Getting Settled

It has been very busy!!

After returning to Phoenix from Sedona we were back at getting settled into the condo - it always takes a lot of work to find things and get things set up.  Thankfully Craig is so handy we have been able to replace all the towel bars etc and even some lighting.  There are new window coverings mounted and the place is feeling very cozy. 

We had a treat day and went for Pedicures.  It was the shops's Christmas party and all the staff were in their red attire and they were cooking out the back of the store and brought all the customers fresh made spring rolls.  They are starting to remember us now and even asked where our friends were (Faye and Bob) that we brought there in October.  Too funny!!

Spent Christmas day baking and watching movies.  That night we had the most wonderful Christmas dinner with Mom at the Hilton hotel restaurant called  Different Pointe of View.  You get a view of the whole city lit up at night. 

The weather has been cool but in the sun with no wind, 63F can feel just lovely!  Craig was on the bike today and got a bit chilled because when the sun goes, so does the warmth.  I was able to go do some errands and am very proud of being able to find my way around now.  One sure way to learn your way around is to forget your GPS at home when you go on holiday!!  It is such an easy city to find your way that even directionally challenged people like me can manage. 

The decorating is coming along and I have taken a few photo's of the condo so check the Condo Photo's tab to see what is there.  I will add more in the next few days of the pool and the buildings and the complex. 

That's it for now - it's movie time. 

Lynn

The condo is great!!
Arrived safely at the new condo - it's just lovely!!  What a great job Craig and Frank did setting us up.  I have been busy (re)arranging the kitchen cupboards and closets and settling in.  I have not taken any photo's yet but I will get some up before we leave.  We have a few pictures hung up now and the small table Christmas tree is out.  Very cozy!!

And we are off!!
We left Friday morning and drove to Sedona.  We took the Pink Jeep Mogollon Rim Tour and it was so beautiful!!  The road was not too bumpy and the ascent was so gradual you hardly noticed you had climbed so high.  Our guide Mike was wonderful, as every guide we have had is.  They seem to hire engaging and interesting staff and they all are interested in sharing their knowledge. 

It was also such a different experience to see this terrain with scattered snow on it. It makes the shapes and colors so defined.  Here we are all bundled up.

Here's some other neat photo's - so hard to take a bad one here. 

Here's a view of the snowy road.  Very cool in the shady areas and we were glad there were some nice warm Mexican blankets for us to use to keep warm. 

We had a great dinner at the Heartline Cafe in Sedona.  It was just up the street from our hotel.   They had an accoustic guitar player entertaining us during our wonderful meal.  Worth stopping in there.  We were so pleased with our hotel too - first time we have stayed here and we will stay here again.  It was the Best Western Plus and the location was amazing.  The room we had had a front and back door and out the back was a large patio area with table and chairs.  There is a nice hot tub and pool, both heated.   If you are there at sunset you could watch it set from your room.   Here's a view from the room patio.

Of course the view all around is stunning!!  This is from this morning before we left.We are home now and settling in to watch a movie so that's all for now. 

Two More Sleeps

What's New? 
Well folks...for those of you following my blog, a lot has changed since we were there in October and I was blogging for the first time.  We have moved to a new condo!! And I have not even seen it yet!!  

We closed on a new condo last month and this Wednesday, I get to see it for the first time.  That feels quite strange.  Craig has been a busy boy and went to see it before we finalized our offer and then he had a long weekend and Craig and our friend Frank physically moved us from the old condo to the new condo.  The other condo is now up for sale and we hope that in the new year it will sell quickly.  

Why the move? 
Well, we certainly were not unhappy where we were but we wanted more outdoor space since that is the main reason to spend time in Arizona.  Our new home has a nice yard and we even have our very own palm tree and a cactus!!  There is a grassy (fake grass) area and a covered back porch.  We have moved down in bedrooms from three to two bedrooms.  This condo is a split-master with two master bedrooms upstairs both with walk in closets and ensuites.  The main floor is very bright with lots of windows in the living/dining and kitchen.  We are also fortunate to have met some wonderful people who helped us get the new condo ready, even long distance.  It has been freshly painted from top to bottom and the carpets cleaned.  All I need to do is decorate and hang pictures from what I hear.  

Christmas Holidays
We will have the pleasure of having my Mom, Liz, with us for the first week during the holidays.  We have a number of things planned to do and we will be going to Sedona for a Pink Jeep Tour.  We are taking the Scenic Rim Tour since we are told that is not as "exciting" as the Broken Arrow tour we have already taken twice.  That's part of Mom's Christmas gift so we hope she enjoys it.  There are a ton of things to do and see so I will post what we get up to. People have asked me to keep blogging...  

The second week we are there on our own and we hope to get out on the motorcyle a bit but who knows?  I may even get Craig to lay by the pool and read a book.  Strange things do happen in Phoenix.  

We wish our friends a happy and safe holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.