13

 

Today, January 13th, is our Monthiversary! We celebrate the 13th of every month because 13 is a special number for us. I was born on June 13. Sam and I met on September 13 (that's what we celebrate). Sam's birthday is January 21 (a little over a week away), and 21 fits well with 13, at least in my mind. And my first wedding, to Dan 37 years ago, was on August 13. It's a good number!

Today is also one of the coldest days of the year. On my walk this morning, the temperature was 25 at a weather station a few miles away. Wind chill was 17, so I think up on our ridge, it could have been 13 degrees. I was wearing 13 items of clothing: 2 shoes, 2 socks, underwear, tights, sweatpants, tshirt, sweatshirt, heavy coat, gloves and hat! I know our Canadian and Minnesota friends, and even my cousins in northern New Mexico, won't call this cold, but it is for us! It was a beautiful morning for a walk.

A few days ago the sunrise was beautiful in every direction. I should talk to you guys on videos, but it's just not my thing. Sorry. :)

Let's see, what have we been doing for the past month? Christmas was quiet. We ate brunch, did a puzzle (Sam put the box cover on the TV for us), and Sam made ham and beans for dinner.

Sam spent part of Christmas break cleaning and polishing his bus.

He also cleaned and rewired an air compressor he got from our friend and neighbor, Owen. It's old, but bigger and better than the other 2 or 3 compressors Sam has.

I can't remember if I've mentioned that Sam bought a new car! His tiny Honda Fit spent 2 years getting beat up by our dirt road, and we decided it deserves a better home. We're presently cleaning it up for resale.

This is a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, and Sam is doing what he can to make it look like a former police cruiser. He loves to see speeders slow down when they spot him!

On the other end of the spectrum, we just acquired a cute little camper from another neighbor who was moving.

It's a late-1950's Field & Stream and was used as a chicken coop, so we got it really cheap. It needs a lot of cleaning and work.

A few weeks ago, Sam and I took the Crown Vic on a road trip down back highways in southeastern Arizona. We found small towns, a flea market, thrift stores and plenty of interesting people. 

Evidently it was still the holidays in St. David. 

This is the Old Pearce Post Office. We visited McNeal, Elfrida, Pearce/Sunsites and Dragoon, and had a fun, relaxing day. 

I attempted a painting of the above building the following week, and I kind of like it. 

On January 3rd, Mom Virginia had a TIA mini-stroke and we called the paramedics. Her vital signs recovered quickly, so she didn't go to the hospital. But since then, we've noticed that her dementia is a little worse and she needs more help with daily care.

She still wanted to go for a short walk with me one day, but she tires easily and doesn't stand up as straight.

Sam installed a set of handrails in Mom's little bathroom.

He said he had to use a 12 foot tape to measure her hips and make sure the rails were wide enough. Mom still loves to laugh, especially with Sam. 

I've been able to do a little painting in our RV kitchen lately, and I love the feeling it gives me, although not always the result. 

I call this, "Road to Mescal Studios," and it's pretty much the view looking east from our ranch.

This is Mom's front yard. 

Our roadrunner visitor. I enhanced the colors. Just a bit.

A small painting I did just for this frame.

Our sunflower from last summer. 

My art teacher, Kathy, brought this vase of flowers to class before Christmas. 

And these are my most recent, also done specifically for the frame. I'm sure I have over 13 paintings by now!

Happy New Year to all of you! We hope and pray that we will all see God's hands guiding and watching over us in 2021.

Christmas keeps coming

 

Last Saturday, as mentioned, I had a table at the craft sale at our local art gallery. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed talking with the other exhibitors and visitors. I didn't sell anything there, but several family and friends have bought paintings and clothespin bags. What a great feeling!

It was in conjunction with Christmas Off Main, a day-long celebration that included a live music stage, military presentations, children's events, booths offering food and goods, all sorts of fun things. 

 

A couple weeks ago, we spent Thanksgiving with Dean and Peggy and their friend Dominique, a neurology resident at University Medical Center, where Peggy works.

Dinner was great, and friends and new friends all had fun. 

Afterwards, Dominique checked off a bucket list item, her first motorcycle ride! She's very cute and her enthusiasm was contagious. 

The week before, Sam made chili and we invited a few neighbors. 

Everyone had a good time. It was a nice day, and it really helps that our entertaining space is outdoors. 

In other neighborhood news, some folks recently purchased the 4 acres just west of us and their manufactured home arrived the other day (the blue one). I'm glad they're placing it near the road and nowhere near our boundary. Not that we don't want to be friendly or anything...

One day Mom and I went to visit a friend 5 or 6 miles away and were greeted by a small herd of deer in their front yard. A real treat. 

Finally, I haven't shown you our two boys lately. Dingus Magee loves both the sunshine and our new catalytic heater. 

Meanwhile, Frankie spotted a couple birds in the yucca and was transfixed.

They're good kids and we love them! Have a great weekend, everyone. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

 

Happy Thanksgiving! I've been really busy sewing, making some crafts for a couple of Christmas craft sales coming up in early December.

Clothespin bags! A limited market, for sure, but I'm hoping a few RVers might find them cute. These will be my first craft sales ever.

I've also been doing a few paintings for potential sale, encouraged by my art teacher, Kathy.

I'm keeping my expectations low, which is my usual M.O. (modus operandi), so I won't be disappointed if I don't sell any. And I'm using scenes from around the ranch, which is fun. This is an old bicycle of Sam's, and yes, under this tree is where it lives. We don't have enough space or storage. Or we have too much stuff. Take your pick.

I still have lots to do before we join friends for Thanksgiving dinner, so I'll close with a few other activities that have been going on around the ranch.

Sam has continued sanding and polishing wheels. And working on the horse trailer. And changing the oil on the car. He always has what seems like hundreds of projects that need to be done. 

I cleaned out the brush under the trees in our front yard a few weeks ago. 

This is what it looked like before. 

Lettuce is the only winter vegetable that is still growing, although we're getting lots of small tomatoes off the dead plants. And Sam harvested 4 or 5 pounds of jalapenos. Anyone want some?

We went to Benson High School homecoming football game, which was great small town fun.

Finally, all our nice flowers got eaten by stealth visitors the other day, right in Mom's front yard. We found deer tracks around the pots and later saw 5 deer cross the driveway. In this dry year, with few plants growing, I'm sure they were thankful for some tasty treats.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend, everyone. Remember to be thankful for all that God gives us!