What a Fun Way to End 2019!

Our son Eric, his wife Liz, and our grandchildren Kylie and John came to visit just before New Year's Eve.  We had a fun time. 

We played cards for a while before dinner.

The next day we had lunch at the Cactus Grill here in the resort.

But only after we all worked out in our gym and took a selfie in the mirror. 

We joined the resort's happy hour--otherwise known as music on the patio--the first evening.  Since the weather was cold (for Arizona) the event was held in the ballroom.  Kylie and John played corn hole for a while. 

 Kylie had used her parents' money to buy raffle tickets, one for each of us.  When the winning number was announced, it was the one on my ticket!  You can see the woman in red at the table in the background.  She is standing in front of the Cancer Drive fundraising table.  The raffle was held to benefit them.  As soon  as I picked up my winnings of  $24  I took it over and donated it to the cancer drive.

The next morning we all went to breakfast at Kneaders before they left to have lunch with some other members of their family.

The visit was a lot of fun, but way too short.  Now we have to wait until summer when we are in Colorado to see them again.

Still a Good Deal

It has been 113 years since Ted and Dorothy Husted opened Wall Drug in South Dakota. To bring in customers driving to newly opened Mount Rushmore, they began advertising "free ice water." The store is also advertised with roadside signs along 650 miles of I-90 between Minnesota and Montana, like this one.



No longer just a drug store, Wall Drug in a one-block long collection of Western themed stores.



It is amazing what is for sale.  Who knew you could put "bling" on your boots?

There is even a chapel.



John caught me hanging out with this poker player.



I caught him with a couple of hussies.





There are even murals and stained glass panels over the entrances.





After their opening in 1931, the Husteds were passing out 20,000 cups of free ice water a day during the peak tourist season by 1981. And they still offer that free water.



It was a fun place to visit.