HAPPY EASTER!

I love this photo I took when I was in Mexico at the base of the Christo Rey Statue "Jesus Christ"

I was speechless to see people walking on their knees in prayer all the way up to the chapel at the base of the statue. I was close to tears when I saw a elderly Woman on her knees being helped my her granddaughter on her knees to the chapel. We also saw a pilgrimage of many people walking by foot up the long long road up the mountain to the statue. We thought it took us forever by bus , I can just imagine how tired those people were that were walking!!

I enjoyed the Easter Sunday service at St. John Neumann church in The Foothills, our little church was packed! We have a new church that is being built that will be huge and I am so anxious to go there when we come back next Fall. The new church will hold 1,200 people in a semi circle chapel. I saw all the plans drawn up and it is going to be a Southwestern Beauty!!

That is one of the things I miss being on the road and that's going to my favorite church in Puyallup WA, but I am drawn to this new church so I know it will be my new favorite church too when I am here for the Winter months.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with family & friends and remember what this day is all about.

Happy Hour before our Easter dinner with next door neighbors

Sandy Estes, Bob Wiggins, Earl Estes, Dan and Terri Wiggins

Our yummy Easter dinner

Sandy cooked a delicious Turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing. Jenny brought Asparagus and cheesecake, Terri brought the sweet potatoes.
We also had Cherry pie with ice cream.
YUM!

Jenny, enjoying the warm Sunshine on Easter .

Springtime in Yuma

Beavertail cactus in my yard blooming

One of the easiest flowers to grow here in Yuma is Petunias. They thrive here!! I'll buy lots next year with Snap Dragons.

I saw this outdoor kitchen at Julieann's Restaurant in Yuma AZ and thought how cool this would be in the back yard some day!
On my Wish List!

cactus ready to bloom

Saguaro with bird nests in it

Ideas to make a above ground garden with Mexican bricks

I had my first yard sale Mar 7 & 8th. I learned down here you have them on Thur & Fri or Fri & Sat but Fridays seem to be the magic day to bring out droves of cars down the streets looking for the special bargain of the day. I collected a whopping $163.00

I'll have another one once I sort through all the boxes still in WA and go through things and pitch what I know I really don't want in my craft closet.

The Purr~Fect Retreat

Two years ago we came to Yuma AZ to purchase a satellite dish for the internet and we asked our friend Ken Haven if we could stay at his property. Ken said that was fine and we stayed two days to get the satellite dish. We left and went to Phoenix for a oil job on the motorhome and came back to Yuma.

I really did not want to go to a campground so we asked Ken if we could go back to the property and this time we insisted on paying him.

The more we sat there the more we enjoyed the neighborhood and everything about Yuma. Dan started checking out properties for sale . We wrote down addresses and went around checking them out.

We came across this property for sale and I just knew this was going to be our Winter home.
We offered a bid and the lady who owned the property accepted our offer and we moved onto the lot Apr 7th.

Here is what the Purr~Fect Retreat looks like now 2 years later, boy it looks better!
Love it here!!
The cats love it here because they have a yard to roam about, Biff keeps his weight down here wandering around.

Our goal for 2009 is landscaping the back yard and adding outdoor furniture.

I'd like to add more plants and install a drip system for plants through the Summer. A Lemon and Orange tree would be nice.

We have had alot of guests staying with us and they love the casita too.
Casita has been a great addition so we have a bigger eating and entertaining area or overnight guests. We LOVE our Winter Home!

Yuma AZ Mission

Yuma Mission over by the Yuma Territorial Prison

Plaque of Father Garces at the Yuma Indian Mission

Happy Birthday Dan!

I surprised Dan with a surprise birthday party with all his Metro friends who stay the winter in Yuma and also invited our next door neighbor's.

Metro Friends who came were Don & Vicki Gerding, Don & Lynn Kneebone, Bernie & Darlene Fischer, Jim & Dee Vaughn, Bob Morgan, Ed Eyman.
Our next door neighbors Bob & Terry Wiggins and Earl & Sandy Estes

Thanks everyone for making his 58th birthday a special one!!

Dan was really surprised that all his Metro friends and our neighbors were in the house for a surprise Birthday party for him.

The Metro Gang is all here!

Party time!

full house celebrating Dan's birthday

Boomer Lunchen

A lot of the Boomers are in Yuma in March so we got together at the Burgers & Beer Restaurant.
Boomers are Baby Boomers who belong to the Escapee RV Club.

Mom & Dad come to visit

Jack, Dotty & Jenny
In front of the casita












Photo of Dan & Dotty watching the Sunset

Jack & Dotty came down to visit and see our new casita. Mom loved seeing the Sunsets that we had every night that were glorious!
They stayed in the casita and we had a Queen size Aerobed for them so they had their own space.

Sat Mar 1st we went to Algodones Mexico to show Jack & Dotty around and so Jenny could get into the dentist. They both enjoyed looking around town and Dotty bought several things including a Silver bracelet for Jenny...Thanks Mom!
There was a street dance with Free Margaritas so we decided to take them up on it and boy they were good and STRONG! Mom and I started getting drunk!! Ha-Ha We danced a bit and then had Shrimp tacos at our favorite Fish & Shrimp Taco stand. Everyone knows Lupita's shrimp tacos are the best! Her Mother makes two pots of tamales that are soooo good but you have to get there early because they sell out fast!
Something I want to learn is to make good Tamales!

Wind kicked up the next day so we did not get to go through the Yuma Territorial Prison. Will save that for the next visit when they come down.
Our visit was just too short and they only stayed 2 nights and then was on their way to Palm Springs to stay with their friends Mary & Bill.

Hope they liked our little peace of Heaven and will come back again next year.



Jack & Dotty Cooper