Happy New Year from the Southwest

On the Today Show this morning they were asking people on the street what three words summed up 2008. I had to agree with one person and his three words. “Glad it’s over” and another’s “2008 is history”. While in most respects it was mostly positive for us; meeting new folks, welcoming back returning friends, continuing to do what we love, and having one of the most successful seasons in our 24 years with the B&B. Taking all this into account, we can certainly put 2008 in the plus column. Add our time in Arizona into the mix, and it doesn’t get much better for our split personalities/lives. In other respects, and for so many others, unfortunately it's been a train wreck.

An election in November brought us great hope for a chance for our country to start anew in 2009 with a change in the White House. Failing banks, futures threatened by the collapse of Wall Street, and American car companies needing a bailout, who would want that job? But we’re glad Obama did and hopefully new ideas and some fresh talent will pave the way to making things right again. January 20th can’t come quick enough and we can only hope the economy turns around in warp speed before more businesses fail and jobs are lost.

And while we are talking politics, Ada couldn't be happier to have read in the paper recently the official announcement that her friend Kim will be running for a second term as Mayor of Salem. As one of her varsity cheerleaders, Ada can’t wait to contribute her time and talents to make that happen. Where’s her sign?

While thankful for all that we have been blessed with in the past year, abundant sadness unfolded with the passing of a family member and three long held friendships. We will certainly miss them all, and we pray that their families enjoy continued comfort in their memories.

Blessed with health and happiness, Don and Ada wish the same, and so much more, for all our family & friends, and for all those that we are yet to meet. With great enthusiasm we look forward to 2009, surprises and all. We just hope the road into the future is repaved with progress and the potholes get filled………
(Donald says that’s too corny, but it’s ok this time of year.)

And the winner is.......

CONGRATULATIONS
Frank n Beans
SalemCity’s Fantasy Football Winner!

It’s been an exciting 17 weeks playing ESPN’s Fantasy Football with all my friends at Salem City Hall and staying connected from afar. As a first time player, and somewhat green about all the 32 teams of the NFL, I’ve certainly had a crash course in Football 101. While never expecting to come close to winning, I did want to be a contender and finish each week with respectful numbers. After all, Ada May always plays to win. But as the season moved along, I found myself not only holding my own, but in the lead for a short while, and this became pretty exciting. With my eyes on the prize, actually winning would certainly be a longshot, and I always expected I would be put in my rightful place on the roster. Sunday, fighting the good fight, was that day. And so it was….2nd place. Not too shabby, I say. Donald thinks it’s great that I gave everyone a fun run for their money. I think I did, and Frank truly deserves to win. In the home stretch he really was on his game. Will I do it again next year? Probably, but right now I think I’ve watched enough TV and it’s time to get a life. The playoffs? I’ll watch with some interest, but now that our Patriots are out of the mix, probably not to closely. As they say, maybe next year........... Baseball anyone ???????

Hanging up my cleats on Monday………..

Ok, it’s week 17 of the NFL season and crunch time. After dropping out of first place by 2 points last week on my SalemCity Fantasy Football Team, it looks like Mr. Frank n Beans is in a great position to take the win from the Arizona Girl. But, not so fast, it’s not over just yet. It will be a tense line up of 16 games tomorrow, and while I can’t watch them all, there are fresh batteries in the remote for surfing back and forth. (Donald doesn’t have a prayer of getting control of it. He might as well read his paper.)
Everyone has their strategy, but I must stay cool and make wise choices. Wish me luck. I’ll need it for sure! After all, I’m representing the Mayors office staff and Frank is playing for all those Planners. Besides, the win is for the Mayor’s favorite food group, pizza. Regardless of the outcome, tears or cheers, good sportsmanship will prevail. Check back on Monday, I’m sure the suspense is killing you……….
***************
Sunday morning and I'm still changing my picks. I'm certain emotion and doubt are affecting my choices. Good thing I'm not in Vegas. Loyalty is favoring my selection. I'm finding myself routing for teams to lose that I would otherwise pick, just to help the Patriots gain a playoff berth. And then there are my favorite QB's; Tony, Brett, Eli, Payton, & Matt. Add into the mix my love for Tennessee as a state and it's a real conflict. I should just go for a hike today and let all the cards land where they may, but no, I'll be on that couch watching, squirming it out, however long it takes to play 16 games....... Go Patriots!

A Happy Man at Christmas

Tie a ribbon around this guy……
In his chair, reading his paper, that’s all he wants for Christmas. Fortunately, it’s Thursday’s paper and not Sunday’s, so the paper will be less intrusive to the day and all Ada’s plans which includes eating lots of food, making phone calls to the family scattered across the country, and opening a few presents under the cactus. While Donald reads, Ada will certainly watch some football, work on her blog, and probably take a hike to walk off some of the calories. Then, we’ll both top off the day with a movie or two that we’ve rented; falling asleep on the couch for sure. Life is this laidback in the Southwest and we couldn’t be more grateful for the truly charmed lives we lead.

Wherever your tradition takes you, Donald and I wish all our family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May good health and prosperity follow you throughout 2009, and many years to come……… Hugs all around.
Ada May & Donald

The end of the line...........leaving Scottsdale

Scottsdale is currently known for magnificent PGA Golf Courses, highend shopping, spas and cuisine, but it’s history dates back to the old wild west, and still standing is a 1sq mile area that pays homage to the old ways and true cowboy atmosphere. A stroll through Old Town takes you back to the original Scottsdale, the heart of the “West’s Most Western Town” that began more than 100 years ago. (I can just hear them back home thinking, 100 years ago, that’s nothing.) On Stetson Drive you will find western wear, books, art galleries, home décor, Southwest jewelry, and plenty of souvenirs to bring home to those that have missed all of this. Stopping to have Chili for lunch; my baby blues can’t take the heat. Blurry eyed we get out of Dodge (Scottsdale), but not before we go to the..

IKEA Store

This is our last stop before heading home to Tucson. Famous for their Swedish meatballs and lingonberry preserves, IKEA hasn’t missed a retail trick. Their secret, feed them first, cheep, and send them shopping for all that furniture and housewares. If you have ever been in one, you’ll know what I mean. Good, inexpensive stuff, well engineered. Donald knows. He’s put together a number of things including a bed for Lena, a desk for me, and one for himself. They even include the tools. This visit, we only bought the meatballs and the preserves, but it’s always fun to walk the gauntlet of “rooms to go”, picking up that $1 deal that you just can’t live without.............

And as they say in the movies..........THE END!

Heard Museum, a true gem in downtown Phoenix

Heard Museum

The Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art was founded by Dwight & Maie Heard in 1929 to house their personal collection of Native American artifacts. Today, and over the years, it has become synonymous with the preservation of Southwest native heritage. Extended over the years to include the extensive Hopi "Kachina or Katsina" Doll collection donated by Sen. Barry Goldwater, and so many other collections by notable Arizonians, the museum is a who's who of prize masterpieces and a true journey through the majestic Southwest and the vibrant arts and cultures of the American Indians. Arizona's own Sandra Day O'Connor Gallery (former Supreme Court Justice and past president of the museum's Board of Trustees) introduces the museums founders and how the collections grew. A great place to start your tour.

If you can bear it. Another day in Scottsdale/Phoenix.

Day 2
The rain has set in so the next couple of days we are moving around the area to a few haunts that Donald has up his sleeve, and a restaurant my tastebudds were craving after I saw a segment on the Arizona Highways TV program last night. (Arizona Highways is like Chronicle back East.) But first, we are off to a train store in Fountain Hills, just east of Scottsdale. Donald has a business card of a train fellow he met at a train show here in Tucson. I’m sure by the way the card is tattered, he’s had it in his wallet for a few years. In any case, we’re off trying to find the address. How big can Fountains Hills be? After doing the man thing, we finally decided to ask for assistance and pulled into a strip mall where there was a Real Estate office. Can’t go wrong here. They must have street maps. (No visitor’s center found.) Bingo. And he’s just around the corner. In we go and while I wait patiently knowing my restaurant is next, we (Donald) spend about an hour looking through parts and accessories. It’s a man’s Filenes’s basement. Bins of track, trains and miniature scenery; all for the rummaging. After a lot of train talk and a small purchase, we’re off to Gilbert, Az. and LUNCH…………..

Joe's Real BBQ, Gilbert, AZ.
Joe’s Real BBQ in Gilbert is about an hour's drive just south of Fountain Hills. It’s basically the next town over, but you don’t move fast around these parts and we always tend to take the long way to get anywhere. (Still trying to keep off those freeways.) But none-the-less, without an address or map, it was meant to be and we see it on the corner. Big sign: "Joe’s". It’s mid-day, mid-week, so no parking problems and no waiting. I’m starved. In a 1929 building, old for these parts, Joe came to town from Texas (where else). A coffee merchant turned barbequer, he opened up this place 10 years ago. Big banner,”1998 -Celebrating 10 years-2008. Taking a booth, dropping the rain gear and camera, up to the counter we go. So many choices, but I order the BBQ Sampler. I’m getting it all: ribs, chicken, pork and beef with two sides; beans, and Mac n’ cheese. Donald gets the brisket sandwich with beans and slaw. If I thought it would have measured up to my friend Patty’s cornbread, I would have ordered that too. True loyalty.
The place is warm and easy and the decorations keep you entertained. A John Deer tractor center stage and a mural of Gilbert in the 40’s embraces all walls. And, in keeping to his true calling, coffee is only .25 cents. Toothpicks anyone………………

(A friend of mine from Salem, Kate, has family from Gilbert, so I gave her a call so I could say: “Guess where we are?” To bad, voice mail, so I left a message. She probably thinks I’m crazy or maybe she’s buried in all that snow they are getting back East.)

In the “Valley of the Sun” Scottsdale/Phoenix

Day 1
Home based in Scottsdale for the past week, Don and I enjoyed some great day trips around the Phoenix area. Usually, going to Phoenix is a fast trip to Sky Harbor airport to collect a visitor and sometimes included a side trip to the IKEA store. We were always intimidated by the spaghetti freeways that surround the area and always opted to get back to our safe Tucson before the sun went down, so when we were looking to use a timeshare vacation week before we would loose it, we decided to give Phoenix & Scottsdale a look see, especially after hearing so many things about the area from the locals, the Arizona Highways magazine and my friend Lena. And, a whole week in the area would allow us to face our driving demons and apprehensions of maneuvering their massive freeways.

Canyon Lake

While rain is scarce out here, it can follow anyone’s vacation plans, including ours. The forecast was “rain for five of our seven days”, so while our first day there was a gloriously sunny one, we decided to head for the Apache Trail (Rte 88) and Roosevelt Lake. About 1 hr east of Scottsdale you pick up the Apache Trail in Apache Junction. (how appropriate.) This trail takes you north into the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains where 40 miles of steep and winding, mostly washboard (unpaved), roads pass magnificent scenery. At the end of the trail, you come upon The Theodore Roosevelt Lake, which was formed by the construction of a masonry dam on the Salt River in 1911, making it the oldest artificial reservoir in Arizona. Maintaining numerous houseboat communities, it is certainly a water activity Mecca. We always wondered when we saw someone in the desert hauling a trailer with a boat where they were going. This must be the place………….. The pictures just don’t do it justice.

Roosevelt Lake

Tortilla Flats (a true gold rush watering hole along the Apache Trial)

Ballad of Tortilla Flat
Sung to the tune of "The Beverly Hillbillies
****************
Come and listen to my story, it won’t take long.
About a little town, with mountains all around.
On the Apache Trail, is where you should be at,
Cause we’re servin’ up vittles, at Tortilla Flat

Burgers, that is.
Half pound.
Chili too.

Well, a long time ago, the stage went threw.
All travelers stayed here, and had a great view.
Not far from Canyon Lake, and the “Dolly" too.
So plan on a trip, you’ll be glad you do.

That’s the truth.
Would we kid you?

Now, Tortilla Flat is open, all through the year.
Saddle up to the bar, and have a beer.
Put a dollar on our wall, it’ll always be there.
Be sure to try our ice cream, it’s Prickly Pear.

No thorns.
Lip smackin’ good.
Yes sireel

So, come along a set a spell, at Tortilla Flat.
The sidewalk is made of wood, you can’t beat that.
The hangin’ tree is down a way, but don’t you fret.
We haven’t hung a customer, at least not yet.

Ya all come out , now,
Ya hear?

Back from the dark ages...........

It's been over a week since I've posted, mostly due to not having access to wireless and/or an Internet connection. I know Scottsdale is not in the boondocks, but the resort we stayed in wanted a high daily fee I wouldn't pay, mostly on principal. In this computer age, they are behind the times and are frustrating their guests. Unfortunately, we would not return or recommend a place that is fee oriented, rather than service oriented, and of course I made my disappointment clear before we checked out. It seems the higher the scale of property, the more nickel/dime they become. Even at our small B&B we provide access for our guests that want to stay connected. And, it's cheerfully free. Go figure..................

It's all about the sunsets

Arizona Sky

Every night about 6:30pm the cameras are loaded and ready to capture a sky like this right out the front door. It's truly amazing to watch this develop, the sky becoming a firey swirling cloud. Donald caught this one. A winner for sure..........

The Velvet Elvis in Patagonia, Arizona

Donald, Judy, Steve & Lena (Ada behind the camera, calling the shot)

About 40 miles southeast of Tucson you enter the "Mountain Empire" of Sonoita and Patagonia, Arizona. Right out of "Little House on the Prairie" (which is where they filmed that opening footage) these two communities blend western civilization and Mexican art quite nicely. It is surrounded by a few mountain ranges, rolling hills, Black Angus steer ranches, Cowboys for sure, and a gal, Cecillia, who inported pizza recipes from Brooklyn and opened up a pizza and calzone parlor in the middle of of it all in honor of both "Elvis" and "Our Lady of Guadalupe". We all had pizza, of course. Limonada Rosa (hibiscus and lime) was the drink of the day. We've been here before and while the scenery is the draw; grasslands, vineyards, Brahma bulls and horses, it is also a haven for birdwatchers, especially at the Nature Conservatory and Patagonia State Park. Peace and quite prevails. Artist migrate and never leave.

Boot Scootin Boogie...........

Friday nights at the Cactus Moon Saloon is the place to be for Country music and dancing for the true Western folks. Long established as the best nightclub in Tucson, it's really a mixture of young and young at hearts, all sharing their love of dance (or exercise), Margarita's, beer, and live entertainment. Last night we took Judy, who is visiting from Massachusetts, there for a true "honky tonk" experience. Donald, with a filly on each arm, had the night of his life. His dancing card surely filled.............

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Morning. The pies are in the oven and Donald is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and his favorite balloon character, Buzz Light Year, just came down the parade route. It's a lazy morning and I'm trying to save my appetite for the big meal.

Lena & Judy

Yummmmmm, I can smell Lena’s turkey cooking from my house…….
Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday for many reasons and this year especially as we are so glad to be out west and enjoying the day with Lena and Steve, Rhonda, Dan, Nancy, Gloria and Sully, and Judy, who traveled from Salem to celebrate the holiday week in Tucson. While we all have so much be thankful for, nothing matches having Lena back in her kitchen cooking up a storm and directing the rest of us. Although it has been a long recovery after her stoke last November, what a difference a year makes. She, as usual, has beaten the odds with defiant will and a lot of hard work, and we all couldn't’t be more thankful to have her back, almost new, and with a flare. Now that’s a Happy Thanksgiving!

Three Caballeros

It's raining in the desert today.........

Rainbow on the patio, so pretty..............

But that's alright. It will help to keep the plants a little greener and it doesn't really pour here, unless it's monsoon season (July and August), just misting and cloud covered. It's definitely a good day to make spaghetti sauce. Once Turkey day has past, I'll be ready for my next favorite meal, Italian night.

The Snowbirds have landed............

Home away from home................

After a final 10 hour drive yesterday, we arrived safe and sound. While our bodies today still feel like were moving at 85 miles per hour, it's good to be here, especially where it is sunny and 75 degrees. Unpacking, now that's a chore we are putting off for a few hours. Couch potatoes for the day is more like it. And, who needs food. I think we left mocrowave popcorn in the pantry. Then, there is always that can of beans...............

SIX FLAGS.............

Nooooooooo, not the amusement park, (although Texas history is where the park’s name comes from) but it is actually the number of flags flown over Texas from 1519 to the present time. Texas has flown the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, Texas as a Republic, Texas in the Confederacy, and Texas as a state of the USA. Texas is a big state, approx 900 miles wide from Texarkana, which is where we were this morning, to El Paso where we will be tomorrow. Of course, everything in between is big from the big sky, the 10-gallon hats, and the monster trucks; gun racks optional. And, the bumper sticker of choice is, “Don’t Mess with Texas”. Certainly, I ain’t misbehaving till I get to New Mexico.

Never too much country...............

The Ryman, Nashville, Tennessee

The Grand Ole Opry is the show, the Ryman Auditorium is the threater, and WSM/650 on the am radio dial is the live broadcast to the nation. Whether you like country, bluegrass, or gospel music, it's all happening on stage every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights to a packed house of country music fans. Last night Don and I enjoyed a night at the OPRY with Bill Anderson, Jimmy Wayne, Montgomery Gentry and the Hee Haw comedy of little Jimmy Dickens.

They say it's one of a 1000 places you need to see before you die

Franklin, Tennessee

Well, at least one travel writer thought so. It is a very nice town just south of Nashville where, you know who, lives. Donald wanted to go to a train shop there. It was heavily advertised in a Nashville brochure, so off we went. It was a bit cold walking around, but it was a very neat little town with a well preserved downtown. We walked up and down this street, both sides a few times. There was a "made in Tennessee" store we were hoping would open, but it never did. Sign said 10am-5pm, but they must have been on holiday.

http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/.

Franklin is a unique blend of history and progress. Since its beginning in 1799, it has grown from a tiny, agricultural community into a strong blend of residential, commercial and corporate citizens. And, so many of the country artist live here. (You can sense their presence.) There is much to see and do in Franklin, from a Civil War battlefield, to a host of museums and antebellum mansions, to their thriving downtown shopping area, and just a few miles from town is the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you like antiques, Franklin has some of the best shops in Tennessee. And if Donald were asked, he'd say Ada went in all of them...........

The Factory Shops and Antiques

Real Southern Comfort

Sweet ice tea, pecan pie and chicken fry.

On my hips they will be

but, I'll surely take all three.....

No place has better comfort food than the south and it doesn't get any better than at the Loveless Cafe here in Nashville. Chicken and gravy, biscuits and grits. Good thing we are only staying here two days. Ada would weigh 300 lbs for sure....PS: We are not staying at this motel.

Just in time...........

Prices coming down............

When you're driving 2800 miles it's nice to see these kind of prices. When we filled up in Salem yesterday before we left, gas was $2.09. What a difference a day makes. In Virginia we saw the prices as low as $1.77, but we had already filled up today at $1.99. I'll take it.............

Happy Trails............

Arizona or bust.............

He doesn't get any happier than he is today. Donald, behind the wheel, ready to drive his steel horse 2800 hundred miles to the promise land. While it may be a week before he gets to see that desert sky, half the fun of getting there will be the adventures along the way. First overnight stop, Wilkes Barre, PA, then Bristol, TN, then the fun stopover in Nashville, TN where Ada most likely will be stalking a few country artists. Going to the Ryman for sure; Montgomery Gentry are the headliners Tuesday night. And for my Fantasy Football friends, the Tennessee Titans are playing away, but the stadium is just over the walking bridge from downtown, so a stroll over there might be in order. I hear they are going for the perfect record. Now, where have I heard that before..............

We've saved the best for last..........

Three generations visit Salem

Our last weekend for the season, Don and I were so happy to have two of our most welcomed visitors finish out our 24th year, and bring more family along for the fun. Terry and Ali (standing), returning for a Mom and Daughter weekend getaway, decided that this would be a nice treat for one of the Grandmother's birthday. Having heard their daughter and granddaughter talk for years about how they love coming to Salem, the grandmother's wanted to come too. Led about town by two pros, both grandmothers truly got a fast paced Salem 101 course. They are going home tired, but a good kind of tired..............

They found Vintage Photography for a cherished family portrait.

Pass the Amelia Payson House and collect $200

Terry & Ali, our favorite Yankee fans, have just arrived and brought Don and I our very own personalized Monopoly game. What a clever idea. It's everything Salem, Arizona, the B&B, City Hall, the Red Sox and the Patriots, all around the board. Certainly, a labor of love and a lot cutting and pasting from the website and blog. Even down to the Alan Jackson $500 bucks and the Leanne Rimes $100's, they have truly captured our circle of life. Thank you...... On display. You have too see this!

Click on the picture and you can see the detail.

Our New First Family

Barak Obama, Congratulation!

American Won, America One......

Today's the day.................new residents moving in soon

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

By tonight we will have a new President, and while I'm glad that all the robo calling and TV commercials will come to a halt, I can't help but feel that there will be a void on Wednesday. I guess it's common to feel some withdrawal and hopefully sheer joy will take it's place. I'm certainly hoping that my candidate wins, but I'm worried about my dear friend Lena if he doesn't. Last time she didn't get out of bed for three days after Kerry lost as she worked so hard on his campaign out in Arizona. There will be no living with her if she is disappointed again. (Thanksgiving dinner at her house will definitely be cancelled, a real shame.) The last election catapulted her into politics in a big way as she proceeded to run for State Representative for her District in Tucson. This energized democrat not only won, she topped the ticket.

Whatever happens today, we are indeed going to see change. And for my friend Lena's sake, and my favorite meal, I'm expecting a celebration. Go vote!

Fantasy Football, Queen for a day...............

News Flash

I hate to brag, but today I top the leaderboard of our Fantasy Football team, "SalemCity" on ESPN Fantasy Football. I'm sure my placement will be short lived and I will be knocked down to my rightful place as the novice that I truly am. But it is exciting even if just for a fleeting moment. Sara, our other girl teammate should be congratulated as she has been number one too, and for a few weeks. GIRL POWER............ I think they thought they would just easily take our money. Not so fast guys.

Halloween 2008

Another Halloween, our 24th, was certainly a record setter. Estimated at approx. 100,000 revelers strong, our City managed to keep the peace, protect personal property, and put on the greatest show on earth for it's visitors. I'm sure there are a few guests feeling the pain today, but they all had a grand time and they all say they want to come back again.
Boy, have I heard that before. We need a bigger place!


A Salem Lights cigarette & ashtray and a princess.
A Jack Sparrow lookalike threatens his wench.........



Elvis is a live and well, and this Scream character just won't leave town........