LITTLE MOTORMOUSE SAW THE VET TODAY….GOOD & NOT SO GOOD NEWS:((

WE HAD SOME CURIOUS VISITOR’S THIS MORNING

   

The little Motormouse’s Vet appointment was scheduled at 10 this morning so we were on the road early for the 40 minute drive to Douglas.  We hadn’t gone far & Kelly’s cell phone rang with Dr. John from the Vet Clinic on the other end.  He wondered if we wanted to wait & bring the Mouse later in the afternoon after UPS dropped off our dog food there.  Figured it would save us two trips to Douglas.  We have our doggy guys on special dog food which is not easy to find but the Douglas Vet ordered it in for us.  Considerate of him to call so we put off taking the Motor until this afternoon.

SUNRISE AS SEEN FROM MY COMFY CHAIR THIS MORNING

We had to slip over to ‘The Ranch’ in McNeal anyway to pick up a new steel step that UPS had delivered from Camping World.  We’re hoping the new step will make it a bit easier for Max & Checkers going in & out of the Motor Home.   On the way back to the rig we stopped in Elfrida & ducked into a little eatery for breakfast.  Nice homey place that we have popped into a few times before over the last couple years.  Nice ‘old’ country music playing & I appreciated that because I sure don’t much care for the newer country music at all.  I had the Cowboy breakfast & Kelly had a Burrito something or other & we were back to the rig by 10:30.

  

Read a little more of the ‘Chasing Rainbows’ book for awhile & pretty soon it was afternoon & time to load up the little Motormouse again & head for Douglas.  Kelly popped into Walmart while me & the Motor waited in the parking lot.  It is a much different way of life in southern Arizona & that was apparent  when I spotted a colorfully decorated van in the Walmart parking lot.  I suspect it might have been from Bisbee because there are some pretty incredibly decorated vehicles up that way.  This van is licensed & perfectly legal to drive in Arizona.  It would be pulled off the highway sooooo fast in Canada though.  But, it’s just the way people do things in these parts.

THIS IS NOT THAT UNUSUAL THIS CLOSE TO THE MEXICAN BORDER

We were at Dr. John’s house on time & it wasn’t long & he came out on crutches to have a look at our little Motormouse.  Well, I’m afraid it is one of those good news/bad news things.  The anal sacks were impacted but that was only a minor problem for him to take care of.  The real problem unfortunately is a growth on her rear end which he called a Pendulous fluid filled mass that has glabrous blackened skin.  This can be one of three things with two of them not being as serious as the third.

   

LITTLE MOTORMOUSE WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF A COUPLE STORES IN DOUGLAS, ARIZONA  (in the first photo you can see the reflection of the historic Gadsden Hotel in the Jeeps mirror)

In a nutshell, it could be seriously cancerous so he has given us instructions on what to do plus medication to treat this outer sack of fluid when it lances.  Depending on what this sack contains will determine our next course of action.  Cora (aka Motormouse) took it all in stride & didn’t give the Vet a hard time at all.  She was a brave little girl for her examination & anal gland treatment.  We loaded up the $200 worth of dog food the UPS driver dropped off while we were there & headed for home.  That dog food will last us a very long time.  We actually had to have our Canadian Vet fax a confirmation to the Douglas Vet that our dogs indeed were on this special food because it is prescription food & cannot be bought in the States without a prescription.  In Canada it is non prescription & can be bought from any Vet.  That is the reason we bought a lot of it while we could.

  

DR. JOHN GOES OVER INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOTOR’S CARE & KELLY TRYS OUT OUR NEW STEEL STEP BACK AT THE RIG

Using the stove in the house Kelly whooped up a big Turkey supper tonight with all the fixins.   Once again I am reminded…."we sure do eat good for poor folks.”           (the wine is Kellys)

 

AND NO, THERE IS NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR ALL THE ARIZONA DUST WE TRANSPORT BACK TO CANADA EVERY YEAR

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
But I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep
The leftovers beckoned --
The dark meat and white,
But I fought the temptation
with all of my might.Tossing and turning with anticipation.....
. The thought of a snack became infatuation.....
So I raced to the kitchen, Flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey
and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots,
beans and tomatoes.I felt myself swelling
so plump and so round,
Till all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground !I crashed through the ceiling.
Floating into the sky....
With a mouthful of pudding
and a handful of pie,

But I managed to yell as I soared past the trees
Happy Eating to All! Pass the Cranberries, Please!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

FOUND SOME INDIAN MORTEROS & A GRAVE SITE TODAY

THREE INDIAN MORTERO GRINDING HOLES

To answer Thom’s comment in yesterday’s blog about unhooking water on cold night’s.  We have a plastic quick disconnect on the rig so I always turn off the water at the ground tap & then disconnect the hose at the rig because those plastic parts will freeze & break pretty quick.  We always have water in our fresh water tank & just switch over to that each night until the sun thaws out the water hose next morning.  Tap on, re-connect & away we go for another day:))

 

HEADING OUT THIS MORNING FOR THAT BARE BUNCH OF ROCKS JUST OVER THE MOTOR HOME IN THE BACKGROUND

The blog reader folks over near Sierra Vista found these last few night’s too cold for their liking so have high tailed it over to Quartzsite Az.  We might meet then in Borrego Springs, California sometime later in the season.

 

FOUND THIS GRAVESITE IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY

Decided to return to the little canyon in the Swisshelm Mountains just a few miles from us to the east.  We had driven up there last week but ran into a couple of hunters so didn’t hang around.  This morning we luckily found where the road continues even further towards the base of the mountain.  We had missed that last time.

 

WE’RE GONNA HEAD FOR THAT ROCK FACE

What a great test for the Jeep these roads are & I must say I am so pleased with the way that little Jeep handles itself.  It has been a great teacher & has already taught me some new driving techniques.  I have learned not to bother with the clutch & brake on really rough terrain & just the let the Jeep handle itself in 4 wheel drive 1rst gear.  No need to lay on much gas going up & over ditches, creek beds or wash outs & same thing with not touching the brakes coming down sloping areas.  The sure footed little Mountain Goat just drives itself steadily along.  Guess it’s like easing up on the reins of a horse & letting it have it’s head to lead the way.  Same thing with the Jeep.  Ease off the gas, brakes & clutch & let it have it’s head.  Only thing for me to do is steer with my left hand & take pics with my right:))

KELLY SCOUTS THE ROAD AHEAD

We would not have seen any of the rugged territory we saw today if we had not had a 4 wheel drive vehicle…..& especially a Jeep.  I can’t even begin to tell you how pleased I am with the darned little boxy looking thing.  Definitely one of my favorite vehicles of all time.  Me & that Jeep are big buddies for sure……10-4!!

The area we were hiking today is prime rattlesnake territory & even though they are supposed to all be underground now in hibernation, you just never know.  My eyes are always scanning the ground ahead of where we are walking & my ears are always on high alert for any kinds of sounds in the grass or rocks around us.  I would not be comfortable walking in this area during the summer when the snakes are out for sure!!

After clambering around a large bouldered area of the Swiss Helms we came across what we think are Indian Morteros.  We have seen these before in the Southwest.  They are grinding holes.  Stones were used to grind various seeds to pulp & after a time these grinding stones wore round holes into the rock.  Seeds could be dumped in the hole & then ground with a stone.  As you look at the round holes in the photos let your imagination take you back hundreds of years to a time when tribal Indians roamed these very lands across Prairies, Valleys & Mountains.  Indian Villages would be located very close to these Morteros because this is where the woman would spend endless hours each day grinding the corn meal to powder.  As you look at these photos just envision the Indian women sitting there on these rocks working away with their grinding stones.

KELLY FINDS THE FIRST MORTERO’S ATOP THIS FLAT ROCK TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER

 

LARGE BOULDER IN THE CLEARING CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING MORTEROS

  

What fascinating lands these are & what fascinating periods of history we sometimes stumble across.  Just another great day spent outdoors hiking & exploring the wonders & magic of Mother Nature.  For me, it just doesn’t get much better than spending quality time in these beautiful & natural surroundings of the great American Southwest.

THAT’S THE SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY WAY OUT THERE WITH THE MULE MOUNTAINS ON THE LEFT & THE BEGINNING OF THE DRAGOON MOUNTAINS ON THE RIGHT

Just noticed Merri & Steve from OUR COFFEE CAFÉ have joined us on our travels as blog supporters.  Welcome aboard folks.  I had a look at Merri & Steve’s site & I think some of you ‘Foody Folks are going to like their blog.  Grab your appetite & head on over to say ‘Howdy:))’

We’re off to the Vet again in the morning with the Motormouse.  She would be a little embarrassed about her problem & probably wouldn’t want me to mention it in the blog.   She’s asleep beside me right now & maybe I can sneak in the reason before she wakes up, climbs on my lap & has a look to see what I’m writing about today.  Motor has developed a sometimes common problem with certain dogs & it’s called an anal sack.  It is a small swelling near her rear end.  Not life threatening but something that has to be attended to.  She doesn’t even know she has it & we sure as heck haven’t told her about it either.  She thinks she’s going to the Vet for a relaxing Pedicure & a handful of doggy treats.  Well, she still may get the treats alright but the ‘handful’ may end up having a very different meaning for her.  I will let you all know tomorrow night what it was all about.

PARKED THE JEEP & WALKED UP THE PATH

SPOTTED OUR RIG ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY OUT IN THE VALLEY BELOW…

GROANER’S CORNER:((   There was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Pretty soon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.
The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here you have to come with us."
The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.
The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.
An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.
Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will save him." So the boat left him again.
Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks him, "Why didn't you save me?"
God replied, "You dummy! I tried. I sent three boats after you!!"

---

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

THE VET RESCHEDULES THE LITTLE MOTORMOUSE

YEP, WE HAVE SOME CUTE CRITTERS IN THESE PARTS ALRIGHT

Temps dropped below freezing last night & our outside water hose froze up again so I had better get myself into the habit of unhooking that hose from the rig every night now.

FLYING OUR OUTSIDE MAT IN A BIG ARIZONA WIND

We loaded up the little Motormouse for her 11 a.m. Vet appointment & headed for Douglas Arizona this morning.  Nice drive down the valley surrounded by mid morning mountain ranges.   Never is much in the way of traffic around these parts & I absolutely love that.  Welcome to southern Arizona:)) 

THE LITTLE MOUSE HEADS FOR THE VET THIS MORNING

Needed groceries so popped into the Walmart Supercentre.  There is a McDonald’s at the entrance so we dropped in for a coffee & a bite.  I always think of Bruce & Margie now when I walk into a McDonald’s for breakfast because that is what they liked to do in the mornings.  There were 18 people in the restaurant & 16 of them were Mexican folks including the 2 lady staff members. 

I THINK THESE FOLKS IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT WERE ABOUT READY TO HEAD ON DOWN THE ROAD

Did I mention Douglas is a border town but we have never seen anything or ever really heard anything bad about Douglas like you do other border towns.  Douglas is kind of a tired town that has some fine examples of southwestern architecture.  I don’t think of Douglas as a city.  It’s more like a big sleepy easy going town & we have found most of the Mexican folks friendly.  But, going back to McDonalds……one of the  staff ladies was on her cell phone while cooking & it turned out to be our longest McDonald wait of ever.  While finally eating our breakfast, Kelly’s cell phone rang & it was the Vet’s Office calling to re-schedule the little Motormouse’s appointment to Wednesday at 10.  It was the Vet’s wife & she was in the process of taking her husband to emerge because a Gerbil had gone crazy & tore off both her husband’s legs & threw him through the garage door….Ok, Ok, that never really happened, but she was taking her husband to Emerge because of severe pain in one of his feet.  The little Motormouse’s condition is not serious so Wednesday will be just fine & the Motor was just happy to be out for her very first Jeep ride with Mom & Dad.  Kelly had to hold on to her real tight over the bumpy roads until we reached pavement because the little Monkey might have bounced right out the window.  I nearly fell out of the Jeep 3 times myself:))

IT’S A LONG WAIT FOR US GUYS WHILE MOM’S IN THE GROCERY STORE

We were back to the rig by 12:30 & unloaded our 4.6 tons of groceries.  I was just able to make it to the Elfrida Photo Group by 1 o’clock.  Nice to see familiar faces there since I attended the last  meeting back in January.  Jean & Ray,  founding members of the group were in place with their welcoming smiles.  Well, Jean had a big smile anyway.  Ray was busy dealing with a Scorpion sting.  I forgot to bring home a flyer but the Group is having a Photo Show in Sunsites on Dec. 3rd.  Hey Ray, can you wing one of those flyers across the valley about the times & location.   And yep it’s true, Ray really was stung by a Scorpion yesterday.  He has also had to dispatch a few rattlesnakes on their property over the years too.

OFF LOADING SOME TRIMMED PINE BRANCHES A FEW DAYS AGO

Our travels may take us into the Bisbee & Sierra Vista area tomorrow.  Nothing final yet but we might be meeting up with some RV folks & long time blog readers.  Wednesday is a return to the Douglas Vet & Thursday just might find us back up in the Chiricahua mountains again.  Yaaay team:))

HEADING ON UP THE LANEWAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Once there was a girl who wanted a boyfriend. Her mom wanted to help her, so she set up a blind date for her daughter.  When the girl got  back from the date she said "That was the worst night of my life!"
"Why is that?" her mom asked.
"He owns a 1922 Rolls Royce!"
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"He's the original owner mom!"

-------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

---