Sally

Corona de Tucson

October 29, 2024

 

Rescued July 9, 2009 - October 29, 2024 

Sally was rescued from a kill shelter with a two week claim time.  (I'm happy to report that the kill shelter where she was is an adoption shelter.)  There are no words to describe the feeling you have when a puppy puts their paws around your neck and holds on for dear life. She made sure she was coming home with us. Our plan that day was to get Sally to the vets and do whatever we needed to do to make sure she was healthy and then find a nice forever home for her as we already had Dover and Wrecks. Our vet said at her initial check-up that she was between 2 - 2.5 years old and that she had the worst case of parasites and worms he had ever seen. Also, she had not been spayed. And the rest is history...we did nurse Sally back to health and we did find Sally a nice forever home with us and the next 15 years absolutely flew by.  

Sally slowly started feeling better and once she was her healthy self, she enjoyed all that our home had to offer...love, companions, food, grass, flowers, toys, treats, walks and so on.  But Sally was also very cautious about finding her place in the line-up that had already been established.  Dover was the alpha and Wrecks was the gunner and we are sure that Sally so appreciated her family that she was not about to upset the apple cart.  

Sally was full of surprises...bringing a toy for us to throw, or suddenly jumping up and doing zoomies around the house.  But, it was no surprise that everytime I walked in the kitchen, even if she was sound asleep, she would always be right behind me.  Raw carrots today mom? Or yogurt you need cleaned off the spoon? Or a snippet of chicken that you might accidentally (so she thought) drop on the floor?  The memories are forever !  

On October 29th, Sally was taking a morning nap in her bed next to the sofa and Joe and I were doing the usual morning searches on our iPads.  We heard a yelp and in the less than 2 seconds it took for us to reach her, she was gone. 

And now, a chapter closes...the Tan Clan is gone.  First Wrecks in 2015, then Dover and Jack both this time last year, and now our sweet little Sallybear.  I am hoping this blog will help ease the heartbreak for Joe and me and we can just remember with a smile the wonderful time we spent with all these pups...each one with their own personality, their individual needs, but all four with so much love to give.  Our home isn't the same without our pups.

I hope to sit back down at the computer soon for a catch up...our family has been busy.  Joe had surgery on his eye,  we had an October birthday, the leaves are changing colors, and an author/illustrator daughter whose  middle-school novel was published. 

I will close with a blast from the past...

December 2013

 Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

And relish every second !

 

Wrapping up Willcox

Willcox/Cochise KOA

Willcox, AZ

October 12, 2024

The high desert climate of Cochise County is a good place to produce pistachios.  We see lots of these orchards as we drive the roads around the area. We stopped for a photo because I have never seen a pistachio on the tree. 

We first visited The Cattle Capital of the West...best known as Willcox, AZ in March 2023.  We returned for another stay this fall to continue exploring the area around Willcox which we really did enjoy.  There isn't much hustle and bustle in Willcox and on some corners it appears to be a bit rundown, but we did enjoy some history, a few stores, and lunch.

Willcox was founded in 1880 as a whistlestop for the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Some would say its very existence is due to the fact that this area is about half way between El Paso and Phoenix and seemed like a good spot to add the train depot.  

Sights along our walk...

We enjoyed lunch at The Dining Car...a decent pulled pork bar-b-q sandwich, slaw, and onion rings.  

On one of our drives, we stopped at Rattlesnake Ranch in Dragoon, AZ.  

I did read that Dragoon has officially become a ghost town.

Rattlesnake Ranch had its beginnings as John and Sandy's Rattlesnake Crafts and Rock shop...a souvenir shop that attracted motorists with its life size metal statues of Indians, snakes, and dinosaurs.  John made wallets, belts, and other useful items out of rattlesnake skins and sold them out of an old trailer.  He was also a collector of junk...tons of Old West artifacts he lovingly hoarded and had on display...signs, boots, tools, etc.  In later years when John and Sandy retired, the store was unattended and payment for anything that had a price was on the honor system.  We parked very close to the road so we have no idea if the artifacts are still there and sold on the honor system, but we did walk the path to take in the dinosaurs that we saw.  

Apple Annie's was also on our list this year.  We made three different stops. First stop was at the Country Store just down the street from the KOA.  

   

Yummy Apple Bread toasted with butter for breakfast...

Our next stop was the Fruit Orchard.  We had planned on picking apples, but the apple trees that were close by were all picked and we didn't make the trek to the end of the long rows of trees.  The Fruit Orchard has more that 15,000 trees which includes a variety of apples along with peaches, cherries, pears and apricots.  Granny, Snap, and Pink Lady apples are the "you-pick" selection for October.  

We did a short walk down the row and not one apple did we see...8 different varieties of apples are picked in September.

There is a bakery on site and we did not leave empty handed. 

The fruit stand had lots of choices for fruit...

Our last stop for the day was my favorite !  Apple Annie's Produce and Pumpkins.  The farm is open for "you-pick" mid September thru October.   There is no fee to enter the fruit orchard or the produce farm, you only pay for what you pick or choose to buy at the store.

The farm provides wheelbarrows, snippers, bags and a map.  This place is huge! 

Produce good for picking included squash, zucchini, okra, black-eye peas, green beans, eggplant, a large variety of peppers, chillies, and tomatoes. 

It's way cool to walk the rows, but we...ummm I...was mainly there to pick pumpkins and a bouquet of sunflowers.  

I love sunflowers, and was I ever surprised to learn the farm sells 11 different varieties.  

On the way home, we drove by a cotton field.  

Back at the KOA,  Sally discovers a new obstacle she can master,  a very pleasant day has come to an end, and it's off to bed early for an early start home on Sunday.  

HAPPY TRAILS...heading home !

It has been a busy week back at the oasis.  We are happy to be home ! More on that next time...