Frigid January

 

Back in the Frigid Northland..... -5F

It is that time of year when we are happy to be at our winter lilypad.  We do get some cool nights in Tucson, but 40F seems okay, considering this morning it was 45F warmer here!  With bright sun it will be downright balmy this aafternoon,

To give the interior heat a boost in the morning I make and bake scones.  Very easy.  It is important to have heavy cream.  I mix the flour and dried fruit with the heavy cream, roll into a ball, flatten into a 6 inch diameter circle.  Then cut into 8-segments, sprinkle cinnamon sugar and bake at 350F for 25 minutes. I can sprinkle before cutting or after. 

After breakfast, we took a walk and sat in the resort courtyard.

There are always honey bees in the area.  The citrus trees and flowers attract them. On occasion there will be a swarm, but we simply avoid them.  

A walk at the Saguaro National Park - East to relax and work off a few calories

For dinner I marinated a steak from Dickman's Meat & Deli, then on to the BBQ.  Yellow squash and a baked potato as sides.  If we have coleslaw or a big salad with lunch, we skip a raw salad at dinner.

And freshly baked Marie Callender Razzleberry pie for dessert. Bake at 400F for about 70 minutes; G prefers a browner crust. Great with vanilla bean ice cream.

Sunsets are usually pleasant. 

Gaslight Theater Tucson

 

We went to see the current production.  Always a lot of fun at the Gaslight Theater!

Escaping Winter, 2021-2022

 

Saguaro National Park - East, January 14, 2022

Our trek to our winter lily pad was delayed for a variety of reasons.  

Long Island Sound, viewed from Connecticut

After a trip to the east coast, we retrieved the Roadtrek only to find that in our absence we had made a political donation; Thieves, or to use the woke term, a "disadvantaged person" had stolen, er, "appropriated" the catalytic converter.

While getting the Roadtrek repaired, we packed and prepped the condominium for winter. We run the furnace at 65F, put insulation in the kitchen window, shut off the water and drain the lines, etc. During checkout of the gas furnace in the condo, it wouldn't ignite. We needed to get that operating, and with time short available I hired a professional.  He attributed the issue to a failure of the electrical “sparker” which ignites the pilot. He didn’t have the part, a kind of “spark plug” but contacted his office to get a quote and determine availability. He also suggested that I consider a total furnace replacement, for no other reason than furnace age. Not something I was excited to do in November as winter was approaching; besides, we were supposed to be elsewhere. 

I decided to run my own diagnostics as I waited for the proposals. I concluded the issue was not the “spark” but was the pilot gas valve, which was not opening on electrical command. I determined the valve was good and the source of the problem was the “Intermittent Pilot Ignition Control”. I went online and purchased one for $98. It arrived the next day and I installed it. That solved the problem.

Was it a good use of my time? I think so, as it 1) Solved the problem for a total cost of $218 including the professional’s time, 2) Saved us the $8,500+ for a new furnace and 3) Allowed us to promptly leave for our AZ winter location. I remotely monitor the condo, and interior temperature has been a steady 65F ever since.

Condominium weather January 23

Condominium Ambient Conditions, January 23

We did eventually get into the Roadtrek and headed to the Southwest, arriving December 8, 2021.  The trip was very relaxed.  The weather was the best we have encountered since we began travelling this way in 2014.  Mild daytime temperatures, low nighttime temperatures 40-50F and easy traffic.  We avoid the cities.  

Sunset, December 8, 2021