September 2018 14 A Summer Art Exhibition & Sale July 28 - October 29 at the Cultural Crossroads Learning Center of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum Corner of Hwy. 60 & Tegner in Wickenburg AUGUST ART DEMONSTRATIONS Saturdays 1:00-3:00 Demos free to public Donna Drake 9/1 Mixed Media Gayela Chapman 9/8 Watercolor Stan Strange 9/15 Photo/Phone Art Jackie Raatz 9/22 Clay/Katchina Addie Synar 9/29 Mixed Media Presented by the Wickenburg Art Club and The Desert Caballeros Western Museum The Pony 2nd Hand Store We Collect & Deliver Your Merchandise FREE LOCAL DELIVERY AVAILABLE 662 W. Wickenburg Way Wickenburg • Open Monday–Saturday thepony2ndhandstore.com 928-231-2730 • 928-232-2019 We Carry Quality 2nd Hand & New Merchandise Your Home Furniture Supplies Store Specializing in Appliances Jane and Peter Kibble pony2ndhandstore@outlook.com The Rustic Lifestyle Over here at the Byrne casa, we’re wrapping up summer and heading back into the school year. This time of year is always filled with mixed emotions for me. I love my kids and thoroughly enjoy spending the extra time with them. On the other hand, mama needs a break! Can I get an amen? We continued our California adventures last month, rounding off our trip with a day at Knott’s Berry Farm and a trip to the San Diego Zoo. In my last 20 years of living in Phoenix, I haven’t heard many people talk about Knott’s Berry Farm as a great destination. After visiting there with my family, I’m baffled as to why. They have the best prices compared to the other amusement parks. They have more rides than any of the other parks, maybe even combined!? The lines are short, and they have the beloved Peanuts characters from Charles Schulz’s famous illustrations. Of all of the locations we visited, this was arguably one, if not the top attraction! Based on our experience, we’d suggest arriving 15 minutes after they open. There’s no reason to wait in the security checkpoints at opening hour when you can avoid that hassle and still have low wait times for rides. Also, to save money, we’d suggest leaving to eat. Food can be pricey, as seems to be the norm for amusement parks. Lastly, if you’re not into thrill rides, this may not be the right park for you. I’ve been on many roller coasters over the years, and only one, found at Knott’s Berry Farm, has made my hands and feet go completely numb! I’m not sure if that’s a selling point but maybe to the roller coaster lovers out there. As for my family, we’ll certainly be returning! Next, we traveled to the San Diego Zoo. Growing up in the Midwest, we were spoiled with free zoo admission and every animal imaginable at our zoos. Moving west, we aren’t quite as lucky with the free admission aspect, but the San Diego Zoo delivers on the abundance of animals! I was excited to see pandas for the first time in my life. They are just as cuddly and fluffy looking as on TV! My kids loved the elephants, gorillas, and peacocks. It’s amazing to have such wild creatures in such close proximity. We took the guided tour and learned a lot about the animals themselves, the zoo’s non-profit efforts, volunteer opportunities, and conservation efforts. Africa Rocks is a new project they recently opened that focuses more on the animals’ natural environment. It’s a By Desiree’ Byrne, Founder of Front Porch Pickins The Rustic Lifestyle column is dedicated to sharing about all things related to country living: home décor, travel, fashion, family, faith, and more. Jim Byrne, SurrealMediaAZ.com “She's country, from her cowboy boots to her down-home roots. Nothing but country.” Jason Aldean massive undertaking that covers over eight acres at a cost of $68M. While a substantial investment, connecting with nature and learning more about the amazing creatures God created, in the convenience of our backyard, is something we should propose to do on a regular basis. After the zoo, we headed to the happiest place on earth… MISSOURI! Can you tell, I’m a Grandma’s girl? We did all of our favorite things: fished, ate Grandma’s comfort food, went to flea markets, fished, ate Grandma’s comfort food, shot off fireworks, fished, ate Grandma’s comfort food, visited second, third, fourteenth cousins, fished, ate Grandma’s comfort food, went to the movies, fished, ate Grandma’s… well, you get the idea! I may or may not have gained ten pounds while I was there. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away folks. And I was ready to receive those pounds! Yum! We said our tear-filled goodbyes and headed back home to Arizona, where we crammed in one last weekend of fun in Williams. We helped do some manual labor for the in-laws, and then enjoyed nights around the campfire making smores, talking, and stargazing. What’s the best part about summer? Prioritizing things other than work. I heard a speaker once say, “instead of saying you don’t have time for something, change your response to, it’s not a priority for me.” Eye-opening. Prioritize tech-free time. Prioritize togetherness. Prioritize rest.