Busy week

 It seems like we just moved into the house and now I'm finalizing reservataions for our spring/summer trip west and north  Dave has pretty much finished getting Beluga ready for the trip.    He's washed and waxed her, changed all necessary oil and filters, and installed all new batteries.  

Last Tuesday we picked up the Lowes and took a little road trip to the Robson Mining World near Aguila.

I thought it was an actual abandoned mining town but, while enjoyable, turned out to be more of a re creation.    A few of the buildings were original, some had burned down and the rest were recreations of buildings of that era that served to hold the original owner's collection of "stuff", old stuff, in a loosely organized manner.

It was a long way off the paved road, set amidst the mountains.

The current caretaker took our money and led us on a general tour of the place.   It was a lovely warm day and we enjoyed poking around and checking out the vast rock/boulder collections.   Nothing was labeled, the caretaker knew what some things were, and we guessed at the use of some other things......

antique metal dairy calf weaner (complete with two pronged spikes) - ouch....

the Opera House.....

Afterward, we drove into "downtown" Aguila for lunch - at a food truck - in a defunct gas station parking lot.     It was beyond good.

We had delicious al pastor gorditas and a really really good pineapple/mango drink.    After lunch we walked across the street to the tiny vegetable farmer's market/swap meet and bought oranges and some good Mexican cinnamon cookies whose name I can't remember.   Gotta have desert, right?    No pictures of them, they disappeared too fast.

We joined Steve and MonaLiza for dinner at Nichols West later that evening.   Their good friends were flying in from the Bay area (California) and Steve wanted us to meet them.    We had a great dinner (blue cheese crusted Filet Mignon for me and Bouillabaise for Dave) with really nice company.  We all hit it off, as Steve knew we would and before dinner was over Rod invited Dave and Steve to go flying with him the next morning!     Dave's grin started that night and stayed plastered to his face for days afterward!  

Bright and early Wednesday morning Dave met the boys at Wickenburg airport and got to ride right seat beside Rod in his fabulous Cessna 400.   Steve kindly sat in the back seat and took aerial photos of his house as they flew over.    It has been some years since Dave had the opportunity to fly a plane, and he was beyond thrilled when Rod turned to him and said "your plane"......

a real beauty

three happy amigos!

I "watched" the flight on the Flightradar app on my phone!   Fun!

Dave got home in time to help me get lunch ready for our visitors.   His cousin, Kathi, and her husband Jeff came for lunch and to see the house.   They live in Fountain Hills, about 75 miles from here.   Dave and Kathi practically grew up together at Silver Lake when they were young, but haven't seen much of each other in adulthood.    We talked and ate and enjoyed the company until early afternoon.   No pictures!   I'm just not good at photographing people I guess.  

Thursday morning we drove into Sun City to see the Optometrist for my recheck appointment.      I forgot to tell you that I developed shingles a couple of  weeks ago!    The small outbreak was on my face, near the corner of my eye so that is why an Optometrist was involved.    Yes, I had both Shringrix shots in 2019 and I suppose that is why I had a light case with no pain.   I caught it fast, I'm familiar with the look of cold sores and when I saw something like that developing on my face I got to the Wickenburg clinic right away.      The lesions did not spread and they have dried up and seem to be gone, so keep your finger's crossed!    

It's been a busy but fun week....