JUST ANOTHER MIGHTY FINE ARIZONA DAY:))

NEST BUILDING IS STILL IN FULL SWING AT OUR HOUSE

An earlier than usual start to the day.  I had to get out & open our main gate by 6:30 this morning.  We had a crew coming to do battle with our yard’s weeds.  I have about a third of our grounds under reasonable control but about two thirds of our acre has a variety of weeds & wild grasses growing.  The yard crew of 2 led by our gardener guy Les rolled in about 6:45 a.m. & went right at spraying those weeds.  Not a big fan of spraying but we had to make a start at getting the properties remaining weed population under control.  Not only for our own satisfaction but our neighbors as well.

  

TOOK THE GUYS CLOSE TO AN HOUR TO DO THE WHOLE PROPERTY

 

Even without this morning’s spraying our property sure looks a heck of a lot better than the first day we set foot on it back on February 23rd of 2012.

TOOK ME A LOT OF CLIPPING, SAWING, & WEED WHACKING TO GET RID OF ALL THIS…EXCEPT THE TALL CACTUS OF COURSE:))

Ever asked yourself the question, “What will my retirement years look like?  RV SUE did & she didn’t like what she saw.  But unlike many, RV Sue, after much reflection grabbed the Bull by the horns & did something about it.  Catch Sue’s first installment…..THE ROAD TO VAGABOND LIVING: :THE SPECTRE OF A PREDICTABLE RETIREMENT".  Today’s "AN EPIPHANY" is her second posting from The Road To Vagabond Living:

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ‘SPIRIT DAY’ IS

Tom over at TOM_KATHY_ RETIRED: is pretty steamed at Disneyworld.  Seems some changes have been made at the big Mouse & Tom’s not happy about how it may affect the waiting time for rides for folks like himself & Kathy.  Kathy, in a rare mode of upsetedness phoned Disney & gave them piece of her mind.  And in an even rarer mode…..dropped a curse word on em too.  Oh Dear:((

I had one remaining tree to finish trimming on my neighbor’s property so slipped over & finished that up this morning before the day’s heat built up.  That finishes my clean-up there for this season.  I’ll see what things looks like next October or November & decide then whether to continue with any more clean-up.  Rest of my day was spent puttering.  A few more things into the rig.  Kelly slipped into Wickenburg for groceries.

  

For all you fellow Boondockers out here do not miss Nina’s latest post entitled, ‘6 GREAT RESOURCES FOR FINDING BOONDOCKING SPOTS IN ARIZONA’  This is not only informative for seasoned Dockers but it’s also valuable information for folks just starting out in the great Boondocking lifestyle.

 

Had a nice email from another long time blog reader this morning in which he talked about being in blog mode.  I think I may have touched on ‘blog mode’ a few times in previous posts.  Reader says, “I find myself in a Blog mode all the time”.  It is the same with me.  I am in blog mode 24/7 & maybe that is why writing a daily blog for the most part is enjoyable & comes reasonably easy (not always) for me.  I’m sure it’s an enjoyable hobby for most of my fellow daily Bloggers as well or they probably would not be doing it.  Whether consciously or sub-consciously my mind is always thinking of things to write about & I see that as great exercise for the brain.  Kind of like a photographers eye.  My eye sees things that maybe other eyes do not see.  My mind thinks of things to write maybe other minds do not.   It’s the same with anything.  Mechanical minds can figure out ways to do things other minds cannot or have great difficulty with.  An artist sees things differently.  A technology oriented person can figure things out that baffles the rest of us.  It’s just the way we all are.  And isn’t it a good thing we are all different & have our own special interests to offer others.  ‘Blog Mode’….I love it:))  Every time some one thanks me for writing this blog I have to turn the tables around & say ‘no’, thank you for reading this blog & allowing me to continue my enjoyable hobby each day.  I would not write this blog if you did not read this blog…….:))  

 

SPENCER LIKES SPENDING HIS DAYS SOAKING UP THE SUN ON OUR FRONT PORCH

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A couple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot.   One summer they noticed a girl who was at the beach almost every day..  She wasn't unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing; she would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around and then speak to them.

Generally, the people would respond negatively and she would wander off..   But occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money and something that she carried in her bag.

The couple assumed that she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but since they didn't know for sure, they decided to just continue watching her.

After a couple of weeks the wife said, 'Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?'   He hadn't and said so.

Then she said, 'Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach.  Then we can find out what she's really doing.'

Well, the plan went off without a hitch and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave...   The man then walked up the beach and met his wife at the road.

'Well, is she selling drugs?' she asked excitedly.  'No, she's not,' he said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.

'Well, what is it then?  What does she do?' his wife fairly shrieked.

The man grinned and said, 'She's a battery salesperson.'

'Batteries?' cried the wife.

'Yes!' he replied.

'She Sells C Cells down by the Seashore!'

SPRING CLEANING, THE RIG THAT IS

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING OUR DESERT IS BLOOMING

Had a few tweaks to make on the blog this morning first thing.  Decreased the overall width a bit & had to reduce the size of the photos a tad to make them fit better.  Had an email from a reader today which pointed out a glitch I think.  At the bottom of all Blogger blogs is a place where it says, ‘Newer Blogs’ & ‘Older Blogs.’  Reader pointed out something I also noticed, my ‘Older Blogs’ was not visible.  Is now though but if it isn't’ just hover your cursor over the area to the right where it says ‘Home’ & the word ‘Older’ should appear.  It’s a pink bar so ya can’t miss it.  Anyway, slowly getting the blog back to where I want it.  I do think I’ll be keeping my paws off any more blog changes for awhile though!!

SURE GOT UM SOME BIG JACK-A-LOPES AROUND HERE:))

 

LITTLE JACK-A-POOPS TOO

MIGHT BE A DESERT CHICORY >>>

Figured while we were still in warm weather it would be a good idea to clean the rig’s bins here rather than after we get home to cold weather next month.  Emptied them out, vacuumed, then went at em with soap & water.  They are looking almost as good as new. 

  

STORAGE AREA IN THE BACK OF THE WINNIE WAGON IS BIG ENOUGH FOR ME TO CLIMB IN, SIT DOWN, & DO SOME CLEANING

Mr. Ed from the THE FLIP FLOP RESORT INN wondered what the GPS co-ordinates for that Lake Alamo Slot Canyon were.    N34 17.087 W113 36.707 should just about put you at the trail head.  It runs West out of a wash running North & South.  Best way to get there from highway 93 is either take 17 Mile Road (scenic) from just South of the big Burrow Creek bridge or from Wikieup on 93.  Head out on Chicken Springs road & head yourself on down towards Lake Alamo that-a-way.  And the book the boys are looking at in the photo is Janna & Mike’s book entitled, ‘ Backcountry Adventures Arizona by Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson. 2001/02.  Kelly & I have an Arizona Benchmark Atlas we use…..when we can remember to use it.

GETTING AROUND A SHALLOW POOL OF WATER

 

 

TEAM EFFORT GETTING UP THE CANYON

“JIM I’M TELLIN YA, I FOUND A GOLD NUGGET THIS BIG!!”

 

MIKE MAKES A DARING LEAP:))

IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT GETTING BACK DOWN THE CANYON

 

JIM HELPS KELLY DOWN WHILE KELLY IN TURN HELPS PHEEBS DOWN

BEV MAKES IT DOWN WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS

  

HEADING BACK OUT OF THE SLOT CANYON

It’s always nice having doggy Pals along on any of these trips.  The furry guys always add an extra layer of fun & entertainment whenever & wherever we go.  Emmi & Pheebs get along fine & at one point in the Canyon I saw the 2 of them way up ahead walking side by side exploring together along the way.

  

 EMMI GETS A LITTLE HELP FROM DAD WITH A STICKER IN HER PAW

We have a new KINDLE PAPER WHITE on the way.  Only took us a couple years to make this decision.  After talking recently with NINA & JANNA Kelly decided we could no longer live without a Kindle.  I’m curious to see if it will kick-start my reading interests again.  I’ve had a lot of trouble reading things printed on paper these past 3 years so maybe this will work for me.  We’ll see………

BEAVERTAIL CACTUS IS AN EARLY SPRING BLOOMER

 

It’s not that we are unwanted I don’t think, it’s just the fact the snow & ice back home in Bayfield is too bad.  We have had emails, shouts, & comments from friends & readers telling us to stay away for as long as we can.  With all the snow, the rain, & the freezing temperatures lately, solid ice has formed making it all but impossible to even get our rig into it’s spot or the Jeep up the driveway.  With our many surrounding Pine trees old Sol can’t get his warming rays into our yard & driveway to melt the frozen snow & ice.  Maybe August………………

 

GRAND BEND’S WEB CAM IS STILL SHOWING LOTS OF FROZEN ICE & SNOW…THE THIN DARK LINE IN THE RIGHT PHOTO IS OPEN WATER OUT ON LAKE HURON, THE REST IS ICE!!

Well, for a couple who doesn’t spend much time moving around in any kind of social circles or going out to visit people a whole lot we sure have been busy these past few weeks.  Very unusual for us.  It’s not that we don’t like people it’s just that we kinda like quietly hanging out by ourselves most of the time.  I know some folks will understand that & of course some folks won’t.

  

A FEW OUTTAKE SHOTS FROM TUESDAYS JEEP DAY

 

 

Kelly has been busy power reading these last few days.  She comes home from the local Congress Library with 2 & 3 books at a time with each book being about as thick as an old Oldsmobile car seat.  With our days winding down she has been speed reading through these novels like crazy.  I read the instructions on how to open a can of pop once.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A medical student was shocked when he received a failing grade in radiology. Approaching the professor, he demanded to know the reason for the grade.
"You know the self X-ray you took?" asked the professor.
"I do." said the student.
"Well it's a fine picture," the professor said, "of your lungs, stomach, and liver."
"If it's a fine picture, then why did you give me an F?" asked the student
"I had no choice," said the professor. "I'm afraid you didn't put your heart into it."

Why don't Oysters give to charity?
Because they're Shellfish!