HAWK

We had a visitor that sat on the deck railing for quite some time yesterday evening.  Not sure what kind of Hawk he/she is, looks like it is probably a younger one.  Had a big impact on the other birds.  They all disappeared, even the ones on the feeders on the other side of the house.  They have a good system of noting danger in the area.  Here are a couple of pictures of the "visitor".


Straight on view.

A little bit of a side shot.   Notice the talons on his/her foot.

Patrick

SNOW AGAIN

It looks like winter won't give up.  We are getting a snow storm again this morning.  Probably won't be a lot, but already enough to get the ground white again.  Sure would be nice to get some spring weather.

Back yard with snow coming down.

I don't think the birds like it either

Front yard.  Sidewalk white already.  I am not going to shovel.  The sun will take care of it.

Patrick

NEW GRILL

The last time I grilled and the only time since we have been home, it was very apparent that the old grill had seen better days and either needed several new parts or we needed a new grill.  After pricing the new parts needed, it was apparent that a new grill was the better way to go.  So, after a little on-line shopping I picked one out and ordered it.  It arrived yesterday and the assembly began.  The assembly went smoothly and took a total of about 2 hours over a period of yesterday and today.  It is all finished now and ready for grilling if the weather ever cooperates again.  The pictures show the unpacking and assembly process for my new RED grill.

 This is the top section with all the stuff unpacked from it.  It was full of parts and pieces.

Here are some of the many pieces.

The red pieces are the from doors covered by the grills

These are some of the panels for the bottom section and the instruction book.

This is the bottom section partially put together.

Bottom section all done.

Top section all done, but the insides weren't installed yet.

The finished product all set to go.

Inside look at the top section.

My favorite helper modeling the new grill.

Patrick

Snow April 9, 2020

The first snow storm of April and it wasn't even predicted.  All that you will see in the pictures below happened in about 35 minutes.  Started around 7:00 a.m.  It ended around 7:35 a.m.  At least we won't have to shovel any.  Isn't spring great.

Back deck.  The new grill isn't ready yet.

Bird City.  I think that is a rabbit down at the bottom center.  They are here about every day.

Shot of the back yard.

Another shot of the back yard and the river.

Patrick

HOME

We made it home yesterday around noon after driving 1930 miles in 3 1/2  days.  It was an interesting trip with all that is going on with the virus.  We did all of our "dining" at the fast food places.  It was KFC the first night, a small Pizza place the second and Mac Donald's the third night.  The gas stations were all open and we were able to get sandwiches for our lunches.  We had plenty of snacks with us, so there wasn't any starving.  Gas was highest priced in Lake Havasu ($2.49) and second highest in Winslow, AZ.  After we got out of AZ, the price was under $2.00 everywhere we stopped.  The cheapest gas we got was to fill up the tank today at Sam's Club in St. Cloud.  It was $1.659.  Most of the places were in the $1.70 to $ 1.80 range.  There were lots of Snow Birds on the road with us.  Majority were Canadians, with the rest mostly folks going to Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakota's.   The weather was real good the first two days and real rainy, foggy and snowy the third day.  The last day, from Ankeny Iowa to home, started out foggy, but we got sunshine about the time we got to Minnesota. It was a long tiring trip, but a safe one and we made it.  We got out grocery shopping done today, so we are good to stay in and hibernate for awhile.  Sorry, no pictures this time.  May get some during the next few days of hibernation.  Everyone take care.

Patrick and Pat

LONDON BRIDGE

Today we went down by the London Bridge to see a memorial stone, in the walkway, for one of Pat's classmates that passed away two years ago.  He and his wife spent their winters in Lake Havasu.  There are hundreds of the stones, many of which are for military people.  Anyone can buy a stone for a person.  Took a couple pictures of the bridge and a pretty fountain also.  It was a nice day for a walk and an ice cream cone.

One shot of the memorial brick.

This is a second shot.

This is the north side of the bridge.

This is the under side of the bridge.

This is the south side of the bridge.

Fountain.

Fountain again.  I should have taken a movie.

Patrick

NEW CASINO

We made a trip over to the new casino today.  It was a nice day for a boat ride.  The casino is nothing to write home about.  They have pretty much all of the new fancy and expensive slot machines and they were hungry as usual.  We only stayed about an hour.  I did get lucky and won a little on one machine.  It was a good time, not sure if or when we might go back.  You now have to pay to ride the boat.  It was free with a coupon that was in the paper each week in the past.  Guess they have to pay for the new building and marina.  Got some pictures of the boat and marina.

Boat coming into the marina.

Pulling into the parking spot.

This is an extra boat they have to use if the main one breaks down.

Entrance to the new casino.

Part of the new marina.

Ramps for getting off the boat.

One more shot of the boat.

Patrick

BALLOONS

This weekend was the annual balloon festival here in Lake Havasu City.  It started this past Thursday and ends today.  They had a lot of wind the first couple days and couldn't fly the balloons.  They managed to get some up Saturday morning and got them all up and going today.  No wind and lots of sunshine today. Lots of pictures and have a series on one balloon that was being readied in the parking lot of the place where we eat breakfast.  It was interesting watching them get it ready and taking it off.

This is one of the ones that got up Saturday.  I took this picture from our kitchen window.

Another Saturday balloon from the kitchen window

Saturday from the kitchen window

 Saturday from the dining room window.

Same one as above, just closer.

Last Saturday balloon.

This was taken from the parking lot where we eat breakfast.  They were taking off from an area about a block away.

 One up close.

Another group shot.

A mushroom balloon.  Didn't get it real clear.

This is the one being readied in the parking lot.

Got it up off the ground.

Getting ready to take off, everybody on board for the trip.

Lifted off.

Up and away.

Another group shot.

Not sure what this one was suppose to be.

That's not a balloon.  We had a full moon a couple nights ago. 

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Patrick