November Desert Dispatches

Hello Friends,
    Here’s hoping this finds you and yours well and happily preparing for the holiday season.
The weather is co-operating here in the Great Sonoran Desert with night time temps in the 40's and day time 70's.  Good stuff!  When the heat comes off the world changes for the better, the pressure is relieved,  people are even nicer and it seems they don’t drive quite as insanely. Well, perhaps that is just me wishing.

    There is much to share. 
    Last week Mackie and I jumped in with Dave and Katy McCann - you ‘ve seen them play music with me in various places like Heber City, Moab, Sierra Vista, and Phoenix North Mountain Visitor Center  - and we went to Hereford, Arizona to visit our friend’s ranch and see another friend, Patty Clayton,  perform at the Folklore Preserve in Ramsey Canyon. 
     Well, guess who was also at the ranch... Kate Ladson! Kate is the cowgirl I wrote “The Stronghold” for  way back in 2013. Although we all visit on the phone, I have not seen Kate face to face since she came to the CD release party for the Bluebirds Singing On The Buffalo Road album in 2021. She is now living in Hereford and is back to her usual work of these days, teaching riding lessons. 
    Now, Kate is one of the best there is out there to ride with. Having worked with and learned under the Dorrence brothers - top hand cowboys and horsemen of the finest  ilk and notoriety,  and was trail guide for Canada’s most loved performer, Ian Tyson, on several of his visits to the desert - if you ride with Kate, you are learning more than just how to stay in the saddle. You are learning relationship with your horse. Kate helps people with their horses, and horses with their people. And, she’s a great person and a hoot to be around. If you are looking for an exemplary riding experience, I am happy to connect you with Kate. 
    If you have not been to The Folklore Preserve, it is a must-add to your list of places to enjoy music. The Folklore Preserve is situated in one of the best birding destinations in Arizona. In fact, you can stay at the Ramsey Canyon Inn, venture into the preserve,  and make it back in time for the matinee shows at The Folklore Preserve. From the Casa Grande area, it’s a pretty easy 2.5 hours down I-10 to the Sierra Vista exit, go on through town and you’ll see the turn for Ramsey Canyon. The concerts are on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 pm and both days feature the same performer or band. You can look up the Folklore Preserve on line, or drop me a note and I will send you one of their beautiful brochures.

    UPDATE ON THE HOUSE CONCERTS
    Sadly, the return of the house concert series has been delayed due to a huge well being drilled next door to me. They have been there for several months preparing to install a system to support two subdivions and a chip plant. Sigh....  So, as soon as they have cleared out and all of the dust and noise - lots of clanging, banging and huge generator noise that comes into my house at all hours - I will get the series on the calendar. I know you will love the folks I have in mind.

    AUTUMN”S ON ITS WAY
    Here are two very nice reviews of late.
    “ Folks may be hanging out, waiting for the sequel. Let’s face it, the trees are still to fruit, calves to brand, and there’s way ore reality than Yellowstone!” 
 Diana, owner and master braider at DB Braiding, Australia

    “ Thank you for such a wonderful and compelling story. Adventure, intrigue, mystery, love - it’s all there! We will all want the next adventure novel in this series, even if it’s another two years. Nancy, dear, your talents are limitless!”    Zia - ranch owner

    These are so inspiring as I am deep into writing book two. I hope they inspire you to purchase a copy for yourself. 
    Now through the holiday season there is no shipping on Autumn’s On Its Way.
    And only $2. shipping when you add the CD “Bluebirds Singing On The Buffalo Road,” which has the songs from the book.  Don’t  have a CD player?  That’s okay! When you buy the CD you get the digital version instantly in your email to add to your music player, and I will ship the hard copy to some one you know  who does have a CD player (stateside only please). 
    
    
    Where to find me;

    Superior, Arizona City Library     99 Kellner, Ave, Superior, Arizona 85173
    Friday December 27th,  1-2 pm for a Meet the Author event.
    I am excited to be presenting the song that inspired Autumn’s On Its Way, the novel and the poem and songs that were inspired by writing the book. I will answer questions about my writing process, and also reading the first chapter of the book to the audience. Plenty of copies of Autumn’s On Its Way and Bluebirds Singing On The Buffalo Road, which contains the songs from the book,  will be on hand to purchase.

    Maricopa City Library and Cultural Center Maya Angelou Drive, Maricopa, Az 85139
    Saturday, January 4th, 1-2 pm for a Meet the Author event.
    I am excited to be presenting the song that inspired Autumn’s On Its Way, the novel and the poem and songs that were inspired by writing the book. I will answer questions about my writing process, and also reading the first chapter of the book to the audience. Plenty of copies of Autumn’s On Its Way and Bluebirds Singing On The Buffalo Road, which contains the songs from the book,  will be on hand to purchase.

    FREE EVENT!  Saturday, January 11th 1-3 pm,  I will be presenting “The Heart Of It All,” a song, story and poetry concert at Maricopa Campus of Central Arizona College, 17945 N. Regent Dr. Maricopa, AZ 85138
    This concert is specially hand crafted to inspire you to tell your story, to leave your spiritual legacy for your family, or for others to find and learn from  and be encouraged by. 
Please read more about The Heart Of It All on my website. Being your family and friends. This concert is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Well, that’s a lot! But it’s all for now. I will send you a note if something new pops up on the calender. 
Remember, I love to hear from you, so please send along your stories and questions, and reviews.

Until next time, I wish all of you a restful, peaceful and  blessed Thanksgiving holiday

Have you ever been sure you were alone, yet had the feeling you were being watched? No, not like "Big Brother" is watching. Like this...

    Everything I needed for a weekend of music was packed in my 2011 Hyundai Sonata, so I locked the house, climbed in the car, and was headed south toward Sahuarita, AZ. I exited my neighborhood, drove a half mile and took the ramp to enter the freeway. About thirty minutes later, near Picacho Peak on I- 10, I got the feeling I was being watched.

     For personal safety reasons, I generally pay very close attention to who is near me no matter where I happen to be. If I am in the gym, I watch the mirrors to see who walks behind me or enters and exits the building. While shopping I make sure I am not in someone's personal space, or they mine, and I keep an eye out in parking lots. While driving, I try to stay out of blind spots and will speed up or slow down to avoid traveling beside another car for any period of time.  Now, here I am on the Interstate with the feeling I am not alone and am being watched. 

   I looked in all my mirrors and out the side windows to make sure I hadn't been daydreaming and allowed myself settle in beside another driver, or they beside me. Nope. Nobody near me. Hmmm...okay. I glanced down to get my drink out of the cup holder nearest the dashboard, and there in the cup holder closest to me, was a little tiny mouse gazing up at me. It was not afraid, merely interested in me.

   "Hey Little Tiny" I said. "How did you get in here?"

   No response. 

    There the little mouse sat, just looking up at me as I drove. Of course I had to keep watching the road, but would see movement now and then and look down. Little Tiny would be on the passenger seat next to me, sitting up as if trying to see out the window. Or, exploring the edges of my purse and some mail on the seat. Then, it was back to curl up in the cup holder. Once I looked down to see Little Tiny coming across the console to my lap. "Oh, no you don't," I said, wagging my finger. "I do not need a mouse in my lap."  Little Tiny went back to the passenger seat and got to nosing around again. 

  Deciding I needed to get proof of my unlikely stowaway, I exited at Red Rock, pulled over and took a couple of photos. Then I reached over and opened the door. "Want out?" Not interested in the least. I got back on the freeway again, not thinking about my traveling companion until I arrived at my destination and began to carry in my belongings. I looked under the seats, on the back floorboard and in the cup holder, but neither hide nor hair was to be found.

   Inside, as I stowing away the food I had brought with me, there was Little Tiny in the bottom of the dry food bag, apparently having gotten in but not able to jump out. 

  "You do not belong in here, no matter how cute you are." I emptied the bag of everything but the mouse, carried it to the back of the property and laid it on its side on the ground so the mouse could walk out. It did not, so I tipped the bag to gently slide it out onto the grass, which it did. I turned to go back inside and after a few yards, I looked back to see Little Tiny jumping along after me, trying to keep up. It made me think of the childhood story book, "Are You My Mother?" about the baby bird who goes looking for its mother and questions all kinds of other critters, farm equipment and even a large backhoe. I picked up the pace and made it to the porch steps ahead of Little Tiny, who chose to go under the porch instead climbing the stairs. And, that's it. The story of Little Tiny, a mouse's adventure.

Tell a story to someone today. A story does not have to teach, have a moral, or drive home a point, it can be merely delightful. The teller tells, the listener listens, and something wonderful happens. You can count on it.