Saturday, March 16, 2024

Family, Fire, Flurries and Fences

 March 1 - 11, 2024
Tombstone, Arizona

My family is small. Three cousins, one cousin-once-removed, two sons and two grandsons. My mother had many cousins whose families I have sadly lost track of over the years. Bill however has a much larger family who I am delighted to also now call my own. His only nephew David is a favorite, and we've been able to visit with he and his wonderful wife Morgan a few times in our travels. They live in California's Bay Area. We last saw them last summer at our sister-in-law's lake house, and they promised to come see us this winter.

Promise kept, they arrive at the Tucson airport on Tuesday! We snug into the Ford with Tessa happily tucked between what will become her most bestest, non-stop petting, snuggling pals. Taking the scenic route (Hwy 83/82) to begin the tour of our little corner of Arizona, we have dinner in Tombstone and then home.

Team Back Seat ready for adventure!

Tessa and Morgan, happy girls.

Bill has treatment on Wednesday, so the four of us head for a day in nearby Bisbee. The weather for their visit is expected to be colder than usual for March, but we get some nice bright sunshine for a few hours of walking among the history and fun that is Bisbee, Arizona.

The devastating Valentine's Day fire closed a section of Bisbee's main commercial district to both vehicles and pedestrians. There is no street parking anyway, so while there's a detour and a few less places to peruse, there's no impact on the parking. Not much impact on tourist activity either. Walking, eateries, galleries and shops are at the usual bustle on a pretty spring day.

No information on when they expect to open again.

Sadly the neighboring businesses have had to remain closed as well.

One gallery and the olive oil/vinegar store were gutted.

The plus side of detours is seeing things I haven't in the past!

Several little inns and motels I never knew were here.

The brewery building is gorgeous.

Morgan and David


More stairs around every corner.

David is a wonderful photographer and was in heaven capturing the magic that is Bisbee and surrounds.



Bill is able to join us for our Thursday drive to Chiricahua National Monument. Every time I've been here it's been cold and windy. Every. Time. Keeping the tradition alive, the wind is biting cold - with snow flurries at the top! Come to Arizona they said, it's so warm they said....."

March in Arizona......Bill isn't impressed :-)

Having a sun roof again is a treat in the park.

The layers of Sulphur Springs Valley across the hoodoos.

Capturing the capture of Cochise Head in the clouds. Not easy in the gusting winds!

Not visible, but the snow stings Morgan as she shoots the storm.

Moving east, the storm crosses into New Mexico.

David's amazing capture of Cochise Head.

Stunning hoodoos through David's eye.

We wrap up our chilly visit with a stop at the visitor's center - one of the smallest, and best in the state - and lunch in the car :-)

Having dinners and wonderful conversations around our table each evening is such a treat - we really enjoy these two young people.

For the last day before they have to leave we check out our nearby "big town" of Sierra Vista, the small historic ranch at Brown Canyon, and finally our own hometown/historical/tourist Tombstone. 

With less wind and more sunshine, it's a pretty day for exploring the little homestead.

The huge Cottonwoods are leafing out quickly.

I'm surprised to see the Border Blimp "parked" just over the fence. It's usually in a field several miles away.



I love the simple beauty of David's pic from the corrals.

They have a later flight on Saturday so we laze around the house for a bit then head for early dinner in Tucson. Hoping for an authentic Mexican food experience, we're too late to wait for the extensive line at Mi Nidito. Instead we opt for the place across the street that's able to get us in right away - and is still very good! 

Sorry to see them go, we're already hoping for a return visit in the Fall!

Posing for David from the front yard.

In addition to nephew David's creativity, we're blessed to have other talented family. My cousin David's son, Jake Prendez, is a wonderful artist with his own gallery in Seattle. David asks me which of his prints I'd like for my own, and I'm excited to receive it in the mail a few weeks later. 

Titled Generations of Genetics, I call her Lucita's Legacy - and I love her bunches!







Friday, March 8, 2024

Moving Through February

 February 12 - 29, 2024
Tombstone, Arizona



Having this blog with all our adventures saved inside means we can keep them with us. The other, even more wonderful, sustainable part of our traveling/blogging life are the great friends we've made over the years. No matter how much traveling or not-traveling we're all doing, we've still maintained the joy of having these people in our lives. Seeing them in person is best, but we also stay in touch between those meetings. Such a blessing.

In October of 2015, after reading each other for a couple years, we first met up with Sue and Dave (Beluga's exellent adventure) in the eastern Sierras on California's beautiful Hwy 395. Since then we've visited with them from New York to the Mexico border, and now a couple times at our respective new winter-homes in Arizona. It's fun that although we all come from different states, many of us have "landed" in Arizona - at least seven bloggers I can think of all call the area home now!

The previously mentioned Hwy 93 through Wickenburg takes us right by them, so on our return trip from Kingman on Monday we must make a stop for some catching up and a few hugs! Good intentions aside, I don't get a pic of all of us this time :-) Of course it's never enough time as we so enjoy these two, but we will definitely come back for a longer visit in the future. Their little town is so cute, and when there isn't a big event happening, the drive is a nice one. Too soon, we're back on the highway and headed south.

We deem our first non-RV adventure a success, and doable for the three of us. We'll still take the motorhome to the reunion in April, but the suitcase option no longer seems so daunting.

While in Kingman we made plans for Valentines Day dinner with Anna and Donnie and some other friends. Wednesday night 10 of us gather at the delicious German Cafe where A and D's daughter-in-law is manager, and our server for the evening. It's a fun time with old and new friends. I have to remember just how good their food is! I've held up the blog waiting for the pic of all of us, but will just have to post without it :-(

For such a simple life, there sure seem to be a lot of "errands" to run every week! I'm so happy we got the second car. Pretty sure I know by heart every curve, fence post, and mountain shape between home and Sierra Vista now! Fortunately it's a lovely drive that changes with the seasons. I make a solo run to Tucson for a massage and a little shopping, then Bill and I return the following week for his appointment and a tasty lunch at El Minuto for great tacos. 

Before we leave Tucson we make a stop to look at options for smaller RVs. It's the first time in many years since I've looked at other rigs - it's fun to see a few different floor plans. There are so many things to consider if we're going to continue travels with in-home dialysis, but it really does look possible space-wise. Plenty of time to make the final decision (so of course I want to do it right now!). 

Tuesday crafts meet-up continues to be a fun time with fun peeps. I'm missing three in a row with appointments and the upcoming visit, and look forward to seeing them all again soon.

Rebecca and I take a short day-trip to nearby Brown Canyon Ranch. Our surrounding mountains all have unique locations and history - mostly stories of ranching and mining. The interior includes a few period pieces and plaques on local historic families. The exterior is my favorite with gorgeous views and sweet vintage corrals.





One of the more fun stories is that of Granny Cow, purchased in 1947 and kept as a favorite pet for 23 years. The Barchas family kept every calf she ever had, many of them continuing chains that continue today.



Winter isn't letting go just yet and we get a full day of cold rain, wind and hail to remind us. Glad to be tucked inside a solid house on these days :-)


Bringing the storm.




Stormy days often reward us with incredible sunsets. I never tire of their amazing beauty!





Cassidy making silly faces.

Her big brother Henry is ready to tackle his craft project!

Scouts M&M enjoying a sunny California day.

Oliver shares his own silly face.













Friday, February 16, 2024

The End of the Holidays

 February 1 - 11, 2024
Tombstone - Kingman, Arizona


I swear every year I'm not going to comment on how time is flying - and yet......wow! All those Valentine items that seemed so ridiculously early in the stores are now on Clearance :-)

I'm happy to have the Jeep back, to really get used to having two vehicles. Appointment planning is much easier!! The body shop did an amazing job, you can't tell any difference between the original and the new.

Our weather has been cold for several weeks, and while we enjoy the lack of winds for most of it, they've arrived with gusto the last few days. Whew - the same temps are so much colder when they're blowing through you! Tessa is not impressed with the timing of her latest grooming - it's not shorter-hair weather Mom.

Maybe it's the colder weather, but our neighborhood deer start coming in the yard to eat the bird feed! This is new behavior. They lean against the feeder pole, knock the feeders with their heads, and then masterfully consume all the seed off the ground. I'm sure I can hear the sucking of a vacuum as they make short work of all of it in 20 minutes. Poor birds! I'll have to figure out a different option if they continue. No photos as I'm trying to convince them to get back over the fence!

For us the real end of the holiday season is Super Bowl weekend. Bill is able to schedule his treatments so that we don't have to find a clinic in Kingman where we'll be staying with friends. Packing suitcases is something we haven't done in years, and we manage to not forget anything - yay! Driving the new car makes the 6 hours easy and comfortable, and until we get north of Phoenix we make good time.

Pulling off Hwy 303 onto Hwy 60 in Surprise we come to a stop, then inch along for a big accident on the other side of the road. Thankful it's on the other side as the backup is already about 8 miles and isn't moving at all. Three big rigs, two of them are loaded car-haulers, are tangled together like someone used a large crochet needle. It's a mess.

Heavy traffic with weather threatening to the north.

Hwy 93 is busy with traffic as well due to road construction, drivers who can't figure out round-abouts, and an event at the equestrian grounds. But once we're through Wickenburg, the drive is beautiful. Gas is $5.89/gal in Wikiup making us appreciate that although Tombstone is a tourist destination off any major highway our gas is $3.19/gal, and usually cheaper than in the "big city" of Sierra Vista!

We know it's been snowing in Kingman all morning, but the amount covering the surrounding mountains and the sides of the Interstate is surprising. It's beautiful!


Still lots of snow on the southern banks of I-40.

It's 38 degrees at 2:00 and the mountains are still getting fresh flakes and flurries.

Maggie and Jimmy are hosting six of us for the weekend with another dozen people coming for meals and the big game. Bill and I "reserved" their 5er parked in the backyard so we have lots of space. The furnace and electric fireplace get a workout over the three nights of below-freezing temps, and we're very comfortable.

Still very cold, but Saturday morning is bright and clear. Their backyard views are awesome.  

Back in Tombstone the snow that arrived after we left stays in the front yard for three days.

We eat like royalty every day, with enough food prepared for three dozen people! I make "eggchiladas" for Sunday breakfast, experimenting on our good friends. They're made with my Japanese egg pan, filled with meat and cheese and sauce. They turn out yummy!

Lots of fun times in the dining room. We didn't win any of the football pools (large cardboard in the back) this year.

With large televisions in three different rooms, there's plenty of room for everyone on game day.

Sadie is their new adopted pup, and does really well with all the strange people after only moving in a couple weeks ago. Here she's "helping" Maggie and I plan a t-shirt quilt :-)

It's about 50/50 for the big game with some fans more vested in their choices than others. Bill and I root for the Chiefs, but would have been okay with a 49ers win too. All agree it's a great game with mediocre commercials :-)

Good news changes are happening as eluded to last post. There are several steps to make the transition, but Bill is on track to moving his treatments to an in-home procedure. While there are potential issues that we'll need to address, the change could allow us to do some RV traveling as soon as this summer. As he continues to feel fine with no changes since he started four months ago, we're encouraged.



Henry, our little (not so little anymore) dinosaur Valentine.

Happy, happy Cassidy.

Minion Elliott pauses from his video game.

Precious Reese, such a big girl already.

Penelope shares her movie star-ness.