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Tag: cat

16 July 2018

Plotting a road trip

tree tunnel & view Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArzonaLast week I wrote about getting out of the rut I’ve recently found myself in and the best thing for that is plotting a road trip.  Just thinking about traveling got me excited, and that’s what I need.  Plus I really have to get away from all the uninvited critters in and around the Yarnell house, perhaps a good time to have it critter proofed.  And it’s about time Sierra learned to be a road warrioress.

tarantula Yarnell ArizonaShe is already pretty street-wise, or should I say wildlife wise.  Last week I saw Sierra watching/stalking something and when I went out to scare whatever it was away—no new roommates needed—discovered a 5” female tarantula.  I covered and trapped it with a container then called the local Spider Pharm and they came and caught it.  She will either be used for breeding or milking to produce an anti-venom.  I would have let her go under the shed where she was headed but Sierra goes under the shed too.

gopher snake by door Yarnell ArizonaThe next morning again Sierra alerts me to a critter.  This time a young gopher snake working its way out from between the walls at the front door jam. I keep Sierra back with a broom, take a couple quick pics, and then the snake slips back into the wall.  Hmmm, how to fill this crack which comes into the house. I know it’s a good snake, but I don’t want it as a roommate. Tinfoil! Filled the crack. Know idea where the snake will go.  This house needs a major spray and seal which would require moving a whole lot of stuff both inside and out. I haven’t said anything to Berta’s daughter about any of this because she has enough on her plate right now.

Light in forest & on grasses Mile & a Half Lake FR212 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSeems one of the big reasons not to travel right now has been the cost of fuel. I could probably still live rent free and always have to eat. Going to need two tires soon and that’s a big expense. But seriously, if I’m not going to work this summer—last two possible jobs fell through—I really don’t want to just sit here either.  I can stay at moderate elevation to escape heat, boondock for undetermined amount of time in any one place, and don’t go very far to the next place.

trees Weaver Mountains clouds Yarnell Arizona

bushes Cottonwood rainbow Yarnell ArizonaI believe monsoon has arrived to the Southwest.  During summer we get really excited about rain on this parched landscape.  Plan activities before 11am for the best chance to stay dry, plus of course the temperatures are cooler.  Sometimes it’s just a show of dark clouds, thunder and lightning.  Precipitation ranges from count the drops on one hand, to deluge causing flash floods.  My favorite is the gentle female rain that soaks the ground slowly.  And then sometimes, a colorful gift follows.

trees valley Marble Canyon rain clouds crepuscular rays Marble View Kaibab National Forest Arizona

last light temples San Fransisco peaks sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI need inspiration. New views to photograph, write about, and share.  Or even old views revisited.  I love to watch the storms move across Grand Canyon.

Gaelyn Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAnd if clouds don’t block the view, moon rise at Bryce would be nice.  I haven’t been there since filming the documentary over two years ago.  Which, BTW, I can soon share the link with you.

three inch scorpion bathroom sink little house Yarnell ArizonaTraveling means moving back into the truck-camper.  And after finding a 3” scorpion in the bathroom sink Saturday morning I was motivated to move.

Sierra cat on bed camper Yarnell ArizonaWithin a couple of hours Sierra and I were settled into the camper with most of our basic needs: cat pan, food and water bowls, coffee, food, and computer.  And then the refreshing light rain came and cooled the air.

truckcamper website on bumper Yarnell ArizonaPull out Tuesday destination Flagstaff.

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10 July 2018

Getting un stuck in a rut

ART sign storm clouds Yarnell ArizonaI’ve felt stuck in a rut for several months, even before Berta left for Portland (more on that).  Same thing everyday.  Feels like the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day; wake up, coffee, cat, computer, eat, eat, eat, goodnight.  It’s been extremely hard to get excited about anything with my best friend dying, no job, and generally feeling like I lost my identity.  But I’m finally working on getting un-stuck.

hummingbird on feeder Yarnell ArizonaI wrote about the local wildlife last month and am still seeing them around.  Cottontail bunny shows up about an hour before sunset.  Hung a second hummingbird feeder that I can see from the door.  While out watering I saw a coyote climb out of the wash to the opposite side.

Sierra cat glass over lizard Yarnell ArizonaSierra caught a lizard and brought it into the house.  Then of course she lost it because she really just wants to play with them. Oh boy, now we have another new roommate. It’s tail broke off and was laying on the floor with just a little movement before I threw it away. Hope the poor thing isn’t looking for that and thank goodness they grow back.  About an hour later Sierra re-caught the poor tailless lizard but wouldn’t take it outside.  So, I trapped it with my handy dandy glass and cardboard and managed to spare its life.  Ants, scorpions, spiders, flies, and cockroaches. I would so rather be in my own house on wheels.

cement slab Weaver Mountains sunset SR89 Yarnell Hill ArizonaI’ve taken a lot of sunset and moonrise shots this past winter from the yard and just down the street in Yarnell.  For something different I drove part way down SR89, the Yarnell Hill, to a turn-around near the original overlook to the valley below.  According to a local friend, the cement slab I walked across used to be a tourist shop for the view, snacks and such.  Another piece of Yarnell history.

valley Date Mountains sunset clouds SR89 Yarnell Hill Arizona

towers mountain for Yarnell Arizona

moon rise Rich Hill towers Augmented Reality Yarnell Hill Arizona

full moon rise Rich Hill from SR89 Yarnell Hill ArizonaFrom here I enjoyed a colorful sunset.  And according to PhotoPills the full moon would rise behind a couple of towers on Rich Hill.  Sadly, the app needed recalibration so instead it was vegetation on the ridge-line in front of the moon.  But at least I was un-stuck from my usual shooting location, for that night.

boulders trees sunset sunburst Yarnell ArizonaMy 4th of July excitement included the glow by blacklight of a ½” scorpion hiding in a crack by the AC unit.  I sprayed it with the Terro scorpion killer.  The next morning in the kitchen I killed two more cockroaches on the floor, and a ¼” scorpion in the sink.  The later death by hot coffee.  This is getting very old.  Later, I took the Terro scorpion spray outside and sprayed cracks along the house where I killed another ¼”er.

boulders Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Arizonaboulders tree sunset clouds Yarnell Arizona

That night, after a colorful sunset, I started sleeping in my bug and scorpion free camper.  Too difficult to move Sierra, she’s doesn’t like to picked up, so she sleeps in the house for now and greets me at the door in the morning when I come in to start coffee, computer and fresh cat food and water.  Slept good and am un-stuck from the creepy bed.

I made the mistake of stepping on the scale and weigh in at 148 pounds.  I’ve never weighed that much in my life.  No wonder my clothes don’t fit.  Between quitting smoking a year ago and inactivity the pounds just stuck around.  I’m not happy about this, so…

Cottomwood tree Weaver Mts Yarnell ArizonaTime to start walking.  I forgot how nice and peaceful it is in the Weaver Mountains outside my door.

boulders deer Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

bushes boulders trees moon set Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaThe only tracks I saw on the dry hard-packed dirt road belonged to deer, javelina, coyote or dog.  Felt like no person had passed in a while.  I made noise occasionally so not to startle anyone.

windmill cow head Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

rusty wreck Country Squire station wagon Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaI wandered to a place I’d never been before because I saw a windmill, and it had a cow skull hanging on it.  How weird.  This area I walk in is behind a gate.  Lots of 4-9 acres are plotted out but there’s no utilities and no one living out here.  However it did look like someone at least tried where the windmill is along with some rusty wrecks and a small uninhabited building.  Sadly, 7:30 is already too late to go walking with our summer temperatures in the 90s.  Not sure I’m ready to be out any earlier, yet.

houses yard storm clouds Yarnell Arizona

bushes fence boulder storm clouds Yarnell ArizonaFinally rain is coming into the country.  Friday afternoon wind driven clouds brought a cool caress, thunder, lightning, a refreshing aroma, and maybe three drops of rain.  This followed by a clear day with a few teaser clouds at sunset.

wind blown flag bushes rain Yarnell Arizona

mammatus clouds Yarnell ArizonaSunday afternoon the storm returned and I drove north to shoot it.  Never got out of the car because it came down hard with very high winds. Turned around in only three miles at Peeples Valley then parked for a while at the Yarnell Dollar Store lot and watched the storm approach.  The wind and rain came hard and quick only lasting about 30 minutes.

After dark began a gentler rain pushed by wind with thunder and lightning. I felt the rumbles throughout my body. Cool breezes wafted through the open windows. The fresh smell opened my mind. Light shows in the three directions I could see.  Right then, glad for a dry place to be and not have to drive anywhere because I could get stuck in the mud.  Hope no fires start.

The biggest rut I’m currently stuck in is not traveling.  Four months of going nowhere is just not like me.  That’s the next thing I need to work on.

Sierra cat Yarnell ArizonaUpdate on Berta:  Since saying goodbye as she boarded the airport shuttle May 15th, life for Berta is slip sliding away.  At first she still felt good although sleeping more and even thought about returning to Arizona.  We all knew that wouldn’t happen.  A month passed with little change.  Hospice visits four days a week for about an hour to help out Berta’s daughter.  But that’s not enough, she needs more help and is exhausted mentally and physically.  Berta and I spoke briefly towards the end of June, mostly to reassure each other of our love.  She’s still here physically but doesn’t know what is going on around her.  We all pray she will soon leave this world peacefully.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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