Catch Up Time

Apache Junction, AZ  High 72  Low 47

Is it possible to forget HOW to blog? I think that is what has happened to me. We’ve been busy but when we get home, I forget to sit down and write about it. I also haven’t taken very many pictures. My sometimers is becoming more of an alltimers.

So I’m going to try and catch up.

Sunday we were invited over to Steve’s place for a Hanukkah dinner. Steve fixed brisket and latkes along with cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, and lots of munchies. We had a great time, meeting some new people and eating. Steve is heading out for Congress, AZ this week-end so it was a see ya on the road party also.

I took a couple of pictures but Steve isn’t in any of them. I did get a great picture of Jin though. Isn’t he beautiful?

Dianna still hasn’t given up trying to make me not take her picture. I tell her, no matter what they look like, they go on the blog.

Monday night we went with Mickey and Ginny to the Mining Camp Restaurant. The McNasty Brothers perform after a great dinner of ham, ribs, chicken, dressing, potatoes, cole slaw, baked beans and home baked rolls.

The Mining Camp Restaurant is right at the base of the Superstition Mountains. You can never have too many pictures of these beautiful mountains.

 

Lots of old rusty stuff in their yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the McNasty Brothers. They put on a really enjoyable show with great music and stupid jokes.

Now, I want you to look closely at this picture and see if you can spot the problem.

See all those empty tables. The rest of the restaurant was also empty. That’s right. It was just the four of us. We had the entire performance to ourselves. Rather strange. But we still had a wonderful time.

Today we took Aunt Happy to the doctor. She is doing really good and has an appointment with the nose doctor next Monday. Her doctor told her to take a baby aspirin instead of the Plavix so hopefully that will stop her nose bleeds.

This afternoon  Rod and Loyce came by and we threw some hamburgers on the grill. Had us a great visit. They are leaving on Friday to go to Kansas City for Christmas. Once again, the camera was in the house and could not find it’s way into my hands.

And that’s life at the Dixon’s house.

AZ Opry

Apache Junction, AZ  High 71  Low 48

On Wednesday we joined Jeri, Terry, Doris (Terry’s Mom), Dianna, and Bobbie at the AZ Opry. (Most of my pictures turned out really lousy.) This place holds 500 people and they have feeding every one down to a science. They can get all the food served in 35 minutes. They offer a beef dinner on even number days and a chicken dinner on odd days. Food is pretty good but the show was really good.

They performed some Christmas music as well as their regular show. A lot of talent on that stage.

A little guitar pickin’.

Elvis is in the building.

On the road again.

How many of you remember the song – The Lion Sleeps Tonight? The lead singer of the Tokens is the lead performer at the Opry and can play all of the instruments you can see on that stage.

We had a great time and would like to go again.

We went to visit Aunt Happy today but she’s not feeling very good. She had a nose bleed that wouldn’t quit and ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. She has a pace maker and is on Plavix so they have taken her off the Plavix and hope that will control the nose bleeds. We will be taking her to her doctor on Wednesday morning. Everything is serious when you’re 99.

Quiet Life

Apache Junction, AZ  High 78  Low 51

We’ve been keeping a low profile, letting Jim recuperate. He spends a lot of time with his leg up.

Of course he has to have company.

We bought the girls a new doggie bed because we thought it might be nice for them to lay on outside. But they still prefer the hot rocks. They do like laying on it in the house though.

What’s really great is the fact that Jim is able to walk. We’ve been walking around a few blocks in the park a couple of times a day and he doesn’t have any leg pain. For the first time in years and years. It’s going to take awhile to build his stamina but that’s okay.

On Sunday we picked up Dianna and headed down to Casa Grande to Bill and Jan’s house. They invited about 20 people over for dinner and socializing. I took my camera and then forgot to take any pictures. What a lot of fun we had. And it felt so good to get out of the house for something besides just shopping or doctor appointments.

Tomorrow night we’re going to the AZ Opry. Let the fun times roll.

Hello Doc

Apache Junction, AZ  High 81  Low 57

Meet Doc. This is one of the neatest birds we’ve ever met. He belongs to Ginny and Mickey, our across the street neighbors. Doc is 22 and loves to preen in front of the toaster.

We got to bird sit Doc for a couple of days last spring and let me tell you, he was not impressed that it was me coming through that door and not his Mom or Dad. He let me hear about it. This bird can really make his opinion known.

They almost lost him one year when he was about 10 so they keep his wings clipped now just in case. He has a little ladder that he can climb to look out the window and a box that he can shelter in.

When they sit him outside in his cage, he cheers up the whole neighborhood with his chirping.

On Sunday, Ginny had us over for a turkey dinner to make up for our missing Thanksgiving dinner. The park did make up dinner plates for us, but Jim didn’t feel like eating when I finally got him home from the hospital.

And a fantastic dinner it was. Ginny and Mickey have been our life savers this year with all of our issues. We have been gone so much, if it hadn’t been for Ginny, our girls would have starved to death or never gotten outside. Coming home from the hospital at 10:30 at night and finding chocolate chip cookies sitting on my counter. What a treat.

We are so grateful for friends who are so willing to step in and help out with whatever we need to have done. They definitely have gone above and beyond.

They have never been to Quartzsite and they plan on  joining us this year for a new adventure.

Jim Update: He’s doing really well. His leg swelled up to about double it’s size, so we called the surgeon’s office on Monday and he wanted to see us Tuesday. So once again we headed out and Ginny fed the girls.

Dr. Patel sent us over to SMIL for an ultra sound to look for blood clots. Good news – no clots. Jim needs to keep his leg elevated whenever he’s sitting and he needs to walk as much as he can. The incision is still really sore and it’s right where your leg bends at the groin, so it bothers him but he was able to take Scootz for a walk this morning.

Now we just need to find time to get our hair cut. We both look like shaggy dogs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

                   From our house to yours.

Quick Post

Just a note to let you know that Jim is doing good. Surgery took 3 1/2 hours but everything went as expected. They are keeping him overnight but I get to bring him home in the morning.

He was pretty dopey (more than usual) when I said goodnight to him but he was anxiously waiting for his dinner. Do Not get between that man and his food.

I was gone almost 12 hours so I’m really exhausted and am headed for bed. Thanks to all of you for all your prayers and caring. They worked.

Have a really wonderful Thanksgiving.

YIPPEE!

Apache Junction, AZ   H 84  L 54

Okay, now where was I? Oh yes, we had dinner with Jeri and Terry.

On Saturday we went to Mesa and opened up my sister’s park model. She was to arrive on Monday and we try and have it ready for her. We also made a stop at Camping World for a screen door cross-bar. Gives me something to hang on to when I open the door and the wind grabs it.

Sunday after church we went over to Ginny and Mickey’s (just across the street) and watched the last NASCAR race of the year. Now Jim can concentrate on football. Ginny is the one who takes care of the girls for us when we are spending forever at the doctors and hospitals.

Monday we picked up my sister (Judy) at the Mesa airport. Stopped to say hi to Aunt Happy and then went to Judy’s place. We could not get her TV to turn on. No matter what we did, it defied us. We had to get home and feed the girls so we left her with no TV. Monday night we played cribbage for the first time this season. Lots of fun even if we didn’t come anywhere close to winning.

Today we met up for lunch with Dianna, Jan and Bill at the Black Bear Diner. Great food and friends.

After lunch we went back to Judy’s and took her the TV out of our bedroom. We very seldom turn it on so we won’t miss it. It sure looked tiny sitting on her TV stand. But she can kind of see it. Wants to be sure to see the game on Thursday. When her hubby gets here next week, they can figure out what they’re going to do with their own TV.

Before we met up with them we saw Dr.Gordon, the oncologist. It’s amazing how nervous you can be waiting to see a cancer doctor. But everything is great and we don’t have to see him again for three months. Yippee!!! That’s the kind of news I like.

Tomorrow is Jim’s surgery. They said he should probably be able to go home in time for dinner tomorrow night. I sure hope they’re right.