PLANTING CACTUS, BRUSH CLEARING, AND 2 SURPRISE VISITORS:))

THOUGHT KELLY DID A GREAT JOB COMPOSING THIS PHOTO TODAY

As expected, I had a few extra minor aches & pains this morning from Saturdays few hours of tree trimming, brush clearing, & garbage burning.  It’s normal for unused muscles to make themselves known when called upon to function again.  And, it is a nice feeling for the muscle user to understand those aches & pains & treat them as a positive sign of healthy progress:))

MORNING SUNRISE…….YOUR CHOICE:))

Well, it’s probably not hard to guess where we headed for this morning.  Loaded up the Pheebs & off we went to Ghost Town Road.  Haven’t taken Motor over yet because there are a few gaps in the gate for her to slip out while we’re busy cleaning up.  Next week, hopefully.

A TEMPORARY PLACE FOR THE CACTUS THIS SUMMER

We weren’t long in getting our brush clearing started & soon had a fire going with a steady supply of twigs & branches.  Am sure missing my good gardening tools.  Pitchfork, whipper snipper, garden & lawn rakes, chain saw & wheelbarrow.  Especially need a wheelbarrow for sure so that will be on the list for next October’s garage sales down here.

 

KELLY RELAXES ON THE FRONT PORCH WHILE PHEEBS RESTS ON THE BASE OF AN OLD TV TOWER

 

HAVE TO BE SOOOOO CAREFUL WITH THIS PRICKLY CACTUS

The lady at North Ranch where Kelly bought the Cactus plants on Saturday recommended we plant the Cacti in a temporary spot near a tree for the summer.  Upon returning in the Fall we will move them to permanent locations once I get all the Cactus Gardens & Flowerbeds figured out.

HOPE THEY ALL SURVIVE THE LONG HOT SUMMER

Today I just dug holes in the not so diggable ground & planted them for the summer.  Good thing I have a pair of work gloves along with me because just about anything & everything here in the Southwest is just waiting to put a sticker into ya.  My left arm can attest to that!!

HEY, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE LOOKING IN ‘OUR HOUSE’ WINDOWS….OH NO!!!!!!!

It was while I was planting the Cactus that I heard Kelly exclaim, Hi there guys”.   Turned around & there was LAURIE & ODELL walking around the side of the house.  We knew they were at North Ranch but were surprised to see them show up at the house.  They were on their way to Prescott which is sorta kinda right on the way.  Last time we saw them was Borrego Springs last year.  Always nice to see these two very likable people.  Had us a little walk around the house peeking in the windows.  Earliest we’ll have the keys if the deal goes through is Tuesday March 20th.  We will be heading over to Laurie & Odell’s for supper later Tuesday afternoon.  And, Monday morning we will be having breakfast with another RVing Blogger.  Hint…..Pheebs will get to meet Molly:))

 

We got a lot of brush picked up & burnt this afternoon & had a fine time doing it.  So reminiscent of our early days at the old farm house in the country years ago & our current place in Bayfield.  It was so nice sitting down for a break & thinking of ourselves as Arizona land owners now….well almost.  We excitedly talked over plans for the house & grounds just as we had done several times before years ago.  How great it is to feel that excitement again & how great it is to have a creative project underway.  A reason to get up in the morning, a focus, a purpose:))

SAY, DID I TELL YOU ABOUT KELLY’S NEW SAGUARO HAT SHE GOT AT THE GARAGE SALE SATURDAY MORNING:))

We put in 4 good hours today & finished off our little working bee just sitting in the back yard under a Palo Verde tree with a gentle breeze wafting over our tired (& scratched) bodies.  The sky was a deep blue with patches of wispy clouds floating lazily by.  Pheebs was stretched out beside my chair & Kelly was tipped back in an old lounger under her seasoned straw hat.  Aw yes, once again…..how sweet it is:))))))

  

We were back to the rig about 1:30 & it wasn’t long before I was in my chair with a bunch of zzzzzzz’s swarming around my head.  I love this physical kind of tiredness as opposed to that usual mental kind of tiredness.  Kelly suggested we walk down the hill & say hello to RV Sue & Her Canine Crew but I couldn’t muster up enough energy to get out of my chair.  Maybe tomorrow.  Kelly & Pheebs headed for Sue’s without me.  Oh to have those energized days of yesteryear back again.  But, I had better not complain….. that large troublesome Kidney Stone hasn’t moved an inch or caused me a second’s more pain since leaving the Tucson hospital way back in the middle of December.  And yes, I am touching wood right now!!

LOOKS LIKE RV SUE & KELLY HAVE A BIG POW WOW GOING ON

Well, I sincerely hope the Realtor calls us tomorrow as promised.  He felt totally confident our offer would be accepted & I’m afraid all our exuberance right now is riding on his very words.  Of course, with my mind working the way it usually does….I am totally expecting a snag!!  We’ll see……………10-4.

THIS MORNINGS OVAL MOON 

GROANER’S CORNER:((   A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation. He wrote:”I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?”
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who said, “I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I’ve never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you re welcome to stay here, too.”

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- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

GOT STARTED ON THE GHOST TOWN ROAD PROPERTY CLEAN UP:))

A GREAT AFTERNOON CLEANING UP JUNK AT THE PROPERTY

I lost interest in Garage Sales a long time ago.  I suppose it was about the time I realized most of the stuff I was always having to move from point A to point B at home had come from garage sale places.  However, it’s looking like I just might have to re-interest myself in garage sales again if we land this Ghost Town Road property deal.  Matter of fact, North Ranch had their annual, and very popular garage sale event just today.  Almost, & I say almost, got myself to go.  But, sounded like toooooo many people for me so I stayed at the rig with Pheebs & Motor while Kelly went.  It just makes for a nicer experience for her when she doesn’t have to drag me around mumbling & grumbling.  Kelly was out the door at 7:30 & I was still trying to shake myself out of my pajamas.  Yes it’s true, men wear PJ’s too:))

 

A LOT OF COW SMOOCHING GOING ON THIS MORNING AGAIN

Saturday mornings are always my fav so just enjoyed puttering about while Kelly was up the road at the sale.  Did the dishes, cleaned up around the site, had me a nice campfire going & took the doggers for a walk through our Mesquite Savannah.  Awwwww yes, how sweet it is out here in the boonies:))

AWWWWW YES, HOW SWEET IT IS:))

Kelly was back shortly after noon with things for the Ghost Town Road house already.  Now, how’s that for being optimistic.  In fact she had already taken a couple lamps & things there & put them in a shed.  She was kinda pooped from a morning of browsing so I loaded up the Pheebs, my clippers, saw, hatchet, rake, shovel & off we went over to the property.

PHEEBS LOVES RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE JEEP

Yes, yes, I know….we have only made the offer so why am I starting work on the property already.  Well, that’s just the kind of guy I am….always impatient & wanting to get started on things, NOW!!   Even if the deal goes south at the last minute at least it gives me something to do I enjoy.  The property needs a real good clean up & all the overgrown trees & shrubs are badly in need of trimming so I see this as an opportunity for me to get myself some much needed & enjoyable exercise:))

SPACIOUS SHED ON THE PROPERTY & KELLY BOUGHT THAT TABLE IN THE CORNER AT THE NORTH RANCH GARAGE SALE THIS MORNING

Talked to one of the neighbor’s for a bit & enjoyed listening to all the birds in the back yard.  Many Cactus Wrens & I soon became aware several neighbor’s had Roosters.  I love the sound of Roosters.  What a bonus.  Got me a fire going to burn up all the old empty cardboard boxes scattered about.  Also burnt up some brush.  Next time over I had better wear myself a long sleeved shirt because trimming back those prickly Mesquite trees sure took a scratchy toll on my bare arms.

TRIMMED A BUNCH OF MESQUITE & PALO VERDE TREES TODAY    

Kelly also picked up some really nice potted cactus plants cheap at the garage sale so we’ll get those in the ground tomorrow too.  Oh how I love doing this kind of stuff:))))))  Brings back great memories of when we first moved into our place in Bayfield & all the work we poured into landscaping & fixing everything up over the years.

  

KELLY PICKED THESE UP AT THE GARAGE SALE 

Lots of folks will be turning their clocks ahead tonight,  but not us.  Arizona is always on the same time & it never changes.  Now, how’s that for keeping things nice & simple twice a year…….

I like the post Chuck & Geri from HAPPY TRAILS did on their hometown of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico recently.  Nice idea & concept.  I can tell a lot of work went into putting it together with all the photos & links.  Well done guys & great idea:))

 

Had a question about whether we would keep our house in Bayfield now that we may have a place in Arizona too.  The answer to that is ‘yes’ we will keep our place in Bayfield Ontario.  At least for now.  The Motorhome isn’t going to last forever & with the skyrocketing price of fuel we have always felt it important to secure a winter place in the sunny southwest while the Real Estate market was still in our favor.  My greatest fear is being stuck at home through another horribly boring long cold Canadian winter!!  I’ve had over 60 years of that & couldn’t care less if I ever saw a flake of snow again.  Sitting out gloomy winters in the North is just way too unhealthy, both mentally & physically.

HEY, WATCH THAT COLD NOSE BUDDY

Now that the weather is warming up into the 80’s I am very concerned about Motor & Pheebs running into a Rattlesnake.  Especially the Pheebs with the way she runs around all over the place curiously exploring every nook & cranny.  WHERE'S WEAVER just came across a big one on a pathway at Justin’s Diamond J RV Park in Tucson, Arizona.  It is a very big worry for us. 

 

NO MORE OF THAT COLD NOSE STUFF…..GOT IT!!!!

DELL joined our Blog Followers list on Friday & this morning I noticed P has joined as well.  Check out P’s site for some consistently nice clear & crisp photos.  Thanks for stopping by folks.

YEP, IT’S QUITE A FAN CLUB THE PHEEBS HAS

GROANER’S CORNER:((  An employee approached his boss regarding a dispute on his pay-check…
Employee – Sir, this is $100 less than my salary.
Boss – I know. But last month, when you were overpaid $100, by mistake, you didn’t complain!
Employee – Well, I don’t mind an occasional mistake, sir, but two in a row seems like it’s becoming a habit!!

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- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

A LONG DAY IN PRESCOTT ARIZONA…AND WE SIGNED SOME PAPERS……..

OK MR. REAL ESTATE GUY…….WE’RE READY FOR YA
We had ourselves on the road shortly after 8 this morning heading north for Prescott, Arizona.  What a beautiful drive as we headed up the south side of the Weaver Mountains.  I was reminded of taking off in a small airplane as we watched the Hassayampa Valley slowly drop away to our right.  What a great double lane one way road this is.  People coming down the mountain have their own separate lanes.
We had never been past the ‘Ranch House’ in Yarnell before, so again, what a treat to see some new scenery.  And, what scenery it was too.  Within 20 minutes we transferred from desert to upper grasslands with a total different look & total different vegetation.  Looked more like Kentucky with large rambling horse farm fences, sycamore trees & distant mountains.  The desert we had just left seemed like light years away.
I’ve said many times, morning is my favorite time for travel & this morning was no exception.  We took the longer Skull Valley route slowly gaining altitude all the way to Prescott.  Vegetation became steadily taller & greener.  On approaching Prescott we were soon into tall Pine forests.  Just beautiful & so reminiscent of our own Northern Ontario with all it’s greenery, hills & gentle curves.

GOTTA JUST LOVE ALL THE PINE TREES AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
We Northerner’s do love our forests & green trees & we could tell right away Prescott was a forested City.  Prescott is also a much larger City than what I had envisioned it.  For me that was a little disappointing because I’ve never met a City I liked.  But don’t get me wrong, I do think I could get to like Prescott:))  Kelly fell in love with the city right away after she saw all the tiny shops in the downtown area.  Oh yes, & Trader Joes.
We were plenty early for our 10:30 Real Estate appointment.  Drove right to the Realtor’s address to orient ourselves & then headed for the East side of the city where all the big box shopping malls were located.  Needed to get some dog food at Pet Smart.  Well, let me tell ya, this place is a Shoppers dream.  Prescott has everything including a Trader Joe’s which just had it’s grand opening today.  The parking lot was totally jammed well beyond being totally jammed.  Sure glad Kelly didn’t insist we go in there or there could have been warfare!!

OUR REALTOR’S BUILDING IN PRESCOTT
We were back at the Realtor’s in good time & before long negotiations had begun on the Ghost Town Road property.  Let me just cut through all the jargon & paperwork & tell you that we have made them an offer for substantially less than the asking price.  All contingent on us getting that severed piece of property back in place with the original lot size.  Our realtor guy feels confident Freddie Mac will accept the offer & we should know for sure on Monday.

CHECKING THROUGH THE PAPER WORK

 
TALKING THINGS OVER WITH REAL ESTATE AGENT RANDY H. 
I’m like a fish out of water when it comes to this kind of thing & don’t have a lot of patience for playing that offer, counter offer game.  Same old stuff as buying a car.  Blather, blather, blather!!  And then there’s the reams of paperwork.  Yes, I know it’s all necessary but that don’t mean I gotta like it.  If it wasn’t for Kelly I would probably be living in a simple card board box under a flowering Yum Yum tree somewhere.  That girl just has the most patience of anyone I have ever known.  And, talk about being organized & on top of things….Whewwww.

KELLY PHONES OUR BANK IN CANADA TO SEE IF WE STILL HAVE OUR $5 IN THERE….:))
From the Real Estate office we had to go find ourselves a bank & ended up for another hour opening up a new Bank of America account.  Kelly handled & understood all that while a wrestled with remaining upright in an overstuffed red bank chair a few feet away. From there it was back to the Real Estate for an exchange of more paper.  And, then we headed out & got lost!!

KELLY AT THE BANK OF AMERICA COUNTER
There is a second route from Prescott south towards Congress but we heard it was very twisting & winding and was to be avoided.  Of course that is the way I wanted to go & see some new stuff on the way home.  For some reason we thought that road began somewhere out around Prescott’s east end near the malls.  Well needless to say we got ourselves totally lost & as a last resort (which should have been our first resort) we hauled out Garmin Gertie our GPS device & got her squawking.  In no time at all she had us straightened out & hauled our tired butts right through downtown Prescott again & headed us south on the correct highway to Congress Arizona.

Again, we were motoring though forests of Pine trees & I could have sworn we were in Northern Ontario.  The twisting road was as twisty as people said it was & snaked it’s way through the mountains like a Slinky on steroids.  Great road & I loved it.  But, it’s not for everybody.

We didn’t spare the horses on the way back to our rig because we knew we had two little doggy guys who had now been alone inside the rig for 8 hours.  We just put the pedal to the metal, pulled our visors down & made a beeline for home.  How great it was to see the Hassayampa River Valley below as we rocketed off the Weaver Mountains & landed out in the desert beside our rig.  And no messes in the rig either.  Good Guys:))

OUR DUSTY LITTLE JEEPERS IN DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT THIS AFTERNOON
Wow, talk about a couple happy little doggy guys.  Two little tails going faster than a couple of turbo injected helicopter blades.  How great for me to be out of the City & back to the quiet desert where I belong……..10-4:))

KELLY GETS RANDY STRAIGHTENED OUT ON A FEW LAST MINUTE DETAILS….IN THE PARKING LOT
GROANER’S CORNER:((  Why do bagpipers walk when they play?
To get away from the noise!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com