THE LAZY W RANCH….A WALK AROUND SOME OLD MEMORIES TODAY

DUG THIS FIRE PIT AT THE LAZY W RANCH 10 MONTHS AGO BUT NEVER DID GET TO SIT BY A WARMING CAMPFIRE

It was encouraging to see a brighter sun in our dawning sky first thing this morning and how nice it was to feel yesterday’s cold winds had subsided.  Pheebs and I did the morning chores and how good it felt to be getting some needed exercise as we checked the security fence line around the long perimeter.  I saw the corrals needed a cleaning so that will be some welcome additional exercise for me.  I don’t mind working with Donkey buns:))

RANCH DOG PEARCE HAS BEEN FEELING A LITTLE LONELY SINCE JEANIE & RAY LEFT SO HAS BEEN HANGING OUT AT OUR HOUSE

Seems I have mixed up my Bandy’s with my Banty’s.  Bandy’s might be a short term for something to put on a cut finger but Banty has something to do with attitude and swagger.  Had referred to my little ‘Attack Rooster’ in Monday’s blog as a Bandy Rooster.  Commenter Glenda questioned the spelling and of course that sent me scrambling off to Google.  Here is what I found.  ‘Banty is short for Bantam.   In addition this term is used to describe the behavior of some short men who may tend to walk with a swagger and adopt a somewhat exaggerated male posture.’  Yep, this sure sounds like my feisty little Buddy in the chicken coop alright and yep, it sure sounds like some short men I have known too.

THE PALS WHO PLAY TOGETHER, SLEEP TOGETHER >>>

Jeeps gas tank was going on empty so we headed over to the little town of Elfrida late this morning.  I like the gas station there because it is a no brainer.  Just drive up, lift the nozzle and put your gas in.  Walk inside and tell the guy how much you put in and that’s it.  No annoying computers in the gas pump wanting your area code, name of your first born, how old your Sister’s younger Brother is.  Just put your gas in, pay for it and go.  Now, how easy is that.  Just like yesteryear.  But, then again Elfrida Arizona itself is just like that.  It’s a tired and dusty little town that time really hasn’t, or hopefully never will, catch up with.  It’s my kinda town…..and I like it.

 

Half a dozen back streets, a gas station, post office, hardware, couple little restaurants and maybe a dozen buildings on main street with probably a third of them empty.  Sage Brush tumbles down the main street and horses might be tied up outside the High Lonesome feed store.  Nothing fancy in Elfrida.  Not enough traffic for a light.  Maybe not enough electricity for one either.  But, I do exaggerate a bit.  However,  it’s an exaggeration that fits well with the once bustling little town which once boasted a large Cotton Gin.  What’s left of the Gin is still there but the Cotton Gin folks have moved on.  Prosperity in Elfrida has moved on as well and most folks in town just kind of hang in and try to make the best of what they have.

Nice medical facility, community center and cozy library at the north end of town.  Fire station and Police Department at the south end.  A few churches and a nice school.  Even the founders of the town never left.  They are buried near the Fire Hall.  Elfrida’s not most folks cup of tea but it fits right into my little world quite well.  As I said, nothing fancy here:))

CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE SNOW CAPPED CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS TODAY WHILE IN ELFRIDA

While in Elfrida we stopped at the library because Kelly has a library card here and we usually stock ourselves up some good reading material.  For me, that is local history of the surrounding areas here in the Sulphur Springs Valley.

Some blog readers may remember last winter when I fell in love with a dusty little tumble down and tumble weed Ranch property here in Cochise County.  We boon docked on the ‘For Sale’ property for about a week back in February. 

I wrote about the Ranch each day we were there at the time and I also wrote about how I felt about it after returning to Ontario in the Spring.   If you go to, ARIZONA'S SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY KINDA GROWED ON US you can read my May post.  Just scroll down and begin reading under the Mule Mountains photo. 

I felt exactly the same way today as we once again made our way east of Elfrida along the bumpity road to the Lazy W Ranch.  All the feelings came right back for me as we rolled up the dirt driveway to the empty little adobe brick house.  Nothing had changed except it just looked a little more tired and forlorn than I remembered it.  We were so glad to see that it had not been vandalized yet.

MAYBE DOESN’T LOOK LIKE MUCH TO MOST FOLKS BUT THIS HOUSE, PROPERTY, AND LOCATION SPOKE TO ME 10 MONTHS AGO, AND STILL SPEAKS TO ME TODAY……………………. 

We walked around the property and my mind picked right up where it had left off last winter.  All the thoughts and plans were still there, fresh in my mind.  The perimeter fencing, new irrigation ideas, all new landscaping, an RV idea, etc. etc. etc.   But, also in my mind was the same realization we came to back in February.  The Ranch dream was just not going to happen then and it is still not going to happen now.  The $145,000 dollar price tag is even more unrealistic today than it was 10 months ago.  As real estate prices continue to fall in the economically stressed Valley the price tag on the deteriorating vacant 80 acre Ranch has not kept pace with the down turning reality of the Real Estate market.

WE WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE SOMEONE IS STILL FEEDING THE BIRDS AT THE LAZY W

It was sad for me to once again turn my back on the little Ranch, climb in the Jeep and head back on out the driveway for probably what will be the last time.  I am such a sentimentalist.  And sometimes, I am such a Dreamer………………

We were notified by Facebook yesterday that the second AL’s profile (the hacker) has been eliminated. If you feel you have been hacked by this SOB, notify Facebook immediately and start the process to have your hacker and his phony profile impersonating you, dealt with by Facebook.

Pheebs and I finished up the day by cleaning up some Donkey bun piles around the corral.  Lots more to pick up but we have made a start.  Bright and early in the morning we head for the University of Arizona’s Medical Center in Tucson Arizona.  I have a 10 a.m appointment with a Urologist to discuss this mysterious kidney stone of mine and what, if any action needs to be taken.       

GROANER’S CORNER:((  What's the difference between outlaws and in-laws?
Outlaws are wanted.

---------------------------------------------------------------Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

RANCH OWNERS JEANIE & RAY HIT THE ROAD THIS MORNING….WE’RE ON OUR OWN:))

HEAVY CLOUDS SURROUND CASTLE DOME PEAK TO OUR SOUTHEAST THIS MORNING

Wind picked up a bit in the night and I could hear the occasional drumming of rain drops on the roof.  No matter, just happy to be away from the snow and intense cold of the North.

A SKIFF OF SNOW IN THE MULE MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST

Last year in this area we had record breaking cold and this year temps have been below average so we are keeping ourselves in our winter clothes these days.  Fingers crossed for warmer days ahead.

Big patches of blue sky this morning as Jeanie & Ray fired up the big diesel, hooked up their Jeep and happily had their Meridian Motor Home wheels rolling by 8:53 a.m.  Hugs all around and farewell waves saw them disappear down the road.  An hour or so later the clouds rolled back in, and with gusting winds, dropped the temperatures to cold, cold, cold.

JEANIE MOTORS THE JEEP INTO POSITION FOR HOOKING UP

 

A FEW FINAL GOOD-BYES

AND, THEY’RE OFF

 

A BIG TOOT ON THE AIR HORN STARTLES THE PHEEBS

Because I had not been feeling well earlier this week a few things needed catching up on today.  Straightened out a slow water leak, Kelly got a bunch of laundry done, vacuuming, water jugs filled, Shaw satellite dish set up. (took about 10 seconds to find the satellite:)) Loaded up some large Adobe bricks on the ATV to weight the tripod legs down, etc.

RANCH DOGS PEARCE AND GLEESON SADLY WATCH MOM & DAD DISAPPEAR OUT THE DRIVEWAY…PEARCE AND GLEESON WERE NAMED FOR TWO AREA GHOST TOWNS

Despite Ray’s cautioning words a few days ago I was roundly attacked by the Bandy Rooster this morning when I entered the chicken enclosure.  Ray said, ‘don’t turn your back on him’….. and I did.  The feisty little bugger just kept attacking me until I ducked back out through the gate again. 

How can such a little Bandy Rooster have such a big bad temper.  I’m sure he will attack me again, so at risk to my very own life and limb I will try to get some action photos of my leg being ruthlessly roughed up again.  Oh, what a feller won’t do to get himself an action Jackson blog photo.

KELLY FIELDS A WORK RELATED DEER PARK LODGE CALL

Again, if you think you are being contacted or chatting with me on Facebook…you are not!!!!  It is not me!!  It is the person who has hacked my account, and the accounts of countless thousands of other Facebook users.  I am never, never, never on any kind of a chat program and I do not send out Friend Requests’ on Facebook.  It is safe for you to comment, like or message me on Facebook but as I said a few posts ago, I will not confirm any more ‘Friend Requests’ because that is how the hacker gets in and takes advantage of people’s Facebook accounts and then takes advantage of other people’s accounts.

PONCHO AND SARAH….THE RANCH MULES

During the long summer months at home our rig sits for long periods of time not being used.  Once a month I take it out for a spin and a couple times a month I fire the generator up.  If we had to stay home during the winter we would do the same thing.  Wisconsin winters are notoriously cold as well so check out how Karen and Steve deal with their Motor Home sitting out the cold winter months.  MOTORHOME EXERCISE.

 

HAD A ROADRUNNER DROP BY AND PAY US A VISIT THIS AFTERNOON

I have put my remaining 800mg Ibuprofen’s in the Jeep just in case we are out and about somewhere and this Kidney Stone decides to do a little more traveling again.  I am continuing with Kelly’s treatment but I sure wish she could somehow make those lemon and olive concoctions taste more like butterscotch milkshakes.  I have managed to make the oceans of Cranberry Juice drinkable by adding Ginger Ale.  Makes for a nice drink actually.

  

Recent Blog Followers, OREGON WANDERERS have just changed their URL and can now be found at this new link I have marked in blue.  These people are Casita folks and probably found our site through RV SUE AND HER CANINE CREW.

PHEEBS AND HER TWO BIGGEST BEST PALS

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Dog looks at human and thinks:
"My hero, my friend, my buddy."
Cat looks at human and thinks:
"My can-opener."

--------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

KIDNEY STONE: SOMETHING STRANGE HAS HAPPENED………..

We had the greatest looking skies today as a storm front made it’s way through the area.  Took the above photo on our way to Douglas this morning.  It is this area of Arizona for which Douglas native, Stan Jones wrote the song, ‘GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY.’  All the way to Douglas, and especially with the moody skies from mountain top to mountain top, I had Ghost Riders playing over and over in my head. 

SAND HILL CRANES WING THEIR WAY HOME AFTER A LONG DAY OF FEEDING FAR UP THE VALLEY

I first became aware of something different about 8 p.m. Saturday night.  I had taken my last 800mg Ibuprofen about 1 o’clock in the afternoon.  With the way things were going I should begin to feel the pain returning around 7 or 8 o’clock.  Nothing.  9 p.m. rolled around and still no pain.  Decided to take my chances and go to bed without taking another Ibuprofen.  Figured the pain would wake me up and I would take one then.  Woke up at 1 a.m.  Still no pain.  This was going against everything routinely associated with Kidney Stones.  Could something else be at work here?  Dare I think Doc Kelly’s remedies are working?  Dare I even think………

Must admit, both Kelly and I were a bit skeptical about everything we had read and the solutions people had used to deal with their stone and their pain.  She had based her treatment on the advice of many people who have already gone through this.  Could all this lemon and olive juice, cranberry juice, stone buster liquid and pills have really done something?  I’m still a bit skeptical but for sure something has happened to that stone.  Don’t know if it has moved, disintegrated or what.  All’s I know is that right now at 8:30 Sunday night I am still pain free without medication and it has been well over 24 hours now.

CURVED BILL THRASHER WITH HIS BACK TO THE WIND >>>

I do not believe I could have passed the stone or even parts of it without knowing but if I didn’t pass it……where is it!!  If I remain pain free for the next 24 or 48 hours we will have to phone the Urologist’s office in Tucson for an opinion.  I have a feeling we will still keep the Tucson appointment because we want to obtain a copy of the Cat Scan X-Ray taken at the Tucson hospital earlier this week.  If this stone holds off until we can get back to Ontario in the Spring maybe another Cat Scan will reveal what has happened to this large stone.

SOUTH END OF THE DRAGOON MOUNTAINS APPEAR FAR ACROSS THE SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

Should also mention that our Manulife insurance company in Canada called Saturday to verify the kidney stone information.  Kelly said it was a good call but had to fax them some additional information like the Doctor’s report, etc.  At least no talk of trying to drag me back to Canada.  If I still do have this procedure I would much prefer to recuperate here in the healthy sunny climate of Arizona than the damp dark cold and snow back home in southern Ontario.

I think the last time Kelly and I were ever at a DENNYS was in Page Arizona back in late 2007.  Stopped in as we were making our way from the Grand Canyon’s north rim to the Grand Canyon’s south rim.  This morning on a spur of the moment decision we popped into Denny’s in Douglas Arizona.  Our timing could not have been worse.  It was Sunday morning and is habit, the local Church’s dump their faithful flock right into Denny’s for breakfast.  A 45 minute wait had Kelly and I beat that waiting line by offering to sit at the counter.  Don’t know what I was thinking by ordering myself a Lumberjack Slam but I did manage to get through most of it.  Kelly had a steaming hot Ultimate Skillet which looked really good even if it did have a lot of green and red stuff in it.  Between the 2 of us we managed to save enough of our breakfast for tonight’s supper.

Aside from the Walmart in Goderich back home I would say the Walmart in Douglas Arizona is where I have made most of my Walmart trips over the years.  Both stores look the same….but the people don’t.  With the town sitting right on the Mexican border it is mainly Mexican and Spanish looking and speaking people here.  I actually don’t mind that and accept that as a welcome change from the same old, same old back home all the time.

1939 JOHN DEERE TRACTOR…..AND IT STILL RUNS

Temperatures dropped in the early afternoon with some rain showers passing through.  Jeanie and Ray were busy loading their Motor Home as they plan on leaving in the morning.  Not normal for me to lay down for a snooze in the afternoon but that is exactly what I did about 2 p.m..  I was having a big snuggle with Pheebs and Motor on my bed and the next thing I knew it was 4:45 and I awoke to nobody around.  Kelly, Pheebs, and Motor were already out and had all the chores done around the property.  Gate closed, property water valves turned off, night light on for the chickens, chickens fed and eggs gathered.  Ranch dogs Pearce and Gleeson fed as well as Charlie the Cat.  Perimeter walk around the fence line to make sure the Donkeys had hay and water and that was about it.  All that was left for me to do was take some more photos of the moody sky.  Pretty easy day I’d say:))

Part time Snow Birders TnT has joined the Bunch on our southwestern travels as well as CASITA MCSITA.  We welcome you folks and thanks for reading our blog.  MARIBETH has rounded out our numbers by coming in as Blog Follower 400:)) Thanks everybody for the continued support and encouragement.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Matt went into Doc Steven's office for his annual checkup, and the Doc asked if there was anything unusual he should know about.
He told the Doc that he found it real strange how his suit must've shrunk just sittin' in his closet, because it didn't fit when he went to get ready for a wedding recently.
The Doc said, "Suits don't shrink just sittin' there. You probably just put on a few pounds, Matt."
"That's just it, Doc, I know I haven't gained a single pound since the last time I wore it."
"Well, then," said Doc, "You must have a case of Furniture Disease."
"What in the world is Furniture Disease?" Matt asked.
"Furniture Disease, Matt, is when you reach that stage in life when your chest starts slidin' down into your drawers."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.