My Crazy Week

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What started out as a fantastic week didn’t end as well.  On Monday my hubby and I celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary in Sedona.  We stayed at Hotel L’auberge De Sedona which is located near Oak Creek.  We had a lovely cottage near the creek where we watched the ducks play.  The weather was in the 70’s, very clear and crisp.  The night before was to be our UFO tour but because of the high winds, that was cancelled.  The next day on our anniversary we decided to hit the many shops and take a ride up the narrow road through Oak Creek Canyon to the lookout above.  If you are ever in Sedona, you have to take that drive.  It is gorgeous up there and throughout the canyon.  We had a nice dinner later on and the rest I won’t mention, *wink*.

The next day we decided to take a trip to Jerome since it is only a few miles away from Sedona.  After driving the winding two lane narrow road to the top where the shops are located, we got out to check out the place.  The wind was blowing and it was chilly.  Jerome is like a throw-back to the 70’s.  Everyone is laid back and in a bit of a time warp.  I rather enjoyed that about the place.  There were many abandoned places and historical buildings but my hubs is not an adventurer and didn’t want to stop.  We did check out a couple of places but to get the full effect of what Jerome is all about, I will need to spend the night there with my road trip buddy (Sharon) and get into mischief getting our photos and video of the many cool places around town.

After Jerome, we went to the historic ruins of Tuzigoot.  It is amazing to see the partial construction of an ancient Indian ruins that were built thousands of years ago.  I took many pictures and will do a post on Tuzigoot and Jerome later.

Before arriving back at our cottage, we went back to the shops and grabbed a bite to eat.  We had to buy some delish chocolates on the way back to the car.  Back at the cottage, I took a bite of caramel and my damn temporary crown came off.  At dinner, I had to eat on the other side of my mouth where I have a broken tooth.  I have been putting off getting the permanent crown and a root canal on the broken tooth because of finances.  We simply don’t have the money for them right now.  The broken tooth has messed up my gums and now is infected.  It hurts like a mother f…er!

Today I was scheduled to finally get the basal cell cancer removed from my face.  But because my gums and tooth may be infected, the surgeon cancelled.  He wants me to see the dentist, get the tooth fixed and get my surgery rescheduled.  I have an appointment with the dentist later and hope he can fix the problem. 

What started out as a great week didn’t end on a high note.  I plan to take it easy this weekend, work on my book, and hopefully get more crafts done.  Next week promises to be better.  I will be busy getting ready for my granddaughter’s 2^nd birthday party and hopefully will be blessed with being a grandma again.  My son and his wife are expecting any day now and we are so excited.

Montezuma Castle

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Tucked in the mountains and just outside Sedona in the Verde Valley is the site where cliff dwellers once lived known as Montezuma Castle.  This six story dwelling with its 45 rooms is remarkably well preserved but seriously deteriorating.  It was built by the Southern Sinagua people in the 12th century using limestone, a soft material causing varying breakage over time.  Sinagua is Spanish for “without water”.  Historians can only speculate that they build so high in the rocky cliffs because the spot offered protection from the desert elements.   They cleverly wedged their lodgings in the rock, 100 feet above Oak Creek, which runs through the red rocks of Sedona and used as their water source.  The Sinagua people were hunters, gatherers and artisans.  They made their own stone tools and used the red rock materials that surrounded them for their pottery.  The Montezuma Castle Sinagua lived in their rock high-rise apartments for over 400 years before disappearing mysteriously.

Spirit bird watching the place?

What Happened to the Sinagua?

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Montezuma's Castle

Tucked in the mountains and just outside Sedona is the site where cliff dwellers once lived known as Montezuma’s Castle. The five story dwelling is remarkably well preserved and built in the 12th century by the Sinagua people. They cleverly wedged their lodgings in the rock, high above Oak Creek, which runs through the red rocks of Sedona. Historians can only speculate that they build so high because the spot offered protection from the desert elements. The Sinagua lived in their rock high-rise for over 400 years before disappearing mysteriously.

Another group of Sinagua people established their own community called Tuzigoot. These ruins are located 20 miles from Montezuma’s Castle and built from the natural resources found in the surrounding desert. With all their clever building techniques, the mystery still remains why the Sinagua suddenly disappeared in the 1400’s. Some feel that they may have used up their natural resources or maybe a plague or disease wiped them out, but since there is no written record, no one knows.

My hubby and I are spending our 30th wedding anniversary in Sedona next month. While there, we plan to spend one of our days in Jerome. We also plan to visit Montezuma's Castle, Tuzigoot and the petroglyphs that are all over the rocks of Sedona. I will have lots of pictures and more information on this mysterious group of people known as the Sinagua.

Don't forget my giveaway. Tomorrow morning is the last time you can enter. I will pick the winner in the afternoon.

The Circlestone Ruin

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Tucked away amongst the rugged and mysterious Superstition Mountains lies an unfathomable ancient stone wall shaped in a circular pattern. This profound structure has a pinwheel appearance labeled as an “Indian Medicine Wheel”, and can be found about 54 miles east of Phoenix.

The wall is a remarkable 3 feet thick, relatively high and is seen in an uninterrupted circle that is estimated to be about 440 feet in length. The only entries are small access points scattered throughout the wall. The wall has a slight elliptical shape lending to the theory that it could be an ancient calendar or clock of some kind. Those who have studied it have noticed a possible sun alignment especially after the ruin was precisely mapped.

Here is how they describe the shape and theory: “The shape of the overall circle in the dimensions north-south as opposed to east-west. This has the effect of providing an additional, 90-degrees opposed diameter, which “doubles-up” the linear and circumference codes encrypted into the site. There is a flat section of wall over toward the east that spears to run for about 44 feet before reverting to a curve. The site has two clear “spoke” walls running out from the centre to the outer wall, as well as 4 “faint” spokes, which are now somewhat more difficult to detect.”

Others state that, “The Solstice and equinox sunrise may have been marked or measured on or by the straight portion of the east wall. The other alignment the data suggests is a horizon marker at Spring Equinox.”

The geographical placement of the Circlestone Ruin was built in an appealing locality deep in the Superstition Wilderness. From the location, mountain ranges can be seen 75 miles away such as the Superstition Mountains and Weavers needle to the west, the Sierra Anchas to the east, and the Mogollon Rim to the south.

The Circlestone Ruin is not the only archeological circular wall uncovered in the region. Many of the trails leading into the Superstitions are thought to have been paths used by the early people. Another stone wall with the same circular pattern was located northwest of Circlestone Ruin and called, “Paridise Spring Overlook.” From the center of the circle, it measures about 70 meters and is twice as large as Circlestone. The walls were not as substantial or elevated which made it hard to clearly identify the site. Chris Allen, who founded the site, presumed it to be another site where rituals were preformed akin to Circlestone.

The breathtaking view from the ruins is one to be seen but the ancient find is revered to be one of Arizona’s national treasures.

Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park

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Besh-Ba-Gowah is a 700 year old pueblo ruin located near Globe, Arizona. You enter through the narrow passage between the remains of buildings that once housed the Salado Indians. These passages lead to the central plaza where ceremonies were held and many of the dead were buried. It is presumed that the small passages were used as a defense mechanism against enemies or other dangers to those that live there. During excavation of the ruins, pottery, utensils, jewelry and other furbishing items used by this pre-Columbian tribe were found. These items are displayed inside the buildings that are still intact along with ladders leading to the upper levels. The ground level was used for storage while the families lived in the upper levels. Many of the ladders and some of the buildings were restored to recreate how they lived for those of us visiting the site.

The Besh-Ba-Gowah is thought to have been established around A.D. 900 by the Hohokam. They built a pit-house settlement which was abandoned by them approximately A.D. 1100. Around 1225, the Salado Indians started the construction of Besh-Ba-Gowah and the ruins that we see today. The name Besh-Ba-Gowah comes from the Apache language and means, “place of metal” or “metal camp”.

The Salado Indians were highly developed group of people. Their remarkable abilities to create utensils, decorative pottery and colorful cotton cloths, showed how advanced they were for that era. The Besh-Ba-Gowah museum displays the largest collection of the Salado artifacts. Along with the ruins and museum, the site also has an amazing ethno-botanical garden.  The garden demonstrates how the Salado Indians may have used these plants that are native to Arizona. These plants were used for all their needs for not only food but fibers, construction materials and dyes.

For all the information about the Besh-Ba-Gowah, check out this site.

...and who are these shady ladies?