Description

I own no land, instead I have wheelestate. I’ve been a full time RVer since 1997. Working summers as a Park Ranger takes me to many beautiful places and playing during the winter takes me to many more. This blog is simply the story of my life's adventures.

Moved

Thank you for stopping by. Just to let you know, I'm still blogging but have moved to Geogypsytraveler. Hope you'll follow my adventures. Just click here.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Building a fence

Last month Berta bought 700 pieces of irregular slab wood, cut on one side and naturally curved on the other. It’s beetle-kill pine so the bark fell off by itself and there’s awesome worm trails that look like hieroglyphics.

So, we’re building a fence. Actually there’s already a small fence so we’re just adding to it.

That's Berta

Had fun picking the lengths and putting them in the desired order. Then took turns on each side of the fence screwing on the boards.

Gaelyn & Berta

Ran out of screws and then out of light.

Fence in progress

I like it!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Sky Watch Friday - Stormy Colorado

On my drive home

I lived for a summer in southwestern Colorado while working at Mesa Verde National Park. (More about that in a future My World.) During the monsoon season I learned about “intermittent” rain. The skies were always amazing as a front moved through.

Please visit other participants by clicking here, or post your own.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Bright Angel of the Grand Canyon

Chili

The rescue of Chili the burro this week (scroll down) really brought to mind the story of a famous burro in Arizona’s history. Named after the canyon he wintered in, this friendly little burro was made famous by Marguerite Henry’s Brighty of the Grand Canyon first published in 1953.

Brighty was brought to Grand Canyon during the 1870’s gold rush along with other burros by prospectors to haul their dreamed of mother lode. They found mostly copper, zinc, lead and asbestos, though not enough to strike it rich. Eventually prospectors abandoned the canyon, and many burros as well.

From Grand Canyon National Park archives

Brighty was not wild, yet not entirely tame either. A true free spirit, he survived winters in the canyon and spent summers on the Kaibab plateau. Brighty chose his friends carefully and sometimes agreed to carry a load in exchange for pancakes.

"Uncle Jim" Owens & Brighty from Grand Canyon National Park archives

When “Uncle Jim” Owens came to the north rim of Grand Canyon in 1906 to work as a game warden for the Forest Service he befriended Brighty. In 1917, Elizabeth McKee, along with husband Thomas and son Robert, set up the first tourist facilities on the north rim and Brighty frequently helped Robert haul water.

Robert McKee & Brighty from Grand Canyon National Park archives

Bright Angel of the Grand Canyon has been immortalized by a life-size bronze sculpture located in the Sun Room of the Grand Lodge. Stop by and rub his nose for good luck.

Bronze Brighty in Grand Lodge

I highly recommend reading Henry’s book, it’s not just for children. And of course visit Grand Canyon National Park. However, the road into the North Rim officially closed on December 1st, so you’ll have to enjoy the South Rim, which is open all year, until about mid-May when the North Rim should reopen. Hope to see you there.

Gaelyn at work taken by G. Varga

Oh yea, this cement burro lives in my yard.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I'm thinking heat

Berta & I went shopping in Prescott today. Stopped at Noah’s, an animal rescue thrift store. Then another excellent lunch at Maya’s. Our weekly treat. Also stopped at Kuel’s Salvage to look at wood stoves, which were all too big. They have so much cool metal stuff. (See November’s From A-Z post.)

But what do you think these are?


Give up?

Antique radiator end pieces.

For those too young to remember this is what they look like. (Not my photo.) Hot water runs through them and the water pipes usually rattle.

I bought a new little ceramic heater for my RV at Cosco. I don’t like to be cold. And neither does Carson.

Monday, December 1, 2008

My World Tuesday - The gypsy life



Swift Reservoir, Washington
After a winter on the flea market circuit in the Southwest Dale and I took on “real” jobs back in Washington working and living in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest at Eagles Cliff Resort.

Burro Rescue

On the way home from the post office, we saw S just off the road walking her.......

.....burro

Actually this little fellow, named Chili, has been free ranging with cows all summer, and not always on the range. Cows and burro were seen all over the neighborhood. Now that the cows have been brought off the range poor Chili has been all alone.

This 14 year old burro belonged to someone who moved away, a pet since birth. Many in town have voiced a concern that Chili would be hit crossing the busy highway. S has been trying to catch this adorable burro for weeks and make sure he gets a good home.

Gaelyn & Chili

Berta and I burro sat in S’s backyard while she went to talk to a local rancher about moving Chili to his new home at Muleshoe Animal Clinic. And he won’t be alone as there are three other burros living there.

Chili acts like an overgrown dog lazily walking on a leash. He happily crunched down carrots and apples while leaning into head scratches. His soft gray wavy coat contrasts with the chocolate brown cross created by the mane and back-stripe right into his tail. His huge ears are two-tone. Plus his big brown eyes......

Very cute. No room at my house for a burro. I’m just glad that S rescued Chili and found him a good home.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Where I blog from...

I was tagged to show you where I blog from by Gill.

There is only one area for the laptop, wires, cords, etc. Remember I’m currently on dial-up. Plus with a poor connection somewhere I usually operate at about 24Kbps. Yet during the day I look out the window 20 feet away at two bird feeders. After dark my decorated curtains keep the cold out. I am a collector. From my chair I can reach almost everything in the living room. The little heater blows right on my feet, when it works. It’s dying.

OK, it’s your turn. If you’re reading this, you’re tagged. Show where you blog from. And no cleaning up first!

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