Flexibility - that's they key to stress-free living in the midst of changes.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Changes ? What changed?
Lots!

Early Tuesday; probably 7:30 a.m.
Daughter Sue and Dave called to let me know they would be vacating my Rio Rancho home sooner than expected. This means I can sell my New Mexico home sooner than expected.

My brain kicked in to see if/how/when I can have some time this summer to get my house on the market. Various options and solutions floated through my head. I was committed here at PVSP until the end of July.

At 9:30 a.m. I walked down to the park office to take care of a couple of things. Park Manager Victor Trujillo said he had changed the June schedule. The park is involved with a program called (I think) "New Mexico Works" and they had let Victor know that they could send another person to work at the park. Then Victor showed me the new schedule. With the addition of the new person, I was not on the schedule.

Normally I would have been frosted – I had set aside two months and traveled 260 miles to volunteer here, and then to find out that I was not needed after just two weeks. Instead it’s OK because this would free me up to go to Rio Rancho and get my house on the market! It is a solution that had never even entered my head.

Isn't it amazing how quickly it all worked out!? So I'll leave this coming Wednesday morning.

In the meantime, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “I can do just as I like with this whole day!” Or in my case, seven whole days. [quote taken from Eleanor Roosevelt’s My Day; Pharos Books, 1989]

More birds

I’m not always in the right place at the right time. I looked out my motorhome window and saw mom and pop Gambel’s quail bringing their chicks to the water pan at my site. Drats, why aren’t I outside so I can get a picture (the tree between Jeremiah and the water blocks my view). I did take a photo, looking through the screen on my door, of them approaching. Unfortunately the quail blend in with the sandy soil. (Remember, you can double-click on photos to enlarge them.)

When I saw White-winged dove enjoying the irrigation water, I took this picture. It reminds me of my childhood days when we played in the irrigation water! Not the sprinkler, but the water that had traveled through a network of canals and ditches, most likely gathering microscopic germs, bacteria, and other ‘dangerous’ stuff. Between irrigation water, scorpions, unfriendly spiders, yards and fields full of goatheads (stickers), it is amazing that the Anderson kids survived what folks now-a-days would consider extreme perils!

The Lesser Goldfinch finally found my thistle feeder. Here’s a photo of one of the males.

Sandy Williams, the head of New Mexico Bird Records Committee I wrote about last week, told me to expect to see Swainson’s Hawks here at PVSP. I didn’t think about it until I saw something ‘large’ sitting on a power pole at the southern end of the camping area. The first time I saw it, I only took my binoculars, thinking that it would probably fly off before I could get close enough to get a photo. And besides, I wasn’t sure just what bird it was. Amazingly it stayed on the pole. It was on the same pole a day later and this time I had my camera. Looking at the bird, I studied the various identifiers – beak, feather patterning, coloring, etc. I got several photos of it on the pole, and then waited…and waited…until it decided to fly away. Then back at Jeremiah I looked it up in my field guide; it was a Swainson's Hawk.

A huge feral cat

I had been on the lookout for a ‘large, dark animal’. I had a glimpse of it, but it was sundown and I could not tell what it was. Finally I saw it in daylight and got this photo. I estimate it stands nearly 1 ½ feet high.

Temporary end to days of leisure

Ranger John called on Friday morning, “could I staff the visitor center today?” The new-hire had failed to show up. And she didn’t show up today (Saturday), so I worked another 8-hour shift. Visitor center guests are few and far between, and I had a chance to continue learning my new photo editing software.

Summer sunset at PVSP

Since this will be my last post from Pancho Villa State Park, I'll add tonight's glorious sunset - God's awesome way to end a day.

This week’s post ends with another Eleanor Roosevelt quote:

”I’m not so sure that it isn’t the better part of wisdom to make up your mind to live as happily and as fully as you can. Seize on everything that comes your way which makes life more interesting, or agreeable. Meet whatever circumstances arise … with a smile.”

The Right Time at the Right Place

May 31, 2009

I’m surprised by how often I’m in the right place and the right time. My latest experience came this past week when I glanced out Jeremiah’s window to see a man on the park road looking at something. A closer look and I could tell that ‘something’ was a snake. Aha, another park wildlife to photograph, I thought as I took my camera went out.

It was a fairly long gopher snake (sometimes called a bull snake); the man was Sandy Williams, head of New Mexico Bird Records Committee, and former Game and Fish employee. Of course we struck up a conversation and I learned even more about birding. He was here as part of the New Mexico Ornithological Society; his purpose for being in this part of southern New Mexico was the annual Breeding Bird Survey. Knowing that New Mexico has about 525 species makes my bird list look really puny. However, I did add to my list this week: Scaled Quail, Northern Mockingbird, and Bendire’s Thrasher

Back to the snake. This one is between 4 and 5 feet long. I’ve since seen another fairly long one in another part of the park, and just now saw a 3-footer working its way through my campsite. They are harmless snakes, and help keep the mouse and rat population down. Remember, if you double-click on the photos, they will enlarge.

The park Visitor Center/Museum has had few visitors and I’ve had time to read. I finished reading a biography of Douglas MacArthur, Old Soldiers Never Die by Geoffrey Perret. This 600-page book points out the colorful, controversial aspects of this dominate character in American military history. The book jacket says, “…biography charts the brilliant, if flawed, career of a unique American character.”

And I read Mickey Rooney’s autobiography, “Life is Too Short.” The book chronicles his life – his broken romances and eight wives, addiction to pills, and squandering of a veritable fortune. Even with all this, he became one of the most talented performers in the history of Hollywood.

My current book (thanks to the park’s book exchange which is bursting at the seams) I’m in the midst of Nobody’s Fool, a biography of Danny Kaye written by Martin Gottsfried.

I cleaned up the book exchange – dusted, shelved books and tossed out some old battered paperbacks. That’s how I found some interesting books.

Someone forwarded me a very interesting Internet link – God of Wonders - www.godofwondersvideo.org/chapters.htm
It was fascinating and beautiful reminder that God DID create the earth and all that is in it.

Also during the week I got some good wildlife photos, including finally a good one of the Bullock’s Oriole.

I was sad not to have my camera the day I saw a Houseboat on one of the oversize-trucks that use the state highway for hauling the big stuff around. It took up nearly both lanes. The escort vehicles (one front and one back) has signs that said: California houseboat transport. I’ve decided that being a transport driver or passenger would be an interesting job.

My dueling cottontail rabbits have been at it again! What a hoot! I tried to take a ‘movie’ of them, and did succeed. I'll try to add it to this blog. No luck downloading the video. Drats!

I close with a poem, copyright 1991 by Lou Roberts. It is on a bookmark that I found in one of the book exchange books:

Laughter

It comes from within,

It shows on the face;

It makes people grin,

It eases life’s pace.

It might cure an ill,

It may lessen pain;

It fosters good-will,

It weakens a strain.

It quiets the mind,

It comforts the soul;

It helps one unwind,

It brightens life’s whole.

Rain, glorious rain!

May 24, 2009

Years wrinkle the skin but to give up wonder wrinkles the soul.

Listen … you can hear the cactus and other desert plants saying ‘thank you God, we were so thirsty.’

In fact, when I arrived at Pancho Villa State Park, the sad condition of the cactus concerned me. The prickly pear pads were shrunken and actually drooping, the ocotillo had produced blossoms but not leaves, and there was not a weed in sight. Finally last Tuesday evening a gentle rain started falling; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday brought more rain. Even the rainy days provided delights.

One day as the storm passed, the heavens provided beautiful clouds.

At 6 a.m. on Thursday – when it was barely light outside – I noticed something large in a tree. Was it an owl, I wondered? Or? Fortunately the ‘something’ stayed long enough for me to get my binoculars and my new camera. What was it? It was a White-faced Ibis – a rare occurrence here.

My new camera

I braved the rain on Wednesday and took the Columbus to Deming shuttle bus – destination Walmart to buy a camera. It’s a $5 round trip ride; what a bargain.

Now I’m stretching my brain to learn about my new Canon Powershot S3 IS digital. The ‘basic’ instruction booklet is 25 pages; the ‘advanced’ one is 170 pages. The camera has 15 buttons and dials including the menu and function buttons that produce even more options. Whew! Fortunately I have time when I’m staffing the Visitor Center (things are slow during the week) and can explore the camera.

Even the instruction booklet made me laugh: In bold letters under the WARNINGS I read, “Memory card: If swallowed accidentally, contact a doctor immediately.”

One of my first photo subjects was the unusual Yucca growing near Jeremiah. Yucca’s produce one flowering stalk a season. The stalk looks like a giant asparagus and grows at a fast pace and soon flower buds form and then blossom. This particular yucca started out normally with one stalk, but about 4 feet from base of the plant it divided into two stalks. Right now the plant is between 12 and 13 feet tall and as you can see from the picture, the lower buds have opened; the upper ones will open soon. This plant attracts the insect- and nectar-eating birds and bees.

Birds are hilarious entertainment

The window seed feeder entertains both Cat and I. Frequent visitors are House Finch, Pyrrhuloxia, and Black-headed Grosbeak. The quail and sparrows reap the seeds that fall from the feeder. Then there are the White-winged Doves. They finally figured how to land on the top of the feeder – no easy feat because the clear plastic feeder is sloped on the top. When doves succeed, they try to figure out how to get to the seeds. Occasionally one lucks out and gets in. I looked up from my writing the other day to see three doves on top of the feeder! Two were balanced side-by-side; the third was standing atop the two – one foot on each back! Sure wish I had been able to take a photo of this odd sight.

More birds added to my PVSP bird list: Western Kingbird, Bendire’s Thrasher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Great-tailed Grackle, Roadrunner, Common Nighthawk, White-faced Ibis, House Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Bronzed Cowbird.

Cat is adventurous, also

Cat is one happy feline – at least twice a day she goes out exploring. She checks all the smells, walks through the cactus with no apparent concern to the spines, and watches the birds and rabbits. She sleeps a lot during the day so she can ‘play’ at night. I leave the window blinds up at night so she can watch the comings and goings of other nocturnal critters.

Rabbits at play

We have both jack rabbits and cottontails. The other evening I was sitting out and saw two cottontails frolicking. They would face each other as in a stand-off, then one or both would lunge at the other, just before they collided, one rabbit would leap in the air and jump over the other one. They kept me laughing for a while when I remembered that my camera would take movies. Arghhh! By the time I got my camera and started figuring out how to do movies, the rabbits had disappeared in the brushy field.

My Personal Chef

I’ve been eating very well because daughter Sue – a retired personal chef – gifted me with some of my favorite meals. She cooked, packaged them into individual portions – my freezer is full! Some days, depending on the menu, I enjoy a hot meal at noon at the local Senior Center; only $3!

A gorgeous tote bag

A visitor at the Visitor Center was carrying a beautiful tote bag. Thought you’d like to see it.

I'll stop today with two things about stress:

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Just pee on it and walk away.

Stress relievers from Daisy Hepburn

Forget the diet and send yourself a candy gram.
Make a ‘things to do list’ of things you have already done.
Retaliate for tax woes by filling out your tax return in Roman numerals.
Leaf through a National Geographic Magazine and draw underwear on the natives.
Brush your teeth vigorously with Cheez Whiz.
Pound your head repeatedly on a pile of Wonder Bread.
Stare at people through the tines of a fork and pretend they are in jail.

The Adventure Continues – I’m back at Pancho Villa State Park

May 2009

I’m settled into campsite #44 – the one with the most shade trees, a sewer hookup, and a permanent bird bath. It’s also probably the least level site in the park, making leveling Jeremiah II a real challenge.

Job #1 was setting up my “critter cafeteria” – bird feeders and more water. My efforts were rewarded and in the first hour 12 kinds of birds showed up: Western Tanager, White-winged Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, House Finch, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Ladderback Woodpecker, Pyrrhuloxia, Gambel’s Quail, Cactus Wren, Curved-bill Thrasher, and Goldfinch. Circling overhead was a Red-tailed Hawk. Later in the day I saw my first-of-the-season Gambel’s Quail family – mom, dad and eight little fluff balls as they scurried across the park road to the safety of a large patch of ‘cow’s tongue’ cactus! This is better than winning a jackpot!

Sadly, I didn’t have a camera to take pictures. My trusty Olympus is missing; somehow I misplaced it while I was in Rio Rancho. So I’m researching cameras and will either ride the bus into Deming (closest Walmart) to buy one or order one from Amazon.

This morning a blustery north wind is blowing – creating a ‘rotating restaurant’ out of the sunflower seed feeder. A few birds have persisted in their seed breakfast; the rest must be hunkered down while they wait for the winds to subside. I’m hunkered down also, but will brave the wind for a walk to the post office.

I’ll be here until the end of July. My mailing address is: Carol Anderson, General Delivery, Columbus, NM 88029. Email is: CarolinNewMexico@aol.com or CarolinArizona2@aol.com. If you are in the area, stop by.

Two weeks in Rio Rancho

I’m backing up a bit in time. When I left Cave Creek Regional Park on April 21 I was eager to get to Rio Rancho because granddaughter Melody was visiting from Indiana and daughter Sue and hubby Dave are presently living in my Rio Rancho home. I was eager to spend time with them. That goal motivated me to abandon my ‘200-miles-a-day’ preferred routine, covering the 400 miles in one very long day!

Thanks to friends, Cat and I had places to stay: Jeremiah was parked at Jesse’s home a few days before going into service, Cat spent most of the time at Hilda’s, and I stayed a few nights at Selma’s. After picking up Jeremiah, I took it up to Cochiti Lake for three days in order to check it out before going to PVSP.

See you later, Cave Creek Regional Park

April 19, 2009

My six month volunteer stint here at Cave Creek Regional Park comes to an end tomorrow. To sum up my time here, even though five of those months were not what I expected, it has been super. And I’ll be back next November for another six months.

During those six months my Anderson Customer Service Philosophy and Anderson Work Ethic have had a chance to shine. I’ve met a ton of interesting people, and according to both the park supervisor and the ranger, “I’ve ‘earned my keep’ and they are grateful for my service.”

The biggest surprise was buying my Prescott Valley home. I knew I would eventually settle in Arizona, I just didn’t expect to find my new home so quickly. I continued to be at the park for four work days and then at the PV home for three days. Sister Linda and her hubby Bob – and Winnie their Australian Shepherd – were my first house guests. After that Albuquerque friends Hilda and Selma came for a visit.

I’ll leave here early on Tuesday morning and head to Rio Rancho. Granddaughter Melody is there for a visit, and daughter Sue and her hubby Dave are there. Jeremiah II will go into service while I visit.

After that – probably the second or third week of May – I’m off to a two-month volunteer time at my favorite New Mexico State Park – Pancho Villa State Park. And after that, I plan to travel and explore Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Northern Nevada.

So, that brings you up to date.

The Adventure Continues

March 8, 2009

Enjoy life’s challenges and unexpected events, trust your instincts, maintain your sense of security and be thankful for your confidence and the beauty of all that life has in store for you. –

Somewhere in my reading I found this, wrote it down, but failed to note where I found it. Admittedly I don’t always see challenges and unexpected events as part of my life’s adventures.

My Prescott Valley home is a happy home – and challenges and unexpected events keep popping up – what an adventure! Cat is enjoying the space inside and learning that she can’t get up on kitchen counters. Last week she leaped from a counter to the microwave to the top of the refrigerator! And last week I let her explore outside for the first time. I followed her as she walked the perimeter of the house, looked expectantly up one of the trees trying to decide if she could get up on a branch (she can’t; it’s too high and she has no front claws), and then hunkered down between the house and a hedge and took a short nap.

As I was exploring the tool box in the garage, among various items I found this tiny tool kit – with of course tiny, probably useless tools. For size perspective, I laid my toothbrush alongside for the photo.

Since I last wrote, I’ve been ‘up the hill’ to Prescott Valley (PV for short) four times; for three days each time. And I’ve enjoyed every minute. I had heard that my neighborhood was a quiet one – and it certainly is. I’m far enough from major thoroughfares that there is no road noise and no sirens. And with no street lights, the dark sky makes star gazing a joy. Of course since I’m an early-to-bed person, I’m seldom out at night.

During my early February trip to PV, Northern Arizona got a record snow: Prescott (a bit higher in elevation than PV) got 12 to 14 inches, PV got just 3 to 4 inches. Not much snow, but enough to close a few roads, close some schools and motivate some folks to just stay home and enjoy. And that’s what I did.

Prescott Valley has weather similar to Albuquerque. February nights were in the mid 30s, and daytime temps in 60s. A couple of days were so lovely I got out and did some yard work; mostly trimming back some mystery plants. I’m looking forward to Spring when I’ll find out just what those dead-looking stems produce.

Each time I come up, I clean one or two rooms: hands-and-knees scrubbing, vacuuming carpet, washing out shelves and drawers, and reorganizing furniture. Of course, it’s not all work and no play. I’m slowly getting acquainted with the stores and services in the area. I’ve transferred my Elks Lodge membership to Prescott; the lodge is just a few miles from my house.

And I finally finished reading the 550+ page “A Diary of the Century – Tales from America’s Greatest Diarist.” That famous diarist is Edward Robb Ellis. Born in 1911, he started a diary at age 16 to fend off the boredom of his small town Midwestern adolescence. He was a journalist and author. “A Diary of the Century” excerpts from all his diaries. By the time of his death at age 87, his diaries consisted of 70 volumes. These bound diaries became part of the manuscript collection of the Fales Library at New York University.

On my first February trip, I accidentally left my purse at the motorhome! And on one of my days there I had my Ford Explorer in for service – an expensive one. I did have a credit card and some checks, but no drivers’ license for ID. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to charge or write a check at places that require an ID? I ended up going to my bank to plead my case. After a bunch of questions to prove who I am and that the bank account I was using was actually mine, I finally got enough cash to get my car out of the shop. I had better luck at Sam’s Club – they looked me up in the computer and issued me a new store card. Guess what is in huge letters at the top of my “Take to PV List”? PURSE

On my first night at the house at the end of January, I awoke to the “low battery beep” of a smoke alarm. It was 2 a.m. I got up, figured which one was beeping, got a ladder and took the beeping thing down and removed the battery. Then I went to bed. That next day I bought four 9-volt batteries and called my Realtor/friend who came with his tall ladder and replaced batteries in four smoke detectors.

On my second trip to the house, I again was awaked in the middle of the night by that annoying beep. I put earplugs in and went back to sleep. In the morning, nothing was beeping. It waited until the middle of the next night! Thinking that I had gotten bad batteries, I took down the offending alarm, replaced the battery and put it back up. And then – yep, middle of the night I heard beeping – but not the ones with new batteries – turns out I have six hard-wired smoke alarms; the two I didn’t know were there are in the spare bedrooms – I just never noticed them.

Now to Cave Creek Regional Park news

The days are fairly predictable – but of course there are surprises, also.

I continue to lead a Backyard Birding event on most Fridays. I sometimes get only two or three people, but once I had more than 25 adults! I enjoy this. I also look for opportunities to learn more birds.

My event has been posted on the county parks home page. I’m not sure how long it will be there because that section changes from time to time. To see it go to:

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/ (This is the county parks home page.)

scroll down until you see the section What’s Happening in the Parks, click on the hummingbird and you’ll see the blurb about my Backyard Birding events.

The latest “find” for me is the Harris’s Hawk. (See photos). A week ago, when I was in the office parking lot, a large bird flew overhead and landed on the tall weathervane. I called friend Carol Rayburn; she came down with her telephoto camera and took photos. This was taken as the bird flew off.

Another surprise came from a dog that was loose in the day-use area. A cute collie/sheltie kind of dog; blonde and white; no collar. The surprising thing? The dog obviously had been running in the desert and probably got too close to a cholla (a.k.a. jumping cactus) and perhaps he tried to get the piece of cactus lose and ended up with a mouthful of cholla spines! Ouch! Those spines have a small hook on the end, making the spines difficult and painful to remove. After being on- hold with animal control (we were call # 25 in the queue), I called a nearby animal hospital (the one where we take our park critters – snakes, etc). The vet to bring the dog in, he would remove the cactus spines and keep the dog overnight and call animal control in the morning. That was Friday late afternoon. I expect we’ll get an update tomorrow morning.

The park has been full the past few weeks – it’s the busiest season.

The best park news is that the new Nature/Visitor Center is due to open March 19; just about 5 months past the original opening date. We’ll be busy getting it ready.

The big excitement the next three weeks

Tomorrow I’m going to my brother Ed’s home in nearby Tempe to spend a few days with our Aunt Marian (my mom’s sister). The next week my sister Linda and her husband Bob will visit me in PV for a few days. And the week after that my Albuquerque friend Hilda will be here for a few days. In between I’ll be here getting park work done.

Life is an adventure, for sure!

Prescott Valley home is finally mine! Cheers!

It was a lo-o-ong road.

Instead of closing the house sale in one month, it took two months and a lot of work on the part of my mortgage broker (thanks, Theresa) and my Realtor (thanks, Kevin). Credit also goes to my banker (thanks Jon), my CPA (thanks, Kevin), and several others. Also thanks to the previous owner who was so patient during the delays. The whole deal also took several trees’ worth of paper.

As soon as the sale was recorded on Tuesday, January 27, I spent three days at my new home. You’ll probably recall that it was a fully furnished house – the owner simply took her clothes and toothbrush. (The post that follows this shows pictures of my new home. Remember, you can double-click on photos to see them larger.)

Exploring drawers, closets and cabinets has indeed been an adventure. The first evening was devoted to the two bathrooms (full bathrooms; each with sink, cabinets, toilet, and tub with shower). The under-sink areas were loaded with various items.

On Day Two, I tackled the kitchen and walk-in pantry. So far I've found four hand-held can openers, three set of nut crackers and picks, and three sets of flatware. The previous owner left food in the pantry - some of uncertain origin and age - that went to the garbage. Most of the pots/pans and baking dishes were past their useful life and joined the food stuff in the garbage. But now I have clean and organized shelves awaiting my things.

Also on Day Two, Caroline (the previous owner who was so patient during the ups and downs of the sale) arranged to have a florist deliver a beautiful bouquet of red roses to me. What a treat! She is temporarily living with her daughter in southern California. We had a nice phone conversation when I called to thank her - she was hoping that all was well and asked if I had any questions.

On Day Three I measured rooms in order to figure out which of my furniture will fit (the pieces I want to bring from New Mexico). After lunch I'll loaded my car and drove back to Cave Creek Park. It was good to get back to 70+ temps during the day. Prescott Valley is nearly the same altitude as Albuquerque, so the weather is similar.

After a couple work days at the park, I came back to my house for another three days to continue cleaning and taking care of a variety of projects.

So, what’s been going on these past two months?

Park work:

My days have NOT been boring. I’m enjoying my park “work” and meeting campers and hikers. Since the new Visitor/Nature Center still is not open, I’ve found other things to do: helped out in the office, continued to deliver “welcome packets”, gone on a bunch of hikes, kept the backyard birding area stocked and have led four or five birding sessions.

At a birding session in early December, a lady who was attending asked, “What is that white bird on the seed feeder?” I had no idea what it might be. My friend, Carol Rayburn, dashed to her motorhome for her camera and got some good photos. She emailed the photos to Amy, the park supervisor who is an excellent birder. She identified it as a “leucistic” house finch – this condition is a result of lack of pigmentation.

Quick trip to New Mexico

Granddaughter Melody was visiting Sue (my daughter) in New Mexico, so I made a quick trip via Southwest Airlines.

Christmas Bird Count

Amy invited me to participate in the day-long Christmas Bird Count for the Audubon Society. I was in a group of four – three real birders (including Amy) and me. The day started with breakfast at a local café at 6:30 a.m. There were also 30 or 40 other groups; each assigned an area to count. Besides seeing lots of different kinds of birds, we were also delighted by a bobcat that walked nearby and then just sat while we got a good look. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a camera with us. At the end of the day all the counting groups met at a restaurant for dinner and to report sightings. I discovered how skilled real birders are. My claim to fame was seeing a Black-crowned Night Heron – a first for the annual count.

A visit by friends Sylvia and Jesse

They had just one day here and we made the most of it. First a fairly short hike on the Clay Mine Trail. Jesse – a retired mining inspector – was in seventh heaven. Every few steps he stopped to look at rocks. Then after a quick lunch, we joined a park hike that took us into the Clay Mine. Supper was pizza at Barro’s in Cave Creek. The next morning, I met them for breakfast at Byler’s Amish Kitchen in Black Canyon City. From there they headed toward New Mexico, and I returned back to the park.

A visit by friend Larry

We had nearly three days of hiking – the Clay Mine trail, continuing on to the soon-to-be-opened building. We went on the ‘goat hike’ that was led by a park docent. A local man raises goats as pack animals and he brought two of them along to hike with us.

We also hiked the Slate Trail where our ‘freak of nature’ saguaro is.

The third day we drove to Spur Cross Conservation Area (also a county entity) for more hiking. One of the trails we hiked was the Metate Trail – where gigantic saguaro cacti are. Larry took this photo of me to show just how tall they are. And I took a photo of him sitting on the "bones" of a saguaro. The last trail was down to the Jewel of the Creek – a riparian area.

That brings you up-to-date. I’m sure I’ve left out some events and adventures – I should have been keeping notes.

I leave you with the 2009 Rules from God (forwarded to me by friend Hilda)

Rules from God for 2009
1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!! For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!... To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Photos of my Prescott Valley home

Address: 4906 N. Spring Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Escrow closes on December 22 - a perfect Christmas present.

NEWS BULLETIN!

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008

Whew! It’s been anything but a quiet week in my life.

Yes, I know that’s how I started the last blog entry – but it is ever so appropriate for this one.

How’s this for news – I bought a house in Prescott Valley! Actually it is in the paperwork and finance stage. Escrow closing date will be Dec. 22.

I’ve known for quite some time that I would be moving back to Arizona, and one project on my days off from the park would be spent looking for a house in either Prescott or Prescott Valley (the two towns are about 14 miles apart). The son of my grammar school girlfriend is a Realtor in the area and I chose him to work for me.

First we looked in Prescott – there were very few in my price range, and because of the mountainous terrain, very few were just one-story. And the ones I did look at would all take a lot of renovation and therefore additional money. Kevin then searched the Multiple and emailed me info about homes in Prescott Valley that met my criteria. I narrowed the listings to about 10.

Last Monday (two days ago) I met Kevin in Prescott Valley (PV) and found the one I liked. It is a happy house, immaculately clean and not needing any renovations or cleanup. The bonus is that the house is completely furnished – including pots, pans, dishes, linens, furniture, wall décor, and even the tools in the garage! The seller, a widow who will be going to live near her daughter in Southern California, was eager to get moved before winter. Basically all she is taking is her toothbrush and clothes.

On Tuesday afternoon, I signed a contract to purchase at a price $16,000 lower than the asking price. The seller’s Realtor presented the offer and it was accepted this morning (Wednesday). I had expected a counter-offer.

Three busy days! I’ll be driving up on the day the house inspector is there, and I’ll take some photos to put in my next blog entry. The address is 4906 Spring Drive, Prescott Valley, Arizona. It was built in 1979 by one of the area’s best builders.

The house is light and airy. It has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a large gorgeous kitchen with three bay-windows to the backyard, 2-car garage, covered patio, all appliances, and a place to keep Jeremiah when we are not on the road. And it is on about 1/3 acre.

My New Mexico townhouse (3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, on a gated "island" surrounded with a lagoon and the Chamisa Country Club; great view of the Sandia's) will go on the market sometime late summer or early fall. If you know anyone interested, let me know.

Compared to that, my other activities seem kind of tame. I did finish the bird watching area, including a rock-lined walkway leading from the Clay Mine trail to the picnic table that will hold binoculars and a bird identification book.

My RV friend, Carol Rayburn, arrived and has her motorhome parked on the next road over. She’s the one that leads the Winnebago caravan to Alaska – the one I’ll go on if the caravan gets a few more sign-ups. That will be this summer. Carol brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Jeremiah.

That’s the news for this time. I leave you with this quote from Pastor Chuck Swindoll:

“Let’s do our best to make the time we have count. Rather than live with reluctance, let’s live with exuberance. Instead of fearing what’s ahead, let’s face it head-on with enthusiasm. And because life is so terribly short, let’s do everything we can to make it sweet.”

Whew! It’s been anything but a quiet week in my life.

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008

It’s been a busy week – a trip to Tahoe, a kayak trip, a visit to Usery County Park, and a bird watching station in progress.

The Tahoe trip. My brother Ed and I left sunshine and 90-degree Phoenix, flew Southwest Airlines to cold and snowy Tahoe. We were family representatives and participants at the memorial service for my nephew David’s wife.

The day after my return I back working in the park contact station (entrance). I do enjoy the folks coming into the park. Often they take a few minutes to chat. Now that I’ve been on some of the trails, I like asking the hikers which trail they will be hiking; which is their favorite. And with the construction that is going on at the new Visitor Center, construction traffic is interesting. A couple days ago every few minutes an asphalt truck came through – all stopping to get directions to the site. Today it was landscapers and a huge Pella windows truck.

Here’s a photo of the contact station – I’ve been doing the 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. shift this week.

The park rangers treated all the volunteers to a kayak trip on the Salt River. We were in two-person kayaks, and basically floated downriver for nearly two hours. I had hoped to take my camera, but we were cautioned not to take anything we weren’t willing to lose or get really wet.

This past Saturday, I spent most of the day with my sister Alice. First we went to Usery Park, another park in the county system. The occasion was to attend a bird-watchers gathering. I met Sandy, a volunteer who set up the bird watching area. About 20 folks came and Sandy talked about how to identify birds – and we could practice as birds kept arriving at the feeder stations. I took pictures to show our park rangers. As a result, tomorrow the maintenance guys start on our own bird watch station. It will be set up near site #8 – and I’ll be moving to that site next week in order to keep the feeders stocked and the water feature clean. I’ll take photos when it is ready.

On Sunday, I picked the Clay Mine and the Overton Trail to hike. According to the map, it would be nearly three miles. I got an early start hoping to finish by 9. Well, I read the mileage wrong. There were quite a few folks hiking also, and the trail is well marked. I hiked, and I hiked, and I hiked. The trail would end at the day-use parking area, and every time I got to a rise, I expected to see the parking area. But, no – just more trail, and a lot of it rocky. Finally I could see the end, and I sure was glad. When I arrived at the parking lot and asked the time, it was 11 a.m.!!!!

Along the way, I took a photo of an interesting saguaro cactus – it looks like four cacti all grew in the same spot.

I’m certainly enjoying the birds that come to my feeders and water container. My favorite feeder is the one that attaches to the motorhome window by suction cups. I can sit just inches inside and get good photos. I took a picture of a female house finch that appears to have a growth on her head.

And a pair of Gila woodpeckers have figured out how to get sunflower seeds. They come individually – running off smaller birds. With their feet on the front of the feeder and their body and tail underneath the feeder, the bird sorts through the seeds, apparently picking one of the plump ones, and then flies off.

That’s it for now. No quotes, no wise words.

Remember, click on the photos to enlarge them.

A nice balance of activity and leisure

“Time flies when you are having fun” sure speaks for me. I’ve had time for park work, Personal Chef magazine writing and editing, hiking, reading, motorhome chores, and getting acquainted with campers and other volunteers.

As usual, I’m up early – at least an hour before sunrise. It is a special time for me; often I’m out for a pre-dawn walk, enjoying the sounds of the desert critters. It’s also my time to count my blessings and brush away regrets. I like to remind myself of something I read awhile back:

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so . . . Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, TAKE IT! If it changes your life, LET IT!

This morning it was just light enough to I see an owl atop a saguaro cactus, softly hooting. I glanced away to make sure I was still on the road as I walked and when I looked up again, the owl was gone. I didn’t hear it leave.

During the day a variety of desert critters visit my campsite – I have water out for them. It is not unusual to see a rabbit and some birds drinking at the same time. I’m also visited by a small squirrel. Birds that come by are quail, dove, cactus wren (Arizona State Bird), house finch, thrasher, flicker, woodpecker, sparrows, and some I have not identified yet. I’ve only seen one coyote, but often hear them at night.

Cat also watches the coming and going of the critters from the window. One bird feeder filled with whole sunflower seeds is suction-cupped to the window. Interestingly, with the darkened windows, the birds can not see in and therefore can’t see Cat. Often Cat will take a swipe at a bird in or on the feeder and the bird is oblivious to this and does not fly away.

Another interesting thing about Cat’s motorhome life is she hardly ever is on the floor. She can jump from sofa to dining area, walks across the kitchen counter (I keep supplied with Clorox wipes) to jump on my bed. I’ve put a leash on her a few times so she could go outside, but after only a minute or two, she goes back into the motorhome.

My mail has finally caught up with me – I’m having it forwarded to the park. What a surprise to get a letter – and a check – from the State of New Mexico. It was a $50 Refundable Income Tax Rebate “State Assistance for Low-Income New Mexicans”! It also notified me that I may qualify for assistance programs including food stamps and USDA food commodities! It sure took me by surprise!

Most days I head out for a morning hike. The trail head to the Clay Mine is nearby – and it connects with several other trails. The park has six trails of varying lengths, and five of them start at the day-use area that is a bit more then 1 mile from my campsite. To get to the five trailheads, I can either walk on the park road, or use the Clay Mine Trail.

Above is a photo of the Clay Mine; the plaque on the locked gate says, “This mine was originally dug in search of gold. The land was later bought by a woman named Leila P. Irish. She believed that even though the mine contained no gold, its high levels of clay sediment could still be profitable. Leila bottled this clay and called it a miracle elixir that was said to cure all ailments. Though this was not true, it did cure one ailment exceedingly well. Dysentery, a disease from drinking bad water was common at this time. She made a fortune off her scheme, a fortune that her descendants still enjoy.”

One of the guided hikes next month is to Clay Mine, and the park supplies hard-hats for those who want to go in the mine. I’m looking forward to that hike.

A few days ago I went on the bird watching hike led by Park Supervisor Amy. What a bird education I got and I was amazed at how many different birds we saw. We watched a curved-bill thrasher as he worked on a nest. It seemed to me the “wrong” time to be nest building since eggs would not be laid until spring. Amy explained that the male thrasher builds a number of nests – perhaps to impress a female of his building skills. The extra nests also serve as decoys to the egg-robbing critters. The most vocal bird is the cactus wren.

One hike took me to a good vantage point to see the progress – or lack of it – on the new visitor center/nature center building. It is the first I’ve seen the outdoor amphitheater. The building is a “green” building – solar, etc. The latest estimate for completion is the first of the year. Here’s the photo I took from the trail.

With the building behind schedule and the new facility the reason I was “hired” as a volunteer, Amy and I met to talk about things I can do in the meantime. She (and all park supervisors) has been tasked to increase the numbers of campers and day-use traffic, so I’ll be working on marketing and customer service projects. We’ll be developing camper packets similar to the ones we did at Pancho Villa State Park. The packets will include a variety of information and hopefully some coupons from Cave Creek merchants.

I’ll also write press releases on the guided park activities to build day use and also to build interest in the progress of the new facilities. My third project will be to develop a Friends of the Park organization. And I’ll still occasionally staff the entrance station. So for the most part, I’ll just set my own work schedule to work on my projects.

I do have a short trip to South Lake Tahoe coming up. I’ll be attending a family memorial service. I just checked the weather forecast and know to expect snow and rain! My brother Ed and I will fly to Reno on Sunday (Nov. 2) and return on Tuesday (Nov. 4). So if you don’t hear from me, you’ll know why.

That’s it for this blog entry. I’ll leave you with this table grace. My friend Annette Hubbell is working on a book of graces, and this one was motivated by something my sister Linda sent:

Heavenly Father,

Please bless this food and those who made it.

And let us take this moment as we sit together

To reflect that life isn't about how to survive the storm,

But how to dance in the rain.

Amen!

Moonlight hike, trail dedication and high school reunion – it’s been an adventurous week!

As we age, most people lose that expectancy, that urgency of hope, that delightful, childlike, wide-eyed joy of faith that keeps us full of anticipation and excitement. May God deliver us from a grim, stoic, stale shrug of the shoulders! (unknown author)

In fact, it’s been a great first week here at Cave Creek Regional Park. As soon as I awake – often before the sun rises – I’m excited to see what the day will bring. There’s no lolling around in bed for me. I toss on some clothes and head out for an early morning walk around the campground. The early birds are chattering and the rabbits are scattering as I walk. Except for the first night here when the temperature dropped enough for me to reach over and turn my electric blanket in, it’s been in the high 60s at 6 a.m.

The nearly 3,000-acre park is at altitudes ranging from 2,000 feet to 3,000 feet. The landscape offers interesting geological formations, scenic views and the Sonoran desert flora and fauna. The park has more than 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding (mixed use; no motorized vehicles) trails. Most days temperatures have been in the 90s range.

I wonder where we put ---?

My first two days here were spent in organizing stuff in my motorhome. With both my sister Alice and I transferring things from my house and garage to Jeremiah II (yes, we got everything in with some space to spare), it’s been like a treasure hunt. A few things are yet to be found.

The status of the new visitor center/nature center/gift shop

I was “hired” specifically to get this new facility open and staffed, and the original completion date was November 1. Well, like a lot of construction projects, this one is delayed. Now it looks like a January opening. Bummer! So in the meantime, I’m being trained as a regular campground host and I’ve had my first three shifts of training at the “contact station” which is at the entry to the park, the “iron ranger” a self-pay station, and tallying each day’s park fees (day use, camping, and annual passes paid by cash, check and credit card). There are lots of things to remember but it is all beginning to make sense. Thank goodness for my previous business experiences.

New trail dedication

I was invited to go with park supervisor Amy and park ranger Jim to the dedication of a new mixed-use trail not too far from here. It was a big deal attended by local residents, trail advocates, staff from county parks and recreation, politicians, and other bigwigs. The trail is a segment of a 240-mile trail that connects the county’s parks that ring the Phoenix metro area. Among the bigwigs was a man from the Navajo Nation who blessed the trail and about a half dozen horsemen/women on horseback. I met lots of folks and had a great time. The trailhead has parking for horse trailers and a water trough.

“Creeping out” moonlight hike

Ranger Jim led this leisurely hike, and I was tail-ender. About 45 locals came out. Along the way Jim pulled things from his pack to show the hikers: a tarantula, king snake and scorpion. The park offers several hikes each week. The early Thursday morning hike is billed as a “fitness hike. “I push people to get their heart rate up; no slacking off,” explained Jim.

52 years ago -- where was I?

I was a senior at Washington High School in Phoenix. 1956 was the first year for this school; juniors and seniors could choose to stay in the high school they had been attending (the new school took students from Glendale and Sunnyslope); freshmen and sophomores in the district had no choice. As a result, we had just 49 in the senior class and about 100 in the junior class. We were big-shots on the campus – deciding on the team mascot, school colors, starting the first newspaper, designing the first yearbook, etc. And you’re probably not surprised to learn that I was in the midst of everything.

Over the years I lost track of classmates and the school lost track of me. I missed the 50-year reunion, but did reconnect with a few past friends. This past Saturday night was a reunion for any person who attended Washington High that first year; there were just five from the first senior class. The event was at the large and spacious home of one of the 1956 sophomore students. I was told that more than 200 folks were gathered on the huge lawn and patio that was filled with tables, chairs, etc. The DJ played 50s music. It was such fun!

Busy but yet gifting myself with times of solitude.

I was reminded about the importance of slowing down and having time to think and rethink things when I read this passage written by Pastor Chuck Swindoll:

Instead of speeding up, slow down and rethink. I've thought about them for years. Instead of speeding up, let's find ways to slow down and rethink. Taking time to discover what really matters is essential if we're going to lift the curse of superficiality that shadows our lives. Don't wait for the doctor to tell you that you have six months to live. Long before anything that tragic becomes a reality, you should be growing roots deep into the soil of those things that truly matter.

Until next weekend…slow down and appreciate all you have!

Jeremiah II is finally ready!

Oct. 10 to 13, 2008

After a little more than two months, I finally picked up my sweet motor home. What a beauty! My dealer, Rocky Mountain RV in Albuquerque, tackled the job of replacing the motor home walls – not a simple or easy job. (If you missed previous posts and emails, Winnebago determined that there had been a chemical reaction between the exterior fiberglass and the paint, causing the paint to bubble.) Jeremiah II was sparkling clean inside and out.

My sister Alice and I flew from Phoenix to Albuquerque the morning of the 10^th and went straight to RMRV and then drove Jeremiah II to my Rio Rancho home to get it loaded and ready to travel the next morning.

Saturday

By the time Alice and I were ready to leave, storm clouds were gathering, the wind was blowing, and the weatherman was predicting rain. And it did rain! Somewhere west of Albuquerque – between Laguna and Grants on I-40 – the rain came pouring down. Visibility was very low a good bit of the time and the Interstate shoulder didn’t look wide enough for me to pull over. Thankfully all the traffic slowed and we just kept going. I was reminded of something my sister Linda sent:

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

We mentally danced as the rain continued. When it finally stopped we were on two-lane NM Highway 53 and headed for the reservation town of Zuni and the New Mexico-Arizona border.

The ranger station at El Malpais National Park was a welcome stop, more so than expected. The park was having a special fall open house and was serving hot apple cider and hot chocolate along with cookies. Inside were a couple of Navajo weavers at work and all books were discounted.

We took advantage of the pine country to take photos. Here’s Alice enjoying the cool breezes.

In my quest for books for my winter volunteer job, I bought two books: “Tread Lightly, venomous and poisonous animals of the southwest” and “Naturalist’s Guide to Observing Nature.”

Hwy 53 is lightly traveled and goes through a variety of landscapes. We talked and laughed, discussed politics.

Along the way we drove through 7.1 miles of construction – the recent rains turned the now-dirt road into sloshy potholes. As we crept along at 5+ miles an hour, we took this photo:

Freshly painted Jeremiah II was no longer shiny, rather it was caked with New Mexico soil.

The next stop – after an unplanned tour of the village (I had unknowingly passed up the last possible place to park the motorhome) – was Turquoise Traders, a wholesale/retail business just loaded with beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry. Between the motorhome and the store, several Indians offered to sell us their hand-carved fetishes. With jewelry in mind, we declined their offerings.

Our day ended at Lyman Lake State Park on Arizona Highway 191. It was windy, but a pleasant evening. Alice and shared my traditional champagne toast before getting beds ready.

Alice played the Bejeweled computer game and after brushing her teeth declared that she didn’t like my toothpaste at all – Arm & Hammer toothpaste made with peroxide and baking soda. I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, and I actually like it now.

The evening was so pleasant that we had windows open and only set out flannel sheets for bedding. I didn’t even think of turning the propane on.

Along about 1 a.m., I was cold and got up to put warm pajamas on and an afghan for my bed. I also got a warm blanket for Alice. At 4 a.m. it was colder. “This is crazy,” I muttered as I tossed on a sweat shirt and went out to turn the propane on so we could run the forced air heater. Yea! In the morning we learned that it got down to 28 degrees! Brrr.

The morning was bright and clear and not windy. I took a photo of Jeremiah II at the campsite.

Sunday

Our route today will take us through Show Low, Payson, Camp Verde and south on I-17 to Cave Creek Regional Park and all the small towns in between.

Although roadside signs told of elk and deer, and in the past I’ve seen wild critters, we only saw a dead skunk on the road’s shoulder. I was glad that someone else’s vehicle was reeking of skunk and not mine. It’s one thing to have a stinking car, but I certainly wouldn’t want my rolling home to be the recipient of this lingering odor.

At one point, there was a flashing sign announcing “Elk Crossing Test”. What?? Alice suggested that maybe along the way an elk “statue” would pop out to test our reflexes! Were they testing to see if elk would cross the road at this place? Go figure. At any rate, we didn’t see any elk.

We oohed and aahed over the rolling amber hills and mountain meadows as we rode the roller-coaster roads.

I was unhappy that Jeremiah II was so dirty – and pondered what to do about it. I didn’t want to spend the winter in a dirty motorhome. At Payson we found a do-it-yourself car/RV wash. I had never used one before and when I asked for help from the attendant, he took pity on us and after putting money in the slot he did the washing for me! He got most of the dirt off, and now I’ll just do the finishing a bit each day while at the park.

It was nearly 4 p.m. when we arrived at campsite # 9 at Cave Creek Park. Alice did a great job of directing me as I backed in. She is a great travel companion.

Later in the afternoon my brother Ed and his wife Debby delivered my Ford Explorer (I had left it at their house before flying to Albuquerque). They took Alice back, and Cat and I settled in. We'll be here until spring.

Cat and the Bunny Rabbit – AKA Bunny’s Big Adventure

July 30, 2008

There’s never a dull moment – whether on the road or at home.

Let me set the scene:

It’s a lovely day outside, both front and back patio doors are open so Cat can wander at will. I’m in the kitchen fixing lunch – when suddenly I hear the unmistakable sound of Cat running. I look toward the motion and see that Cat is chasing something small and brown; and by the time I get close, I see she has a very young – and unhappy – bunny rabbit in her mouth.

I’m closing in on Cat, saying NO! PUT THAT DOWN!

Remarkably, Cat drops the bunny that then scurries under the recliner chair. And I’m sure I heard Cat say, “Darn it, you’ve spoiled my fun. I just wanted to play.” as she tries to get under the chair. I swooped Cat up and closed her in a room.

With a broom and the nearby patio door wide open, I tried to get bunny to come out. Instead she went in another direction – into my bedroom. That little thing – just old enough not to be with momma rabbit any longer – is quick, and has an uncanny way of squeezing into small places. I opened the bedroom patio door and wielded the broom again. Did she run out? I think so.

Cat is out of her prison, life goes on as usual. I finish fixing lunch, and carry it to the table. What did I see? Cat and Bunny having a stare-down. Cat is put back in prison and the broom and I get to work. After about 20 minutes and numerous hiding places, Bunny dashes out the door. And I retrieve my disappointed Cat.

She really just wants to play - in the past she's brought home a toad, mouse, dragonfly, and a couple of birds. She also tries to catch flies and moths. She's never killed any of them - just enjoys the chase.

And I finally sit down to lunch – disappointed that I didn’t think to take photos.

Homeward Bound

Wednesday, July 23 to July 26, 2008

Wow! The Grand National Rally (Winnebago Industries) was super. Many of my questions were answered – such as, Why does my generator pulse instead of running smoothly? What all is involved with ‘replacing the side walls’? I attended several seminars, met lots of folks and compared travel notes, motor home maintenance, and discovered clever ways to stow goods. And had a new, better, ceiling exhaust fan installed in the bathroom.

It was the answer to “what is involved with wall replacement” that motivated me to head home today instead of tomorrow. I learned that I would need to take EVERYTHING out of Jeremiah II before taking it to the dealer for the work!

As soon as the fan was installed, I unplugged, pried my now-wet leveling boards up. I’d be traveling my least favorite way – drive/park, drive/park, etc. until arriving in Rio Rancho. I much prefer to drive part of a day and then park for two or more days before driving again.

After consulting the closed-road maps, weather maps and forecasts, I knew I would have to just plan my driving one day at a time. My first overnight was Avoca, in western Iowa, just south of I-80. I did get some rain along the way, and much more rain that night.

More map time once I found out that many roads in far south/western Iowa were closed or travel delays. I retraced my travel for about 5 miles and got on I-80 West, planning to cross the Missouri just north of Omaha. Oops, I missed the exit and ended up just south of Omaha to Highway 81 and then into Kansas. Thursday’s travel day ended at Assisa, Kansas.

My plan was to spend the night in Liberal, Kansas. But when I got there, I didn’t like the looks of the RV park. And since it was early afternoon, decided to drive on. Surely there will be a decent RV park in Guyman, Oklahoma, or in Dalhart, Texas. Wrong! And by the time I drove through Dalhart and realized I was just 100 miles from Ute Lake State Park near the eastern boundary of New Mexico, I just kept on driving.

I do enjoy the driving – especially on highways and other non-Interstate roads. Driving through picturesque small towns was my reward. On the outskirts of Pocahontas, Iowa, I was ‘greeted’ by this very large statue.

At a stretch of road west of McPherson, Kansas, I saw a sign “Sod, Worms and Worm Tea”! Just what is ‘worm tea’? I also passed oil fields and a huge liquid petroleum plant. As I drove through Rice County, I had a chance to pull over and take a photo of their charming county courthouse. Things like this are my reward for shunning the Interstate.

When I got up Saturday morning, I realized that Sue and Dave were in Rio Rancho (scheduled to fly out sometime on Saturday) – and maybe would still be there. That motivated me to get unhooked and on the way. As soon as I had cell phone service, I called Sue. Their flight wasn’t until 4 p.m. Oh, goody! So I got to spend some time with Sue! And Cat was delighted to be at the “big home” where she could run and be outside.

In all, I drove nearly 3,800 miles - and what an adventure! My next motor home trip will be early September.

That afternoon, I started the chore of taking everything out of Jeremiah. Being a couple of days early made this a more relaxing project. But just where did ALL this stuff come from? And why was I toting some of it all over the country?

Medford, St. Paul and now Forest City, Iowa

Friday, July 18, 2008

While the NOAA weather guy reports on Severe Storm Warning #703 on its way to northern Iowa, I’ll start this blog with a quote by Benjamin Franklin (Walter Isaacson’s book, Benjamin Franklin, An American Life). In the late 1780s, Franklin was telling about his various ailments (gout and kidney stones):

“People who live long, who will drink the cup of life to the very bottom,
must expect to meet with some of the usual dregs.”

I last wrote when I was on my way to Medford, Minnesota, to visit some of my mother’s cousins. I spent super four days on the corn, bean and hog farm; parked beneath huge trees on Cousin Gloria’s driveway. Besides Gloria, her daughter and husband, and her grandson and his family have homes there. For the first few days, the weather was relatively cool.

Gloria’s son-in-law took me for a cart ride out to see the fields – this photo shows their ‘bean’ (soybeans) field.

The evening before I was to leave, we watched the weather news as a storm moved across the state – and the severe thunderstorms, hail, winds and tornado threat moved closer. We decided it would be prudent to move Jeremiah II from under the large trees.

Saturday, July 12, I left for the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) International Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. The day had turned quite hot, I encountered two stretches of backed-up vehicles on Interstate 35-E, and I was eager to get parked so I could cool the motorhome down using my generator. Fanciful thinking! First I had to get to the “holding area” where groups of 10 motorhomes were escorted to the fairgrounds. Then it was a time of waiting to be escorted to a parking area. I no sooner got to the front of the line to be parked when someone said I had been sent to the wrong area, “back up, and park along that street and someone will come and get you.” More waiting but at least I was under some large shade trees.

Eventually I was taken down another street where I would be parking. A quick look at where I was told to stop – right in front of a sloping street drain – and I knew it would be nearly impossible to get level and I told the parking guy this. “Oh, well, see what I can do,” I told myself as I got out my leveling boards. Just as I got the board out, the parking guy came back and said he had a better place for me. So, load boards, make a U-turn and follow. The new spot was still on the road – and under large shade trees! Leveling was fairly easy and soon I could get the generator and air conditioner on. Whew!

As the day cooled off, and folks were sitting outside, I started meeting people. One reason I was there was to distribute surveys for Winnebago. I had 100 surveys and four days to get them done. I also attended a couple seminars, and finished writing and editing the next issue of Personal Chef Magazine.

The FMCA rally is huge – about 2,500 motorhomes (in past years the rally has had up to 7,000 motorhomes) spread throughout the fairgrounds and adjacent properties. I got a lot of walking done during my days there – usually ended the day with at least 4 miles total. The trees gave lots of shade and the weather was relatively cool for summer.

The couple parked ahead of me “adopted” me for a couple of days. They invited me to join them for an outing at Como Park and the huge Mall of the Americas. Both were enjoyable – and both places I would not have been able to visit. The park has rides for children, a Japanese garden and a most interesting butterfly garden. As you can see from the photo, these three butterflies are large!

By Tuesday evening all surveys had been distributed – good thing because I was leaving in the morning.

Wednesday, July 16

It was only a 100-plus drive to Forest City, Iowa, for the Winnebago Grand National Rally. And it was a hot, muggy day. Again I was impatient to get air conditioning on – and at this rally I’d have electricity. But not a level place. This former bean and/or corn field is not flat. It took a couple of tries to get level, and when I was, I discovered that my electric cord would not reach the utility box! Bummer! And it’s hot both inside and outside of the motorhome.

I tried again to no avail. Then I realized I was parked near the Winnebago “rally parts store” and simply bought a 30-amp extension cord. (I used to have one, but somewhere along the way it ‘disappeared’.)

Whew! Cat and I cooled off, and as the afternoon passed, it cooled off outside. Perfect timing for a walk around the rally grounds. I have taken many walks these past few days before the rally starts on Sunday afternoon. I’ve walked in to the town twice; once for Forest City’s annual Puckerbrush Days Celebration. Puckerbrush? Yep. That was the original name for this town.

Yesterday’s town parade was as much fun as ever. It was 1 ½ hours long. It seems like every fire truck from miles around were there to lead off the parade. Then there were queens, princes, and other dignitaries – including everyone running for a political office – in various vehicles. The only band was the Forest City high school marching band. The parade included two Shriner’s groups, numerous floats, and plenty of tractors.

This is my third year to attend the Grand National Rally. The main activities are the same each year and I’ve done practically at least once. This year I’ve been spending time organizing and reorganizing Jeremiah II.

It is Sunday afternoon as I finish this, and it will soon be time to head to the amphitheater for the parade of states and opening session. More thunderstorms are due this evening; we just hope the storm holds off until the end.

Tomorrow the seminars and vendor display area will be open. It will be a busy three days for me. I’ll leave here Thursday morning to head back to New Mexico. This will probably be my last post for awhile. As soon as I return home, I’ll have a day-and-a-half to unpack the motorhome and pack a suitcase for a flight to Tucson.

Welcome to the Midwest – now turn on your Weatherband radio station!

Yes, NOAA weather alerts are now my favorite pastime. Yesterday it was Weather Warning #661, which was in effect: severe thunderstorms, capable of heavy rain and nickel-sized hail that can damage vehicles, winds up to 60 mph, flooding, etc.

But, let’s back up a few days. I was so eager to get to Melody’s home in Indiana that I drove two longer days (300+ plus miles) instead of three shorter days. Somewhere along the way I passed this smiley water tower. Can anyone see it and not smile?



In Indiana I stayed at France Park. This park covers many acres and has lots of tall trees and a lake.
After traveling in Jeremiah II for five days – and asking for directions three times – I arrived in Converse, Indiana, to visit granddaughter Melody and her husband Derrick. They are temporarily living with Derrick’s dad, Roger Cottrell, while they find jobs and housing. Derrick is hoping to become an Indiana State Policeman. I parked in the long driveway alongside the house – wonderful accommodations!

Converse is a lovely very small town – dollar store, small grocery store, gas station, post office and not much else – where many residents have large backyard gardens. Melody has married into a large extended family; it seems they all live 30 minutes or less from Converse.

For my four days there Melody served as my personal trainer! Each morning I’d go to the house for a weight workout, and then most morning workouts would be followed by walks of between 3 and 6 miles! We walked all over town. We also went to the towns of Peru (they pronounce it Pee-ru), Kokomo (lunch at ??? – yum!), Amboy, and Marion. One day we went to visit Jane and PaPaw (granddad) and get veggies from their garden. I got to enjoy their animals – Ninja and Izzie, Sheeba breed of dogs common in Japan and Chu-Hi a Russian Blue cat.

I got to see Melody’s Mount Fuji hiking pole.
It was a wonderful visit that was all too short. And the weather was super. But soon it was time to head to Medford, Minnesota, via Illinois and Iowa.

I continued my drive, this time heading back toward the west. I choose to drive highways rather than Interstates for several reasons: my comfortable speed is 55 mph and I enjoy driving through the numerous small-to-medium-sized towns. Once I got to Illinois’ eastern border and could check road conditions, specifically Mississippi bridge crossings, I planned a route that took me west and then north to Rockford, Illinois. Here I spent the night at Blackhawk RV Park, and what a delightful place. It has a mix of “summer, weekend, and overnight visitors.” As usual, I walked around getting acquainted with other campers (a plus for traveling solo). I met a couple who have been spending summer weekends there for 27 years, a couple big on birding and have many and varied bird feeders (I got a crash course on birds that visit there in the summer and a couple that have set up an elaborate model trains setup.

I crossed the Mississippi at the upper west part of Illinois and entered Dubuque, Iowa. Being on the Big River, this pretty large city has quiet a history. And this city wins my “best marked city” award. I was traveling on highway 20, changing to highway 52/3. This took me through several downtown streets – an easy way to get misplaced. But not in Dubuque! The signs were well-placed and easy to see. Thanks to it being Sunday, traffic was light. Whew! I breathed a sigh of relief after successfully negotiating the route. Dubuque would definitely be a city to explore further.

Never a dull moment along these highways! Along the way I met up with huge farm equipment traveling from field to field and also this huge bale of hay!


Eventually I arrived in Charles City (also known as Chuck Town) mid afternoon and found “R Campground” that sits alongside the Cedar River. This is the same river that devastated several Iowa cities. I’m parked under some tall, leafy trees just 75 yards from the river.


After settling in – about 4:30 p.m. the sky darkened. It looked like it should be twilight instead of just late afternoon. And then the lightning and thunder brought a downpour. That’s when I turned on my Weatherband radio and heard the “severe weather warning” that included Floyd County (where Charles City is)! As it continued to rain, I became concerned for my nearness to the river. Would it overflow and flood the campground? Would the trees protect Jeremiah from any damaging hail? Would the winds and potential falling limbs damage Jeremiah? Oh, dear!

I called the RV park office. Would they come down and let me know if evacuation was necessary? I was assured that they would indeed let me know. Somewhat comforting. Before leaving home I had prepared a “ditch bag” with water, shoes, rain jacket, energy bars, cat food, portable radio, first aid kit, etc. Also during storm threats, I put the ditch bag, cat’s crate, my cell phone and computer near the door in case I have to make a hasty retreat on foot.

By 8 p.m. the storm ended and the severe weather warning for Floyd County was canceled. And the sun came out again. And I slept well.

This morning, Monday, July 7, I was hoping to get in either a long walk or a bike ride. And then I listened to the weather report. More storms were headed this way. Severe Weather Warning #662 included Floyd County. Oh, well, I really needed to stay in and get some writing work done. Rain, lightning and thunder arrived as I worked. Than it cleared up only to return about 4 p.m. This time it was Severe Weather Warning #663. It was a repeat of yesterday evening.

It is now 8:30 p.m. and the sun is making its last appearance. It’s been a productive day.

Tomorrow I’ll unhook and head north. I’ll stop in Mason City (cross your fingers for speedy Internet there) for shopping and then further north to Medford, Minnesota and my Minnesota cousins.

Quick addition – Tuesday morning. The Cedar River is running very high! And now I’m parked just 50 yards from the fast-flowing river. From my window I see that someone chose a poor place to park. Couldn’t resist taking a photo.

More rain!

Day 4, June 29, 2008

Iowa does NOT need more rain! After a day of driving through flooded areas, it is now dumping more water on the rain-soaked and river-swollen state. Fortunately, I’m off the road and parked at an RV park just north of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. One minute it was bright outside, and then the sky turned really dark and the rain came down. No thunder or lightning, just rain.

It was a fascinating day! First I had about a 100-mile drive to southeastern Nebraska and a short 36 mile drive to Nebraska City where I was able to cross the Missouri River into Iowa. Then I went across southern Iowa on highways 2 and 34. Most amazing was the amount of flooded land. Hardest hit will be the farmers because many fields are flooded and those that aren't are too soggy for farming.

There was so much to look at and so many interesting towns to go through. I had intended to drive about half-way across Iowa, but I was always eager to see what was ahead that I just kept on driving. Of course I made quite a few stops and took the ‘business route’ through the larger towns.

It was a great driving day; cloudy day and relatively cool. When I was not interested in the surrounding countryside and charming towns, I enjoyed the fluffy white clouds.

Since the bridge at Burlington, Iowa, is washed out, I’ll need to go north to I-80 to cross the Mississippi River into Illinois. That will be tomorrow’s drive.

Tomorrow I’ll get most of the way across Illinois.

I’m a grateful person

Day 3, June 28, 2008

Each person can focus on problems or on the good things. Personally I choose to look on the bright side of things, I’m a card-carrying optimist.

Once I read, “Optimism is infectious and inspiring, but a lot of people don't want to deal with optimism because they have to work hard to achieve it. Pessimism is easy: just sit around and mope.”

This evening’s entries into my Gratitude Journal:

1. Yesterday evening, after planning today’s driving route, I got a great night’s sleep.
2. I was surprised by some turkeys as I was leaving Scott Lake – a Tom who was strutting his stuff, two hens and about 10 youngsters.
3. My route – north on 83 and east on 36 – was scenic, the highway was smooth, and practically empty.
4. When I checked the weather band, I heard that Liberal, Kansas, was hit by golf-ball-size hail and lots of rain last night.
5. There was a Dairy Queen along the way.

So why was I grateful about Liberal’s storm? When I planned my route at Clayton, it was a toss-up between the highway that would take me to Liberal (where I would probably stay at B&B RV Park) or through Elkhart (the route I took). I’m grateful I chose Elkhart.

Today I drove through numerous small Kansas towns, and I enjoy reading the ‘welcome’ billboards. Selden says it is the 'home the world-famous livestock auctioneer'; Kensington says ‘biggest town for its size.'

Yesterday I noticed that wheat was being harvested. That’s not unusual. But what was unusual was that the wheat was so short. My recollection is that wheat grows much taller. Curious minds need to find out – so I asked a local. Turns out scientists have created plants with shorter stalks as a way to cut back on water use.

The ‘ag report’ on the radio talked about crop prices, fertilizers, tractor sales, crop dusting via airplanes, and of course the weather. Yes, I do enjoy the Midwest.

This evening I’m in Marysville, Kansas. None of my RV directories had any listed for this town, so I was considering ‘dry camping’ at Walmart. When I got there, I went in to buy some supplies and asked at customer service if there were any RV parks in town – thought I should do that before asking permission to stay in their lot. Here I learned about the city park; and that’s where I’m. I’m plugged into electricity – and there is no charge!

Tomorrow I have a short drive east in Kansas, through a small part of Nebraska and will cross the Missouri River at Nebraska City. Yes, I’ve checked with highway/bridge closures and it looks OK. Then I’ll stay south in Iowa; on highways 2 and 34.

One day closer!

Day 2, June 27, 2008

You don't take a trip, a trip takes you," wrote John Steinbeck in his road trip book Travels With Charley.

And so it is, I think, that no matter how I plan a trip, at some point in the journey the trip itself establishes a momentum of its own. If I am willing, it can take me along for a magic carpet ride that I could never have imagined when I set out.

I woke early as usual today, full of anticipation and excitement; eager to get on my way. My route on Highway 56 took me into Oklahoma for 50 miles and then into Kansas at Elkhart. When I connected with Highway 83, the road took me straight north to Scott Lake. It was an easy, relaxing drive through and around very small- to medium-sized towns.

Stuff you might not know about Kansas:

· State song is Home on the Range

· State tree is the Cottonwood

· State flower is the native sunflower – though I’ve yet to see one

· State bird is the meadowlark

· State animal is the American buffalo, or bison

· State insect is the honeybee

· The western part of the state is referred to the “Golden Prairie”

· Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Dole and Amelia Earhart called Kansas ‘home’

Scott Lake State Park, Kansas

After driving 250 miles through flat country – wheat, corn, alfalfa, and some unrecognizable crops – the trees, green grass and spring-fed lake of Scott Lake were a surprise and welcome sight. Jeremiah II hums right along with nary a complaint. It was hot today – 103 degrees. Thank goodness for air conditioning and well-tinted windows.

After a quick sandwich, I walked over to the campground host to pay for the night. $23.20 and worth every penny.

The host asked if I’d like to join another camping family for a tour of the Steele House (normally only open on weekends). So in spite of the midday heat, I got my camera and a bottle of water and walked a mile to it. Mr. and Mrs. Steele built the house and outbuildings by hand in the late 1800s.

As I write this, Cat is at the window watching a baby rabbit enjoy the grasses and clover. Birds are serenading me. It is 9 p.m. and still light outside.

Midwest, here I come!

Day 1; 2008 Midwest Trip, June 26 through July 29

It was noon on Thursday before Cat and I started up Jeremiah the Second and headed north.

What a project getting loaded! I was not able to pick up the motorhome from Rocky Mountain RV until Wednesday.

Service writer Jayne Fairchild, Service Supervisor Bob Franklin, and the technicians managed to tackle everything on my “fix-it” list. Reading through the completed service order let me know how challenging a couple of the items were. For instance, on the shake-down trip (Grand Canyon, Moab, Phoenix and Prescott) I discovered that the sensors on one of the waste tanks did not work. From the service report: “Removed sensors…set new ones…filled tank but nothing worked. Drained tank and tested again… didn’t work. Called factory; tested for continuity…tried two other things…noticed that the plug that comes from back to board had a smashed pin. Changed pin…tested again…it worked!” And the best part – everything was covered by warranty!

I’m now settled in at Clayton Lake State Park, 12 miles north of the town of Clayton, NM. It was a 270-mile trip, but once I got through the Santa Fe area, the Interstate was lightly traveled. Then when I turned on Highway 56, I practically had the last 70 miles to myself. I got the last site with electricity. (there are only 7 sites with electricity. No Internet service and my phone is on extended network. Because of this, Clayton would not be a good volunteer site.

After a couple of hours on electricity, I decided to move to an empty parking lot along the lake. There was a nice breeze off the lake, and it was quieter. Since it had cooled off, there was no need to stay hooked up to electricity. This will allow me to just start driving in the morning – nothing to unhook or remove.

It is time for my celebratory Night One Champagne. Then I’ll read and go to bed early. Tomorrow I’ll drive through the panhandle corner of Oklahoma and then be in Kansas.