The week-end

This past week-end included another gun show but it was local, only about 40 minute drive but to make things easy we stayed in the  Marriott next door and I snapped a few pictures for you. This past week-end was unseasonably warm, got up to 74 degrees and for some people (not me) that meant.....

Water fall at the circular drive entrance

Close up of the flowers mostly begonia's.

Cactus to the left of the Entrance

Cactus to the right of the entrance and a few close ups of these ....

looks like hair all over it...

Don't touch

Undecided directions

Light fixtures in the restaurant

Now I showed you all those pictures just to prove I didn't have my nose in this book all the time

but I came pretty close because not only was it REALLY good it was also

thick but finished just before we left for home. I have a hard time sitting down and reading at home but when I am at a hotel...I can lounge around all day long:)



Welcome

Several years ago I read an article that pointed out how many people make sure their front door that greets quests is well groomed and welcoming but the door the home owner uses (back door, garage door and etc.)  is mundane. It poised the question of why and how we the homeowners should feel welcome to our own home so here was my solution......

How about you? Have you made your door welcoming to yourself?

I DID IT!!!!

Over two years ago Nancy over at Wyoming Breezes mentioned she listen to books on tape while she knitted. I thought that was a great idea and went out and bought one of these

Well, I must be the slowest person in the world because matter how hard I tried,

I couldn't get a book downloaded to it until...........last week .......I had success!! Listened to a book and made a pair of mittens for Bridge and Beyond  charity. This is terrific..time goes by fast and get to listen to something other than the TV chatter. I also came up with the idea of carrying a remnant ball of yard in my purse with circular needles to make squares for the same charity and it works great. Doesn't take up much space in my purse, have it with me wherever I go and can whip it out and work on it anywhere like today when I had to have blood work done.

Projects

I normally knit and crochet for charity but I kind of burned out when I was down with my broken ankle and that is ALL I did so  I  decided to take a break and make a few things for Christmas gifts for next year...
A crocheted snowflake ornament. Am thinking that I might give this to my daughter's mother-in-law. She has always given the kids ornaments for Christmas and maybe this would be special to her.

To see more go to Rambling Rae on the side bar as I will post more there as I finish them up.............

Bridges

I love bridges and especially suspension bridges. I have only walked across one but look at all these bridges I found online.

                                                                                      A  vine bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 136 metres (446 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river.

Don't you want to see where it goes?

More like a climbing ladder.

Left or right?

Hope the wind isn't blowing.

Maybe we could stop and fish off this one.

So what do you think...is there one you would like to cross?



Antique Arms Gun Show

Every year in Jan. we trek over to Las Vegas for this gun show.....I have posted about it before but this time was a different experience. You see they started working on the bridge that would bypass going down into Bolder Dam around 2005  This is a aerial view of the proposed area to bridge. Looks pretty impossible right?

Year after year we watched the progress

and low and behold this trip we drove on the completed project  for the first time! It is 900 feet height and 2000 feet across.

The weired thing is that you couldn't tell you were on it because they have the sides all built up so you can't see down but guess what? It took off at least 40 minutes travel time and a huge headache of avoiding tourist. It also allows trucks to not have to take a 100 mile detour because of safety issues with the  damn.  

The other different thing this trip was our night out to dinner at the Rio Casino where we had never been

You know the old saying...if you have seen one casino you have seen them all and that is pretty much the truth however, this was a nice view. This was from a second floor area that had a variety of  shops

and dinner was on the 51st floor with a city view and  great food! My theory is that even if you go to the same place over and over you should try find ways to make it new and fun!


 
I thought I would take a few pictures of what most visitors are impressed with here in Arizona the first of January

The desert and cactus

Since we travel this route fairly often I have a favorite rock

Now wouldn't this be a great place to build a house....high up to oversee the valley and protection from the hot west sun to your back.
I took all these pictures out of the car window and hubby was doing about 80 so I was very impressed they came out! Up in the sky I saw these at a distance.....Know what they are?

 The weather must have been perfect for the hot air balloons in the mid 60's

this one was right next to the road

The Saguaro Cactus provides our state flower...this was taken at a stop light right in town. This plant grows approx. 1" a year and can reach anywhere from 15 to 50 feet high. A cactus that has more than five arms such as this one,  is at least 200 years old.

A night out

As I have mentioned before...hubby and I go out to eat most every night but we sort of have a circuit we follow with favorite foods and people but once in a while I insist we branch off and do something totally different...this is more of what I would call "a night out". Here is one such night....We headed to Cave Creek which is a quaint little western town with lots of shops and a several restaurants like the "Buffalo Chip Saloon".  Here are a few pictures to give you the feeling of the place....

The bandstand

Old boots hanging from the ceiling

Where the waitresses pick up the orders...notice the condiment box on the table

Fun signs for what's to come



Outside comfort

An eye catcher for sure

The main attraction

To see daylight pictures of the arena and etc. so here

This is not your professional bull riding but rather a place for a first timer to give it a try with all his buddies urging him on.....

and it is up close snorting fun!

Collections

Here I posted pictures of a little collection of clocks that I have and just before that the collection of dolls. It occurs to me that I seem to have many little collections of a variety of items so I thought I would share another collection with you today. I don't get to see these very often because they have to stay in the safe but I do love them......

This is a replica of a Colt Patterson including the bullet mold, de-capping tool, cleaning rod, cap holder and powder drop
click on pictures for a close up

Colt Walker with tools

Colt 45 Peacemaker

L-R Sheriff Model, 4 3/4 barrel colt, 1860 Army and 5 1/2 barrel peacemaker

They fascinate me because they are perfect replicas of the real thing but they fit in the palm of you hand

I will give a warning here....just because the gun is little does not mean it couldn't be deadly if not handled properly....

those are real bullets and this is a Freedom Arms derringer which fits in this holster and clips inside your cowboy boot.

Let's see...clocks, dolls and guns..yep, I am a strange cookie and wait till you see the rest!