March 1 - 18, 2025
Tombstone, Arizona
So far March has brought us everything including snow, and a little bit of much-needed rain. From 54 degrees one day to 82 degrees the next, and calm days followed by high-wind-warning days, it's been a roller coaster of weather. Definitely not the brutality experienced in some areas. Our forecast looks mild for the remainder of the month (as of today!).
Also a roller coaster has been Bill's health, with new complications as well as returns to past issues. Good and bad days with some just-blah days in between, I keep hoping he's going to feel better again with a return to more independence. Poor dude!
Fortunately he's still feeling pretty good when we welcome our world-traveling pals for a couple days of getting caught up. I've been traveling vicariously around Europe for years with Steven and Linda in their sweet little "Bijou", while missing getting to see them in person. I'm so happy they include us in their Spring travels to Texas! And glad we added the RV spots on our property to accommodate our pals with traveling homes. Following each other's blogs, and even before we met in person, there's always been a special bond with these two. It's wonderful having them here.
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| They're really here! |
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| Watching Steven's video of their bicycle ride across South Korea - across a country!! |
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| Casa de Gravel Resort |
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| Thanks Steven for the great shot of our humble abode. |
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| Plenty of room for Ruby Red and a fluffy dog. |
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| Linda and Jodee in Arizona again. |
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| Yaaay. |
On our one snowy day Rebecca and I venture to the Copper Brothel Brewery in pretty Sonoita with a stop at the Rune Winery. My favorite area of southeastern Arizona, the golden plains are even prettier under dramatic skies.
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| Glad to be eating inside the brewery today! |
The final step for my being able to take PJ on any adventures is getting the Jeep hooked up. Jeff gets the Blue Ox installed on the RV, and Bill instructs me on connecting it between the vehicles. That sucker is heavy! But after a couple tries I'm able to successfully put it together.
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| I got this! |
Several days later I'm able to quickly unhook it at Camping World where I hang out for seven hours while they install the Invisibrake on the Jeep. I leave PJ there for the automatic levelers' installation and a few quick fixes to make her completely adventure-ready. It all comes with a hefty price tag, but I know I'll be happy with the additions.
Hard to believe many of the crafts group are already making plans to head out for summer travels - seems like we just got together again :-) Rebecca and Michael head out the first week of April and I'll definitely miss our day trips.
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| Making pretty things. |
We haven't been to the Amerind Museum/Gallery this year so on an especially chilly and windy day it's a good time to see what's new.
Set in the beautiful Texas Canyon area, the outside is as artistic as the inside. No photography allowed in the gallery or exhibits. I'm happy to see numerous people visiting and supporting this lovely site.
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| Ezra and Elliott make the best of a snow day in their play fort - hours of brother-fun! |
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| Our adventurous Miss Penelope :-)) |
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| Little M lights up the room. |
Good morning Jodee. We are also hoping right along with you that Bill is feeling better with lots of good days to come. What a pretty view of your home nestled under those blue skies and Casa de Gravel Resort is the icing on the cake! I love Amerind Museum. We visited twice in one week…first for inside history and the story about its beginning and again for a nice hike. I love those boulders! And the gorgeous, endless views of the golden grasses and gorgeous skies with mountain backdrops is a huge reason we live here! The views never grow old or disappoint. Visits with friends are always fun and what a comfort to catch up right where you left off no matter how much time has passed between seeing each other. Snowy day forts are the best, mud and high heels is questionable, but brave and I’m loving those freckles! Kudos to you as I don’t think I would ever be hooking up a vehicle to tow or confident enough to hit the road alone in an RV. You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteOur views are definitely at the top of the list of things we love about this area, from the rocks to the plains there's so much to see. I'm pretty sure the hitch weighs more than you do :-))
DeleteCongrats on hooking up the Jeep! Fran is still not able to do it. the Blue ox bar is just so dang heavy and awkward! I installed the Invisabrake myself - under the driver's seat of our Jeep TJ. It's out of the way, and I can only hope it never needs maintenance! Our stop at Rune was on one of your high wind days! The outside event they had planned, just couldn't happen!
ReplyDeleteSure hope Bill has more good days. He remains my hero! Bi-latter knee replacement and back at work in weeks!
Those brake systems seem really complicated so good on you for getting one installed yourself! Either way they're worth the effort to me. As pretty as the area is, the winds for three months mess up a lot of outside plans. I'll remind Bill he's a hero - and those knees are still working great :-)
DeleteWe've never been to the Amerind Museum but always say "we should check that out" when we drive through the intriguing Texas Canyon area. Next time! Sorry Bill is struggling, tough for you both. I'm impressed that you can carry that heavy Blue Ox and hook up yourself! I just did a video of Dave hooking and unhooking so I could, maybe, do it in an emergency....About time, right? Love those grandkid pics! They grow so fast. Here's looking forward to a calmer weather and health season ahead!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to have to carry that hitch too far so I'm glad it lives permanently on the RV - still getting it connected to the Jeep is motivation to keep strong :-)) Getting a video is really smart, I should have done that on our walk-through of PJ!
DeleteHow fun to have friends make your home one of their stops!! And we loved the Copper Brothel (what a name!) And yea for you learning to hook/unhook the car!! Amerind Museum and all those rocks--a very cool place.
ReplyDeleteThis desert is so different than the one where we lived in SoCal as kids - so much diversity to enjoy. Adding the two RV spots our first year was one of the best things we've done, I love seeing our friends' homes "next door".
DeleteCan't believe you're friends with someone who bicycled across Korea. That's outrageous.. So cool! And they must be too. He installed your Blue ox. Wow! You absolutely have the right friends.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that picture of your place. I don't think you've ever published one or if so, I missed that one.
Did you not have a braking system on the Jeep with your previous rig? That was one nice thing. When my car got totaled that I had a Patriot system I could move to a new car but I did have to have the car set up for towing which was no small deal to find somebody to do for less than $3,000. Glad you've got everything set up so you can travel on to New Mexico.
As always, great pictures of your grandkids. Such variety. So much fun!
Wishing Bill the very best. Living with chronic illness is a big drag.
Steven didn't install the Blue Ox - Jeff just carried it from the garage to the RV and put it on. The braking system on the Jeep was for an exhaust brake system which we don't have on PJ which is a gasser. Fortunately the Blue Ox on the Jeep just connects to the hitch now on PJ. I'll be so glad to get her back from the shop with everything ready to go!!
DeleteHow wonderful that Linda and Steven came to visit! I know you guys have had a special connection from the very beginning. :-)) It's so sweet to see the photos of you all together. I'm very impressed at your expanding skill set. Those hitches are heavy! Good motivation to keep up with your upper body strength, lol. I hope Bill is feeling better. Hugs to both of you!
ReplyDeleteYes I'm glad I've been keeping up with those hand weights!! Wonderful to see you got to meet up with Sherry - wish you'd join us in New Mexico :-))
DeleteSo hoping Bill has more up days than down in the near future. Thinking of you both:) Congratulations on getting the Jeep hooked to PJ!!! Sounds like you are about ready for your solo trip days!! We've never stopped at Amerind Museum either but I do love drive through the jumbo rocks. Reminds me of Joshua Tree. Nice to have friends come and visit and extra nice that they can stay "right next door" in their own home!! Casa de Gravel is very nice.
ReplyDeleteWe're hoping he's on the right track this week. Having lived in JT for a few years when the boys were in school I agree Texas Canyon is very similar - probably one reason I love it so much :-)
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