Herman and Dave

Bernard's brother, Dave, is the Ranger at Patagonia Lake. He gave us a pass and information so we could enjoy the park. A delightful guy and a lovely park!

Patagonia Lake

We drove to this big lake, about 50 miles from Green Valley. The campsites here with water and electricity were all full of "snowbirds" from the cold and snowy North ie Minnesota, Washington and Canada!

small boat in big wind!

This boat was launched from the beach where the wind was howling.

hiking along the lake.

Soon these trees will have leaves.

boats ready to take you out on the lake

These boats are for rent. Fishing in the lake is good as it is stocked regularly. Summer, not February, is the busy season.

buffet

We have nothing to put in here - yet - but will have something after we clean out our locker in Troutdale next summer! It matches the rest of the furniture here so we decided to get it anyway.

Oldest European settlement in AZ

Spanish came here in 1600's and built the first fort. Apaches ran them out. This chart shows that other settlements were run out by the Apaches also as the fort was vacant and then occupied many times during its long history. Now a museum and AZ state park, it's very interesting. The terrritory was purchased as part of the Gadsden Purchase by the US. It's in Tubac: Presidio Historic State Park.

Presidio museum

This is an incredible, very interesting museum at Tubac, about 30 miles south of Green valley. Mining is still important here, especially when the price of copper is up.

Indian art

These beautiful baskets are still made today. The Indians of Arizona had many uses for them.

1885 schoolroom

These desks look very familiar to me! The inkwells were especially tempting! When I was in 1st and 2nd grades we had desks just like these and they were nailed to the floor. Nancy

on the blackboard

Punishments in 1885!

Presidio school

In order to "attend" this school it is necessary to dress as the students did in 1885. This group of 4th or 5th graders arrived just as we were finished at the museum. Their teacher will teach the same lesson that was taught in 1885. Their nametags are of the students here in 1885. I wonder if any of their misdeeds will require lashes!

Painting our bedroom

 

Javelinas just outside our wall

 

These are wild pigs. I have never heard of anyone BBQing them but maybe they are too tough!

Cloth coming off!

 

Marge and Ernie at Oregon party

 

stretching machine

After our instructor demonstrated the correct use of the machines in the fitness center, Nancy decided that this one is the easiest!

workout

Here's Herm in one of our fitness centers in Green Valley.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

We visited one of about 8 locations in Tucson where this show, the biggest in the USA if not the world, comes for 2 weeks every February. Exhibitors bring tons of rocks for buyers who come from everywhere. We spent an exhausting day trying to see as much as we could at this part of this huge show, in one of the locations. This crate has a big (thunderegg?) half of amethyst. It weighs a lot!

crystals of amethyst

Amethyst from Arizona is among the best in the world.

trilobites anyone?

Fossils galore, were polished, still in their original stone.

big stone lions for your entry!

from China, a jade ship

There were several 0f these, each about 3 ft tall, in various colors of jade

pelts and horns -of all sorts

Here are lots of Indian things, western type.

beads, beads and more beads!

This is only one of many places to buy beads at this show