Thursday, September 27, 2012

WELL, FINALLY WEDGED MYSELF BETWEEN A ROCK & A HARD PLACE, SO NOW ‘THE CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG’

DSC_4595
A clear starry night meant a crisp cold morning with temperatures dropping into the upper 30's. Not unlike many desert winter nights in Arizona with temps sometimes dipping down to & below freezing. We often notice the night time temperatures here in Bayfield are higher than we have in many parts of Arizona. It all depends at what altitude one is at in the South-west. This morning was kind of a 'hands in your pockets' walk.
---
Fired up the rig & generator, checked all 4 solar batteries & cleaned solar panels today. Added some water to our fresh water tank & disconnected 2 out of 3 house garden hoses. More items gathered up & stowed away in the rig's basement bins. Nice sunny day to be outside doing things despite the temps struggling to reach 60F. I even loaded up my rootin tootin cowboy hat today:))
---
A fine Autumn afternoon for a drive through the countryside as we slipped down to visit Uncle Harry in Mitchell. He's doing fine. Some of the leaves are beginning to turn & many farmers were busy in the fields harvesting bean crops.
DSC_4597
Having only spent about a month in the Congress Arizona area earlier this year we don't know a whole lot about the regions history. Spent a little time this morning doing some on-line reading & basically came up with....'Gold was discovered at Congress in 1884. By 1893, the Santa Fe Railroad passed within three miles of the mine, at Congress Junction. Congress boomed, and remained prosperous until the mid-1930s, when the mines closed. Total gold production at the Congress Mine exceeded $8 million, at the then-current price of $20.67 per ounce—or about $400 million, at the 2007 price. The post office moved to Congress Junction in 1938, where it remains. The community now known as Congress is the old Congress Junction. Little remains at the original town site'………. From a brief conversation I had with a neighbor last March, I learned that parts of our Congress house were built with lumber taken from old wooden buildings on the mine site. From what I remember seeing of weathered boards in the crawl space above the ceiling, I think a lot of that old mining lumber went into the roof.
DSC_0014
OUR CONGRESS NEIGHBORHOOD…..THERE’S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS & A DOGGY IN THE DESERT:))
Kelly & I did notice 'gold fever' is still very much alive & well in the area with many local prospectors scouring the hills, mountains, & valleys nearby for the elusive gold. And, gold is definitely being found, lending a feeling of the old west to the region. Hmmmm, might have to do a little digging in our back yard. Our house on Ghost Town Road is located only about a mile from the historic CONGRESS GOLD MINE. Looking forward to exploring & writing about this whole area over the winter.
---
Did you ever think someone would ever name a town....Pie Town? Well, somebody did, & for good reason. Kelly & I almost slid through Pie Town New Mexico two winters ago on our way south. DESERT DIVA & CALI blinked & almost missed it this week. But, she did stop long enough in one of two restaurants to notice folks were eating green Chile cheeseburgers. That's a new one on me. And, you might want to stop on by Cheryl's post & learn how to build yourself a New Mexican Apple Pie too:))
---
Received this comment from Donna C late today….. “There you go again..throw out just a little bait for us readers to nibble on....and then we gotta wait until you reel us in and tell us the exciting summer potentially in your future.”  Well, I was told from this end not to say anything, but of course as everyone knows, Mr. Blabberfingers can’t keep anything in for long.  You would think I would learn wouldn’t you.  But nope, I’m always letting things squeak out here & there.  I have now placed myself between a rock & a hard place so without further adieu & a lot of elaboration, I will just say…… after nearly 10 years, this is Kelly’s last  year at Deer Park Lodge.  And, that is what I meant by a change coming up & next summer being a different summer for us.  My name is Al & I am now toast:((
---
DSC_4590
GROANER'S CORNER:((  If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you, & keep in mind, a bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist.  Oh ya, & If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhoea... does that mean one person enjoys it?
---------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .
https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

18 comments:

  1. Spead a little peanut butter and honey on that toast, it'll go down easier... ;c)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well look at it like this, we are all your extended family, since you like to write to us every night... So at some point you have to tell the family the things in your life that matter....

    And most of us think that Kelly needs to retire too....... Well perhaps not Kelly, but it looks like that will happen....

    Congratulations Kelly....!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey, Retirement = More time to travel! Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah yes, we were curious! Anxious to read about your travels to you *other home* ....

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. congrats to Kelly!..enjoy the 'toast'!!

    ReplyDelete

  6. Congratulations Kelly! I am excited for both of you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats Kelly, do not keep a company phone like I did. It keeps you in the loop and you may find yourself thinking about work more often than you like. I did anyway and now look forward to them disconnecting it next week.
    The 1st part of that groaner was up on a church sign and I chuckled every time I drove past. It is a great joke. Enjoy all the new found time with your travel mate.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ah Al,Rigg's and I are so jeolous, you get to have Mom home with you, sooner than we do. But you guys have earneded , now just go out and celbrate, I will have a High Life in your honor tonight. and Rigg's will get an extra pupperoni. Be safe out there, and think about a quick stop in Dardenne Praire on your way south. Sam & Donna.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great!!! Good for Kelly.congratulations!... Lookin forward to seeing you this winter,,,I hope you will come over for Hap Hr....now and then.....
    We left Custer yesterday and parked under the Archway in Kearney, NE.... So we are "on the road again"!! feels good!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Travel all winter and travel all summer, thats the way like it too, never a dull moment. Good for Kelly.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yea for Kelly--I bet she enjoys retirement, sorry your your toast woes! We too have some news but I'm not gonna let the cat out of the bag too soon!

    ReplyDelete
  12. congratulations to you both...yeahh Kelly ...enjoy retirement....now you have more time to travel...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was thinking a little jelly would be nice on the toast.... Kelly (and you) will have more time for adventures since you will now be able through away the alarm clock for good!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh,oh...I think I cut the first hole in that bag the cat was in...sorry.:-(... Kelly, don't be too hard on Al, he is just a big kid in a flannel shirt and cowboy hat who loves excitement and cannot wait to share it...Congrats to you Kelly..FYI, I LOVE my toast BURNT!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, I step away from reading blogs for a couple of days and come back to all kinds of news. I'm really glad for Kelly, and hope she is happy about it as well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think Kelly will be very happy with more time to travel.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Since we are staying home this winter to work on the new house in Egmondville I will be SO looking forward to yoyr daily tales in Congress Too exciting Also good for Kelly She has worked long enough and hard enough A well deserved retirement

    ReplyDelete
  18. Since we are staying home this winter to work on the new house in Egmondville I will be SO looking forward to yoyr daily tales in Congress Too exciting Also good for Kelly She has worked long enough and hard enough A well deserved retirement

    ReplyDelete