SHE DIGS, I PLANT

PHEEBS & I MAKE A GOOD TEAM, SHE DIGS THE HOLES & I PUT PUT THE PLANTS IN
Jeeped myself out into the cool quiet desert air this morning for a relaxing drive.  Always new things to see & find.  Always a pleasure to be alone with Mother Nature.
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There is a happy new addition over at the BIRDING RV'ERS.  A ray of Golden sunshine has arrived after a year of sadness.  Might want to drop on by & have a big tail wag with Molly:))
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GROANER’S CORNER:((  How do you get a man to do sit-ups?
- Put the remote control between his feet.
----------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

WE SAY GOOD-BYE, PLANT SOME PLANTS, & A LONG TIME BLOG READER AT THE GATE:))

 

HAD TO FILL IN FOREGROUND HOLE LATER BECAUSE I CLUNKED INTO A WATER PIPE

How nice this warm weather has been for us since arriving in Arizona.  Neighbor’s & locals have told us it is not usually this warm at this time of year.  Hoping it continues through December.

SAYING SOME GOOD-BYES THIS MORNING

Sad to see our good friend’s Jean & Skip, Big Jake, Sophie & Louie roll out this morning but I’m sure our paths will cross again.  They are all welcome here any time.  They really, really, like this area…..just as we do.

  

GOING, GOING, GONE………

Pheebs knew her Pals were gone because immediately after they left she walked over to their site & laid on the ground with her head down. 

I’ve been wanting to try out a few ‘non-native’ plants so we took a drive over to the Congress Depot this morning.  Owner Judy came out right away with a big smile on her face pointing to a nice smelling Rosemary plant in a 5 gallon pot.  Jean & Skip had just dropped in after leaving our place & bought us a plant.  I had told Jean I was going to drop in there this morning & have a look at some plants.  Now, how’s that for thoughtfulness.  Thanks guys:)))))

AT THE CONGRESS DEPOT PICKING UP SOME PLANTS…THIS IS WHERE OUR YUMMY PIZZA’S COME FROM

PICKING OUT A FEW ‘NON-NATIVE’ PLANTS

We are constantly surprised at the friendliness of the people here in Congress.  Couple ladies stopped in on their morning walk.  One was the local Librarian.  Yes, Congress has a Library. The 2 water utility guys who first helped us out with the Yellow Jackets have twice stopped in to see how we’re doing.  People wave going by.  I sometimes think we have landed in Mayberry RFD.  For anyone driving through Congress & not seeing anything moving, they would be very surprised to learn that we have a medical clinic here, fire department, writer’s club, cancer support group, an Art club, 3 weekly AA group meetings, Tai Chi classes, TOPS, (take off pounds sensibly) computer classes, etc. etc.  Even got some line dance classes going over at North Ranch.  Yaaay PAT.  And, if Pat can’t get your crazy legs a movin right for ya, she can sure teach ya how to shoot straight……10-4:)) 

I’M THINKING THIS OLD TIMER & HIS HORSE ARE HEADED FOR THE CONGRESS POST OFFICE TO PICK UP MAIL

Kelly picked me up a good Cactus book at a garage sale today & I can see I have probably mis-named some Cactus already.  Those Beaver Tail’s I have been talking about may just be a different variety of Prickly Pear.  Just looking at this book called, ‘70 Common Cacti Of The Southwest’ I can already see where I am in for about 70 ID mistakes.  Would you believe there are Tuberous Prickly Pear, Brown Spined Prickly Pear as well as Purple, Santa Rita, Engelman’s, Texas, Pancake, Bearded, & Spiny-Fruited Prickly Pear.  Oh dear, this learning curve is getting waaaay too steep for me!!

DEFINITELY A PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS, BUT WHAT KIND OF A PRICKLY PEAR I HAVE NO IDEA 

A pleasant surprise this afternoon as I was working on getting our 3 plants in the ground.  Start a hole, add water, wait for the ground to soften & dig some more.  It’s the way holes are dug here in the hard desert floor.  Had our Rosemary & Valentine plants in the ground & was just about getting ready to take the Salvia out of the pot when a car rolled in & up to our closed gate.  Oh Oh I thought.

AT THE CONGRESS DEPOT, WITH MY CAMERA SLUNG ROUND MY NECK, I ACCIDENTALLY TOOK THIS PHOTO WHILE CARRYING A POTTED PLANT BACK TO THE JEEP…THE POT BUMPED AGAINST MY TRIGGER BUTTON & I SHOT MY SHADOW…I NEVER TRAVEL WITH THE SAFETY ON:))

Set my shovel aside & headed for the gate as a fellow stepped out.  He said something but I only heard the word ‘fence’ & thought ‘Oh Geeeeezzzz, somebody’s mad about the fence we just put up.  I kind of have a habit of always thinking the worst is about to land on me.  Writing a sometimes opinionated daily blog, I know there are some folks out there who would probably like nothing better than to throw a couple rocks my way.  But, not today & not this guy.  Fellow RV’er Leo has been following our blog since the fall of 2008 & said he & his wife never miss a day reading it.  He said a lot of other nice things too but for me to mention them here would only be seen as blowing my own horn.  Don’t want to re-ruffle too many feathers again here in Blogland you know.  Invited them in but Leo said they only stopped for a minute to say Hello, as they were checking out some boondocking sites in the area.  They had their 2 little dogs, Frankie & Pudge with them too.  I later got myself into a bit of Dickens with Kelly for not calling her out of the house to meet these folks.  But, I did tell them to come again:)) 

STILL MISSING HER PALS BUT FEELING A LITTLE BETTER

As many readers know, I am quite a ‘self doubter’ & get down on myself & my blog from time to time.  It’s called depression & there is no other flowery word for it.  However, todays visit from 2 long time readers had nothing to do with depression & everything to do with perking me up.  As I have said before, growing up under the heavy hand of criticism, it is often difficult for me to understand, recognize & accept genuine compliments when they do come along.  But Leo kind of drove it home for me today….and for that I say, Thankyou folks:))  (hope I got Leo’s name right, couldn’t remember Mrs’ Leo’s name but did remember Frankie & Pudge)

 

MOON GOING DOWN OVER THE DATE CREEK MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING     

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Signs you may be a computer age Redneck……….

*If your computer has a sticker on it that says "Protected by Smith and Wesson"
*If you've ever doubled the value of your truck by installing a cellular phone
*If your wife said either the computer goes or she goes and you still don't miss her.
*If your computer is worth more than all your cars combined
*If you refer to your computer as "Old Bessie"
*If your e-mails all start with "Howdy y'all"
*If you've ever used a CD-ROM as a coaster to set your beer on.
*If your e-mail address ends in ".over.yonder.com"
*If the bumper sticker on your truck says "my other computer is a laptop".

-----------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

IN THE SHADOW OF VULTURE PEAK

WATCHED THE BIG MOON SLIDE DOWN BEHIND A ROCKY RIDGE NEAR OUR HOUSE THIS MORNING

Big difference between a full moon at our place in Bayfield Ontario compared to our place here in Congress Arizona.  No change in the moon of course, but a big change in how we view the moon.  In Bayfield, because of the numerous large Pine trees surrounding our house, we can only catch fleeting glimpses of the it.  Here in Arizona, the Moonlight floods the desert floor & surrounding mountains & our visibility stretches for miles.  Not only do we get to see all the Moon rises here but we also get to see all the sunrises & sunsets as well.  Always look forward to that every year & it is definitely worth the long drive down from Ontario:))

HASTY SHOT OF A UFO THIS MORNING BETWEEN THE MOON & PLANET JUPITER…WELL, NOT EXACTLY…THE ROUND GREEN ORB IS A LIGHT REFLECTION IN THE LENS CAUSED BY THE MOON’S LIGHT:))

For the second time in a week we had our 2 vehicle convoy ready to roll this morning at 8:30.  Jean & Skip hadn’t been out to the Vulture Peak area so with windows down, plenty of sunshine, & warm temps, we headed off to Wickenburg & west to the Peak.  Just a great morning for a scenic drive through the mountainside.

OUR 2 VEHICLE CONVOY IS READY TO RUMBLE

TWENTY MINUTES LATER WE WERE ON THE VULTURE PEAK TRAIL

Kelly & I had done the first half of the Vulture Peak trail last March so knew it to be a nice moderate hike through stands of Saguaro & mini-forests of Teddy Bear Cholla cactus.  My hip & leg were feeling good so we had ourselves a leisurely walk on part of the trail.  How fortunate for 4 Snow Bird’s from Canada to be out of the cold, wet, & blustery Canadian winter, ambling along surrounded by so much natural desert & mountain beauty.

 

LEFT PHOTO SHOWS THE JEEP ROAD LEADING TOWARDS THE PEAK

JEAN & SKIP…ON THE TRAIL

Following the hike we drove south a bit to have a look at the Vulture Mine.  They conduct Saturday morning tours at this mine.  Not a lot visible from the road except  for some old mining buildings.  Heading back towards Wickenburg we drove through a boondocking site.  Same place AMERICAN TRAVELER, WANDERING WILLY, & IVAN have previously stayed.  Well, at least I think Ivan stayed here.  Hailey’s not too sure where they end up sometimes:))

LOUIE WAS STILL NOT IN A SHARING MOOD TODAY

Back into Wickenburg where Kelly & I stopped at Safeway for groceries while Jean & Skip headed on up to the Escapee’s North Ranch for a walk around the well laid out & well cared for beautiful cactus garden.  You can see a few of my March photos of that garden HERE. 

  

PETER, THIS IS YOUR SITE FROM LAST MARCH WHERE WE HAD BREAKFAST ONE FINE MORNING…JUST A TENT THERE NOW

As usual, we were back home by noon to beat the heat.  Because of my poor sleeping habits each night I generally run out of energy in the early afternoon & have to plug myself into the recliner for a few hours & recharge my batteries.

A NARROW ROCKY PATH LEADS THROUGH THE SAGUAROS

Awhile back, reader Chris sent in an email about our Blog Follower/Friend Connect list at the top of our blog, “I tried to leave this as a comment on your blog but I couldn't figure out how to do it since you changed things around. I don't have any of the required accounts”……. I actually haven’t made any changes to that Friend/Follower program since I first set it up in the blog back in late 07 but my guess is that Google, in it’s never ending quest for change, changed things. From the comments & emails I have received, it is clear the sign up process is not as easy as it once was, for whatever reason. At one time we had a healthy growing Blog Followers list but this past year or so the growth has slowed to a trickle & I suspect that has to do with some kind of difficulty folks have with signing onto our Blog Follower/Friend Connect list now. I wonder if other Bloggers have noticed this? And Carmella, I knew you had joined our list when your photo appeared as Blog Follower 531:))

IF WE WERE HERE YEAR ROUND TO KEEP THEM WATERED, WE WOULD PLANT SOME BOUGAINVILLIA AROUND THE PROPERTY

Jean & Skip sprung for Pizza tonight & slipped down to the Congress Mercantile Depot to bring back a big pizza supreme. Yummy.  Big Jake, Sophie & Louie even rode along as back-up in case there were any Pizza robbers along the way.  We are sure going to miss all these guys when they are gone.  We always leave our doors wide open so these past few days has been like old times with dogs wandering in & dogs wandering out.  We love dogs & having a pack of dogs around, playing together, hanging out, & just being dogs, is right up our alley.  And, we like Jean & Skip a whole bunch too:))  We will genuinely feel sad when the whole gang leaves in the morning:((

JEAN & KELLY ON THE VULTURE PEAK TRAIL THIS MORNING

GROANER’S  CORNER:((  "Mr. Clark, I'm afraid I have bad news," the doctor told his anxious patient. "You only have six months to live." The man sat in stunned silence for the next several minutes. Regaining his composure, he apologetically told his physician that he had no medical insurance. "I can't possibly pay you in that time." "Okay," the doctor said, "let's make it nine months."

-----------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

WE ARE WHERE WE ARE MEANT TO BE

THIS MORNING’S SUNRISE OVER THE WEAVER MOUNTAINS

TONIGHT’S MOONRISE OVER THE WEAVER MOUNTAINS
I may not adapt well to technology type changes anymore, but I am still reasonably flexible when it comes to lifestyle changes.  In fact, both Kelly & I are.  Coming from totally different backgrounds, both our lives took an instant turn the very first time we met.  And together, we have been making tight turns ever since.  From separate lives to an old farmhouse together.  From there to our snugly abode in Bayfield.  We even got married along the way.  RVing thoughts were always on our minds & in 06 we took a truck & fiver & headed for our first RV winter in America’s great South-West.

PHEEBS MEETS YET ANOTHER LITTLE PAL ON OUR MORNING WALK…HER NAME IS MOLLY
The following year found us in a Motorhome with thoughts of fulltiming & living on the road.  The big financial crash in 08 pretty much ended those plans & we hesitatingly stepped back from the fulltiming brink.  The next 4 years saw us boondocking around the south-western States thoroughly enjoying ourselves as Snow Birds.  Earlier this year brought another change when we bought our house in Congress Arizona.  And, with Kelly’s retirement now, we will be in for even more changes this coming year.

PEEK-A-BOO I SEE YOU…AND, MY, MY, WHAT BIG EARS YOU HAVE
As I contently work away around our Ghost Town Road house these days, I can’t help but think, we are once again in the exact place we are meant to be.  With my legs causing me trouble now, I would have found it difficult this winter if we were boondocking.  Not being able to get out for our usual long morning walks, frequent rock scrambles & moderate hikes, I would have become increasingly miserable just sitting around the rig reading, watching TV & basically doing the square root of nothing.  Lounging around day after day does not work for me.  Here at the house, despite the leg pains, I have lots of challenging & interesting things to do that keep me creatively occupied.  And do them I do.  Kelly is content to be off the road this winter as well, so again….we are where we are meant to be.        

<<< ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOR’S HAS A LEMON TREE, BUT NOT TO WORRY…WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET OURSELVES INVOLVED IN ANOTHER LEMONGATE
I have an answer for RETIRED ROD & ED'S outhouse queries regarding Monday night’s post.  Retired Rod says, “have always wondered the purpose of a two holer like the one you pictured... Are you supposed to invite a friend”??….. From first hand experience I can tell you that one hole was larger for adults & one was smaller for kids.  Kinda like the big Bum/little Bum syndrome.  Always a kids greatest fear, second to none, was falling through the big hole into the soup below.  If you look closely, I think the hole on the right is slightly smaller.  And, if it isn’t…it darn well should be!!  And, I double checked on Jean & Skips car.  I had it half right in Monday’s blog so changed it.  Yes it is a Pontiac, but not a Tracker.  It’s a Canadian made Pontiac Sunrunner.
 
Jean & Skip slipped into Wickenburg this morning for a look around & I slipped out in the Jeep looking for some Beaver Tail Cactus.  Found some, & then spent the remainder of the day feeling like a pin cushion, picking about 3.6 million fine little Beaver Tail Cactus stickers out of my hide.  Oh I have so much to learn about Cactus:((
 
TO THE EYE, BEAVER TAIL CACTUS HAVE NO STICKERS…BUT I LEARNED DIFFERENT TODAY AS I PLANTED ABOUT 10 OF THESE FELLOWS
 
PRICKLY PEAR, THE AREAS DOMINATE & PLENTIFUL CACTUS HAVE LONG SPIKY BARBS THAT CAN REALLY PUNCTURE SKIN
Marteen, the fence builder, rolled in with a big snaggly telephone pole this afternoon to lift our electrical line high enough to clear the Motorhome air conditioners.  I had pre-dug the hole.  Walla, another problem solved:))

THAT POLE IN THE BACKGROUND NOW LIFTS OUR ELECTRICAL LINE HIGHER
Jean, Skip, Kelly & I watched the Moonrise tonight while the animal gang’s antics kept everyone entertained.

LOUIE’S GOT THE BALL SO HE’S ‘IT’
 
PHEEBS IS STILL AFTER THAT BALL & LOUIE WON’T GIVE IT TO HER
And, welcome to our latest Blog Follower/Friend Connect fulltime RV’ers.  TURN WHEN THE ROAD DOES.  Wayne Scott authors this blog & his latest post deals with re-occurring low tire pressures on his dually. He does find a solution.

SUNSET IN OUR BACK YARD
Jean & Skip will be leaving Thursday & we will miss them & the doggy gang.  We get along very well with J & S because they are a quiet private couple very much like ourselves. 

Tonight while standing by Jean & Skip’s Motorhome talking, Kelly spotted a large Owl silently alight on our neighbor’s TV aerial close by.  I had been taking some moonshots so quickly focused on the Owl & using the flash, cracked off a picture.  It was fairly dark & the Owl was just a shape but noticed right away the flash had lit up the Owls eyes…and that meant one thing.  He was staring right at us!!  Jean & Skip hurriedly hustled Sophie & Louie inside the rig.  Large Owls have been known to go after small dogs.  Both Pheebs & Big Jake just stuck their tongues out & made faces at the Owl….so there!!  

GROANER’S CORNER:((  There was a mamma mole, a papa mole, and a baby mole. They lived in a hole outside of a farm house out in the country. The papa mole reached his head out of the hole and said, "Mmmmm, I smell sausage. The mama mole reached her head outside of the hole and said "Mmmmmm, I smell pancakes." The baby mole tried to reach his head outside the hole but couldn't because of the two bigger moles. The baby mole said, "The only thing I can smell is molasses."
--------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com