Cactus Flower day

One day last week the cactus planted in the park all seemed to bloom at once.  The hedgehog and the argentine giant cactus put on quite the show.  They have large flowers and brilliant colors, but most blooms only last about a day.  Some of the cactus had many buds that opened at once and then boom, they were done.  Some had buds that bloomed at different times.  

Enjoy!

Cute

Curved-bill thrasher, noisy birds and entertaining with their nest building and drinking from Gracie's water bowl

Field Trip

Last week we went to Bisbee, AZ to take a tour of a copper mine.  The Copper Queen mine.  The history was fascinating and our guides had actually worked in the mine before it's closure in 1975.  We were at level three and there were four more below us.  We learned about the mining processes and the changes and hazards.  

It boggles the mind that men worked underground with nothing but a candle for light back in the earliest days.  Ten to twelve hour shifts were worked and the conditions were so dangerous.  

Riding the rails into the mine.

We ended up in a great big open space of connecting tunnels and I was so aware of pressure in the air.  I don't have claustrophobia but I almost felt a panic attack like feeling trying to overtake me, which was so odd as I have been in caves and as I said this room was very, very large.  I had to ask, and we were 600 feet below the surface.  I think I was feeling sad for the mountain or the miners that died there.  It was almost overwhelming until I made myself focus on what the guide was saying.  

We had hard hats, safety jackets/vests and big leather belts that held the battery packs for our flashlights that each of us had to wear.  It was cold down there.  

The town from the mouth of the mine

Copper Queen Hotel

 After our tour we went to the Copper Queen Hotel restaurant for lunch and took a teeny walk.  We didn't have time to walk the town and the shops/museums as we had to get back home for Gracie.  We did stop in an olive oil shop so I could pick up a bottle of roasted garlic oil.  The owner was a talkative sort and we learned interesting things about Bisbee.  It has an art/music scene that draws people from all over the world.  Seems odd, old little town perched in the desert mountains, far from anything, but it's worth a wander.  If we find the time we may go back for a wander through the shops.  Our time here in Benson is already half gone.
 

The mining museum had large rocks on pedestals from the mine

 

Turquoise, malachite and azurite are in these stones

On our way back to Benson, Larry had to slow to a stop on the highway as these little pig looking scruffy beasts wandered across the road.  They were javelinas.  They are not pigs, they are of the peccary family.  They top out at about 45-50 pounds and you don't want to mess with them.
 








 

This beauty had opened it's flowers while we were gone

We are enjoying our month here in Benson.  Not a whole lot to do but we love this RV park and the people are all great.  It's been emptying out though as the leaseholders head to cooler parts of the country for the summer.  May through September this place only has about 90 people stay through the summer.  There's 347 lots here.










 

A visit to Gammons Gulch

Jay learned how to make adobe bricks from HGTV then built the blacksmith shop.

Saturday we went on a little field trip north of Benson to Gammons Gulch.  You can read all about it on their web page. Beautiful country.

Jay Gammons' father was security for John Wayne and so was on movie sets.  As a boy he was in a few westerns and loves them.  Over 40 years ago he bought about 10 acres out in the middle of nowhere that didn't have a paved road to it or power and then over time has built his own western town.  It's a cool blend of old and new.  He's scoured old western towns in the southwest and over the years has built quite a collection and has even had stuff donated.  He's had some help from family and friends with the building of buildings.  He had some connections I'm sure from the western movie scene and he advertises his place as an on location set to filmmakers.  His own home is part of the street scene.

Just the night before we were there, a company from England had left after having been there four days filming a western.  Jay is often used as an extra.  If you check out his website and click on the movies choice, you'll find all the movies filmed there.

He has a boat load of cool stories, takes you on a tour of the buildings and then lets you roam about taking it all in.  His displays are a mix of old and new, because on film you can't tell if an old tin is an antique or came from China via Walmart.  There's an old cast iron chandelier from the 1800's that he restored hanging in the Saloon, but the glass parts that hold the oil and the chimney's are hurricane lamps from Walmart.  

He's a cool guy.  Tells it like it is, but isn't a blowhard.  Tells stories about a lot of actors from old westerns you know and love.  You all will be happy to know that Sam Elliott is as nice as can be!  He remains my western actor God....hahaha.

The barred door to the right of the window is actually from the Tombstone jail, stamped 1882

We were only there about an hour to hour and a half, but we enjoyed it.

Larry took pics too. Here's me.

He claims he just taught himself how to play the banjo, but he did a song for us that sounded pretty good to us.

This piano looks dead and done, but he played several songs on it for us.

Jay said, swinging doors are Hollywood, most saloons had screen doors.  Larry!

This is their home! 

1929 something something.  I don't remember.  Still runs.

This is an 1876 stained glass window from an old bordello if I remember right.

The hemp necklace

Old meets new.  Hand sanitizer on the end of the bar and a plastic garbage can.  The pictures on the right wall he keeps covered by planks that blend in.

There have been real weddings held here.  The cross comes down when the film companies need a schoolhouse instead of a church

The spool cabinets are originals, the basket with the fruit is not.

Now, if you're still with me I will tell you my thoughts on this last photo.  I could be smart and funny and say I was sticking out my belly so I fit in with the boys.  Which, when I first saw this picture I noticed I did very well.  Not the truth though. I was caught standing the way I HATE getting caught, relaxed into my hips with my stomach muscles relaxed.  ACK.  Caught not using my core muscles, otherwise known as laziness and letting it all hang out.  Hahaha.