Jack Rabbit Trading Post Sign Back Up

Some good news! 

The fallen (blown down) Jack Rabbit Trading Post sign is back up! A crane was used to hoist it up onto its supports. This greatly sped up the repair process. It would have taken Tony Jacquez weeks to get the work done if he had to do it on his own. 

Although the sign is back up, it still needs repairing. I would hazard a guess that it will be completed shortly. 

Here's a photo from the Jack Rabbit Trading Post Facebook page:

 Many thanks to all who came out to do today's work!

Storm Destroys Jack Rabbit Trading Post Sign

Above, the sign a few years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A very heavy monsoon storm hit the St. Joseph, Arizona area last night. St. Joseph is the home of the Jack Rabbit Trading Post.

The intense storm destroyed the trading post's famous "Here It Is" sign that sat across Route 66 from the trading post.

Here's the sign after it was hit by the storm:

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money to replace the sign. To go there and make a donation, go here. I already made a donation.

New Addition To The Den

Last week, I was perusing around and came across a Winchester firearms and ammunition sign.

It is metal and embossed. I checked with some Winchester enthusiasts and they say it is from the 1980s. 

Above, the Winchester sign in the den. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The only reason that I have doubts that it is a reproduction is that it is embossed, If it is original, it looks good for its age. I looked around for other examples of this sign but couldn't find any. 

Still, whether it is original or a reproduction, I am pleased with it. It only cost $11.00 and is now in the den.

Another Item Arrived Yesterday

Along with the Bandai Godzilla Minus One 6" figure, another item arrived in yesterday's mail.

It was a National Rifle Association (NRA) sign for the den/guest room. I already had a spot in mind for it when I ordered it.

It is an aluminum 12" sign in .030 gauge that was made in high heat powder transfer process (not printed). The nail hole is reinforced with a brass grommet. Definitely well made.

Above,the NRA sign is above the Jack Rabbit Trading Post mileage sign. Photo by Amand Vaquer.

Engage!

Someone in the city's planning department must've been a Trekker.

Ronchetti Sign

Above, the Ronchettie for Governor sign in the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last Sunday, it was "iffy" that I would be able to attend this month's dinner group gathering at historian Martin Link's. I was in Arizona over the weekend for the Lost Dutchman Chapter's clampout near Ash Fork in the Kaibab National Forest.

But since I got home around 11:00 in the morning, I was able to relax a bit, unpack and be able to attend the dinner that evening.

It was a good thing that I did as a fellow came by Martin's with some campaign signs. I got two Ronchetti signs and a couple of others. I put one of the Ronchett signs in the front yard and gave one to James, my next-door neighbor, who placed his in the corner of his yard that faces Whispering Cedar Road (excellent spot).

Sign Seen In Brentwood

Talk show host and former gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder posted an interesting video on Twitter.

It is of a sign seen in Brentwood, California.

Here's a screenshot of the video:

 

And another screenshot of the reverse side of the sign:

Back In Jamestown

Above, Adventure Comics No. 343. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a good night's sleep, I headed down to the post office at the Flying J to pick up my mail.

Two packages were waiting for me there. One was Adventure Comics No. 343 (cover date April 1966) and the other was a Willys Jeep sign for the guest bathroom.

Above, the Willys Jeep sign after mounting it on the bathroom wall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I saw the cover of the comic book, I knew immediately that I didn't have it in my collection. And I know why. Although I regularly bought Adventure Comics during that time (it would have hit the newsstands in February 1966), I missed this issue as my maternal grandfather passed away in February. My parents and I were cleaning out his apartment during that time, so I couldn't get to the local store to get it.

After checking around for it online, I bought it last week. It arrived (along with the sign) while I was in Albuquerque.

Above, The Beast in the GOCO Beast Barn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I just finished putting The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn. I'll head back to the post office later to get today's mail.

First Day of the Lockdown

Above, the reproduction Arden Farms ice cream sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was a pretty relaxed day. May as well relax since the state (New Mexico) is under a COVID-19 lockdown again.

Above, Christmas enjoying her treats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In-between trips to the post office at the Flying J to pick up some packages, I did give Buddy and Christmas some carrots and put out fresh food and water for the deck kitties.

Above, the biography on Gail Russell I read in the afternoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first package was a reproduction Arden Farms ice cream sign for the kitchen. The other was a book on actress Gail Russell (which I finished reading in the afternoon). 

Today will likely be more of the same, except for going to the ATM in Gallup to deposit a money order.

Made It To Lake Havasu

Above, The Beast at camp in Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, I am currently in Lake Havasu, Arizona in The Beast, enjoying the lake and the warm weather (sunny, at about 95°). I have the roof air conditioner on.

I am in town for Mitch Geriminsky's 67th birthday and decided to make the weekend a mini-vacation of it at the lake.

Above, a view of the lake from the campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a pleasant drive from New Mexico. I saw several Trump billboards and a bunch of homemade Trump signs along Interstate 40. I saw only one Biden billboard. The Trump signs were placed by ranchers along I-40. I managed to take a picture of one on a hillside as it was big and I was able to see it about two miles away. That allowed me enough time to find a good place to stop and take a picture of it.

Above, a rancher's homemade Trump sign about 13 miles east of Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We will likely go out to dinner (Mitch was surprised that I came out) and then watch tonight's debate between Trump and Biden. I didn't tell Mitch that I was going to show up.

MAGA! 

Typical Biden Supporter?

I've been to a lot of places in several states over the past few weeks, but today I spotted the first Biden sign since the campaign began. I have seen many Trump signs at businesses and residences during my travels.

Above, a Biden-Harris sign in a yard with junk and derelict cars strewn about. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

"Trump" In Bel Aire Along The 405

Yesterday, activists erected a "Hollywood sign" style "Trump" sign along the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in the Bel Aire section of Los Angeles.

According to GOP congressional candidate Mark Reed:

Below, the downed sign:

Although the sign remained up for six hours, photos of it has gone viral, so it served its purpose.

"True Grit" Sign and Paddy Wagon

Last week, when I posted about the locations in Ridgway, Colorado of True Grit (1969), I wanted to include a shot of the painted "Chambers Grocery" wall sign and the paddy wagon from the movie. I couldn't find one (I am fond of "then & now" photos).

So, I took a screenshot from the movie that includes both with John Wayne in it.

Here it is:

Here's the sign (now inside of the True Grit Cafe, which was built around it to preserve it) and the paddy wagon (in the yard of the museum a block away) today:

Vacation Souvenir

During my recent vacation trip to Colorado, I didn't buy too much in the way of souvenirs. Some things that caught my eye were too pricey or I saw nothing that particularly interested me.

However, one item caught my eye while in a shop in Silverton. It was a "Geezer Crossing" sign. The shop had two different sizes and I picked the smaller of the two. We have referred to ourselves in Jamestown as "geezers" (even though most of us are in our mid-60s) and we even got the waitresses at the local Denny's to refer to their 55+ omelet as the "Geezer Omelet".

So, last night I hung the sign in the garage. I did it in such a way that I can always move it if I so desire.

Trump In Colorado

This may or may not be an indication on how the November election is going to go, but I noticed something in Colorado yesterday that reminded me of my trip four years ago to Metropolis, Illnois.

At that time, I saw many Trump signs on yards and businesses throughout my trip. I only saw two Hillary Clinton signs, and they were just on street corners.

Yesterday, I saw several Trump signs at businesses on the way to Durango and in Durango itself. I even saw Trump bumper stickers on vehicles (I remarked to Mitch that these people are gutsy). I saw not a single sign for Biden, and Colorado had turned into a liberal state (thanks to the influx of wackos from California, bringing their politics with them).

Hopefully, this is a good omen of things to come.

Humorous No Trespassing Sign

As a birthday present to myself, I ordered the no trespassing sign shown below. I've always liked this one.

Of course, it doesn't apply to neighbors who already have permission to enter Barking Spider Acre.

New Arizona "Welcome" Signs Unveiled

Above, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona is one of the designs of the new "welcome" signs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Arizona will be putting up new "welcome" signs featuring six different landscapes.

According to AZCentral:

The Grand Canyon is among six iconic Arizona landscapes that will appear on new signs welcoming visitors to the state. 

Gov. Doug Ducey, the Arizona Office of Tourism and the state Department of Transportation Wednesday unveiled designs for new “Welcome to Arizona" signs that will replace nearly 3-decades-old signs along highways near borders with other states. 

According to Ducey's office, other landscapes that will appear on the the new signs include Saguaro National Park in the Tucson area, Sedona's Red Rocks, Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River, the San Francisco Peaks overlooking Flagstaff and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument along the U.S.-Mexico border.

To read more and see some of the designs, go here. 

Mini Bike Ride

Above, Meeko the llama in his yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon, I decided to take a ride around our Whispering Cedars subdivision on the mini bike.

It had sprinkled about an hour before when a rain cell came over the area. Unfortunately, it didn't last long and it evaporated almost as soon as it hit.

But, it is a comfortable day in the mid-80s. One good thing about riding motor-driven bikes, the rush of cool air feels great as you're riding.

Along the ride, I spotted the Meeko the llama in his yard. He's been back for almost a month after being down at Nandoh's. I took a couple of photos.

A bit further up Whispering Cedars Road, I spotted a Trump campaign flag attached to a fence. I snapped a photo of it.

Above, a Trump supporter in our community. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my ride on Birch Road, I noticed friend Victor (from whom I bought the Willys Jeep) working on his new-to-him Toyota 4-Runner in his yard. He was scraping window tinting from the front passenger window. I stopped in and helped him to get it off. I got lucky and managed to peel quite a bit of it off. He bought the 4-Runner to replace the Jeep.

After that was done, I headed back out and eventually got back home.

Made Someone's Day

Above, Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The other day, my "honorary sister" and I had a little discussion on rabbits. We had a prior one which included Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona. She keeps pet rabbits at home.

When we finished the discussion, I got the idea to have a mileage sign from Jack Rabbit Trading Post sent to her as a surprise. Jack Rabbit Trading Post has a website where people can order gifts.

It was a simple thing to order after getting the mileage. (All one has to do is Google their home address to Jack Rabbit Trading Post and it will provide the exact mileage.) So I did that and placed the order and kept mum.

I received the following email today:

Started laughing the second I saw the return address of Jack Rabbit Trading Post.  That is awesome and very thoughtful, thanks!   

Things like that are really fun and make the day far more amusing.  I was lucky to be home at the moment because the internet and office computers didn't work at the office for what I needed.  It would have taken me forever to get to the post office otherwise to pick up anything I had to sign for.  Perfect timing!

She also included this photo of her sign:

Warmer Than A Week Ago

Above, the sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even though the nighttime temperatures have still been dipping into the 20s, at least the daytime temperatures have been up into the 50s.

Right now it is around 55° with just a mild breeze. It is warmer out than it was a week ago.

Above, trying out the "panoramic" feature of my phone's camera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some silly wag posted at Facebook, "Snow in November happens because people prematurely decorate for Christmas." It seems that way.

I took my walk around the homestead earlier and found it to be pleasant out. The accompanying photos were taken during my walk.