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, February 21, 2009

What the...


...did I find in the desert?

Maybe this will help.

80-100+ year old Saguaros in front of Joshua-tree
The Saguaro, pronounced sah-wah’-ro, is the state flower of Arizona (sorry it’s not in bloom, yet) and is protected by law. It grows up to 50 feet tall, but very slowly, and the oldest plants could be 150-200 years old.

Joshua-tree, the largest of the yuccas at 15-30 feet tall, is iconic to the national park bearing its name in southern California. It also grows in abundance in Joshua Forest Parkway in western Arizona, not far from where I live. Mormon pioneers during the late 1800s named this species Joshua because its shape mimics a person with uplifted arms gesturing wildly as if to pray.

Here’s another interesting discovery.

Ocotillo, pronounced o-ko-tee’-yo, grows multi-stems up to 30 feet tall. Leaves appear only after rain then withers as the soil dries. The tip of each stem displays a vibrant red cluster of flowers. This cycle repeats several times during the year.

OK, now you know we’re in the desert, so steer clear of these.

Prickly Pear Cactus is one of the most common cacti found in the desert.

Highway 89 winds 2500 feet up Table Top Mountain in four miles
Note the prickly pear cactus in center foreground
I live at the top of this Yarnell Hill
I’ve admired this particular cluster of Saguaro many times on the drive to Wickenburg on Highway 89 at the bottom of the Yarnell Hill. Yesterday I finally stopped to take pictures. The close up idea was inspired by Joan at SAP

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Sky Watch Friday - Arizona Sunset


Hope you’re not tired of my sunsets. I take photos almost every night. Arizona may be known for its intense blue skies, yet during winter it only takes a few clouds to paint the sky.


Sunset through crystal

For more sky views from around the world go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Addicted to Blog

While surfing some of my favorite blogs today I found this quiz at Sarah’s. She didn’t think that it’s very accurate, and for her I agree. Yet I felt it did right by me. Link to this quiz through Brit Gal.

I have become addicted to the blog world. And in the process I’ve met numerous interesting people from around the world. It’s opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities and people. I’m glad to have opened my mind to the technological changes around me.

“Remember when the library changed from card catalogues to computer?” Berta asked me today. Oh yea, and I wasn’t happy about it. Neither was she, and even went so far as to write a letter to the editor in complaint. Yet now she’s certainly computer savy.

Change, one of the hardest things to consciously do. Yet change happens so fast around us that we’re frequently caught in its tail wind, pulled through before we knew whether to resist. Sometimes it’s for the better, or worse. But I figure if something positive is learned, it’s all good.

So, yes, for now I’m 67% addicted to blogging, and 100% to life.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t savy enough to get the quiz’s image here thru a link. Still so much to learn!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Creative Time

Been so busy blogging this winter I’ve neglected another of my creative outlets/distractions, making jewelry. Although up and down-loading on dial-up does provide a bit of time to multi-task I really prefer to get into the now of creating. Plus, I wanted a couple new pairs of earvines to match necklaces I made in the past. And, because I tend to give them away, my back stock had gotten very low. That’s plenty of reasons.

Traveling bead package
(No, I don’t drink that much Crown Royal, I bought 50 bags at a yard sale from a lady who does.)
Before leaving for Texas I put together a travel package of beads, wire and tools. Then was reminded that the tools couldn’t go in my carry-on luggage, all I was taking. So, left it behind. I’m no terrorist, (really), yet I think a pen and pencil are more dangerous in the right hands than my 4inch pliers. More rules.

OK, I’ve drifted away from the topic, which is...

1956 Album cover
Sorry, I’m listening to Doris Day sing “Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see.” I’d upload it if, once again, I wasn’t on dial-up. Sure stifles my creativity.

Set up and ready to work
Oh yea, creative time, that’s the topic.

Time to bend a little wire
Yesterday I got ambitious and made six pairs of earvines, at least two of them for me.

Earvine labors of love
Still have more to make, when the next wave of earvine creativity strikes. Then I can put all the beads away.

Some of the bead storage
Oh no, that’s another project.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Mustang under summer sun

I read in someone’s blog about choosing an image from file, sixth folder and sixth image, and writing about it. With nothing else on my mind today to blog about, here goes:

My 1965 Ford Mustang convertible
Ah, summer of 1971, fun in the sun. My last summer before graduating from high school. I spent a lot of time with friends at a small lake on private property in north central Illinois where this photo was taken.
Ulman's Lake
That Mustang was decorated for several occasions. For the homecoming parade it carried royalty while waving streamers in the breeze. Twice I used the Mustang for art class projects. The first time, several other students joined me with brushes and poster paint. On the hood was a big red sun ball behind a rather hippie looking fashion couple wearing huge bell-bottom pants and paisley tops. Even after several car washes the hood had a faint circle of stained paint. The second time we covered the car with paper before painting. Unfortunately, I have no photos.

The mascot was a Mustang at Downers Grove South High School where I graduated in 1972. My Dad worked at a car dealership and bought the Mustang for me. Not too spoiled huh? Sure wish I sitll owned that Mustang, but even more so the next car Dad bought me, a 1968 Mercury Cyclone Cobra Jet. Fastest girl car at the high school.

Well that was fun. ;-) Now back to housework. :-(

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