Unexpected Detour

The next morning we were stunned during checkout when the new waitress at the register responded to my inquiry of the check out procedures by holding out her hand for the keys and saying ‘thank you for staying with us’. The Lodge was quirky, the room small, the shower the size of a phone booth and we loved every minute of it.

I had told Lisa about the school house and since we were running a bit early (I know … more shock and amazement) we decided to take a small detour so she could peer in windows as well. When we were leaving the site I noticed a small sign on the side of the road – “goat milk cheese and fudge” and read it to Lisa. It was one of the most spectacular U-turns I have ever seen executed. Lisa knows how to handle that truck. We played scavenger hunt for the blue signs and were rewarded in the end by one large sign with arrows pointing down a drive. A glance at the clock - 7 AM - we held our breath that the farm was open to the public so early in the morning. To our delight, we were greeted warmly and welcomed though not officially open.

The morning’s milking was underway. Stolen glances in the open doorway showed two goats on metal platforms hooked up to a very uncomfortable looking suction torture device, I flashed to thoughts of Westly in the Princess Bride on the Machine. Continuing the movie related theme, I quietly commented to Lisa the goat tethered near the door next in line for milking, reminded me of the tethered snacky treat goat in Jurassic Park waiting for the T-Rex to come out of the woods.

Apparently not torture

We were invited into the store to pick out our goat milk purchases, Lisa went straight for the cheese and yogurt while I went for the chocolate fudge. We were then invited on a tour of the facility to see how the process was undertaken. I now know what curds and whey actually is, one obscure nursery rhyme reference solved.

Curds and Whey

We were also invited into the torture device room we had glanced in when we first arrived. Both goats we had seen earlier happily munching on their morning breakfast while the pumps automatically milked them. The goats were switched out while we were there with the T-Rex goat running in, leaping on the platform and begging to be strapped in. The explanation – ‘they like their breakfast’, which they get once the milking begins.

Breakfast

As we were preparing to leave, the gentleman running the pumps asked if we had ever milked a goat before, in response to our negative replies he invited us to try our hand, so to speak.

Torture device

So…I milked a goat. As did Lisa. And knowing how competitive I am some of you will appreciate how difficult it is for me to admit she was far better at it than I.

Lisa tries her hand at milking...

If you are in the Strawberry area, please stop in to the Fossil Creek Creamery, they are located at 10379 W Fossil Creed Rd, 3.5 miles west of the Strawberry Lodge, 928-476-5178 and their web site is www.ranchatfossilcreek.com. They were accommodating, patient, welcoming to Lisa and me. And…the food…I can’t describe how good the fudge was.

Checking out the city folk

A few hundred photos, one package of cheese, a yogurt, a box of fudge, and a whole new experience later we were on our way to the show for the last day.





Stay tuned for part 3 in the Strawberry/Pine saga…

The Beginning

Over the weekend of the 4th, Lisa and I traveled to the Pine/Strawberry area for the 29th annual Pine Arts and Craft show. We had a great time. We met new friends, ate great food, stayed at the fabulous Strawberry Lodge, visited a goat ranch and somehow managed to fit in actual work. We arrived on-time (For those of you that know us, you will recognize the importance of that statement) Saturday morning for check-in and were greeted by cool temperatures and the wonderful scent of pine trees. I spent the day eye-balling the old barn in the field behind the show location and, because Lisa and I were set up next to each other, was able to sneak off and do a bit of photography. I ran into a buffet of old buildings, pastures, wagons, and fence lines that kept me away from the booth far longer than anticipated. After returning to the booth I had a surprise visit from Susan and Johnnie from Mesa who came up to visit for just a few moments before heading back out; but not before Johnnie yet again tried to set me up with someone he knows.



Lisa and I closed up shop and headed 3 miles north to our home away from home for the evening – the Strawberry Lodge. We entered the attached restaurant looking for the hotel check-in desk, the young waitress swinging past the register asked if she could help us out and we loudly requested directions to the motel check-in area over the band playing in the other room. She asked for our names, reached over, plucked out a set of keys and said “you will find the room up the stairs to the right”. After a moment of us standing there looking at her she asked if there was anything else we needed. I had to unhinge my drooping lower jaw to ask “That’s it? You don’t need anything else from us?” “Nope” and off she went to serve the leering drunk patron who was polite enough to be sure Lisa and I weren’t bored that evening by offering us some entertainment.

After carrying all our stuff up to the room; (stuffed to capacity with 2 twin beds and a chair the room barely held out luggage. A fireplace dominated one corner and the narrow bath was tucked behind a curtain), I borrowed the keys, jumped in Lisa’s truck and headed off to what I hoped was the wilds of Strawberry with grand plans of capturing the perfect high country sunset shots.

My first stop was only a mile and a half down the road at the oldest schoolhouse in Arizona. Reconditioned in 1980, the schoolhouse was picture perfect sitting in a tiny grove of pine trees. Though closed and tours available by appointment only, it didn’t stop me from walking the perimeter, examining the dove-tailed corner joints, wishing I could ring the old bell at the roof peak or peering in windows at rows of desks waiting for students.


I continued my drive, anxious to see what was around the next corner and to my delight it was a dirt forest service road leading into the national forest. Once in the forest I was waylaid by an old cattle shoot, then the cattle, then some flowers, then the old fencing with gate barely clinging on, then… Least to say, I didn’t make it too far into the back country and to my perfect sunset vista before sundown.

I abandoned the photo shoot and headed back into town to meet up with Lisa for a wonderful dinner at the Strawberry Lodge. The strawberry salsa is something I will remember for a long time to come and will order when we stay at the Lodge next year. Stuffed full, exhausted and relieved the band ended at 10, we retired to our room and fell into bed.

Stay tuned for Strawberry/Pine post part 2 where we visit a local goat farm...