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.