Spring has sprung

 

Mom Virginia is home from rehab. Yay!

She's not as active as usual, but enjoys postcards from her nephew Jeff, TV shows and her view of the mountains and hills. 

She occasionally gets outdoors for a walk, but the other day she went too far and got exhausted. 

Fortunately, Sam was home and came to her rescue, sirens blazing. 

Mom's 87th birthday passed by while she was in rehab, so last week we celebrated with dinner at Mi Casa, including chef Santa's wonderful carrot cake. Mom ate every crumb.

Sam has been on spring break and spent a few days canning vegetables. 

But first, we had a delivery!

Mom's stove was 25 years old and had begun turning on the propane gas at odd times, which of course is unsafe.

So Sam installed a new one! We are really enjoying it. 

One Saturday we found the Produce on Wheels truck and scored 70 pounds of produce for $12: tomatoes, green peppers and eggplants. Borderlands Produce Rescue

Sam has been collecting canning jars and consulted our friend Tracy to learn the steps.

He also prepped and froze and vacuum sealed, using some of his vintage kitchen gadgets. 

And ended up with 16 quarts of salsa and much, much more. I would have helped, but the kitchen is too small (I dodged that bullet!).

On the first day of spring (or maybe the day before), I was finally able to clean out the greenhouse and get some seeds started. 

We're a month behind schedule compared to last year, but we'll see how it goes. 

The first step was reading the back of the seed packets to see how they should be planted.

Then I made a list. I later scratched off the yellow squash because it has to be planted directly into mounds. Okra, radishes, turnips, corn and luffas will also be planted directly in the soil.

I went ahead and planted all our remaining seeds, since some of the packages are 2 or 3 years old. If everything comes up, we'll give away the extra seedlings to friends and coworkers of Sam. 

 

I had a couple visitors wanting to see what I was doing. I think this one is a Clark's Spiny Lizard. 

On that note, I'll leave you with a few recent photos of our winter desert colors.

I like the shapes here.

And the golden color of the Mormon Tea. Now that spring has arrived, many things will be turning green . . . or at least our version of that happy color.

May your world also be bright and happy as you look forward to spring and summer. 

Time sure flies

For weeks I've been wanting to fill you in on our doings, but projects and down time (and life) get in the way. Where does time go? I'll see how much I can get done before I have to start dinner in 37 minutes.

A few weeks ago, Sam got shot with the Covid vaccine and it hasn't affected him a bit. What do you think? Does he look normal to you?

I've been learning how to use my new tablet, and I really like it. We haven't had one before and I would love to use it to write blog posts, but I'm not sure how to access photos from my phone. Anyone have any suggestions?

Frankie and Dingus are thriving and play together almost every day. 

Mom Virginia, on the other hand, fell in her bedroom about 4 weeks ago, didn't break any bones, but acquired a pacemaker. She's been in rehab and will come home next week. Tomorrow is her 87th birthday. We haven't been able to see her, of course. I'm sure some of you are in similar situations, and it's so hard.

But having professional babysitters take  care of her has allowed us to get away from home a bit more!

Sam had a doctor's appointment in Safford, so we spent the day over there, thrifting and eating pizza. 

We visited friends in Arivaca (no photos, just hours of conversation) and on the way home, stopped at the Longhorn in Amado for dinner. I've never been there and it's beautiful inside, with great food. Longhorn Grill & Saloon

Then last weekend, we splurged on a hotel (thanks, Tim!) in Yuma. After 30+ years in southern Arizona, it's time we exited the San Diego freeway to see the town. Our tour guides were awesome! Bob and Shelly are fellow RVers working and renovating a cute small home there. In years past, we've dropped in on them in Salt Lake City and Mesa, and they're also bicycle buddies. And brewery buddies. We have fun.

The next morning we toured Yuma Territorial Prison. Fortunately, despite appearances, they no longer take prisoners. 

It's a fascinating place, in operation from 1876 through 1910.

It's right on the banks of the Colorado River, so we did one of my favorite things, a nature walk.

Back at the ranch, we continue to detail the Honda. Have I ever mentioned how slowly we work?

Sam focuses on the exterior and engine compartment, including headlights. 

Now they look like new. 

Sam also dehydrated the remaining jalapenos from last year's garden, to make chili powder. 

Also several pounds of serrano peppers that were given to us. Taste tests are ongoing, but they're both spicy!

We freed up room in our storage trailer by selling an extra mattress and box spring to a friend here in Mescal. The new beneficiary even helped me with delivery. 

On the same note as my first photo, Sam has been seeing dogs running in the sky.

And livened up his day with a new mohawk.

It was based on this drawing by one of his younger riders. Every day on the bus, Sam greets every child by name, acts as a tour guide, sometimes sings, or occasionally has the kids bark at his boss as he supervises the loading zone.

In spite of this, or more likely, because of it, he received this great gift on his birthday last month, from another young student. 

We should all strive to be so popular!

(Full disclosure -- this post took way longer than 37 minutes. In fact, it's now the following day.) I enjoy catching you up on our life. Have a great day. 

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.