What do ruins, Clarkdale Arizona, and cupcakes have in common? Wednesday!

It was five years ago this week that I first visited Tuzigoot National Monument, and five years later that I second visited. It reminded me of how much I loved the Southwest immediately, and how being here still feels just right, Goldie.

My friend, Jac, told me that Clarkdale is cute. She can't be trusted, so I went to see for myself.

What I noticed first, last, and in-between was how quiet it is. Not eerie quiet, just still. I saw and greeted people walking here and there, but they weren't loud folk.

Some of y'all know I'm not a museum kind of gal. But, just the same, when faced with Arizona's Greatest Treasure, the Copper Art Museum, even this non-cerebral waterfowl has to test her mettle.

[A video will start playing automatically. Copper Art Museum webmaster, I consider that a bug, not a feature.]

Not everyone is going to be interested in the same thing, but if you're into copper at all, I think you'll like this place. There is a LOT of copper. I learned that copper is an antimicrobial element. A manager told me he hopes to convince local grocery stores to let him install a copper coating on the cart handles; that's an experiment I'd be fascinated by. I'm not being facetious - it's right up my alley. People used to store water in copper for its antibacterial qualities, apparently. Brass doorknobs are naturally toxic to most bacteria. Microbiology: TELL ME ALL THE THINGS!

Adults $10 (inc. tax), seniors $9. Other people, who remembers?

The building was the high school until 1960. Evocative! The rooms are sunny and big, and it was easy to slip into a time warp (it's just a jump to the left ... ).

And so, when I left the building, my head was still mid-century. I walked up Main Street, where a mechanic was, I swear to you, working on a '56 Chevy pick-up in front of Clarkdale Classic Gas Station (where they pump your gas for you).

I strolled past the 10-12 Lounge, where you can refresh yourself from 10 AM to 12 AM.

There are some establishments that look like they're ready to spring to life in the sinister innocence of 1960. Emphasis on innocence. There is an old railroad car positioned strategically on a corner waiting to serve you coffee and yummies (I bet - they're not open now). Miller's Market is undergoing renovation and will re-open in the Spring of 1961.

Thanks for the pic, Laura J.

It would have been ridiculous to come right through Old Town Cottonwood without stopping for an hour at the Wild Rose of Historic Old Town Tea House. I sat on the patio and life lived me for a while.

There was nothing much-needed at Ye Olde Hippie Emporium, but I had to check to be sure. I just left here a few days ago with more books than a vandweller ought to have.