Thursday, July 1 to Wednesday July 14, 2021: Pickleball, Pit Bull Attack, Block Party and Follow-Up

On my walk in town, I noticed that Rod's Steakhouse has reopened. They "permanently closed" in May when they were not able to get enough staff. That was a nice sign to see it back in business ---dinners only.

Friday, I went to the gym. In the early evening, we had a beautiful sunset.

Last September, Sandie and Bob Mills came to Williams for a week or two. Their primary home is Surprise, Arizona. Sandie contacted me, as they were coming back to Williams for two weeks. We rendezvoused with them on Saturday for some good pickleball play.

There were eight of us playing on two courts. I brought out my Round Robin format to mix up the group.

July is monsoon season. On my last walk of the day, the clouds were dark and ready to burst.

Sunday, on my first walk around the block with the dogs, we encountered two loose pit bulls. I saw them across the street by the porch stairs of a home that is rarely used. I attempted to turn around, but they saw us and charged. It was about 9:00 a.m. I started screaming "help!" "help!" The big gray male got a hold of Kelsey --- pinning her to the ground with his jaws. She was squealing. I kept yelling "help!" "help!" Finally, neighbor Jack came down the street. He tried to pry the pit bull off Kelsey. No avail. Jamie tried to interject. No avail. Neighbors Craig and Alyson came out. I picked up the back legs of the pit bull and he let go of Kelsey. With more people help, Craig and Alyson took Jamie and Kelsey to the front of their home. Kelsey was bleeding from her left shoulder and all down her left side. In the altercation, I got bit too --- inside my left knee/lower thigh. A woman came out of the house and called the two dogs. She grabbed the collar of the aggressive male. This is not the dog, but this is what he looked like.

And, then the pit bull attacked her! He wrapped his jaws around her left arm. She screamed. A young male came out of the house. He tried to help the lady. No avail. The dog would not let go. They got up to the front porch. The young male put a hose to the pit bull and he released the women's arm. They all got inside --- closed the door --- and the lady started screaming. It was evident that the pit bull attacked her again. Neighbor Craig called the police and the ambulance service. They arrived about ten minutes later.

While Craig and Alyson held onto Jamie and Kelsey, I ran across the vacant lot to get my truck. I stormed into the house and told Tom what had just happened. The two of us jumped in the truck and headed back to the crime scene. The police officer took pictures of my bites, Kelsey's bleeding left side, and documented what happened. The owner of the pit bull arrived hurriedly in a gray pick-up truck. He went in the house --- the bitten lady was his wife! The ambulance took the wife to the Trauma Center at Flagstaff Medical Center. We put the two dogs in the back seat and headed to Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff.

Kelsey --- with her injuries --- was taken into the pet hospital immediately. We noticed that Jamie was limping, so we wanted to have him checked out as well. For an extra $20, we were able to drop Jamie off. Tom and I then headed over to the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Room. I needed to be seen for the puncture wounds on my left leg.

The ER staff cleaned up my wound and wrapped my leg with a bandage. I was given a tetanus shot, an antibiotic, and I was sent on my way.

Canyon Pet Hospital contacted me. Kelsey had emergency surgery. Jamie had a broken bone in his left foot. Tom and I picked them up at about 4:00 p.m. We went home with a lot of medicine for the dogs --- pain medication, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medicine.

Kelsey was wrapped in a Canyon Pet Hospital tee shirt. She will have a draining tube for several days.

Jamie is in a splint for four weeks and he has a cone.

At least there was a colorful sunset on this 4th of July!

On Monday July 5, I found some waffles that we did not eat at a motel breakfast. They were in the freezer. I also had some leftover chicken. So, I made a "waffles and chicken" breakfast. Just add a little maple syrup!

After breakfast, the owner of the pit bull dropped by to check on us. Matt Mittendorf is the 44 year old owner of the pit bull. He is the grandson of the cabin owner. His wife, Laura, had 37 stitches from the incident.

In the afternoon, neighbor Gus Beatty dropped by. Tom's son Jon also dropped by.

Later in the afternoon, Tom and I went to the neighborhood block party.

I took some photos of many of the attendees.

On Tuesday, I took a walk around Cataract Lake.

Over the 4th of July weekend, Donna and David went camping in their Airstream trailer to Yellowstone. It is fun seeing how much they are enjoying this new activity.

Part of my regiment is to change my leg bandage daily. Don't you love the assortment of bandages!

On Wednesday, I drove Kelsey to Flagstaff. It was time to have her drainage tube taken out. I also picked up my new sunglasses.

Thursday afternoon, I walked in the neighborhood and captured a very nice photo of clouds.

On Friday, Kelsey was acting like old herself --- enjoying the sun by the RV barn. It was fun to see.

Some of my backyard flowers have started to bloom. It is always nice to have color.

In the afternoon, Jamie and Kelsey came outside to sit with us in the backyard.

July 9 is my grandniece Sophie's first birthday. She is one year old today! Happy birthday, Sophie!

On Saturday, I found a certificate for the Jack Daniel Distillery. It was still in my father's name. I know that this certificate can be transferred to others. My brother Peter is interested. The certificate is a clever marketing program --- becoming a Tennessee Squire with ownership of a one inch plot of land.

Later in the afternoon, I noticed that Kelsey's stitches were coming out. I called the Canyon Pet Hospital. They said that I should bring her into Urgent Care. Since Jamie needed his bandages changed the next morning, Tom and I brought them both. We held our breath with the Flagstaff bridge repair at Exit 191. Often the traffic gets backed up something ferocious. There was a mild delay, so we arrived at Canyon Pet Hospital at about 6:15 p.m.

The nurse took Kelsey in first, as her injury was very infected.

Tom and I had no idea that Kelsey had an infection. The doctor said that an infection causes strain on the stitches and they release. Unfortunately, they will need to clean out the wound and restitch her up. This means an overnight stay. So, Jamie received a new bandage and he came home with us. 

 

Sunday morning, I called Canyon Pet Hospital. Kelsey's procedure went well. We are able to pick up after 9:00 a.m. Tom and I left for Flagstaff at about 7:30 a.m. We decided to have breakfast at Little America's Silver Pine Restaurant. It was a nice setting and the food was good.

July is monsoon season. We really need the water. On Monday, July 12, the clouds opened up and it poured!

Tuesday morning, we had pickleball play in the barn. I then joined the Highland Meadows ladies for lunch at El Comedor Cardenas. The restaurant location originally was a Denney's Restaurant and then Kick's on Route 66. We had a nice visit!

I noticed on Instagram that Donna and David had another RV adventure to Beaver View Campground. Even granddaughter Emily and grand-dog Doug joined in the fun.

On Wednesday July 14, a group of us played pickleball on the tennis courts. Three people from Bullhead City joined us --- Jack, Linda Davison, and Ernie. Jack and Linda played with us last year too.

In the afternoon, Jesse from Atomic Pest Control did his spraying job inside and outside the house.

Later, the clouds opened up and we had more monsoon rain.

I received a text from United Airlines. My flight tomorrow from Flagstaff to Milwaukee via Denver was delayed several hours. So, I had to be re-booked on an earlier flight --- leaving Flagstaff at 6:00 a.m. Wow! That is early!

Friday, June 18 to Tuesday, June 30, 2021: A Los Angeles Gathering, Tom's Sister's Visit, and Friends

Friday morning, I drove to Los Angeles. It was the first time that I drove to California in eighteen months. The drive to San Gabriel took me 6 1/2 hours. I was spending two nights at my brother Peter's home. His wife, Terry, was home when I arrived. We had a nice reunion. Also spending two nights at Casa Shelton was my niece Molly and her daughter Sophie. Molly and Sophie live in Bakersfield with Molly's husband, Matt. Terry has several tomato plants. Since she was making a vegetable pasta dish for dinner, off Terry went to pick ripe tomatoes.

Molly and Sophie arrived at about 7 p.m. It was fun meeting my grand niece and seeing her with Mom and Grandma.

For dinner that night, my brother Peter arrived and also Terry's mother, Dudley.

Molly's birthday was June 10. So we belatedly celebrated her birthday with lemon pound cakes for dessert.

Saturday morning, I snapped a photo of Peter and Terry. It is always easy to be with them.

Today, June 19, was their 39th wedding anniversary. But, the main reason I was in Los Angeles was to attend a 10:30 a.m. bridal shower for my niece Katelyn. Conveniently, the shower venue was just down the street --- at the San Gabriel Country Club.

Three of my sister Wendy's friends hosted the "Brunch with the Bride" shower. My sister Carrie came to the shower too. It was a surprise, as she has been up in Bend, Oregon, for several months.

In this photo, Katelyn is wearing a light pink linen dress. Her wedding will be the first weekend in October. Halfway through the shower --- when opening presents --- Katelyn's fiance, Dan Wallace, arrived. He brought her a bouquet of flowers.

It was a very nice shower.  Later in the afternoon, Molly went to have a pedicure and Terry took care of Sophie.

Peter came home from work and doted on his granddaughter as well.

Tom texted me a photo. He found his first Elk shed. Quite a beauty!

Sunday morning, after breakfast, I drove back to Williams. It was an easy 6 hour drive. But, it was 118 degrees when I stopped for gasoline at the Flying J Gas Station at Arizona mile marker 9.

Monday morning, I walked to Cataract Lake. It was a hot day, so I tried to stay under trees.

Arizona has some severe forest fires. The Kaibab, Coconino, and Prescott National Forests are going to close on Wednesday, June 23. It is estimated that they will be closed until at least September 1.

Monday afternoon,  I drove to Flagstaff. My prescription sunglasses frame broke while I was in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the frames are under warranty. So I dropped them off at Northland Eye Care.

In the evening, Tom and I drove to Prescott Regional Airport. Tom's sister was coming for a four-day visit. She lives in Fort Myers, Florida. Welcome, Pat Warner!

Pat was so sweet and brought us some delicious chocolates. Pat knows her brother's sweet tooth!

Tuesday morning, I played pickleball in the Rodeo Barn. We let Pat sleep in and Tom had a barber appointment at noon. That afternoon, we went to Bearizona.  It was a hot afternoon, so the junior bears were enjoying some water play.

After completing the drive-through section, we parked the car and walked into the walk-through section. On our way to see the three grizzly bears, there was a new bear in an overflow exhibit. His name is Roscoe. He was found in the White Mountains without a mother. It is estimated that he is just five or six months old.

Roscoe was very active and playful. We found out later that this day was his second day in the outdoor exhibit.

Unfortunately, the three grizzly bears were asleep. There was no activity in their large exhibit. For Pat, darn!

We had adult beverages in the Canyonlands Restaurant. Thank you, Pat!

Before leaving Bearizona, we of course had to take the obligatory photo 😃😃😃

Wednesday morning, all of the national forests were closed. This is due to the extreme fire conditions.

Wednesday was our day to take Pat to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. She has already been to the North Rim --- in 2006 --- when Tom and I worked there. We were a little late heading to the canyon. We were met a 45 minute delay in getting to the entrance booth. Maybe the lines were long as the National Forests are now closed. Anyway, we parked in the usual place and walked to the El Tovar for lunch.

After lunch, we drove out to Shoshone Point. The skies were somewhat cloudy, but it is such a beautiful place! All four of us poised in front of Indian Head.

I copied my friend Connie Young --- taking a photo with my painted toenails and the canyon beyond.

I really like this photo of Pat with the canyon and north rim backdrop.

Since we are not able to formally hunt shed in the national forest, Jon decided to take us on a forest walk back to the car.

On our way back to our Highland Meadows home, we stopped at Jon's house to show Pat his property and to show her all of the shed Jon has collected. Pat adorned one of the dead heads.

Thursday morning, I took Pat to town.  We walked a mile along Route 66.

We also said hello to Smokey the Bear.

In the afternoon, we went to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. I won four tickets to the Deer Farm at a silent auction two years ago.

You are able to buy some deer food and feed the deer. The Deer farm had other animals on display --- a camel, a buffalo, four reindeer, several elk, a llama, several mini-horses and an alpaca.

That evening, Jon joined us for dinner at the Red Raven Restaurant. It was Pat's last night.

In the morning, I asked Pat to write in my red Williams Visitor book.

Pat asked to take a photo of Tom and me in front of our house.

We left Williams for the Prescott Municipal Airport at about 11:00 a.m. Pat's flight to California was at 1:30 p.m. She was headed to Palo Alto to visit her daughter and her daughter's family.

On Saturday, I admired my water feature and pond. I have to add water to it daily.

I also went to the gym to work-out.

Sunday, Tom and I met my friends Michael and Barbara Penna for brunch. Michael and Barbara live in Hollister, California --- but they bought a vacation home in Cleveland, Tennessee. They were en-route to Tennessee. We dined at Anna's Grand Canyon Cafe.

They had a short trip to Holbrook for the night --- about 2 1/2 hours --- so Tom and I invited them to see Bearizona. We were very lucky, as the grizzly bears were active.

And of course, we had to take the obligatory photo with the bear eating his honey.

Sunday, June 27th was also Richard's birthday in heaven. I added some more of his ashes around our newest Aspens.

Monday afternoon, we received some heavy smoke from the active forest fires. Fortunately it dissipated in an hour or so.

On Tuesday, I had my monthly Canyon Pet Hospital appointment for Kelsey. The acupuncture sessions seem to work well for her. The veterinarian technician gave Kelsey peanut butter to keep her calm and steady.

Wednesday morning, five of us played pickleball in the Rodeo Barn. Annette and Warren have a summer place in Williams. This was there last day to play until early August.

In the early afternoon, I had a nail fill and pedicure at 66 Nails Spa. Thanks again, Will!

I sent an email to my friend, Bill Ukropina. It is his 65th birthday today. He sent me a photo of him and his wife Linan. They are celebrating his birthday in the Florida Keys.