Tuesday, June 14 through Sunday, July 3, 2022: Anniversary Getaway to Alpine, Taking Care of Becky, and Brother's Visit

Tom and I are celebrating being together as a couple for five years on June 15. We decided to enjoy a little three night getaway to Hannagan Meadow Lodge in Alpine, Arizona. Tuesday morning, I dropped the dogs off at Grand Canyon Railway Kennel. It is a four hour drive to the White Mountains of Arizona. The lodge is a rustic property built in 1926 --- about 30 minutes south of Alpine.

We arrived at the lodge around 3:00 p.m. We reserved the Josh Cabin #3.

The lodge is situated across the road from beautiful Hannagan Meadows.

Later in the afternoon, I walked around the meadow. About six miles "as the bird flies" is another Arizona fire --- the Fish Fire. This fire was started by lightening in the Apache National Forest. On my walk, I could see the fire beyond the lodge.

The restaurant at the lodge was supplying meals to the firefighter units.

Tom and I brought food supplies for some breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The first night's dinner, we had Curly's ribs --- precooked ribs that needed only to be heated up. After dinner, we took a walk on the lodge property. There are four clydesdale horses and two quarterhorses in three stables/pens.

There is also an Alaskan Malamute named Ryker.

It was a very nice evening.

Due to fire restrictions, we were not able to use the wood fireplace in the cabin. The temperature dipped down into the 40s, so we were a little cold in the morning. Tom was smart and used the oven to warm the cabin up. We'll revert to a better plan for the next two nights.

After breakfast in our cabin, we drove about seven miles south on Highway 191 to a lookout called Blue Vista. This location has some great views looking to the south. Highway 191 is also called the Coronado Trail --- a route that Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is expected to have taken in 1540 when looking for the Seven Cities of Cibola. There are also 460 curves --- Devil's Highway --- on one of the least traveled federal highways.

Harley-Davidson riders love to take the curves of the Devil's Highway! Our next stop was to see Big Lake. Tom's son Jon really liked that lake and the setting. Big Lake is about an hour's drive north from Hannagan Meadow. We arrived at the Big Lake Marina at about noon.

We explored several areas used by fishermen to launch their boats. The lake is stocked with trout.

Before leaving Big Lake, we had a picnic lunch at the Visitor Center picnic tables.

That evening, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary by having dinner at the lodge. We both had the Rib-eye steak dinner. It was very good. I brought an expensive bottle of red wine that we got in Napa Valley several years ago. The lodge let me pour it --- without charging a corkage fee.

The next morning, I made scrambled eggs for breakfast. We then drove several hours to New Mexico's Catwalk National Recreation Trail. Both of us --- separately --- tried to take this hike. For me, it was closed for renovation. But, we made it!

Originally, the Catwalk was a plank-board walkway on top of a steel pipe pumping water to a local ore processing plant. The Catwalk trail is suspended 12 feet over the Whitewater Creek as it winds through a canyon. The easy part of the hike is about 1 1/2 miles round-trip. Tom and I saw pools, waterfalls and the geological remains of ancient volcanic flows.

After our walk, we had a picnic lunch next to the creek.

When we arrived back to our cabin, I went for a walk on a national forest trail. I had 3 miles more to go --- to hit my Fitbit daily goal. 

While on this trail, a number of firefighting vehicles passed by me. I could see a lot of the dark smoke from the Fish Fire.

Before dinner, we had cocktails on the front porch of the lodge.

For dinner, Tom barbecued Filet Mignon steaks on our front porch.

After dinner, the lodge manager came to our cabin to light the pellet stove. Neat!

The next morning, it was time to pack up and head home. The smoke from the fire was blowing in a different direction, so I took another photo of Hannagan Meadow.

I also took some photos of our cabin #3, Josh Cabin.

Saturday, June 18, was the original day that Tom and I were going to be in New York City to see The Music Man with Hugh Jackman. Due to Covid-19, the performance was cancelled three times. By the time this performance was scheduled, Tom and I had no desire to go to NYC. So, I sold the tickets to some of Barbara Coad's friends. Barbara and our friend Catherine Lepone did rendezvous for the Broadway Musical.

My sister Carrie and her husband Brent wanted replacement English Labrador Retrievers for the two dogs they lost last year. They found a breeder in Oregon and drove three hours in each direction to pick up the two brothers --- Dutton and Noah. What cuties they are!

Dutton has the darker colored face.

Sunday was Father's Day. Tom got a call from both of his sons. Sunday was also the 40th Wedding Anniversary of my brother Peter and his wife Terry. The night before, they celebrated with two of their three children at a Los Angeles Dodger Game.

Monday, neighbor Jan Chumley had the Highland Meadows Ladies over to her house for a potluck lunch and a project to make Community Welcome Baskets for new families moving into our neighborhood.

We put together ten baskets with an assortment of food, mementos, and brochures.

Wednesday morning, Above Par Appliance Repair came to look at our microwave that died ten days before.

Unfortunately, our circuit board was damaged beyond repair. So, we will need to purchase a new microwave. I did buy a small microwave at a local Dollar Store --- to get us through the downtime. But, we need a larger microwave to fill the empty space of the built-in.

In the afternoon, I drove to Prescott for an appointment at Alliance Homecare. I needed to be fitted for a CPAP full mask --- as I continued to breath through my nose and mouth at night. Jody fitted me for the full mask and I brought it home to model for Tom.

As I drove back home through Chino Valley, I bought some french fries at PepperJacks. Jody said that PepperJack had delicious fries and Tom loves french fries!

Thursday was a beautiful day --- love the clouds in Williams.

In the late afternoon, Tom and I went to the Grand Canyon Brewing Company. Eight members of the Williams Pickleball Group met there for dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Friday morning, six of us played pickleball on the outdoor courts.

That evening, we had a gorgeous sunset.

Saturday morning, my sister Carrie shared a picture of my niece and Cody walking in an Atlanta March of Dimes walk --- March for Babies. Lauren had special tee shirts made for her and Cody. It was a picture of their Oakley Mae and her date of death of July 10.

Tom and I decided to drive 14 miles to the town of Ash Fork. A bartender at Bearizona's Canyonlands Restaurant told us about a good restaurant there. The restaurant, Ranch House Cafe, had been in a television series called Restaurant: Impossible. This Food Network show is hosted by Chef Robert Irvine and the challenge is to save some of America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure. It is accomplished in just two days.

Tom and I were pleasantly surprised by the food and decor!

Sunday afternoon, seven of us played pickleball in the Rodeo Barn.

One of our summer players from Lake Havasu City, Suzanne, brought one of her friends to play.

Jana and Suzanne loved the cow picture. They had never played in a Rodeo Barn. I took advantage of a photo opportunity with Joe, Roland, and Jon.

Monday, I had a 90 minute massage appointment with Emily Johnson in Flagstaff. She is always excellent!

On Tuesday morning, seven of us played pickleball at the outdoor courts. There were two players from Phoenix who joined us. Tara and Cherilyn were very strong players. It was fun competing with them!

Wednesday, I had two appointments in Flagstaff. I had a hair appointment with Shawna Ritter. I had Kelsey with me --- as she had an acupuncture appointment later. It is monsoon season, and Kelsey and I almost got rained on. This visit at Canyon Pet Hospital was with Dr. Kim McGill.

Thursday morning, our new microwave was delivered.

Tom and I thought we could use the frame from our old microwave. But, it was a tad too small. So, I ordered a new frame from Whirlpool and it will be delivered next week.

Friday was July 1. July 1 is my parent's wedding anniversary. They were married in 1951.

My brother Peter is coming to visit tomorrow. So, Tom and I prepared the house for his stay --- changing bed sheets, cleaning outdoor furniture, etc. Peter is just spending one night. He made a detour to see us --- on his way to Scottsdale. A friend of his since kindergarten --- Bruce Mallory --- has terminal brain cancer. Four or five "boys" are staying at Bruce's house for two nights. Bruce is doing okay right now, but was given only another six or seven months to live.

Peter arrived at our house about 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. This was his first visit in six years. The last time he was in Williams was right after Richard died --- September, 2016.

Before cocktails, I took Peter on a ride around my neighborhood and into town. We then came back and had an adult beverage before dinner. Tom's son Jon joined us. Both Peter and John are avid sports fans. It was fun hearing them banter around about college football, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Cal, and UCLA.

Tom made an awesome dinner with Mississippi (Mud) Roast, homemade mashed potatoes, and steamed cauliflower and broccoli.

The next morning, Tom, Peter, and I went to Goldie's Diner for breakfast. This was the first time that I saw a photo of when the diner was a Denney's restaurant years ago. I never knew that! 

 

Before Peter's 11:00 a.m.departure for Scottsdale, we had a photo opportunity in the backyard. Peter takes awesome selfies!