Saturday, March 31, 2007

An Afternoon in Tombstone, AZ


The legend is still alive in Tombstone, Arizona! We spent Friday afternoon roaming the streets. A highlight was the Old Courthouse Museum that lays out the details and background of the settlement of the town and, of course, the "Gunfight at the O. K. Corral."


In case you don't know how the name Tombstone was actually attached to the town, a miner named Ed Schieffelin from Pennsylvania gave the name to his silver mining claim in 1877 after being warned by soldiers that the only rocks he would find there would be his own tombstone. As more people came to find their fortunes and the development grew it became the town of Tombstone. Texas Kate still rides her horse down Main Street and the stagecoaches continue to carry passengers. Although the shops are filled with 21st century wares and the saloon menus are modern, if one concentrates and uses some imagination, it is possible to get a glimpse of the Earp brothers, etal.

And what visit to Tombstone would be complete without a visit to Boot Hill Cemetery. Below are some sad epitaphs that tell their own story.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Cochise's Home

Here in southern Arizona, near Benson and Tombstone, is the home of the famous Indian warrior and leader of the Chiricahua, Cochise. He was born in 1815 in the Chiricahua Mountains and died there in 1874 of what is thought to have been stomach cancer. Peace was negotiated between the Chiricahua and the United States in 1872 due to the help of a white man who became Cochise's friend.






There are no man-made structures making up this historic site. The mountains, nicknamed the "Dragoons," were the homes of his tribe. Dragoons were Mexican mounted soldiers for which these unusually shaped mountains in this section of the Coronado National Forest were named due to their sharply protruding shapes.


The Chiricahuas, who are a segment of the Apache tribe, made their homes in these naturally sheltered and protected canyons and gullies. As you learn from the display onsite about the success of these Indians in keeping the U. S. troops out in the 1800s, you need only take a look around at the crevices and precipices to see the advantage they would be to a person who knew how to navigate them.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Bisbee, AZ

In the late 1880s and early 1900s Bisbee was a booming copper mining town. Today it's a well-preserved historic old town, boasting a Smithsonian Mining Museum and quaint B&B's. The Queen Mine is still open for tours and the tailings decorate the mountains edging the town with beautiful shades of orange. This mural is a recent artistic contribution to Main Street's wall.

It's fun to walk the sloping streets visiting the shops and historic buildings. Jan and Nancy spent an afternoon poking around in the shops and taking a look at the town's many unbelievable stairs that lead to the homes on the side of the mountain.


We also talked the desk clerk at the Bisbee Grand Hotel into taking us for a tour. Among the room motifs were Victorian, Hollywood, Japanese and our favorite, the western room with the covered wagon bed. (See Nancy trying out the wagon below.)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Animal Heaven

On Sunday, March 25, we went down the road just a few miles from our ranch location in southern Arizona to spend some time at a special place. The human inhabitants of this 40-acre ranch have rescued or adopted a variety of dogs, cats, goats, miniature horses and full size horses. This is Pal, one of the lucky animals living in this little slice of animal heaven. He was only shy for the first few minutes we were there and then he took all the attention we could give. The pet goats were also very curious as to what Barry might have for them.

Below, Jan and Jerry are sharing a few thoughts with the owner of this lovely spot, Roseanne.

We all had a very pleasant afternoon visiting with Roseanne and her mother, Carolyn, and we made several new four-legged friends as well. The three miniature horses that live here were rejected by the owners since they didn't have the particular characteristics that would make them good breeding animals. They have a fantastic place to roam now. Below are Shadow and Lady coming for some rubs on the head. And at the bottom, all three little ones are in their pasture where we watched them run, play and kick wildly. And take a look at one of the ranch's 360 degree views of the Chiricahua Mountains as well.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Family and Friends

Mid-march found us in Tucson visiting two of Jerry's cousins, Sandy MacNaughton (and hubby Don) and Jacque Bates. It's been a long time since these three were together and there were many tales told. The truth of those tales will remain questionable, but the fun had by all was undoubted. A plan for a reunion of all of the Begley cousins is now in the works. We were so thankful to Sandy and Don's daughter and son-in-law, Kristy and Rob, for the super parking site in their driveway. It was the perfect spot for us!



After the family visit we rolled on south from Tucson and are now spending some time with friends on a ranch near Bisbee, Arizona. The owners are taking a break to travel a little and our friends Jan and Barry are babysitting the animals for a while. So here we are sharing the views of the mountains, enjoying the sun and the solitude. The old rodeo horse, Ajo, and wild burros who live here wait for Jan to feed them each morning.