Saturday, November 9, 2013

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Marketplace

One week ago today I had an appendectomy but now I'm on the fast road to recovery.  In fact, I'm feeling so good I attended Junk in the Trunk with my daughters, Dawn and Gayle.
 
Dawn and I attended last year and found some real treasures.
 
We were surprised at the crowds that came this year!  We couldn't even get inside some of the booths because of all the fellow vintage shoppers.
 
Gayle and Dawn found some real treasures.  I just wish I had remembered to take pictures of them!
 
Dawn found a perfect little table for her living room in this booth.
 
We went in together for this set of three shutters.  Gayle found the idea on Pinterest of using a shutter to display Christmas cards.
 
Unfortunately, I can't show you what else I purchased.  They're Christmas presents!
 


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Bearizona at Williams, Arizona

After our camping trip to Dead Horse Ranch State Park, we left for a cabin in Munds Park with our youngest daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons.
 
However, this was NOT to be a relaxing weekend.  We had plans!
 
We played "peek-a-boo" with our youngest grandson Caleb during walks around the neighborhood.
 
Soon, we loaded up and headed for Williams, about a45 minute drive away from the cabin.
 
Bearizona is the best place in the state to see Arizona wildlife in a natural setting as you drive your own vehicle through the park.
 
You can see wild burros.........
 
.....American bison.....
 
........mountain goats......
 
.........white buffalo (not albinos) ........
 
and Desert Bighorn sheep.
 
When you enter the wolf enclosure you have to roll up your windows!
 
These wolves are quite used to cars driving through their territory.
 
Keep those windows up when driving through the bear enclosure too!
 
Signs tell you to keep moving if a bear approaches your car looking for a handout.
 
Seeing all the animals made us hungry so we stopped for a quick lunch before boarding a windowless bus for a drive back through the animal park.
 
Caleb enjoyed his unrestrained view of the animals and Jason enjoyed taking photos without having a window in the way.
 
Back at the entrance, you could enjoy a "Birds of Prey" show or walk around and see some of the smaller animals.
 
Caleb and Joshua enjoyed the petting area.
 
It was a beautiful fall day at Bearizona! 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

"Camp Papa" at Dead Horse Ranch State Park

We have been making the most of our time with the grandsons while we're home in Arizona.  Hubby has been wanting to teach our oldest grandson, Jacob, to fish.  (An odd desire, since Hubby really isn't a fisherman himself.)  Jacob just happened to have "fall break" so we packed up the 5th wheel and headed north to Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
 
Traveling dog, Maggie, enjoyed the company in the back seat of the truck.
 
We stretched our legs with a hike after we set up camp.
 
Early the next morning (after a hearty breakfast, of course) Hubby started the fishing lesson.
 
They tried several different fishing spots.
 
And, at last, success!
 
Then - another one!
 
Flushed with success, Jacob kept at it.
 
After a picnic lunch we headed back to camp where we spent the rest of the day hiking and playing games.
 
The next morning, the lesson continued and Jacob became pretty good at casting.
 
However, all was quiet around the fishing lagoons.  None of the other fishermen were catching anything either.
 
Jacob finally decided to amuse himself with watching an otter swimming nearby and feeding the small fish near the shore while Hubby tried to catch his own fish.
 
All in all, "Camp Papa" was a great success and a good time was had by all.  By the way - the score was:  Jacob:  2 fish, Papa: 0.
 
 


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona

The last week has been a whirlwind of activities - centered around family.  A week ago our son-in-law, Mike, called to invite us to join him, and our grandson Jacob, for a Diamondbacks game at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.
 
The field has been here for 15 years but this was our first visit!
 
Jacob never passes up a photo opportunity.
 
It was a nice evening so we got to see the roof open up.
 
It really didn't take very long at all!
 
There was a little pre-game entertainment with "Bob" the bobcat, the Diamondbacks mascot.
 
It wasn't long before the teams took the field.  The Diamondbacks were playing the Washington Nationals that night.
 
No one got a run until the 5th inning, but the Nationals finally won the game 2 to 0.  I'm sorry the Diamondbacks didn't win the night I was there but I finally got to see the ballpark!
 
 



Thursday, September 12, 2013

Hiking on the Mogollon Rim

Last Friday, Hubby and I decided to head for the Mogollon Rim above Payson, Arizona to scout out places to "dry" camp using our 5th wheel.  We took our middle grandson, Joshua, along for the ride.
 
On the car ride up Joshua enjoyed watching cartoons on his DVD player.
 
After checking out some possible camping spots, we had a little picnic.
 
Since it's a good 20 degrees cooler on the Rim than it is in the Valley of the Sun we decided to do a little hiking.  Traveling Dog, Maggie, was overjoyed.
 
Hubby and his little shadow had a great time.
 
Time for a water break.
 
Joshua was one cool hiker.
 
We did find a couple possibilities for camping spots but, so far, we are keeping busy around home - for now!
 



Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Alabama Treasures

On Sunday, Hubby and I spent a delightful evening with my friend Ceekay and her Hubby.  During the course of our visit, Ceekay asked me what I had brought home for myself so I thought I'd show a few pictures of just some of the things I purchased while Hubby worked in Alabama.
 
One of my last purchases was this Dazey churn.  I had never seen a metal one before so it had to come home with me - plus the price was right.
 
This was one of my first Alabama purchases.  I still haven't decided where to hang it.
 
Our grandson, Jacob, was enraptured with the jar of marbles I brought home.  There are 227 - we counted!
 
When I was helping my Mom declutter her house she gave me wonderful old book.
 
She also gave me a Depression era goblet and creamer.  Then, I found more goblets and the wonderful little sherbet glasses at some antique stores.
 
I figured I could mix and match them with the six pink sherbet glasses I found at a store in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
 
Mom also gave me this delightful little pink Depression berry set.  They were found covered with dirt in a barn on my grandparent's farm in southern Missouri.
 
On one of our outings, when Ceekay came to visit, I found this silver sugar and matching scoop.
 
At another antique shop, Ceekay and I visited, I found this server at a bargain price.
 
Then, I ended up collecting mugs from Franklin, Tennessee, the bed and breakfast Ceekay and I stayed at, and Stones River National Battlefield.
 
Finally, I couldn't resist a set of wine glasses etched with Belle Meade Plantation's logo.
 
However, my shopping wasn't all about me.  I like to give all the neighbors a little souvenir of our time away from home, for keeping an eye on our place, so this time I brought home jars of honey from U.G. Mercantile in Athens, Alabama.  Then, I baked home-made loaves of bread so they would have something to put their honey on. 
 
There are plenty more Alabama treasures I purchased as gifts but they will have to remain secret -
for now!