Scenic Sunday - Snow in the Pines

The drive over the Bradshaw Mountains to Prescott takes you through a Ponderosa Pine forest.

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New couch

Hwy 89 N through Peeples Valley
I went shopping in Prescott today and I certainly wasn’t looking for furniture.

Hwy 89
It’s a beautiful 30 mile drive over the Bradshaw Mountains.

I had specific places to go and a list. Not Christmas shopping. Well, OK I did buy some cheeses to take to a Christmas dinner. Even got to sample a few while grazing/lunch at Costco.

Bradshaw Mts
I resisted all the hubbub and greenery at Wal-Mart for a back up heater, a bra (which I’m sure you don’t want to see) and a heavy duty electric cord.

Heading home towards the Weaver Mts
Then Safeway for a few groceries because only they seem to carry my favorite ice cream, Haagen-Dazs crème brulee.

Yet while wheeling quickly past all the Christmas candy I remembered hearing about dark chocolate “kisses” and sure enough, so I bought several bags. I am greedy that way.

Weaver Mts.
I’m really not advertising for any of these companies, they just had what I needed.

Oh yea, almost forgot about the new couch which I bought at, where else but, a thrift store.

Just the right size to fit in my RV collection of boxes, but you could only be 3 inches tall to sleep on it.

SWF - The only Constant is Change

5:10pm
I love to watch the sunset, guess we all do.

5:22pm
I’m usually in the house by dusk, especially when it’s cold.

5:26pm
Yet right out my windows I see the most glorious sights.

5:29pm
Nothing ever exactly the same twice.

5:44pm
The world is a movie of life. Are you watching?
All taken Saturday 12-5 thru my window, sorry the last one’s so fuzzy.

To see more changes going on around the world’s skies, or to share a piece of your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Quail squaring off

Wildlife shows us good examples of how to get along. Even when there’s a squirmish within species it often tends to be just a show of strength. Let’s learn from them instead of them learning from us.

Usually I see this. A happy covey of quail bobbling beautifully.

But sometimes I see this.

Or this. No feathers shed and soon eating together side by side. Probably just showing off for a lady.

Remember Whensday - The car I always wanted

When I was a teenager I always wanted a VW bus, I’d have settled with a bug. But my Dad was a mechanic of “American made” automobiles and would tell me how expensive it would be to get a VW repaired. I did eventually own a VW square-back station wagon. But I still dreamed of having a VW bus.

Well, Berta bought me one for Christmas. Neither of us is capable of keeping a present once we’ve bought it. Ain’t it a beauty! I still have to put a peace sign on the front and take it for a spin. But for now it's parked in the house.

Sally from The (Mis) Adventures of Karl and Sally has started a meme where the past is remembered through sharing old family photographs and this is #27. I love the idea and hope you will too. So join the fun by clicking here.

Warmest house on the block

Wind blown sparrows
Yesterday the wind blew rain and sleet all day. I filled the bird feeders twice. Last night the power went off about 9 so I went to bed with the wind rocking me like a cradle, no more aggressive than that. Under the covers I was warm yet I thought about my new neighbor and Berta next door being without electricity and therefore heat and cooking. It was blowing so fiercely I couldn’t even open the door let alone thinking of going outside anywhere.

Good morning winter
I woke up this morning about 6 and it was very cold in the house, still no power. So I got up and lit the oven and jumped back into my warm bed for about another hour. I know the stories of heating an RV with propane burning up all the oxygen, but trust me, this old rig has lots of air leaks, and thus why it’s so cold. Thank goodness for full propane tanks.

Hungry sparrows this morning
I got up to make coffee and still no power so I went out to the camper for the stove top espresso pot and couldn’t find it. Then I remembered I had some instant coffee. Also stopped to tell my neighbor I have a warm house with coffee in the works and he followed me over. Berta came over later a shivering and I stood her over the warm oven to thaw while making her hot water for cocoa/coffee.

Morning doves
Power came back on about 11am and everybody left. Well the people left.

Sparrows and Gambel Quail
I had to broadcast seed for the birds and fill the bowls with warm water. When it gets cold I am always amazed at how all the different birds hang out together to eat.

Two female cardinals and house finch
Saw a new visitor today, one house finch.

Scrub jay
Excuse me, have to go out and fill the bird feeders again.

MWT - Part 13 Death Valley National Park - Day 3 Mesquite Sand Dunes

After exploring Scotty’s Castle, Ubehebe Crater and some of Titus Canyon on our third day at Death Valley we stopped at the Mesquite Sand Dunes on the way back to camp.

The sand is a product of erosion from the Cottonwood Mountains to the west and northwest and is made up of light colored grains of quartz and dark grains of magnetite.

The evenly spaced ripples forming perpendicular to the wind are made up of the larger grains that fall behind.

I don’t know who’s who. Do you?
There is evidence of creatures that venture onto the sand like the sidewinder rattlesnake, desert kangaroo rat, kit fox, lizards and beetles.



The day waned.

taken by Jeremy
This was Jeremy and my last night camping in Death Valley and we were rewarded by a full moon. The next day he started his long journey back to the Chicago area and I explored one more canyon before leaving the park. Yet another post.

To see more of the world, or to share your own, go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Rain and sleet with winds here today, temps forecasted for 37 F (2.77 C) high and low means slow to no internet connection and possible snow.

Scenic Sunday - Just outside my window

I am soooo lucky to live where I do with beautiful views outside every window. Yesterday you saw my southern view watching the birds at the edge of the dry wash. This is out the opposite window to the north and towards Berta’s front yard. The slabs are concrete from an old broken up driveway and there’s thyme growing in between the pieces. Berta got the rootwad/ stumps at a yard sale.

To see more beautiful scenes from around the world, or to share your own, go to Scenic Sunday by clicking here.