Hustling javelinas! I’ve been trying to come up for with an exclamation for us, along the lines of Tintin’s “blistering barnacles!” but including the word javelinas. For anyone unfamiliar with javelinas, they’re smallish wild pig-like animals that roam the Southwest, and the j is pronounced as an h. It’s a fun word to say, isn’t it? It’s a lot of fun to shout, too. If you are my little cousin Matt, try shouting “hustling javelinas!” the next time you think you are petting your black cat on the dark porch and find that you are actually petting a skunk!
Friday, we drove from northern Arizona to Prescott. We saw the Vermilion Cliffs, dramatic red cliffs looking especially beautiful against a very blue sky with very fluffy white clouds. We passed through Flagstaff, and stopped briefly in artsy little Sedona, where we photographed two street-art javelinas in floral dress. Then we took the exciting Route 89A (once again, A is for adventure!) which climbs into the mountains and twists through the little town of Jerome. Just a few miles away from Prescott, we found ourselves in a traffic jam caused, we later learned, by an overturned RV trailer. We decided that the Gumby van is the perfect commuter vehicle; while stuck in traffic, a person can wash dishes, sort laundry, and make a snack, and the extra height allows a little extra warning when traffic does begin to move. A little later than we had planned, but with a much tidier van, we eventually made it to Aunt Linda’s house.
We had a wonderful visit with my wonderful great-aunt Linda, who is funny, kind, very energetic, and so much fun to spend time with. Also, as nearly everyone in our family knows, Aunt Linda has a little dog named Charley who charms everyone who visits. He’s a very clever bichon frise/poodle mix; he walks and dances on his hind legs and waves his paws in the air, sleeps on the back of the couch, and flings himself down at people’s feet to get his tummy scratched. Molly and Charley’s actions and interactions kept us laughing through our entire visit. Both are intelligent “only dogs,” and they were in constant, quiet, scheming competition. For instance, I petted Molly, and Charley came over, leaned on me, and growled at her. Then, Charley went to sit in Sandeep’s lap. Molly went to Sandeep’s side and growled at Charley but he wouldn’t move, so Molly went to Aunt Linda for petting. Then, Charley leapt from Sandeep’s lap and went to Aunt Linda. Molly ran to Sandeep’s lap and sat in it. Another time, when I was petting Charley, Molly took Charley’s favorite toy and squeaked it repeatedly while looking at him. Charley came to get the toy, and Molly dropped it and came to me. I think I heard her say, “HAH!”
We spent Friday night with Aunt Linda; we visited, had a lovely dinner, and went for two long walks with the dogs, who were willing to call a temporary truce while walking together. Late Saturday morning, we left for eastern Arizona. Thank you, Aunt Linda – and Charley! Come back east again soon!
We drove back to Flagstaff via a less adventurous route, and then took Route 40 east. The land is very flat east of Flagstaff, with yellow grass and silhouetted hills far, far away. We watched a coyote eating his rabbit supper on the plain, until he decided to carry it off to a more private location. Late in the day, we stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park, to marvel at the beautiful, mineralized wood and the dramatic, sandy landscape. Molly again gives the Petrified Forest two paws up, as they allow dogs on the paved trails!
Friday, we drove from northern Arizona to Prescott. We saw the Vermilion Cliffs, dramatic red cliffs looking especially beautiful against a very blue sky with very fluffy white clouds. We passed through Flagstaff, and stopped briefly in artsy little Sedona, where we photographed two street-art javelinas in floral dress. Then we took the exciting Route 89A (once again, A is for adventure!) which climbs into the mountains and twists through the little town of Jerome. Just a few miles away from Prescott, we found ourselves in a traffic jam caused, we later learned, by an overturned RV trailer. We decided that the Gumby van is the perfect commuter vehicle; while stuck in traffic, a person can wash dishes, sort laundry, and make a snack, and the extra height allows a little extra warning when traffic does begin to move. A little later than we had planned, but with a much tidier van, we eventually made it to Aunt Linda’s house.
We had a wonderful visit with my wonderful great-aunt Linda, who is funny, kind, very energetic, and so much fun to spend time with. Also, as nearly everyone in our family knows, Aunt Linda has a little dog named Charley who charms everyone who visits. He’s a very clever bichon frise/poodle mix; he walks and dances on his hind legs and waves his paws in the air, sleeps on the back of the couch, and flings himself down at people’s feet to get his tummy scratched. Molly and Charley’s actions and interactions kept us laughing through our entire visit. Both are intelligent “only dogs,” and they were in constant, quiet, scheming competition. For instance, I petted Molly, and Charley came over, leaned on me, and growled at her. Then, Charley went to sit in Sandeep’s lap. Molly went to Sandeep’s side and growled at Charley but he wouldn’t move, so Molly went to Aunt Linda for petting. Then, Charley leapt from Sandeep’s lap and went to Aunt Linda. Molly ran to Sandeep’s lap and sat in it. Another time, when I was petting Charley, Molly took Charley’s favorite toy and squeaked it repeatedly while looking at him. Charley came to get the toy, and Molly dropped it and came to me. I think I heard her say, “HAH!”
We spent Friday night with Aunt Linda; we visited, had a lovely dinner, and went for two long walks with the dogs, who were willing to call a temporary truce while walking together. Late Saturday morning, we left for eastern Arizona. Thank you, Aunt Linda – and Charley! Come back east again soon!
We drove back to Flagstaff via a less adventurous route, and then took Route 40 east. The land is very flat east of Flagstaff, with yellow grass and silhouetted hills far, far away. We watched a coyote eating his rabbit supper on the plain, until he decided to carry it off to a more private location. Late in the day, we stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park, to marvel at the beautiful, mineralized wood and the dramatic, sandy landscape. Molly again gives the Petrified Forest two paws up, as they allow dogs on the paved trails!
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