The 5 min. storage bin project.

Assembly takes only 5 min. according to the writing on the carton. Hah. Took me 20 min, to get the carton open. Right there I knew it was a lie about the 5 min assembly. Took me 10 min, to get to the part where I needed 2 pairs of hands to hold and lift and snap the top on. Took 20 min. for my friend to come over with the required extra hands. Then took about another 20 min. to snap it together and find the right screw drivers. ( Yes, 6 screws used one size end and 4 screws used another size. ) I now have a great big storage container for all my patio chairs and pillows. Even room in it for the fold up bike.the fold up bike. pretty neat ,eh.

Things that go thump in the attic.

For the last week have been hearing strange thumps above the kitchen and the bathroom. Think a chipmunk dropped in through the bathroom fan vent.! The vent tubing was lying on the floor of the attic, and daylight was showing through the roof vent. Put a stick of wood up to the vent, hoping the little devil would run up the "ladder" and glorious freedom, before I attached the tubing. Which I haven't done yet as don't want to trap whatever it is in the attic. No such luck. Think it invited its relatives in. Or had babies in the nice warm dry attic. Yesterday heard a great racket in the partition between the bathroom and kitchen. Think something fell down . Unfortunately all the commotion is in an area that is all enclosed, so can't see in . Much scuffling and chattering , and even crying went on for about 3 hours. Sounded like it was dragging something back up the walls. Called the condo management, and they called the pest control people, but everyone was too busy to come. Supposed to come today to take a look. Hope they bring a live trap, but perhaps have to leave them until babies(?) big enough to survive . Hope it isn't a skunk or raccoon . My Mom was visiting for a few days and Janice came on Sunday. Look how tall Janice looks compared to her Grandmother. ( the clock on the top of her head doesn't help any, guess I had better be more careful with my pictures.)

spring Ontario style

The snow is almost all gone from the ditches and these are the few flowers blooming in my garden. Can a real spring be far behind? I am putting out the humming bird feeder and the bird bath just to encourage it along and make me feel it really is going to turn warm . Also a couple of lawn chairs. ( I really have high hopes here) Keep you informed.....

Facts the travel mags. don't tell you...

Driving 3,500.Kilometers in 4 days by yourself is tiring.
Driving through 3 time zones is even more tiring.
All the best campsites appear at 10 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon. after 2 , there are no more camping areas...
2 in the afternoon is too early to stop, if you want to make it home in 4 days.
Everyone in the motel rooms next to you, get up and shower at 4 in the morning.
There are no Tim Horton coffee shops in America.
Americans do not know how to make decent coffee.
Leaving Arizona in 90 degree weather and arriving in Ontario to see snow on the ground 4 days later is rather a shock to the system.
Travel tends to make this driver very grumpy. But I am sure with enough coffee and sleep she will recover.
Happy Easter to all.

This and that

Tomorrow I leave the desert and Jacquie for the drive home to Ontario, Canada. A neighbour hosted an appreciation party from the community, for Jacquie last afternoon and evening. People came early and left late. Guess that means everyone had a good time. Lynne presented Jacquie with this blanket she made for her. It's white with red maple leafs , quilted in white thread with lots of images of the desert ( cactus, cowboy boots, etc. Names of animals in Jacquie's life, past and present, and info about Jacquie. The picture doesn't do it justice of course. Needless to say Jacquie was surprised and pleased. Jacquie is sitting in the left hand side of the picture wearing a "tiara" ( princess of Cascabel for the evening!!!!) She will be sad to leave this friendly community when the time comes.
I will miss all the great people I have met here as well.


Cactus bloooming in the desert

one of the donkeys giving me the evil eye. He likes to eat the vehicle windshield wipers if he gets a chance.

walk to the mailbox

Its just a short walk down the steep laneway, through the gate , along the side road, to the mail box.

First , have to wait for the traffic to passThen get Kam , the dog, to come along for the walk, He likes to stick his nose in all the interesting holes along the way. Hopefully all are empty( no hibernating snakes, packrats, baby bunnies, or any creepy crawly things that bite.)
I stop and admire the many wild flowers managing to survive along side the laneway.
Mail delivery every other day. No horses, donkeys, trucks or cars on the Cascabel road.
See more wild flowers on the way back
Faithful Kam waits for me as I slowly walk (climb)back up the steep laneway.

Phoenix

Spent last weekend in Phoenix. The state park was full at noon so went to a very noisy K.O.A. campground . It was clean and people were friendly. Sat. I toured Taliesin West , in Scottsdale . The winter campus of the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Was an interesting 2 hour tour. Beautiful site , but I forgot to take my camera, so no pictures.

The next day I was up bright and early to try and get a campsite at the Lost Dutchman State Park. My site under the superstition Mountains in the Sonoran Desert. Those jumping Cholla cactus seem to follow me everywhere... Was a much nicer campsite . Met the same young couple here that where at the K.O. A. asked me to there site for a drink. Hey, I had to be friendly didn't I? nice wine. Supposed to be a fabled lost gold mine somewhere in this park , hence the name , "lost dutchman". Lots of hiking trails, and the wild flowers were everywhere. Was very hot , so I got out my lawn chair and read a book in the shade of the cactuses , a hummingbird kept buzzing around me. Thought my colourful hat was a flower, I guess.Monday, I stopped at Biosphere 2 which is north of Tucson and had a tour of the large sealed glass building that was the home for two years ,of 10 people who took part in a self sustanabilty experiment. Again it was very hot outside and really hot and humid under all the glass . It wasn't a real success. I sure wouldn't want to live in those units. I won't be signing up for the moon habitat living.

Drove the 30 miles of dirt road to Jacquie's , as came in the back way from Tucson. The donkeys met me in the laneway.

Hiking in the high desert.

Last Saturday, my daughter led a teaching tour to an archeology site near Pomerene, on the San Pedro River. We drove part way through a ranchers' fields, over a few dry washes,until we came to a large wash that we couldn't navigate the truck over. We left the truck there but the others were travelling in this:::: So they could cross the boulder strewn wash and the next mile to the site. The person in the back is sitting on a lawn chair ,that she assured me was bungycorded to the floor. Still didn't look too safe to me but guess it beats walking through the prickly cactus fields. We walked a mile from there to the site and two miles back as we got a little lost . It was in the 80's.

Sunday ,it was again in the 80's and Jacquie led a group of 8 to another site . This time we could drive all the way again through rancher's fields. ( a lot of gates to open and close) Over the San Pedro dry river bed to the base of a high cliff. Imagine, carrying water and food up this steep cliff. Life must of been very hard then.

I am standing on the top of the cliff looking down and across to another cliff. It is a long way down to the river valley . Here we are measuring distances between the stone house walls on the site. Part of the "site stewart " program. I just wandered around looking for pottery sherds, that I had to replace in the same spot. It's very strange touching something that another person made and used, possibly a thousand years ago.

Today, Sat. we went to another site with another group of interested locals. Seen some agriculture fields made up of piles of stones. Supposedely the stone piles protected the agave cactus roots from wild animals rooting them up and collected the dew and rain water. Then we walked to the 2 villages on this site. The walk was treacherous because we had to walk through a "Cholla forest" to get there. The Cholla cactus are know as the "jumping cholla" for a very good reason. Come within two feet of them and somehow they manage to stab you., We all picked big spines out of our shoes, jeans and shirts during and after the hike.

Crossing the wild poppie covered desert to the Cholla 's

A close up of the mean cactus.

After all this strenuous hiking and cactus spine removal, we had a wonderful potluck lunch at the home of one of the hikers. Great day... except for those darn chollas.

California Trip

Marissa , part of the reason for my trip to California. She looks like a sweet little 10 year old. Don't let the smile fool you.. She is a card shark and a no holds barred Monopoly player.
Back to the trip. Left Cascabel around 9 am. Friday 27th. We headed north, 30 bumpy miles on the dirt road to San Manuel. Thank goodness for a paved road the rest of the way to Oracle, passed the Biosphere, joining the I 10 north of Tucson. Thought we would bypass all the construction and detours in and around Tucson. Not sure if we saved any time but we sure took the more scenic route. We changed onto I 8 at Casa Grande and followed that Highway

to Yuma. Desert all the way and temp in the high 70's. Transfered camping equipment into Paul's car and went off to a well deserved lunch at the Olive Garden around 2.

I left Jacquie shopping until Paul got off work and I headed north. Lots of R.V. sites in Yuma but lots of campers scattered around everywhere in the desert. Looked pretty hot out there to me, but the price is right... I. 8 highway runs parellel to the Mexican border, so of course the border patrol has a checkpoint. Traffic stopped back a couple of miles. On each side where large sand dunes. Gave me something to look at as I inched along.

Drove alongside a lake named Salton Sea. Lots of agriculter in this area. Almost got sprayed by a crop duster plane that was flying back and forth over the highway, at one point it flew so low over the highway that it went under the power lines . Passed Palm Springs and a few Malls and Casino's. I didn't stop, honest. It was starting to get dark so stopped for the night in Beaument.

Left early the next morning as was a little worried about the drive through San Bernardino. A really busy highway that winds up through a mountain pass. A pretty drive but unfortunately had to keep my eyes on the road. Boy , drivers are nuts in Cal. Had arranged to meet Paula and Jim at a mall in Lancaster. I was 2 hours early, and that was a good thing as it took me almost that long to find the mall. Turns out it really is in Palmdale. I know that area very well now... Spent the rest of the day following them around while they got there grocerys , etc.

Sunday was hot, had a lovely day with the family and of course played Skip Boo with Marissa and lost. Thought I would be sneaky and give her a new game she wouldn't know (but I would) I won the first game of Rummy Cube but that was all.... Then it was on to Monopoly . I was bankrupt in no time.

Left for Yuma Monday morning . This time came home a little different way from Cal City. Passed Edwards Air Base , through another desert area with lots of cactus and no passing areas. The drive down to San Bernardino was a bit scary, Seems like mileswinding down hill at 45 mph but only me and a few trucks were doing that. I stayed in the truck lane all the way down. Car drivers are nuts... Had planned on shopping in Palm Springs but after that drive just wanted to get back to some small highways with saner drivers.

Joined up with Paul and Jacquie later that day, (they never did camp )and we had an early supper in Yuma and Jacquie and I headed towards Phoenix. Arrived at Pauls sister's place about 9 that night.

Next day ,Tues, we drove the hour to a Phoenix hotel that Jacquie had a few meetings to attend.

I went to one session and decided it was boring , so sat out by the pool and read. We left there in time to hit the rush hour traffic. Stopped for food half way to Tucson and walked out of the restaurant after waiting for a waiter for a long time. ( (((D0 we sound grumpy and tired ))) got a sub instead and hit the road again. Decided to drive through Tucson, detours and all and head for Benson. That way we would only have 10 miles of dirt road to deal with on the way home.

Well , in the few days we were away,the road went from bad to downright undrivable. Top speed was 5 m.p.h. Everything shook. We were glad to get home...

Spring Flowers

ok , so there are only a few flowers, but if you click on the picture and enlarge it you can see them. Cam, the dog, is sniffing around them. Everytime I tried to get a close up, my shadow was in the frame. Also I was trying to stand on a steep slope. After a few cool nights seems we are back to sun and warm weather. Rah...

Friday, we am driving to California City Cal. by way of Yuma. Will leave Jacquie there , and get her on the way back on Monday. Going to see one of my favorite grandaughters. She always beats me at games , Kids as just too smart these days.

Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to all. It is cold today. sunny and windy. Frost last night. Supposed to warm up again next week. I hope so. I am looking out for the animals today and tonight. Jacquie has gone to Tucson to meet Paul and stay over night at his brothers. So far the dogs have escaped and run off for a couple of hours. Not good to do on the weekends as the hunters are out on State land shooting at anything that moves. They came back looking tired but happy. Than the U.P.S. delivery truck came up the laneway and left the gate open. I hope the donkeys didn't take the opportunity to make a fast escape out to the road. They hopefully where in the back 40 when that happened. Will know at feeding time as they don't like to miss a meal. Then a chicken managed to get out of its run into the dog run and couldn't figure out how to get back . So chased it around for awhile before I caught it and carried it back to its own area. Have to lock them up at night as the coyotes are out and about every night . Guess they have young to feed as well.
So much for lounging around doing nothing.!!!!

Snow

Woke up to this white stuff this morning. What is going on ? It is not supposed to snow here.

The mules don't seem to mind the cold or snow. The natives and visitors aren't too keen on it.

heat and rainbow

Have had a couple of weeks of heat. Not complaining, been to Tucson as well. Seems to take a whole day to leave here, navigate the bumpy road. Make stops in Benson , at the dump,and the feed store., Then on to Tucson with a stop at the recycle bins. Then the grocery stores, lunch, and this week Jacquie had a meeting at her work office. I did a little wandering around while waiting for her, Then a stop at the pet store for dog food . Headed back to Benson for a few extra things at the grocery store and the hardware and by the time we got back home it was starting to get dark. Time to put the hens in for the night.

Rained last night. Still cloudy today, but the sun does peak out. supposed to get much colder this week. I am getting used to the heat so hate to hear about a cold front moving in. Am becoming a real wimp about cold weather.

This roadrunner visits everyday. He runs so fast and looks so funny. Just like in the old roadrunner cartoons at the movies.

Rain and Hiking the desert

Rained for two days last week. The desert smelled so wonderful after the rain. Seemed like a lot of water fell but am told it was less than an inch.

Sunday morning joined my daughter and an interesting group to view some rock art. left the house about 8:30 met the others around 9:15, and 3 four wheel drive vehicles full of men ,women and children proceeded slowly, along a windy dirt road, around the cactus patches. Arrived at a locked gate,with hardly enough room to park the cars, ( really wondered how they would turn them around without dropping into the valley below, but they did manage .)

With backpacks,full of water and of course our lunch we all walked about half a mile down into the valley bottom. Under a barbed wire fence and onto the rock strewn river bed. Heard lots of birdsongs and the bird expert in the group did tell us the names, but as I was so busy looking down so as not to trip on the rocks only got to see a few. Finally came to a side canyon with the rock art in a sort of cave. The river bed would have been flooded during the rains , and could see evidence of that a long way up the walls of the canyon. Early Southwestern Native People wouldn't have lived here all the time. The rock art looks like it was hammered into the walls of the canyon and cave.

This is thought to be a panther Not the best picture. Not sure what the one below is. I thought it was a rabbit, others didn't think so.

I think the others are a snake, turtle, circles,,there where many more. The bottom picture of Jacquie's foot and two holes or depressions in the rock is thought to be called bedrock mortars.

We ate our lunch at the site and thought about the lives of the people who lived here centures ago.

The walk back up the hill wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We arrived home about 2:30 tired but satisfied with our outing.

Finished at last

The side fence is now all painted brown., took four days,but looks good. Of course the dogs tried to take a short cut right through the fence slats. Have wired it back together ,can hardly be seen.

Also painted the fire pit the lovely bright colour of the shed. Seems a shame to start a fire in it and dirty it all up.

Cloudy today and windy. Still very warm though. Supposed to rain in the next couple of days.

Sunday A day of rest

Yesterday and today have been very hot... like 80. Tried judo again Sat. morning. I'm still pretty pitiful but I gave it the old school try. Come away so relaxed that nothing gets done for the rest of the day. Mainly sat around and watched Paul and Jacquie work. Did go to the neighbours place and help (???) Jacquie feed and water the three horses and two donkeys . One followed us home and checked out what Paul was loading on the truck.

Slept in this morning and missed the morning feeding, but I did let the hens out. A very important job as have to lift one hen , Goldie,down off the roost. Not sure what is her problem, At first thought it was because the rooster really chased her and pecked her head. She stopped laying eggs . He was getting very aggressive to people as well. The rooster has gone to another home along with 4 hens. He attacked the new owner so last we heard the rooster was in "time out". In the run next to the hens, but not in with them. Back to Goldie , she still wouldn't come off the roost after the rooster was gone. Maybe she is afraid of heights? Also not laying eggs either.

Thought I'd add a picture of the great colour I painted the shed.

Bumpy ride.

Wednesday drove the van to Tucson. This is more of an adventure than it sounds. Ten miles of dirt road that seems like 30, over bone shaking , dusty, rocky, branch scratching, rough cattleguards and blind curves. Add a few stray cattle , mangy dogs and the chance of some wild animals running across in front of me.. Well, it was some trip. Everything in the van vibrates , and I mean vibrates, at any speed on that road. Top speed was 30 mph. but most time it was 10. Not a fast trip. Stopped in Benson at a tire store. On their advice , changed the air pressure in the tires. Really didn't make the return trip any more comfortable but maybe it will save the tires.

Went through the drive -through coffee hut after that. By then, really needed a strong drink , but since it was 9 in the morning had to settle for coffee.

Did some shopping ,checked out cameras . picked out a simple to use one, after much thought and then wouldn't you know, it was out of stock...

Went to lunch at a new Greek restaurant,with Jacquies in laws. Food was great except the greek salad was mainly lettuce. Don't think a real greek salad has lettuce in it. What happened to the onion, peppers,tomatoes ,and olives?

On the way out of town stopped at another store and bought a camera. The same one I had decided on at another store. Took pictures of cattle on the paved road on the way home.

Was so busy trying to keep the van on the dirt road didn't get to look around for the wild animals , but another day when I'm not driving am sure will see lots to click at.

The donkeys were at the top of the lane way , but they had enough sense to get out of the way as I roared up the hill .

Yesterday the coyote was up to the hen house twice. Just looked at me as he lopped off down the gully. Of course I didn't have the camera with me... Next time....