The AZ They Didn't Expect

TRIPPIN' THURSDAY

In everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose...in our latest season, with only a vague plan and a touch of creativity, we're off on another adventure. Half of this twosome is retired; my half will probably never know what that means. I promise to share.


And what a trip it's been these last two weeks.

Indian ruins ahead, Roosevelt in the background

The first week we entertained and were entertained with out of town company. Our friends arrived from Minnesota expecting warm Arizona weather. We accommodated them the first two days. After that, it was warmer in Minneapolis than in Northern Arizona. No matter. We couldn't have had a better time.

There is something sweet and sad about physically connecting with old friends. We hadn't visited with them in over three years. We played cards like the old days, only

Overlook at Roosevelt Lake

learned new games. We ate pistachios while we played only we tried a new flavor. The warmth that radiates, the joy experienced from hours spent with friends of many years is so sweet. The parting is sad. And I think I realize just how special sharing friendship is the older I get.

Jerome Ghost Town on the side of the mt.

So...money saving tip for this week is spend some time with friends you love. You don't have to do anything except enjoy the company.

Although we did quite a bit more. They hadn't been to Arizona before. It was difficult to pick what to show them and we put 1400

Elk along the way

miles on the rental car, but they learned Arizona was not what they expected. We showed them Tonto National Monument, Roosevelt Dam, Salt River, Prescott, Williams, Mogollon Rim, Jerome, and the Grand Canyon.

Me with mine on the top of the rim

After they left, we headed to the farm to begin preparing it to sell. Yep, Tortuga Flats Farm will be on the market by the end of the month (we hope). The farmer and his family have moved to Colorado to start a new adventure. I'll be sure to update the progress on the sell. This could mean another adventure, just trippin', for us, too!

At the Grand Canyon

It's a Wrap and a Baby Recipe

 Tortuga Thursday

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

One more bowl of bell peppers to strip the seeds from for next year's crop. A few more plants in the greenhouse to chop down  to make room for the winter crops. One more row of carrots to harvest. Then Lance will scrap the land, turn it and till. He'll do that a couple of times over the winter.

Tomatoes that didn't ripen before the frost.

Tomato row before the tear down.

Greenhouse nearly clean and planting again.

Onions, cayenne, sage, thyme and parsley drying.

Get these great Popsicle makers at the store. Mix 50/50 with water and any fruit or cooked veggie.

 

In the coming months, I'll share some recipes we use here on Tortuga Flats Farm. Simple baby Popsicles are the first!

One Amazing Hole

Get your motor runnin'

Part of this new meagerly funded lifestyle is finding entertainment without spending too much. Motorcycling is part of our fun. Trouble is, motorcycles require upkeep like all other vehicles. We've been grounded for a couple of months because we needed a tire. I finally got the dollars, we got the tire and headed out yesterday to the Grand Canyon for lunch. Looked up the restaurant inside the south rim entrance and saw too many dollar signs so we decided we'd eat in the little village outside the entrance.

Before getting to pine country

Looking over Frank's shoulder

The drive up was gorgeous. The low 60's are cold for me to be on a bike, but with leathers and a turtle neck it was comfortable - except for my face. I forgot a scarf and wore my half helmet. The sky was full of popcorn clouds and as long they didn't pop over the sun, I was warm enough. Beautiful day. We headed north and turned east at Ashfork and north again at Williams. There are red, purple and yellow wildflowers blooming amongst the evergreens. Beautiful.

Still outside the park

Our choices for lunch were pizza, Mexican food and steak. Steak for lunch is a bit much. We'd had Mexican food ala Christie the night before. We ended up at Canyon Pizza because they had a patio. And because pizza can be cheap. We ordered a margarita pizza and sat in the sun on the patio. The bar next door had Radio Margaritaville playing. What a perfect lunchtime setting. And the pizza was phenomenal.

We walked across the street to get our pass into the park. We scored another great deal. With Frank's age status (and it is status now adays!) we paid $10 for a lifetime pass. Not only does it get us into the Grand Canyon forever but into all Federal and national parks and sites. So cool!!

Frank the photographer

Leathers kept me warm

The short drive into the park was even more beautiful. We saw a female elk and a swooping brown hawk. We stopped at the first lookout which is also the visitor center. We didn't bother with the center this time. Our purpose was to eat lunch and get a glimpse of the canyon. Although there were lots of tourists there, it was relatively slow for the canyon. We met a couple from Brazil who rented a Harley in Chicago and were on a twenty-three day ride to San Bernadino. Oughda! They invited us to come to Brazilia in July to attend a huge motorcycle rally and party. If only...

This displays the native tribes of the area

A pretty awesome hole in the ground

The ride back was warmer so my face didn't freeze. And we got home in time for another great Christie creation. All and all, a great day on a dime.