Wednesday, December 28, 2011

WE NEARLY HIT 70F TODAY….NOW, HOW NICE IS THAT:))

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I think this morning takes the record for the latest we have ever shoved our noses out the door and headed outside.  It was after 10 o’clock before we stepped into the welcoming morning air.  Normally by this time of day we would have already been back from our morning walk.  I actually had to check my own pulse to see if I had died in the night.  Is it the colder outside air lately, are we letting our age take advantage of us, have we been lulled into a lazy laptop start to our days??  Methinks it is a combination of all three.  I’m figuring our ‘too relaxing’ lifestyle is in need of a good swift kick up the old tail pipe.

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I DECLARE THIS JEEP……MINE!!

Slipped into Douglas for groceries this afternoon and there were convertibles and motorcycles on the road so you know how warm it was here today.  We were close to 70F.  Wow, won’t be long and I will be complaining about the heat eh:))

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STOPPED AT ELFRIDA’S ‘HIGH LONESOME’ STORE TUESDAY AND SPOTTED THESE YOUNG FELLERS PRACTICING THEIR ROPE WORK

We had thousands upon thousands of Sand Hill Cranes directly overhead this morning heading back to the Whitewater Draw.  Finally decided to haul my tripod and 700mm telescope lens out to try for some nice close-ups of the birds in flight.  Kelly remarked that by doing that it would probably stop the overhead flights.  It did!!  Never even got the big lens on the tripod when I noticed the flights had abruptly ceased.  Why is that anyway!!!!

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A week from this Thursday we will be having a special visitor flying in to the Tucson Airport and coming down to spend a week with us here at the Ranch.  Stay tuned as our Senior traveler and adventurist at heart makes her way from the warmer humid temperatures of central Florida to the colder dryer air of Arizona’s Cochise County in the Sulphur Springs Valley:))

APOLOGY

Plucked this slogan off the Internet.  I’m not real big on cutesy slogan stuff but this one rang my bell.  I have had a bad habit of coming back and apologizing for my blog opinions sometimes.  Thought this slogan sums up my feelings quite well. 

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OH DAD, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MADE ME PUT THAT HAT ON

An Anonymous commenter hit the nail on the head when, in part, saying, “Al, I don't think you'd like to winter over in Florida...there are comparably fewer sights to see for "roaming around" and sightseeing....most folks seem to get to their winter base place and stay-put for the duration of the winter...seems to me you'd be duplicating your summer stay in Bayfield...and you do seem to be real restless then.” -- My very thoughts exactly and it is my number one chief concern about our Florida option if we have to go that route.

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GLEESON, PHEEBS AND PEARCE

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PHEEBS IS HAVING A REAL BLAST HERE AT THE RANCH AND LOVES PLAYING ROUGHHOUSE WITH GLEESON…THE SHOWING OF TEETH IS NOT SERIOUS

Received several emails from folks with helpful medical insurance and hospital info advice.  Thanks guys, everything is appreciated.  Also this site from SHARON AND RON BUCHNER which may be of interest in future plans. 

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COUPLE OF ABSTRACTS OF THE MOON AND PLANET VENUS I TOOK A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO

The Last Paragraph: Yep, been giving some thought to revving up my ‘Last Paragraph’ segment again.  Kind of got away from it last summer for whatever reason.  Maybe it’s getting about time to share a few thoughts and opinions again………10-4:))

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GLEESON AND PHEEBS ALWAYS FINISH UP THEIR PLAY TIME WITH A COUPLE HUGS >>

GROANER’S CORNER:))  After the Great Britain Beer Festival, in London, all the brewery presidents decided to go out for a beer. The guy from Corona sits down and says, "Hey Senor, I would like the world's best beer, a Corona." The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him.
The guy from Budweiser says, "I'd like the best beer in the world, give me 'The King Of Beers', a Budweiser." The bartender gives him one.
The guy from Coors says, "I'd like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain spring water, give me a Coors." He gets it.
The guy from Guinness sits down and says, "Give me a Coke." The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered. The other brewery presidents look over at him and ask "Why aren't you drinking a Guinness?" and the Guinness president replies,
"Well, I figured if you guys aren't drinking beer, neither would I."

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-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.

 

17 comments:

  1. I'm sure Florida has a lot of places to visit in your jeep, after you find a place to stay in the motorhome. You don't have to be in a crowded park just because you go to FL. I'm sure that with some research you will find a place. And even though you are not used to paying for health insurance. $800 for half a year is a bargain compared to most U.S. Rates.

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  2. We have MASA. Even though we aren't traveling for now, it's comforting to know if we ever need medical transportation of any kind we are covered. :) Happy New Year!
    Betty and Joe

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  3. I love to read your blog, Al, but I gotta admit, I REALLY love the dog pictures! That Pheebs is something else and I can see why she is hiding her face after being photographed wearing a hat. Oh, the shame of it!! It must be so fun to watch the dogs run free and enjoy each other's company. Dogs are so accepting of each other and their circumstances. And they are almost always full of the joy of life. People could learn a lot from dogs.

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  4. Liked you Groaner tonight.
    This is my first long stay in central Florida, but I have just put over 5K miles exploring just some of the many things to see here. There are small hills and lakes large and small to explore. The birds really seem to like it here. We have only been to 5 State parks and 1 National park so far. Not bored yet.
    I still plan to be in Tucson the last half of Feb 2012
    Tom

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  5. I hope you can somehow manage to get back to the southwest for a few more years. I don't think you'd really be as happy anywhere else.

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  6. rope them little doggies!!!..love the shots of Pheebes playing with her new buddies!

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  7. I moved from out here in the Wide open West to Florida with my work and I was used to being able to see for miles. It bothered me that because of all the tall pine trees, about as far as you can see is across the road!! Being born and raised in the wide open spaces, I felt hemmed in big time. I kinda got used to it, but I always felt so good when I got back out here in the WIDE OPEN,,,,,,

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  8. I'm with Donna K - love, love, love the photos of the dogs at play. Today, though, my favorite was the caption you put on the little birdie up top. Those little guys sometimes seem so puffed up and full of bluster.

    Oh, Al, is JoAnn coming for a visit?? If so, I am SO envious!

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  9. I agree with the other commenters. Florida is very lush and a wonderful winter spot but I doubt that you would be as content there.

    Thank You for the mention on your blog. MASA offers great piece of mind to over a million members.

    Always love your writings and great photos.

    I hope we can meet up this summer.

    Sharon

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  10. Seems to me it's a lucky day when our feathered friends sit still long enough for us to get a good shot.

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  11. Al, we both enjoy your blog every day, you don't have to apologize EVER!
    That would be great if it is JoAnn coming out to visit you!
    Loved your photos of dogs at play and the joke at the end! LOL
    We're getting closer to you in AZ each day!
    Why I can see AZ across the Colorado river this morning!
    I hope we get to finally meet you and Kelly soon!
    Kathy & Grant

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  12. The heat wave gotta love it. Again we both love Arizona for similar reasons, even thou we usually stay in camprounds, but the climate, scenery and places to explore is amazing. I think for us Florida is the last resort, when we have no place else to go. Love your Blog.

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  13. Florida is a wonderful place to explore and you can't beat the State Parks! You aren't slammed up next to your neighbor like you are in commercial parks! On my blog, look up Ocklocknee River State Park and Blue Springs State Park (where about 100 manatee go every winter) and St George Island and here is a link to my flickr images... go to the list on the right! In Franklin County,FL (Apalachicola)I never get tired of taking photos of the shrimp boats coming and going, or the oystermen out bobbing on the bay as they harvest oysters... darlin', your camera will not be bored and neither will you!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthdancerimages/

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  14. Al -- I have to agree with a number of the other folks. I moved to NM from Missouri when I was 19, and never looked back. Love love LOVE the southwest. And from reading your blogs, I can't imagine you'd be happy with a "place" in Florida.
    I understand your very logical reasons for considering the switch to the East, but is it worth it when it's not where you want to be? Although we'd still like to "see" Florida at some point, we can't talk ourselves into battling the traffic & crowds of people that entails...

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  15. If winter travel is your only travel plan,then ya gotta stay South...I really love Georgia, but they can get ice storms just like Eastern ARizona...There are sooo many neat places to explore if only you weren't limited to winter travel...Fall, fabulous, Spring..stupendous, Summer supercalifragilisticexpelidocious Alaska!!!!!

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  16. Great photo of the Donkey... Loved it!
    Happy New Year to you & the family!!!
    (((HUGS)))
    Donna

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  17. RE: FLORIDA There is probably another concern. Florida charges double property tax for non-residents. At least that would keep ME from buying any property in that State.

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