Long Drive

 Well I made it, but I'm a little worse for wear.  It's a long five hour drive that took me four hours. This rig just hums right along like a race car!!  It was a perfect 51 degrees this morning when I turned on my computer and this is what I see.  I love this computer.  It gets darker and lighter as the day goes on, showing beautiful sunrises and sunsets, even if there isn't one on the horizon.

Anyhoo, I said my goodbyes to Patty and the Last Chance Ranch and headed out to the fairgrounds just down the road.  Time for one last dump.  I had a little trouble convincing the guy to take the $10 in quarters that I received in change last week, but he finally acquiesced.  I told him it was an old guy who didn't want to walk for change, so we had to cut him some slack.  He agreed.

In no time we were off, my little navigator pointing the way.  Ten minutes later he was sound asleep. Traffic was light on I-8 as usual, so we drove right along with no delays.  I decided to stop and make a call to see if Elva and Jerry were still in Yuma.  Sure enough, they gave me directions.

Which I got wrong.  Well not exactly wrong, but I missed the entrance to their RV park and ended up in the one next door.  Thankfully a nice lady walking her dog told me where to go.  She even walked down and pointed to be sure I got it right.

STILL not getting there, I stopped and told two nice men I was lost.  They responded with a point in the right direction.  YAY I FOUND THEM.  We had a quick yak session with hugs, before I had to take off once again.  At least this time I didn't mess up due to the time zone.  

Elva videoed me leaving ... how funny was that ... and posted it on Facebook.  She wanted me to wave, but I waved too much and forgot to look at the rear camera.  Luckily I didn't smack into anyone and was off once again.

Literally 3 miles down the road, I pulled in to Ray and Cindy's house.  Happily, there was no see-sawing back and forth with the 5th wheel, trying to get in.  I just drove right up and stopped.  There was no time for pictures, I went right in the door and we hit the quilt rack.

From the point of view of my camera, and her teeny tiny pieces using up scraps, it looks like what you would see on your TV after 10:00 in the ancient dinosaur days.  Up close however, this is GORGEOUS!  I absolutely love the pattern.  Of course to be honest, it's all about Cindy's choice of colors.  We shall see what happens when "I" try to make it.  It's the perfect scrap burner.

Here's another beauty, and there were several others she is working on.  I'm totally motivated to quilt when I'm with her.

But wait ... it was time for Yappy Hour at the dog park.  I'm always a little nervous about that since Cooper is not a dog park dog.  He's not around others and isn't the friendliest sometimes.  On this day however, he ran around nose to nose with several of the pups, all his size. 

UNTIL ... he went nose to nose with a little scruffy girl.  The owner backed Cooper off a little, which was fine, and just as he turned and walked away, the little girl bit him on the tail.  Poor guy screamed and ran.  That has NEVER happened before and he was beside himself.  I grabbed him up (he was just fine) and held him for awhile, before putting him back down.  He'll be okay, just a bruised ego and a tender tail.

We stayed a bit longer, then walked back to the rig past some beautiful cactus and flowers.  After a good dose of water and some treats, Cooper was back to normal.  

Dinner was a fabulous soup.  Sausage and vegetables with toasty garlic bread.  YUM YUM!  I was full to the brim.  And then I heard those fateful words ... ice cream at 7pm.  

I was a little late, having finally figured out one tiny little feature of my TV that has absolutely NO reception in Yuma at ALL!!  No way I can stand THAT!  I clicked on Amazon Prime and actually got it to connect using my WiFi.  At least I have something to watch (and make a little noise) while I'm in the rig.  Hopefully I don't end up with a HUGE bill on my credit card for the WiFi OR Amazon Prime!!!

At 7:10 I was headed to the house for ICE CREAM!!  Tillamook PEACH!!!  I was in Heaven.  

My long day ended with an all out brawl with my little heater.  It's a feisty little thing that just doesn't want to follow orders.  Not that Cooper or I need it, but Jonathan does.  In the end, I won with a stranglehold.  We shall see what happens tonight!!!

Hanging Out

 A very good morning to y'all from sunny Arizona.  It was not very warm on this day, and it's getting colder as I type.  The rest of the week it will be down in the 30's at night, so it's probably a good thing I'm moving on down the road today.

By the way, if anyone needs an alarm clock, I've got one you can borrow.  This kid ... he wakes up at 4:00 every single morning.  As you can see, that is PLAY time.  Once he has me playing the game and giving out snacks, he promptly goes back to sleep.  It's like hitting the snooze button, but I never get to snooze.

There really wasn't much on the agenda, which is a good thing, but sitting around isn't our idea of fun.  THIS however is fun with a capital F for Miss Snoopy.  Does this picture look familiar to someone Patsy and Bill know?  I think Mr. Gibbs favorite spot is sitting behind Patsy at her computer.  Same with Snoopy.

Finally up and at 'em, Mr. Coop and I go for a walk up the hill.  What a bird dog.  So far he has flushed out three quail, something I heard but never saw, and two rabbits.  It's all about the smells of course, and no, I don't let him get anywhere near them.

Not willing to let moss grow under our feet, Patty and I headed off to the local Thrift shop.  They have so many good ones here, it's amazing.  We have only one Goodwill store and they won't take anything, besides which, we do NOT donate to them.  They spend all their profits on salaries for the higher ups.  

Instead we went to a smaller one across town where they had a parking lot carousel for sale, along with a huge plaster snake for your back yard.  I need a trailer!!  

What I DID find is this puzzle for Patsy to work on in Q.  $2.59 .  You can't beat that with a stick.  I'm thinking it looks similar to one we put together previously, so I hope it's a new one.  

On the way back, we stopped in at Safeway for a few last minute things I needed before packing up.  This may (or may not) be the same low carb bread Patsy has been finding.  This particular one has slices cut thicker and I would SWEAR is regular bread.  

I've had a ham sandwich, a grilled cheese and just plain old toast.  Even better, it doesn't bother my stomach like REAL bread.  THIS is a keeper.  

Back home, I began organizing a bit, figuring out what I need to do before I leave.   Patty filled her honey bee feeder.  It's called that because the bees cover the holes all day long.  This woodpecker wanted some too, but had to fight off the bees.  They dive-bombed her time after time ... and she just kept pecking at them, determined to get her share.   I feel that way about cherry pie and ice cream!!

I fotgot to show the beautiful flowers I received for my birthday when Patty and Dan's son and daughter in law came to dinner.  How sweet was that?   Since it really was my SECOND birthday, we all shared in the good wishes.

That was it ... a great day with my bestest friend!!   Patty got a phone call from Dan saying the tire was replaced and everything was hunky dory.  He had a perfect second day ride, making up for the delay.

This morning I'm off to warmer weather, 75 degree days and 50 degree nights.  What could be better?  I'll be staying in Yuma for the next week.  I think there is a quilt show in my future!!!

When I finally head home, I'll probably look like a covered wagon going across the prairie, dumping all the furniture in order to fit my fabric in the rig.

When The Cats Away .....

Wow ... the temperature changes around here are epic this year.  I wake up to freezing cold, blowing winds and shivering in my boots, only to need the AC for an hour in the afternoon.  That is the beautiful desert for you!   I'm sure the desert is also where these beautiful colors came from.  It's going to be hard to remember to write 2025.

Just look at the morning light on this day.  The best news of all, it's cold enough at night that the critters don't come out ... at least not the creepy ones.  

Look the other direction and you see the birdhouses and feeding stations the Chance Restaurant provides at the front of the property.  On this day, Mr. Chance will be riding off into the sunrise.  

Let me just take a second to brag on my friends.  They purchased this place in Tucson while I was visiting them in the Grand Canyon where they both worked.  There was nothing but a house on a big hill.  Dan immediately built a garage fit for a King ... no kidding, I could live in that garage ... and an RV cover for their rig.  

In the meantime, he landscaped and rocked this place like a pro.  The concrete driveway is even lined with decorative pavers ... I'll have to get pictures.  There's a big greenhouse out back full of plants they grow, along with waist level planters for their garden.  

Add to that all the meals Chef Patty cooks for me while here.  She can make a gourmet meal out of a toothpick and a hank of hair.   She also makes quilts for children in need.  LOTS of quilts!!  If I'm in need of anything, they are quick to help me out.  Look!!  No more tipping Cooper's water bowl over.  They gave me one from their now-gone rig.  I haven't spilled a drop of water since.

And these ramps Dan says he no longer uses.  Much smaller and easier to use than my big yellow squares.

I think I've mentioned before that Dan and Patty were the builders and owners of their own Harley shop.  That's actually how we met many moons ago ... riding with a group of bikers all over the Central Valley in California.  Little did I know we would become life long friends.  

I quit riding several years back.  Dan however, still goes on long crazy rides, becoming part of the Iron Butt crowd.  This gorgeous "horse" is his newest ride ... and what a beauty she is.

And so I bring you to yesterday's adventures.  Dan took off on one of his rides heading towards the Death Valley/Nevada border area.  While the cat's away .......

The MICE will play!!  Patty and I drove to ANOTHER fabric shop.  I know, I said I wouldn't, mostly because I just don't have storage space.  However ... it's amazing just how much stuff you can STUFF in the crooks and crannies of this rig.

How could I possibly resist when Joann's was having an after Christmas sale.  Eight yards for .... I'm going to brag here ... $2.99 a yard.  Who could turn THAT down???  The gold was a little more, but perfect for my next project.  I don't know what that is yet, but I'll think of SOMETHING!!

Back at the rig Coop and I lounged for a while, before going inside just in time to hear the bad news.  

Mr. Dan called to say he was 2-1/2 hours out with a very big hole in his tire.  OH NO!!  There's nothing worse than sitting alongside the lesser traveled road with a flat tire.  When it's a big hole, the little air compressor doesn't work.  

I remember several flat tires back in the day, one blowout while going 65 mph down the freeway ... a FRONT tire no less.  Luckily we were able to stay upright, but stopped right in the middle of the freeway.  Talk about heart stopping!!  I jumped off and waved traffic over until my ex got the bike off the freeway.  We called one of the group, who drove his truck out to pick us up a few hours later.

It took several hours for Dan to get a tow truck for the bike.  Thank goodness he had a phone signal.  The bike tire shop said they would stay open and wait for him to arrive.  If not back on the road now, he's probably sleeping in the tire shop!!

Such is the fun and excitement of riding a Harley ... AND buying fabric while the cat is away!!!

Looking Good In The New Year

 GOOD MORNING ARIZONA!  It's so nice to see you again.  This is actually the sunrise and it's pretty dark outside, in spite of what my phone camera makes it look like.  When the sun first comes up, the color shows in the West instead of the East.  

The weather has been perfect, though yesterday I actually had to turn on the AC for about 30 minutes.  It worked, but there's another thing full of questions.  The fan runs all the time, whether you put it on auto or not.  That could be annoying, but for the time being, it worked like a charm.  That's when I opened the vent. I'm going to stick a note on my forehead, because of course I forgot to close it again last night and kept waking up cold.  I'm making a list to stick on the control panel instead.

Breakfast was a slice of orange and a tasty English muffin Patty got for me.  This board ... I can't tell you how much of a difference it makes.  No worries about cutting the counter and SO much more space.  Dan is a Prince for making it for me.  

In no time I spotted the Amazon truck in the yard.  I thought a new gadget was to be delivered today, but it came early.  What is it you ask?  You're not going to believe it.  No, it's not the bike.  It's a tire pump.  Mr. Chance showed me this little gizzy that he takes on his gorgeous Harley.  THIS baby ... if I were still riding, I'd buy one.  

So amazingly, this charges up with a USB cable and can run up 150 psi it says.  I'm not sure how, but even 50 would be better than nothing, or better than driving all around looking for a tire place to air up your tires.  It's as small as your phone but may four times as thick, so easily held in your hand.  For $36, it's worth a try and small enough to carry in the glove box.  Of course I scared myself when I turned it on and hit the wrong button ... but I'll get over it.

Though Patty and I both said there was no need to hit up the quilt store, we folded.  Okay, "I" folded.  We drove over to Quilt Central in Green Valley for a look see.  This gal ... she has our kind of taste in fabric, and carries LOTS of southwest and cowboy material.  They are so busy with snowbirds that they hold some kind of class most every day.  I'd probably be broke if I lived here again.

And so THIS came home with me.  It's full of old fashioned fabric for this quilt ... like the bucking horses with riders of the 40's.  I think all our house curtains had longhorn cattle and bucking horses in the pattern.  It's living under the toaster at the moment.  I can't believe I found the space.

Patty made a quick right turn and stopped in at a local Thrift store just for a quick look.  Well lookie here ... I actually found a shirt that will fit me, AND fit into the tiny space I have left in my closet.  

We lounged around for awhile once back home, but company was coming for dinner.  Patty and Dan's son and DIL came for ..... you guessed it ..... ugly steaks.  They toured my rig, for all of the two minutes it took (one at a time inside), before chowing down.  Believe me, no one left the table hungry!!

Mr. Chance is off on a motorcycle trip towards Death Valley today, since his Texas trip got waylaid by rain and snow.  Patty and I will wander about, hopefully not getting into fabric trouble for two days before I take off.  

It's looking VERY good in the New Year ... 

AND WE ARE OFF!!

 I SURVIVED NEW YEARS 2024-2025!  And no, we really aren't OFF to anywhere but into the new year.  One day down, 364 to go.  Ergo, 364 chances to remember to take more (and better) pictures.

What could be better but kitty pics?  Meet Snoopy.  This little rescue turned out to be one of those sweet ones who follows her Mom around like a shadow.  They forgot to tell Dan that she didn't really like MEN.  Though she will allow male "pets and rubs", she will not climb up into, nor sit in a man's lap.  Surprisingly, she likes me too, since she will actually jump up in my chair for some love.  If Patty is not to be seen however, she will wander the house meowing until she comes home.

Meet Missy ... another rescue found on an RV trip through Idaho I think it was.  She wasn't particularly fond of ANYONE at first, including Snoopy ... but the family of four learned to get along in their big RV in spite of the close quarters.  Both of these kids have traveled more miles than most people.

And so after I got in my morning Kitty fix, I turned on the Chance TV for the Rose Parade.  It brought back lots of memories of cutting flower stems to the exact length required, dunking small glass vials into ice cold water, into which the stems were stuffed.  Not hundreds, but thousands.  In a big huge barn.  With NO heat!  

That was a wonderful experience brought on by Barbara and Tom Westerfield who went down several years to help decorate the floats.  I drug along another RV friend and we stayed at the Elks Lodge not far away.  What an experience it was!!  This was the Elks U.S.A. float for this year.

My second favorite was this backyard train that went around the tiny village and even through a tunnel.  What fun would it be to have this in your back yard!

In the meantime, Patty slaved away in the kitchen making WAFFLES!!  Where's the REAL picture you ask?  Well that's my New Year's resolution ... try to remember to take pictures before you inhale those waffles.

Of course I had mine absolutely SWIMMING in pure Canadian Maple Syrup!!!  YUM!!

I tried to catch up on a little sleep after a night of carousing fireworks, but it was not to be.  Instead, Patty and I sat out on their back patio admiring the view and the multitude of quail that they feed every day.  This is the gourmet kitchen in the BACK yard, and there is another in the FRONT yard.  These blocks don't even last a week before they disappear.  

In no time there were a dozen or more quail, chortling the entire time.  When this little group is full, they move off and the next covey moves on up.  Patty and Dan have now adopted about 300 quail!!

We skipped lunch and I headed off to see if I could locate the engine battery disconnect.  Come to find out, the battery is under the floorboard.  Way over there near the weird looking accelerator, there is a panel that they say will come open, in order to disconnect the battery.

I finally got it open ... the one with the weird pictures that mean absolutely nothing to me, and couldn't see a thing.  With my head resting on the brake, I held my phone in my left hand to see inside.  It appears there is something with a red button.  Yup that's it .. push down on the button and pull to the right.  I should have been born left handed.  There's no way you can get your right hand into that hole.  

I didn't try too hard because I didn't want to get electrocuted, but I was finally able to reach in with my left hand and push the button.  Pulling it to the right didn't happen.  And if I DID get it off, how the heck will I get it back on?   Needless to say, I gave up, at least for the time being.   I'll try again later when my back isn't yelling at me.

The best news of the day however, came when Mr. Chance, who is a whiz on internet searches, came up with an installer of the Winegard traveler RV dish, the same one I had on my other two rigs.  Not here, but in Quartzsite no less.  I'm not sure if they will work on vans, but I'll be calling them today.  

The night brought out a weird moon, along with cold winds.  There is only a sliver of new moon visible with my eye, but my camera picked up the ENTIRE moon.  That's weird ........  

Patty and I have been discussing a trip to the fabric shop, but in the same breath we both say BUT WE AREN'T BUYING ANYTHING.  We have WAY too much fabric already.  So I rather imagine it will be a nice quiet day of enjoying good company, the critters and the warmth of the desert.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!!!

 WOWZA!!!  Can you believe it?  Another year around the sun has landed us right smack dab in 2025!  I have no doubt I will not EVER remember to write THAT date!!  I swear I was 55 years old last week, running the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco.  And the week before that, I was gathering cattle in the mountains, getting ready for branding.  Where did the time go?

It could not get any better however, since here I am at the Last Chance Ranch, ready for the party to begin.

Who are we kidding.  At our age, we are lucky to make it to 8:00 before falling asleep on the couch.  For a minute there, I even forgot it was New Year's Eve and was heading to the rig for the night.  OH WAIT!!  It's New Year's Eve!  I think I stayed another 20 minutes before the pup babysitting began.  

I'm actually very lucky in that respect.  Dan asked if I had earplugs for Cooper.  Weirdly, he is probably the only dog I've ever had that didn't mind the fireworks one little bit.  And fireworks there were!!

But first ... hard to believe ... I was again up at 4:30 am.  Even if I have a bad night and can't sleep, the old sounds of "we're burning daylight" ring through my head.  There is just no chance of sleeping in.  Besides, the time had come.  Ten days and the rig required a dump.  More like DEMANDED.  Not bad I suppose, considering how small it is.

Dan said "let's check your battery".  Did I mention he gave me this handy dandy voltmeter from our favorite store Harbor Freight?  We tested it, and after 10 days (having only started the engine once for about ten minutes) it was down to 11.9.  I'm pretty sure part of that is locking and unlocking the doors every morning and night, whereupon all the dash lights come on.  Apparently we are made for moving, not staying in one place.  

Back to dumping ... though I have done this before, I really wasn't looking forward to it.  I unhooked the electric, stowed the kids and we were off to the fairgrounds.  You can dump there for $5.00, though inflation has raised it to $10.00 now.  A $20 bill will get you $10 in quarters for change.  Well, I told him ... it's good for laundry I guess.  

This would be much easier if it wasn't only 7" from the ground.  The black thing on the right is where the hose is stored.  The good news is at this location, you only need a hose that's 3' long since you could almost dump WITHOUT one.  Black handle on the left, gray on the right.  Easy peasy.  I was done in a flash since it took all of 15 seconds.  

I waved goodbye to the sweet Security Guard and headed on off to the grocery store, completely forgetting it was New Year's Eve.  I should learn to relax a bit when it comes to leaving the pup in the rig.  I open the windows and turn on the overhead fan, then race through the store, forgetting half of what I wanted to get.  

Then it was on to diesel.  Thankfully Safeway carries diesel #2.  Do I worry about the price?  Heck NO ... I'm just happy to fill the tank no matter what it cost, though this was a pretty good price by California standards!

Back home, I rearranged the kids a bit.  I was able to turn the chair around and deposit Jonathan in Cooper's bed, giving me more counter space.  Now, instead of running into his cage on the right while getting out the door, I run into it on the left.  

He informed me however that he thinks the pink quilt clashes with the red dog bed.  

Patty, Dan and I watched the last of the Yellowstone 1923 series, hoping they were planning on continuing the story.  Sure enough, for anyone interested, the saga will continue in February.  

I think we made it to 8:30 before I headed out to the boom boom boom of fireworks.  One of their neighbors is apparently a fan.  As you can tell, Mr. Cooper could care less.  

The bangs went off until after midnight.  Just when I thought they would quit, they started up again.  All that tossing and turning didn't do my back any favors.  At 12:02 they started up again and went until 1:00.  You would think after that I would sleep in at LEAST until 5:00 .... but NOOOOO.  

And so begins another year on this planet ... another year of friends, fun and probable frustrations, for which I am thankful.  It's so much better than the alternative!!!  

Thank you all for riding along this last year, and thank you to all who write blogs too.  I love reading them every morning.  Keep up the good work!!   Here's to another year of adventures, mistakes and laughs!!!!