Spring?

This doesn't look like a pleasant spring day.

A glowering dark sky and brisk breezes have the flags at the Town Hall whipping briskly in the sky. And one shivvers. After all this is early March and still, according to the calendar, winter.

But wait. What's this we find just a few blocks away?

Well, it's either a flowering plum or apple tree. I never can keep them apart in my mind. And that is a sign of spring.

(Several days later: SWMBO came in and said she had thought of what that tree is: an ornamental plum. I looked it up on the Web(s) and sure enough, she's right!)

Well, it can't come any too soon for me.

And, as always, the photos are more spectacular if you click on them.

Fry - too high!

Fry's Food Markets are opening a new gasoline station at their store up in North Prescott - at Willow Creek Road just north of Willow Lake Road. I was by there today and was astounded by the prices they are advertising.

Based on those prices, I don't think they'll stay open too long.

But, truthfully, the station isn't completed yet and those figures were apparently just put up to test the signs.

Don't worry, folks, it's not that bad.

Yet.

Catalyst Unveiled!

So, you see, I've been growing my beard out lately, just to see how grey, or white, it has become over the years. Awhile back, Tombo said "Let's see a picture!" But I declined at that time because it was mostly stubble. But the other night, as I was on a nice run of cards down at Old Charlie's Hootch-n-Stuff saloon, somebody with one of them damned new fangled cell phone cameras got a picture of me.

It wasn't long before the sheriff showed up and checked the cards. Blast him, he says they were coming from a marked deck. I don't have any idea what he was talkin' about but it doesn't matter. Now here I sit in the hoosegow (jail) waiting for Angel Mary to come by with a cake I told her to bring me.

The worst part of this is after all these years of foolin' you folks with pictures from my youth, now you know what I really look like! Once I get out of here I'm going to have to do something with my appearance to fool them boys followin' the reward posters!

New life

Yesterday, SWMBO cleaned the sun porch and did a little rearranging. This morning she caught Smoke apparently giving his approval. The cats love to lie out there in the sun.

As always, the photos appear larger when you click on them.

Out from In, New from Old

Time for an update on the building of the new library in Prescott Valley. These pictures were both taken from inside the current library, on the third floor of the town administration building. The construction seems to be taking a very long time but it is continuing to move along. The building is expected to be complete and occupied later this year.

As always the photos are larger if you click on them.

Big Smoke, Small Smoke

I'm always amazed at how flexibile cats can be. If the weather is hot, they stretch out on the floor or the bed, with their front paws extended one way and their rear ones the other way. I measured Smoke one time when he was lying like that and he's a good three feet long.

But then, look how small he can become when he finds a perfect place to curl up: in the bottom of a laundry basket.

More signs of the times

I was in Prescott today and decided to stop at Porky's Barbecue for one of their pulled pork sandwiches. After trying several doors and finding them all locked, I became more observant and noticed this sign.

Since today was a Monday, I was out of luck. But when I do get in, perhaps this is what I'll have to eat.

I also stopped at Park Plaza to check on Granny J's rumor last week that the Mexican restaurant and grocery store had closed. Correct on one and not so correct on the other. The restaurant has changed its name to the Pita Pit and advertises Kronos' Gyros on the front window. I stopped in and perused the menu which features a pretty good number of Greek items but also still offers Mexican food.

Then I walked down a couple of steps to the grocery store. It is the same and one of the employees told me it will remain as a basically Mexican market. But they've apparently severed their connection to the restaurant.

Meantime, in my town of Prescott Valley, progress continues at Roberts Marketplace. Construction workers are busy erecting steel over the site of the former tiny convenience store.


I inquired of a clerk in the new store and was told 16 additional fuel pumps are being added. It's becoming a gasoline superstore!