“The words that come direct from the people are the greatest...if you substitute one out of your own vocabulary, it disappears before your eyes”
Boondockers
Lea Roberts-Mom Kyra-16 Korbyn-15 Deklyn-8 Myka-6 Rykker-3
“I love that this boondocking lifestyle is about resourcefulness, ingenuity and how to grow closer to those around you. Each of my children are given the space to find themselves and how they fit into this world. I couldn’t be more proud of the people they are.”
_Lea Roberts
queen of jerky
Faye Smalley
The best damn jerky salesperson west of the Mississippi
Daniel’s Best Jerky _ Parker, Arizona
“I just like hanging out with people, that is why I am meant to be a salesperson.”
”I have a lot of fun selling jerky, if your not having fun… GET OUT.”
”If you shut your pie hole and be patient you might learn something from the people that surround you.”
”The reason this business is so successful is that it is a family operation and we all compliment each other.”
_Faye Smalley
The word “jerky” derives from the Quechua word ch’arki which means “dried, salted meat.” All that is needed to produce basic “jerky” is a low temperature drying method and salt to inhibit bacteria growth.
_Wikipedia
johnny onedog
Johnny OneDog - Tombstone, Arizona
Molly - Lousiana Catahoula Leopard
“After leaving the RV sales life, I moved to Tombstone Arizona to reinvent myself. Now I sell over 50,000 bottles a year of my own creation, Tombstone Sarsaparilla.” Johnny prefers his one man one dog operation. “ I am independent, I am not going to get rich but I get to meet people from all over the world, and I enjoy it.”
Faces of Tombstone
Tombstone Arizona means many things to many people. It creates images of gunfights, dusty streets, whiskey, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday and a plethora of old western movies scenes. Tombstone is a living town with real inhabitants who have lived here throughout its history and still do today. That is part of the reason Tombstone has been called “The Town Too Tough to Die.”
Forever home Donkey rescue
“I’ve often wondered if people could plan their lives, would it be what it is? Retirement has turned into a commitment with a goal to make life better for donkeys and to educate others of the mistreatment and cruelty donkeys worldwide live with daily. Would I have chosen this life decades ago as my goal? The thought would never have occurred to me.”
-Tish Hiestand
“In my wildest dreams I would never have imagined my wife and I would start and operate a donkey rescue. The donkeys are a large part of my life and working with them is a labor of love. They are my reason for staying active and involved with their upkeep. I have found my people, they just happen to have 4 legs, with big brown eyes and humongous fuzzy ears.”
- John Hiestand
“I feel blessed to be one of their caretakers and believe me; I receive so much more than I give. The rescue is not a job it is my home and I am paid in unconditional donkey love!. I become self-conscious when people thank us for rescuing and caring for the donkeys. They don’t know that I am the one that was rescued. The donkeys rescued me.”
-Suzanne Velasquez
Many of these intelligent and beautiful animals have health issues because of neglect in their past. Others are in their 20’s and 30’s, requiring extra care and special feeds to keep them healthy. Some of our donkeys are in a safe environment, for the first time in their lives. Although some of the wonderful creatures have learned to trust people, some will never trust again.
Donations can be made with PayPal at…
foreverhomedonkeyrescue@gmail.com
IRS EIN 84-4937407
JoAnn
Yakona Nature Preserve JoAnn Barton
“Forests humble, nurture, and renew me. Each encounter with giant, elder spruce is a gift that nourishes my spirit. Some command respect, others invite me close. Do they detect my presence? Since childhood I’ve longed for a pathway of communication with trees. I ceaselessly “listen” for them to share their witness to the passage of time. The ancient ones are a beguiling reminder of how meager and insignificant a human lifetime truly is.”
WILDLIFE
Rena Olson - Nature Photographer
“Nature means everything to me. It’s where I go to celebrate, laugh, cry, scream, and to give thanks. Photography began for me after I was injured and could no longer do the things I had previously loved. It’s a way to capture what I’m feeling and seeing in the moment...Photography healed me.”
THE SCULPTOR
Grant Snyder
Wiggins Hauling Works
Grant Snyder has put his considerable skills to work reclaiming several overlooks and valleys at Yakona Nature Preserve (yakonaoregon.org). He has undertaken blackberry abatement; created wildlife meadows; removed stumps left from serial logging operations on 47 acres in the heart of Yakona; and sculpted damaged knolls into scenic vistas above a former clear cut. His efforts are an important continuation of the Bartons’ work to restore native habit.
JoAnn Barton - Yakona Nature Preserve
BOATWRIGHT
“My friend said that there are three ways of doing things...There is the easy way, there is the hard way and there is the Ralph Criteser way. I use to put in terrible long hours, day and night. I didn’t stop working. I guess I’m a workaholic...Now I am so darn lazy, I don’t do anything. ”
MR. MANWARING
Michael Manwaring
“At age six I started making pictures and realized that I had something to say in this world.”
PROLIFIC PAINTER
Marla Baggetta
“I try to find the quiet spots with hidden beauties, a richly textured path, a trickling stream of light. Those are the subjects that deeply resonate with me and connect me to the landscape. I hope that you find a connection through my work too!”
activateyouradventure.com
McDonald Family
Kurt - Melissa - Isla - Bauer - Cooper - Kulah
Go to school, get a job, buy a house, get married, have kids, settle in. Let’s face it, that wasn’t settling well with us. In 2017, we created the vision for a life of full time adventure and went to work creating a life by our design. July 2019 with an 18 month old, a 3 year old and two goldendoodles we activated our adventure. We’ve travelled 29 states and taken more than 50,000 photos! But the people, they’re the icing on the top of this incredible life.
_Melissa McDonald
Benson, arizona
Faces of Benson
Benson is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 45 miles east-southeast of Tucson. It was founded as a rail terminal for the area, and still serves as such. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 5,105 faces.
SMUGGLER
Mario Moreno
Estate Manager
“I love my job because wine has been my passion for 20+ years. Once I turned 21 my dream was to one day move to Napa Valley and learn how to make wine. I like educating and showing people ways of enjoying wine more. Taking the perceived pretentiousness out of the wine industry is most important to me.”
_ Mario Moreno
Glazier
Art Cavagnaro
Napa Valley Glass Co.
”Give us a break”
Cavagnaro, who hasn’t cut his hair in 25 years and has dreads that reach his ankles, said his famous locks are a conversation starter. “Once someone asks me a question about my hair, doors of communication are opened.” He even sports his wedding band of 40 years, to wife Beverly, in his hair.
Once a week Cavagnaro opens his glass showroom for a drumming circle. “It helps with everyday stress of owning a business, you can’t think about anything else when you totally immerse yourself in the drumming around you…even for a brief moment, one can let go of everyday problems.
