No two days are the same!!

We woke up this morning to clouds and haze and about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. I have a scratchy throat to boot. Spent the greatest part of this morning researching Las Vegas RV resorts and making reservations for Pet Hotel next week so that we can cover some more territory and see some sights. Figuring out that we wouldn't be swimming today, I decided that we needed to see some more local things and the dogs could go along. We went to Coolidge AZ about 20 miles from here and visited the Casa Grande (The Big House) Ruins National Monument. It was built by the HoHoKam tribe at least 2000 years ago. The people turned out to be very self sufficient farmers who turned out to be very creative in the things they made and inventing tools to work and survive. They utilized every living thing in the area to survive and the water ways to irrigate their farms was the Gila River about a mile from the site. The Sanoran Desert is very harsh with an annual rainfall total of only 8 inches and the temps in the summer reach 120 degrees. The ripening of the Saguaro Cactus in late June and July mark the beginning of a new year for the tribe. There was a National Park Service volunteer that talked about the Ruins and the preservation of the park and it's native plants and animals was very interesting to listen to. We spent enough time there looking around and taking pictures that we ran out of time for the other planned event of the day. They had several species of Cacti and the yellow desert flowers - Schottacaci were in bloom. They manufacture sweet nectar and some preserves from the Agave plant. It is also used to make fiborous materials. Never mind that it is also distilled for Tequila! We found a Post Office in Coolidge and mailed a package and went on into Casa and stopped at the store before coming home. Now I'm feeling pretty rotten so I may turn in early. We're supposed to have a get together tomorrow for the birthday boy after they return from golf, but that may have to wait a day or two!We'll hope I'm better in the morning! Check out the rest of the pics on my picasaweb.google.com/mskayndan!