EXCELLENT CONDITIONS

We reached home around 3:30 this afternoon in bright sunshine with clear, dry roads.  For just a short distance in Montana we had packed snow in the driving lane, otherwise the driving lane was always clear and visibility was good.

We stayed at the Days Inn in Helena Montana because we like that motel.  They serve an excellent breakfast there.  The hotel is very close to Interstate 15, but is a quiet location.  It's one of our favourites, just like the Comfort Inn in Fillmore, Utah.

The house was warm when we arrived, thanks to S. who cares for everything while we're gone, and that was so much appreciated because the current temperature is -9ºF or -23ºC.  BRRRR!

I'm all tuckered out from three days on the road, but wanted to let you know we reached home safely.

ANOTHER DAY ON THE ROAD

After a good night's sleep and a filling hot breakfast at the Comfort Inn in Fillmore, UT, we got on the road by 8:10 a.m.  We got to the southern end of the HOV through Salt Lake City by 9:30 a.m. and were through just south of Ogden by 10:30.  Saturday mornings work well for getting through SLC with minimal hassle.  Weather was high overcast, but the roads were clear and dry.  We felt blessed by those conditions and a very moderate amount of traffic.

Most of the day there was a high overcast.  About 20 miles on either side of Monida Pass, the boundary between Utah and Montana, and also the continental divide there was a lot of snow on the fields, up to 2 feet I thought on the Utah side, less on the Montana side, but the driving lane was always open and the visibility was good.  There was just some low snow blowing over the roadway.

Just for a bit in Montana even the driving lane was snow covered and bumpy.  The rest of the time the driving lane had at least two track open.  Jim drives according to the conditions, so we were always quite relaxed about the drive.

Were happy to arrive at the Days Inn in Helena, Montana about 5:40 p.m.  We like to stay here on the way home because they have a really good breakfast.  Lots of choice and all good and hot.  That's for tomorrow morning.

We hope to reach home late in the afternoon.  The forecast is for fairly clear weather but COLD, COLD, COLD!  That's just the way it is right now.  The car heater will keep us warm, as long as the road is reasonably clear, we'll be all right.

ELUSIVE INTERSTATE HWY 11

We had a relaxed morning preparing to leave and were on our way at 9:15 a.m.  The day was bright and clear, if a little nippy.  We had good roads and good travel times.

The highways in AZ really need upgrading.  Some sections of pavement are very rough.  We traveled north on Hwy 60 to Hwy 93.  That highway was designated as part of a new Interstate, number 11, planned to run from Alaska(?) at least from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.

Highway 93 was twinned between I 40 and Wickenberg many years ago (I think at least 20 years ago) and was intended to become part of the new Interstate 11.  I wonder what happened to that plan?  The twinning was never completed, making it a dangerous highway, most especially after dark.  The possibility, probability of someone mistaking a two way section for twinned highway is great and there have been some tragic crashes on that road.  I won't drive it after dark!

West of Kingman, AZ on Hwy 93 we saw a sign, Part of planned Interstate 11 North Corridor.  Something like that.  Well, we thought, maybe the plan is still in prospect.

Just west of Hoover Dam where we usually catch the Northshore Road through Mead Lake Recreation Area, a good alternate to going into Las Vegas to catch I 15 North, we unexpectedly found ourselves on a brand new road--Interstate 11!  What a nice new road! We should have taken Business 93 after the dam, but that was a new turnoff and I missed it.  Up to this time that was the way the road went.  This is a new section.

Interstate 11 North took us in the right direction so I was happy with what had happened, even though unexpected.  After a while Interstate 11 turned into Interstate 515 which took us into Las Vegas and onto I 15 north.  That is a one lane exit, so be sure you are in the very right hand lane when you approach the interchange with I 15.

We went through Las Vegas around 1 to 1:45.  It was not too bad.  Jim doesn't mind that kind of driving.  Just stick to a middle lane and flow with the traffic.  Not my favourite kind of drive!

North of Las Vegas on I 15 there was light traffic.  It was a clear, sunny afternoon.
South of St. George there was an accident on I 15 south (fortunately not on our side) in the Virgin River Gorge.  Traffic was backed up for miles!

Thirty miles north of St. George there was snow cover on the ground, and you could see that the road had been plowed, but all lanes were clear and dry.  At a speed limit of 80 mph we sailed along and were at Fillmore, Utah by 5:30 p.m. where we checked into the Comfort Inn, a good motel we have stayed in several times.  We visited the Burger King right next to the motel for a supper of chicken sandwiches and fries.

I put the contents of the cooler in the room fridge, but when we realized that the fridge made sounds like a giant breathing, we took the "freezable" contents back to the car.  It will be a cold night!

SERENDIPITY

Of all the amenities available in S.V. the one we use the most is the outdoor swimming pool.  These pictures were taken in November of 2014, but this is exactly what it looked liked today.  View from the east of about 2/3 of the pool:

View from the south showing the west half and behind that the north third.  The rock area on the right of the water is where the waterfall splashes down into the pool.

                        

The current air temperature is just 55ºF and there's a stiff breeze.  The sky is deep blue, the sunlight is comforting and the clouds are just as they are in this picture.  The pool is heated to 84ºF, but today it seemed they had upped the temperature just a bit.  It was blissful, taking our usual leisurely swim for about 45 minutes.  We had the pool to ourselves.  It takes a couple of crazy "Canucks" to go swimming when it's cold and windy.

Yesterday it was cold and rainy, in fact it's been cold and rainy since Saturday.  But Arizona always needs the moisture, so we don't complain.  When we went to the pool yesterday the rain was a sparse mist, but after a half hour swim it had intensified to a steady shower.  We cut our swim short, went home (to the condo) and brewed up some rich hot chocolate.

I'm making good progress on packing and cleaning in preparation for leaving on Friday morning.  Just need to wash the stove and fridge and they are not very dirty.  We'll vacuum and dust before we go so everything is good and clean for when Mort arrives that afternoon.

We appreciate Mort as a renter, even though we've never met him.  The couple who rented in the spring six years ago put us in touch with him.  Everyone who meets him says he's a really nice fellow.  He leaves the condo as clean as he found it and always pays the rent on time.  That really helps with the condo fees which must be paid year 'round.  So this arrangement seems to work well for him and for us.

GOT A LOT DONE

I was happy with what I accomplished this morning: by 10 a.m. I had the laundry done--all two loads--and then I hung the new painting over the couch.  I borrowed a stud finder from Dennis, located the studs, which, of course, were not in places where I wanted to drive in the nails!  But these few tools were enough to do the job: a yardstick, a level, hammer, screw driver and pencil.  I had marked the studs with a pencil.  Now I had to figure out how to hang the picture level when the studs were in the wrong places.

I centered the painting above the couch, put a screw in a stud which was pretty much in the middle, did some measuring on the back of the framed picture, and put two screws into the drywall about 2" lower than the main screw and about 32" apart.  Well, that was about my third try.  And that worked.

I think it looks just right!

Then I went to the Amenities Committee meeting as they had the renovation of the sewing room on their agenda--again!  The report was simply that they were in the process of getting new estimates on cabinets, etc., since so much time had gone by since the estimates were given.  We were all happy with that report, except for two of the new quilters this year who want to get in touch with our liaison with the committee and give things a good push forward.  I just hope they don't interfere with the process.  This renovation has been in "the works" for many years now.  It was supposed to be accomplished last summer and now is promised to be done by this coming fall.  We HOPE SO!

A VERY INTERESTING PURCHASE

Today I received an original painting that I purchased in January.  I first saw this painting in a show at Art Headquarters, and thought it was the best in show.  It struck me as a very joyful painting.  That was a year ago.  Then this January I saw it again at an art show at WHAM and realized it was for sale.  Oooh!  I would really like to have that painting.  A week later I was talking with my friend Nan Adams who knows the artist, Karen Mayfield.  We discussed the painting and she encouraged me toward a decision to purchase it.

Nan set up a meeting between Karen and myself, and I bought the painting.  It had to remain in the show until yesterday.  Today Karen brought it to Sun Village where Nan and I met her.

On Friday mornings the "Art Group" meets in the art room from 9 to 12 (approximately).  I had brought some sparkling juice, some grapes and small "cinnamon cheesecakes"--bite sized goodies.  This was a little party to welcome the painting to its new home, and also a little "goodbye party" as this is the last Friday of the season for me at Art Group.  I had hoped to have Karen celebrate with us, but she was on her way to other appointments, so we just had the little celebration with those of us who came to art room this morning.

The painting is resting on the back of our sofa right now.  I need to borrow a "stud finder" and get some nails in the wall.  When it's hanging where it belongs I'll post a picture of that.  In the meantime, here's a picture of it, with Karen, hanging up in the show at WHAM.

I am renaming this painting "Joie de Vivre."  Karen agreed to the change of name from her original title "Fragmented Emotion."  I feel that it expresses a lot of joy.  The red squares seem to dance.  I look forward to years of enjoyment with this purchase.

QUILTS, QUILTS, QUILTS

This morning our quilt group here had its weekly meeting.  We come together to make quilts that we donate to a variety of places.  This morning we chose 30 quilts from the stash we had accumulated and two of our members brought them to the Surprise Fire Department.  Here are a few pictures:

These are all lap sized quilts.  They are meant to comfort someone who has just experienced loss and hardship.  

We also donate quilts to a shelter for abused, neglected and abandoned children who often arrive with nothing more than the clothing they are wearing.  They receive a quilt that is their very own to have and to keep.

We decorate the walls of our room in Sun Village with some of our recent creations.  This morning we put up some new ones:

It just happens that none of mine are displayed just now.  These will be donated after about a half year and other samples will be put up.

We have a large stash of fabrics in the cupboards of the Sewing Room, almost all of which has been donated.  People clean out a cupboard and think, what can I do with all this fabric?  We sort through what comes in and keep the fabric that is appropriate for quilting and donate the rest of it to a thrift store.

On Tuesday evening of this week we had an organizational meeting for a new quilt group here.  This new quilt group will meet one evening a month for the purpose of sharing our latest projects and ideas.  Quilting hints, patterns, techniques and so on will be shared.  We can ask each other for suggestions and ideas for ways of accomplishing things. We enjoyed that evening and think this is a good new idea.