Front of the Maricopa house

Small town 16 miles south of Phoenix
 

Here's Jan making cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning

Riding around the neighborhood
Every day is a sunny day there..hard to believe

A short ride (or walk)  through the neighborhood brings you to a huge area of desert owned by the Gila River Indian Community, that stretches 12 miles to the southern boundaries of the metro Phoenix area.  That's Estrella Mountain in the distance
 

This is an old camp in the desert that Dave discovered.

Colby was at first content to stay in her box-house on the back patio

Cutting the new bubble cover
They only last two years due to the strong UV. Bubble cover is needed  during the winter to hold in heat generated by the gas heater or the solar panels on the roof.

Local kid caught this Carp down the street
..in the man-made lake of reclaimed water.
Could not believe there were any fish in there!

Morning and afternoon dog walks were a shared duty

Daughter Shannon came for a visit at the end of December

Hiking at Santan mountain

Colby hiding in the grass

Pool is the centerpiece of the backyard
 

Master Bedroom with new lamps and new artwork
 

We heated the pool with gas in January, and covered it every night. In February the sun was hot enough to switch to solar heat. It still had to be covered at night.

Here's Morgan at the lake fountains during an awesome sunset

New artwork for the family room, new lamp

Prickly Pear cactus in backyard.
No running!

Dave enjoying lunch on the patio
Backyard faces west so it has awesome afternoon sun.

Picnic after a hike to the superstition mountains.

Nice shot of the pool and backyard

Jan and Morgan in front of the Camaro
Superstitions behind

We discover a new golf course clubhouse to visit
 

This is Sothern Dunes just behind our development.
They say its the #5 rated in Arizona

Jan and Morgan hugging each other
 

Jan attempting to hug Colby

Tucson daytrip: We tour a cold war titan missile silo ...more

Morning routine Jan: Dog walk through the park and into the desert.
The community maintains these huge grassy areas for play and emergency runoff.
 

Scottsdale daytrip: We tour Frank Lloyd Wright's desert house.  website

The farm to the west where we spot a coyote before he spots us
 

A happy Morgan

Morning routine Dave: Catch up with Jan and Morgan on bike and continue on for another 3-4 miles
 

A reminder of the warm winter.
Diamondback sunning itself in Feb.
This was about 1/2 mi. from our house
 

Another reminder we are in the desert.
Killed this Scorpion in the garage

Dave would do this somersault into the pool and then spring off the bottom and shoot straight up.
Looked kinda fun

Reading another good book

 

Dave's Sister Carol and family visit
(L-R) Dave, Morgan, Bill, Julie, Sammy, Jan, Carol

 

 
Old location                                                New Loc

One major project was to move the A/C condenser to the far side of the house.
Dave did all the attic work and the A/C guys moved the unit and hooked it up.
Much better away from the pool and bedroom window.

Dayhike Apache Junction: Superstition Mountains

When it gets really hot in back, we get out the "Sunsailer" .
It came with the pool, sticks in a special hole in the decking

Night landscape yard lighting runs off a small solar power system.  ...more
 

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More On Maricopa house

3/5/16

First Grapefruits!