FULL MOON RISING OVER THE SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS AT THE RANCH IN DEC. 09 (700mm telescope lens)
Anyone following our blog knows that we have spent the last 4 winters traveling around the American Southwest. You will also know that we have spent some time 'ranch sitting' the past couple years as well. When we leave Bayfield in late October we will once again head straight for the ranch which is located in Arizona's southeast corner near McNeal, Douglas & Bisbee. Unlike last winter, we have decided to spend less time at the ranch this year & more time traveling. We will be there from the beginning of November until mid December.
STORM CLOUDS OVER THE RANCH HOUSE
The owners of the ranch, J & R are also RV folks & again this year would like to spend the winter months doing some traveling of their own . Another RV couple is going to take over the ranch sitting job from us from mid December to mid January. A third RV couple & friends of ours will take over sometime in January & will stay for awhile but not sure how long yet. That will leave part of February & all of March available.
OUR FULL HOOK-UP SITE AT THE RANCH
Workampers will probably not be interested in this because it is not a paying job. You do have full hook-ups & the security of a locked gate & a very large area with coyote proof fencing so it's a great safety factor if you have pets. The ranch is an excellent home base for day trips in this historical southeast corner of Arizona. Thousands of Sand Hill Cranes fly directly over the ranch every single day. Their roosting area is only one mile south of the ranch at the, WHITEWATER DRAW WILDLIFE AREA
SUNSET ON THE PORCH
It is imperative that you understand, care for & love animals. The ranch has about a dozen frisky chickens, 3 clever donkeys, 2 new cows, two lovable dogs (Pearce & Gleason) & Charlie the cat to look after. The gang has to be fed twice a day & the 3 or 4 chicken eggs have to be gathered daily. And, you will be required to milk the chickens every Saturday morning before breakfast:))
DRAGOON MOUNTAINS NORTHWEST OF THE RANCH
Douglas & Bisbee are only about a 20-25 minute drive away. Tombstone is about a 40 minute drive & Sierra Vista is just another 15 minutes on the other side of Tombstone. The ranch is located in the Sulphur Springs Valley & surrounded by the Dragoon, Chiricahua, Swiss Helm & Mule mountains. And, if you haven't been to Bisbee Arizona yet, you are in for an alpine treat in an old mountain mining town. For many photos of the ranch & surrounding area attractions just check our archives for Feb-March 2009 & again from November 09 to just about the end of January 2010. Or, check our PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS for those same dates.
3 OF THE RANCH'S DESPERADOS'....SARAH, NELLIE & PONCHO
So, if anyone is interested in 'ranch sitting' for a spell in February & March, just let us know & we'll forward your interest to the folks at the ranch. Preference will probably be given to anyone on our blog list that we know or have been in email contact with for awhile. Just a little something for you Buckaroo RV'ers to think about:))
GROANER'S CORNER:(( GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED...................
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.
OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/
It is not the concept of God I have a problem with.....it's his fan club that causes me grievous concern:((
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.
I bet you didn't know that I was an expert chicken milker! LOVE that chicken milk over my cereal in the morning. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm booked at refuges through next April, but how about the winter of 2011/12? I'm no good with electricity or plumbing, but I am good with animals. :)
Looks like another great winter is shaping up for you all in Arizona!
ReplyDeletethat ranch parking space looks pretty darn nice!!!..should be a fun time for you and Kelly even if you are collecting eggs and poop etc...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great opportunity for some RV'ers looking for a great area to spend some time in - at a great rate too. We'll have to pass it up as "chicken milking" just isn't something we've ever caught on to.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of the rising moon!!
I wish we were going to be in the area this winter as that is something we would love to do. We love animals and that would be right up our alley.
ReplyDeleteThat photo of the moon is incredible!! Wow!
yep for sure a nice and quiet retreat... if there is anything available in 2012 I could see my bride and I spending some quality time there in the future... thanks for the photos of the area... and if you haven't yet visited portal in the chihuahuas you need to make it over that way as well...
ReplyDeleteWe'll be close by this winter (unless our travel plans work out really well), but no ranch sitting for us. Maybe we'll just drop down and meet the folks who will be wrangling down there after you leave! Good for you to do more traveling this year. You have limited time, and you will want to use it fully!
ReplyDeleteI'd be all over that if the house was sold and we were planning on being that way!!
ReplyDeleteWho knows though, the house may be sold in january/february. But that's too speculative right now.
But seriously that sounds like a blast. Chicken milking, isn't that something kids to (cause they are closer to the ground?).
Hmm.
Those 3 "desperados" have the same jack ass look on their faces...NOT to be trusted...As for the chicken milking...ya got a stool low enough for me to sit on???
ReplyDeleteSeriously,we cannot make plans too far ahead this year, what with family problems..We will be flying by the "seat of our RV"...but thanks for the thought.
All the time I was working and thinking about my retired life I thought I would want to do some part time work to "stay busy".
ReplyDeleteI quit work in 2005 and I can not say there has ever been anything more than a fleeting thought about 'working'. The Ranch sound too much like work for this Ol' Graybeard, particularly that part about milking chickens (I remember how difficult it was to milk a cow).
Just love those Desperados... they are saying: "hmmm tastes like Chicken!"
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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/