Apricity West 4

February 16, 2024 - Friday

Had another piano/ukulele jam with Terri. We are definitely making progress and having fun. When Jim got out of work, we went to Transplant, a Craft beer and pizza joint. They have delicious deep dish Detroit-style square or thin crust round pizza. Yum!

 

February 17, 2024 - Saturday

On this gorgeous 71-degree day, we picked up sandwiches from Beyond Bread to have a desert picnic at Agua Caliente (hot water) Park. In the 1870’s it was unique in terms of the perennial hot springs… A little history:

 

1850-1870 it was a periodic Army troop encampment.

1873 - Peter Bain homesteaded 160 acres around the springs.

1875 - James Fuller bought it and built a one room adobe house. He also planted orchards of citrus, figs, apricots, dates, and quince. 

1885 - 1951 various owners used the property as a horse ranch, cattle ranch, and hay farm.

1951 - 1959 Art Filiatrault bought it and expanded the acreage to 1200 acres with 7 ponds. 

1959 - 1984 the property fell into a state of disrepair, neglected by a series of off-site owners.

1984 - Pima County Parks and Recreation acquired 101 acres for a little less than $1.5 million.

2022 - lightening struck causing a wind fueled fire which damaged over 75 palm trees.

There is a 200-year-old velvet mesquite tree that they care for and take extensive means to support the heavy branches with stacks of mortared bricks. The pods are versatile for people as they can be milled and used as flour, or made into syrup. 

Mesquite bark is used to make baskets, fabrics and medicine. 

February 18, 2024 - Sunday

Another perfect weather day, so Terri and Jim took us to the top of the Graduate Hotel on the University of Arizona campus. The 14th floor has an outdoor lounge area, a pool for guests only, a bar, and a splendid view of the city. Pictures cannot do this view justice. We had ourselves a cocktail while enjoying it. 

Dream Catchers dangling above the bar…

Then we went to Barrio Brewery for appetizers (and beer). I had a delicious pineapple cider since I don’t like beer. It came in a brown beer bottle like beer. Rich bought a hoodie and Jim picked out a couple of glasses and gave Rich one. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent on the “thrones" in their backyard oasis. At the end of the day (5pm) they served up burgers, broccoli and roasted sweet potato cubes on the patio. Of course, it was delicious.

 

February 19, 2024 - Monday

The ONLY thing I did today was a short walk around the park and reading a paperback book that Terri just finished. I am an audiobook kind of girl (now finished with Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell), but decided to change it up for this book. 

 

February 20, 2024 - Tuesday

Rich and I ran our errands - mailed my taxes, took Shadow through the carwash, shopped at Safeway. I went for a walk around the park and came back to a salad for lunch. We are trying to eat VERY LITTLE during the week, so we can play hard on the weekends!

 

February 21, 2024 - Wednesday

Made our first trip to Murphy’s Irish Pub this year so Rich could get a Guinness. I had an apple cider that was very good. All of our favorite bartenders from last year have moved on to other things, but Adam the owner is in good spirits and has opened a coffee shop, Brew Station Coffee Company, next door to the pub. 

 

We stopped at Fry’s Grocery store to compare to Safeway. I think we will be going there more often now - I like their merchandizing, signing and sales.

 

Amy, from the RV office, pulled up in her golf cart asking if we knew a Marilyn who was asking for us. Well sure we do - we met up with her near Quartzsite for breakfast a couple of months ago. She made plans to come here at Crazy Horse for a month, but not until March 1st. So we walked over to invite her over to our place to catch up. She was on a mission - finding the best route to Rice, TX to get a new air conditioner for her casita. She has an appointment on 2/26 so she and Rich sat with her tattered and torn road atlas to set an itinerary of RV parks to stop at after 3-5 hours driving a day. She will then reverse the trip to come back here for a month. 

We invited her for dinner and the conversation continued. If you remember, she knows Be and Anela from their stay in the same park she was in. All good people.

 

February 22,  2024 - Thursday

Happy National Margarita Day!

 

Took a short walk around the park in the morning. Marilyn had already pulled out, but texted us later in the day when she arrived at her first stop - Deming.

 

Sat out all afternoon - reading, crocheting and listening/viewing the LOUD F-16 fighter jets that seem very active lately. It gives me goosebumps!

(Picture from The Rand Blog)

In nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, there are 2600 acres of boneyard where they store fighter jets, consisting of F-15s, F-16s, UH60 Blackhawks, A-10s, Warthogs, B-1 Bombers and C-130s.