NATURE’S WONDERS IN THE DESERT
We had a big pile of sand leftover from when the fellas stuccoed our house 3 years ago this month. Last year I decided to use that sand on the paths of our front yard cactus garden. Quite a few wheelbarrow loads but I got it done. Problem was I’ve never been happy with that silicone type sand on the pathways. Now 2 wrongs don’t make a right but a few weeks ago I decided on a second wrong thing & wheel barrowed a bunch of finely crushed red stone over to the paths & dumped it on the sand thinking that would solve my problem. Didn’t take me long to realize I did not like what I had done. This morning I spent 2 hours under the hot sun with my shovel & wheelbarrow shoveling all that sand & crushed stone back up again. I’m back to plain dirt paths & to me it just looks better & I don’t have that slippery crunchy feeling underfoot anymore. I’ll pour some more thought into those pathways when we return later in the year. Needless to say by noon I was totally ker-pooped.
HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE YELLOW BRITTLEBUSH
North Ranch had their 2nd semi-annual garage sale today so Kelly was off to that about 8 a.m. So what did she come home with? More cactus plants of course so I was again busy doing some more planting. A reader in our Shout box confirmed my apprehension about leaving things in pots all summer so I also busied myself planting all our potted small Agave’s together in a flowerbed near the birdfeeder. It’s anybody’s guess whether they will make it through the long hot dry summer. But they’re native desert plants & if the rabbits don’t chew them off they may have a chance.
WITH THE PRESENCE OF RATTLESNAKES NOW WE HAVE NOT BEEN OUT TO THE DESERT MUCH
Fellow RV’ers Glenda & Jeff have been camped out with their Casita in the BLM lands at the end of Ghost Town Road for the past 5 weeks & this morning dropped in to say good-bye on their way down into the Phoenix area. Their travels this summer will include Branson Missouri, Oregon, & California.
GILA WOODPECKER ON OUR OCOTILLO >>>
I am going to take a liberty here & share something I do not have permission to share & I’m hoping the writer of this email we received will not mind me sharing their thoughts. Reason for posting this is simply because it is in reference to all we blog writing folks, our blog followers & all our loyal readers. Email says: “Hey Al and Kelly, I have stalked you and your followers for at least the last year and 3 to 4 months while I have gone through therapy for breast cancer. You all have been a blessing and an outlet that just makes my day. You all have put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Have a safe journey home to Canada! I'll be lurking in the background”…………………
I thought that was pretty special:))
Way to late of course but today we did finally make it over to Mike & Pat McFalls for Happy Hour at 4. I so wish we had made the time to get over to see Mike & Pat earlier in the season. Also there today were Jim & Ellie Meachum, Mike & Janna, Jim & Bev, as well as Jerry & Carol who live up the other end of Ghost Town Road from us. In one fell swoop we managed to say good-bye to all the people left on our list. I hope next winter we can do better & get around to see all these individual couples two on two whether it be here in Congress or in Bev & Jim’s case up in the State of Idaho sometime.
BACKYARD SUNSET
GROANER’S CORNER:(( My sister has the courage, but not always the skills, to tackle any home repair project. For example, in her garage are pieces of a lawn mower she once tried to fix. So I wasn't surprised the day I found her attacking the vacuum cleaner with a screwdriver. "I can't get this thing to cooperate," she explained when she saw me. I suggested, "Why don't you drag it out to the garage and show it the lawn mower?"
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Because I had forgotten the dates for a number of my friend's and relative's birthdays and anniversaries, I decided to compile a list on the computer and have the dates highlighted on screen when the machine was turned on. I went to a number of computer stores to find a software program that would do the job but had no luck at the first few. I finally found one where the clerk seemed experienced. "Can you recommend something that will remind me of birthdays and anniversaries?" I asked.
His reply: "Have you tried a wife?"
I've always been intrigued by "soil cement" for garden paths. You work the soil until is is nice and smooth and sand-like, then you add Portland cement, mix well, spread, then wet with water. The cement will cause the soil to harden, and water will drain off. On rural county roads, they will do all the mixing with motor graders, and follow up with rollers to compact the mix. Cheap, natural solution.
ReplyDeleteJohn and I were talking this evening that we need to be watching for the snakes. All your work on your property is wearing us out!
ReplyDeleteNow you are ready, work is done, visits are done, now hope in your rig and wander on down the road and relax.
ReplyDeleteAl, thank you for sharing the blog post from your reader--it was very touching. I hope she's doing well. Please contact us first if you ever decide to sell your place!
ReplyDeleteIt was good seeing you guys AL. So glad you stopped. Safe travels and until we meet again,,, SO LONG !!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great email Al--very special! It was good to see you and Kelly--thanks for making the effort to come--we always enjoy seeing you guys!
ReplyDeleteAl,I'm sure you have NO idea how many lives you touch with your writing..Lots of lurkers who you never hear from are waiting anxiously to see what The Bayfield Bunch is up to...and to some you are like a breath of fresh air outside of their troubled lives...(If I wasn't so bold as to be an avid commenter, I would be a lurker as well!).
ReplyDeleteThe only thing more exhausting than shoveling is re-shoveling! You'll know when you've got it right :-) Glad you two were able to tough base with the rest of the gang before heading out. And very glad you shared the touching email.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome anytime to our home. It was great to see you again. We wish you safe travels and are looking forward to the posts from UT, one of our favorite states.
ReplyDeleteWish you could stay longer and enjoy the night sky. Our kitty sitters left Saturday and will visit many other snow birds down here and then their kid, just to give New York time to warm up. The North East sure got hit hard this year. Safe and fun travels Sir.
ReplyDeleteI don't plan on lurking, however by the time I read your blog everything I want to say has already been said. From all of us lurkers out here, keep up the good blogging
ReplyDeleteHow nice to share such a sweet post... you have a big effect on so many who read your blog.
ReplyDeleteKarenInTheWoods and Steveio
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(Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
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That made me so happy this morning to read that. We never really know how our thoughts might effect others and your blog has made my day many mornings! :-)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
That's a very special email/thank you. Nice to know you've at least entertained someone on the blog, lurker or not. Soon your yard will look like a natural desert arboretum. Glad you got to say your last goodbyes until fall.
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