Friday, February 28, 2014

THE DATE OF FEBRUARY 23RD 2012 BLEW RIGHT PAST ME……

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HEAVY CLOUDS OVER THE DESERT THIS MORNING

It was February 23rd 2012 when Kelly & I first took a drive down Ghost Town Road in Congress Arizona.  Kelly had spotted a few houses for sale in the area so we were out driving around having a look at them.  In our travels over the years we had always been in the habit of checking out local real estate in various areas we travelled.  We missed the house we were looking for, went up to the end of the road & turned around, came back & pulled into the driveway.  Oh Dear what a sad looking neglected place this was.  We had seen so many dumpy places in our real estate search over the years  But not to be intimidated by dumpiness we got out of the Jeep for a closer look see.  This then was the first day we saw what was soon to become our house:))

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THIS IS THE VERY FIRST PICTURE OF WHAT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE OUR HOUSE THE FIRST DAY WE SAW IT

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OUR HOUSE TODAY

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Had the price not been so cheap we may not have given it a second look but as we walked around & seen the land that came with it I began to see some potential.  Right off the bat I envisioned the house stuccoed & knew I could do the grounds work myself.  And that lit the fire.

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It would be another week or so before we had a Real Estate agent from Prescott show us the interior of the house.  Despite some obvious problems we knew we could clean things up & with some paint, hard work, lots of elbow grease & a heaping helping of TLC we could make this old house into something comfy & cozy.  We had done it before with old unlived-in places & by golly we knew we could do it again.  And we did……………………

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As I’m typing this tonight I hear a seldom heard sound on our roof.  It is followed shortly thereafter by the sounds of giggling.  No need for me to get up & investigate.  I know the sound of rain on a roof & I also know the sound of happy little plants outside:))

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PUT A BIG TOP HAT ON THAT ROUND UPPER ROCK & I SEE A W.C. FIELDS PROFILE

In a comment on Thursday night’s post Mike M over at North Ranch said in part…"Nice Blog Al, and quite interesting. I can imagine the time and work you put in to publishing such a blog!!  It almost gets like a JOB!!!
But as long as you enjoy it keep it up...'cause it pays real well,,,don't it??? :-)”  My answer to Mike is a resounding ‘YES’ it does pay real well but not in a monetary way.  Yes it is like a job alright with a lot of the same ups & downs.  Some days it all comes together amazingly well while other days just connecting a couple seemingly simple thoughts together is a major chore.  Technical problems are the worst for me.  We have a slow internet connection & I about tear my hair out sometimes over the frustrations that brings.  But overall I do enjoy putting a post together each & every day.  The rewards for me are many.  Just thinking of things to write about keeps my brain creatively alive.  Writing a blog gives me purpose & incentive each & every day.  It purposely sends me out the door in search of new photos & new ideas.  My mind is constantly at work on how I am going to intertwine photos with writing ideas & that keeps the cobwebs at bay.   It takes me many hours to put my posts together but for me that is a positive thing otherwise what would a do with that creative time slot.  Waste it watching television?  No, I greatly enjoy doing this because I know that out here in the cyber world a small group of people are enjoying what I am doing.  And that is the greatest reward for me of all.  Just knowing I am creating something interesting, entertaining, & useful for folks makes it all worthwhile for me.  If I was getting paid or making money doing this it would not be the same.  Not that we couldn’t use the money but I would feel an old familiar & unwanted stress factor that I do not care to put on myself again.  Favorable responses from readers is reward enough for me & tells me that what I find enjoyable to write about, readers find enjoyable to read about.  A winning combination & a warm personal reward for me each & every day…………. :))

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PHEEBS MEETS SOME NEW PALS ON THE TRAIL THIS MORNING

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PHEEBS ALSO GOES NOSE TO NOSE WITH A GOAT FOR SOME FREE SNACKS AT TSC’S PETTING ZOO

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CAMEL RIDES IN THE PARKING LOT

ED, a stickler for keeping things correct (and I’m glad he does) had this to say about our problematic Rabbits, errrr Hares…… “Peter & Beatrix’s comment is partially correct. The 'rabbits' that Al has pictures of are 'hares' as defined for biological classification. But they are NOT Desert Hares, they are either antelope jackrabbits (Lepus alleni) or black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus).
The Desert Hare (Lepus tibetanus) is a species of hare found in Northwestern China and countries adjacent to it”. (and no action on the Critter Cam last night)

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NOTICE HOW ALL THE GOATS ARE FOCUSED ON PHEEBS BUT SHE’S PLAYING SHY

Had a strange yet familiar feeling on my face this morning.  Many years since I experienced it & the feeling actually felt good.  Kind of lite & breezy is how I would describe it.  It was shaving cream of course.  Kelly picked me up a can of Barbasol at the Dollar Store Thursday.  All these years with the beard I never used shaving cream.  Just a little soap, hot water to trim here & there.  I had forgot that nice cool face feeling after one lathers up & shaves it off.  And now I get to do it every morning if I want.  Nice:))

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DOGGY RUNNING FAST ON THE TRAIL AGAIN THIS MORNING

Had an email from Aunt Jean in Sarasota Florida earlier in the week in which she said, “I've worn shorts to the golf course the last three weeks,  Hope to play again on Tuesday. My golfing friends don't want me to quit. They don't mind driving the cart to where I don't have to do a lot of walking.  I still get very tired by the 14th hole, & all my stamina is gone.  However, I manage to finish the game, no quitting here.  Would much rather drop on the golf course than sit in a nursing home looking out the window”.  Yep, that’s my good old Aunt Jean alright & she will be turning 87 in July:))

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OUR DESERT WALKING ROAD MOST MORNINGS

{Quote) So, into every life a little rain must fall.  And I guess into every dry camper's life a LOT of dusty sand must fall, too, and I drove right into it”. {Un-quote}  It was with these words Barbara started off her recent ‘STUCK’ post.  Did she get herself un-stuck?  Well……….  While your over there helping to push check out this clever idea on Barbara’s site.  DAD COLORS IN HIS KID'S DRAWINGS

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MORNING CLOUD PATTERNS

In addition to Thursday’s post about the Wickenburg Massacre Site I was able to pinpoint the exact location on Google Earth this morning.  This is an aerial view from about 2,500 feet up.  The co-ordinates are at the bottom right of the photo which you can click to enlarge.

WICKENBURG MASSACRE SITE

Knew we had a big unsettled weather front headed our way so spent some time battening down the hatches later today.  Outside things to be put inside, windows & roof vents closed, tools into the garden shed, etc.  Been quite awhile since we have had any rain.  In fact we have not had any rain of consequence since we arrived here back around the end of October.  All the plants have been spitting dust for quite awhile.

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NOT A LOT OF SUN TODAY BUT AT 7:20 THIS MORNING WE DID GET A NICE SUN SPLASH THROUGH OUR DINING ROOM WINDOW WHILE I WAS EATING MY CURDS & WHEY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said, Keep off the Grass.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, You stay here, I'll go on a head.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

 

26 comments:

  1. You found a house and turned it into a home. It looks beautiful and what a change you've made to it. Happy anniversary to both of you and your house!

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  2. All your hard work and TLC has turned that little house into quite a showplace.

    No wonder the rabbits are drawn to it... ;c)

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  3. WOW....what a difference. Your house looks so lovely! I love the front porch!!! Fabulous job you two. Happy Anniversary.

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  4. I aree tha writing blog posts keeps you mind active. I don't feel any pressure to post every day, sometimes I d and sometimes I don't. Many days I just think as if I'm writing. On those days what I think is usually not worth the effort of putting it down in writing.

    I used to silently talk to myself, now I silently alk to my followers.

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  5. I've really enjoyed following the progress of your house from the time you first looked at it up to the present. You two have indeed made it into a happy and enjoyable home. All of your hard work has really shown what can be accomplished with a vision in mind. Now, if those long eared squatters can be evicted, your cactus and other plants can keep growing in peace. That rain should make everything happy. Hey...maybe that's why those rabbits were moving under your house...they knew it was going to rain a whole bunch.

    Tell your Aunt Jean to rent the DVD "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" starring Will Smith. It sound like her kind of movie about a golfer who didn't know how to quit. I think she would enjoy it.

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  6. That Pheebs is the happiest dog. Glad Aunt Jean is doing well.
    Love your blog!

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  7. Really love your "anniversary of the house" with the pictures side by side. It shows very clearly how much you two have done to the house to make it looks so fabulous.
    Thanks for the haircut comment. You absolutely hit it right on the nose. You and David are cut from the same cloth. But he doesn't blog. :-)

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  8. Yep, that place looks about 300% (or more) better than it did before you got it. Nice work!

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  9. Your home doesn't look like the same house. You and Kelly have worked so hard to make it yours! Love to see those pictures of Pheebs!

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  10. You two have made that forlorn house into a beautiful cozy Casa. I wish one of us had your guys decorating talent. Great idea with the matching photos, must have been a lot of work. Two years seem to have flown by.

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  11. I'd forgotten how the house looked when you bought it, it sure looks good now. I forgot to tell you Skip didn't buy the bike.

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  12. It was great seeing the "before" and "after" shots of your home... You guys have sure done a number on that place. Talk about taking a Lemon and turning it into lemonade.... You sure did it. Congratulations!!

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  13. Love your "before" and "after" photos... you sure turned that place into a well cared for, loved abode.

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  14. What a great job you two have done on making yourselves a home here in the desert. What a transformation. I am hoping next fall (when we are doing some riding around that area) to meet you two in person finally.

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  15. loved seeing the photos of the house "before" and "after", although after will probably continue to evolve. We have enjoyed the same process with our little cottage in Grants Pass and the before and after do make it even more fun to watch the process. I really love that stucco color, by the way.

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  16. Just wanted to add another compliment to what a lot of hard work and planning have accomplished on your house. It and the land surrounding it seem to unite like it belongs. It is a good feeling for sure to see what it has become. Am happy for you guys that you have something that you really enjoy and where you can kick back and relax between adventures. Thanks for the blog, I look forward to each and every one.

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  17. Great job on the house ... it looks fantastic.

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  18. The psychology phenomenon known as pareidolia, is a propensity to pick out faces from everyday objects and structures.

    Sorry Al but even with a hat I could not pick out W. C. Fields.

    Thanks for the Shout, I always get a big jump in page lookers.

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  19. Al, I loved your post about the Wickenburg massacre. I even read 3 more articles about it! And, I LOVE the before & after photos of your house. Unfortunately, our home now looks like the "before" photo...we need to get some paint on her! Loved your thoughts about blogging, too! Great way to start my day...reading your blog! We got quite a bit of rain, too, over here. I drove out the Washington Street exit off Interstate 10 and got photos of the sand dunes there yesterday after school.
    Cheryl Ann (home with 2 very wet cats!)

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  20. You guys have done a great job on that house. What a transformation.
    I am glad ED could be better informed about the hare species we have here. I had thought of the Jack Rabbit name, but "rabbit" is again very confusing as it really is not a rabbit.

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  21. What a transformation you guys did on the house. It is fantastic.

    I really appreciate all the hard work you do on a daily basis publishing your blog. It is one of my very favorite reads.

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  22. Your house is just so perfect. Lots of work went into the upgrades, as well as a bit of money, I'm sure, but it's just so nice. The colors in the dining room in the splash of sunlight are gorgeous. You guys have a lot of color in your home.

    I feel exactly the way you do about blogging. It really does get me out and about, noticing things I never would have seen before, and thinking about what the next post will be and then typing it up keeps me sharp. Plus I love writing, and I'm not ready to write the great novel yet.

    Thanks for the shout out - I love it when you do that and if it's not a blog I follow, I always click the link and often find a new, great blog. :)

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  23. Love the before & after photos--the stucco was a perfect choice! Miss Pheebs sure runs fast & hey, W.C. Fields in person!

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  24. Beautiful home for a lovely family! Enjoy your time there!!

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  25. GREAT "before" and "after" shots!


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    Karen and Steve
    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
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