Strait Country

Venture Out has a concert series -- 6 concerts during the season. We had gone to the comedy show back in January (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2025/01/and-then-theres-comedy.html) using the tickets that friends had gotten as part of the concert series, and then we purchased tickets for the last concert in the series, Strait Country.

They did a nice selection of country artists and we enjoyed listening.

The only thing that would have made it better is if we could have danced to the music too!  Alas, the ballroom was set up for concert seating, not dancing!

Protecting the golf cart

We wanted to get a cover to help protect the golf cart when we leave for the summer...

I didn't get pictures while we were putting it on (a video probably would have been funny!), but it seems to fit and will work for us.

Planning ahead for when we depart for the summer!

End of year event

Venture Out had the end of year event in the sports-plex (where the tennis courts, pickleball, and bocce ball are located).

People entering the sports-plex

Carl and I worked with the Ham Radio club to direct folks where to park -- we were in the handicapped parking area.

Paulette and Roy were directing folks to the regular parking area.

About 900 folks joined for the end of year event!

It was a beautiful evening, and we were glad that we went, but the acoustics for the music weren't very good, and we think that we might give a pass to other events at the sports-plex.

Barleens Dinner Show

Friends from our Alaska Fantasy RV Caravan invited us to join them at Barleens Dinner Show.

There were tables for dining in the theater.

Our group!

Carl did a nice portrait picture of me...

... and then he also captured these words of wisdom from the wall in the theater!

People filled in and we all enjoyed a great dinner.

The show has been going on for 50 years -- anchored by one family joined other performers.

It was quite enjoyable!

 

St Patrick's Day Parade and Dance

Yes, I am just now getting around to posting for St Patrick's Day!

St Patrick's Day brought our annual golf cart parade with members of the Venture Out line dance classes entertaining with an Irish dance.

Some of our dancers along with Barb, our neighbor (driving the golf cart) who would be transporting some of the dancers on her golf cart.

Carl with friends Ed and Cathy

Patti with some more of the dancers

Video of the Irish dance performed by our line dance group: https://youtu.be/t3xHSc0mfqs

At each stop, the "Sing 'n' Strum" group led the audience in some Irish songs...

... followed by our group doing a dance to "Galway Girls".

I really enjoy dancing here at the park -- both line dancing and doing the Arizona two-step with Carl!  

The final couple of days with Ed and Cathy

In the final couple of days with Ed and Cathy...

We went to Organ Stop Pizza and enjoyed listening to the organ music...

...we enjoyed a beautiful sunset...

and we went on a hike a Usery Mountain Park.

Ed and Cathy

Identifying a plant

Ed and Carl dueling with the walking poles!

The recent rain had brought out blooms -- these on an Ocotillo.

The trail was relatively flat but allowed us to enjoy seeing some of the desert plants.

Bocce Ball with Ed and Cathy

We went over to the bocce ball courts to introduce Ed and Cathy to how we play bocce on courts...

Look at the form that Patti is displaying!

The courts were actually quite wet as we had had a lot of rain -- in fact, our last league play game was cancelled because it was too wet.

Ed and Cathy were very good students -- all of our balls were nearly the same distance from the palina!