Silver smithing in Mesa

Amenities at Mesa Regal are just a few reasons why we like it here, the 70 degree days and lows in the 50's are also a big plus. I'm getting ready for a spring show that will be held it in March a well attended event. I hope to feature my jewelry, lapidary and wood work (which has not yet been started) and this year, I might try selling a few pieces. 

A Tucson thanksgiving

Just a short beautiful drive south from our winter retreat sits Tucson, specifically Saddlebrooke where several of Gary's cousins live. This year, Mark an Ivah were kind enough to take us in for thanksgiving and it was quite a feast! Everyone contributed a dish to share but Ivah's base of stuffed turkey, ham, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, an array of sweets... Stop me, I'm so full I can't get up just thinking about it. What's more comfortable, sitting, standing, or laying down? I don't know but it was worth it and the drive home under a full moon was as beautiful as the drive down.

Jewelry in the works

What to do when you have some down time, make jewelry or polish stones to be placed in the jewelry. These are just a few pieces I've finished. More to come!

War of the roses

At times it seems like the roses have the upper hand, slowly but surely we will win this war with the roses! It's interesting to hear that some people in the park think they would like to do our job, until they see how much work it takes, how our arms are cut from the thorns and how warm the late morning sun can be and they just comment "they are really looking great, keep up the good work"! The second most asked question is "do you see many scorpions"? The answer is no, I'm sure they are around but when we are weeding and cutting the dead wood out we have no visitors of the stinging variety. Last year when Gary was sweeping behind a food truck he scared up one small scorpion, I was trying to find a tool to scoop him up to move him when Gary stepped forward and stomped on the little bugger. I guess they are not a bug worth saving. One thing I do know, small is not better, they have more venom then the larger variety.

Final day on the road

With the last push through the Mazatzal mountains, a breakfast stop in Payson and a lovely drive out of the mountains down highway 87 we reached our destination of Mesa AZ. They had a very dry summer and some major wind that caused damage. Then the monsoons came and the resort had more water than it could handle. The result was waste deep flooding of the catch basis which is also the tennis and pickle ball courts. Just before the snow birds returned the resort planned a clean up but another large rain event scuttled the repair. This last weekend the resort put all their crew on cleanup and hired a group to rework the courts. Today the leagues began and everyone was happy. We also started our work on the roses. The rains were good for the plants as everything was in full bloom when we arrived. But we have our work cut out for us, what's good for the roses is also good for nut grass as you can see in the photo? Other plants that usually bloom in the spring are blooming as well. Sadly, much of these will be done by the time all the snow birds arrive.

Anasazi Ruins

Archaeology sites

With a one night stay in Homolovi state park we had a chance to explore the ruins of the Anasazi and Hopi people that lived in this area. They stayed here utilizing the rich valley before their migration north. Not much remains of what once had between 1200 to 2000 rooms and thousands of residents because of vandalism, treasure seekers and erosion. Even with all of the destruction the area is strewn with pottery and the visitors center has some nice examples gathered from the site.  This was a new campground for us and the location near Winslow make it a good stop for the night. Blue had a walk and good nights sleep (so did I) before our final push into Phoenix. The drive through the mountain pass was spectacular.

Standin on the corner in Winslow Arizona

"I was standin on the corner in Winslow Arizona, such a fine sight to see" 

Well I had to do it, I am after all an Eagles fan, and poor old Winslow has little to offer except this corner that is filled with song references. In fact, forget about have breakfast cause it ain't gonna happen. Very cute however, notice the paintings in the upper windows. 

Westward ho

Favorite toy on left, one leg remaining, ears gone.

What a difference a state can make. In Oklahoma City we change directions as we jump on the mother road (Route 66) and head west, last night we abandoned the quilt and Blue stayed above the blanket, when he slept. He spends much of his traveling down the road sleeping under my chair and looks for things to do at night. Last night I woke to here him scratching to get out from behind The sink (where he shouldn't be) because I left the door open. I had to scruff him to help him get his large body out of the tight space. A treat made it all good. Later I woke to a very wet chew toy on my side of the bed, very nice of him to give me his favorite toy don't you think? Gary has named this toy the skanky mouse for a good reason, I just call it chewbocka because the legs, arms and ears are for the most part, chewed off. Not to worry, we have two new toys waiting in the cat bin. His favorite toy lasts him six months. 

We saw our first snake in the campground, enjoyed a flock of white pelicans that were stopped for a rest in Elk City Lake, our spot for the night, and the Owls were calling once the local dogs stopped howling. So as long as I'm awake, the locals keep me entertained. Unlike past years, this area looks green which speaks to all the moisture they have had is fall. I've also noticed that the long horn cattle that were once so popular in TX can be seen as far north as Kansas. They are a very impressive beast compared to the black angus earlier on this trip. It's what's for dinner. So far, this is the best weather we have seen traveling this stretch which often has us stopping for a day or two because of high winds. No friend to RVs.

I 35

The landscape is changing especially over the short time I've been on this earth. While traveling for work at Kodak, I would stop at a rest area along 35 Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area and read stories that talked about those past structures that dotted the prairie skyline, today those are replaced with cell towers and windmills, and I don't mean the small round windmills that were found on the local farms to pump water, I mean the large windmill farms that reach to the heavens with 3 massive white blades and stretch as far as the eye can see. And those cute round multiple blade windmills I mentioned are being replaced with solar systems that monitor the watering tanks and pump from wells when needed. And the crop in Iowa today is corn, which I hear makes its own clouds and is effecting the weather. I know on past travels when we hit the south west area of AZ, the crops growing were what ever the Chinese were paying top dollar for (well maybe not now with the tariffs) and the last trip that way the crop was alfalfa which is far from the water conscious crop that should be planted in the driest area of our country.  

On the road again

That old Willie Nelson song comes to mind when we leave our northern home and head south for the winter. "On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again, like a band of gypsy we go down the highway, I can't wait to get on the road again."

We left home on a beautiful fall day and enjoyed some of the nicest fall color in years all the way through southern Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. It's hard to leave when the weather is so nice but we all know that this will not last for long. No wind and sunny skies made the colors pop from the branches. Every low branch, light post and even the fence posts played perch for the many red tail Hawks along the road until we hit the prairies and the Hawks turned to meadow larks and the leaves were replaced with blankets of amber fields as far as the eye can see. The only breaks are the black pepper spots of Angus letting us know we are in cattle country, we are in Kansas. Unlike the land of OZ, the winds are not blowing today but the trees in the open all lean the same direction and the deformed branches let me know that they have seen some significant winds in their time. This year we took the turnpike just after KC through the Flint Hills region which is prairie at its unspoiled best. This country has it's own unique beauty but as the skies turned grey and began to weep, it lost the splendor and became a long, long stretch of pavement, that makes me want to curl up and take a nap with my cat under the quilt. Which is the first thing I did once we arrived at our destination. Just a few more days before we reach our winter home in Mesa AZ.

Back home and back at the canvas

Arizona winter

It goes without saying that I've done a poor job keeping my blog up this winter. My excuse, are people interested in travelers that stay in one location for 5 months? But it has been a busy stay in our  Mesa location. With a lapidary and silver smith shop housing all the tools a rock hound and jewelry person could want, I turned out several finished pieces and have several in the works. And this years weather has been amazing! The pools and hot tubs have had a workout and the park has had some amazing entertainment! The latest trend seems to be tribute bands, the favorite to date, a band named "One of these nights" and yes, an Eagles tribute band that was spot on. Tomorrow night it's a Frankie Valli tribute. Just a few weeks before we start our slow trip home.