Last week at Butterfield

Our last week at Butterfield RV Resort came way too quickly.  It seemed like we had just gotten here and now it was almost time to start saying goodbye to all of our new friends.

So how did we spend our last week? My days usually started with a walk "up the hill".  I'd take a left hand turn out of the park and head south. After ascending the hill and walking about 1.25 miles, I'd turn around and head back. Good exercise. Clean air. Good views from up on top. Mary continued with her Water Aerobics every Mon-Wed-Fri, excuse me, Mary & Dorann did the Water Aerobics every Mon-Wed-Fri. They were a pair.

The last week also included Thanksgiving.  On wednesday PM I joined a few other volunteers to set up the Clubhouse for the big meal. While we were setting up, another bunch was working on the meal- getting turkeys ready and preparing food.  Initial estimate was for 79 people to be attending. We set up for 92, just in case. The final count on thursday was 97. Pretty popular event. What brought the count up was a group from the Phoenix area that showed up as well as a bunch of "overnighters" that arrived.  Anyways, there was plenty of food for all, and not much left when all done. Actually there was quite a variety of food. And all good.

Woody surveying the scene

The place was FULL

Mary and just to her right, Dick & Patti from Durango

Our answer to the Walmart greeter.....

Mary & Paula

Mary, Paula, and Dick - the Greeters

Our table with a whole bunch of our friends. Notice the full plates!

Dinner was served at 2:00 to a full house. When we were done, we  kind of hung around and helped a bit with clean up, and then it was time to rest and get ready for dessert, which was phase 2 of the Thanksgiving Extravaganzaa to be held at 6:00 pm. Dessert was almost as good as the main meal! Boy, did I eat a lot. Baked Alaska, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Squash Pie, Chocolate cake........waaay too good.


Friday of the last week saw the odd foursome(Keith, Dorann, Mary and I) heading to Apache Station Wildlife Area. The four of us had made individual trips there the week before and enjoyed it so much that one last trip was definitely called for before Dorann and Keith headed north to Casa Grande.

 

Me signing the guest book

We left late morning and brought a picnic lunch with us. We were not disappointed as we were presented with an awesome sight:

Literally thousands of Sand Hill Cranes

We enjoyed watching them, especially the new groups coming in.

Professional birders- Dorann & Mary

Our new friends, Keith & Dorann

Picture says it all.......


It is kind of strange for us, being from Vermont, getting used to the attitudes out here. We left Vermont, a state where recycling is commonplace and clean energy is a given, to come to Arizona where recycling is almost non-existent, and coal fired power plants, like here at Apache Station are commonplace.

Apache Station Coal fired power plant

On the way home we toured through Cochise Stronghold. This is another whole trip by itself, one to plug in for the future. We stopped at a little gift shop in  Sunsets and saw some of the neatest birds in some yards and crossing road in front of us - Gambel's Quails.....

By mid afternoon, it was time to get back to Butterfield for our last "official" park Happy Hour. We could not miss this one......

Part of our Group- Keith, Dorann, Patti, and Dick

More of our group- Debbie, Lee, LaVern, Shirley, Judy, Ken,  Nancy and  Dave

Steve & Barbara

The Group - minus me

And then there were the last "unofficial happy hour"-

 And finally the last night for all of us to get together- Saturday.

Dorann & Debbie - and is that really Vodka?

Our new family- Dorann, Keith, Mary, Steve, Barbara, Debbie and Lee

A picture with me in it......

Still at it......

Not only was this a Happy Hour, this night was special - it included supper too! Barbara had grabbed all left over turkey 'stuff' and made a delicious Turkey Noodle Soup. Mary prepared a nice salad to go with the soup and we all ate well. Everything was great. Especially the friends and the comaradarie.

Saturday night, Keith, Dorann, Mary and I went to the Observatory for one last time. Ken was our "guide" and put on a great show. We saw Mars, the Moon, M15, M11, Uranus, Pleides, Andromeda Galaxy, and the double star, Albireo. When the "show" was over, we stopped by the Clubhouse for a piece of Pumpkin Pie. Quite a few left over from Thursday. Ken joined us and told us some great stories about the history of the area, i.e., the Movie sets, the political side of Wyatt Earp, and a little about himself and his goal of being an historical source. It was a very enjoyable evening. Was sorry it had to end.

Sunday morning was a sad time for us. We watched as Keith and Dorann loaded up everything and prepared to leave Butterfield for Casa Grande RV park outside of Phoenix. Over the course of the month, we both really came to enjoy their company and we very much look forward to meeting up again. Mary and Dorann became "friends" on Facebook, so they are guaranteed to keep in touch. With all the things Mary and Dorann did together, I am sure it is going to be tough on Mary. Was definitely a sad moment when they pulled out.

Keith & Dorann heading out of Butterfield

Casa Grande here we come.

Monday morning rolled around and it was time for us to get packed up and headed out. We were not alone. Our other new friends, Jerry and Kitty (from North Dakota), were also packing up and heading out to Tombstone, where they would stay for a month, meeting up  with some friends from back home. In January they would be coming back to Butterfield and then in April, taking up residence in a Park unit that they purchased. They really do like the place. While I was on my walk, I got a phone call from Patti Giesel, letting me know that they were on their way out, heading for Lazy Days RV Park in Tucson. They would be spending the month in Tucson where Dick was scheduled to have some medical tests(Patti and Dick are from Durango, CO).  Hopefully everything goes well and we see them back at Butterfield the following month(s). Oh, did I mention that prior to our leaving Butterfield, I reserved a spot for the month of February and part of March. So, yes, we are coming back. Hopefully we'll get to see Dick and Patti, Lee and Debbie, Steve and Barbara, and Jerry and Kitty again. That would be great. And then it was off to Cochise Terrace RV Park.

Leaving #105 and Butterfield RV Park