I watched the moon rise near home for almost a week before May’s full moon and lunar eclipse to get an idea where it would crest on the horizon. Looked good for a rocky outcrop of the Bradshaw Mountains in the middle ground. And then there were clouds.
Five nights before the full Flower moon and lunar eclipse, I sat outside before sunset, 70° with clouds floating overhead and the waxing moon peeking through.
A cottontail watched me from nearby.
The sky turned from gray to gold before a glorious goodnight.
The next day, heavy wind kept me inside working at the computer all day. It felt cool and the nights low dropped below 40°. No, it didn’t snow. But the electricity went out for several hours and I didn’t even notice until opening the electric fridge for lunch. Everything else in my RV home works fine with propane and batteries. Thankfully power was restored before going to bed and I even ran a little heat.
I wanted to get an early start in the morning for chores starting with the dump then Prescott for shopping and maybe laundry. The later didn’t happen as the tiny parking lot was too full to accommodate my big rig. Not my favorite chore anyway and I still have clean clothes. Have you ever discovered a new to you place that’s been there forever in an area you shop regularly? When I go to Prescott I usually stay on the west side of town, it’s a huge town of 45 square miles with a population of 43,460 as of 2020. And it continues to grow in all directions. In fact, I think the sleepy ranch community of Skull Valley has become a bedroom community of Prescott. Anyway, when I got to town hungry for breakfast I discovered a Dennys in the same parking lot as the Wallys I’ve shopped at for at least 15 years. And guess what, it’s been there at least that long. I don’t eat out often, or at this restaurant frequently, but I do like their breakfast.
Exchanged a mini-shop vac for a Dirt Devil upright that’s suppose to pick up pet hair. Ha, ha. No vacuum with a revolving brush isn’t going to become immoveable once wrapped with my hair and long cat fur. I should know better. Otherwise, it works well.
Best buy of the day, a tie-dye looking camp chair. A friend says they won’t be able to find me sitting in it because this ole hippie likes tie-dye clothing. Ran into a Yarnell friend and we chatted in the aisle for almost an hour. Maybe I should get out more.
Western Tanager probably migrating through
Naw, I’d rather stay home and watch the outdoor world.
After a day of shopping I stayed home. Yet there’s plenty of activity as the daytime temperatures rise into the high 80s and the various lizards provide entertainment scurrying about. I’m getting to know them by name, Fred, Ann, Wendy… The side-blotched lizards put on the most colorful show in a rainbow of colors. This shot is highly cropped and taken through a window. It’s a regular hanging out on the metate decorating my yard. Good thing I can be so easily amused at home because with the rising cost of fuel, especially the diesel I need, I won’t be going very far anytime soon.
The ranch even provides open and dark sky views to watch the moon and lunar eclipse, if there are no clouds.
With the next day’s high pushing 90° outside, which means almost 100° in the RV, I took advantage of the cool morning to work inside on the computer. I find myself spending way more time with editing video thrown into the mix of processing still photos and writing blog posts. I enjoy it. I’m trying not to run the noisy and expensive AC but have fans moving the air around. I just don’t like AC but if I’m here for the summer will have to get used to it. I’ve been trying to change my sleeping pattern by going to bed an hour earlier and gain the chill time in the morning. Fortunately, with a late afternoon breeze and shade I can sit outside in my new chair reading and once again watching the world. I learned that from Raven.
Later, I moved around just a bit playing with the moon, knowing there would still be plenty of light for hand-held shooting with an iconic clear blue Arizona sky.
The next morning started off cool inside but warmed quickly and by 8:30 all windows and the door were open. Then closed again just before noon when I turned on the AC and continued to work on the video 5th-wheel tour.
May 15th, opening day for the North Rim Grand Canyon I felt a little homesick. Sure hope I can make it up there at some point this summer. Heck, if the temperatures here climb over 100° I may move in the truckcamper to the 8000’ Kaibab National Forest and become a hermit there. I can move every 14 days with amazing views along the rim.
I did manage to get outside in the afternoon and watched the clouds dance and flow. Something I love, but not on the evening of a full moon and lunar eclipse.
A little privacy please
What’s up doc?
As I stood on the berm in my yard watching the sunset I saw a coyote and jackrabbit giving me the eye.
Sadly, low clouds on the horizon blocked the first rise as the moon entered the Earth’s shadow.
Then it rose above the clouds close to totality giving a glimpse of the dim red known as a Blood moon and lunar eclipse. So fortunate to see this much before clouds covered the whole show. That’s as far as I saw until a late-night glow filled the 5th-wheel as I went to bed.
Of course the next day I had lots of photos to process with the help of my assistant. So I once again stayed inside and turned on the AC in the afternoon. I’m not getting outside to walk enough. A dear friend suggested I change my morning pattern more than just up an hour earlier.
So the next day I set the alarm for 6:30am, dressed, grabbed the camera and a bottle of water, and out the door I went for a walk on the ranch. Walked the eastern fence line, made a left and started to climb a hill along the northern fence but too much brush, so turned around. I walked sauntered about 3/4 mile in an hour taking pictures along the way.
Startled lots of bunnies, saw Blackie with another cow, and listened to the birds.
Not a lot of wildlife but did see a lot of track and scat. Then back for coffee at about the time I’d normally wake up. And I did it again the following day, taking and making a video. Will I walk every morning like that? Probably not. I’m not that disciplined. But with summer days getting warmer I will keep trying to get up earlier, and some mornings get out and walk.
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Sometimes posting a week behind is confusing, writing in the past tense, double that with video which is more NOW.
I’m already tired of staying home and feeling itchy feet but high fuel prices is like having severe blisters so can’t go anywhere. Heck I’d think about returning to work at high elevation, but I really don’t have time. Besides it’s more fun to make a video exploring with a friend.
The next full moon and lunar eclipse visible in Arizona occurs November 8, 2022. I’m thinking about a meetup in the desert. How about you?
Oh, I love the idea of a moon meetup! And count me in for your next gypsy journey tour, that would be Plan A:) I loved this. From rows of clouds to sunsets and blood moon and capture of tiny round pretty grass/weed? So many critters…and that lizard, I’d NEVER seen one standing so erect! I chuckled seeing that coyote looking ’round. And that chair, and thought, of course that’s for you. I think we need your best blending-into-it photo.
Thanks. I’ve put the moon idea on my calendar and will remind in August. Otherwise, I think early February will be a full moon Journey at Kofa. I’ll have to set up the tripod and try out a tie dye shot.
Astronomical events and weather frequently don’t cooperate, though your chances in the desert are much better than here in Alberta. I know what you mean about gas prices, I nearly cancelled a trip to southern Alberta. My best friend and I like to do a trip once or twice a year, Monday to Friday so sites have less population and while school is still in. Good company, good food, great locations!
Seems many activities are weather dependent, and these days fuel too. Hope you make this trip happen.
You have captured a great show, even with some cloud cover your photos are gorgeous.
My attempt was not as successful, although we had clear skies here in Greece. We are doing a motorhome tour of mainland Greece.
I also loved your photo of that colourful lizard.
Thanks. Every time I shoot the moon it’s a guess and sometimes I get luckier than others. Your trip sounds exciting.
I would sure like to approach/explore that mount of of rocks/rocky butte in the first picture. it looks vaguely familiar. Is it private, BLM, or National Forest.
You’re living in some beautiful surroundings.
In May 2010 after about of week hiking and climbing around Sedona and staying in my usual, a great(clean and cheap) little hotel* in the ‘Village of Oak Creek’, we took off for Skull Valley by way of Cottonwood and Prescott. And after a long day of exploring Cottonwood, Tuzigoot N.M, and Jerome Historical Park, swimming in the Verde River, and driving the fabulously twisted 89A to Prescott and wishing I was in my Miata(we were driving a new Civic & I don’t care to drive FWD’s around corners or anywhere else), we camped that night at the Yavapai camp ground N by NW of Prescott.
The next day hiking the early morning and then down ’10’ to Skull Valley to visit my traveling companion’s friends and her little rustic/rough ranch hand cabin she and another friend of ours rented for a year or so a few years before. _Hard to believe these very sophisticated persons, one a doctor from Singapore and the other a book editor/artist would live so remotely, beautiful, but no internet, but they did and for a good while and missed it after they left. One to Africa as a Doctor in the Peace Corp, and the other to Portland and back to editing. _ We then went up ’96’ to Bagdad**, back to ’97’ to Hwy-93 and on to Congress, Wickenburg, Quartzsite, and Redondo Beach by that evening. Woke up in the Granite Mt. Wilderness and had a late dinner at a famous beach jazz bar that night in Redondo Beach(Ca.). A full day, from desert mountain and almost ghost towns to ocean surf.
Tonight with the ever burdening news, I had dinner by the river watching the Blue Jays a few feet away build a nest in the trees on the river bank and watched the Mallards making their way up river with their ducklings trailing behind, and stayed away from the electronic purveyor of bad news, disappointment, frustration and unconscionable tragedy.
Thanks for the local pics.
*Sedona Village lodge’
**Bagdad is definitely not like Madrid, New Mexico, another old mining town. Bagdad is a company town in the classic sense. The mining company(Freeport-McMoRan) owns everything, though, the businesses are independently owned utilizing company owned commercial buildings.
That rocky butte is in the Bradshaw Mountains Prescott National Forest. I’ve seen them from the opposite side along the Copper Basin Road. Yes, it’s gorgeous here. Just drove to Bagdad last week, nothing much changed there.
What a great adventure. I love the chair. The moon and the critters are more eye candy! I hear you about the vacuum. The kids are sheltering here until hydro is back, and the three females have long hair. I used to have to cut it off the vacuum beater!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
Thanks. I will surely have to take that vacuum apart to clean every time I use it. UGH.
Very enjoyable read. Love the place you call home with rocks & critters all around. Jacob Lake with $6.17 gallon mid range gasoline. With North Rim opened the 15th I had to make the journey! Probably won’t be out & about quite so much this year which is sad but have to make do for the times we’re in. Good picture of the eclipse & blood moon. Got the glimpse here in Southern Utah too between cloud cover. Have a good week!
Thanks. I love this place too, but I miss the canyon. Glad it’s in your backyard. Surprised Jacob Lake fuel wasn’t more than that. What are you paying in Utah?
On 5/21 paid $4.89 gallon mid grade
That’s not too bad. 🙁
$5.59 gallon diesel today 5/24
That’s about what I paid last in Prescott.
Does your long-legged lizard have a name? We were totally socked in for the eclipse, no chance to see any of it, should have gone to the desert.
It’s a Side-blotched lizard. Bummer about the clouds.
Glad to see a lizard competing with the chair and tanager for colorfulness! Beautiful skies – and such a variety!! Glad you got to see the eclipse. I forgot that was the night 🙁 The curling grass is so awesome. Life is good when we have the opportunity to appreciate mother nature’s simple gifts.
Yes, yellows, oranges, and reds were prevalent. I need to dig out my tie dye. Nature is good for the soul.
Lizards actually do seem to have personalities don’t they! You had a good week, balancing work (that you love, so it isn’t really) with nature and relaxation. And your corner of the desert is beautiful, allthough getting hotter this time of year — it’s not easy to change your inner clock especially when you aren’t required to do so for your job but getting up and out early does sound like a necessity for a while. I am a morning person, but even then sometimes it takes a great deal of effort to actually get dressed enough to go outside ;>)
I see those personalities daily living in lizard land. Not used to this hot and even though I sometimes get up early, also not usually dressed for outside. Yet another new learning curve.
Sadly the night of the eclipse we had full cloud cover, glad you managed yo get some photos. Love that lizard, quite spectacular colours and love those big feet.
I have just bought a MiFit that counts the amount of steps I take a day. I now feel guilty if I do not walk at least 12,000 steps a day!! It has convinced me that I can find the time if I try!
Keep well and stay safe. Hugs Diane and Nigel.
Seems many had cloud cover. 🙁 I have a Fit app on my phone for that and refuse to feel guilty.
Howdy Gaelyn! You might remember NOT meeting us when we tried to look you up while you were at work at Bryce. You had got off work and went down the hill as I recall. Anyway, like you, we have a base. Ours is in Quartzsite. Normally, we would be outta here by now. But “projects” and fuel are making us delay. Also like you, we have two rigs. A 38′ MH, and a small 18″ TT with the idea of far better gas mileage. We’re thinking of a shake down “local” short trip with the trailer. Maybe Prescott area, maybe Scull Valley that our neighbors keep mentioning. What do you think?
Bet it’s getting hot in Quartzsite, warm here too and a little cooler in Prescott.