May 2018

 May was our month in Mexico….. Puerto Vallarta!

At the LA Airport waiting for our flight….

We stayed the first week at an all-inclusive resort – Fiesta Americana

There were 12 of us – all together to celebrate Pat Shinavar’s

70^th birthday.  We all took a trip to “Los Muertos” Brew Pub.

Mike loved it!

The pool, the drinks, the food- all of it was fantastic!

Pat with her birthday flowers!

Mike went parasailing…….Serena and Rollie also went –

All of them had a super time!

Downtown Puerto Vallarta is great –

the old part of town has so much charm.

We all went on a “Luxury Snorkeling Trip”

If you look closely, Rollie is getting close to letting the seal

“Sexy Rexy” give him a kiss.

All 12 of us…… what fun!

Night time at the resorts in Puerto Vallarta is almost magical.

After one week, our friends all left.  Mike and I

moved over to Vallarta Torre (we stayed there last year too)

We love it there – feels like home.

One day we took the city bus up to Bucerias – a  town
north of Puerto Vallarta

Many open air shops, a nice beach.  A fun day.

Vallarta Torre – our home away from home.

(for 2 weeks)

Dinner one night at our favorite….. Pipi’s.

The Marina Vallarta is fabulous…… yachts from

All over the world

Dinner at “Victors” on the waterfront.

A HUGE alligator lazily swimming thru the boats…..

Another day, we took the city bus up to Sayulita. 

Very busy town…… many, many north americans…

many, many surfers, many, many souvenir shops

Very touristy cute little town… Sayulita

Another day we took the city bus as far as it would go south.

A little fishing village Boca de Tomatlon.

We took a Mexican cooking class…… what fun. 
After shopping at the local market, we went to the chef’s home

where we made 2 kinds of salsa,

guacamole, tortilla soup and
the most wonderful Chili Rellenos. 

Downtown Puerto Vallarta – in the Zona Romantica

Nice area……

What a beautiful colorful tree growing
in the middle of the road.

Yet another day, we took the city bus to Punta Mita.

Another sleepy fishing village until

folks found about it.  Now the homes sell for 1 – 3 million.

A cruise ship coming in to the Puerto Vallarta harbor.

We both love Mexico and had so much fun there.

Now we are back in Indio.  Tomorrow we head north. 

Can’t wait to see the kids and grandkids!

 April…… One of my favorite months of the year.

I don’t know the name of this plant, but I love the beautiful

red blooms…..

I have started attending the Coachella Valley Quilt Guild
and I love it.  The April guest speaker was incredible.

The palm trees are incredible.

The warm weather has brought us lots of pool time

I finished my scrap quilt 

(it’s for the back of the golf cart)

A nice evening for dinner with good friends

Our “End of the year” party was

so much fun!

Spring always brings the baby ducks.

We had a swarm of bees (honey bees I believe)

ascend on us….. then then they all gathered in a

Ficus tree next to the motor home.

Folks are leaving ORI …. Why people leave when the weather

Is so nice, I just don’t know.  But I love the quiet time.

We leave in a week for 3 weeks in

Puerto Vallarta…I can’t wait!

Fun pictures next month  J

March 2018

We took a trip in the car to Golden Valley

to spend time with Pat & Rollie. 

We had a great time –

can’t wait till Puerto Vallarta in May!

Next we spent time with Chuck & Eva

in Lake Havasu City.

They had a face painting/Balloon twisting

job and we went along to watch.  It was fun!

We visited Chuck & Eva’s friends

and I was blown away by their back wall. 

So unique – their friend did it all himself.

We took a ride on Chuck & Eva’s

side-by-side to this incredible dry waterfall.

Ben has taken up rowing – Here he is at Vancouver Lake

Doesn’t this look serene?

A “Topless” convertible trip took

us up to Whitewater Preserve

and then into downtown Palm Springs.

My geraniums are beautiful this year. 

They have enjoyed the winter.

Mike continues to lead the “Jeep” group every Wednesday.

We had friends for dinner – A wonderful evening.

We really enjoyed them all.

Our friends John & Bonnie Kearsing are moving to the Tucson area.

We will miss them – but we plan to get together this summer.

February 2018

Winter is finally here…… last week it was in the 60’s  😊

We started out the month with dinner

at very good friends to celebrate Mike’s birthday.

Fun evening!

Super Bowl started with a Golf Cart Tailgater…..

Then lunch and Bocce Ball, a move into the clubhouse

and the big game!  Mike was thrilled that the Eagles won!

We had a fun Topless Convertible run that took us

to three casinos in the area for 30 minutes

of gambling at each.  No winnings…….but a good time!

I went to my first “Quilt Guild” with a friend.  What fun!

Lots of people, a great speaker and so much to see.

We went to the Pickleball “Dink and Drink”

Fun to watch.

Also the Golf club’s Valentine dinner was a great hit!

Bernie and Red (a comedy group) was so much fun!

Once a year, our Topless Convertible group has an “Overnighter”

This year, Mike and I were in charge and we planned a

Fun two nights in Yuma  (about 3 hours away)

Anna is so amazing.  Her form…. Standing on her fingertips.

She is unbelievable!  This was taken at an event she participated in

at an Air Museum in Oregon.

Camryn has turned 18…..  our little granddaughter

is now officially an adult…..

And where did she spend her birthday? 

Disneyland – of course!

Meanwhile, Brandon and Karen are up in Sunriver

checking out their new purchase!

Ben, however, is learning the ropes of operating a snow blower.

It’s really winter in Sunriver!

January 2018

January started with a “Pre-Run” to Yuma Arizona for the Topless
Convertible group.  Our real run will be in mid-February, and this trip was

To scout out places to stay, things to do and places to eat.

In Borrego Springs, we saw this incredible metal sculpture.
I just loved it!

We drove to Anaheim to meet up with
Brandon, Karen, Ben and Anna.

Anna was in a major gymnastics event and of course

She was fantastic!  So graceful and so talented.

Fun times in the hotel mini water park!

The “Road to California” Southern California Quilt show

was so beautiful.  This was my favorite quilt.  So intricate.

Our topless event took us into Redlands to see some of the

gorgeous mansions from the turn of the century.

Who would have guessed that Redlands had
so many beautiful homes?

We also had a tour of the Redlands “Smiley” Library.

Such a grand library….. built in the early 1900’s by Mr. Smiley
who spent the winters in Redlands.  He wanted to give back to Redlands.

My fellas!

Mike’s golf weekend with the boys took them to

three golf courses in the area.

They all had a great time!

Our very dear friends, the O’Connors have sold their lot here at ORI

And have headed off to another chapter in their lives.

We will miss them terribly but will make a point to

continue to see them.