Doing Fine, Keeping Busy

 October 8 - November 10, 2023

Tombstone, Arizona

Having spent many years in the SoCal desert where our summers could reach 120 degrees, rarely cooled down below 80 degrees at night, and often lasted past Halloween, you'd think I wouldn't see 85 degrees as hot.

Yet I do!

While our October was cooler than our September, it was still a lot warmer than I'd like! Even the first week of November has seen some days in the mid-80's.

Whine, whine, whine. Like many feel about snowy winters, I'm so over hot summers that go on too long!

Alas, maybe weather isn't everything.... :-)

Our reality continues to change as Bill navigates dialysis. Three days a week for 4.5 hours each fills a lot of life, but other than getting bored he's not having any negative reaction to the treatments. No more energy, but not any less either. 

But maybe not for life after all. He may be approved for a transplant (we were told more than once it wasn't an option for someone with his health issues) according to his doctor and the dialysis team. Several hoops to jump through, but we're optimistic it could happen in the next couple years. 

In the meantime I'm puttering around the property and exploring the local area. I realize that the biggest change for me is no travel planning for the upcoming year. It's something I've always enjoyed, so I do miss it. 

Tessa and I explore Brown Canyon Ranch.

Exhibits highlight three ranching families who helped settle this area.

The windmill fins add a rusty song in the light breeze.

How rude.....

A short drive up Ramsey Canyon finds some late fall color.

Lots of leaves already on the ground.

San Pedro River

The second annual Native American Festival has a good turnout in Tombstone this year. I stand in line to enter the grounds, but with the exception of the two fry bread stands that have long lines all day, the few vendors are easy to access. I find a lovely black pot to add to the few other pieces I have from this potter. 

Frybread is the biggest draw of the festival!

Our Tombstone locals always add some authenticity.

The "bring your own chair" set up is good for those who arrive and set up early, but then the standing crowd fill in so anyone with chairs who arrives later are stuck behind the standers. Not a good plan. I really want to watch the dancers and drummers, but can't get a decent spot in what is rapidly becoming a hot day in the direct sun. Gay and Joe (good times rollin') got some great pics of both the parade and the circle (we didn't know each other were there) so check out her post to see more. 

Eagle Feather Ceremony

It's not the Monument Valley experience we had planned, but the solar eclipse does "happen" here! I make several attempts to capture the partial coverage with my phone and special glasses, but am unsuccessful. Including a couple pics to remember the experience.

Without the glasses (I'm not looking at it, the camera is) through the clouds. It's a little darker outside for the duration of the eclipse.

With the glasses, not showing the "bite out of the apple" that I can see through the glasses with my eyes.

We don't get any trick-or-treaters out here in the boonies, but we do have friends over for BBQ and games on Halloween. Fun times!

I love our bats :-)))

Anna, Donnie, Cindy, Bill and Jimmy - Bill won!

Boo-bees - hehehe

The grands all enjoy their Halloween festivals and parties and parades and soooo much candy :-)

Penelope and Reese are our princesses every day!

Even as a scary Venom, Elliott adores his big brother Ezra.

Black Ninja, aka Big M

Little M is a great Link.

Oliver is the cutest garbage truck ever!

Henry chose classic costumes for he and sister Cassidy with their spooky parents.

Rebecca and Michael are back from their summer travels so she and I've been enjoying our Tuesday craft group at the RV park where they have a year-round lot. It's a fun group of travelers who share a couple hours each week. 

Nice to have a room to gather.

Rebecca and I take our first day trip of the year to the "big city" to visit the Tucson Art Museum and the wonderful eatery next door - A la Carte Cafe. The museum is one of those spaces that's small on the outside and large on the inside. With three stories underground, there's a wonderful variety of art and artifacts to appreciate for a couple hours. Lunch is delicious, hearty and unique in a funky and fun setting. Their patio is a lush treat of greenery, mosaics, and hopeful sparrows. 

Untitled yarn painting - stunning!

Multicolored yarns applied to a thin layer of beeswax on wood.

Winter - lithograph by Joseph Lonewolf.  

Massive bronze sculpture - Prayer Song by Allan Houser.

Dia de los Muertos altar by Sophia Mayorga with blessings added by visitors.

Peruvian Tapestry Tunic - 600 AD! They have an impressive collection of ancient textiles.

Perla Segovia - embroidered wall hangings over simple altar representing the children who have died while migrating from violence in Central America to the United States. Very moving.

Adam by Rodin - one of several pieces in the masters' gallery.

This lovely salmon salad is also a work of art!

Since we're driving into Sierra Vista at least three days a week, we're fortunate the drive is pretty under always-changing skies. With so many mountain ranges and rolling hills, the moving clouds put on a variety show most days. 

So we're keeping busy and staying positive. I'll get caught up next post :-)

 

Even When You're Expecting It, Bad News is Still Bad

September 3 - October 7, 2023

Tombstone, Arizona

Over the last few years Bill has dealt with multiple health issues that we've known would eventually take us off the road. Last Spring he was told that when we returned he had to get a fistula "installed" to prepare for eventual dialysis. All of this contributed to our reduced travel route for 2023. 

Upon our return we're happy to get his care transferred to a specialist who comes highly recommended, and who is also in much closer Sierra Vista. Tucson for several treatments a week just wasn't going to be practical.

Meeting Bill, the doctor is confident he is a long time from dialysis. Test results show just the opposite, and he is immediately scheduled for the fistula. Complications keep that from happening as planned, increasing the urgency. Fortunately a temporary option is available that expedites the dialysis, and hopefully the surgery done on Friday will make that happen. 

So big changes for us moving forward, with RVing likely off the agenda for good. Dialysis is a life-saving blessing, but it is time-consuming, and it is forever. We're grateful we bought the house when we did, and that we've made it a nice home we enjoy. Being "out in the country" with 360 degree views and lovely weather most of the year was, and is, a good choice.

Dialysis away from home is possible, so visits to the family in SoCal will still happen. We plan to make Bill's 50th high school reunion in April. 

Bill is feeling fine and I'm making peace with all our changes. His Dallas Cowboys are having a great season, and my Pittsburgh Steelers have to get a lot better fast :-)) He plays Cribbage every day that his buddy is available, and I'm finding projects around the house to keep me busy. 

One attempts normal when faced with the unknown.

It's been a hot September (although much cooler than nearby Tucson). We've had a few deer visits, while the Quail, Dove and Finch remain here en masse. They could go through a pound of feed a day! 

Cochise County is large in size, but small in population, with lots of natural, historical and geological diversity. I'm looking forward to exploring, and learning about. as much of it as I can. 

We do get the occasional interesting wildlife - I can never tell which end is the head on a Walking Stick!

It's not unusual seeing Praying Mantis, but this year we've had a dozen hanging out for weeks.

Simple drama on a drive to town.

Sometimes we have two dozen Quail in the yard.

A pair of cute fawns follow Mom to the water barrel.

The Lowell District of Bisbee is like a walk through the past - a favorite stop for good breakfast at the BBC.

A distant cousin rolled into town years ago and never rolled out.

Okie dokie, gonna just keep on walking!

Back porch evenings.

I love watching the clouds change.

I'll keep blogging for now. There are many things still up in the air, with lots of opportunity to find adventure in our new reality. 

Poor Penelope, but the photo makes me laugh every time I see it :-)

Handsome Big M enjoys a warm September beach day.

We know what Ezra wants for Christmas this year!

Life Goes on in the Desert

 August 22 - September 2, 2023

Tombstone, Arizona

Looking at our "original" route for this year's travels I see we dodged a mess of smoke and fire in Oregon! This year we went north through Utah in April and then south down the coast hoping that would mean we missed the smoke (which has become its own season now) in the late summer. While we had perfect weather on the shortened route, we would not have missed the smoke had we still been on the road this month. I'd always rather be traveling, but it seems cutting it short this year was a blessing. 

From a friend's FB post near Brookings, Oregon - about where we'd be at this time.

Several of our RV buddies have posted visits to the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas, but I've forgotten about it when we've visited the little border town in the past. The monsoons are creating an incredible carpet of green throughout the area, so the 40 mile drive is especially beautiful. 

Cafe 333 is a lovely coffeehouse/dining room at the hotel where we enjoy a tasty Tuesday morning breakfast. Like most border towns, Douglas is struggling, but stepping inside the hotel is like taking a step back to the early 1900's when mining and ranching were in their heyday. 

A perfect little coffee house.

The lobby is gorgeous. Standing on the steep marble stairs to take the photo, I'm impressed that brides navigate them in high heels!

In addition to the dining room, there's a fun tavern and two retail boutiques. 

I love finding these old details.

The stained glass accents make the space glow with drenched color.

It's wonderful to see the solid wood and curved glass of the entry next door have survived for decades.

What was once the "company store" for the large mine, the space now stores vintage items (maybe planning to be a museum?)

A wall near the border I can support.

One of the things I love best about our property is all the visits we enjoy from the deer, quail, dove, finches, etc. This year the mesquite is so thick and green we often hear them more than see them.

A days-old fawn stops by with Mom.

I love all the cute spots!

This quieter, slow-down time is a mixed blessing. It's always a treat to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us, to have zero schedule to keep, to appreciate our lovely little house, to visit with local friends, and to watch the seasons move through. It's also challenging for me to keep busy when I want to be busy. The outdoor heat limits those options, and there's not much I haven't already "done" with the interior. I have a couple hobbies I could get back to - yeah, I should probably do that :-)

Morning's cooler temps give me a few hours to clear out the brush that has gotten out of hand over the last several months.

Monsoons move through and around us almost every day.

Donnie and Anna surprise Bill with a belated birthday dinner and fancy desert!

Sierra Vista enjoys a good drenching.

Tombstone Courthouse State Park looks haunted in the clouds and drizzle.

Some of the storms make their way to our place - this one has high winds and dumps an inch in an hour!

Even when they don't bring any wet, we have wonderful clouds moving through every day.

I do make it to Tucson for some personal pampering and minimal shopping. Of course the day I'm there is one of the hottest of the summer! Being at 4500' in Tombstone we are always about 20 degrees cooler - thankfully.

August in a desert city.

Getting closer to Tombstone, Mother Nature makes a swipe of color across the sky.

Eventually it reaches to the mountains.

The storm quickly drops the temps for about 15 miles. It's 90 degrees when I pull into the house.

San Pedro River Valley

Taking a break from her family, this doe rests in the shade inside the fence. 

Football season is once again upon us, a big deal in our house! Saturday is our fantasy league draft, always fun with Bill and his four sons and me. Looks like I have a mediocre team this year, but only time will tell :-) 

We've been back nearly a month, September has arrived, my favorite time of year is just around the corner. 

Precious Cassidy 

Elliott out playing with his daddy.

M and M enjoying school days.