End-of-year concert

The end-of-year event was a concert by an Eagles tribute band, Eagle Eyes.

We had gone over earlier in the afternoon and set our chairs up. Just before the event, we helped with parking before the event started.

We had set up our chairs toward the side of the stage area -- we didn't have the highest fidelity sound, but it wasn't as loud as the areas right in front.

We were sitting with other line dancers, and we danced in the area behind where we were seated.

Carl went out in front of the stage to take some pictures and experience the sound from the front area.

He said that even at the back of the seating area, it was still quite loud but the sound quality was very good.

This was the last evening that Pamela and Dylan would be with us -- they would leave early the next morning to return to Albuquerque. Carl took a selfie in our house -- I have Miss Kitty, and Dylan has some miniature tomatoes that we got from a friend in our Rooted group -- for snacks on their drive home.

We enjoy taking advantage of the activities around our community.

Parking duties for year-end event

The Ham Radio club helped with directing parking for the end-of-year event in our community at the sportsplex...

Carl took this picture from down at the end of the golf cart parking. Roger (a new Ham and tenant on our RV lot this season) and I were up at the area where people could stop to unload their golf carts before they would go for parking (you may be able to see Roger and me in the yellow vests at the end of the asphalt area).

The golf cart parking almost totally full

Ervin, VO Amateur Radio Club President, rode around on the golf cart making sure we had coverage in all necessary areas. When we started needing to park golf carts further out beyond the tennis courts, he would give rides back to the seating area to those who couldn't walk the distance.

The Ham Radio Club helps with various events through the season. It is helpful as they are able to communicate via their radios and get people to help in a different area as needed.

Dad and daughter Indian food chow-down

While Pamela was visiting, on Monday, Dylan was working remotely, and I was leading a review class of absolute beginner line dancers, so Carl took advantage of having a person who enjoys Indian food to go out with him...

Carl's plate

Pamela and Carl at Guru Palace Indian Buffet Restaurant

I'm glad he got an Indian food fix!

As the season winds down...

Once March starts, we're officially in "wind down" season around Venture Out. There are constant questions of, "When are you leaving?" as people prepare to return to their homes in other parts of North America.

The block where our RV lot and casa are located is an active block with regular block parties about once a month. Even though we are no longer living on the block during the season, we're only a block away, and they still welcome us joining their parties. The last one of the season was on Sunday, March 22...

The host for the party arranged for The Outlaws, a band made up of residents of Venture Out who also happen to be former law enforcement officers (thus the name), to entertain.

Cooper, the dog of our friends, Don and Linda, was auditioning for a position with the band. I guess since he isn't former law enforcement and since he can't play an instrument, he didn't get a place in the band (besides which Don was demanding that he return home!). (Cooper is the sweetest dog ever!)

Carl's youngest daughter, Pamela, and her husband, Dylan, drove over from Albuquerque for a few day visit -- they got to participate in several activities around the community -- including the block party!

Some of our friends at the block party -- we were all seeking shade as the temps were over 100F -- we were thankful when the sun went down enough that we had shade and the temperature began cooling.

Some of the block party participants enjoying the band...

Another view of folks enjoying the band -- note that they are all clustered in the shade!

Taylor was hosting the party...

The pot luck was set up on his driveway.

Folks enjoying the potluck -- 

There were quite a number of folks from the block (800 Douglas) as well as other friends participating. Taylor had the 800 block of Douglas folks introduce themselves and share how they ended up at Venture Out.

Phil was playing his "air guitar cane" at one point during the evening.

It was a fun time to get together with friends, and we were glad that being in the desert means that the temperature drops quickly once the sun goes down (and, even when the sun is up and it is hot, being in the shade can be comfortable, particularly if there is a breeze!).

Our Rooted group get-together

I posted about our Bible study group (it is called "Rooted") doing a service project at Feed My Starving Children (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2026/02/feed-my-starving-children.html). As it is ending the time of our group's commitment, we did a 24-hour fast together and then broke our fast together with a time of prayer and then sharing a meal.

We met at Lori and Marty's house -- she had this beautiful display of heirloom tomatoes that she had just harvested from her garden. She said that the hot weather we are having is causing the plants in her garden to bloom much earlier (like in March rather than May), and causing plants like her tomatoes to stop bearing earlier than they would normally finish.

We had a delicious potluck meal to break our fast. It has been great to get to know this group of folks during our season in Mesa.

 

At a recent Friday Night Dance

Carl took some pictures and a video of some of us line dancing at a recent Friday night dance...

The line dancers try to sit near the dance floor on the east side of the ballroom. 

We can usually count on one or two of the regulars to pick a dance for whatever song the band is playing!

Here's a video of part of this dance - "K is for Kicks" danced to "Lay Down Sally" being performed by Rocksmith, Friday night dance, 20March2026: https://youtu.be/xWpmwg5O_k0

The Honda gets a bath

The amount of pollen had nearly turned our red Honda into an orange car... with all the other things going on, we decided to go ahead and get it washed at a car wash instead of trying to do it ourselves...

It was a rather "alarming" experience -- literally! as the car's collision avoidance system was hard pressed to deal with all the things coming at it!

Thankfully nothing crashed into us! And... before we got out of the car wash, I finally figured out how to silence the alarms!