“USA 🇺🇸 ~Arizona From Florence, and Casa Grande, Arizona Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

• January 17, 2022
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

First of all, I am a bit remiss in wishing all a timely Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, but my (our) good wishes are no less, sincere!

After our, almost, 2,000+ mile adventure on the roads of America, since July, we could not be happier to be in one spot for over a month!

It is here, where we get to relax, and unwind; you know, feel more retired, than ever!
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After several birthday celebrations, other places in the world, here we are back in the USA, and I had, none-the-less, a weekend of fun for my Birthday, just the same. ⬇️

Firstly, dear friends of ours drove from their home state; a whole days drive with their trailer, and stayed with us in the same RV resort. We had not seen Bill and Monica since we left again, to travel overseas, 3.5 years ago! Bill and Monica are originally friends of Daryl, whom I got to meet on the same trip in Thailand, where I met Daryl for the first time. Gary and Tammy, our other friends, I met the same place. We call ourselves the gang, since we went on to travel to various corners of the world, together, since.
Gary and Tammy were not with us over this weekend, and we missed them!
Anyway, a special thank-you to Bill and Monica, for driving on down and spending a few nights with us, in Arizona! Thanks for all the conversation, going to the movies, dinners out, the laughter, flowers and brownies! ⬇️

⬆️ Bill and Monica with us at Texas Roadhouse!

⬆️ For reference, here is a pic of the full gang when we traveled to South Africa, together 

⬇️ In addition to all that fun, Daryl and I received our much awaited, ”Suvie;” our Kitchen Robot! She is very heavy, but after moving some things around, she fits just fine in Tiny. Yay!
We were able to purchase the robot for $399 (normally like $700) as an introductory offer to launching of the company’s “prepared food line.” We agreed to buy a few of their meals in the deal … still saving us hundreds. Sweet!
Since we are both cooks, we will have no problem doing our own meals, but for many people, who can’t cook, don’t like to cook, or have no time, it’s a very popular purchase. The Robot keeps the good refrigerated, till it turns on to cook, so when we come home, dinner is ready!
We expect our pre-packaged, fresh meals to arrive this next week. ⬇️

Finally, on the same day Monica and Bill departed the resort, Daryl and I locked up Tiny, and drove to the Trump Rally in Florence, Arizona. (I won’t expand on this, because we choose not to make this site political, but it is still something we traveled to, just the same).
To make even more fun, throughout the weekend, we stayed at the cutest place, over night, after the Rally at:    Rancho, Sonora Inn.
Totally awesome and we recommend! ⬇️

So yes, all in all, a super fun-filled, special Birthday! I had phone calls, messages, FaceTime singing, and overall, FB love 💕

⬆️ Our Family in North Carolina, sang Happy Birthday to me (with lots of gusto) on FaceTime
Daryl got me a cake and ice cream, and also, into the new week, the goodies will continue to roll, with a 2-hour massage coming up!
Happy Birthday to me!
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Casa Grande, Arizona ⬇️
Another walk around the resort at sunset. Earlier, I got laundry done and hung out at the pool.
A nice place to stay for awhile.

We are also enjoying going to the movie theater again, and since we got set-up with our own Wifi for Tiny, we have a consistent signal; no longer sharing with so many other guests, wherever we camp and we love it!
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Our Own Traveling Signal! ⬇️

Yay! Now, almost every night is date night, binge watching “This is Us,” and “Yellowstone;” and a few others, when we take the time. It’s very fun indulging (commercial free) after, over four years of never watching any TV. While at Chelsie and Joeys,’ in November, we watched “Poldark”(PBS) all together and got caught up, there, too.
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I’m also taking the time to learn my new Metal Detector; Minelab Equinox 800. It’s an upgrade from my Garrett Ace 400, already, which is also a fine machine. But, the Equinox is a better fit for me. There are 17 city Parks in Casa Grande, which I got permission to treasure hunt in!
I’ve moved up from finding bottle caps to modern coins, to date. ….Still looking for GOLD, though! 😂 It’s hard, dirty and sweaty work, but I like it.

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YUM ⬇️
I’ve been making homemade buttermilk pancakes, for almost forever. its a family tradition recipe. (box mixes won’t do) They are lovingly called “PenCakes, by the little kiddos of days gone by. ❤️
What I haven’t done for many years is put up (or can) my own applesauce. (store bought applesauce, REALLY won’t do)!
So, this week I made homemade applesauce, using my crockpot, and tonight we had breakfast for dinner.
Applesauce on Buttermilk Pancakes? Don’t knock it, till you try it. (Homemade only, of course).

Buttermilk Pancakes

Separate 3 Eggs:
    Egg yolks in main bowl
~Whip together with fork
Egg whites in another smaller bowl
~Whip to a peak and set aside

Add to Yolks and mix all together with spoon:

2 Cups Buttermilk, 1 Tsp Baking Soda, 1 Tsp Baking Powder, 2 TBSP Sugar, 1/2 Tsp Salt

Add:
2 Cups Flour

Gently stir the flour into this mixture, only enough to moisten flour; don’t worry about a few lumps

Fold Into the Above Entire Mix:
Whipped Egg Whites

Then Fold In:
4 TBSP Vegetable Oil

Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. Place a TSP or 2 of butter or oil on griddle or skillet. When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes of any size you like. Adjust heat as necessary; usually, first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, after 2 minutes or so.
Cook until second side is lightly browned.
Serve right away, or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.

**I usually double the batch and cook all the pancakes up. Whatever is left, after eating, cool and put in freezer safe bag or glass container, and use as needed. I re-heat them in a toaster oven to keep them crispy on the edges.

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My Traveling Washer and Spinner!
Just like everything that goes well with our “Tiny,” my new machine is also small, but mighty!
We do not have large wardrobes, so today, I washed a pair of Levis, a shirt, socks and silk jammies.
It took about 30 minutes and most of that time was spent filling the washer and spinner with water (from Tiny’s outside shower hose).
It was so easy. I did spin the heavy Levi’s by themselves, just so I did not over-stress the motor.
I love this! The spinner is so good my socks were practically dry, when I removed them from the spinner, after the washing!
I was not sure if I would be able to wash our sheets, as well as bath towels in this machine, but now I know this will be no problem. One load for two towels and another load for sheets. I have the hot/cold water options from the shower nozzle for sheets and towel washing.
BTW, We were told to take down our laundry line, by management 🙄, (not allowed here, apparently), so that’s why I’m improvising, with a few clothesline clips on our canopy.
I saved about $4 in quarters, and hours going back and forth from the laundry room with the first go at ‘er. Some machines are definitely cleaner than others in public places.
Auertech Portable Washing Machine:
*28lbs Mini Twin Tub Washer Compact Laundry Machine with Gravity Drain.

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StoneRain ⬇️

In addition, I received my new Young Living StoneRain Essential Oil Diffuser!
I am running the essential oil “envision” through this machine, for my first choice, which has mist (you can see the mist if you look closely). It smells really good in Tiny, as well!
I’m already a big believer of “thoughts become things, so make yours good ones!”
This year and every year!
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I don’t believe in coincidences….
Of course our preference would have been to continue living over seas for at least another year, and we think about still living that life, constantly. But, Sometime our plans are not as divine as His.
We get it.
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ARIZONA