Cutting and Hacking

Sometimes you need to do cutting and hacking.  Actually, every time I'm here, I put on my gardener hat, which is why I pay for a gardener at the other place.  It's a dangerous occupation here.  See all those agaves down my front walkway?  I still have spines in my hand from accidentally hitting one.  It's rather irritating that I can STILL see it under my skin.  

Anyway, aren't they beautiful??  It only takes a chainsaw to carve off the branches leaning over the walkway.  Then there is the evil weevil.  It's some flying thing that lays eggs at the base of an agave.  They bore in and eat until the plant dies.  

Sadly this time I lost FOUR plants.  They are such magnificent things that it's a shame.  This is not the Weber Azul agave that can magically turn into tequila, or at least I don't THINK it is.  When they die, these things are like pieces of wood ... heavy and stiff as a board.  It's pretty hard to drag them outside without getting stuck five or six times.

The good news is they put out rhizomes like crazy (see the little green one?) that grow up in about three years.  The dirt spot is where the above one came from.  They cannot be dug out, you have to wait until they are rotten enough to be PULLED out.

I've started a new pile for the cleanup crew.

Then I went about cleaning up all the other stuff that needed pruning.  It was a long morning, but at least there was not a lot of blood this time.

Lucky for me, I was able to answer the phone when Patty called.  She and Dan were heading out to Costco.  YES PLEASE!!  I don't know why, but I always get lost in that store ... and boy was it crowded!! The first thing that went in the cart was the $4.99 chicken.  Cooper was happy.

Followed up by some pork loin and pork loin back ribs.  It's time for the smoker to be lugged out of the garage.  We barely made it back, since we both bought so much stuff it hardly fit in the car.  Next trip, take the BAT truck.  You remember what that means, yes?

I bet you are wondering what THIS picture is.  Back home, I threw the potato casserole in the oven while I played a bit with Cooper.  When my phone rang, I sat on the couch and talked for awhile with my best photographer friend Cris.  The Elks lodge is requesting more pictures.

That's when it caught my eye.  Something was on the floor.  It moved ... I said CRAP and pulled my bare feet up on the couch.  What the heck?  Okay, it's only a lizard.  A very small three inch lizard, which I think is supposed to be good luck, but he's going to starve in MY house.

I got a container to slam over him ... not to kill him since they are good guys ... but he slipped behind the fireplace before I could get close enough.  Oh good ... lizard poop all over the house.  I have no idea how he got in and there's no way to catch him.  He will probably die in the wall.  It's always some kind of critter, right???

Dinner was pretty simple.  I suppose I should have added something more nutritious, like meat, but that would require MORE cooking (or worse yet more cleaning up), so I settled for casserole.  

Here's my Tip of the Day!!  When purchasing ingredients for things like casseroles, be sure and read the label twice before putting it in your basket.  Even if the sign says Cream of CHICKEN soup, and you take a can from under that sign, READ the can.  

Yeah, I ended up with cream of MUSHROOM soup because SOMEBODY put it back in the wrong spot!  It was okay, but not quite as tasty as if the ingredients were the correct ones.  Lesson learned.

A Day Of Rest ... Kind Of

 Sunday is a day of rest ... to catch up on sleep and gear up for the coming week.  Not around here however.  We are up with the chickens, no matter how much I want to stay in bed and sleep.  There are just too many crazy weird nightmares to even try.  Delivering dog food to Alaska and finding my ex was just TOO much.  

Cooper and I hit the floor running!!  No really ... he had to go outside.  When he starts barking, you better listen!!

How about some breakfast!!  I still have some of that Krusteaz pancake mix left.  It's so good and so easy, who could resist?  I even got to try out my new cast iron comal.  Yes, this is for tortillas, not pancakes, but it seemed to work really well.

A major surprise ... I didn't burn them!!  Yes, I ate the entire plate.  There's not much better than pancakes swimming in REAL maple syrup!  Again, thank you Patsy and Bill.  However ... this really isn't a dinner plate ... it's a small 6" one.  Notice it's a REAL plate and not paper!  Sometimes I splurge on Sundays.

Finally, as it's warmed up a tad, I'm seeing nighttime critters.  This is the first one I've seen from the old pack.  She/he drank for quite a while before wandering on off up the hill.  I even got one video of a teeny tiny squirrel, but he's pretty hard to see in the dark.

THIS is what surprises me.  Look for the shiny eyes.  I've never seen so many dove this time of year.  They must have been really busy last autumn.  What are they doing?  It's still dark outside!!  They blend in pretty well, so yes, count the eyes.

As much as I'm not a fan of the cold, I'm loving it every time I go outside.  No scorpions and no spiders, no flying things ... actually no bugs at all!!!  Lots of trains though.  I don't think I've seen this many trains going by in the past.  The good news is they have either changed the tracks, or maybe the wheels or even the engines.  They are so QUIET!!  Nothing like they used to be, or maybe they are just going slower.

I had to hit the store again for a couple of ingredients.  While rummaging around in the rig for a few items I KNEW I brought but couldn't find, I discovered two big russet potatoes.  I think I'm hooked on funeral potatoes.  I remember Cindy saying she cooked them, then shredded them for her recipe.  

Well .... shredding cooked potatoes isn't all it's cracked up to be.  I'll be cleaning up the floor for days.  Still, I got it thrown together and in the fridge.  This will be dinner for today.  

I would have eaten it, but the invitation to the Chance house for stir fry won out.  I mean really, who wouldn't want to eat a Chef Patty creation!!  

It was so good I completely forgot to take a picture.  Beef stir fry with lots of veggies and rice!  YUM!!

Dan and I discussed electricians, as he is in need of one for a hot water heater project.  I thought I was okay since mine was only 10 years old, but they tell me that's really old for Arizona.  RATS!  My flooring might have to be delayed due to a new hot water heater.

Finally back home, I worked on this a bit.  I really dislike this quilt.  The fabric doesn't go with the pattern and a quilter needs to talk to the people that make these rolls of precut pieces.  They always include fabric designs that just do NOT work.  This will be a donation quilt.

Today Mr. Chance will come and help me make modifications to the rig.  Since I don't have four hands, I'm in need of assistance.  He said yes pretty quickly when he learned I still have a box of ice cream bars from the rally in my freezer!!!!!   I'm just kidding ... he would have helped me anyway!!

Now THAT Was A Fabulous Day

 One day you're freezing in 40 mph wind gusts and the next day you're actually putting on a short sleeve shirt and wandering around outside.  How could that be?  Mother Nature says it's going to be 75 degrees today, followed by a lovely high of 55 on Monday.  Talk about weather shock!!!  

BUT ... when you have gorgeous sunrises like this one, you can't complain.  Looks like a sunset, but I'm facing East in the early morning light.  Pretty cool!

It was rather strange that I went into the sewing room first thing in the dark.  I never do that.  I turned on the light and suddenly heard a loud buzzing and banging.  It sounded like someone was trying to get in.  What should I finally see but a poor little hummingbird at the window, trying to get in.  

Wrong side of the house little guy ... head for the back yard!  I switched the light off and soon saw him at the back feeder ... in the dark!  I've never seen them come out in the black of night!  A little later I was able to snap these images of what I think is a ruby throated hummingbird.

What a beauty!  Since they really shouldn't be migrating until July, I'm surprised to have about four hummers hanging out at my feeder.  The picture is straight, it's the wind that makes the feeder look crooked.

I've been putting my critter cam out every day, with little result.  The ebb and flow of wildlife is pretty interesting to watch.  I have not seen one single quail this year, but about 20 dove in one covey.  The rabbit is back, settling off the camera ten times a night as he comes to sip the cold water.

Finally, I captured this guy.  He obviously hears the camera run and sees the red lights.  Though it looks like he runs off, he comes back around to check it out once more.  This is a completely different critter, not one of the pack that used to run here.  Maybe the original pack moved on to better territory?  So far I have only seen two come by the water station.

After doing some organizing, I drug out these squares and stuck them on the board.  I WOULD have sewed for awhile, but I couldn't get the machine to automatically thread the needle.  Yes, I could do it by hand, but I'm spoiled.  

I called the service department to hear that if I brought it in for repair and service, I would get it back in April.  WHAT?  Did you fire all your service guys since new family members took over??  I guess I'm going to become a sewing machine repair tech now.  I messed with it for a few more minutes and finally got it to work.  YAY!

Cooper said I forgot to show you his new toy.  It has a BIG squeaker inside and he loves to shake it around ... something he's never done before.  Note:  this cost $11 at Ace Hardware ... I found it later on Amazon for $25.  I'm thinking I better become a toy maker too.

A quick walk outside and I couldn't believe it.  It was a warm NOT windy 70 degrees.  Just WOW!  This is the Arizona I remember.  I even put on a short sleeve shirt.  Just by chance, I looked out the door a few hours later.  What?  It's RAINING?  

Hmmmm that doesn't look like rain, as I looked to the sky and saw NO clouds.  Something is up here.  It took some investigating, but I finally discovered a broken drip line over 20 feet away.  Don't you just love trying to push those tiny little pieces into the drip hose?  

No worries about that black eye I got when I ran into the open cabinet door, still trying to stick two pieces together.  I'll just tell everyone I fought off a coyote or something.  

As the sun set, the moon was already high in the sky.  It's a full moon tonight, time for werwolves and witches to shine.  Maybe I'll get a few pictures if I remember to go outside before it gets dark.  

Now THAT was a fabulous day!!  

It's Cooper play time, so I'll be on the floor, spoiling my little buddy even more than he already is!!  

To Do To Do To Do

 No, it's not a song, although I admit it may sound like my singing sometimes ... it's me mumbling all morning long about my to-do list.  Just when you think you get to relax and do nothing for a few days, it hits you right between the eyes.  SO much to do!!!  So many honey do's and no honey to do them.  Let's get to work!!!

My timing isn't all that great since by the time I got up off the couch the winds had arrived.  20 mph hour breezes come down through the mountains, whipping everything into a frenzy.  I figured it would help me in throwing the little stuff over the fence.  Instead, it all came back in my face.  Note to self ... test the wind first.

I chopped down all the Mexican bird of paradise that grows in the corner, getting yet another cactus thorn in my hand.  This picture is my front yard in July.  

They die back and turn into big brown spiky sticks that need to be pruned completely.  Hopefully this year they will grow back again.

It was rather chilly at 53 degrees.  Mother Nature is changing it up as only she can.  We will be in the low 70's for two days, then back down to the mid 50's.  Yes, that's the daytime temps!!  A nice little packet of cocoa I found in the cupboard helped me warm up a bit.

Almost TOO much, since then I didn't want to leave the house.  That's when I took a good look at Cooper. You know what this is ... it was haircut time.

Doesn't he look better?  He wasn't exactly happy about the whole thing, but he's pretty good at just standing there.

I finally got off my duff and headed out to Ace Hardware with a long list of to-do solutions.  See the bottom of the steps where all those holes are?  There is a clevis pin ... or something like that ... holding the rails in place.  You can adjust them up or down depending on whether you are level or not.  

It's ridiculously hard to pull these little pins out, as Ray can attest.  I had to adjust them in Yuma by pulling them out with a pair of pliers.  Even harder is getting them back in.

I got a slightly thinner version with a hole at the bottom for a pin.  Pull the pin and it drops out the back.  SO much easier to adjust.  I'm hoping it works long term.  

Boy do I love Ace Hardware.  This store is now twice as big as it was, but that 7% inflation rate is about 25% higher.  I got eight things that added up to $104.00.  And I thought EGGS were expensive!

Back home, here's the next problem.  My 50 amp electrical cord will not stay plugged in.  Think Nancy ... who can you ask for help with this AND the two plugs in the kitchen that still do not work AND my blinking ceiling light when I turn the iron on.  Ding ding ding!!!  My neighbor Denny had an outlet put in for his motorhome, AND I need an oil change for my truck.  Denny's dad owns the automotive repair shop.  

I'll kill two birds with one stone.  I'll call for an appointment to get my oil changed while also getting an electrician recommendation.  And it worked!!!  Denny had an electrician friend who works on stuff in this area.  Believe it or not, he even called me back!  I sent pictures and he will repair it next week.  I'm hoping he can also fix the INSIDE of the house.

With that under my belt, it was time for dinner.  Cindy and Ray had given me some freeze dried food to try out, so here goes.  This was one small package of my favorite ... funeral potatoes.  It was barely half a cup of crunchy dried weird looking stuff.

It's hard to believe you could make that edible, but just add water Cindy said.  Let it sit a bit and add a little more until it looks kind of like this.  I wasn't really too sure about it until it came out of the microwave.

Yes you can put a larger amount in a casserole dish, smother it in cheese (those are my words, not Cindys) and heat it in the oven.  I opted for the faster microwave.  Dinner is served!  I was shocked.  It tasted exactly like MY funeral potatoes.  Even the texture was exactly the same.  How could that be?  It's weird I tell you ... just weird ... and DELICIOUS!!

I'm really looking forward to testing out the other things they gave me ... zucchini, chicken, sausage ... this is going to be an experiment in cooking!!!  How can I go wrong ... you just add water!!

Now for the REAL challenge ... balancing my checkbooks that I haven't touched in over a month!  YIKES!!

Down Day One

There is something to be said for a sticks and brick house.  One ... it's WARM.  It took all day for the house to heat up, but Jonathan's heater came on immediately.  After a long day of hanging on for dear life, he crashed big time.  That little bit of red is the shoulder of his wing.  Although you can't see it, there are red and blue feathers there.  Poor guy ... he was exhausted!!

Two ... the shower is BIG, with LOTS of hot water!!!  No banging my elbows or trying to conserve water so you don't run out!  I can actually get a washcloth wet in warm water without putting it in the microwave.  It's funny though, how being water conservative holds over to the stick house.

Cooper was the same happy camper!  He just loves sitting on the couch next to warm Mom.  Especially when it's a BIG couch and he has plenty of room!

Surprisingly, I DID think to put the game camera out, but got nothing.  It's been very cold and windy since I got here.  Those coyotes aren't dumb ... they know when to stay home and snuggle up.  They have however, been hanging out close to my house all around the perimeter, including the front porch area.   How do I know that?  They have left signs EVERYWHERE.  Be careful where you step!!

I spent almost three hours on the computer, trying to balance one of my accounts so I could pay my insurance bills.  It's hard to keep track of that stuff when you are on the road.  As an accountant, I should love balancing, but I don't.  It's a pain!!!

Although this was supposed to be a "down day", there was just too much to do for me to sit long.  I unloaded the fridge and freezer, followed by most of my clothes.  Then it was on to the boxes of fabric and all the leftover rally stuff.  Oh yeah ... laundry!!  Those rally tablecloths are STILL soaking in the washing machine.

Next I was off to the grocery store.  Too bad I missed the Senior Day 10% discount, because this 18 pack of eggs was $8.99.  I suppose that's better than a dozen at $8.99 I saw in California.  I've been very ... lets just say "conservative" when it comes to food, but it's time to get CHEAP.  That roasted chicken I used to buy at $6.99 is now $9.99.  In case you were wondering, the eggs are for Cooper and Jonathan.  I'm definitely not eating any of them at that price.

I've had these rolls and some Swiss cheese for some time, so I figured I better use it up.  I cut them in half, smothered them with regular and (woohoo) grey poupon mustard, before layering on ham and Swiss cheese.  I brushed the tops with melted butter, garlic and onion powder.  In the oven they went at 325 for about 18 minutes.  If you need sliders for anything, these are DELICIOUS, quick and easy!

Cut them up before serving.  I ate two, completely forgetting bread does not like me any more.  We had a knock down drag out fight about 2 am.

More fabric came out of the rig before I sat down to order Jonathan food.  My to-do list is SO long!!  Out of the corner of my eye I spotted this guy, not once, but twice in my back yard.  Or maybe there are two of them.  Terrible picture with my phone, looking through glass and way too far away.  If you move even a tiny bit, they run off.

I'll be ensconced in the house most of the morning.  It's a chilly 45 degrees with 20 mph winds for the next four hours, and probably for the next six weeks, since Punxsutawnwy Phil saw his shadow.  Hey, didn't he die?  Do they have a new Phil now??  I'm thinking I just might have a REAL down day and not do a darn thing.  Yeah, we all know that's not me.  

There is one down side to being in a stick house ... Cooper's play area has been expanded from 26 square feet to a 120 square foot carpeted non-slip playing arena.  Oh my aching knees and back!!!!!

So Sad To Leave My Friends

 I felt like I was abandoning my RV friends in Yuma as I pulled out yesterday morning.  I would loved to have stayed a few more days meeting up with everyone, but here's the problem.  Eight months ago I had some tests done.  One month later when I was on my way to Arizona, they told me they needed to do them again.

I went right in when I got back, but they would not see me without a Doctor's Order, which had expired.  I called the doctor who SAID they sent the order, but it was never received.  That back and forth went on for three months until I finally called around in Tucson to find a doctor and get the tests done here.  

It took two months to get that appointment, so I cannot miss it.  I had to leave ... very sad that I wasn't going to meet up with more friends this year.  Maybe in the springtime ... if that ever comes!!  It's a chilly 37 this morning, but should warm all the way up to 59!!!  Woohoo!

I just had to show you the quilt Ray was working on.  It still needs something like 5 borders put on, but isn't this fabulous?  Little Penny obviously loves it too!!

It's a little tough snuggling with Cooper in the rig.  Those recliners just are NOT wide enough.  That's his spot though, and he was not going to be deterred.

I mean really, how could you not play ball with that face!!!  I throw it, he catches it and rolls it off the chair so I can throw it again.  He has me so well trained.

We woke up to no wind, so I packed up the rig and headed out at 8:30.  The wind always seems to come up as it warms up, so I wanted to get on the road early.  It was breezy, but not bad at all.

It appeared a big storm had come through in the night.  The roads were really wet with water still running off the sides.  What a beautiful day to be traveling.

I'm sure there's a name for this mountain in Wellton.  It's just so weird to see it rising out in the middle of the flat desert.  I sent Elva a wave by text message.

I turned the music up loud and sang most of the way, bringing on screeches and lots of talking from Jonathan.  He does love it with there are loud screeching noises.

I cruised right along as the wind died down completely and there was little traffic.  Still, five hours of driving is tiring.  I had planned on a particular rest area, but it was closed, so we just kept on trucking.

 I stopped in at the fairgrounds to dump my tanks, finding that they were now charging $10 instead of $5.  I headed on back, to find the road blocked by construction.  They told me to go around.  I've been to the fairgrounds many times, but the road to the back of the barns appeared to be closed.

I turned in at the RV park for directions, to be greeted by a lady smoking a pipe.  UGH ... that stuff stinks!!!  Anyway, one of the guys ran back with his golf cart, then came back to chauffeur me through the maze.  I certainly did get to practice my driving skills!!  His golf cart went through easily ... my rig, not so much!  Tanks dumped, even though the black tank says I'm still 3/4 full, I was back on the road to home.

That's when I spotted this.  There were maybe 8 State Trooper vehicles surrounding a completely trashed brand new pickup truck, which I didn't even come close to getting in this picture.  They must have used a spike strip because there were NO tires left ... only rims.  Sitting on the rail were seven men.  I'm guessing illegals making a big drug run.  And RUN they did, but they couldn't outrun all those Trooper vehicles.  Of course traffic was backed up for miles, but thankfully not going my direction.

MADE IT!!  Although my backing skills suddenly disappeared, I did make it up the driveway, but the dog-leg caused me a few minutes of going back and forth.  Boy was Jonathan happy to get inside to his heated cage.  Cooper was a little suspect this time ... he sat in the living room shaking while I unloaded the fridge.

Hey Bill ..... looky here!  The propane gauge finally said EMPTY!!  The fridge was still going, so it switched over itself.  I thought this valve switched which tank you were using, but it appears only to show you if the tank has propane or if it's empty?  Maybe shutting OFF the tank will cause it to switch over too. I'm still learning, and truly, I'm too old to learn new things!!

My first view out the back door was pretty nice.  That's a train going by.  The little white spot is the moon.

I was welcomed home by Chef Patty who made a big pot of fresh vegetable soup.  YUM YUM!! I even have leftovers to tide me over until I get to the grocery store.  

There was even a bit of a sunset to the East, along with another shot of the moon.  

It's nice to be home and NOT have to lift Cooper up six times a day to go outside, then lift him up six times a day to go back INSIDE.  I felt a little weak when I left, but those steps have made ME a bunch stronger!!!  There is something to be said for a stick house though ... no big steps to climb.  Now to finish unpacking and get to exploring and quilting!!

Crazy Yuma Weather

 It was some kind of crazy in Yuma this morning.  The wind was blowing ... the rain was falling ... it was cold ... definitely NOT desert weather.  I was waiting for it to snow any second!

The clouds were ominous.  That's not the sun shining ... it's a light standard.  That made it a little tough to want to trot outside with Cooper, but trot we did ... as fast as I could!

Cooper ran right into the lake.  One thing he's not afraid of is water.  It rained on and off all morning, keeping me inside to pack up all the dog toys.  

I ventured out to try and figure out why my propane sensor said I still had 100% after using my heater for four days.  I had switched to the newly filled tank when I thought the other one was leaking.  Somehow, it didn't switch over.  Apparently I was STILL on the 18% tank, now at 7%.  I guess I fixed the leak, but I thought it would switch to whichever tank I wanted.  Seems that is not the case.

Frustrated after messing with it in the cold, I mentioned how nice it would be to have a hot chocolate since it was National Hot Chocolate Day.  Cindy gave me her last one.  That's a GOOD friend who eased my aggravation.  

Okay, I admit I called poor Bill and bothered him yet again.  He said my tanks will not switch over until one is empty.  Okay then ... I'm back on the low one and we'll see what happens.  AND I'm going to buy some more hot chocolate.  Oh for my old rig that had a huge tank and never needed to be switched over.

 Next up I hit the Chevron station for fuel.  Somehow they are cheaper than anyone else.  I have NEVER known them to be cheaper, but at $4.19, I filled the tank.  I would say "not bad", but I'm remembering the $3.69 it was not too long ago.

Lastly I went to a Grand Design dealer I saw next to the freeway.  Somewhere along the way from California to Arizona, the handle for one of the two grey tanks fell off.  Instead of a screw-on handle, they put on one that has a screw to hold it in place.  Even I know that won't last long.

They told me to get this one at Wally World, which I did, but it's not the right one.  Anyone need a new handle?  No worries, I'll just use a pair of pliers.

And so this morning I am OFF for Tucson.  It's supposed to rain a bit along the way, but that's okay.  Cooper and Jonathan will be glad to be home in their warm little house.  I can't wait to see what kind of weather we will have THERE!!