Wednesday, December 28/2011

Oh my God, the sun was up again today before I actually got out of bed!!  Oh dear, what is happening to me!!.
I had planned on doing a bit of laundry today but first, I wanted to drive to the trail head of the Vulture Peak , as I had seen a few dead cholla stems and wanted to harvest them.   Keith and Charlotte have this awesome solar powered cholla night light that I am drooling over and I am determined to have one for when I go home.  It would be awesome in the yard in Leoville.
I got the laundry ready then Hogan and I climbed into the jeep, and headed to the trail head.  We found the dead cholla and I proceeded to commence my harvesting.
There was an older model truck parked in the vicinity and of course Hogan had to go check out the "situation".  Because I don't know if it is illegal, to harvest the dead desert vegetation, I was hoping to get the cholla and get the hell out of there but Hogan had to go over and irritate the owner of the truck!!  I was busy with the cholla and I heard "Hey, what is with the dog?"  I said "what"?  Not to worry, he is friendly"!!  So much for being incognito!!
I chatted with the gentleman for a while - another Ben - living in his truck!!  He thought that I needed some  sort of permit to harvest he cholla but when I asked him if he would "turn me in" he laughed and said "No".
Hogan and I headed back to camp and once there, unloaded our "booty" then headed into town to do the laundry.
With the laundry done and a quick stop at the grocery store, I headed home.
It was hot today and I had to to get into my shorts and start  my actual suntanning, so I look bronze when I get back to Saskatchewan.  John was busy with the batteries and although I had to help him at times, I managed to catch a few rays!!
Soon, it was happy hour and time to enjoy the scenery.  I don't think one gets tired of seeing the saguaro.
There was another Junior hockey game tonight so we had to cheer our little Canadians on again and they won against the Czech Republic rather handily.  It was a good game despite the lopsided score.
Grilled cheese sandwiches for supper (getting a bit tired of turkey) and off to bed to do some reading.

Tuesday December 27/2011

We went up the hill to enjoy a beverage and the sun!!

View from the top

Vulture Peak to the south

Mountains to the West

Wickenburg to the north

Sun going down

The sun was shining when Hogan and I finally got up - it is late, already 8a.m.!!  I missed the sun coming up!! What is with that!! 

 The birds are having a field day with the feeder and the hummingbird is busy too.  If the sun continues today, the bees will be out and  enjoying the water that I have out for the birds.  Oh well, they too have to drink!!

John was busy today getting the  wiring and whatever ready for the new batteries ready for the solar panels.  He had drilled holes here and there and I am sure that we will be running on three solar panels before too long.  It will be interesting to see just how long the batteries will lasts once they are connected to the three solar panels. 

Once John was finished with the wiring, it was "happy" hour.  We sat out and enjoyed the sunshine until it finally went below the hills that surround our campsite.  John noticed that there was still sun "up on the hill' so we took the quad, and couple of beer and watched the setting sun for an bit longer.   It was awesome and the view was incredible.

Time to head back down

Monday, December 26/2011

Go Canada Go!

Look'in good!

The sun was shining when I woke up this morning and it again looks like it will be another good day.
The World Junior Hockey Championship starts today so I will have to get my chores done before it starts.
I cleaned the BBQ today and it was definitely time to do it!!
We watched Canada play their hockey game and they won it rather soundly so they are off to a good start.
we sat outside for a while today and chatted with the neighbours then as the sun went down, returned to the bus and watched Monday Night Football.  They are well into their season and battling for playoff spots to see who gets to the Superbowl.
Leftovers for supper tonight - an easy fix!!

Sunday, December 25/2011

I am not impressed!

Santa Dog

I'm a good boy!

The Turkey is on

Hey! Were's my bone 

Bricketts are on

Done!

Let's eat!

Finished off the night with a fire!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!  Wow, can't believe that it is Christmas and of course Santa found me out here in the desert!!  He really is a remarkable little elf!!
The sun is shining and it looks like it will be another gorgeous day and there is no wind!!  BONUS!!
The birds are busy at the feeder and are enjoying this wonderful morning.  I have the door open already this morning and that is a real good sign.
After getting my arse kicked in our annual Christmas game of yahtzee, I started to get organized for our Christmas supper.  I am not sure who will show up for supper but know there will be four of us for sure.  Whether or not anyone else shows up is up to those invited.
Both John and I sat outside with an eggnog and spiced rum while we started getting the trash can ready for the turkey.  The galvanization had to be burnt off so a fire was started inside the can until that was done.
Keith wandered over while we had the fire going in the trash can and chatted for a bit.  He is quite interested in this whole "trash can" turkey process.
I had put the turkey into a brine on Saturday, and so I got it out and prepared it for the stand that it would sit on while cooking.  The brine smelled awesome and I hope that it would turn out to be a wonderfully moist turkey after the cooking was complete.  I have never brined a turkey before so this was new territory for me.
John had the briquettes ready and the turkey was ready for the "oven".  Into the trash can it went and the briquettes were placed around the base and onto the top of the can.  That being done, all we had to do was wait for the sizzling to start.  While the turkey was cooking,  Charlotte was busy cooking pumpkin pie and getting potatoes, yams and dressing ready.  I was responsible for the condiment, vegetables and the gravy.
As it turned out, there were only the four of us for supper and so we didn't have to bother with setting out a table outside.  Instead we gathered around our table and totally enjoyed our fantastic Christmas meal.  The turkey was cooked to perfection (thank you John) and in fact was incredibly moist.  It is hard to believe that a 20 pound turkey can cook in 2 hours and 15 minutes!!  The pumpkin pie was so good - I so love pumpkin pie - thank you Charlotte!!
With all four of us stuffed and totally satisfied, we sat out around the fire and simply enjoyed the evening thanking our lucky stars as to how blessed we are to be able to live this kind of lifestyle.  All four of us have a lot to be thankful for.
We chatted with the kids and they too had a good day.
As you can see from the pics, I had bought Hogan a Santa suit and he was most impressed when I put it on him!!  It was an extra large but it was a bit tight for our little elf!!
Tomorrow, there will be no cooking required cause there are plenty of leftovers to reheat.   Another thing to be thankful for!!

Saturday, December 24/2011

Birds at the feeder

Our campsite - taken from up on the hill

The campsite, including Keith and Charlotte's fifth wheel trailer

Quad and Cactus (at base of Vulture Peak)

Miles and miles of saguaro - one can never get tired of the view

water tank

At Trueman's mine.   Marie sitting on the sluice 

Trueman and Cowboy

The old house  in the desert - slowly deteriorating with a lot of help from the local kids
who use it for a party spot

Christmas Eve supper with Keith and Charlotte

Fire and Lights

Christmas Eve Day - Wow, time certainly flies when you are having fun. It is chilly this morning with the temperature only at 37F (+3C).  It will warm up into the +16C range today so all in all, I really can't complain.  Tomorrow is even supposed to be warmer!!
I must head into town today to pick up the turkey (I had the boys in the Safeway meat dept put one away for me) then when I get back home, I plan on putting it into a brine which will increase the moistness of the meat.  Something it will need while cooking inside the "trash can".  Then,  must make a list of "things to do" before all the company arrives which includes remembering to take the dog bones out of the freezer and putting them into a Christmas bag for Cowboy (Trueman's dog).
Sounds like a busy day ahead of me but first I must sit here enjoying my coffee and watch the birds for a while.  Hogan is curled up in front of the heater, John is still in bed and there is peace in the valley!!  Life is Good!!
I headed into town, pickup up the rest of the groceries then headed back to the bus.  Once I got here, I put the turkey into the brine mixture (I made it before heading into town) then added the giblets to the gravy fixings I had started and got ready to go on a bit of a quad ride.
The sun is shining and it is actually "hot" today so why spend it at camp?  Unfortunately, Hogan has to stay home as there simply is no place for him to ride so he was not too impressed.  Keith and Charlotte headed out for a hike and we were to both meet back here for supper.
We took a short tour towards the back side of Vulture Peak, down several trails and eventually found out way to Trueman's mine.  He was busy at the sluice box.  He has found only "flakes" of gold today!!  We chatted with him and cowboy for a while then took the short jaunt over to the "old house" and were quite shocked at the amount of destruction that had occurred over the summer.  There is no longer a roof over the outside deck and much of the wooden structure has been used for fire wood.  It really is quite sad to see such a wonderfully constructed structure be abused in such a manner.
The sun was about to go behind the hills and at this time of year, that means it will turn chilly so we headed back to the bus to start a campfire and start supper.
We invited Keith and Charlotte over for Christmas Eve supper and then sat around the fire for a bit before we all started yawning and headed to bed.  Santa is coming tonight!!
Both our boys spent Christmas Eve with their Auntie Jan and her family and said that the food was delicious and they had fun!!

Friday, December 23/2011

I was up early this morning,  5 a.m. actually and it was chilly in the bus.  I started the heater and went back to bed.  That will give it about an hour and a half to warm up before I greet the morning.
I heard the phone signal a text message at 6:45 so was up talking to my sister.  She has been busy getting her Christmas Eve meal ready and was already making cabbage rolls this morning.
I then chatted with Jace for a bit.  He is driving back from Calgary this morning and then is done until after the festive season.  Apparently he still has all his shopping to do!!  Typical Man!!
Today I must head into town and pick up all the little things I need to complete our Christmas supper meal and then all that is left is to pick up the turkey Saturday morning.  I have no place to store a turkey if I pick it up any sooner so would rather make the extra trip into town on Saturday than risk tainted turkey!!
I headed into town, got all my shopping and running around done and was back at the bus about two hours later.  John had pumped water into the bus and was busy fixing an extension cord when I got home.
With the groceries put away and the few small gifts I bought in their festive bags, it was time to sit and relax.
Trueman stopped by today and, since I had not seen him for over a week, I felt it necessary to give him the gears about that!!  I reminded him about Christmas supper and said he was more than welcome to join us so I hope he does.  He has friends in town that have also asked him out for supper.  I did mention that if he didn't come, there would be plenty of leftovers the next day as well.
Keith and Charlotte wandered over and chatted with Trueman as well then it was into the trailer, out of the wind and night chill, to sit around the "campfire in a can".  That little fire pit was one of the best things we have ever bought!!
We partied until it was time for bed.  Big day tomorrow - Christmas Eve!!

Thursday, December 22/2011

I have not seen Mr. Coyote since John took his "little friend" after him so was lulled into a bit of a sense of security thinking that perhaps he had high tailed it to parts unknown.  Although I knew that this was probably unlikely, I never the less had hope.  While I was lying in bed this morning, well before the sun came up, I heard the pack very close to the bus.  They were doing their usual yappy howling thing just to let me know that they were still in the vicinity and perhaps to remind me that they too have a place in this desert.  It is now 8 a.m. and I can still hear them and they still are not too far away.  Hogan is growling and on alert but I feel much better when he is inside the bus when the pack is around.  He thinks he is tough but the pack would kill him in less than a heartbeat and I have no desire to deal with that!!
The birds are flitting to and from the feeder and I noted that their water has a film of ice on it this morning so it must have dropped close to freezing although the dog water sitting on the ground is not frozen.
When I got up this morning, the temperature was +3C (41F).
We went into town today for supper but first had to stop and pick up the girls at the Bar Seven and the Rancher their Christmas chocolates. With the gift bags full, we headed to the Bar Seven where we had a few drinks and chatted with friends, ate supper and then were off to the Rancher to say Merry Christmas to Dena and leave her the other gift bag.   We were home by 10:30 and that is a good thing because it was rather chilly in the bus and I am sure Hogan was happy to see us!!

Wednesday, December 21/2011

I was up before the sun again this morning and I do believe that there is not a cloud in the sky!!  It looks like the sun will shine all day.  Finally!!
It did shine all day and it was wonderful.  I even spent time just sitting enjoying the heat - catching a few rays and watching the birds.  Being warm and sunny (they love the sun as much as I do) they are very active and have provided me with lots of entertainment today.  It may come as a surprise to some but there are even bullies in the bird world and I watched today as one rather brightly coloured finch bullied the rest of the birds away from the feeder.  There were about four or five finches sitting on a cactus beside the feeder and he flew over to each one of them chasing them off the cactus.  Next, he proceeded to perch on the feeder where another one was feeding and actually jumped on his back causing him to fly into the air where they had a bit of a fist fight.  He of course seemed to win as he then flew back to the feeder, perched and looked around for the next sucker to come along!!  Nature's entertainment at its finest!!
It remained sunny all day.  John mucked a bit with the jeep and Hogan and I just "hung out".
Happy hour still involved sunshine and John and I sat out until the sun was going down and when a bit of wind came up, we took the chairs into the trailer and sat around the "campfire in a can" for a couple of hours until it was time for supper and watch the finale for X Factor.
Tomorrow promises more sunshine so that is a very good thing!!

Tuesday, December 20/2011

Is it any surprise that it is cloudy and overcast this morning?  I think not!!  Maybe, just maybe the sun will shine through all these clouds later today.
It remained cloudy for most of the day so we hopped in the jeep and took Hogan for a run.  Along the way, we picked up a bit of wood and a few Yucca stems that will work well in the camp fire.  We will have to go cut some wood before Christmas as our wood from Flagstaff is almost gone.
Keith and Charlotte headed into Surprise today to do a bit more shopping.  Those two have certainly been busy lately.
All in all, it was a quiet day today spent relaxing and just hanging out.

Monday, December 19/2011

Hogan and I are up before the sun today. With all this rain and damp weather we have been experiencing lately, I must say that my wrists and shoulders are aching big time and I so hope I see the sun today.  I am not holding my breath as there seems to be a lot of cloud coverage again today.
We have not seem Trueman for several days so I think we may have to take a trip out to the mine to check on him.  I know he has not felt all that great since his surgery and is having issues with some of the medications he is supposed to be taking.  Who wants to take pills that make you feel "funny" or nauseated?  This aging process sucks sometimes.  Or, perhaps we have not seen him because the weather has been anything but pleasant and he too is relaxing and waiting for the sunshine.
Being such a lousy day, I decided to do a bit of laundry so scooted into town to do that.  I saw Charlotte while I was there (they left early this morning) and we have both decided that we will be home for "happy hour" and we both deserve to have a drink and relax!!
John built a fire and we sat around it for a few hours chatting and enjoying the company.

Sunday, December 18/2011

It rained off and on throughout the night and, this morning it still looks rather threatening.  I am sure that the rain that has been plaguing us for several days now is not done with us yet.
I filled the bird feeder between showers as they were all sitting in the trees looking through the window at me!!
As it turned out, it rained off and on all day and we spent the day relaxing. I even won a game of Yahtzee today!!  That is four games now since leaving Canada!!  Woo Hoo!!
John did a beer can chicken for supper tonight and it was awesome.  The oriental salad that accompanied it was also good.
It was three hours of Survivor - the finale tonight so that took up most of our evening.  Go Sophie!!
Tomorrow, I will have to look up the Trash Can turkey procedure and get familiar with it as it is only a few more days before we do that.
I touch base with some of the folks at home and all seems well there.  Everyone is busy with the coming Xmas season.

Saturday, December 17/2011

It is cloudy and windy today and looking like it just may rain.  I have a bit of running I need to do in town so I had better get into gear before I get rained on!!
I picked up some birdseed today as the little lovies are going through it like crazy.  Now that they have finally found it, there is a lot of activity around the feeder.  They are rather scrappy little creatures and there are often several little fights happening.  Flapping wings and tail feathers flying everywhere!!
I also picked up the briquettes and the lighter fluid for the "trash can" turkey as well.  I now have most of the stuff  I need and am looking forward to Christmas supper.
Being that the jeep only has the bikini top on it, John and I put the blue tarp over it as it was really starting to look like rain.  It was a good thing we did because it did start to rain - complete with thunder and lightning!!
It was steak and baked potato for supper (rain or shine) then off to bed to watch a Christmas movie on TV (well, I watched it - John sure didn't!!).

Friday, December 16/2011

It looks like it is going to be another nice day today.  The sun is shining and there are very few clouds in the sky.  The birds are busy and Hogan is out patrolling the perimeter.
Keith and Charlotte left earlier this morning to head into Surprise to do some shopping so the day should be pretty quiet.  John has some stuff coming in via UPS so I will head into town and pick that up later and he tells me that there is a new mirror for the passenger side of the jeep and that is such a good thing because somehow I managed to break the one that was on it with the door.  Not sure how that happened but it will have a new one by the end of the day.
John went into town to pick up the packages and was home in less than an hour.  We then  gathered so kindling and then started a fire.  Keith and Charlotte came home and the four of us sat around the fire for awhile.  It was actually a very nice evening.

Thursday, December 15/2011

Hogan on the dash with the snowmen - keeping watch on his world outside

The sun is shining this morning and there is not a cloud in the sky!!  Woo Hoo!!  The rain seems to have run its course so hopefully the sun can dry the ground and we can start getting back outside and to the hiking trails.
I can't believe that there are only 10 days until Christmas.  Time flies down here.  I didn't put up the Christmas tree yet and likely won't.  I have strung lights on three trees outside ( I have the scratches to prove it) and I think that is good enough.  I have a few decorations in the bus and my red poinsettia is sitting rather regally on the table.  The two snowmen are on the front dash (much to Hogan's displeasure as now he has to share the space!!) and I have a little Xmas tree in the bathroom (much to John's displeasure as now he has to share the space!!).  So - now that I have upset the two boys I am living with, my work is done!!
The birds are back and busy at the feeders and my day has begun.
We drove into town today, it was time to go in and say hello to all the people we have come to know in this quaint little town.  Of course our first stop had to be to see Erika at the Bar Seven.  She looked great and we soon were caught up on all the news.  OMG and hasn't there been news!!  Tommy, the owner of the restaurant almost died in June with a stomach lesion that hemorrhaged and he was hauled to the hospital not once but twice with minimal blood pressure.  Two endoscopic procedures and 26 units of blood later, he was home then found out he had only 17% kidney function.  With drugs and diet, he is back up to 32% and is hoping for even better results as he continues his recovery from the summer.
The summer was hot and according to Erika the business was slow.  Hours were cut but no one lost their jobs which is a very good thing in today's economy down here.  Dee, one of the local girls we met was in motorcycle accident and broke her back and her eye socket this past summer but is doing well and is up and walking with her back brace on.  Cloud is working for the local taxi company taking folks to and from the Phoenix airport and loving it.  Mike (who lost his wife a year and a half ago) has remarried and is happy so does not really hang out with the crowd in the bar anymore - so happy for him!!
Jana and Brenda wandered in so we touched base with them and said hello to several others during the evening.  We ate supper then it was time to leave as we had one more stop before leaving town and heading beach to the bus.  We had to stop at the Rancher Bar to see Dena.  Her and her husband Bill have become good friends as well so it was a must to stop and see her.  We caught up on her gossip then it was time to head out with the promise of "see you soon".  They are off on Sunday so perhaps they will come see us!!
We were home by nine so had time to watch a bit of TV and read before it was lights out.

Wednesday, December 14/2011

 

Fog in the morning

Spooky!

Sun going down-View from our campsite

Sunset on the mountains

Our driveway

Xmas lights

Lights and Sunset

We call this Flight of the Bumblebee!

Once again, it rained intermittently through out the night and this morning, the fog and mist has rolled down off the surrounding hills and there is a rather surreal picture outside the bus windows.  One can view it as soft and comforting, with the big saguaros wrapped in the mist or,  one could choose to wait for the likes of Jack Nicholson to come charging out of the fog with a chainsaw and ghoulish grin!!
I am just going to sit here, have my coffee and wait to see how the day will be shaping up.  I really should go into town today.  The trash can that I ordered (for the trash can turkey Christmas Day) is in and I need to get some white lights for the Mesquite tree and there are a few groceries to get as well.  Once the fog lifts, I will dash in if it is not looking like rain.
I did get into town and I must say that the road to the highway was rather greasy in some spots.  There has been a bit of running water on this road but all in all, the washes really were quite good.
Once back at home, Keith and Charlotte returned from their walk and John and I decided to sit outside for a bit.  Hogan ran for the ball several times - I think he is glad to be able to run around outside again now that the rains have stopped.
John cooked a baked potato over the campfire in a can again then, fired up the bbq for his pork chop and my lamb chop!!  Supper was great and we had a lovely sunset to dine by.   Another great day!