I SO MUCH MISS THOSE GREAT DAYS

ON THE WAY TO PICK UP MY GOOD BUDDY RICHARD THIS MORNING

Another in a series of mighty fine late October days.  The weather 22 years ago today certainly wasn't like this.  It was the final day for us in the old farmhouse at the old Weenie Roast Ranch near Fullarton Ontario. We had lived there for over 7 years.  It was a cold and dark rain-soaked night when we left our old haunt and moved the last load of stuff to where we now live in the Bayfield Pines Community near Bayfield Ontario.  It was Halloween night 2002 and the weather had played a 'trick' on us but it sure was a 'treat' that cold, and dark night to move into our warm cozy little place right here under the tall swaying Pine trees:))  

 FIERY SUMAC LEAVES

Coffee and muffins time for Richard and me so I picked him up this morning and off we went to cruise a few roads we hadn't been on for a while.  Always nice to change up the scenery from time to time and especially so now that we still have some gorgeous Autumn colors left in the countryside. 

 WE WERE SURPRISED BY A GOLFCART LOAD OF SCARY PARK CHARACTERS THIS AFTERNOON

 THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN OUR PARK IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL:))

I BORROWED THIS PHOTO FROM ANOTHER PARK RESIDENT

Kelly and I headed down to the south end of our Park this afternoon for a walk in the hardwood forest located there.  This is an area we often walked with our dogs in the earlier years of living here.  Sometimes we would make our way down a steep hundred-foot forested embankment to the Bayfield River far below.  But, that was years ago when we were younger and could do things like that on the spur of the moment without even having to worry about anything like getting back up the embankment again.  Actually, we had a purpose for being in that forest today.  We were looking for something we didn't find.  A bench.  Oh well, it was just great to be outside doing something we so much enjoyed doing in our RVing years.  We loved looking for things like old western Ghost Towns, (Charleston) lost gravesites, (Johnny Ringo and some Confederate soldiers) historical markers, old mines, Crested Saguaro Cactus, hidden trails, natural water tanks in the Kofa Mountains, the hard-to-find Mary Kidder ranch and old Fort Rucker in the Chiricahua Mountains, and Cochise's council rocks in Arizona's Dragoon Mountains.  We found the dump site for the old army Camp Furlong in Columbus New Mexico, Marshall South's homestead atop Ghost Mountain in California's Blair valley, and his gravesite in Julian California.  The endless list goes on and on and it was always one of our favorite things to do.  Get ourselves up in the morning and head out the door early to go places and find and do things we had never seen or done before.  I so much miss those great days............   

 WE DROVE SUBIE UP INTO THE HARDWOOD FOREST

 YOU CAN SEE IT WASA VERY WINDY AFTERNOON

 AN OLD FARM GATE IN THE WOODS

HEADING BACK TO THE CAR

 MAKING OUR WAY BACK OUT OF THE FOREST

Al's Music Box:)) Ghost Riders In The Sky by Geoff Castelucci is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter Stan Jones.  The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies".  Stan Jones stated that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old Native American who resided northeast of the Douglas Arizona border town, a few miles behind D Hill, north of Agua Prieta. Sonora. The Native Americans, possibly Apache, who lived within Cochise County, believed that when souls vacate their physical bodies, they reside as spirits in the sky, resembling ghost riders. He related this story to Wayne Hester, a boyhood friend (later owner of the Douglas Cable Company). As both boys were looking at the clouds, Stan shared what the old Native American had told him, looking in amazement as the cloudy shapes were identified as the "ghost riders" that years later, would be transposed into lyrics.............Here is an instrumental version of the same song played on a steel guitar.  Ghost Riders.  And of course, the version I grew up with....Frankie Laines version of Ghost Riders In The Sky.  And, because it's Halloween, here is Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kicker Five with The Monster Mash.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A car was involved in an accident on the street. As expected a large crowd gathered. A newspaper reporter, anxious to get his story could not get near the car.  Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim."  The crowd made way for him.  Lying in front of the car was a donkey.

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[1] Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.

[2] Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee.

[3] Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!

[4] I believe we should all pay our taxes with a smile. I tried – but they wanted cash.

[5] A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.

[6] Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent.

[7] Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without, but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.

[8] You can't buy love, but you pay heavily for it.

[9] Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

[10] Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

[11] Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it.

[12] My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.

[13] Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

[14] Ladies first. Pretty ladies sooner.

[15] A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

[16] You're getting old when you enjoy remembering things more than doing them.

[17] It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.

[18] Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.

[19] Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.

[20] Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something

[21] They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak!

[22] Man: Is there any way for long life?
Dr: Get married.
Man: Will it help?
Dr: No, but then the thought of long life will never come.

[23] Why do couples hold hands during their wedding? It's a formality just like two boxers touching gloves before the fight begins!

[24] Wife: Darling today is our anniversary, what should we do?
Husband: Let us stand in silence for 2 minutes.

[25] There is only one perfect child in the world and every mother has it.

[26] There is only one perfect wife in the world and every neighbor has it!

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                           Al's Art Gallery

I AM SURE GLAD THEY GOT UP AND WENT WHEN THEY DID

 NICE TO SEE OUR RESIDENT CHIPMUNKS OUT AND ABOUT AGAIN 

First thing I saw upon awakening this morning was orangy curtains again so I knew we had a sunrise going on out there.  It didn't last and the morning turned cloudy.  Not letting that put a grump in our day, Pheebs and I were soon out the door and headed for the Jeep.  I figured if I could get my right leg in we would be ready to go.  I first assisted Pheebs up into the passenger seat and then taking it slow at the driver's door and with a little help from my right arm guiding my leg I was soon seated squarely behind the steering wheel.  Everything felt perfectly normal and within a minute we were heading out the driveway for a cruise around our Park's road.  It was our first time back in the Jeep and on the road again in nearly 3 weeks.  Took a few pics along the way and even stopped to talk to a couple people out for a walk.  We didn't stop for a walk because the roads at the uninhabited south end of our Park were still muddy.  Soon, we were home again and chalked up our short little jaunt as a complete success.  Back in our driveway I took it slow and eased myself out of the Jeep with everything being A-OK.  After letting Pheebs out I cleaned the Subarus outside front windows, side mirrors, and back window.  Subie is in desperate need of a good wash.

 HERE'S PHEEBS AND I ROLLING OUT OF OUR CARPORT THIS MORNING

 THE BACK OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD TAKEN FROM AN ACCESS ROAD AT THE SOUTH END OF THE PARK'S POND

 A PAIR OF CANADA GEESE HEADING FOR OUR PARK'S POND

Saw my first Red Wing Blackbird of the year and it was on our bird feeding station earlier today.  Another sure sign of an early Spring and can you believe that in just a couple weeks we will be turning our clocks ahead already:)))))))  I don't know where the past 5 months went but I am sure glad that they got up and went when they did!!

 OUR WINTER'S SINGLE RESIDENT GRACKLE GRABS A SNACK THIS MORNING

I'm not sure where the rest of Sunday slipped away to but Kelly put a movie on that I really enjoyed called, Love and Mercy  It is the story about the 'Beach Boys' co-founder and leader Brian Wilson and his struggles with mental Illness during the 1960s and 1980s.....I enjoyed this movie simply because it dealt with the realities and realism of an individual's life.  And, in this case, it was of special interest to me because it involved a well-known musician's life whose music I grew up in the 60's and beyond listening to.    

A Blast From Our Past With a Difference::  There is a couple right now traveling around an area of our beloved southeastern Arizona that, with the help of our blog from years ago have been visiting some of our favorite places.  How thrilling it was for us this morning to see that Marlene and Benno from Marlene and Benno's Odysseys On Land And Water  actually headed into the Chiricahua Mountains retracing our tracks to find an elusive place we have been to on three separate occasions.  You can find my blogs on this place by typing into our search bar in the right-hand column, 'Mary Kidder Rak' or 'Old Fort Rucker' but it is Marlene and Benno's post I will leave you with here.....In Search Of Camp Rucker.  Marlene does a great job with the writing of this post and their photos brought back so many memories of an area that we loved so well.  And, on one of our 3 trips there, we took Aunt Jean who was visiting from Florida along as well.  There is a lot of history with Camp Rucker and the Mary Kidder Rak house right beside the camp.  Mary Kidder Rak wrote a great book about her and her husband's life at the ranch there.  Her excellent book is entitled, A Cowman's Wife.  So, if you are ever in the area, read the book first and then go see where it all happened.  It's all still there:))  

 THAT'S A CAMERA STRAP HANGING AROUND MY NECK

Al's Music Box:((A Beautiful Morning is a song written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati and recorded by the Rascals. Coming out in early 1968, it was the group's first track released after shortening their name from the Young Rascals. The single was one of the earliest released in stereo, as 7-inch singles generally were in mono. Together with the Doors "Hello, I Love You," it's credited with changing the industry standard of singles.  The song continued the theme of carefree optimism that had distinguished the previous year's "Groovin". It was written one morning in Honolulu, Hawaii when the band was invited to perform there by promoter Tom Moffatt. 

 THIS LITTLE DICKENS IS SCOOPING THE BIRDSEED RIGHT OUT OF THE FEEDER!!

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned at Sunday school.  "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  "When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely.  "Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."  "Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.  "Well, no. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

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What do you call it when your mother's sisters all gather at a funeral to avenge your death?  Vigil Aunties

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A friend of mine told her husband they had a Catholic bird in their yard.  "A what? How do you know it's a Catholic bird?"  "Because it's a Cardinal."

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Be with someone who brings out the best in you… Not the stress in you.

THE DAY WE SPENT 3 PLEASURABLE HOURS AT A REAL ARIZONA DUDE RANCH

ATOP OUR BIRD STATION TODAY A MOURNING DOVE CATCHES A FEW WINKS WHILE ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE

Another nice Spring like day and I was able to get the Jeep vacuumed and some windows cleaned in Kelly's Sunbird.  Coming back from our morning drive I also popped the Jeep into Bayfield's carwash for a squirt.  Hasn't been any action over at the Tim Horton's coffee shop next door for about 3 weeks again.

A TOUCH OF MIST ALONG THIS COUNTRY CREEK

LOOKS LIKE WINTER BUT FEELS LIKE EARLY SPRING

SNOW IS MELTING FAST AND LAST WEEK THIS UNPLOWED ROAD WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPASSABLE

We're off to London's Regional Cancer Center Tuesday where I have an appointment with my Oncologist, Doctor Mendez .  I guess we'll talk about my latest PSA numbers and see what he recommends from there.  So far so good and I haven't experienced any after effects since undergoing radiation treatments last Fall.  I'm still as old as new:))

SO NICE TO SEE BARE FIELDS AGAIN

Thanks to Janna from Restoration Cowboy Style for sending us a note yesterday which in part said, 'I finally met Eve today and she remembers you both very fondly.'  Well you may wonder who Eve is??  Well, we met Eve Searle November 30th 2010.  A most remarkable lady and at the time owned Grapevine Canyon Ranch located near Pearce Arizona on the eastern side of the Dragoon Mountains.  Grapevine Canyon Ranch at that time was a well known high end Dude Ranch catering to many European people who came there to experience a true working Western ranch complete with horses and real cowboys.  Kelly and I were ranch sitting a couple miles southwest of McNeil Arizona at the time and we had been scrambling around a few times in Rucker Canyon over in the Chiricahua Mountains looking for old Camp Rucker and the remains of Mary Kidder Rak's house at the same location.  We found both and I published a few posts about our findings.  It was shortly after this I think we received an email from a lady in Cochise County who wondered if she could use one of my photos on her website.  She also knew more of the story about author Mary Kidder Rak and her husband Charlie.  Mary Kidder Rak wrote A Cowman's Wife and I truly recommend it.  A few emails back and forth and we were soon on our way to meet a lady by the name of Eve at a location called, Grapevine Canyon Ranch.  My post for the day picks up the story here at...…. Today We Visited Grapevine Canyon Ranch. (some of the links in the post no longer apply) Remember to click on the smaller pictures to enlarge them.  My photo album with additional photos for the day is here at.....Grapevine Canyon Ranch.  Click on the first photo to enlarge it then arrow right to go through the photos or arrow left to go back.  Eve sold the ranch a number of years ago and the only website I found describing the ranch was a Realtors ad regarding the  Ranch Sale.  I'm assuming it's a private ranch now.  What a beautiful place it was and by the way, putting this together tonight I found out Eve is still very actively Blogging and you can find her at Latest News From Eve At Cobre Loma.  You will find her writing enlightening and her adventuress stories of life on the ranch over the years entertaining.  She has an archive of posts going back to 2008.  Since I just found Eve again you can now also find her on my sidebar:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  

Q. When is a retiree's bedtime?

A. Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Q. How many retirees does it take to change a light bulb?

A. Only one, but it might take all day.

Q. What's the biggest gripe of retirees?

A. There is not enough time to get everything done.

Q. Why don't retirees mind being called senior citizens?

A. The term comes with a 10% discount.

Q. Among retirees what is considered formal attire?

A. Tied shoes.

Q. Why do retirees count pennies?

A. They are the only ones who have the time.

Q. What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?

A. NUTS!

Q. Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage?

A. They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

Q. What do retirees call a long lunch?

A. Normal

Q. What is the best way to describe retirement?

A. The never-ending Coffee Break.

Q. What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?

A. If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Q. Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with?

A. He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

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