Sahuaro Ranch Park

There was hard rain in the night and when I went walking before sunrise, the spillway in the arroyo was running full and water was flowing in on every side. The clearing storm created a beautiful morning for a walk.

After lunch we piled in the car and headed for Glendale to the Sahuaro Ranch Park. Sahuaro Ranch was established in 1886 when a wealthy grain broker from Peoria, IL (Ah ha! That's where the name of this town comes from!) acquired 640 acres of dessert and began raising livestock, fruit, nuts, and dates using water from the new Arizona Canal. The ranch changed hands a couple of time over the years, adding citrus and dairy to the production. Ultimately the City of Glendale acquired what was left of the ranch and made it into a museum to show what most of this part of the Valley of the Sun once was like. The boys ran around the grounds and through the citrus orchards. We saw the barns and outbuildings and toured the farm house and adjoining guest house. There were lots of reminders of Grandma Hansen's house and stuff from my youth. Beck said that it was nothing like a proper park, so we swung over to Hidden Meadow Park for his sake.

 The remainder of the afternoon was spent chilling here at home. For supper I made chicken penne pesto, salad, and garlic toast, with berries and yogurt for dessert.

 Water, water, everywhere

 There are still a few small farms in Peoria

 First morning light in the arroyo

 I love walking the arroyo and back home along the canal

 If this is a park, where is the playground equipment?

 No swings, but a fine old tractor

 The men who worked the ranch lived here

 Our crew with the dairy in the rear

 A steam tractor with the milking barn (left) and

blacksmith (right)

 Same crew with the well house and windmill on the left

 The guest house (left) and main house (behind palms),
both built during the early 20th century

 Finn and Harry on the connecting verandah

 Main house

 Guest house

One of many bedrooms

 For me, kitchens are often the most interesting

part of historic houses

 This one had a complete set of Club Aluminum of the same

type as our pancake griddle

 This sconce took me right back to Grandma Hansen's house

 A variety of poses

 Headed back to the car

 Veni, vidi, vici

 Harry hanging at Hidden Meadows Park

 Now this is a real park

 Dinner is served

Love that Noosa Aussie-style yoghurt with berries

It's almost shower time and thence to bed; tomorrow is a school day. Maren and Gavin will be home tomorrow night, so the adventure is winding down. That's all for now.

OXO

D.