Not much to say because I’ve been doin’ a whole lot of nuthin’. Why? Mostly because it’s cold in the mornings and evenings and, for me, only tolerable outside for a couple hours mid-day. And I do try to get outside but it doesn’t always happen. Other than before I go to bed if the temperature is predicted below 34°, and then I go outside to turn off the water overnight so it don’t freeze.
I’ve told myself several times that I can go further south, any time, where the temperatures are at least 10° warmer than Skull Valley. Then the sun comes out, I go for a walk or sit outside and read, and don’t pack to leave for yet another day. In the morning when it’s cold and I’m hoovered over a heater I think once again about being someplace warmer, but it’s too cold to pack and leave. It will happen. I am slowly packing a few things. But it’s really hard to pack until the last minute because it’s mostly stuff I use every day. Already have pots, pans, dishes, silverware and more aboard the camper all the time. I’ll have to winterize the 5th-wheel while I’m gone an indeterminate amount of time, as in weeks or months.
Thanksgiving came and I was really excited about having oven baked organic duck for dinner. It’s a family tradition as we didn’t like turkey and loved dark meat fowl. Only took a couple hours with no stuffing and smelled divine. My neighbor had given me a Costco container each of mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, knowing she couldn’t eat both from the packaging of two each. I also had some green beans with bacon, like mom used to do. Sadly, the duck was tough. But I ate enough of it to satisfy my annual desire and I made one cold duck sandwich, another favorite, with leftovers. Other than labeling a whole lot of photos, I spent the rest of the day doin’ a whole lot of nuthin’.
Red-tailed Hawk
Black Friday, no shopping for me thank goodness. But I went into town (Skull Valley 10 minutes away has no businesses or services) to mail calendars and drop garbage at the dump but the later was closed due to the holiday and are only open three days a week normally. Dang it. Here on the ranch I feed the pigs my organic garbage, burn the burnables, and the rest goes to the landfill/recycling. If I was hangin’ round I’d buy an animal proof garbage can to hold a couple bags. Instead they ride in the camper until the following week.
Sauntering Saturday when Joann came over and we took a nearby walk starting on a rocky OHV two-track. My landlord had told me about a native ruin in that area. One of those turn left at the large Alligator Juniper type of directions. Which we did, twice, and found no ruins but it sure is pretty country. Plus I needed the exercise.
Funny thing, Joann returned my metate (native grinding stone) that I gave her when I left Yarnell in 2019. I bought it in 2005 at a yard sale my first year in Yarnell. It was presumably found near Bagdad, Arizona less than 50 miles west of Skull Valley. I actually hauled it around for several years between summer and winter RV home sites. Must weigh about 100 lbs. Became comical with us moving it out of her van into my yard where it now sits proudly on the berm, with the mano. I can put water in it for the birds.
Agate on the left & desert right
That motivated me to put out some rocks I’ve been hauling around for a couple years. I left rocks at Berta’s place in Yarnell for a lot of years. The colorful Agate came from southern Utah. Every winter I gather a few rocks here and there. I usually share a photo of what ends up on the bumper before I leave a site. So there’s some of them here now also.
I sure do like having a safe place to leave my rocks. Later as I sat outside admiring the view I dreamed of planting wildflowers and started looking up what grows local in zone 8. OMG, I’m landscaping!
So I told you up front, I’ve been doin’ a whole lot of nuthin’ for the past week, or more. Sure feels good. I am finally starting to decompress from a summer of crazy at Bryce Canyon National Park. I foresee a move further south next week, or so. Because it’s gettin’ cold here at 4500 feet.
Work schedules are once again changing due to a reduction in staff. The two summer astronomy intern students returned to virtual school and Ranger Valerie accepted a permanent job where her boyfriend works. I went to the going away party at housing’s fire-ring, a rare social outing for me and the only party I’ve attended this summer. They will all be missed.
