At the begining of the ghost town of Swansea, Arizona are some signs and information to read about the little town.
So, today, Tom took his folks, and myself to a ghost town 69 miles from our house. He has ridden his quads in the area on different occasions and thought it would be a fun outing for us today. The history of this little ghost town is interesting. I say interesting, because it's 26 miles off the main road on a bumpy, dusty, mostly dirt road. Swansea is 30 miles NE of Parker, AZ. It was once a flourishing copper mining town with approximately 500 people. Prospectors began working the area in 1862 and not much came of it until 1886 when 3 miners struck a silver-lead ore. Soon the silver ran out leaving just copper. Until the AZ/CA Railroad came through it soon became a thriving town with copper being mined. The population was at 500 by 1909...the town included saloons, a general store, post office, a moving picture house, railroad depot, dairy milking house, hospital and school. The mine fell victim to the Great Depression and a declining copper market and never boomed again. The last milling was reported in 1944.
So, Randy, Evie & Mickey were getting ready to leave...it was great having them for a week. They're standing in front of their new Lexus...flew down to CA to pick it up then after visiting Arizona...they drove home in it. Mickey had to fly back to Boston though.
Mickey is ready to "roll"...Tom took Randy, Evie & Mickey on a quad ride out into the desert. It's a nice way to experience the hills and the miles and miles of desert in all it's beauty!
Mickey attends the Boston Conservatory of Music in Boston. She is majoring in Oboe and hopes to play in a symphony someday! These above pictures show her making her Oboe reeds. It's a special art in making good reeds!
So, our good friends, Randy, Evie & Mickey came for a visit and we had a great time. We took them on this hike at Sara Park...it was a lovely day for a hike. They were thrilled with the sunshine and warm Arizona weather having come from wet, cold Seattle. 
Malia and Mary made a little music for us today...played a few hymns. It was sooo pretty!
So, Kirk & Mary came by today with their little replica of a '66 Cobra and took the kids out for a spin....they said it was awesome. K & M are awesome too...they always make a special effort to come over when they're in town, OR to do something with the kids...it means a lot! The sun was so bright today that they were totally squinting...so the "close-ups" of the kids in the car, well, didn't turn out the best...their eyes mainly closed...they said it was tons of fun though! The car is pretty noisy...so Kirk supplies ear plugs...
Jen and I went shopping a couple of times....one morning we both came out, getting ready to go and we ended-up looking like twins....but unplanned!!! We both had black jackets, khaki skirts, and black boots on...it was fun! Tom and Sue "agreeing" to their diet plan together. Our wonderful hosts, Ben and Sue. Jane, on Christmas day....looking a little "puzzled" :-) Heidi, Caroline and Jenny on Christmas day. Fun to all be together.
Jen planted this Amarylis blub and we got to see it's progression of blooming. It was so beautiful, just starting with tight little blooms and within a week or so it came out to three big beautiful blooms. 
