There's been quite a bit of rain in Mexico City, and since nothing is flat, there have been some landslides and flooding. I bet you wonder how I know that? But first .........
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Mexico City?
Friday, March 24, 2023
Visiting With Friends
When Tom and Deb in the Stinger Bee said they were in Northwest Tucson, I said I would drive out for a visit. I've been trying to catch up with several RV friends this year, but our paths never did cross at the right time. I didn't want to miss this chance.
I figured a quick 30 minute drive. Little did I realize they were clear on the OTHER side of the mountains, a minimum 45 minute drive! No problem ... I'll find them sooner or later. Turns out it was later since I took the shortcut that wasn't so very short.
YAY I found them!! BOO ... my time there was way too short. We talked up a storm ... which is what happens when you haven't seen friends in a year.
Sadly, neither of us took a picture of our little trio. While we talked, Deb cooked up a delicious cheeseburger salad and we tried out some fresh made egg rolls from another rig at the park. YUM YUM!!
Just when I was going to go out and bring in this quilt for them, she said WAIT ... I HAVE DESSERT!
As you know, you don't have to tell me TWICE!! Oh my goodness ... this cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream was DELICIOUS!!
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Packing Up .....
If you were here, you would hear me taking deep breaths constantly. That's my way of trying to JUST RELAX. My brain works overtime trying to remember everything. I try to fake it for Cooper's sake. The more I stress out, the more nervous HE gets.
I've been distracted from packing every morning by the fabulous sunrises ... but on THIS day, the clouds came down like a curtain and there were no bows on stage for Mother Nature. It was a dark gloomy morning.
An hour or so later I look outside to see a nice blue sky. It's weird how the clouds hung on the mountain tops all day long. In no time the clouds were back making for a gloomy day.
I probably haul more for the dogs than I do me! On one of my trips outside I spotted several of these guys. It appears they are a black throated sparrow. I haven't seen them much in the past, but they are here in numbers this spring. Tiny little guys ... maybe only 2-3 inches tall.
Pretty boy ... disco disco and here kitty kitty kitty were the words of the night. They tend to talk a lot just before the sun goes down ... then they become quiet as a mouse so predators don't know they are there. No one wants to be a midnight snack.
With most everything packed that I could at that point, I even got out to mow the lawn. Mow the weeds would be more appropriate. That weed and feed stuff I bought doesn't seem to be working one little bit. This I always do just before I leave because if I don't, Mr. Chance comes over and does it to be sure there aren't any tigers hiding in the dandelions. I could feed a grizzly bear there are so many tasty dandelion morsels here.
Today will begin the house prep ... there's a lot to do when you leave a house ... before I take off to visit with Deb and Tom who have arrived in Tucson despite the bad weather and potholes big enough to lose your tow car. Although Arizona does fix their roads, kinda sorta, it's based on travel patterns. If you drive the back roads, hold on to your teeth.
I'll be heading out in the morning to big Q town.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
I'm On Snake Watch
This was my last chance to see the coyote pack. I've determined they only come around every three days. Since their territory is usually 10-15 miles wide, I can certainly see why I don't see them more often. It's also due to the rain. There are lots of water pockets around the area. In the summer when those dry up, they will hang out by my house more often.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Sunrise ...... Sunset
It certainly seems those sunrise and sunset days are screaming by faster than me chasing a scorpion across the kitchen floor. One day I have a month left and the next I've got three days, which is not near enough time to get packed and set the house up.
At least I took a little time to stop and smell the roses or at least the sunrise on this day. I'm a fan of the purple/blue hour for photography, especially in the desert.
Monday, March 20, 2023
House of Canoe, Part Two
The title is about my best attempt at poetry. I will continue the tour of Hacienda de Canoa today with more history of the area after it became part of the United States. The first mention of this site came about in 1775 when Captain Juan Baptista De Anza went along the route from Tucson to San Francisco with 239 people establishing churches in Native villages. Friar Garces gave it the name of La Canoa from the canoe-like water troughs dug out of the cottonwood trees by the local Pima Indians.
It's always been interesting to me that the Catholic Church tried to convert all of the Indians to their religion. This area was no exception.
There were a few different owners who raised cattle here until it was sold to Mr. Manningin 1912. This original homestead was built by Mr. Manning in the 1930's as he enlarged his holdings. He and his son ran the ranch until in 1951, when a tragic accident happened. His son was killed in a head on collision on the highway. Mr. Mannings zest for the ranch disappeared as he began selling off parcels.
THIS is the blacksmith shop. It looked more like a house to me. The small section on the left actually IS a house. The sign said Congressman Raul Grivalja grew up here. His family lived in this house when his father came from Mexico as part of the original Bracero Program.
It's a great venue for a quilt show, but being more interested in the history and the cattle ranch, I was a little distracted. I really didn't get enough quilt pictures and I didn't buy one single thing from the vendors. That's a first!!
Sunday, March 19, 2023
The House Of Canoe (?)
Good Morning GALE!!! Gale is Mother Nature's wild child. She visits us often, swirling around 20-25 mph like a banshee. It seems she will be hanging out here for the next three days, ramping up to 40 mph when she gets a good run at it. Booyah!!! So much for enjoying the warm beautiful weather we had yesterday at an all new location.
Your history lesson for today ..... in 1812, the father of Thomas and Ignacio Ortiz settled this tract of land in the Santa Cruz Valley. In 1820, they petitioned the Spanish Governor (before Mexico became independent) for four land grants along the Santa Cruz River. They received 17,000 acres for $250.00 (this is not a typo).
It was not without its perils for them ... this was along the Apache Plunder Trail traveled by marauding Indians all the way to Chihuahua. By 1848, the only two grants left occupied were Tucson and Tubac. The Ortiz brothers still owned the ranch when Americans began to pour in to the area. Sadly, Ignacio was killed by the Tohono O'odham in 1857.
A quick look outside to the little patio found tulips blooming in the garden.