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.