Welcome Back to all of our Snowbirds and welcome those who are new this winter season. 

With the return of our winter travelers many of the fall activities are returning. One of the big activities returning is the weekly pot lucks on Tuesday nights promptly at 6pm bring a dish to share and of your own utensils including those for serving your dish plus your own drinks and plates. A new Activity that has begun this fall is the "Soles of the Earth" walking group at 9am in Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Join the group at the Clubhouse be dressed as you will be going off property also make sure you have appropriate footwear and water.  

Highway Clean-Up will be Saturday November 22nd. Please meet at the office at 8am and everyone will be divided into carpool groups and given sections to work with. All equipment will be provided including safety vests, gloves, trash bags, and a grabber. If you would like to wear your own gloves or bring your own items you are more than welcome to. 

The Ranch will NOT be hosting a Thanksgiving Pot-Luck this year.

Starting on December 1st office hours are 10am - 5pm Monday thru Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday

We will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. 

The daytime temperatures have already dipped into the double digits; a sure sign that autumn is upon us here at SHANGRI LA RANCH. It’s that time of year for our Friday and Saturday evening gatherings around the outdoor fireplace on the Clubhouse patio, a cozy little spot for chatting with friends whilst keeping our cheeks rosy and warm. A supply of scrap wood from projects around the park, along with a barrel of kindling, is stocked before each weekend and, thanks to a gracious donation, cut logs are supplied as well to keep the ranch fire burning.

We kindly ask everybody to keep a few guidelines in mind as we enjoy the community fireplace together. 

-Fires are reserved for Friday and Saturday evenings only, weather and environmental conditions permitting.

-There may be occasions when Maricopa County places a no-burn moratorium on open or outdoor fires, and a grate will be place across the firebox when a restriction order is issued; it is not to be removed.
-Burn only the planks provided in the firewood rack. Pine, mesquite and eucalyptus are best; never burn paloverde unless you want to clear the patio in a hurry. Also, please refrain from going to the ranch’s supply and helping yourself. However, any extra lumber from home projects is welcomed.
-The fireplace is neither a trash receptacle nor an incinerator. Cigarette butts, empty beverage cans or bottles, household trash, yard clippings, waterlogged timber and other discards need to be disposed properly.
-Keep the flames to a dull roar. We need not stoke a fire so big as to signal the next county, have glowing embers flying the chimney, or require an SPF of 50 or above to be near it. If the blaze is disappearing into the flue, then it’s too big.
Let’s appreciate the comradery and good conversations around the hearth as we meet the nudists’ challenge of the coming winter. There’s no need to initiate a charter of strict rules as long as everyone acts responsibly. Stay warm and have fun, naturally.

Winter Rattlesnake Safety: Stay Aware on Warm Winter Days

While you might assume rattlesnakes disappear entirely during the winter, that is not always the case, especially in warmer climates like Arizona. Rattlesnakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic) and rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat. In winter, they enter a state of dormancy called brumation, often gathering in communal dens in rocky crevices or abandoned animal burrows.

However, on unseasonably warm and sunny winter days, they may emerge from their dens to bask and absorb heat. This means vigilance is important all year round.

• Be Mindful of Warm, Sunny Spots: In the cooler months, snakes often seek sun-warmed rocks, pavement, or exposed trails to raise their body temperature. Watch where you are walking, especially in these areas.
• Stay on Trails: Avoid walking in tall grass, weeds, or underbrush where snakes may be hiding. Stick to well-used paths where visibility is better.
• Watch Where You Place Hands and Feet: Never put your hands or feet in places you can't clearly see, such as under logs, rocks, or in dense shrubs. Use a walking stick to move away vegetation or check under potential hiding spots.
• Dress Appropriately: Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking boots that cover your ankles, and long, loose-fitting pants. This provides an extra layer of protection.
• Keep Pets on a Leash: Dogs are often bitten on the snout or head when they get too curious. Keeping them on a leash prevents them from exploring potential snake dens or startling a snake.
• Be Aware at Home: Clean up debris, woodpiles, and rock piles in your yard to reduce shelter for snakes. Use a flashlight when walking outside in low light, and make sure crawl spaces or garage doors are properly sealed.
• Leave Them Alone: If you encounter a rattlesnake, remain calm and slowly back away, giving it plenty of space (at least 5-10 feet). Never attempt to handle, move, or kill a snake, as this is when most bites occur.
• Listen for the Warning: If you hear a rattle, stop immediately, try to locate the sound, and move carefully away once you've pinpointed the location. Avoid wearing earbuds or headphones when hiking so you can hear these warning sounds

The sun lifted over the low desert hills like a slow breath, and Sam stepped from the casita into air the color of pale apricots. The quiet at Shangri La Ranch was not an absence but a presence—a warm, attentive hush stitched with bird calls and the distant clink of pans from the clubhouse kitchen. Thanksgiving morning, no rush, no shoes, no layers between skin and November’s gentle light.

Sam padded along the sandy path, creosote scent rising from last month’s rain. A golf cart hummed past, and a neighbor raised two fingers. “Happy Thanksgiving.” The greeting hung easily as a hammock. Sam answered in kind, feeling the year’s noise fall away like a coat someone else had asked to borrow.

At the pool, steam curled from the hot tub, and a ribbon of swimmers cut the sky’s reflection into quiet diamonds. Sam eased into the water. First a cool gasp, then the body remembered—float, lengthen, let the shoulders drop. Laps unfolded like small prayers. On the deck, Ernesto, a faithful eight-lap hummer of old westerns, offered a grin. “Potluck at two. Phoebe brought the jalapeño cornbread.” Sam promised to be early.

After the swim, the hot tub gathered a braided conversation. Someone spotted elk beyond New River. Someone else swore the stars had been “louder than usual.” Gratitude came up the way it does on this day, simple and unforced. Health. Companionship. Good tomatoes in November. When it was Sam’s turn, the words arrived slowly. “I’m grateful for the exact temperature of this water. For a year that wasn’t easy, but didn’t win. For… showing up.” Nods circled like ripples.

By noon, the clubhouse had transformed into a bright geography of plates and laughter. Tables wore mismatched cloths and handmade place cards. Steam rose from a turkey carved with steady care, flanked by vegan roasts like sculptural cousins. Bowls built small edible gardens. The jalapeño cornbread winked confetti green. Sam’s contribution—green beans with lemon zest—found a quiet corner and a few appreciative murmurs.

Before anyone served, hands hovered open between neighbors, not held but offered, the circle unbroken by words. Outside, cottonwoods rattled their coin-bright leaves. Then the room loosened into motion—spoons crossing, chairs scraping, a chorus of please and try this. Someone argued in good faith about marshmallows on sweet potatoes and lost with a laugh.

After the feast, Sam walked the boundary path where the property met the blue distance. A hawk signed its slow name across the sky. The sun warmed shoulders, and the dust lifted in gold whispers. Memories ambled up: the nights too long, the emails too sharp, the phones that would not stop. Also, the doorstep kindnesses, an unexpected note of praise, a quiet morning that had smoothed an entire week. You could not choose everything, Sam thought. But you could choose how to carry it.

Music tugged Sam back—guitar, then voices. A circle formed near the fire pit. Familiar songs learned new faces. Some sang, some listened. The chorus carried even the ones who didn’t know the words. When the first stars pricked through, someone passed pumpkin squares and declared seconds mandatory. Laughter rose like sparks.

Later, Sam paused at the casita porch again. The hills darkened to velvet. A coyote called and was answered. Gratitude rose, not a shout but a steady flame: for breath and bone, for lemon on green beans, for Ernesto’s off-key hum, for the way comfort, here, made room for everyone else’s comfort too.

“Thank you,” Sam said to the night, and meant every syllable

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 lb breakfast sausage (mild or spicy)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits) or homemade biscuits
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Tools You’ll Need

• Large skillet (for sausage gravy)
• Whisk (to avoid lumps in gravy)
• 9×13-inch baking dish
• Wooden spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons

Optional Substitutions & Additions

• Protein Swap: Use turkey sausage or plant-based sausage.
• Cheese Options: Try mozzarella, pepper jack, or Colby for different flavors.
• Vegetables: Add spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers for a lighter twist.
• Biscuit Base: Swap canned biscuits for homemade drop biscuits or crescent roll dough.
• Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes or use hot sausage

How to Make

1. Cook the Sausage: In a skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until fully cooked. Do not drain all the fat—it helps flavor the gravy.
2. Make the Gravy: Sprinkle flour over sausage and stir. Slowly whisk in milk, cooking until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder.
3. Prepare the Casserole: Cut biscuits into quarters. Place half into a greased baking dish. Pour sausage gravy over the biscuit layer, then top with remaining biscuits.
4. Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
5. Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes, until biscuits are golden and cheese is bubbly.
6. Serve: Let cool slightly before slicing into squares. Serve warm with extra gravy, if desired

Wreaths Across America

Honoring Those Who Fought for Our Freedoms by

Advancing Advocacy in Their Memory

Through a special partnership, $5 from every wreath purchased

using our unique AANR code (FL0995P-AANR) will go directly

to fund the AANR Government Affairs Team (GAT). These funds

will help us fight adverse legislation that seeks to reduce or

eliminate our nudist privileges.

Annual Gift Exchange

Our annual holiday gift exchange is on Satuday December 6th at 7pm. Bring an Unwrapped unisex but appropriate gift around $20 in value that you would not mind taking home yourself. All gifts will be put in brown paper bags and you will recieve a ticket to be drawn for your turn to pick a bag. Previous seasons gifts include chocolates, alcahol, blankets, small appliances, small tools, and fun RV or smalll unit living items. If you have a question on weather or not the item you intend is appropriate please feel free to ask the office. 

AANR Education Foundation Art Raffle 2025

Created by naturists for naturists and anyone in the textile community!

Opening Day is September 8, 2025. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20

The last day is December 7, 2025,

with delivery in time for the holidays!

Your support helps ensure that the Education Foundation can award scholarships and grants to nudists annually. Be sure to visit the AANR-EF raffle

site at

AANR Education Foundation Art Raffle 2025

New Years Eve

New Years eve Dance is on Wednesday December 31st starting at 9pmin in the clubhouse. This is a members only reservation only event with an extra charge as we do provide a small gift, a champagne toast, and food starting at 9pm. Reservations will open to residents on December 5th and then to members on the 8th.