River Cruise Update

Just a quickie:

The times have been tweaked a little for Sunday's River Cruise outing.

The cruise will leave at 4pm, you must be there by 3:30...

so that means meet at the gate by 2:45 pm.

And after the cruise stay to eat at the Riverside Club.

Optional, but yummy!

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Let Karen (#403) know if you want to go, tho I believe there is plenty of room.

So you think it's HOT?

This chart, which I pray you can see, is a month's worth of data from our little weather station on our roof here at Sandpipers.

The top chart is the temp highs and lows...everyday at or above 100 degrees.

Every night hovering around 80. If we are lucky it dips slightly into the 70's.

The second chart is the heat index...just what the temps feel like on our naked sweaty skin.

You'll notice the highs approach or exceed 110 degrees. That's getting ridiculous, folks!

Now, the next part of the chart is blank. Nada, zippo. That's because it measures the RAIN!

Then there is the wind. As you can see it's been pretty windy. Over 20 mph gusts...all the time. Put it all together and it's like we live in a blow dryer....or maybe the Sahara.

Just thought you'd like to know, as you enjoy your occasional rainy day or cool temperatures.

Spend Your Sunday on the River!

How about a river cruise?

This Sunday a bunch of SandPeeps are heading over to Mission to spend a lazy afternoon cruising the Rio Grande on the Riverside Dreamer.

It's a great way to idle away the afternoon, drifting for a few hours, from the Andaluzas Dam to Rio Grande State Park and back.

Afterwards, perhaps a stop at Pepe's on the River for some dancing, one of their great burgers and some beer!

Sunday, Aug 16

Meet at the gate at 2pm, cruise site at 3pm.

$7 per person

Let Karen H. #403 know by Wednesday so she can make the arrangements.

Her phone is 412-848-3305, or just stop by #403.

10 peeps minimum

Sounds like a great time. Don't be left out!

Back in the POOL!

I am so excited to report...I'm back in the pool! Hurray and hallelujah. It has been a month since my surgery and a tough month it's been. But if I can float in the clear aqua blue water at Sandpipers on a 100 degree day...well, something is right with the world.

This weekend I spent a hour, at least, floating in the deep and sort of retrieving wayward volleyballs. I am really amazed at how hard it is for me to hit the ball. Who knew a little thing like having your stomach cut in two would take so much out of you?

It was just great feeling that cool water. And I'm on the mend...AND have lost more than 40 pounds! Can't eat much...really don't want to. And I'm off all meds. So far, so good.

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Notice:

Due to ridiculous and record breaking heat, advanced old age, and other assorted maladies, the Ruggy Duggy Construction Team of Gary, Bill & Garland has gone out of business.

While they were gainfully employed sawdust flew and lumber trembled. But thankfully that portion of the shower house construction has come to an end,

coinciding with their inevitable physical deterioration.

Oh, and Roy, the independent electrical contractor...I assume he's also done for.

Thanks, guys, for giving it your all.

Empire Haven Check-in.

Another report from Miss Vicki, keeping us up to date

on the comings and goings of the Sandpiper family.

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"More company!!!

Not only is Sandpipers a friendly park, our friendliness extends all over the U.S. and Canada.

Tuesday, August 4th, Bill, Laura, Tom and Louise

stopped by Empire Haven for a two night stay.

Bill and Laura received a warm welcome from their temporary neighbors who lined up in their lawn chairs to watch them park their big rig and gave Bill a round of applause.

Bill bowed of course.
Bob spent Wednesday morning giving tours to Bill, Laura, Tom and Louise and the Sandpiper's group spent Wednesday afternoon visiting in Tom and Louise's motor home for Happy Hour.

Thursday morning we said goodbye, we shared lots of hugs and said we will see you at Sandpipers in the fall."

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Thanks Vicki. It's great to see everybody. Fall is coming quickly. Why, we almost got a rain shower yesterday. Came soooo close. Next time for sure.

New Neighbors and Worker Bees...

First thing this morning the show began.

It usually draws a crowd but this morning it was just Jim,

my trusty photographer in my time of need,

and Barry & Joey, of course. The crew, with a twitch of magic, eased this beautiful house into place.And, voila, it's done.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Barry & Joey!

One of the reasons no one else was there is that everybody is working.

Sherry & Karen are working in the rentals, painting the walls in soft pastels.Of course, proper painting techniques entail proper wall prep...and ceiling prep... and hair prep, right Karen?
Not quite sure what prep Sherry is working on...I know, directing.

And the Sandpiper Construction Boys were up on the roof of the shower house.

Gosh, they work hard!

We are so appreciative of all the hard work you all do. We will all benefit!

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A quick report about this weekend's water volleyball. I sat under the gazebo on Sunday and watched 21 people playing our favorite game. Overheard conversations went something like this... "21 players! What are we gonna do when everyone comes back?" or "Let's lock the gates and not let the Winter people back in. They'll want to play!"

So if you can't get back in, well, that's why. No hard feelings.

Butterfly Garden Update

Here it is the dog days of summer...August 1st.

No rain for, for, well, it seems like forever.

Everyday 100 degrees or close to it.

How's the butterfly garden looking?

Thanks to all the wood chips layered all over the site (and the automatic watering system) the plants are holding their own.

And thanks to everyone who dumps grass clippings on a weekly, or even more often, basis, the crummy dirt will eventually be something we can work with.

Lots of room to spread out.

See the lot at the top of the above picture? That's Barry & Joey's lot...#50.

It won't be empty for long.

They'll be here tomorrow to watch the setting of their new home this week.

The orange flowers are a bunch of cosmos that I started from seed a couple of months ago.

They obviously love the heat!

The Esperanza (Golden Bells) is blooming non-stop.

I never can remember the name of this one, but it, too, is always blooming.And the Mexican Sunflowers are just starting. Grew them from seed, too.This is a charming native Poinsettia. Reseeds prolifically.Put it all together and it's quite a charming site.

Whoops, almost forgot the Gazania. Takes tons of abuse, and keeps blooming.

No butterflies were disturbed in the filming of this story.

Unfortunately.