Friday, March 25 through Friday, April 15, 2022: Seligman, Williams, Flagstaff, Mesa/Phoenix and Prescott

Carrie and Brent are back in Bend.

Carrie will remain in Bend until she heads back to Coto de Caza to host a baby shower for my niece Lauren. I received an invitation to the shower and bought a gift online. Carrie was kind enough to let me stay at her home for two nights. I'll just drive the seven hours there and back.

On Sunday, Tom and I drove to Seligman for lunch. We were told to go to Westside Lilo's Cafe. Tom and I shared a blooming onion appetizer.

We also shared a Reuben sandwich. The food was excellent!

We then wandered down the main street to the Delgadillo's Barber & Gift Shop. Angel Delgadillo was a barber in Seligman. He was instrumental in saving Route 66 --- between Chicago and Los Angeles. After the decline and eventual delisting of the route from the United States Highway System in 1985, Angel went on to found the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Eventually, the Historic Route 66 Association became an entity in all eight US 66 states --- with a similar goal of preserving the once-important road.

While in the gift shop, the husband of one of Angel's granddaughters started talking to us. He shared that Angel will be celebrating his 95th birthday on April 19th.

On Monday, I had my eyebrows tattooed by Amy at Junto Skin and Laser. I had a similar procedure thirty years ago --- but it is now more refined. Coming home, I was greeted by Kelsey and Jamie.

Tuesday morning, we woke up to 3 inches of new snow.

I had an appointment with Tori at Lush Beauty Bar for a fill and a pedicure.

In the afternoon, Kelsey and Jamie had an appointment with Dr. Ryan at Williams Veterinary Wellness.

That evening, Jon came over to belatedly celebrate Tom's 75th birthday. Jon bought steaks at Arizona Mobile Meat Processing here in Williams. Jon also brought some side dishes. Tom is such a great cook, so we had him cook the steaks to perfection.

It was a special meal!

Thank you Jon! 😊😊😊

 

On Thursday, I went to some of my Republican neighbors and had them sign my GOP Precinct Committeeman Petition. I need ten signatures to become an elected and/or appointed PC for Williams Precinct 98. Success! I have an appointment on Friday to file this paperwork at Flagstaff's Coconino County Recorders Office on Friday

In the afternoon, I took a long walk into Williams. Along Route 66, there is a bronze statue of an Elk family.

While on this walk, I noticed a new Route 66 sign at the Williams Visitor Center.

Thursday, I was contacted by a pickleball player from Payson, Gary Heinlein. He is a 4.0 player visiting Williams and he wanted to play some pickleball. Gary joined us Friday morning in the Rodeo Barn.

In the afternoon, Tom and I went to Flagstaff for several appointments. We arrived in Flagstaff early, so we had Thai food at Pato Thai Cuisine. I had not been to their new location on Historic Route 66.

At 1:00 pm, I dropped by GOP PC paperwork off at the Coconino County building.

Tom had an appointment with his Internal Medicine doctor. I walked the neighborhood. That evening, Kelsey and Jamie enjoyed their new dog bed layout.

Saturday morning, a group of us played pickleball outdoors. It was a beautiful day.

Tom took advantage of the afternoon and washed and detailed his SUV.

After church, I had Tom drop me at Dry Holden Lake and I walked home from there.

On Monday, I dropped the dogs off at the Grand Canyon Railway Kennel. They are spending the next two nights there. Tom has an appointment in Mesa/Phoenix with a Glaucoma Doctor. So, we decided to make it a two-night getaway. On the way, we stopped in Dewey to have lunch with Roger and Priscilla Lasch. Priscilla made a delicious taco salad meal.

Several months ago, Roger was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. So, Tom and I treasure our visits with him and with Priscilla.

After lunch, we headed to the La Quinta Inn in Mesa. Tom and I love seafood, but there are no restaurants in our area that serves fresh oysters. So for dinner that night, we went to nearby Seafood Market & Restaurant. We pigged out on lightly breaded calamari, oysters, and halibut.

Tom's doctor appointment was at 8:00 am. He was back by 10:00 am. We decided to do some sight-seeing. Both of us have never visited the Phoenix State Capitol. So, off we went! The original Capitol building is now a museum.

We toured all four floors. In the State House of Representatives wing, I enjoyed a photo at the Speaker's desk.

While in the Capitol Museum, I heard a worker recommending a "Mom & Pop" Mexican Restaurant called The Tee Pee. I found it on Google Maps and we headed off. There was no wait, so we enjoyed our entrees with chips and salsa.

That evening, we went to the White Rabbit "Speakeasy" Bar in Gilbert. Tom had heard about it --- even with a secret entrance. Tom was smart and got the password in advance "Just got out of the Big House." The bar served specialty drinks and interesting appetizers. I ordered the "Lucky One" --- served in a small Bento Box.

It was very refreshing. The atmosphere was very much like a Prohibition 1920s Speakeasy.

We enjoyed several cocktails with a light supper of Truffle fries and Grazing Meat, Cheese, and Heirloom Tomatoes Plate.  The next morning, Tom and I headed back to Williams. It took us just over three hours.

On Thursday, I took Kelsey and Jamie to town and we walked Route 66. It is always fun to say hello to Smokey the Bear.

Friday, April 8 is granddaughter Meghan's 29th birthday. Her sister Emily threw her a birthday party for a few of their friends. Happy Birthday, Meghan!

Kelsey and Jamie have begun sharing the living room couch at night. I'm so glad that I have a sofa cover!

Saturday was another beautiful day. Tom and I went to the Route 66 Diner for breakfast.

There was no pickleball play, so I took Kelsey and Jamie to nearby Kaibab Lake. 

We were able to walk around the lake. There were a number of families fishing from the shore.

That was a good workout for the dogs. So, later in the afternoon, I left Kelsey and Jamie at home and I walked around Cataract Lake.

On Sunday, Tom and I went walking in the woods. We drove north from our house to the Kaibab National Forest. We parked at Pipeline Tank and walked for several miles.

Unfortunately, we did not find any shed. As we walked up higher, we did see Elk scat.

When we got back to our car, Tom drove further up Forest Road 124. We saw a cinder firing range and parked. There was no one there. Tom had several guns with him, and he set up a make-shift target.

Tom let me fire two guns --- the 38 special and the 9 millimeter Walther automatic. It was the first time in my life that I ever fired a gun. Tom forgot to bring ear plugs. Very loud!

Mid-week, I had a hair appointment in Flagstaff. Before the appointment, I went to Sam's Club to buy a few things on my list. With Easter coming up, I bought a very nice Rib Eye steak.

That evening, after dinner, Jamie got agitated about something in the backyard. He tore out of the doggy door. Kelsey followed him out. We could see Jamie's tail wagging behind the barn. So, Tom and I went outside to see what was there. Low and behold, there was a small cat. We took the dogs inside and then, with a broom, we tried to shoo away the cat. The cat finally ran and hid behind our Barbecue and Smoker.

Tom called the police and the officer arrived.

The officer secured a noose around the cat's body and pulled it out. It seemed to be injured. The officer took the cat to a lot across the street and put it out of its misery. The animal control officer called Tom the next day. The Coconino County officials decided to test the cat for rabies. I supplied the animal control officer with Jamie's and Kelsey's Rabies Vaccination records.

There was no pickleball on Thursday. The Williams Canyon Coaster Adventure Park --- that just opened --- was offering $5.00 rides for locals on the Coaster and on the Tubing. So, Tom and I went to the venue.

The signed waivers, paid our money, and walked to the Coaster.

The company operating the Canyon Coaster has a similar Adventure Park in Big Bear, California. It was a fun ride. I was able to capture some photos of Tom.

I also bought a ticket for the Tubing.

It was fun to take those rides at $5.00 per ticket. The retail costs for the general public are $20 per ride for the Coaster and $10 per Tubing. Later in the afternoon, I walked over to Cataract Lake. There, I saw a Bald eagle trying to catch some fish. He was across the lake and my phone camera got a fuzzy photo.

Arizona Fish and Game has been monitoring two eagles and their nesting eaglets.

On Friday, I had an appointment in Prescott. My general practitioner doctor is concerned about my high blood pressure. She referred me to a Pulmonary and Sleep specialist. I would have preferred an appointment in Flagstaff, but Dr. Mohammad-Ali El-Harakeh was able to see me sooner.

Before my doctor's appointment, I made a run to Costco. My membership to Costco expires May 1. I decided to not renew --- especially since we now have a Sam's Club membership in Flagstaff.

I met with Dr. El-Harakeh and he scheduled me for a Sleep Study in early May.

Sunday, March 13 through Thursday, March 24, 2022: Prepping, New Refrigerator, Fishing, Elk Meat, and Pickleball

Tom has a colonoscopy scheduled for Monday. Sunday, he had the pleasure of prepping for the procedure. Drink up, Tom!

The good news was that Tom's appointment was in the morning. We arrived at Forest Canyon Endoscopy & Surgery Center at 9:00 a.m. For several hours, I walked the property. A nurse came out to get me when Tom's procedure was finished.

Tom already told me that he wanted a Culver's Vanilla Concrete Mixer as his reward.

So, off we went for his Salted Caramel and Blackberries Concrete Mixer! 😀😀😀

Tuesday afternoon, Kelsey had her monthly acupuncture appointment at Canyon Pet Hospital. Dr. Amstutz does a thorough job. Kelsey enjoys peanut butter on a stick.

Wednesday morning, our new refrigerator was delivered. A delivery truck arrived promptly at 8:00 a.m

The delivery truck men come up from Phoenix.

That same morning, there was a beautiful cloud formation.

Later in the morning, Jon and Tom took their boat and trailer to Cataract Lake. The fishing season for them has begun.

They were on the lake for several hours. Jon caught four fish.

Thursday morning, five of us played pickleball in the Rodeo Barn.

Things will change soon. Darcy and Gary Nansen have sold their Williams home and Chris Peterson has her home on the market. Real estate prices have gone crazy. All three want to take their money and run!

That afternoon, I drove over to Kaibab Lake and watched Jon and Tom fish. Unfortunately, no luck with catching fish.

On Friday, I had an appointment with Emily at Northern Arizona Massage Therapy in Flagstaff. Prior to leaving home, I rearranged the dog beds in the living room. We found the second bolster dog bed in the garage. Kelsey and Jamie like these beds. So, I decided to put away the two large kennels and just have the two beds.

It seems to work --- and the living room is less cluttered.

On Saturday, I went to the Republican Precinct Committeeman meeting in Flagstaff. I took neighbor Gus Beatty with me. He had signed up to be a Precinct Committeeman, but I found out that he recently changed his status to Independent. This means he can not be a Republican PC. One of the guest presenters was Dan Farley, President of the Tea Party Arizona.

He was dynamic and very interesting. Chairman Vickie Parks reminded all Precinct Committeeman to get signatures and complete the nomination paperwork for getting on the ballot for the August 2 primary election. While I was in Flagstaff, Tom and Jon went shed hunting. And, Tom found a shed!

Sunday afternoon, longtime friends Salli and Carl Middleton came to visit for a couple of days. They live in the Seattle area and are driving to Bermuda Dunes, California for the month of April. I made pesto chicken with zucchini and yellow squash. Yummy!

Monday morning, we had a sit-down breakfast. Then Salli, Carl, and I posed for another photo.

In the afternoon, I took Salli and Carl to Bearizona.

In the walk-thru part of Bearizona, we were fortunate to see active grizzly bears.

That evening, we had a very nice dinner at Western View Steakhouse at the Best Western Plus. The next morning, Salli and Carl headed down to Phoenix via Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. I played pickleball in the Rodeo Barn with Joe, Jeana, Chris, and Gary. 

 

That afternoon, I had a facial in Flagstaff with Amy Aranda at Junto Skin & Laser. Tom and Jon were called by Gary Nansen that a small herd of female elk were struck by several 18 wheel trucks on Interstate 40. Jon called the game warden and the warden issued an elk tag for Tom. Tom and Jon got to the dead elk site by 1:30 p.m.

The local meat processing company could not help cleaning and cutting the elk. So, Jon began the process of cutting into the elk for meat.

Tom was Jon's trusted helper.

Tom and Jon arrived back to our house at about 7:00 p.m. They proceeded to individually cut and package the meat.

The next morning, Jon came back to help clean-up the rest of the elk meat. It is amazing how much meat was recovered from the road kill!

I had an appointment in Flagstaff with Shawna Ritter at Wildflower Salon. She always does a great job.

On Thursday, the weather was really nice --- no wind either --- so six of us played pickleball on the outdoor courts. Mike Manley's new sign has been mounted at the Racquet Courts.