Catching up with Nita and Tom in Phoenix

Nita Wilkes Russell, Martina's niece lives just north of Phoenix in the desert burg of Wittmann with her husband Tom. It was a bonus to our trip that we were able to make connections with Nita and her husband at their very cool Southwest Hacienda. It was a pleasant time, and Ansel just beamed.

Over the last couple of years as I've been sorting through "stuff" at the OB Riley house, I have made little collections for every one who I thought might be interested in having their memories jogged by reading the notes and cards etc and seeing pictures that they have sent Martina and Ansel over the years. I know it was fun for me after my mother passed away, to read the 20-30 year old letters from me that my dear mother had saved all those years. So I as I have been sorting I've been keeping envelopes of memories to give to the appropriate persons. Giving Nita her envelopes was just the first installment I told her, since there still is so much sorting to do in Bend. After all I'm sorting through 90 years of pack-rat-itis.

It was fun to share the Hellos and greetings to Nita that old classmates friends from Harney County had passed on with me.

Nita shows Uncle Ansel her remuda. I was very envious of the very efficient pipe pens and sheds that they have been able to build together to keep their horses in. Tom is obviously a very good welder, he built all the square panels.

We enjoyed a wonderful bbq dinner, in their rustic southwest great room. I missed the sunset by just a few minutes the sky was still purple of the cactus and neighbors adobe home. There's lot's of elbow room where they live, no side walks or street lights, just coyotes and desert flowers, it's just the way I pictured AZ to be...