Mostly moved into the “Big House” 5th-wheel and settled into home while making a fix-it list. I’m feeling a different routine, or maybe the lack of one. Southern desert winter is over because it’s already hellishly hot. Three thousand feet higher, the current high chaparral already feels like summer instead of spring. Especially with the strong winds blowing from the southwest.
Joann came by and we went for a ride on a couple side roads in my neighborhood.
That means gravel. She really should have a jeep.
Who could resist this road? They didn’t look that old.
On State Trust Land we found Desert Mariposa Tulip flowers scattered around in various shades of yellow to orange. At first I thought they were Poppies, but not quite right.
Also thrilling to watch the possible mating dance of two Red-tailed Hawks, dark and light phase.
Another road took us to a ranch via a tiny RR underpass with swallow nests lining the top corners like city condos.
I love taking road trips, even close to home. Next time I’ll buy the gas.
So many photos taken that the next day I stayed home and processed some of those. Also wrote a blog post, finished labeling photos from 2020 (yes I was that far behind), and started thinking about and shooting the next video.
I’d be working away at the computer when motion caught my eye as some critter went by. Not the first time I’ve seen Cottontails freezing in place almost long enough to get a photo through a window.
Frequently seeing the Ash-throated Flycatchers and hope they are doing their job at catching flies.
Gamble Quail are also regular visitors with their lovely bobble bobbling.
And not only do I see the usual small antelope ground squirrels with stripes on their sides but we have the biggest, and fastest, squirrels around here that might be grey squirrels or Arizona fox squirrels that are twice as big and up to 30 inches long. They are considered the largest tree squirrel native to North America. I’ll be looking closer for a rust colored belly.
A blue bulb lights up my thrift store globe
Thursday has become shopping day as I can also stop at the open dump transfer station. Seems one of the name brand “thrift” stores get a share of my dollars for a couple pillows and new throws for the couch and chairs, a metal hanging basket and plastic bowl liner to hang on a tree with water for the birds, and a pair of jeans. I sure wish my pant size would quit fluctuating. And I really need summer clothes as I haven’t needed more than uniforms for years. Sigh. After lunch and shopping including some parts for the fix-it list, I fueled up—almost had a heart attack—and returned home much poorer after a five-hour day. Why does it take so long?
Resident Raven
With temperatures’ rising into the 80s, summer is pushing spring out of the way. That means finally getting some more windows open and these haven’t been used in a while. Because I lived at the cool and comfortable 8000 feet in elevation for over ten summers, the windows were rarely opened. Oh yea, and at Bryce I lived downwind of the horse corral so used the AC, which I don’t even like but is better than horse shit. With the help of a dry lubricant spray I’m getting my weight-lifting exercise daily opening and closing windows. One more thing off the fix-it list.
That evening I saw the waxing moon overhead which made me wonder where I should be for the upcoming full flower moon with eclipse.
I enjoy the fresh air with windows and door open even though the primary summer wind comes from the southwest and there’s only one window on that side of the 5th-wheel. Strong gusts blow the open and latched outside door shut with a slam that is sure to break something. The existing holder needs to be replaced with a better/stronger part and there’s no existing place for a bungee cord. It’s on the fix-it list.
When the afternoon sun allowed, I took more video for the future 5th-wheel tour. Then I created a YouTube video about fire, being aware of what we can do to mitigate unintentional fires, and explained what the three stages of fire restrictions mean on public lands. I’ve been talking about fire ecology for almost 30 years, naturally started wildfires. But in Arizona 9 out of 10 fires are human caused. There is no reason for that. The piece is a little bit of a rant, but I just had to say it. Thank you if you took the time to watch it. As you know the whole taking, editing, and producing video for YouTube is rather new to me. Also, I need a logo. Any ideas or talented folks out there? Can I add that to the fix-it list.
Happy Mother’s Day, from Sierra first thing in the morning. Sorry if you’re squeamish. She was rather proud of herself, and I was too. She’s never been much of a mouser.
Later I walked up to the ranch’s greenhouse and left with some spinach, cilantro, cress, kale, and mint. These winter crops will soon be tilled under to make way for summer planting.
Sierra thinks I spend way too much time on the computer, and she might be right
After being home two weeks I already felt anxious to travel. Yet the price of fuel is killer so I can’t go too far. Plus I need to be around for repairs on the fix-it list for both RVs.
You know, why do errands take so long!! I have mine and I don’t have to go as far as you do but they sure do chew up the time.
Kudos to Sierra!! for catching that mouse.
Summer is heating up here, and the humidity is climbing as well. We hardly ever open our windows.
The red moon things was a big bust for us with all the overcast skies so I am enjoying other people’s photos.
I hate that going to town wastes a whole day. Are we doing something wrong? I am so glad to be in a dry heat. I did get a few moon shots.
P.S. Your fire awareness prevention video was great. Would be interested in hearing more about fire ecology or other topics relating to your Ranger Days.
Thanks. I’m thinking about the hows of recording old Ranger programs but I’d like to be onsite. Hope to get to the N Kaibab this summer.
I love the critters and lilies. Yeah, I thought poppies too at first. I love it when saw AZ and Mex. types next to each other:) And that trip I got to ID a dozen flowers. Good settling in stuff. I won’t use “hot” yet. Inside my place I can take upper 90s with a fan. I think age talkin’. See you soon.
I think you’re more used to “hot” than I am, so guess I’ll adjust.
Love the wildlife around your place. Dirt road exploring is the best. Wonder if there’s any survey out there yet if more Americans are staying home in 2022 because of gasoline prices? Not likely but just curious for purely selfish reasons (overcrowding of some National Parks). Enjoy your week! AttaGirl Sierra!!
She takes that minivan in places I won’t go with the truckcamper. Guess I’ll be staying closer to home.
Gaelyn … How are Your wrists doing.
My brother is looking for ‘Valley of the Sun’ summer heat relief by buying some dirt/rocks up by Eagar/Springdale and building a place up there. I’m having a little fun designing them a place for the current potential site so also have to check exposure/view/ and prevailing wind.
Eagar is around 7,000-ft., but it doesn’t seem that much cooler in the summer than the Valley, but the Valley is only getting hotter with record temps forecast for this summer according to several weather models I look at. It looks like your at around 3,000 -ft. so likely to get pretty warm at your location, too.
Gas is now over $5.++ here in Southern Oregon so watching your ‘Drive Abouts'(Aristotle would approve) is vicarious entertainment cuzz all my friends know that I love trippin, road or trail or sail. I also do a lot of digital travel on Google like walking the streets of Barcelona, or hitting the coast road up through Portugal. Or recently doing the area around Stetttin/Szecin, Germany/Poland where my paternal grandmother was from and last night the city of Mumbai/Bombay, India.
Keep Trippin.
Wrists are good, and probably as good as they’ll ever be. Do feel achy if I do too much heavy lifting which isn’t any good for my shoulders either. I will live with it.
I’m at about 4200′, but it’s already getting warm. That’s hot by my standard being used to living at 8000′.
With these crazy fuel prices, guess I’ll live with that too. I may have to start virtual travel soon.
” I will live with it.” Good on the wrists, and we do just have to live with all our pains My stepdad(now 87′) and his wife(now 92′) have been working on their landscaping since 8:am. It is now 3:30 and they are still at it. They just “live with it”, too, and as my much loved grandfather would say, they are… “tough old birds’.
I used the elevation of Congress as a guestimate for your elevation. So you are about in between Prescott’s and Congress’s elevations.
Virtual travel is so interesting. Google now features trails with 360-degree views with several around Sedona. I rarely go anywhere without previewing the trip’s major points, like trip intersections/turns and final destination, points of interest/roadside attractions like Popcorn stands, tourist trinket purveyors… JK! And the big one, the best Burrito stop.
Enjoy your flora & fauna pics. I often just take my tri-pod chair into the land and sit quietly and still and the fauna just thinks you are a normal part of the environment and not a threat. I have had some amazing experiences doing that. Quail running between my legs in their mating ritual. Birds landing on me. Hummingbirds and Dragonflies coming right up to my nose. Deer grazing up to me. Coyotes stopping to look and then moving slowly on. They all just resume their normal activities like you aren’t even there. The best part though, is your inner dialog slowing/quieting and the local nature’s sounds becoming prominent.
I plan next to set my camera up on a tripod a ways away pointed in my general direction and use the remote to trigger a shot if some opportunity develops.
And a thought…I hope that Blue globe of yours doesn’t start glowing Red.
I live about 20 minutes to Prescott, plus 10 to get to pavement. I too sit outside and just watch the world sometimes. Will have to take tripod out one of these times.
Yes, indeed…summer is COMIN’. It was 92 here yesterday and today it’s going up into the high 90’s…100’s by the weekend. UGH. We have our doors and windows open until about 11 a.m., then close up for the day/late afternoon. I want to hear all the birds outside and I love the fresh air! Our grosbeaks have moved on. They left the first triple digit day last weekend.
I’m not used to summer heat so this is a learning experience.
Great photos of that high desert country where you are now living. Still too hot for me, for sure, and it doesn’t move me in the same way that the lower deserts do, or the really high sage country of Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada. I would visit my friend in Prescott Valley and never really warmed up to it. The little lake in Prescott is fun, though, with all those boulders. Your photos can make any landscape lovely. Also, the fix it list! no matter where you go, there is always a fixit list!
Thanks. I do love this High Chaparral, not quite as much as Sonoran Desert, which would be intolerable right now. Funny, the lakes are pretty but I never go there, too crowded. Two things off the list yesterday. 🙂
Thanks for taking us on your journey Gaelyn, Love all the photo’s of flowers, animals birds and sunsets. Love the fix-it list. Actually, whenever I ask my partner about a job which needs doing, his answer is……It’s on the list. Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.
Knocked two things off the list yesterday. 😀
How I wish they would sort out our WiFi, because of the videos in this post it took me ages to download all the ‘ordinary’ photos which of course when taken by you are never ordinary. Well done Sierra, great bit of mousing. Love the bird shots and that quail is gorgeous.
Our petrol price here is knocking around €2 per litre (about 3.8 litres to a gallon).
Keep well, hugs D & N
Sorry, I’ve had some leftover videos lately. Thanks for your persistence. I know in Europe you pay more for fuel than us. Still hurts.