GREEN BEAN SOUP

SINCE THE BBQ GRILL IS BROKEN, IT MUST BE A GREEN BEAN SOUP DAY.

HAIL

AFTER 4 DAYS WITHOUT AN AFTERNOON MONSOON RAIN WE HAD A GULLY WASHERS THIS AFTERNOON, COMPLETE WITH HAIL.

OF COURSE I HAD THE BBQ GRILL ALL SET TO LIGHT FOR SUPPER AND THE WIND CAME UP BLOWING MY CAST IRON GRATE OFF THE PORCH RAILING.

CRAP, AFTER TWO MONTHS OF FIRE RESTRICTIONS AND NOT USING THE BIG RED EGG, NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEW GRATE TO COME. ACTUALLY I WAS LUCKY, I ALSO HAD THE UMBRELLA UP OVER THE GRILL TO KEEP THINGS DRY AND LUCKILY HAD IT DOUBLE TIED WHEN THE WIND CAME UP. ABOUT A MILE AWAY ON PORTER MOUNTAIN ROAD THAT SAME WIND SNAPPED 4 POWER POLES.

TOMORROW IS THE WHITE MOUNTAIN HAMFEST, AND I HOPE I CAN KEEP MY MONEY IN MY POCKET AND NOT COME HOME WITH A NEW HAM RADIO?

TREE TRIMMING

TODAY WAS THE DAY FOR THE TREE TRIMMERS TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PARK AND TRIM THE TREES BACK FROM THE ROADS SO THE UPS TRUCK OR THE FIRE TRUCKS CAN GET THROUGH.

AS LONG AS THEY WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I SLIPPED THEM A FEW EXTA BUCKS TO REACH IN AND REMOVE A DEAD PINE TREE FROM MY YARD.

WITH THE TREES TRIMMED MARY HAS HIGH HOPES OF MORE SUNSHINE FOR HER YARD PLANTS.

“SUNNY & 80”

FLAGSTAFF

WE TOOK A ROADTRIP OVER TO FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA YESTERDAY, WHERE WE TOURED THE RIORDAN MANSION.

AFTER OUR TOUR AND A STOP AT THE BANK WE STOPPED AT TWIN ARROWS CASINO WHERE A FRIENDLY SLOT MACHINE PAID US $67, ENOUGH TO COVER LUNCH IN THE SPORTS BAR, OUR TOUR TICKETS, AND THE GAS, SO WE HAD A FREE DAY!

THIS OLD GIFT SHOP IS LOCATED ON I-40 AND AMAZINGLY HAS IT’S OWN FREEWAY EXIT. I MEAN YOU EXIT THE FREEWAY RIGHT INTO THEIR PARKING LOT, AND THEN THERE IS A BRIDGE ACROSS THE INTERSTATE TO RE-ENTER I-40.

“SUNNY & 80”  OPPS, YOU CAN SEE THE MONSOON RAINS ON THE HIGH DESERT BEHIND THE FLAGS……

ELK

MARY AND I WERE OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON DRIVE THRU THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND RAN INTO THS BUNCH OF ELK.

JUST BEFORE THE ELK WE HAD FIVE ADULT TURKEYS CROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE ALSO SCOUTING OUT SOME LAKES AND STEAMS FOR TROUT FISHING.

AT 8,550 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL THE TEMPERATURE WAS 63 DEGREES AND BACK AT SHOW LOW IT WAS 83.  IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ALTITUDE OUT WEST.

  “SUNNY & 80”