No, we didn’t fall off the face of the earth – and thanks to those of you who wondered! We were enjoying fall travel and then enjoying “the season” at Sun City Grand. We would be busy still, except for the corona virus, social distancing and forced relaxation.
We are both doing well in stay at home status. We walk each day and are working our way through podcasts, books, movies and projects. SereneWandering finally rose to the top of my list. I plan to write a few posts to catch you up – a way to spend my time and yours – if you’re willing.
You may want to go back to May 2019 and read Our New Grand Plan post about the decision we made to stop full time RVing and buy a home. One year later, we are happy with that decision. Randy is doing very well but has had a few blips along the way. Having a home base near Mayo Clinic was the right call.
In the July 2019 post Wheels, Batteries and Desert Things, we told you about buying new vehicles and what we had done to our new house that “didn’t need anything.” We have spent the months since doing even more things.
Before
Our biggest project was to add a covered patio along the entire back of the house. The afternoon sun made that area unusable all summer. It also required having the entire back of the house closed up.
After
We created a lot more outdoor living space that we are loving. We opted for a solid cover, added a door from our bedroom to the patio and another area for a fire table seating area.
The first contractor who bid the job (and didn’t get it) tried to tell us what we wanted instead of listening. He said “You’ll never use this area.” We remind each other of that every day when we sit here. It is our favorite seating area.
Did you notice the shepherds crooks with red hummingbird feeders and stained glass pieces in the previous pictures? The ground was/is so hard that Randy had to use a concrete bit on his drill and the shop vac to “dig” the holes for the crooks.
We really enjoy the animals that visit our backyard. One morning this bobcat strolled by as I was sitting with my coffee! So exciting!
We see coyotes come through often enough. As long as they don’t bother our bunnies, we enjoy them.
We had 27 solar panels installed. They are producing power but it has been a huge frustration for Randy. If he wasn’t an engineer who wanted to know everything about how they worked and how they were installed, we wouldn’t be as far along as we are. At one point we thought he was going to have to become a solar power expert and fix them himself. Persistence with the manufacturing and installing companies has paid off, at least in the short term.
Randy decided he was done with our other solar power system. The solar hot water system came with the house and was one of the first projects he had to figure out. The system leaked and needed to be coaxed along. Eventually it wasn’t worth the grief and he pulled it out.
After a new heating and cooling system, I suggested to Randy that maybe we should be done. Ha! A week later I decided I wanted security doors. Security doors are sturdy, lockable doors to keep two and four legged critters out. Many people lock the security doors and leave their other doors open at night.
Due to an irregular size, our security doors needed to be custom built which led to a lot of research on how I wanted them to look. I chose an Ocotillo design and we have the same on our front and bedroom doors.
And then when I didn’t like the way it looked with our old ugly front door I had a new insert installed. We are both happy with the doors now.
We really do think we are now done working on our house that “didn’t need anything.”
Next time I’ll tell you more about what we’ve been doing that isn’t house related.
Serene Wandering 
So happy to hear that you are both doing well!!. We are staying in Yuma for the month of April and then we will try to get back to Wisconsin. It is deserted here and with nothing to do it is a little boring but safer here than at home.
Your home looks beautiful and can’t wait to read some blogs of your adventures.
So glad to hear you are both doing well and enjoying your new home, inside and out! I love watching all the critters going through our backyard while we are gone. Now that Luke’s leaving his mark in the backyard again they have not been around. There have been two little foxes, a skunk, a possum, 5 raccoons and the neighborhood cats. It’s been cold and rainy here in California since we’ve been home but we have plenty of projects to keep us busy during our Shelter in Place.
Please stay safe during this scary time. I look forward to reading more about your adventures!
Installing a night camera is will be one of the things we’ll get to during this time. We’ve talked about it but just haven’t gotten to it. It may be the only way we see the javelina that wander through. Our neighbors have seen them but we’ve only smelled them!
So great to hear from you! I’m looking forward to the time I can visit your mom and maybe take a road trip to AZ when the weather in Portland is dreary. Hugs to you both. Connie and Michael
Your house is beautiful and so happy that you are happy with your roots in AZ. I was looking through your blogs and surprised that first one was in 2013. Time goes by so fast! Would love to get together when you get back to Boise for a visit.
I’d so glad to hear you are settled in your new house. I love to patio addition and the very cool security doors. Love from Jan
I love the new house additions, perfect touch! So neat you see the wildlife coming through at times. Sounds like you are settled in the house and making it a home, sure is beautiful!
Living life. Good to see y’all are doing good. ❤ Love y’all
Love seeing pictures of your new house! I hope we head that direction one of these days and can stop by and see it (and yall too, of course).
I love what you two have done to customize your desert home. One of these days we’ll come see you. And hopefully you’ll be in Vancouver at some point so we can see you then. Hugs to you both. Love, Connie and Michael
Lovely. Looks like you guys are settled in. 💞