Dean and I are spending the summer at the cabin at forest lakes, Arizona.  For those of you that do not know Forest Lakes - we are about 90 miles from Phoenix and 20 to 30 degrees cooler. Forest Lakes is located on the Mogollon Rim at 7600 ft.  We have one of the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the country.  It is not unusual to have snow here any time during the year.  These pictures were taken on Memorial Day weekend when we had 8-10 inches in 3 days.  This is always a big weekend with a lot of our friends - we had 17 in and around (RV's) the cabin.  so we stayed on the back porch most of the weekend.  

But we did take some hikes in the snow.  

During the month of May we did a road trip back to the midwest to see relatives.  Dean's family had a family reunion in Arkansas.  This is a picture of Dean's two brothers - 

Tom and Richard - and Dean's mother, Marge.  This was the only fish that was caught over the weekend - but it was enough to have a great meal.   

The cabin was very spacious with a huge deck over looking the water.  

Mexico Cruise

April 28, Dean and I left Phoenix for a 5 day cruise with Phx. Ski Club.  We flew over with Brian and Dick F. We arrived in San Diego and our boat "Elation"  (Carnival Cruise Lines) was waiting for us but we could not board until 11:30.  So, Dean and I found a wine store (Riteaid) and bought wine for the trip.  

When we boarded we could not get to our cabin until 1:30 so we 

went straight to the buffet lunch that was waiting for us.  What a beautiful boat.  Our room was very spacious and our steward was very nice.  We had happy hour on deck as we pulled out of the San Diego Harbor.

PSC had the 8:15 seating for dinner each night, which is a bit late for us but we were so busy each day we didn't mind too much.  We ate with Sheila & Paul, Nancy & Bill, and Dennis and Deb each night.  Meals were pretty good.  And if you didn't like what you ordered they would bring you something else. 

We watched the show - lots of singing and dancing, and a v

ery funny comedian.   Sleeping was great - the boat just gently rocks you.

 

April 29 - Dean started the day with an hour walk on the jogging track located on the 12 floor.  I went to the gym and lifted and then walked.  After a wonderful buffet breakfast, Dean and I read in the library and walked around the ship.  We had a PSC get together in the afternoon and a Captain's reception before dinner. Dinner this evening was lobster.  It wasn't big but it was very good.  We capped the day off wth the 10:30 show. We took pictures of the midnight buffet.  The food was too pretty to eat.  Then we went to the midnight comedy act.  Finally got to bed around 1:00.

April 30 - The boat arrived in Cabo San Lucas around 8:00.  We had breakfast in room and then took a small boat tour to the Land's End rock formation  and then bummed around town.  Another beautiful day.

                                        

Watched the boat pull out of Cabo.  Went to the show at 7 and dinner again at 8:15.  

May 1 - Day at sea.  Got up late and I went to a seminar on detox and weight loss (I know, stupid on a cruise) and a talk on disembarkation. Dean walked on decks in A.M. and lifted.  I worked out in afternoon.  We are trying to keep in shape but we are eating too much with all the buffets and three course late dinners.

Had happy hour with PSC in 

disco.  Group picture on stairs of atrium.

This night we had the buffet instead of the formal dinner.  Eating every night at 8:15 (actually getting our

 meal around 9) was getting a little old.  We gambled some,  listened in on  the karaoke bar, and went to the show - magician and comedian.

May 2 - Walked into Ensenada.  Fish market was very interesting - more varieties than I have ever seen.

Went back to boat and took tour of wine country - actually 2 wineries about an hour from Ensenada - Domecq and L.A. Cetto.  After a short tour at each we got to taste many different wines.  Very enjoyable tour.  

Left Ensenada around 5.  Had dinner with group tonight - our last night.  Went to bed fairly early.

May 3 - Last breakfast buffet - went up with luggage.  Buffet very crowded since everyone wanted to eat before they left.  We wanted to stay on boat as long as possible since our plane did not leave until 2:40.  Got off the boat at around 10:30 and went to airport.  Dean and I took a walk along harbor.  Arrived in Phx at 4.  Really good to see Chica.  Great trip - would do it again!

April in Phoenix

Not much happened in the April.  Dean did a lot of subbing and I played a lot of golf.  Chica got her hair cut right after we got back from the RV trip.  Weather in Phoenix was wonderful, except for the day I played 18 holes of golf and it was 98 degrees.  We went to the cabin on April 18 - 21.  There was still snow on the front porches.  It was windy but otherwise very nice.  Here is a picture of Chica with her new friend Yetti.

End of this trip

Well, we are back in the city.  What a wonderful time we had with our friends, Chuck and Jan. 

We hiked, shopped, prospected, ate dinners played cards, and enjoyed the beautiful Arizona desert.  During the time we were gone, Dean and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.  We did it in style with Chuck and Jan at the Rye Creek Saloon.  Great dinner, dancing and hob-knobbing with the locals.  Wonderful memories.  Another highlight of the trip was lunch at Jake's Corner with the four of us and a bunch of bikers.  Fantastic burgers and lots of entertainment.

So we said our goodbyes today:  Jan and Chuck heading south to Benson and more adventures in their RV, Dean and I going back to our home in Phoenix.  Until the next adventure,  Judy

At the beginning

Well, here we are on the desert outside of Rye, Az. camping in the fifth wheel.  With us are Chuck and Jan Moore from Iowa.  We are on a beautiful spot with lush green desert and lots of wildflowers all around us.  The boys are out prospecting and the girls are working on the internet.  I love our new computer and the verizon air card.  I've been on the computer more in the last week than a whole year before.

Yesterday we were camped at Roosevelt Lake in the campground because the lake is so high. 

Normally we would be camped along the shoreline but there is no shoreline that is flat or open to camping. 

 The four of us and Chica went to the Tonto Indian Ruins.  The wild flowers were spectacular.  

Then we drove to Payson and on to our cabin in Forest Lakes.  The front and North side of our cabin had snow over 5 feet high.  But it was a beautiful day (58 degrees) so that snow will be melting pretty fast. We had a long day but saw a lot of diverse Az scenery.

 

Over the weekend we were camped at McDowell Mt. Park North of Fountain Hills with our PSC friends.  Again the wildflowers were gorgeous.  We went on a long hike and then I went on a long bike ride.  Boy, was I tired.  Gregg and Sally Schindel hosted the McDowell Mt. Madness weekend and cooked  a great barbeque.

 They say this is the last one but I think we can talk them into doing it again.

 

Well, I'm going to wrap this up and see if it works.  I'm not computer confident yet, but I'm working on it.