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

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:))

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

OUR HOUSE TODAY

   

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.

  

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……………………

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:))

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…………. :))

PHEEBS MEETS SOME NEW PALS ON THE TRAIL THIS MORNING

 

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

 

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)

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:))

  

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:))

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

 

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.

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.

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.