Finally, A Blog Post

 Apache Junction, AZ  High 76   Low 51 Finally Fall has arrived

I know it's been forever since I last posted a blog and I really have no excuse other than I've been living with day to day stuff and I don't find that interesting enough in my world to blog about.

I do have some beautiful sky pictures I like to include and some Elias pictures, of course.

Arizona Skies

 

Most of our snowbirds are back in the park and it's nice to hear the sounds of people visiting and seeing them at donuts on Tuesday mornings.

Now for my big news. Meet Snazzy Jazzy

Yes, I bought a new car. Well new to me anyhow. Daisy served me well but she is getting tired of trying to make the trip to Montana. For use around town, she is a perfect car. I hope to get her listed for sale shortly and I hope to find someone who will love her as much as I do.

Jazzy is a 2023 Toyota Camry. Paul went car shopping with me and gave me advise when I asked for it. I know Jim is not happy with me buying a Toyota because he worked for GM/Chevy/Pontiac all his working career. I did look at a Malibu but it had several things that I did not like and it wasn't as comfortable.

Going from Daisy to Jazzy is a real challenge for me. Paul suggested we take a ride up to Payson to see how she handles on the climb and to get me used to a car that wants to take over driving for me. This is going to be a real learning curve for me. 

We did make it to Payson and had lunch at Rim Country BBQ. Really good. As you can see in this picture, Paul is reading the owner's manual and trying to explain it to me. Thanks for trying Paul. 

In other news, I got to meet up with Jeri for lunch. We met Jeri and Terry in Florida in 2009. We had lots of great times together through the years and they are still RVing. Catching up with good friends is definitely a highlight in life.

 Time for Elias overload.

 Lunch with Dad

He is spending way too much time with the cats.

Take time to smell the flowers

Halloween. Michaela drew the design on the pumpkins and Todd did the carving. Very talented.

It's hard to believe it is almost Thanksgiving. Time is just flying faster and faster. Hope all is well in your world. Be sure to tell your friends and family how much you love and treasure them.

Home Sweet Home

Apache Junction, AZ   High 108  Low 85

I have been home for a few weeks now but have one more post to make for my summer adventures.

I hate driving through Las Vegas so, even though it's longer, I take the road through Valley of Fire State Park and then around Lake Mead to Boulder City. The road is longer but has very little traffic and some beautiful desert scenery. A really enjoyable drive. I made this drive last year and took hundreds of pictures so I only have a few to post this year. Well, maybe more than a few.

Valley of Fire

Saw this guy and a couple of his girls on my way into the park.

 

 

This herd was greeting everyone at the visitor's center. There was so much traffic, there was no way to get a decent photo.

 

Lake Mead - the lake is still really low. We could sure use some rain.

I spent my last night on the road in Parker, AZ.  I headed out early Tuesday morning and Daisy heaved a sigh of relief when I pulled her into the carport. 

Everything seemed to be work well especially the air conditioners for which I was truly grateful. Melva fixed dinner for me and I slid into my recliner and smiled.

The smile stuck around until I discovered my water connection was leaking at my water softener set up. I couldn't fix it, so I called Reid and he immediately came down and took about ten minutes to take care of it. And people wonder why I love living in this park. 

The smile is back and I've settled back into the routine of life. So you won't get too many posts from me for awhile.  

A sunset to welcome me home.

 

RyanHenge

Somewhere in Nevada  Highs in the 90s

 

After leaving the Egyptian Room, my next stop was the attraction I missed when I was headed north.

RyanHenge is a solar calendar and sundial built by Ryan Williams, the CEO of the Western Elite Landfill. That's right, this American Stonehenge is located inside the Landfill.

 

Ryan became fascinated by the stars so he began to chart their movement with stakes in the ground. He mapped their movements on the 21st of each month, marking the season solstices and equinoxes. His birthday just happens to be December 21.

The structure is made of concrete and reinforced with steel designed to withstand the elements for over 1,000 years.  It took 10 years to complete and was completed in 2017. In the center is a world map painted on the ground and in the center, a flagpole. At noon, light flashes through a hole in the flagpole, converting it to a sundial. At night, standing on Antarctica transforms the flagpole into a marker for the North Star.

For RyanHenge to work on a monthly schedule, it needed 57 upright megalith columns made of different widths depending on how fast the sun was moving between every month. 

There are many mysteries about RyanHenge. What is the significance of the Greek, Latin, and English phrases written on the map? Does the center pole mark Atlantis? Why isn't RyanHenge marked on the map? Why does a green space alien stand atop the northernmost lintel?  Only Ryan knows and he's not talking.

 

Also on the property is a very large sundial and a labyrinth, some old Pullman railroad cars salvaged from a Las Vegas Casino and a small group of animals including a camel and a zebra.

 

 

RyanHenge is located on private property, but respectful people are welcome to visit it for free. They have had some really obnoxious people who have actually climbed in with the animals, entered the area where people who work there have their homes, and have done damage that has to be repaired. Take Highway 93 north of Las Vegas on I-15 to exit 64. Drive north on US-93 for 43 miles. Turn left into Western Elite Landfill and check in at the booth.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Jim

 I love you and miss you every day. I am so grateful that we were sealed for eternity in the Alberta temple.