Life Enhanced - Books and Babies

 July 19 - 26, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

My two weeks with Sherry in Santa Fe revived my enjoyment of reading non-fiction, and my recent discovery of the real location of my ancestors' tragic end have inspired the reading of several books about the Oatman (my maiden name) massacre. 

In 1851 the Oatman family set out on their own from the remaining families in the wagon train to make the final push to Fort Yuma. They were attacked and murdered by Yavapai Indians with Olive and Mary Ann taken captive. Olive's story is the stuff of legends.

I've learned so much about my family history as well as the history of the time. Amazingly, Olive and her family had not even joined the wagon train to California when the first Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls. California became a state while they were on the Santa Fe Trail. Multi-story brick buildings were being built in Manhattan while she was living among the Mohaves as a captive, or adopted family.

Following her return Olive had to balance her White and Indian lives. It's interesting to note this dress she made includes hash marks that mimic the Mojave tatoo on her chin.

The family was moving to the promised land prophesized by a short-lived "spin-off" of the Mormon church un-affectionately referred to as Brewsterites. I've also learned a lot more about the Mormon church.

Olive and Mary Ann (who died of starvation after three years) lived with the Mojave Indians of the Colorado River. Likely near the current ghost town and tourist stop of Oatman, Arizona. I've learned a lot more about the Mojave Indians.

Irataba, a Mohave Chief and one who Olive called her friend, met with President Lincoln (the first chief to meet with a president) in 1864. Olive traveled from Michigan to see him.

Olive and her (believed by Olive to be dead) brother Lorenzo were reunited in Fort Yuma five years after the massacre. Her return was negotiated by a Quechan Indian named Francisco, although officers at the fort took credit. I've learned a lot more about military and government practices of the time.

The role and goal of Fort Yuma was often defined by its various commanders, at times different from that of the government, laws and treaties. These definitions had a direct impact on the fate of the Oatman family and the captivity of two daughters.

Olive and Lorenzo were the only surviving children of Roys and Mary Ann Oatman. Olive had no children, and Lorenzo's sons passed young and childless. So there are no direct descendants of this family. However, Roys had 17(!) siblings so there are undoubtedly a whole lot of "cousins" who can trace our way back to his family. 

I was always told the Oatmans were from Germany. Nope, Johannes Outman emigrated from Holland! Very cool :-))

It's been great fun to immerse myself in all the history, connecting it to locations I've been and others I want to visit. At the same time I'm not unaware of the fact that so much information is available only because of the tragedy that befell Olive and her family - a story that continues to intrigue historians and authors alike.

Day-to-day life doesn't look much different. Happily it does include more moisture, including a couple of all-night female rains (slow, steady and soaking). It greens the desert and cleanses the soul. A couple of temporary road closures while arroyos fill and empty quickly, acres of Ocotillos thicken with tiny green leaves doubling their size, and shadows move across the plains and hills under shifting cloud-cover. It's an active time of year here.

An intense rainbow with all the colors clear.

No pot of gold in Jeff's car - we looked.

Warning notifications that Moson Road is closed a few  miles south of us.

All the ocotillos on our property are full, especially the one in the backyard.

Spending every morning on the front porch, quietly observing the critters, I'm gifted with patterns and anomalies. Quail families have always been two parents, with two-10 babies of the same age, and one-three "uncles". There are never "extra" females, but almost always there are extra males that travel with them. Recently there is a very different family-construct coming to visit. I'm confused by babies of two different ages intermingled as one family. A few days later they're back, and the parents add to the anomaly. The two smaller babies have only a female parent, a single-mom. The four larger babies have two parents, mom and dad. And no uncles. These nine are a unit, come and go together, watch out for each other. I don't know if this is rare in the wild, or just rare in my yard. In any case it's delightful to see their little blended family. Maybe I'll get a photo before they move on, but I've been caught up in just watching them together.

Another change is the trapdoor spider expanding her web beyond the round trap. The early morning sun lights it up for a few minutes, or I'd have missed it. It's gone the next day.

The section farthest from the trap is easily seen in the light.

Harder to see here, the web trail is just below the green patch on the right and angles up to the left, into the visible trap. Easier in person :-)

Mr Big Lizard of the Big Feet Clan

The hummers come right up to my head every day but I usually can't get a quick photo. How do you do it Gay???

Taking a break from all that running on roads.

All of the crafts group is out of state for the summer. Vicky is back for a few days so we grab a couple hours to enjoy a tasty lunch at the Copper Brothel Brewery. It's wonderful to get caught up, she'll be back in September.

A fun place with consistently good food.

Vicky is one of those people you meet at 1:00 and are good friends with before 1:30. I've missed her!

Our six-year-old TV dies without warning so of course it's time for a bigger one. Who are we that we need a 65" TV in a small home? Bill is of course very happy, convinced we've needed one for years! Should be fun for football :-)

Jeff and I see Superman in the theater - excellent all around, and Krypto the Dog is like seeing Tessa on the big screen!

She just needs a red cape!

A few days later Bill and I go to see the new Jurassic World movie. They're always best in the theater with those amazing dinosaurs. How are they not real?? This one has a weak plot line and mediocre characters with the little family, location and dinos saving the show.

$7.00/seat is the least expensive entertainment value we have, although the snacks are still clearly made of pure gold :-) I wish there were more movies I want to see.

Our lovely Virginia trio - Reese, Magnolia and Penelope  

Big M learning to kayak - getting so big!

Cassidy Jane ready to beam up!

Pretties in the City and Haboob at Home

 July 11 - 18, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

Sometimes "modern convenience" isn't as convenient as hoped - or at the very least isn't the first choice for special.

I'm not surprised by the comments on the previous post, sharing that paper calendars are still used. Ezra and Elliott's mom has one on the fridge, many of our traveling friends use them regularly, and I even see them in current TV series. Even with calendar programs available on our phones, tablets and computers, many still prefer hard copies. Clearly convenient is in the eye of the beholder!

This is true in other ways.

Recently the Jeep stopped recognizing Bluetooth connections. While there is an Aux jack on the dash, our new Android phones no longer have jacks. The "convenience" of Bluetooth technology means we can no longer access music, podcasts, etc. Sure, I can replace the unit or get it "fixed" (unlikely anymore), but what a pain and expense! Jeff points out "it was so nice when we could just pop in a CD!" Amen son.

Texts and emails are quick and easy, but they're not very special. Admittedly greeting cards are as expensive as everything else these days, but there is something much more fun and personal and special about receiving one in the mail. During our travels I enjoyed sending post cards to our (then six) grands - and they loved receiving something in the mail just for them. It's challenging to find post cards that appeal to kids, and now that we have 10 it's no longer a viable option. Plus we're not traveling. Fortunately Target and Hallmark carry packets of 6-10 (almost monthly) holiday cards at a reasonable price with some variety. I'm happy to send out these special envelopes with some stickers several times a year. Less convenient, but definitely much more special!

Access to the Internet is invaluable. I can remember a life without it, but find it hard to describe to Ezra! I'm happy to say that our homes still have books and table games on the shelf, writing is still taught in school. Contrary to popular belief and complaint, cursive is required in school curriculum in California and 24 other states. 

I don't see a day when we're once again dependent on outdated encyclopedias or paper maps for navigating information and travel routes, but I believe there is something in our DNA that ensures our holding on to, and passing down, practices that are appreciated for both their simplicity and their specialness. 

Back to typing on my laptop and downloading photos from my digital camera.....

Tucson (the city) is generally 10-12 degrees hotter than we are in Tombstone (home). An elevation change of over 2000 feet, and distance of 70 miles makes a real difference. Especially in the summer. Usually I can avoid the city on really hot days unless Bill has a doctor visit. Visits to fun and interesting places can by planned around the weather. Of course the one place I definitely want to visit during this warmer season is only open one weekend a month. If it's a hot weekend I either give up the adventure, or make the best of it. 

Last year I opted for the first option and missed out, so this year I'm off to the Gathering Vintage Market on a hot July Saturday. Rebecca and I love it at Christmas, and I have wanted to visit in other seasons. It's not a large place, but is very special. I don't always buy something, but I love looking at everything there.

It's hot. Arriving 30 minutes after opening, it's pretty crowded. The dog is old, but isn't going to stay home without me. Fortunately I continue to enjoy perfect "car-ma", and the first parking space next to the door is waiting for us. 2 feet of asphalt and we're in the shade, then in the door. Immediately it looks bigger, even with the number of people milling about. There are still lots of tall displays under the 12-15 foot ceiling, but the absence of multiple full Christmas trees opens the space. We spend over an hour making a couple full meanders throughout the lovely offerings. Like at Christmas, I love their artistic "gathering" of related items into beautiful vignettes. Several vendors are represented, but dispersed throughout with creative intent. No AC, but the large fans and iced lemon water manage to keep it comfortable before noon. I'm very glad I came.

The ceilings are barely visible at Christmas, filled with tall, decorated trees.

Flowers are definitely the theme of Summer here.

I need an old-world wood library to bring these home to!

It was only with great will-power that I came home sans a pair of avocado pillows.

Tessa enjoys her usual pets and oohs and ahhs at her overpowering cuteness, and endures my lengthy wanderings. Our lunch stop at Five Points Market is close-by where once again the best parking spot is open for us. There's a wait since it's too hot for anyone to opt for the patio, but soon I'm enjoying a plate of scrambled eggs with cheesy grits while Tessa snoozes under my stool. I really enjoy this upbeat, sustainably sourced, openly diverse eatery in one of the city's regentrified barrio neighborhoods. It's 107 when we return to the Jeep, and it's time to leave.

15 feet from the door, it's still hot :-)

Devastating floods continue to destroy homes, businesses and lives to the east. Some are rapidly overflowing rivers, some are flash floods through areas of recent fires, all are extreme and terrifying. Water is not always our friend, still we hope for rain here. Most of the water our desert depends on comes from the summer monsoons. During our traveling years Jeff enjoyed strong and steady rains here at the house for many weeks. Upon our return the area was always lush and green for months. The two summers we've been here the monsoons were weak, the following months with limited green. Last year included. This year really, really needs to produce some measurable water.

A Haboob is an intense dust storm that precedes a weather front or thunderstorm. One afternoon Jeff comes back from a walk and tells us we should look outside (curtains are drawn against the sun and heat). To the east is solid brown from earth to sky, blocking out the Dragoons with a visibly moving edge moving toward us. A Haboob is moving in. Very ominous, very cool. Literally, as the temps are dropping with the smell of rain. Over the next couple hours we get high winds, dirt blowing against the windows, and finally some rain. Dust and wind slacken and the rain slows enough to give us a decent soaking. 

Captured by a neighbor. It gets everyone's attention!

With the rain continuing overnight we get a short reprieve from the week's hot temps. There are a couple days of this-would-be-lovely-all-summer weather with climbing temps in the forecast. 

Clouds hugging the Whetstones to the west.

One morning on the porch I'm looking at this view when I hear drops on the roof.

Directly above is this single cloud wringing out the last of the moisture in the area.

Another trip to Tucson for Bill to meet with his vascular surgeon about the continuing hand pain. A second surgery is scheduled so they haven't given up on fixing it. We meet up with Kim and Jack for a good meal and better conversation at Bistro 44. It's still funny to me that after 50+ years we spend time with people we went to high school with!

 

Cutie Cassidy at Grandma's in the SoCal desert.

Handsome Henry shares his sweet treat.

M&M beat the heat.

Oliver visits Yosemite where Mom and Dad got married!

A New Box of Squares - July Begins

 July 1 - 10, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

Back porch view.

Squares in a box on a piece of paper or, more likely these days, on a screen - the calendar influences so much of our lives. Originally developed along astronomical and seasonal cycles, the calendar aided the agricultural community initially, and was naturally adopted for tracking religious rituals and festivals (eventually holidays). The Julian calendar is believed to have started organizing lives in 46 BC, with the current Gregorian calendar being introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory Xlll. Resistance to the "Catholic" calendar delayed global usage until 1752. 

This man-made construct defines and dictates the whens and how-longs of our lives. Like the alphabet and musical notes, the calendar keeps us all "on the same page". 

So why this fascinating educational blip?

I started to write something about July 1 being the half-way point of the year. But that made me question "half-way to what?" Nothing within us actually ends or begins when the calendar changes to a new year. I was thinking that July 1 is a good time to take a deep breath and look toward the next six months with renewed convictions and commitments. But can't we do that every day?

We can, but usually don't. We need those squares. 

So at this recognized end-of-the-first-half point I've taken a few deep breaths and made a couple commitments for the next half. It's as good a time as any :-)

It takes several days to reacclimate to the quiet of a house without the energy and joy of little people. I miss them bunches. It's great fun to write the previous blog post with all the photos of our summer adventure! 

Monsoon Season is trying to start. Officially the season in southern AZ is June 15 - September 30 (because we have a calendar!). Predictions for 2025 include a wetter season than the last two years, but not until mid-July. Fingers crossed for accuracy as we need the rain (like most years) here. We get storms passing around us most days, and get a couple rains on the property. It's a slow start.

To the north.

An hour later to the southeast.

And the west.

Running errands in Sierra Vista and hoping this all heads to our house. It does!

While the grands were here we had fun naming the changing clouds. I send them this one to play with. Looks like Yoda to me!

Passing storms give us pretty sunsets.

Our wildlife continue to visit daily. One morning a large squadron of 15 Javelina come to the water bucket, including seven babies of different ages. There's a juvenile with a wounded leg that couldn't put weight on it a couple weeks ago. He shows up still limping but able to move quickly, putting weight on it!

An adult, juvenile and baby. The baby can't reach the water so takes the opportunity to nurse while mom drinks.

One persistent doe stops by most mornings that I'm out early on the front porch. She jumps the fence and nibbles the corn from the bird food on the ground. I don't try to get close to her, hope she won't ever trust humans, but she comes close on her own. Tessa watches but doesn't engage.

The Desert Bird of Paradise are not to her liking so we get a few blooms to enjoy.

Likely with fawn, they usually give birth in July and August.

Unfortunately later in the week Miss Deer shows signs of aggression toward Tessa (who continues to ignore her while walking around the yard). As sweet as those faces are, those hooves can be deadly strikers. We'll keep an eye out when letting Tessa outside.

Watching for a while, she doesn't mind sharing.

After no new Quail babies since the two that disappeared quickly a few weeks ago, I finally see a covey of 10 babies through the window! It makes me so happy, and I hope they all survive the predators and weather. Later in the week three families show up, each with less than 8 babies. They look like little fluffs of cotton and are very vulnerable.

Most lizards we get are thumb and finger size - you can pick them up with a pinch. Lately we've had some large thumb and four finger size. They're literally a handful! They tend to hang out in the shade. Until I pick up the camera.

A newest addition to the menagerie is the Trapdoor Spider by the front porch. Very industrious, they ring the hole with thick web, then lay a light covering over the top. At some point they, or something else, fill in the hole with dirt and there's nothing to see. A couple days later the trap is reconstructed. I've yet to see the occupant, but the hole is fascinating.

The dots are bird seed - not eyes :-)

The web construction is elaborate, but it's the perfect roundness of the hole that I find most interesting.

I have a medical procedure scheduled that I believe is going to have me in a room for two hours that may cause Tessa some stress. So I give her one of the pills from the vet to help her stay calm. Big mistake.

I end up able to walk around and have to change rooms a couple times which turns out to be difficult for the poor drugged dog! We come home and she sleeps for 17 hours. The next day she's still a little wonky. Even though her separation anxiety has increased with her limited hearing and eye sight, I won't use those pills again!

After what seemed like a "scary" message from the dr's office gave me a stressful holiday weekend I was grateful on Monday morning that there was nothing serious found. Whew!! At "this age" I'm more concerned when anything needs to be scanned!

What did you give me yesterday Mom??

Sunday evening bright sunshine lights up our little hilltop property, while we are surrounded by the darkest skies! Light wind and the wonderful smell of rain teases for a couple hours before moving on without a drop. So rude!

Although our July squares aren't full, we manage to pile up numerous appointments all in one week. Haircut, pedicure, dentist, doctors, dinner out with friends - feels like when we'd get to home base while full-timing and needing to get everything done quickly :-))) At least it's all done now.

I love it when Jeff makes lunch for me!

Our three youngest grands, numbers 8, 9 and 10, are getting so big and rapidly becoming their little individual selves. Delightful to watch through numerous photos and videos, like all the others we wish they lived closer.

Oliver loves being outdoors and helps pick apricots at his Oma's house.

Cassidy is a silly girl who finds delight in the everyday, and at that age where the container is as great as the contents.

Magnolia has a full range of smiles from precious to full-face-engaged. We hear she's a very good baby, and look forward to meeting her in person.