And....we're home!

 We spent the first two nights back in Wickenburg at Desert Cypress RV Park so we could slowly ease our way into the house.    All our things were already there, but we needed to dump Beluga's black tanks, rinse out the fresh water tank and gather our wits about us in order to transition from living in a motorhome to living in a real house.   I try to have duplicates of most everything so there wouldn't be too much to take from Beluga once we arrived, but still.....what was the hurry?

Since we were only a few miles away, I followed Beluga down our washed out, rocky road to the house.

We put Lewis in the house and then worked on backing Beluga into her new winter home.   The building was large enough so it would be easy peasy for Dave.

Beluga's coming generated a bit of interest from the horses across the street....It's a boring life for a pipe corral bound horse after all....

So....we backed in, right to the rear wall of the building but part of Beluga was still sticking outside, the door would definitely NOT close, uh oh.    Dave readjusted, tried backing in a little to the left, a little to the right, kitty corner to the door, etc., but in no way would the door close.   One of the reasons we bought this property was because Beluga would have a building to live in while we were in the house.

Long, long story short, he was able to carefully back Beluga so that her ladder fit between two of the studs in the back wall.   With a 1/2 clearance on either side.    I stood with my nose to the studs, walkie talkie keyed in my hand, guiding him slowly back (and forth) - inch by inch until the ladder was as tight as it could be to the back wall.  

back as far as she could go....

Then we moved to the front and cautiously brought the door down, hoping it could clear Beluga's windshield wipers and close to the ground.   We held our breaths.

just made it

Success!  by inches.   What an exhausting and nerve wracking first few hours.    

We closed up Beluga, walked up to the house,  poured a good stiff gin and laughed at our almost catastrophic failure.   Mother nature gave us a beautiful welcome but later,  when we went to use the master bathroom toilet we found it was leaking.   Ugh.

Another long story short, Dave worked on the toilet and ended up cracking the tank....luckily we have another bathroom to use so we gave up and went to bed.     The next day we drove into Sun City and bought another toilet.

yes, he knows it's upside down....

Lewis continues to enjoy our movement in and out of the house.   He knows where his toys are and where the best places to use his new ball and get our attention.....   Sometimes he loses it under things but he knows we'll come to the rescue, eventually.

got a minute to kick that ball?

   

 

it's under there, I know it's under there......

stopped it just in time!

Sometimes he tires of playing and just wants pets...If we're busy he lets us know what he needs.

I need pets, can't you just stop for one minute, can't you?  I'm right here - see me?

He's not a "dog bed" sort of dog, has never been.   Since this house is all tile flooring I tried to place soft beds everywhere so he wouldn't have to drop his old bones down on the hard floor.    He studiously avoids all help.   He plops down next to a bed and only gets on it if I bribe him.     But...we bought a really nice, thick and luxurious velvet bed for him to use our bedroom at night and that one he seems to use regularly, but he'd still rather sleep in the carpeted master closet.   Go figure.

One day (Saturday I think) we decided to take the day off and go to the Wickenburg Airport to attend  Fly-In Classic Car Show.    We hoped we'd be back from our Spokane trip in time to get to this show - it combines two of Dave's loves.     Steve and MonaLiza were planning to be there also so it would be a fun outing.    Until.....we got into the Jeep, ready to go and - click click click.   The battery was dead.  Grrr    Do we call AAA and wait all day for them to bring a new battery and miss the car show?     Once again, good friends came to the rescue.   Steve and Mona Liza were in the area and they responded to Dave's call.    They came right over, agreed with Dave's diagnosis and wasted no time taking him to the local Napa store for a new battery.

We managed to make it to the Fly-In Classic Car show before all the exhibitors flew or drove away.   Thanks again Steve and MonaLiza!

Lots of the planes were beginning to fly away but we enjoyed watching them taxi and take off as we walked through the remaining cars.    It was a very good show and next year we'll make sure we arrive a bit earlier!

So, back to the house and getting settled.   We're using our Beluga outdoor chairs in the livingroom - our new furniture won't arrive til near Thanksgiving (ordered mid May).     Here are a few pictures, in no particular order, my brain is fried with  too many details.....The FedEx man knows us so well he brings a biscuit for Lewis each time he comes.

out with the old

in with the new

Dave uses CAD to help me visualize a fireplace (cardboard aided design)

new license plates

tv antenna works great - now.....

my new Mexican Agave (it's metal!)

And, to top it all off, we've just purchased the empty property next door to assure the privacy we're so enjoying here.   

So....we're here and happy until next summer's travels.   We look forward to being able to welcome friends and relatives, celebrate the holidays with a real Christmas tree, and just generally enjoy our own little slice of Arizona!