CA - Where it all Started - Part 2

Citrus Heights is not new to us.  Don and I moved into our

first home  here when we got married 52 years ago...

A few years later we moved up the street and around the

corner to a new development of very contemporary homes built 

by Streng Brothers. Today while 

making another run to Lowe's,  we encountered a detour

 that took us right by both of those prior residences, so of course,

I snapped a couple of photos. 

We were pretty excited on  Oct 8 when American Furniture Warehouse

delivered and assembled our new queen bed...

which was way more comfortable than that air mattress.

And xfinity also came to install our internet package.

Other things began to shape up as well.  The spare bedroom which

houses  my computer setup and sewing equipment was almost organized.

And he laundry was being done  in our very spacious

laundry room while

 I showed off my flexibility by partially sitting in cupboards as

I installed contact paper on  shelves.

It really started to look like home when decorations were

added to some of the walls.

The dining room set we ordered will arrive in 2 more weeks

and will go on the area rug in the dining room.  

(Remember, click on any photo for a larger view.)

We cleaned us some old patio furniture and placed it

near Don's BBQ.

The area behind the house  creates a patio with a view,

with it's towering redwood trees and green grass

which is often a favorite place for the resident wild turkeys.

This is where we live.  And as you can see there are many

streets and green areas where one can wander.  Don and I

enjoyed a short walk around the small lake,  indicated in blue,  

a nice respite from opening boxes and unpacking.

  We weren't alone...  In addition to wild Turkeys there are lots of geese 

on the grounds and we were delighted to 

see this flock of ducks fly over, first one way

and then turning around for their lake landing.

With the park map in hand we continued our lazy stroll and

were amazed by the size of the oak trees along the street.

Our yard was looking pretty good until we had a hugh wind storm,

with winds gusting to 45 mph.  Everything was a mess, the yard, the driveway,

sidewalks & garden areas.  What to do... hire the neighbor who

has a handy man business-sounds good to me.

After 2 hours of blowing, raking and hauling leaves and branches, 

things were back to normal.

This morning Thur Oct 14, I grabbed my park map and headed

out.  The pen points to my starting point at our home.   Then I

followed the yellow highlighter "route" and walked the perimeter

of the park.  It was a brisk 47 degrees with lots of blue sky

and the Liquid Ambers were putting on a beautiful fall display.

This was only 1.8 miles, but I will be using that folded up map above

for future morning walks which will include many cu-de-sacs

so I can do a 3 mile morning walk like I did in AZ.   No pickleball

in this resort community but friends I knew from before play at

a community park about 4 miles away and I joined them yesterday

at the 12 court facility located in Rusch Park.  They will see me again...

…

 

CA - Where it all Started - Part 1

When Don and I got married, he worked for a large home builder

in Sacramento and we purchased our first home in Citrus Heights

about 5 miles from where we are now located.

On September 30th the movers arrived in Gold Canyon AZ about  8:30 a.m.,

and carefully wrapped and packed all the delicate and fragile

pieces, one by one, and

for safe keeping they even shrink wrapped our leather sofa

and recliners.

They were on their way about 11:30.  After we did a final check,

we jumped into our previously packed Honda CRV

and said goodbye to #725 as well as 

the symbol of the southwest, the Saguaros.  We drove 

4 hrs 45 min, (296 miles).to Needles CA and 

stayed at the BW Colorado River Inn.

Day 2, Oct 1st, we bit the bullet and drove 575 miles all the way to Folsom CA.

We made the mistake of taking Hwy 99 N from Bakersfield towards

Sacramento  which was stop and go traffic, all the way, 

due to massive amounts of road construction!!!

We spent the night with our daughter Kristine  & son-in-law Richard

who barbecued chicken and corn on the cobb... after we 

had a few celebratory cocktails!!!

Kristine & Richard followed us to the new home and within minutes

the moving truck had arrived.

We tore thru many boxes and got lots unloaded and it’s hard to 

believe that it’s only been 3 days since we left AZ.

We started tearing thru the boxes and wondered where to

put the assortment of items that were in one box that had

nothing to do with the other... that's because if a box wasn't

full, we put whatever would fill the vacant into that box.

  Fortunately there was an excessive amount of cupboards/drawers

 in this large kitchen.

After a trip or two to Lowes, Richard quickly installed towel rods

and television sets as I 

tackled the walk in closet and

granddaughter Cassie let the mosaic ants out to explore the yard.

We didn't have a bed yet, so spent 5 nights on our queen

size inflatable mattress.

And worse than that we didn't have a refrigerator for 2

days (another purchase & delivery from Lowes)...

Then it was off to Safeway to fill that refrigerator.

Then we needed to make a fuel stop!!   Welcome to CA...

Moving Back to CA

I know it's been about a month since I've posted

and some of you have contacted me to ask "what's up".

Here's the whole story...

We're moving back to CA to be closer to our family and

that takes us full circle... well, not quite a "circle"!!!  However

Don and I started our life together in Citrus Heights, then moved to Cotati, 

then Colfax (all in CA) then Gold Canyon AZ.  And now we're 

headed back to Citrus Heights CA.

We purchased a home in Citrus Heights in a 55+

mfg home park.  The home has been totally renovated inside

and has a detached 2 car garage.

The resort has a lake with walking/running trails, a clubhouse

and pool area and a variety of activities.  No pickleball courts

but there are 12 in a park about 3 miles away, where a couple

of my CA friends play.

We started packing and then I got side tracked because my

good friend Coleen,  who winters here in Gold Canyon,

told me she liked to make on-line books of special events

so I started going thru thousands of my photos to put

together an Arizona Memories book that

not only featured a few of my favorite desert flowers,

and  unique cloud formations and beautiful sunsets,

it also featured special places we visited while living here,

like Coal Mine Canyon in Tuba City AZ;

Biospere II in Oracle AZ;

Antelope Canyon in Page;

and one of our favorite museums ever, located in Green Valley.

Then the packing continued and the walls were bare and

filled & labeled packing boxes accumulate in

more than 1 room!!!

After a few days of hard work, I needed some therapy so I went

for another early morning walk, about 5:45 a.m. even though

the sky looked like this and rain was in the forecast.

And I wasn't alone when the drops started to fall,

(Remember you can click on any photo for a larger view.)  

I only had about 500 yards to go, so I picked up the pace.

By  the time I stepped inside I was soaking wet, hair, shirt, shorts

 and shoes.

The "river" out front started to run and it continued for

about 3 more hours.  A good day to do some packing

don't you think?

The movers arrive Thursday...

See you in California