Shoebox Ranch

Almost A Year

2011-02-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

Well its been almost a year sense I written in my blog. But I hope to start again and write at least a weekly entry. Ray and I seem to be in a rut, so we decided (me) that we need a date night (as in something planned and romantic). So tomorrow we are heading to the big town of Sierra Vista.

We have been having a lot of fun with our Photography Group. We meet at the library in Elfrida, thanks to Sembrando Salud who sponsors the group. They sponsor a lot of great programs here in Elfrida.

We gave ourselves the name Tumbleweed Photo Group and now have a blog with the same name.

These are a few of my pictures.

Have a good night!

Double Adobe Quilters

2010-06-09T22:33:00.001-07:00

I have been so out of it for the last few months that I didn’t get the pictures and story about the groups quilt show in my blog.

Well yesterday the trailer home that was the clubhouse burnt to the ground. My understanding is the fire had not started inside the clubhouse but outside. They lost everything. All the fabric, machines, quilting materials, supplies and tools. They had a meeting yesterday and had finished the last square of the crazy quilt. They were going to use it as their raffle quilt for the show next March. Also all the other quilts and wall hangings etc were a complete loss. But the biggest loss is the clubhouse, where they would meet every Tuesday from about 9am to 3pm with a pot luck at 12 noon. We could come anytime on Tuesday, so it left us ways to plan around other commitments. And if you couldn’t make it every Tuesday they made you feel welcome when you could come.

There were angels around this group yesterday, one members house was threatened as she was taking a nap. And another ended up parking her car at another members home instead of the clubhouse (it was meant to be left at the trailer) as they set off for a afternoon appointment. So we do see that good things were happening yesterday too.

A friend and I are going to set up a yard sale fund raiser. Another member has been contacted about a sewing machine that is no longer being used. So the healing has begun.

Have a good night!

May 24th Photo Shoot

2010-05-26T17:17:00.001-07:00

Our photography group met at Camp Naco, in Naco AZ., at 10:30 am for our Monday meeting. We had a fun time and I can’t wait to see what everyone else photographed. Ray found things I didn’t even see.

These are the plans for Camp Naco

Here are a few of my photographs from Camp Naco.

A few of our group went into Naco Mexico, to take photos of a small park, I can’t wait to see those. I was one of the ones to stay behind.

We Then had a wonderful lunch at The Greek pizza place Pizzarama, in Bisbee AZ. They are family owned and have great pizza.

Bart & Gus posing for pictures!

Then we visited Old South Bisbee though some one way tunnels. There are entrance and exit tunnels for cars and a pedestrian only tunnel. We had fun posing and playing with the light.

The mining is creeping closer and closer to the community, it may be a thing of the past in a few years.

I know I haven’t done a blog in a few months but I’m going to try to work backward with my pics. If you’ve read my blog before you know I’m not much of a writer.

Have a good night!

Photo Shoot at 2 Old Ranches

2010-02-23T14:45:00.001-07:00

On Feb 15th our little photo group had eight people show up to shoot two old ranches near Douglas AZ. After the shoot most of us made our way to Marybeth’s home, for a nice time of visiting and munching. Yesterday we had our meeting and six of us met to show off our work. There were some great photographs. Here are my photos from that beautiful day.

Some more……………………………………………………………..



			And this is only the first ranch.

The second ranch was probably the better photo opportunity but I didn’t get as many photographs. The first three my camera was on the wrong setting and were very washed out. But I just hit Picasa's I feel lucky and this is what I got. Before and after.

This ranch house was intact, until it was burned down when some illegal's who were using it for shelter.

And more………………………………………….

And then off to Marybeth’s.

Next week we will be playing with our photographs using Picasa and Paint.net. The library, downloaded these programs on to their computers for our Photo Group.

We are planning a photo shoot soon.

Have a good night !

Tombstone Art Association Quilt Show

2010-02-19T22:06:00.001-07:00

I’m trying to get this done, (and will) if Ray quits bugging me.

Today we stopped in Tombstone to see the Quilt Show on our way home from Bisbee ( the long way home :) ). This show is every Feb. and runs through the month. This is their 28th show and quilters from all around SE AZ. enter their quilts. I’m not comfortable writing so here are a lot of photos of some of the beautiful quilts at the show. Most of the pictures I took are of hand quilted quilts. There were also many wonderful machine quilted quilts.

Well if you like quilts, you don’t mind all the pictures.

I wish I had taken the time to write down all the names, but Ray ( with his feet hurting) was nice enough to go out of our way home just for me, so I ooed an ahed and took lots of photographs.

This is the Tombstone raffle quilt. It is all hand quilted!

A flyer was given to me with the following,

Humming Bird Stitchers, show is Feb. 27th 9-5 , Feb 28th 9-3 at Buena High School, Sierra Vista AZ.

Double Adobe Quilters, show is March 6th 9-4 at the Old Double Adobe school, 7081 N Central Hwy. Double Adobe AZ.

Well I had a wonderful day.

Have a good night !

Photo Group

2010-02-12T20:00:00.001-07:00

We have a Photo group here in Elfrida. Ray, who loves photography was asked if he would help run a group centered here at the library. It’s a small group and we have friends who come and go. But we have fun. Our last meeting with Al was a photo shoot at an old restaurant that is abandoned in Elfrida. I wish I knew more history about Timbucktoo, but sad to say I don’t.

I learned a lot from Al of the Bayfield Bunch. I will miss his positive personality.

In the southwest there are a lot of old abandoned buildings that make wonderful photos. I guess it reminds people of the old west and keeps it alive. Our next photo shoot is down off Hwy. 191 and Glenn Rd.

The Double Adobe Quilters are having their 30th annual quilt show. There are a lot of venders from around the area selling their crafts, it is a lot of fun, live music with musicians young and old. The 4H will be there with a good lunch and there are door prizes every hr. At the end of the day the winning ticket for the hand quilted Butterfly Quilt will be drawn and we will have a happy winner. So if you are in the area and want to have a wonderful day come out and have some fun and don’t forget to buy some tickets for the quilt drawing. You don’t have to be there to win. The club will mail the quilt anywhere postage paid. If you can’t make it and want tickets just comment me with an address or phone# ( I won’t post this comment without editing your personal info.) or you can call the # on the flyer.

Have a good night !

Happy New Year

2010-01-10T14:35:00.001-07:00

Well let’s all have a good year. I took a break from the computer so I have a lot of blogs to catch up on. Here is a Happy New Year photo.

Well I have been a homebody as much as possible since New Years day, but tomorrow I’ll get out to of the house, go to town and then our little photo group.

Before Christmas Ray and I stopped on the Charleston Rd. at the San Pedro River. Most of the time it is just a stream. When we get a lot of rain it becomes the river it once was. As far down river as Benson we joke about changing it’s name to Sand Pedro. :)

This is a graffiti wall under the bridge. I added a happy new year, but only on my computer image.

Have a good night ! :)

Why Do You Have A Couch?

2009-12-28T21:15:00.001-07:00

This is why we have a couch, or anything else in our home.

I think we live to make a home for our animals, they just make themselves at home. We find them were ever they want to hang out, as you can see. My Christmas village is surviving, but I’m not sure how. They seem to just tiptoe through it and the dog tails seem to miss the village and the Christmas tree. And the cats seem to know (after being sprayed with water last year) not to play with the ornaments, so I guess we should be happy they allow us some enjoyment. Or maybe they just enjoy Christmas.

Just before Christmas Ray and I Had to go to Sierra Vista To take the car in for repair as it was early we walked across the street to get some breakfast.

And at the restaurant I noticed the after Christmas sign.

All went well with the car and we got out of Sierra Vista before noon. So we headed out to Bisbee.

Bisbee is the place I would love to live if I didn’t have a place here on the Old Christiansen Ranch.

Today on the way home we stopped on Gleeson road and got some photos of the Sandhill cranes.

Sometimes they seem to know who the leader is :)

Have a good night !

The Night Before Christmas !

2009-12-24T13:04:00.001-07:00

This was sent to me by my friend Peggy, a long time quilter. I thought some of you might enjoy it. Because it is the night before Christmas :)

'Twas the night before Christmas,
And the quilts were not made.
The threads were all tangled, the cookies delayed.
The stocking weren't hung, the pantry was bare.
The poor weary Quilter, was tearing her hair.
Stacks of fat quarters, tipped over in streams.
Visions of Log Cabins, had turned into dreams.
When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But a bus full of quilters with all of their gear.
They went straight to work with just a few mutters,
Sorting and stitching and brandishing cutters.
The patterns emerged from all of the clutter,
Like magic the fabrics arranged in a flutter.
Log Cabins, Lone Stars, Flying Geese & Bear Tracks
Each quilt was a beauty-even the backs.
Her house how it twinkled, her quilts how they glowed.
The cookies were baking, the stockings were sewed.
Their work was all done, so they folded their frames,
And packed up their needles, without giving their names.
They boarded the bus, and checked the next address.
More quilts to be made, another quilter in distress.
She heard one voice echo, as they drove out of sight,
Happy quilting to all and to all a good night!
Author Unknown

For all who celebrate Christmas, take time to remember what it’s all about.

Have a good night, and a wonderful tomorrow !

I Think it’s Fascinating

2009-12-23T00:24:00.001-07:00

Today Ray and I went to visit our friends Bob and Barbara, Ray was following up on their new high speed internet install that was done this morning. Barb and I were going to do some sewing. Well it never happened, the sewing I mean.

I just find their house very fascinating. I asked if I could take some photos. The request was granted so I got out my new camera and started shooting. (250 pic’s :)

One of my favorite things is a panorama. Built by Bob in an old stone fireplace that was no longer used. To house the old west mining figures that his uncle had carved from wood and made from leather, etc. I don’t know if the chains were made or chains he bought and used.

Are you tired of my photos yet or are you fascinated like me.

There is more.

Bob’s uncle worked in a harness shop in his early years, and later owned the <> G Riding Stable, both in WI. The panorama is not small, I think the horses are about 5” tall. I’ll save the rest of the house for another time :)

Have a good night !

Keeping Busy

2009-12-17T11:18:00.001-07:00

Keeping busy is never hard there is always something that needs doing. And never enough time. I didn’t get to my blog last night because Ray and I didn’t get to sleep the night before or should I say yesterday morning until after 6 a.m. On Tues. night/ Wed. morning Ray was sick with what we think was food poisoning.

I had been wanting to visit a group that meets in Elfrida every other wed. called Keeping You in Stitches. It is a quilting and crafting group. So my BFF and I headed out at 11:15 to get there by noon leaving us enough time to stop at the bakery to grab a doughnut. The group is working on lap quilts for a Douglas nursing home and refrigerator magnets and pins to donate to the Elfrida community garden to sell as a fund raiser. So Kathy and I spent the day helping.

After the group Kathy treated me to a late lunch. Was an enjoyable day.

Today Ray and I are off to Sierra Vista, again. Ray’s hard drive is going out and he wants to get a new one to install before it crashes for good. He has all his important stuff on an external drive so he will just have to reinstall all the stuff that makes it run :)

Have a good day!

He Went To Jared's

2009-12-16T04:19:00.001-07:00

Well that’s what my BFF Kathy said to Larry, when she heard about my day. Can’t print what Larry had to say.

We headed out to Sierra Vista today to visit the thrift store on base. I found a few nice things, one was a lamp shaped like a handbag :) I’ll have to take a photo to put in a later blog.

Then we headed for the PX. Their was a vender outside selling beautiful things from Mexico. I think I said something in an earlier blog about my nativity and how I add something to it every year. Well I found the perfect group of figures to add this year.

A little group of Mariachis ( if I didn’t spell it or anything else right I tried, my editor has gone to bed). Now think about it, they are happy and singing and making a joyful noise. So I think they fit.

I was thrilled to have these to add to my nativity. But that wasn’t the end.

Kathy had said she was looking at cameras, because the one she has, just has the screen to view when she takes a photo. So while we were at the PX, we decided to look at there cameras. We found the perfect camera, FUJIFILM FINEPIX S1500. And Ray bought it for me. It is sooo… cute. So you see it was better then going to Jared’s. At least Kathy and I both think so. I took 161 photos before we got home :) Stopped by Kathy’s to show it to her, hope she gets one. That’s a kitty she rescued at the bottom of photos.

I’ve been having fun.

Have a great night!

Dessert

2009-12-11T02:12:00.001-07:00

Our friends Larry and Kathy asked us to join them for a Mexican meal at a restaurant we had not tried before. Esperanza’s Mexican food Restaurant is on Hwy. 191 next to The Produce Wagon (an other nice place to explore ) just north of Sunsites. The food was good, I meant to get a picture of it but it looked so good I forgot, and remembered when it was to late :)

After dinner we went to Sunsites and found The Sweet Treats. I bought bought a bar of soap hand made by Marcia who owns and runs the shop. The fudge is also hand made there at the shop. We got frozen yogurt in a waffle cone, yummy. But the shop is a wonderland of candy, candles , soaps, lotions, honey, cookie mix, cookie cutters, and more.

On the way home we did a little four wheeling. Ray loves it, I’m fine when I know we are on flat areas where we can turn around. Well today we went up a mountain and had to back part way down. That little adventure wore me out.

Have a good night !

Highspeed & Stitches

2009-12-09T01:12:00.000-07:00

Well we had wind last night and very little rain, NO snow. It was cold this morning and when I looked out the front door 4 out of the 6 little Christmas trees that I had staked down, (one stake on each of the 3 legs on the stand.) were nowhere to be found. Ray and I will go hunting for our lost trees tomorrow. We don't have time today because Ray is going to help some friends order High speed internet.

Bob and Ray discussing the woes of land-line internet.>

These photos are not great but with my flash on I get too much glare. This is something I need to work on with my little old camera. But here is a screen saver that any Grandma would love.

Told ya!

I met Barbra when my friend Mary invited me to Double Adobe Quilters. They meet every Tuesday quilt all day and have a pot lock at noon.

< This is a picture of the lap quilts they make for nursing home and VA patients. The people who receive them are grateful for the bright colors as some of them have failing eyesight. One gentleman enjoyed his so much, he requested that it be put in his casket with him. His family told one quilter that his request was granted. This is a wonderful group of ladies.

The first photo is Barbara's crib quilt project. The second photo is Barbara sewing. The third photo is my cookie plate crumb catcher. This pattern I got from http://rosebudscottage . It was a long day but enjoyable.

We had to run into Douglas before we went home. The small border town's main street was all lit up for Christmas. I got a few photos, Ray's are better.

When we got home we found that the wind had blown over our good sized barb-a-Que. Well wi'll have to pick up the pieces tomorrow.

Have a good night!

Sunrise

2009-12-08T00:04:00.000-07:00

Got up today and caught a beautiful sunrise. Had to grab my camera and get some shots from the front door.

It was windy and cold this morning.
At least cold for Southern Arizona
.

The clouds made the colors so vibrant, all gold and coppers.

.
What a wonderful way to start the day.
And Ray missed it all.

Today we have our photo group in Elfrida. We always take our cameras when we leave the house. And I'm always looking for a nice photograph,

This is the gate on to the Old Christensen Ranch.
You can see the HC made out of pipe on the gate. this stands for Harry Christensen the rancher who staked his clam for this section of land. Farther up the road where we live is the section his sweetheart (later wife) claimed. And an additional section his brother claimed made up the Christensen Ranch.

The couple that lives in the old ranch house now put up this fitting barbwire wreath. Just had to get this shot.

Today's photo group I found very enjoyable. I always leave having learned something new. Al is helping me with my blog as much as he can, with not being here typing it for me :) Leslie Is starting a blog and I will add her to my list as soon as she is ready. Marybeth might even try!

On the way home we stopped on a hill just up from the house and got a shot of the Sulfur Springs Valley.

It was getting colder and very windy. We now have a severe weather alert for wind and we my even see

snow in the morning .

I know I don't have the color on these last pictures right but just wanted you to see how bad Ray spoils our cats.

Have a good night!

Christmas Bazaar

2009-12-06T22:10:00.005-07:00

I haven't been doing my blogs for the past few days. Ray and I have been taking trips to Benson, Sierra Vista and Tucson which for me is very tiring. Sat. we went to Douglas, to a Christmas Bazaar. There were so many wonderful thing there I wanted to share them.

These are just some of the photos I took of the beautiful treasures I saw.

This is the Butterfly Quilt that Double Adobe Quilters is raffling off at their Quilt Show in March.

Still putting out Christmas decorations :)

Have a good night!

Photography

2009-11-30T23:23:00.001-07:00

Well I didn’t get to decorating this morning. After I got a few chores done it was time for photo group. Ray wanted to get there early and we would have, but he forgot his camera. We try to take them with us when we leave the house. If we don’t, we miss something we want to photograph. Well we had to turn around and go back to get it. It’s probably a good thing because we forgot the cell phone too, my responsibility I guess! We didn’t need it, but we did use the cameras. At Photo Group I learned a lot from Al. I didn’t know that you get a much better picture if the horizon isn’t in the center of the photo and that if your taking a picture of the sky leave off as much land as you can. The sky becomes the focal point of the picture. I have to give Ray credit to I have learned a lot from him on photography and how to manipulate my pictures. I now have four programs I use and sometimes I use more then one on a photo. I learned a little more about Picasa today from Al , he uses it all the time. As Ray knows, Al’s going to be explaining it over and over a few times before I get it. I played with some with my photos I took today on our way to town and on the way back. When we got home Ray and I got three boxes with trees and one tub of decorations down. I always say I'm going to mark the tubs, but when it’s time to put everything away I just want to get it done. So I don’t know what's in them other then they are Christmas. At first I thought it was a bunch of knick-knacks. But under a few, was my nativity. I love putting it out, I collect a new piece or two to add every year. Nothing matches except the first small group of figures, we have all kinds of animals, a diverse group of people and a few angels. I put up the knick-knacks today but the nativity will have to wait until tomorrow, after we get home from Benson. Yes Al. Ray is getting out of yoga,again. He convinced me we really need to go to the Bank and get kitty food. But boy is he going to be busy decorating tomorrow afternoon :)

Have a good night.

And the Christmas Spirit Starts

2009-11-29T21:13:00.001-07:00

Well today was a so so day. We had a little wind and rain. We can always use rain. We might get snow tonight and tomorrow.

Well I did get some Christmas things out and I put the outside wreath on the door. It really takes a beating every year, but I just add a few new doodads and it’s good for another year.

As you can see. I didn’t get it out there until after dark.

When I was pulling down Christmas stuff I found trees, lots of trees. What a wonderful, forgotten, surprise. You see I like to shop for decorations after Christmas. Last year about two weeks into Jan., we were in Walmart, in the garden center/ pet food area. This is where they put the Christmas clearance. I have been wanting to have several trees outside to light up(we live in the desert ). Well (poor Ray) they had 3ft. green plastic trees on clearance for $2 each. This sure beats the ones made out of 3 metal poles with white lights wrapped around it for $15. I think I bought 8. that isn’t the end, I had to call two of my friends who love to decorate, and each of them wanted me to buy 4. So out we wheel with 16 boxes of trees. We had to stuff them into our FJ along with what ever else we bought. The ride home was with my seat all the way forward and no view out of the backseat Windows or back window. We were packed to the roof. Well anyway my mind is running full speed ahead trying to plan out how I’m going to use them in my decorating.

Wish me luck.

Have a good night.

From The Front Door

2009-11-29T03:14:00.002-07:00

We woke up today to overcast skies and windy weather.
We live on the old Christianson Ranch in Gleeson. It was subdivided into 40, 20, 10, and 5 acre parcels. We have a hill on our place that we call Angel Hill. It is a special place where we go to remember our loved ones. Today Ray and I went up Angel Hill to put flowers by the headstones and make sure the angels the Grandkids had put there were still in one piece. You see we live on open range and the cows sometimes knock thing around when they are grazing. It is a very peaceful place and I love to sit up there and just soak it all in. More people are starting to build on their property around us, but we are in a small valley so we don’t see many of our neighbors.
After lunch we got to another project I wanted to do. We have a cattle guard that we have to drive over to get to our place. I used to decorate it at Christmas every year. I haven't for the last few years and I really wanted to do it this year. Well, Ray and I dug out this garland that I bought at a yard sale earlier this year and put it up on the fence. Now when everyone drives over the cattle guard they will be in the mood for decorating ( at least the wives will ) ….:) I told Ray, I would like to get one box of Christmas decorations down every day from now until .. we get it all put up. Will have to wait to see if that happens, but it’s my plan.
If your reading this just remember Ray, is my editor and he’s asleep.
Have a good night.

The Day After

2009-11-27T20:10:00.003-07:00

After a nice Thanksgiving at home, Ray and I took off this morning for Pearce, a ghost town to the North of the ranch. They have always had a festival, the day after Thanksgiving(or for as long as I have lived on the ranch), and this year it was call Heritage Days. We ran into Al and his beautiful wife, Kelly who I was happy to meet. We had attended a yoga class earlier this year in Elfrida, but I didn’t know that she was the famous Al’s wife. Of course we didn’t know Al was famous then. We visited with our friends Stan and Connie from Tucson. Stan is a writer. He authors books about lawmen of the old west and history of SE Arizona. If your reading this, Stan, thanks for the CD it’s great. Ray thinks it’s his. LOL

The tractors are always a part of any festival in rural SE Arizona.

The also had a booth there that had scarves, sweaters, etc. made from alpaca wool. The wool is very soft. These animals were very friendly.

The band is a very good country band that also plays at the Double Adobe Quilt Show in March every year. Vicki , the blond in the red shirt is one of our quilters (Double Adobe Quilters).

I was fortunate to get to watch the potter from Old Pearce Pottery create a pitcher. Here she is creating the handle, the finishing touch.

Inside the Old Pearce Store there are many, many different things to look at, all of them old. Things that my Grandma used. A few I still have in my kitchen. This is a place I could spend hours looking through. Poor Ray!

The south side wall of the store is covered in bottles.

Ray says I take too many pictures, so as he knows I wanted to stop on the way home and get some more.

The Century plant has finally seen the end of it’s days .

Ghost Town Trail looking towards the Ch1ricahua Mtn’s.

New life starting to grow on an old cactus carcass.

Have a good night.

Gadsden Hotel

2009-11-25T18:37:00.001-07:00

To night I thought i would show photographs and write about another interesting place to see in SE Arizona.

Ray and I won a one night stay in a suite at the Gadsden Hotel we decided to save it for our anniversary in June 09.

The brochure says," The Gadsden Hotel opened in 1907, the stately hotel contains a spacious two story lobby,

soaring marble columns, and Tiffany glass murals. This stained glass is something amazing to see. I really enjoyed taking photos of it during the day and after dark. We had a wonderful dinner in the dining room. Painted on the walls are beautiful murals of Spanish Conquistadores. These were exciting to look at because I like to see art anywhere.( That’s why I love Bisbee’s walls. ). But for some reason I can’t explain this was my favorite art to see at the Gadsden. Well it was a good place to go visit the lobby and eat dinner but I would not recommend the rooms. So if someone reads this and decides to stay the night don’t blame me. Our suite was decorated in cheep 70’s furniture (maybe?). It was one large room made from two smaller ones and two bathrooms. The TV that had distorted sound was on a chest of drawers, and the microwave and fridge were on a dinning table. We did have a comfortable couch. We made the best of it and had fun but can’t recommend the rooms.

Have a good night.

Playing in Picasa

2009-11-25T00:05:00.002-07:00

Well I think with Al’s written directions I can now get the pink border around my photos.
I was going through my photographs and found these that were taken Dec. 2007. We do get snow here at least once a year sometimes in Dec. or it might be as late as April. When it does snow I love it and Ray hates it. He grew up with snow and I grew up in Tucson AZ. and Orange County CA. So I saw very little snow unless I went to it. Tucson does get snow every few years but it doesn’t last all day.

I did use the I feel lucky button with there photos and was surprised how nice they came out. It really brightened them up. Thanks Al, I think it worked.

The Grandkids were lucky that it snowed during their Christmas break.

We had enough snow that they could make a path to slide down the hill into the wash. For us that takes a lot of snow :)

This is one of our old ladies ( she is 13 ) , Baby Girl . All of our animals love playing in the snow with the exception of Miss Piggy.
Have a good night

Picasa

2009-11-24T00:03:00.004-07:00

Today at our photo group I got some tips from Al on how to make better use of Live Writer and on how to use Picasa. So Ray has been putting up with my questions of why and how for the last hour. The photograph I wanted to improve was not helped by the “I feel lucky” button, so that will have to wait for another time. But I was able to make some changes using this program. And the more I play with it, I'll hopefully learn what else it can do.
Mountains looking towards Horseshoe Lake.

Well now to see if I get my pink borders around my photos, Sorry Al, didn’t find anything to click on to add them so put it on none and hoping they will be added by the program.

Didn't get my pink borders so back in blog posting :)

Have a good night.

Cochise Stronghold

2009-11-23T03:24:00.003-07:00

Ray and I went to Benson today to do a little shopping. On the way home we went by the Cochise Stronghold. As we were checking out the campsites we followed the dirt roads that led though the unimproved ones and we found some neat places that I would love to camp, but not Ray he goes for the more improved ones. The land was very dry and they had had a fire in one area, But it was still very beautiful. Hopefully now that the weather has cooled off I can get him to take me camping,

This is a rock that the Indians used to grind their corn.
You can see the holes warn into the rock

Left: Steep rock wall one of the campsites is at the base of this wall.

Right:; An interesting moss covered rock with a burnt yucca lying next to it, There were a lot of the burnt yucca and other burnt plants in this area,

This house is at the parking for the horse trailers for the people who want to trail ride during the day. It doesn't look like it is lived in.

We also got some shot of the Corner Store in Elfrida for our assignment for the Elfrida Photo Group.

Have a good day.

Roosevelt Lake

2009-11-22T03:55:00.002-07:00

This cold has really got me. Sorry I didn't get this done last night or earlier tonight but thought I should get something put in my site. So as I was working on getting my photographs into files and deleting duplicates, I came across these photographs of Roosevelt Bridge that I had taken in June on our long trip home from Phoenix AZ. By the time we got to Roosevelt it was getting dark so we were glad to get to a few photographs. Ray had never been, and I wanted to show him that we do have a few large lakes in Arizona.

Have a good day.

Getting Motivated

2009-11-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like being sick and having to stay home while the Boss gets to
go to town. Ray took off today for Sierra Vista and left me home.
So what did I do, went blog hopping, that's what. And I found a really cute
quilted table topper called Cookie Plate Crumb Catcher. I found it on a site
called Rosebud's Cottage. I got there following Sweet P Quilting and Creations.

This topper is 13"x 13" and looks like it
might be fun . I want to piece it using
Christmas colors. Out I went to the
storage shed in the back of our car port,
this is where I keep my stash of fabric.

Of course my fabric isn't organized like
I dream about it being. So I had a lot of
digging to do before I found just what
I wanted. By this time, (after I had put
everything put back) I'm pooped. So tonight
I'll just quilt on my cat wall hanging and get
started tomorrow on the topper:)

This is a photograph of our cat Milk, short for Got Milk.

Have a good night.

Working on the computer

2009-11-18T22:36:00.006-07:00

Today as I’m staying home so as not to infect the world, I decided to download my pictures into Picasa 3.5. Well I’m not good at reading and understanding software instructions ( that’s what I have Ray for and I’m sure he gets sick of it). I have over 21,000 pictures on my computer and now I need to go in and delete all the duplicates. It seems there is always something I need to learn on this thing. And I am, slowwwwly.

This is a photograph of tonight's sunset We don’t get full sunsets like the people who live on the valley floor. We are nestled high in the Dragoon Mountains. So sun rises and sun sets are not as gripping as the one experienced in the valley.

If we do get out of here very early in the morning or come home in the evening and there are clouds, we usually get good photos.

Have a good night.

Not what I wanted today to be

2009-11-17T23:18:00.002-07:00

Well ray and I were both going back to yoga today :) It’s been a while . First Ray was ill , then there was always something coming up. Yoga is very good for me (Ray also even if he doesn’t admit it). Well I woke up this morning with a head cold so no yoga :(

But I did want to keep up my plan to try to write every day.

Here is a photograph taken Jan. 2008.

Here is the same shot.

Have a good night.

Gleeson Jail then and now

2009-11-16T23:22:00.005-07:00

Gleeson Jail March 2006

Gleeson Jail November 2008

This is not really now, the bottom set of pictures is of a work in progress. The jail has been finished and looks great. I need to get over there and take some new photographs. Inside the jail is a small museum, showing what it might have looked like when it was in use. Also there are photographs and news clipping about the people who lived in the area at that time.

Today at Photo Group in Elfrida, Al of The Bayfield Bunch showed us how to set up a free blog. He gave me some good tips to improve mine as you can see here. Thank you Al!

Well it;s a work in progress.

2009-11-15T23:59:00.009-07:00

Building a marble tower.

Planning the escape.

We had a great time with the kids, and we were glad to see mom load them in the car. Just have to recuperate for a few days. Went to see our BFFs just to talk to some grownups.

The afternoon weather was wonderful, Ray and I sat on the swing and enjoyed the quiet.

Sunny Day

2009-11-15T23:19:00.010-07:00

Today turned out to be a sunny Arizona fall day. The grandkid's mom showed up early to take them home, but because it was such a nice day they stayed to play outside.

.
And our little one found a kitty's tail.

.

Planning the attack.

Overcast, Wind,,Rainy Day

2009-11-14T22:35:00.006-07:00

This photograph is taken looking SE toward Elfrida in the valley just after sunset'.

We had a little sun in the mooring, but it was gone by 11 am and its been overcast and windy most of the day. We had some light rain showers. The temp started dropping around 2pm so the grandkids had to come in.
They made pencil holders for their parent's desks. And each made a cup of cake for their desert.

Cup of Cake for 2
Take any cake mix .....add 1/2 c. flour for high altitude... divide it into thirds....in 2 baggies store 1/3 in each ( I put these baggies back in the box so I know whats in them )......add 1/3 of oil & water......oil two 12oz ceramic coffee mugs....Bake in microwave one at a time at medium high temp for 3 min..... test with a knife, if knife blades comes out clean they are done,,,, if not add 30 sec at a time tell knife blade comes out clean.

Tonight's movie was Running Free. Made the 7 year old cry. We had to rewind it, to show him that the wolverine didn't die.

Day WithThe Grandkids

2009-11-14T22:16:00.005-07:00

Well as you can see I was to tired to post last night. Not use to kids 24/7.

We had a good time yesterday. This is the kids making a collage pictures for there room at home.
They were able to spend some time outside, but only in the morning. The wind was really blowing here this afternoon. We also baked 2 apple pies with fresh apples. :) Anyone knowing me knows this doesn't happen as often as I would like or as often as Ray would like. But when the kids are here I want to make good memories. The movie last night was Bedtime Stories (they picked Star Wars NOT). They enjoyed the movie gave it 5 stars.

Life on The Ranch

2009-11-12T19:53:00.004-07:00

Life on the ranch should get interesting this week end. It began about 5 p.m. and will not end until sometime Sunday. We are lucky enough to have two of our grandsons spending the week-end with us, I love this part about being a grandma.

But I feel the need to share this photograph of Grandpa last summer when we had five of our grandsons for about two weeks. We had a great time then but were glad they had a home to go back to. And I'm sure we will feel the same on Sunday.

Right now is movie time ( Star Wars again ) before bed, so just getting in my blog for the day. :)

This is my first blog

2009-11-11T20:41:00.005-07:00

I started this blog just so I could comment on The Bayfield Bunch blog. I do not know if I needed to do all this, but if your reading this and you want to read a great blog, google the Bayfield Bunch and check it out.

Well I promised myself I would try to write in this bolg everyday. Sort of a therapy, because I have never been good at writing. So looking through my photographs taken last week I found this MOO...N COW an thought I might share it. It was taken on the Old Christensen Ranch.

My wonderful "e-bay" buy Ray and I started the day feeding our kids. We have Miss Piggie, Lobo (Bo), Loki (believe me the name fits), Ashes (Momma Kitty), Buddy (Budrow), Princess ( Princie), Got Milk (Milk), and our 2 old ladies Baby Girl and Peanut. Also 1 invisible fish.

Then we visited our BFFs, who offered us coffee, and breakfast. Great friends and good cooks.

The rest of the day was uneventful and wonderfully peaceful. It is great living in the middle of nowhere.