Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Texas Canyon and Amerind ...

I have fallen in love with the Texas Canyon area!  I'm  posting a couple of pictures of rock formations taken there at right.  That is where the Triangle T Guest Ranch is, where we had dinner as I think I mentioned here in a previous post.  Also, last week we went to the Amerind Foundation Museum  and Gallery just north of Dragoon in Texas Canyon.  It's a museum of native American artifacts and the collection is much more extensive than the Eiteljorg in Indy.  The building isn't as impressive, but the collection is!  The gallery of art, in an adjacent building, however is not as large as the Eiteljorg's by any measure.  But we loved the museum and the grounds are awesome.  Full of these immense boulders, piled on top of each other.  Like I said, I'm in love.  I could see me living in that area!  At the Amerind, cameras were not allowed inside, so I didn't get any pictures of the place.  (Awww.)  But we bought a poster of their signature print that is on most of their literature, and will frame it and put it in the wine room.

There is a wonderful road called the Sybil Road, between St. David and I-10 that leads to the Texas Canyon area that we loved, too.  The drive through the country on Sybil Rd was awesome in it's vast lonesomeness.  No signs of civilization.  I didn't even try to take any pictures there; you just cannot capture in a picture what you're seeing with your eyes.  That goes for something we saw Monday as well.  A rainbow.  It was over the mountains west of the house.  For a couple of HOURS.  I took LOTS of pictures of that rainbow but they too don't do justice to what I saw with my own eyes. 

We visited the monastery at St. David last week and that was a great day, also.  It is a lovely place, very peaceful.  It's fairly new, having only been there since 1974.  The Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel was so beautiful!  It's in a lovely desert setting with a wonderful courtyard entrance.  The inside has tiled floor, stucco walls with inset hand-painted tiles, mesquite beams, and furniture made of mesquite such as the altar and other small pieces.  It was so quiet there.  We just sat for a long time taking it all in.  On the grounds they have a gift shop, pecan groves, several ponds, bird sanctuary, a retreat center, bakery, thrift shop, art center, residences, and a campground.  It's near the San Pedro River.  That was just a lovely day.  On the way out of St. David we stopped at the Gallery of Dreams, a blue stuccoed building.  They had lots of great art by several area artists but most way too expensive for me.  Actually I only saw one thing I really wanted ...

The weather has been a mixed bag.  It actually snowed here Monday night.  When I saw on the Tucson news that they reported 3" in Peace I just about laughed myself silly.  A picture of the 3" is at right.  Went and got my hair trimmed today and the beautician said that when it snows (like that) or rains or there's a sand storm, the border patrol station (just south of here) closes!  That gives you a real secure feeling, doesn't it?!  She laughed and said she always joked that on those days she called her family in Mexico and said "come on over today!".  She was really funny and very nice!  And she did a great job, too!  Her dad was Mexican and her mom Guatemalan. 

We went to Margie's for breakfast yesterday.  Very tasty!  I had the two biggest pancakes I have ever eaten!  No joke.  I ate the whole thing!  I think I'm trying to gain back all of the weight I lost from being ill; I have just been very hungry the past week!  We are starting to know our way around and learn what's going on where and when.  Last week Wendell bought an old Royal typewriter and pried off the keys for me to use in jewelry making.  There's always some new place to go that we learn of.  The beautician told me that the realtor's office is having a yard sale and they have a pack saddle for sale ... I think I need one of those, don't you? .....

Monday, January 21, 2013

Reading, walking, driving ...

[Latest pictures top right.]

We are thoroughly enjoying our time at Sunsites!  After the unusual freeze here last week, the past few days have been so very nice!  Right now it's 72 degrees.  Absolutely perfect for me.  Actually the locals think this is cold!  Go figure!  To us it is heaven ... clear, sunny, warm. ... what more could we ask for?

Yesterday was a very laid back day.  We went to church at Community again and they say their attendance was back to normal.  I'd say there were about 50 people there.  It is a very conservative church (in LOTS of ways).  I know an acquaintance of mine back home that would be flipping out and would probably walk out. But to me it was refreshing to have a minister dare to be more than middle of the road; I guess I've been a Methodist too long!  LOL! 

In the afternoon we took a walk on some of the golf course paths.  This golf course is in the middle of being revitalized and they don't have a lot of players yet.  When they are done (if their $$$ holds out) it will be a nice little course.  We have heard gossip that they are converting it to a 9 hole course but we see signs of work on all 18.  It is lovely to walk but we are careful to watch closely for golfers!  lol!

Saturday was very eventful.  We took a back road into Benson.  Let's just say that a 7-mile trip on a certain back road Wendell wanted to take took us 1 1/2 hours!  (Wow is right!)  When we finally got to Benson we visited a bookstore out in the country called Singing Wind.  It was glorious!  (Have I said I love to read?)  Of course we had to buy something there ...  They have a cute little burro in the pasture by the house.  And a back cortyard with lots of bird feeders and fountains.  And a front porch with a swing and comfortable chairs.  And for Wendell, there were a couple of old tractors by the barn.  Ahhhhhhh ...

Went on to shop at the local Walmart and also stopped for some gas.  Prices here right now are about $3.19.  We're told it's $2.75 in Tucson!  On the way home we stopped at Triangle T Ranch for dinner.  Got there just at dusk.  It's in the Big Rocks area about 3 miles north of Dragoon.  It is an awesome place; a combination dude ranch, restaurant, spa, retreat center.  Several casitas dotted around the central buildings and pool.  They always have live music Saturday nights and that's why we went.  They had a 3-piece western band and they were pretty good.  The service was slow but we were well entertained while we waited for dinnr.  And we had a bottle of wine to keep us company.  The "saloon" is built around a huge boulder (wish I had a picture of that...).  We weaved home on the back roads after that and by the time we got the grub put away it was time for bed! 

My internal alarm  clock is still waking me up earlier than I would like.  I am  finally sleeping until 7:30 (which is 9:30 Indiana time).  I just get up and do the coffee thing and wait for Wendell to get up and around ... it's a good life.  I feel blessed to be here.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Getting back to normal ...

We've been out and about the past week or so.  And we are both just about back to normal health.  The weather had been great until last weekend.  We have experienced cooler than normal weather here; actually the locals say they have had record low temps.  Ah ... just in time for our visit!  LOL!  But it is nice to be back to normal temps today so I can have the windows open again.

We drove out to Cochise Stronghold which is just 10 miles straight west of us.  At the time of that visit we were not feeling strong enough to go for a walk on any of the trails, but we did get out a few times and I took some pictures.  (As with the last post, I'll have to put the pictures top right.)  I think what I love the most about this part of the country is the clear, deep blue skies!  The sun is so bright it hurts your eyes!  Love it ...

We found the library, obtained borrowing privileges, and have been reading lots.  Both of us.  (I think I'll start another '13 list of books I've read here.)  The people at the library are so nice.  There is one paid staff person and everyone else is a volunteer.  They have two detached buildings that serve as a used book store and a place for children's hour.  We have already started buying books ... ARGH!  More 'stuff' to pack home.  I found the best cookbook there yesterday ...

Last Saturday night we went to the VFW for their steak night.  Had a great tasting flatiron steak!  Served with cowboy beans and a baked potato with dessert thrown in, all for $10.  I don't know how they make money on this!  This is a great way to meet people.  Another good way is church.  We went to church for the first time here last Sunday; went to the Community Church on Treasure Road.  It is a non-denominational church.  Due to the flu going around attendance was down; probably down by about 15 I'd say from  the bulletin.  I was blown away by the offering they receive each week!  Puts our church to shame ...

I went to the Sunsites Community Center for Sew & Quilt Monday.  It is every Monday from 11 to 3.  (Another good way to meet people!)  One of the gals, Lisa, lives just two houses south of us.  I brought my Featherweight along on this trip and enough fabric to make some doll clothes for Veronica.  That was an experience; it was the first time I've EVER made doll clothes.  They are LITTLE!  All I got done in that time was one little simple dress!  And then I didn't get the Velcro closure sewn on!  I'll see how I do in future sewing sessions.  The day I was there they had a lesson on how to turn any sewing machine into a quilting machine.  It sounded good but would not work for me.  Two of us chose not to participate so I got lots of sewing and talking done with my new buddy, Lisa.  Surprisingly, I purchased my Featherweight from  a woman who lives in a little town just south of here a couple years ago on Ebay.  The quilters knew the town she lived in and recognized the last name!  Small world.

We went into Willcox last night for dinner.  It would be the equivalent of going into Bloomington for dinner back home.  We went to a good local place called Big Tex.  We both had brisket.  Yum!  I think I'm getting my appetite back!

I hope your new year is going well.  God bless ya'll.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Picture this ...

Tried yesterday to post and insert photos here.  For some reason Blogger (or our computer) was unable to do that.  So I'll post pictures at the right until I return home ...

We are in sunny AZ!  The weather has been lovely; clear, sunny days but cool nights.  So different than the weather we left behind in IN!  We felt lucky to get out of our driveway!  Thank goodness for John, our farmer/neighbor!  He plowed our road.

I got off to a rocky start though ...  The last a.m. on the road I became violently ill.  When we arrived I was unable to interact with the property owners.  Poor Wendell had to take care of everything, including unloading the truck and unpacking everything!  I went straight to bed.  I guess it was/is the flu.  He felt okay until the end of the week then he got sick, too!  It's just the usual flu symptoms ... awful.  Now I am  feeling almost back to normal.  He is in the midst of feeling awful.  We wonder if we'll ever feel "normal" again!  LOL!  We have been out a couple times but were both so weak and didn't go far.  Today is just a beautiful day but here we are, inside.  We vow that no matter what we'll go out to the Cochise Stronghold this afternoon but I wonder if we'll make it ...

On the plus side, I think I have lost weight.  You gotta find some good from  this, right?

We're staying in a rental home in Sunsites/Pearce.  It is a small golfing community that was intended to be a 55-plus community but has been evolving into just a normal little desert community.  Out our back door is one of the tees; we're right on the golf course.  There are several businesses along the frontage road including a dollar store, hardware, bank, post office, restaurants, etc.  Just about everything you need is here but nevertheless we  went into Willcox Sunday to get a birthday card for our girl (who is 9 years old today).  I know the card will be late but we just felt so awful before ...  Between the time I was starting to feel better and W. started getting ill, we found the local grocery; it's wonderful!  We'll go there often, I'm sure.  There is also a meat market called Guzman's and we're told we should try the mesquite smoked bacon.  (Maybe later ...)

I'll put the pix from our time here top right.  And do the best I can.  There is definitely something wrong with Blogger and I've typed most of this more than once; I'll be typing along and look up and what I typed just disappears ... So if I sound disconnected, that's why.

Pray for us that we get back to normal.  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERONICA!