Echoes of the Southwest

January started the year out with two fantastic trips.  My husband won a trip for two to Crazy Mountain Ranch in Montana.  It was four days, three nights, during the dead of winter, and for us Zonies (Arizona people) it was going to be colder than we were used to.  Part of the winnings included airplane tickets, money, full winter wardrobe, fantastic food, and fun events.  We took a ride on a zip line, road on a dog sled, and froze our butts ice fishing.  It was a blast.  Here are links to the posts I did on this awesome trip: http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/2011/01/crazy-mountain-ranch.html http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/2011/01/montana-wilderness-and-ice-fishing.html The next place I went to in January was Vulture Mine, AZ.  I saw those wacky boys from Ghost Adventures investigate the place and wanted to see it for myself.  Sharon and I decided to make Vulture Mine our first stop on our trip to Prescott to stay at the haunted Hotel Vendome.  The place ended up being so

BIRD CAGE THEATRE: One of the things we wanted to do this year was a planned and organized ghost hunt.  Our goal was to investigate in a place where those TV ghost hunters had great experiences and evidence of paranormal activity and ghosts still hanging around.  That place was the Bird Cage Theater in Tombstone, AZ.  In May of 2011, seven of us spent three hours in the dark walking around, asking question, and hoping the spirits who still reside there would let us know they are hanging around.  We had a great time and felt like we were being watched by many unseen eyes.  Here are some links to posts I did on the Bird Cage and our hunt there: http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/2011/05/walk-through-time-inside-birdcage.html http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/2011/05/tombstone-birdcage-theatre-ghosts-and.html http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/2011/05/investigation-of-birdcage-theatre.html GLOBE JAIL AND NOFTSGER HILL INN: Another place we wanted to investigate was the ol

Immersed in the Hereford’s history in Eagar, AZ, sits the 26 Bar Ranch.   It was first known as the Milky Way Ranch in the 1940’s with its big white show barn which housed many Hereford cattle.   The barn is now a local landmark.   In 1964 the ranch became the 26 Bar Ranch or John Wayne’s Ranch, who was one of the owners.   Wayne, along with Ken Reafsnyder and Louis Johnson, his business partners, kept the ranch until John Wayne’s death in 1979 from lung and stomach cancer.   Lately, I have heard rumors that Bigfoot has been seen near the ranch.   I don’t know if that is true or not, but it would be worth checking out.  John Wayne and Louis Johnson

Frosty is doing a happy dance because it is cold, Friday, and almost Christmas. Happy weekend to all and to all a goodnight.

Sharon and I's book, Kickin' Up Dust (Getting Lost to Find Ourselves) is now available on Kindle (  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LTE6DQ  ) and soon on Nook.  You can also download the book to your PC's, Smartphones and Pads. Description: This book chronicles the lives on Sharon Day and Julie Ferguson, two paranormal bloggers who met at a tough time in both their lives. Facing middle-aged dilemmas, hard times and rough decisions,they sought the open road to uncover the mysteries of the paranormal world. In the process of getting away from their problems, the women went towards something even more precious—their genuine selves. Each chapter of this book begins with the authors' goals heading off on road trip adventures, sharing both their points of view during their sojourns, and ends with all the unexpected outcomes. It's those unexpected outcomes that lead toward the woman's metamorphoses and their success. They hit the road to get lost and serendipitously f

The Vernetta Hotel was originally a hotel specifically built to serve overnight railroad passengers and early day tourists to the Wickenburg area and Castle Hot Springs.  Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, a black businesswoman from the East, contracted one of Arizona's Finest architects at that time, Mr. James Creighton, to design and build the hotel.  The building was heated by nine fireplaces, has a community kitchen and an outdoor barbecue area.  Now know as the Hassayampa Building, it contains offices for Remuda Ranch. ( Source: Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce pamphlet )

Frosty showing you his best  ass ets....tee hee! Have a nice weekend.....

Another abandoned house found in Chandler, AZ by Sharon and myself.  This one is next to the small wood house where the zombie housewives recently took pictures.  It looks like it probably was a beautiful home in its heyday.

From Wikipedia: "On 29 July 1995, Wickenburg celebrated the one hundred year anniversary of its railroad depot (dedicated 29 July 1895). The structure stands in its original 1895 design, without additions or modifications, and is one of the few such surviving examples of "Wild West" railroad architecture. Vice-Mayor Carol Ann Beard briefly described the history of the depot, which now serves as the Chamber of Commerce. "Estelle's Garden", in memory of a longtime Chamber supporter, was dedicated at the ceremony.  This depot last saw passenger service in May 1969 when Santa Fe discontinued the daily train between Phoenix and Williams Junction." Standing near the train station is a statue of a school teacher.  She has just disembarked from the train with  her luggage. Behind the old Santa Fe Depot (now Wickenburg's Chamber of Commerce) is the railroad line referred to as the "Peavine Line".  It was built in 1893 and ran between

If it is weird and wacky, Sharon and I will find it.  We were leaving a mall after enjoying a nice dinner and doing some shopping when something caught our eyes in the parking lot.  Sharon pulled into the empty space next to a jeep with all kinds of characters attached to it.  This was just the thing we like to take pictures of, and we did.  Another family thought the same thing and was shooting pictures of this unusual jeep we found out was named, Lolly.  For more on Lolly the Jeep and its owner, check out his website: www.CurtisGPhotography.com Sharon  (Autumnforest) is putting a video up of Lolly and other hot jeep drivers.