Apricity West 4

October 6-8, 2023

A pitstop in Tucson is always fun! Shared many delicious meals with sister, Terri and brother-in-law, Jim, starting with breakfast at Frida’s…

Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter whose signature style honored her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She stayed true to herself even after being struck with polio at the age of 6 and then a serious bus/trolley car accident leaving her crippled at the age of 18. Her father was a photographer who captured her for many years, and then she painted her true self - notably with a unibrow and mustache. “I won’t curb my self-expression to meet your expectations of how a woman should look.” After having one leg amputated, she wore long dresses to hide her injuries. She died at the age of 47 without having any recognition for her work.

Dinner in T&J’s Kitchen 3 nights - grilled chicken/rice, chop chop chicken salad, blue cheese burgers/marinated green beans. Yummy - as always.

 

Brunch at Panera’s with Jim’s mom - she is very interesting to be with. 

 

A visit to DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun - “Ted” DeGrazia was born in 1909 the son of Italian immigrants in a mining camp in Morenci, AZ. While his father worked in the copper mine, young DeGrazia roamed the mountainous region collecting colorful minerals and copper ore. As a young man, he moved to Tucson to attend University of Arizona, supporting himself planting trees by day and leading a big band at night. He earned three degrees, including Master of Arts where his thesis explored the relationship of color and sound. He became famous after his paintings were first published in Arizona Highways magazine. 

To protest inheritance taxes on works of art, he hauled about 100 of his paintings on horseback to the Superstition Mountain near Phoenix and set them ablaze in 1976. This infamous event was reported in such  publications as the Wall Street Journal and People’s Magazine, becoming part of DeGrazia’s legend before his death in 1982. 

He and his wife established the Gallery in the Sun on a 10-acre foothill site which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and still exhibits his many works today.

 

This is the home he lived in during that time.

And the Chapel nearby.

 

10/9/2023 - Monday

A four-hour drive today to our ultimate destination, Congress, AZ, the views included an ostrich ranch, two prisons, vibrant green crops outside of Phoenix with ample running water for irrigation, and farmland converted to endless, ginormous warehouses. As we travel through our beloved Wickenburg, the amount of construction is amazing. We were told last year that they would be widening the roads and constructing numerous roundabouts in an attempt to slow down the speeding crazies to Vegas on Rt. 93. Arrived at North Ranch at last! 

It didn’t take long to get set up in the same site we had last year. Rich knows so many people here that he likes to be where he can follow what’s happening and they can see him to stop and visit - and stop they did. Many of those folks already here have pulled up in golf carts, trucks and automobiles to welcome us to our “home away from home.”

 

10/10/2023 - Tuesday

You can imagine what the grill and front of the rig look like after 2500 miles on the road. We tried to get it detailed while in Deming, but they were too busy. So Rich got someone from Wickenburg who has been trying to pull away from doing RV’s and convinced him to come out. The plan was to do it at 6am!!! It was their preference, but it meant I had to be up and out of bed before then as we had to pull in the slide (where the bed is). It didn’t make me happy, but Road Runner and Gracie are both clean as a whistle for now. 

I went to chair yoga at the clubhouse for over an hour and it felt awesome - stretching, balancing, moving! I know I will be sore tomorrow, but will show up for line dancing nonetheless. Having my hip replaced on May 30 kept me kind of inactive for the better part of summer, so anxious to get moving again!

 

Dot and Harvey invited us over for happy hour. It is always a delight to visit with them and this time we met Rascal for the first time! Here he is sprawled out on their new wood and resin table designed/created by Cleve Chase.

Bill Strickler, Master woodcarver, is the creator of this beauty - amazing details.

It feels so good to sit outside enjoying the view of mountains, palm trees, saguaros, sunsets, and clear starlit skies at night.  

10/11/2023 - Wednesday

Another great thing about being in our site, is that we only have to walk 30 yards to get to the clubhouse for all of the activities. Today was line dancing! It felt soooo good to be able to walk over pain free and actually dance for about an hour. I didn’t stay for the 2nd hour, not wanting to over do it - AND I was pretty tired AND Rich couldn’t wait to get to the Elks for lunch. More hugs and greetings from Karen the bar manager and patrons too. 

 

10/12/2023 - Thursday

Back to chair yoga this morning for an hour. Jane Adams is the instructor on YouTube that we like. 

 

Jams are starting up again today, but I am going to watch until I get my head back into the ukulele. I clipped my nails back and now have to build up the calluses on the tips of my fingers again. 

Did I mention the perfect weather here? Dry heat!