Morel Mushroom

By Uncle Hans

You have heard me complain about the oak tees on the property here.  There were about 140 mature oaks 20 years ago.   I thought they were so cool.  Turns out they are all diseased.  They have dead limbs that fall.  The trees themselves are prone to fall in the wind.  They have caused a lot of damage.  So I am taking them down one by one.  I have about 80 left, but only a few are critical in that they are "in range" of the house.  4 of those will be cut down in the next two weeks.  Lots of work for Rex and Mary when they get here, lol!

 

 

 

 

......so, what does that have to do with a little red stick poking up our of the ground?  After years of cutting down oaks I have finally come up with a plan to replace them.  We have a beautiful huge maple right on the edge of the water.  Don't know why.  This spring I gathered up 50 "helicopter" seeds, soaked them in water, and planted them around the property.  I marked each one with a shishkabob skewer painted red.....

 

 

 

 

 ......But that is not what this blog is about.  Imagine my shock when I stumbled upon this beauty!!  It is at least two weeks past the season (although we have had a cool and wet spring)..............

 

 

 

 

 

 ......This has got to be the biggest morel mushroom I have ever met in person.........

 

 

 

 

 

 ......It is a few inches from another large one, but that one is over-ripe and fading.  Those were the only two I found........ 

 

 

 

 

 

 ......They are living in the area where our large propane tank sat for 15 years, removed almost 2 years ago when we hooked up to natural gas. 

 

     After thinking about it for a while, I decided to leave them both there "for seed". 

 

 

By Uncle Hans

 

 

LIVE WRITER

LIKE HALF THE BLOGGERS IN THE WORLD, I NEED TO RE-LEARN HOW TO WRITE A BLOG ON THE BLOGGER POST PAGE. I SURE DO MISS LIVE WRITER, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR IT'S RETURN.

LET'S SEE I'LL NEED TO FIND PACKER GREEN FOR UNCLE HANS, AND I'LL MISS STRETCHING OUT MY PICTURES TO MAKE MARY AND I LOOK THINNER THAN WE REALLY ARE.

I WONDER WHAT ALL THESE OTHER BUTTONS AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE DO?

DAMMIT, WHY CANT THEY JUST LEAVE THINGS THE WAY THEY WERE?

LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET A PICTURE IN HERE?

ARIZONA SUNSET FROM MOHAVE VALLEY

THANKS FOR BEARING WITH ME ON THIS TEST OF BLOGGER.

50 YEARS AGO

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I RECIEVED THIS 50 YEAR OLD PHOTOGRAPH IN E-MAIL THIS MORNING.

OLDEST TO YOUNGEST:

1. JOANNE

2. REX

3. JERRY

4. HANS

5. JOHN

7. NEIL

6. JANICE

8. BRUCE

THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN GRANDMA CLARA RECHSTEINER’S FRONT YARD, MONROE, WISCONSIN. YES, THERE ARE NINE OF US, BUT APPARENTLY ERIC HASN’T BEEN BORN YET.

THANKS JANICE, FOR THE PHOTO.

HAM RADIO

MARY AND I GOT OUR HAM RADIO LICENSE ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME WE WERE UPGRADING FROM THE CB RADIOS WE USED WHILE TRAVELLING IN TWO VEHICALS, AND WE WANTED A WAY TO STAY IN CONTACT WITHOUT BUYING EXSPENSIVE CELL PHONES.

OVER THE YEARS WE FINALLY BOUGHT INEXSPENSIVE CELL PHONES AT WALMART AND TO THIS DAY WE EACH SPEND $15/MONTH FOR OUR CELLS.

AT ONE TIME WE EACH HAD A HAM RADIO AND A PAIR OF HANDHELD PORTABLES. THE EQUIPMENT EVENTUALLY ENDED UP IN A TUB IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND DURING A PURGE ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO I BOXED THE TWO RADIOS UP AND SHIPPED THEM OFF TO A FELLOW BLOGGER IN KANSAS CITY TO DONATE TO A NEW HAM.

I KEPT THE HANDHELD RADIOS AND AFTER 5 YEARS ON THE LOWER DESERT THEY BARELY WORKED ON OUR TWO VEHICAL TRIP TO THE MOUNTAIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS LAST WINTER AMY AND ALAN TOOK A WEEK-END HAM CLASS THROUGH THE BOY SCOUTS AND WHEN AMY CAME TO VISIT IN FEBUARY I DUG OUT THE HANDHELDS IN CASE SHE WANTED TO PLAY WTIH THEM. I WAS EXPLAINING TO AMY THAT THEY NEEDED NEW EXSPENSIVE BATTERY PACKS. AMY TOLD ME THAT I COULD BUY BRAND NEW CHINESE BAOFENG HANDHELD RADIOS FROM AMAZON FOR ABOUT $35/EACH.

AFTER AMY WENT HOME I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND NEW BATTERY PACKS FOR MY RADIOS FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE I WAS EXSPECTING TO PAY AND ORDERED THEM. WHEN THE NEW BATTERIES CAME I FOUND MYSELF LISTENING AND USING THE RADIOS.

WHEN WE MOVED TO THE MOUNTAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I FOUND EVEN MORE HAM ACTIVITY HERE ON THE MOUNTAIN. IN FACT THERE ARE 11 REPEATERS LINKING ALL OF EASTERN ARIZONA AND SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. I RE-LOOKED AT THE BAOFENG RADIO ON AMAZON, WHICH ARE DUAL BAND. THEY COVER BOTH THE UHF AND VHF BANDS. I ORDERED ONE ALONG WITH A DIFFERENT ANTENNA SINCE I LIKE TO SIT ON THE PORCH TO LISTEN, AND BOTH MY PORCHES HAVE METAL ROOFS.

I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAMFEST HELD IN SHOW LOW TO MEET SOME OF THE OPERATORS.

SPRING WEATHER

SPRING WEATHER IN THE MOUNTAINS IS JUST LIKE YOUR SPRING WEATHER, DIFFERENT EVERYDAY.WE HAVE COLD DAYS, AND WINDY DAYS, THEN AGAIN IT CAN BE SUNNY & 70.

A COUPLE OF COLD AND WINDY DAYS BROUGHT OUT MARY’S PUZZEL TABLE A WEEK BACK.

 

WE’VE HAD THE JENGA GAME OUT TWICE. THE FIRST GAME WAS FOUR OF US, AND SECOND GAME THERE WERE EIGHT OF US, INCLUDING TWO FIRST TIMERS, WHICH IS ALWAYS A HOOT.

WE BOTH HAVE DONE WELL ON WALKING AND GETTING OUR 10,000 STEPS A DAY. IN FACT YESTERDAY WE HAD 15,000 AS WE HAD BEEN OUT IN THE FOREST IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN WALKED OVER TO THE LOCAL BAR IN THE EVENING TO CHECKOUT THE WEEKLY POKER GAME.

WE GOT THE PICK-UP TRUCK ALL SERVICED AND READY FOR OUR JUNE 8TH DEPARTURE TO WISCONSIN FOR A FEW WEEKS.

THAT’S ALL FROM THE MOUNTAIN TODAY.

CRAIG LIST

HUNTER, THE NEIGHBOR, SAID THAT I SHOULD LIST THE OUTDOOR CAT CAGE ON CRAIG LIST, AND SELL IT. I NEVER TRIED TO LIST ANYTHING ON CRAIG LIST BEFORE, BUT I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.

I ASKED $85 AND INCLUDED THIS PICTURE:

 

I LISTED IT FOR SALE IN THE FARM AND GARDEN SECTION, THINKING BESIDE CATS, IT MIGHT WORK FOR CHICKENS OR DUCKS, ETC.

CRAIG LIST WORKS. IN FOUR DAYS IT WAS HEADED DOWN THE ROAD TO A HOBBY FARM FOR CHICKENS.

I MADE THE BUYER’S DAY AND EXCEPTED HIS FIRST OFFER OF $50. OK HUNTER, THE BEERS ARE ON ME!

REALLY? SNOW?

IN OUR CONSTANT QUEST FOR “SUNNY & 80”, THIS MORNING WE WOKE UP TO SNOW. IT’S THE MIDDLE OF MAY FOR GOD’S SAKE!

IN THE PAST WE’VE ALWAYS GONE TO WISCONSIN FOR MAY, TO CELEBRATE MARY’S MOTHER’S BIRTHDAY. THIS YEAR WE MOVED OUR TRIP BACK A MONTH TO JUNE BECAUSE I HAVE THE CHANCE TO CAMP WITH MY THREE GRANDSONS FOR TEN DAYS UPNORTH AT BOULDER LAKE. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE CHANGED OUR PLANS, MARY’S MOTHER TURNED 94 YEARS OLD LAST WEEK WITHOUT US. THE HIGH-LITE OF HER DAY WAS A VISIT FROM HER BROTHER.

ACTUALLY WE KNOW BETTER THAN TO EXSPECT “SUNNY & 80” IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN THE SPRING. IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN WE SPENT THE SUMMER IN LAKE TAHOE, WE CAMPED DOWN IN THE VALLEY AT CARSON CITY IN MAY AND SEPTEMBER TO AVOID THE BAD MOUNTAIN WEATHER.

I EVEN HAD TO FLAG DOWN THE LP GAS TRUCK LAST WEEK AN BUY SOME GAS FOR THE FURNACE WHICH HAS BASICALLY BEEN RUNNING EVERY NIGHT, AND I HAVE A MR. HEATER FOR THE PORCH.

SO TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO GIVE US SHIT ABOUT THE CRAPPY WEATHER. AS I FINISH THIS BLOG THE SNOW HAS STOPPED, IT SNOWED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE REST OF THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON CALLS FOR RAIN SHOWERS, AND CLEARING OFF TONIGHT.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

THESE ARE COMMON SITES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THIS YEAR. PARK MODEL TRAILERS AND ARIZONA ROOMS BEING MOVED OUT.

MARY AND I HAVE VISITED TWO OTHER RV PARKS SO FAR THIS SUMMER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR THE OTHER PARKS AND ELIMINATE THOSE PARKS THAT WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN MOVING INTO.

WHEN WE DO MOVE IT’S GOING TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL MONEY HIT, SO WE ARE IN NO HURRY TO LOSE A BUNCH OF MONEY. IF WE CAN PUT THAT OFF FOR A COUPLE YEARS MAYBE IT WON’T HURT AS MUCH.

  “SUNNY & 70” ON THE MOUNTAIN.

THE RED ROCKS OF SEDONA

IN THE MORNING THE BED AND BREAKFAST SERVED US GORMET STUFFED FRENCH TOAST. WE SAID OUR GOOD-BYS TO DAVE AND CINDY AND HEADED  ON THE BACKROADS OF ARIZONA FOR SEDONA.

JUDY AND AUNT KATHY WOULD BE PROUD OF ME!

MY RED ROCK PICTURES OF SEDONA DIDN’T TURN OUT VERY GOOD, IT MAYBE TIME TO CONSIDER A NEW CAMERA OR GO BACK TO THE BACKUP CAMERA, MAYBE?

THE LAST ITEM ON THE WEEK-END LIST WAS TO DRIVE FROM SEDONA TO FLAGSTAFF ON THE BACK ROAD UP THRU OAK CREEK CANYON. IT’S NOT THE GRAND CANYON, BUT A BEAUTIFUL CURVEY 15 MILE MOUNTAIN ROAD. I LOVED IT, MARY BEHIND THE WHEEL, NOT SO MUCH. CAN YOU SAY, “HAIRPIN TURNS”?

A FINAL PIT STOP EAST OF FLAGSTAFF AT THE NAVAJO TWIN ARROWS CASINO, AND BACK TO SHOW LOW, AZ. COMPLETES THE 415 MILE LOOP. WE CROSSED A LOT OF PLACES OFF THE ARIZONA BUCKET LIST AND WILL BE HEADED SOUTH TOWARD GLOBE ON A FUTURE TRIP.

THE ARIZONA BUCKET LIST

WE’VE SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS IN ARIZONA, AND IN THOSE YEARS WE’VE STOPPED AT THE ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE I-40, THE PAINTED DESERT, PETRIFIED FOREST, METEOR CRATER, AND THE GRAND CANYON, BUT WE STILL HAVE AN ARIZONA BUCKET LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO SEE, AND THAT’S WHAT THIS WEEK-END ROADTRIP IS ALL ABOUT.

The flag of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, the colors of the flag of Spain, representing the 13 original states. The red and yellow also symbolize Arizona's picturesque sunsets. The copper star represents the copper mining industry in Arizona. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing the Colorado River.

YUP, IN ARIZONA COPPER IS KING. TODAY, ARIZONA STILL PRODUCES 60% OF THE NATIONS COPPER.

OUR FIRST STOP OF THE DAY WAS A COPPER MUSEUM IN CLARKDALE, AZ.

THE COLLECTION OF ITEMS MADE OUT OF COPPER WAS UNENDING AND THE COLLECTION IS HOUSED IN AN OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, WHICH WAS ALSO VERY COOL.

ON TO JEROME, KNOWN AS THE BILLION DOLLAR COPPER CAMP. LIKE MANY OLD MINING TOWNS THIS WAS BUILT ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. IN THE BOOM YEARS THE POPULATION WAS 15,000 AND AFTER THE COPPER PLAYED OUT IT BECAME A GHOST TOWN OF 100. TODAY THE OLD BUILDINGS HOUSE THE ART GALLERIES AND BIKER BARS, POPULATION 500. WE STAYED AT THE GHOST CITY INN BED AND BREAKFAST.

IN THE AMERICANA ROOM.

WHEN WE FIRST HIT TOWN WE TOURED AN ADOBE MINE OWNER’S MANSION, THE DOUGLAS HOUSE. IN THE PEAK OF THE COPPER BOOM HE WAS MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH.

THAT’S IT !! ENOUGH OF THE TOURIST SHIT !! MARY, PARK ME ON A BAR STOOL AT THE SPIRIT ROOM IN THE CONNER HOTEL. A COUPLE OF BEERS LATER DAVE AND CINDY SHOWED UP, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT A LIVE 5 PIECE BAND WITH TWO FEMALE SINGERS. A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND IT’S SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, THE PLACE IS JUMP’IN !!!

DRINKING, DINNER, AND VISITING WITH DAVE AND CINDY MADE FOR A PERFECT AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIME!

TUNE INTO THE NEXT BLOG, REX GOES TO CHURCH?

ARIZONA ROADTRIP

BACK IN JANUARY WHEN WE WERE IN PHOENIX VISITING DAVE AND CINDY, I GOT TO TALKING ABOUT MY ARIZONA BUCKET LIST. WHEN I MENTIONED THE MINNING TOWN OF JEROME, CINDY JUMPED ON IT. SO MARY AND CINDY BOOKED ROOMS IN A B&B IN JEROME FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT IN MAY.

WE STARTED OUR 415 MILE ROAD TRIP ON FRIDAY MORNING WITH A TRIP ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM, PRONOUNCED MUGGY-OWN RIM,  DOWN THE HILL TO PAYSON, BACK ALONG A SENIC BYWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS THRU PINE, AZ AND STAWBERRY, AZ, AND DOWN INTO THE VERDE VALLEY.

OUR FIRST STOP JUST OUTSIDE OF CAMP VERDE ON BEAVER CREEK WAS MONTEZUMA CASTLE NATIONAL MONUMENT, THE REMAINS OF A PRE-HISTORIC PEOPLE.

WHILE HIKING THE TRAIL WE FOUND A NEW TREE, WELL NEW TO US, THE ARIZONA SYCAMORE.

AFTER FINDING THE FIRST ONE, WE SAW A LOT OF THEM THROUGH OUT VERDE VALLEY.

OUR SECOND STOP WAS THE CLIFF CASTLE CASINO, AFTER ALL IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE WE LEFT THE CASINOS OF LAUGHLIN AND WE NEEDED A CASINO FIX, BESIDES IT WAS “MILLER TIME”. THE CASINO GAVE US EACH $20 IN FREE PLAY. I PLAYED QUARTER SLOTS AN HOUR AND ENJOYED TWO COLD BEERS ON MY FREE $20, AND MARY TURNED HERS INTO $15 REAL MONEY, ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT SHE HAD PICKED UP IN A SHOP EARLIER IN THE DAY.

BEING OF SWISS HERITAGE, LUNCH WAS NEXT ON THE AGENDA AND WE PULLED OUT THE OLD BLUE COOLER TO MAKE HAM AND SWISS SANDWICHES ON THE TRUNK LID OF THE CAR.

NEXT STOP WAS THE TUZIGOOT(PRONOUNCED TWOS-SEE-WHOOT)  NATIONAL MONUMENT AND THE REMAINS OF ANOTHER PRE-HISTORIC CITY.

THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WE DID WALK-ABOUTS IN CLARKSDALE AND OLD COTTONWOOD WINDOW SHOPPING AT THE ARTSY-FARTSY JOINTS AND THE FANCY WINE TASTING BARS.

TO BE CONTINUED……

Sunrise From The Hot Tub

By Uncle Hans

I have a collection of sunrise pictures from the hot tub.  I could not resist putting this one on the blog from recently.  A sunrise like this makes the whole day go better..........

CINCO DE MAYO

WASN’T IT JUST SATURDAY THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITH DINNER, DRINKS, AND JENGA? NOW IT’S ONLY TUESDAY, AND IT’S TIME TO PARTY ON CINCO DE MAYO!

 

LIFE IS GOOD, AND IT’S GREAT BEING BACK ON “THE MOUNTAIN” !!!

KENTUCKY DERBY

WE INVITED THE HUNTERS OVER TO WATCH THE KENTUCKY DERBY LIVE ON TV, AND THEY BROUGHT SUPPER. IT CAN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

AFTER THE RACE AND DINNER WE DUG JENGA OUT OF THE SHED FOR THE SEASON’S OPENER, AND I CAN’T BELIEVE I LOST THE VERY FIRST GAME!

IT’S GREAT BEING BACK ON THE “THE MOUNTAIN” AND SPRING CLEANING IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS NEXT WEEK.

Madison

By Uncle Hans

Recently spent a weekend in Madison for the Wisconsin State Medical Society annual convention.  Had a great time.  The first picture is the Foundation banquet, a fundraiser for mostly, loans to medical students, on Friday night.  $125 per plate and a silent auction, etc.  Made the Foundation about $100,000 in one night.  The silent auction was done by smart cell phone.....cool........

 

......the rest of the time se looked around Madison.  Renee had never been there.  It is beautiful even with no leaves on the trees.  the capitol is reputed to be the most beautiful of all 50 states.........

 

.....this is a selfie in front of the Irish Pub we ate at on the square.  The last is a view from our hotel, the Hilton, which is attached to the Civic Center via skyway.  It is called the Monona Terrace, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938, but not finished until 1997.   It is really cool as well...................

 

....................we did State Street and a concert by the UW male acappella  competition group which won big awards nationally.  This was their warm up band.  The concert was 2 hours and we never thought about leaving, only what spectacular thing can they do next?

Madison has rental community bicycles, like Seattle.

  But ONLY in Madison will you find a portable, outdoor bar that the patrons have to pedal while they drink!

       Proof that Cheeseheads and beer are a dangerous combination (but we have known that for years!!

 

................We would go back.  In fact we are going to the convention next year (our county society, of which I am the President, is "politically active" or "rabble-rousers"), but they usually move it around to different cities so we will report back then......

By Uncle Hans