Our sweet friends at the Yuma Church slid their trip to the Castle Dome Ghost Town back a week so that we could join them on their adventure. It was a really cool place to go. I can't believe we never made it there while we lived here, but I felt a little better when I heard that Bobbie Jo who knows and has done ALL things Yuma hadn't been either.
We were still staying with the Boundey's at this point in our trip and decided we would all ride in their van so that we could chat and visit during the ride there.
Since they live in the foothills, we just met the rest of the church on the way to Castle Dome at the Cotton Gin. The kids had so much fun chasing runaway balls of cotton. Some didn't have the seeds removed yet, so you could feel them stil stuck in the ball of cotton. We kind of felt like we were back in NC. ;)
Amelia and Mable enjoying a little chat while we waited for everyone else.
Unfortunately, when we were all set and ready to go, the Boundey's van which had been working just fine up until now decided that it was not the least bit interested in going to a Ghost Town. So much for well laid plans! We all split ways and visited with other people on the way there. :D
This is an OLD picture of the Meem's and Mable during our first months in AZ. It breaks my heart to see how much bigger and more mature they are.
Once we got to Castle Dome, with the addition of Peyton, the trio was complete.
Amelia and Peyton on our very first Pathfinder outing.
Again, heart breaking at how big they have gotten. Amelia was only 3 in this picture and you can tell by the way she is standing how uncoordinated she still was.
Sigh. I miss my baby.
The Ghost Town
I really do love the desert.
Some people never grow up.
And that's just the way we like them!
You can see the shades of old desert glass here.
Glass made between 1850 and 1916 had varying amounts of Manganese added to it to make it clear. Turns out that when it then lies around in the desert sun, the manganese absorbs the UV light and turns purple. It's amazing to me that all these years later you can walk around the desert and still find pieces lying around. I think the pieces are beautiful and they remind me of Yuma.
My favorite cactus!
I thought this fact was pretty neat:
45 oz of silver per TON!
Can you imagine? Seems like a lot of effort for little gain.
photo bomb by Trenee. Love you, Trenee!
The Mine Shaft
Shabby Chic Metal Outhouses
;)
The town had it's own schoolroom
which had it's own library.
Of course, I added my favorite Marine's name.
But with 2 rooms that look like this, we may never find it again. There was writing EVERYWHERE.
Even on the ceiling and floor.
The old gas station/cafe
These hand embroidered tea towels were behind the counter in the cafe.
They had so many antique trinkets to look at that I think we could have stayed there all day and not have seen everything.
Where our favorite dentist would have worked way back when...
The Church was a beautiful building.
Although we went separate ways at the beginning of the town, I realized that at one point, almost our entire group found themselves in the church at the same time. Some were just passing through, others sat for a bit and enjoyed the room. Funny that we are so like minded that even in a strange place on a non-Sabbath, we all end up hanging out in the church.
Don't miss the beautiful ceiling.
The window behind where the pastor would stand. Who needs stained glass when this can be your view?
I love the glass door knob that has turned purple.
Another favorite desert plant, the ocotillo.
Pastor Boundey masquerading as a banker
Marshall's favorite part of the ghost town was an old portion of the mine that you could explore. They had black lights up and you could see all kinds of glass glowing. I haven't figured out yet how to take a picture in those conditions, so you'll have to take Marshall's enthusiasm as proof that it was amazing.
He stood at the door and was talking people into going through and acting like their tour guide. ;)
He stood at the door and was talking people into going through and acting like their tour guide. ;)
Pastor and Mrs. B
Steve and Jan Delarm
Cute little Teddy Bear Cholla.
Don't let it's name fool you. It's also called the Jumping Cholla because the little segments fall off so easily and they will MESS YOU UP.
Hmmm.. maybe at one point, but not today!
I think it's much like that "New Hotel" in Thailand.
Tough guy, Fred.
(Don't tell him that we've all figured out that he's really just a prankster who hasn't a non-loving bone in his body!)
Oh, and he's a smart cookie, Marshall certified.
The gaggle of kids all brought back together at the end of the day for one group photo shot.
If hugging didn't take up so many hands, this would be SIX thumbs up for a wonderful day!
The fun didn't end when we left Castle Dome either. Mabel and Amelia sang and played air guitar all the way back to Yuma. I love these little girls.
Those pastors certainly can be tailgaters, huh?
The kids were shocked that he was riding in a car being towed.
Personally, I was glad so that there was someone to step on the brake at red lights. ;)
Personally, I was glad so that there was someone to step on the brake at red lights. ;)
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