Family, Feathers and Fur

 May 16 - May 31, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

Wispy Arizona summer skies.

I take my time over a couple days cleaning and unloading PJ. There's really not much to do, but I'm in no hurry. She'll be a guest room in a couple weeks.

The mornings are warmer now so I enjoy watching the sunrise and reading while the birds and other critters come to visit. While the sun feels good, it makes it difficult to capture decent pics of any birds. I'm looking forward to this year's baby Quail which should start arriving soon.

I hope the beautiful Grosbeak will bring friends, but it's always a solo visit.

 

My second morning back a lone Javelina comes for a drink.

Watching me watch her.

My birthday comes again despite my trying to ignore it - my last year in my sixties. Good lord! Fun to hear from friends and family, Jeff makes me a favorite dinner. 

Much of the pain in Bill's hands is arthritis, but some is nerve pain from his dialysis fistula. His surgeon thinks he can give him some relief so we head for his appointment in Tucson. I figure killing time at a movie is a good idea on a 95 degree day. Accountant 2 is okay but slow, so when I get a message that he's done already I don't hesitate to leave before the movie's over. We grab late lunch at Amelia's where the food is good, but the inside dining is claustrophobic at a very tiny table. 

It's not a full-fix, but he does get some relief during the first days following the procedure. I'm hopeful in the days to come it will be even better. 

Last May all four of Bill's sons, and one grand with his mom, came to visit for a couple days. While Travis doesn't make the trip from VA this year, the other three, minus the grand and mom, drive over from SoCal for Memorial Day Weekend. With Jeff here, this year there's even more catching up.

They arrive with flowers and cake - so sweet :-)) I fail to take a pic, both are very pretty.

Always lots of sparring and laughter, it's delightful having all the added energy filling the house. 

Post dinner card game - Corey, Nick, Jeff and Richie.

Bill is happy to catch up with his boys over a game of cribbage. My boys and I didn't get the cribbage-gene.

Nick stays in PJ and agrees she's great :-) They spend an afternoon in Tombstone, but mostly we just hang out enjoying each other's company. The time, as always, goes too fast, and Monday morning they're on their way home. 

My damn kid.

We wear out the youngest :-)

Corey, Nick, Bill and Richie

Our deer stop by daily at the water trough - up to 15 does and fawns, just one small buck so far this year. Tessa generally ignores them, but it's always funny to watch the fawns tentatively get closer to her on the other side of the fence. They're very curious about this fluffy dog. 

Rare sighting this year - a young buck.

I think the Jack Rabbits are getting bigger every year! The couple in the backyard every evening are bigger than Tessa. Those ears are so tall!

I'm not a fan of Javelina but can't deny that their babies are pretty damn cute. I saw the twins a few weeks ago when they were no larger than Quail, but they were too far to catch a pic. So I'm especially excited to see them coming to the trough with some adults. A little bigger, but still cute!

There are nine in this squadron, but they usually arrive in smaller numbers.

I'm excited to share the critters with Ezra and Elliott when they come for another summer visit the middle of June. Always fun to plan our road trips and visits!

Penelope shares little sister Magnolia with cousin Oliver.

Ezra had a great time on the end of school trip to Universal Studios. 

Cassidy stops to smell the flowers. One must.

Last Days of the First Adventure (5 of 5)

 May 10 - 15, 2025

Santa Fe-Socorro-Deming, New Mexico; Tombstone, Arizona

While there's a certain "well damn" about final days somewhere wonderful, they're still just as wonderful!

A common plan among retired travelers is avoiding being out and about among "others" on weekends. Sometimes, like when you're balancing the weather, it can't be avoided, but we try. Saturday Sherry is off to get more steps in town while Tessa and I walk around the park, enjoying all the statuary on display here. . There's so many to see, I only take a few of their pics. Into town ourselves for some quick errands, then back to do a couple repairs I've put off too long. 

Replacing the Jeep's rear turn-signal bulb, and reattaching the hydraulic arm on the RV door are easy fixes, but I feel very accomplished once they're done :-)

A favorite.

Hard to believe these Iris survived the hail.

One of a few made from bicycle handlebars.

The best bottle tree I've seen. It lights up at night.

Some pieces are simpler than others.

Tessa checks out Phoenix Tail. Sherry's beloved Winona in the background.

Home sweet home.

A tiny visitor.

We risk the crowds and visit Bandelier National Monument on Sunday. A line of cars at the entrance, and a full parking lot, warn us we'll be sharing with others this time. Once again my good "carma" provides us a great parking spot in front of the visitor center. It's warmer than it's been and Tessa is feeling it. We two aren't doing the loop hike through the cliff dwellings so we spend our time in the "lower part" while Sherry enjoys the loop. It's so easy to travel with this good friend.

Not only right in front, but also in the shade!

The museum is small but well done. Lucky timing puts me behind a man with a long history of the area and its people. Very fun to hear the personal accounts of the stories he's been told about much of what is on display.

We are so fascinated by the culture, traditions and mystery of the people who lived here.

First staff when Bandelier opened in 1916. What a great photo!

Smart use of small space.

Envisioning a story told from artifacts.

The spirit of sacred spaces.

The local man knew this woman, and adds to the information provided here. "She connected to this place like she'd lived here centuries ago."

A large, organized and active community.

Limited, but informative, signage around the visitor center. 

Glad I brought the camera today - zooming to capture the cliff dwellings not on the loop trail.

Carved doors and wall art within the cliff's openings.

Natural safety high above the larger village.

With no public access these places look as they did when occupied. 

Frijoles Creek is the center of a large riparian area in the monument today, and a life source for the People of the past.

I love this interesting carpet on the forest floor. 

Starting out strong, but she tires quickly in the heat.

The deep, narrow canyon is surrounded by rock and forest.

After exploring among the trees I try the buggy for Tessa, but she is not having it today. Instead we visit the park store where I find a book on the Pueblo Revolt that I've seen many references to during our time in the area. In the shady picnic area I read while the old girl rests. Once Sherry returns we go to the little cafe on site. Good food with mixed service.

Thanks for saving me from that scary buggy thing!

My only green chili cheeseburger of the trip - this one with a chili relleno. Damn good.

Even though there are lots of people, I never feel like it's over-crowded, or that we missed anything by being here on a Sunday. I'm hopeful Sherry can come back next week to explore the other trails.

Last day :-( and another warm one with no wind. Monday we head back downtown to revisit a shirt shop and the great little bookstore. This is a busy area even on a weekday, but the parking structure makes accessing it easy. Fortunately an eatery I really want to try is open on Mondays and we enjoy a peaceful location with a unique menu. Apothecary Dining is part of a spa with a fabulous offering of services I want to come back for!

Surrounded by beauty.

Blue corn enchiladas, enough for dinner too.

Sherry's bison salad looks wonderful. Don't you love her hat??

Back home we start the inevitable preparations for our departure. High winds expected the next day (of course) so we want to get early starts. I'm so glad I could do two weeks, but it's still not enough :-) 

Tuesday morning I'm heading south and Sherry is heading north, both of us with forecasted winds over 20 - 25 mph. We break down camp early, and with hugs and promising to try and do this again, we say our good-byes. This was the perfect get-away with the perfect person in the perfect place.

The lateral winds are tiring but not bad. Back at Socorro Rodeo and Event Center, I find a large work crew has set up, and my site right in the middle of them. With the winds increasing, being between several larger rigs is an advantage, and they're quiet all night. I arrive at noon but the weather is nasty so I leave the Jeep hooked up and just connect electric. Tessa and I hunker down for the rest of the day and evening. The winds blow all night, but finally drop about 4:30.

A much different view from our last two weeks.

Per usual, Tessa has me up before the sun so we're back on the road early. With worse winds anticipated for this leg of the trip, I contact the park in Deming to see if I can arrive early to avoid driving in it. The lovely host assures me she'll have plenty of space for me, and that I can come in as soon as I can get there. Yay!!

The last dust storm requiring the closing of I-10 in Deming was the last time I was here two weeks ago! I'm starting to take it personal. It's even worse this time, and I am grateful to be parked and plugged in before 11:00. The local Italian restaurant is recommended by the host, and they deliver enough pasta for two meals before the dust hits an hour later. Again, the Jeep stays connected (I need to adjust for this in the future), and I only need electric. Getting Tessa out to do her business is miserable on the dirt and gravel grounds. We survive.

One of many long, desert trains pass on the other side of the closed Interstate.

Fortunately we avoid this while here.

Still hazy but Thursday morning is completely calm and remains so all the way home. Our last stop on our first adventure.

Nice to find plenty of parking for a breakfast break in Lordsburg.

One last chance for New Mexico green chili!

Tessa finds nirvana in a rare square of green grass.

I enjoy Anne Hillerman's latest audible book on this return trip, and finish it as I arrive in Tombstone about 10:30. Expecting a quick unhooking, the Jeep battery is dead :-(. Didn't consider the brake assist drain with three days of travel. Alas the portable jump-starter that I remembered to charge before leaving home works immediately. Good to know!

Great to see Bill and Jeff, it's nice to be home. Fun to have surprise Mother's Day/birthday gifts from Jeff,  and a card from our dear Michigan friends. Tessa is excited to have lots more room to move around, and to have her familiar yard and couch. Time to relax and then get ready for a quick family visit over the holiday weekend.

Lucky Oliver gets to visit his Virginia cousins, Penelope and Reese.

M&M on the trail with Mom.

Too precious, big sister Reese with Magnolia.

I can't stop laughing. Ezra brought this to his parents. Application for summer school :-)))