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Category: Arizona

Home and making a fix-it list

Emerson quoteMostly 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.

gravel rd brush Skull Valley AZJoann 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.

sign Over the Hill Rd Skull Valley AZ

horses Over the Hill Rd Skull Valley AZWho could resist this road?  They didn’t look that old.

orange Desert Mariposa Tulip flower & Prickly Pear Cactus Ferguson Valley AZ

yellow Desert Mariposa Tulip flowers Ferguson Valley AZorange Desert Mariposa Tulip flowers Ferguson Valley AZ

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.

two Red-tailed Hawk birds Ferguson Valley AZAlso thrilling to watch the possible mating dance of two Red-tailed Hawks, dark and light phase.

RR underpass Van Dickson Rd Skull Valley AZ

RR underpass Swallow nests 1961 Van Dickson Rd Skull Valley AZAnother 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.

boulders Ferguson Valley AZSo 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.

rabbit Skull Valley AZI’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.

Ash-throated Flycatcher bird Skull Valley AZFrequently seeing the Ash-throated Flycatchers and hope they are doing their job at catching flies.

Gamble Quail bird Skull Valley AZ

Gamble Quail bird Skull Valley AZGamble Quail are also regular visitors with their lovely bobble bobbling.

large Squirrel Skull Valley AZ

large Squirrel Skull Valley AZAnd 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.

lit globeA 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?

Raven bird on wire Skull Valley AZResident 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.

moon & stars Skull Valley AZThat evening I saw the waxing moon overhead which made me wonder where I should be for the upcoming full flower moon with eclipse.

Challenger by Keystone under clouds Skull Valley AZI 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.

hill sunset clouds Skull Valley AZWhen 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.

dead mouse Mother's Day Skull Valley AZHappy 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.

greenhouse Skull Valley AZLater 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 cat on desk by hand Skull Valley AZSierra 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.

Arizona, Places I've been, RV life, Skull Valley, United States , , 20 Comments

Slowly moving into the 5th-wheel while watching wildlife

Blackie & calf in yard Skull Valley AZAfter a winter away from my Skull Valley home, I had cleaning to do before moving into the 5th-wheel.  It was a slow project with wildlife watching in between loads.  The neighbors stopped by.  And, I celebrated my birthday again with a friend.

Gaelyn gate Skull Valley AZThe familiar drive home from camp Congress was uneventful and nobody changed the lock on the gate.

Two RVs Skull Valley AZOnce parked and level I felt no rush for moving into the 5th-wheel.  Good thing, as when I went inside there was mouse poop, just not as bad as expected.  Everything from countertops down needed a thorough scrubbing including washing all items in the cupboards and drawers.  I set out mousetraps.  The next day would be soon enough.

grass trees mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZInstead I took a short walk.  I’m back in a different yet familiar environment.  High Chaparral is sort of desert-like with small and sparse cactus.  It’s arid with primarily grasses, manzanita, and Arizona oak.

Rattlesnake Weed Skull Valley AZunidentified white flowers Skull Valley AZunidentified white flowers Skull Valley AZ

Gordon's Ivesia flowers Skull Valley AZYellow Spiny Daisy flower Skull Valley AZunidentified yellow flowers Skull Valley AZ

                     Clockwise: Rattlesnake Weed, ?, ?, ?, Yellow Spiny Daisy, Gordon’s Ivesia  (Please chime in)

I found a few flowers.

desicated Spiny lizard Skull Valley AZAnd a desiccated Spiny lizard.

boulders sunset clouds Skull Valley AZPlus enjoyed a nice sunset over Brushy Mountain.

Ash-throated Flycatcher bird Skull Valley AZAsh-throated Flycatcher

The truckcamper makes a marvelous bird-hide.  Well, the windows could be cleaner for photography.

After a morning of computer work I couldn’t put it off any longer and started the cleaning process before moving into the 5th-wheel.  I hadn’t turned the water on yet because it’s difficult to be both outside and inside at the same time watching for leaks.  I cleaned and disinfected the stove, sink, and counters.  No mice caught.

The next morning, neighbors came by to trim the weeds.  The big black and white steer, Blackie, is friendly and likes his ears scratched.  Last fall he had one or two one-year olds following who I called Sidekicks.  This year his shadow is a young calf not even weaned.

outdoor dishwashingBack to cleaning.  All the holding tanks were empty, including the kitchen grey tank that drains miserably slow. I suspect the gate is stuck or broken that allows water to flow out, or not.  It’s on the fix-it list already.  But that meant I didn’t want to put water into that tank.  So, I set up an outside dish washing table and tackled the silverware drawer which also had mouse poop in it.  Later my landlord came by and watched outside with me inside when the water came on.  Yea, no leaks.  The second cleaning project for the day was mold removal from the fridge and freezer.  This occurred because the power plug was knocked out, most likely by my weed eating neighbor.  A change to this system is also on the fix-it list.

Flicker bird Skull Valley AZFlicker

You know I’d rather be watching the birds.

I took the next day off to visit with Joann.  She brought birthday cake with sparkler candles and we laughed a lot.  The only thing cleaned was me now that I had running hot water.

Roadrunner bird thru window Skull Valley AZRoadrunner morning window view from camper

Dull women signThe next day caught another mouse and I tackled more cleaning.  Two more drawers including their contents, and the cupboard with pots, pans, and lids.  I wiped down window wells and continued to work around the house cleaning what I could.  Yea, I know, everybody cleans.  But I’ll tell you, I’m not typically one of those people.  We all have a different level of clean and tolerance for dirty.  My motto: The dust is velvet and cobwebs silk threads.  My dirt, and I live with it.  Plus there’s the long soft fur of my owner, Sierra.

desert Plomosa Mts last light clouds BLM Quartzsite AZLast light on the Plomosa Mountains north of Quartzsite Arizona 12-31-20

That evening I finally finished labeling photos from 2020.  We also all have our own OCDs.

Spiny lizard on boulder Skull Valley AZI enjoyed a leisurely Saturday morning watching a Spiny lizard bask on a boulder.  I knew it would be the last day in the camper before moving into the 5th-wheel.

Joann came over to help me ferry stuff back and forth.  I would fill reusable grocery bags in the truckcamper then unpack them in the Big House.  There’s a little more, but nothing crucial.  Very much saved my poor shoulders.  She tried to vacuum but the old machine’s motor finally bit the dust.  Sierra was the last to be moved and after a lengthy walkabout, settled in to her bigger home.  I love that she’s so adaptable.

thru window Roadrunner Skull Valley AZRoadrunner rushing off

What happened to April?  Thank you all for subscribing to my Youtube Chanel.  The month ended with 113 subscribers.  Please keep spreading the word.  I’m shooting for at least 100 new subscribers every month.

Sierra cat on lap at desk Skull Valley AZOver the next couple of days, we settled back into the Big House.  Sierra likes being able to lay on my lap.  It’s too tight in the camper so that’s not an option.  As I sat at the computer working on photos, blog posts, and video, wildlife wandered into view.

Now that I’m mostly done moving into the 5th-wheel I’m thinking about where to travel to next.  Or at least after some repairs are done.

Javelina Skull Valley AZJavelina, just one of the herd

I think I added Google AdSense to the blog.  Please let me know if you see it and what you think.

 

Arizona, moving, RV life, Skull Valley , , 22 Comments

Comfy in camp Congress

desert Weaver Mts clouds BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZCamp Congress is a comfortable place to spend time, not far from my Skull Valley home but at least 2000 feet lower in elevation and thus warmer without yet being HOT.

desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZI hid out for five days over Easter weekend hunkered in at one of my favorite camps looking at the Kofa Mountains and chasing shade as the temperature pushed past 95° it felt like time to head a little further north.

napkins & magnet happy camperAfter a couple hour drive I settled into camp Congress and was soon joined by a local friend.  Gypsy brought banana bread, a cute magnet, camper napkins, some magazines, and best of all her company along with the lovely four-legged Sandy.  Don’t ask why I don’t have a photo.

Date Crk Mts sunset BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZSadly the air was heavy with smoky haze from the Tunnel Fire northeast of Flagstaff and the Crooks Fire south of Prescott, both human caused.

truckcamper BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZAfter a move, long drive, and shopping I like a down day where I don’t have to go anywhere.  So even though the signal is worse than iffy at this camp Congress off Ghost Town and Cemetery Roads on BLM I stayed in place.  I made a 360°-video of camp, wrote a blog post, sat outside reading but mostly listening and watching birds.

Cactus Wren bird Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZCactus Wren

I love this location for birding.

Date Crk Mts sunset BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZThe next day I thought about doing laundry, not.  OR, just move to the other camp Congress site where I have strong reliable signal and keep working. Hmmm… OR, not move at all. The last seemed the right choice.  I am lazy sometimes.  So it was much a repeat of the previous day minus the 360 video.

desert Date Crk Mts sunrise clouds BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZSunrise

Friday morning felt cold at 58° so when I couldn’t get online at all I battened down and left camp Congress.

truckcamper BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZFilled propane in case the predicted cold snap lasted then went to Stanton Road looking for camp Congress 2.  The main reason I didn’t just drive the hour home was the overnight low close to freezing.  No thanks.

tree hole in camper BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZSadly, when considering one site I backed into a tree and now have a hole through the aluminum skin that will have to be patched. One more thing for the growing RVs’ repair list.

desert Weaver Mts sunset clouds BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZMade another 360°-video of camp Congress 2 fighting the wind.  In fact wind with blazing signal kept me indoors working on the computer.

desert mt haze BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZSmoke obscures Vulture Peak to the west

And that’s what I did over the weekend, worked on the computer.  I took 55 minutes of video driving from Kofa to Congress, edited and cut it to 31 minutes for my first Rambling Road Trip video.  My brain never stops while I’m driving so I can always find something to talk about.  Hope you’ll check it out.  I am totally experimenting with this new medium of video.

desert Weaver Mts Crooks fire smoke Stanton Rd Congress AZAfter a two-day video editing marathon, brutal wind, smoke filled sky, and temperatures rising, I finally felt like completing this five month road trip and heading home.  Time to leave camp Congress.

Weaver Mts SR89 Yarnell Hill AZThe drive north along SR89 is familiar.  I did something I’ve thought about for many years, took video of the entire four-mile drive up Yarnell Hill.  Then I continued to film the rest of the drive home through Peeples Valley, Kirkland, and onto Iron Springs Road to Skull Valley, and made another Rambling Road Trip video.

Note on box

blown glass sea turtle from B HoskinsBlown glass sea turtle suncatcher (sitting on an envelope for scale)

Made a quick stop at the post office where a birthday present awaited.  The son of a long-time friend blows glass under the name Wildfire Productions (please check out his website and work).

Two RVs Skull Valley AZAnd, finally, home to my other wheelestate.  I took another 360°-video and a short walk before even looking inside the 5th-wheel/Big House where, as I expected, there was mouse poop which meant cleaning before moving back in.

grass trees mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZ

5th-wheel from inside truckcamper Skull Valley AZYet I was in no hurry and simply enjoyed the sunset before making dinner in the truckcamper.

Lesson learned this winter as I readied for retirement, slow down.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, RV life, United States , , , , 23 Comments

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