Brrr.

This week winter came a knockin'. Okay, so it didn't look like this:



But it didn't look like this either:

Photo by: Tina Papies

Jack agrees.

So does the dead flower behind him.

This is the middle ground we thought it would be, but it was still a shock to the system. We were supposed to hike both Friday & Saturday mornings but decided to stay under the covers instead. We did finally mosey on out Friday afternoon to take a look at the Tempe Art Festival. It's a huge one that goes on for blocks & blocks. This isn't me, but it could have been.


That night we headed to a Friday potluck, bringing our "famous" Chinese cole slaw. There wasn't a sliver left, so I think it was a success. Love that stuff. Michael was a hit with the kids.



Saturday, we eventually made it up the street two blocks (driving!) to visit the River of Time Museum. It shares the building with the library, and I'd always wondered what they'd done with such a small space. We took advantage of their open house (meaning it was free) to find out. It turns out, they did quite a bit with the space they had. We got there just as a tour was beginning and learned all kinds of things. You'll note all the mountains we've been hiking look very different, and we learned why.



This little museum has the largest amethyst crystal cluster anywhere, and only in AZ can you get this color.

Like too many infrastructure projects, there was a hitch when a pipeline that was supposed to bring in water was made of California redwood. Not only did the top dry out and start leaking, but riders would shoot holes into the thing to water their horses. The pipes were quickly replaced with concrete. We did not learn why the tap water in Fountain Hills tastes so bad that the first thing we bought upon arrival was a filter for our faucet (and we've drank tap water in third-world countries without complaint).

We learned the interesting tidbit that the Indians were using porous rock to grind their corn, which meant that a lot of rock got ground into the corn too, wreaking havoc on their teeth (causing some to starve).

Of course, there's the crappy history of the "explorers" who decimated the local people, the animals, the environment. There's a "bloody" story every place we've ever been, including every island in the Caribbean. It never fails to shock (the guide didn't go into it, but you could read about it).

The continuing fight of the Yavapai people is interesting (they're coming out the victors these days). One of the recent fights (in the 1970s) over a dam is what sparked the development of Fountain Hills (a former ranch). The fountain was actually built to entice investors to what at the time was nothing but desert. Looks like it worked! There was much more, and our volunteer docent was fun to listen to, so if you're in the area, I would definitely recommend a visit.

Ron, Nancy, Chris, Michael, Caribs

Afterwards we did something I love to do -- met up with a long-time blog (& book) reader. Nancy actually introduced herself during a visit to St. Kitts years ago, but we've both moved and ended up just 20 minutes from each other. For the past 2-3 weeks, she had been teasing us with the promise of a surprise - a shipment. The Shipment (capital T, capital S) was delayed, our visit postponed, and our curiosity quite piqued. Upon arrival, The Shipment was unveiled (literally), and whallaa! It was a huge bucket of ice and Carib, the beer of St. Kitts. I can honestly say that beer as The Shipment would never have crossed our minds - the trouble they went through! Cheers everyone!

Once again, Michael was a hit with the "kids."

The next surprise was that they had a visiting friend who lives on the St. Kitts sister island of Nevis, so we had lots and lots to talk about. And if that wasn't enough, Nancy made enough food to feed us for a month (appetizers, dinner, dessert). Christmas balls for place markings? Loved it (just what Michael needed - see Jingle Balls reference).

Food, Carib, lots of gabbing, more food, laughing, and some more food, and then it was time to package, yep, more food, a few to-go Carib's, and head home. Sunday - Nancy and company are probably still washing dishes; Michael's at work; I'm in the apartment gym...