cell phone #360-957-2430

Toni's Cell Phone# 360-214-1201 YES, I finally got a cell phone!!