A NICE MORNING WALK FOR PHEEBS AND I BEFORE CHRISTMAS

With mid-morning temps at 40F and a slight mist in the calm air, Pheebs and I set off east down Bayfield Road.  We didn't have a destination until I thought of one, so without further ado, we headed ourselves in the direction of the Bannockburn Conservation Area.  I had my fingers crossed that nobody would be there and there wasn't.

 A TOUCH OF MIST IN THE MORNING'S COOL AIR

 STILL A FEW SWATCHES OF SNOW LEFT IN A FEW FARMER'S FIELDS

 WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS

  MIST HANGING LOW IN A ROADSIDE FOREST

 A FAVORITE TREE THAT I HAVE TAKEN MANY PICTURES OF OVER THE YEARS

 AREA CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE FLOWING FREELY

 ENJOYING HER MORNING JEEP RIDE

With recent rains, the river and tributaries through the Conservation area were running strong and we could hear the water rushing along before we came into view of it from the boardwalk.  

 THIS IS THE PARKING LOT TRAIL HEAD

With her nose to the ground, Pheebs thoroughly enjoyed all the new morning smells along the trail.  I thought if only we could get a few bursts of morning sunshine to brighten and cheer things up.  But, it's okay because it was just nice to be out with Pheebs seeing her happily having such a great time.

 LOTS OF WONDERFUL NEW SMELLS ALONG THE WAY

 LOVE THE SOUNDS OF A BABBLING BROOK

Despite the wooden boardwalk being wet and very slippery, neither one of us took a tumble.  We made it back to the Jeep and were home by 11 a.m.

HEADING BACK TO THE JEEP

I would like to thank all my blog readers,  as well as our friends, and family for all the Christmas cards and best wishes this year.  So many of those Christmas cards came from all the good people right here in our very own Park.  This year of 2023 has been a difficult one for us and it looks like 2024 is going to be a very challenging year as well.  Thank you to everyone for your kind words, concern, and support all these years.     

Over our RVing years, we were fortunate enough to spend a number of Christmas Eves and Christmas days in different locations in the Great American Southwest.  Without snow on the ground, it never did seem quite like Christmas to us but that was okay.  We were always so happy to be somewhere warmer surrounded by enchanting desert vistas rimmed by beautiful mountain ranges all around, fiery sunrises, and sunsets on either end of big starry night skies with diamonds shimmering from mountain top to mountain top.  Below are a few Christmas Eve or Christmas Day photos from each year of our travels.

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 FOUND US IN BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA DOING LAUNDRY

 SITTING ON SANTA'S KNEE IN COLUMBAS NEW MEXICO 2006

 CHRISTMAS EVE DESERT CAMPFIRE BETWEEN OGILBY ROAD AND THE MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS WEST OF YUMA ARIZONA IN 2008

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2009 WITH RV BLOGGER FRIENDS JERRY AND SUZY  IN BENSON, ARIZONA

 CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER IN OUR RIG SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ELFRIDA ARIZONA AND THE SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS 2010

CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE RANCH CLEANING CORRALS NEAR MCNEIL ARIZONA 2011.... IT WAS PHEEBS FIRST CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTHWEST

 CHRISTMAS DAY AT OUR HOUSE IN CONGRESS ARIZONA 2012

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2013 WE WERE BOONDOCKED WEST OF THE KOFA MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST OF QUARTZSITE ARIZONA AND SPENT THE DAY ON A ROUGH AND TUMBLE JEEP DRIVE INTO THE KOFA'S QUEEN CANYON....BOTH KELLY AND PHEEBS CAN BE SEEN IN THIS PHOTO

ON CHRISTMAS MORNING 2014 WE HIKED UP GHOST MOUNTAIN TO THE OLD MARSHAL SOUTH HOMESTEAD IN THE BLAIR VALLEY SOUTHWEST OF BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

 STRIKING MY MARSHAL SOUTH POSE ATOP GHOST MOUNTAIN AT YAQUITEPEC

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2015 FOUND US IN WENDEN ARIZONA HEADING HOME TO CONGRESS AFTER THE DESERT WINDS BLEW US OUT OF BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

 CHRISTMAS 2016 AGAIN FOUND US BOONDOCKED AT THE CLARK DRY LAKE BED NORTH OF BORREGO SPRINGS AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE DID A COUPLE BIG DESERT HIKES....HERE IS KELLY BETWEEN HIKES IN OCOTILLO WELLS ON THE PHONE TO HER MOTHER IN SPENCERPORT, NEW YORK

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2017 FOUND US MAKING OUR WAY TO THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH DALLAS TEXAS

 CHRISTMAS DAY 2018 FOUND US STILL IN BAYFIELD ONLY DAYS AWAY FROM HEADING OFF TO THE SOUTHWEST FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE OUR LAST RV TRAVELING YEAR

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

 Al's Music Box:)) The Old Lamplighter is a popular song written by Nat Simon, with lyrics by Charles Tobias. The song was published in 1946.  The lyrics sentimentalize and memorialize the profession of lamplighters, who walked city streets at dusk turning on the gas-powered streetlamps and turning them off again at dawn.  In 1960, the song was a major country-pop hit for The Browns, released as a single early that year. It went on to become a major top-ten hit. 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A Few Points To Ponder::

- Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.

- On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.

- Never trust an electrician with no eyebrows.

- I want to be 14 again & ruin my life differently. I have new ideas.

- Apparently RSVP'ing to a wedding invitation with "Maybe next time" isn't the correct response.

- You are slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter.

- Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.

- I'd love to live life in the fast lane, but I'm married to a speed bump.

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On the way to preschool, a doctor had left his stethoscope on the car seat, and his little girl picked it up and began playing with it.  "Be still, my heart," thought the doctor. "My daughter wants to follow in my footsteps!"  Then the child spoke into the instrument, "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?"

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I WAS TEMPTED TO HAUL A FEW SUMMER THINGS OUT OF THE SHED

 AT OUR COUNTRY ROAD WALKING SPOT

My Monday blog published without any problems so I must have got all my gosh darn ding dang words lined up just right for the big B.  Looks like me and Blogger are back on an even keel.

Another gorgeously sunny day had Pheebs and I out to our country road walking spot this morning for half a walk.  Heading north with the wind at our backs was fine, but turning around partway and walking back to the Jeep with the icy wind on my face was not so good.

 SNOW CONTINUES TO SLOWLY MELT OFF OF AREA FIELDS

 SNOW MELTS SLOWER IN THE SHADED FORESTS

Home again, I found myself wandering around our yard rather aimlessly looking for something of interest to do.  Raked up a couple piles of birdseed husks, fired up the leaf blower and cleaned our front porch off, burnt some trash in the burning barrel, and chopped away at a few icy spots around the sidewalk.  I was tempted to haul a few summer things out of the shed but had to keep reminding myself that this is not Spring.  For sure we still have freezing cold temperatures, snowfalls, and winter storms ahead of us.  This weather we are having at the moment is a teaser so it's important to remain wary and not succumb to Spring Fever.  I guess the next celebratory stepping stone to Spring will be St. Patrick's Day nearly a month from now.

 OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND IS STILL FROZEN OVER

 DESPITE A HIGH OF 48F TODAY THE SNOW IN OUR FRONT YARD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN ANY BIG HURRY TO MELT

 AN OLD WOOD KNOT EMERGES FROM OUR FRONT FLOWER BED

 A NEIGHBOR'S CHAIR BUT WITHOUT THE NEIGHBOR IN IT

 OUR AFTERNOON POND WALK

An afternoon walk for Pheebs and I but it was another short one.  Pheebs didn't seem to be into a walk and my right leg was bothering me again.  

Thirteen years ago today Kelly and I hosted an impromptu get-together south of Quartzsite Arizona at the foot of the Kofa Mountains.  Yes, you read that right.  We actually hosted a get-together of people:)) Remember to click the pics to make them larger if you get there......A Get Together In The Desert.  

GROANER'S CORNER:(( University Courses For Men And Women::  Whatsamatta University's Seminars For Men's Fall Catalogue.  Once again, the female staff at Whatsamatta University will be offering courses for men of all marital statuses in an attempt to help males and females understand each other better. Attendance in at least 10 of the following is required.

1. Combatting Stupidity
2. You Too Can Do Housework
3. Resistance to Beer
4. How To Properly Fill An Ice Tray
5. We Do Not Want Sleazy Underwear For Christmas (Give Us Credit Cards)
6. Understanding The Female Response To Coming Home Drunk At 4:00am

7. Wonderful Laundry Techniques (also called "Don't Wash My Silks")

8.  To Go Shopping With Your Mate Without Getting Lost
9. Get A Life - Learn To Cook
10. How Not To Act Like An Idiot When You Are Obviously Wrong
11. Spelling - Even You Can Get It Right
12. Understanding Your Financial Incompetence
13. You, The Weaker Sex
14. Reasons To Give Flowers
15. Garbage - Getting It To The Curb
16. You Cannot Always Wear Whatever You Please
17. How To Put Down A Toilet Seat
18. Give Me A Break - Why We Know Your Excuses Are Lies
19. H20. The Remote Control - Overcoming Your Dependency

20. The Remote Control - Overcoming Your Dependency
21. Helpful Posture Hints For Couch Potatoes
22. Mother-in-Laws Are People Too
23. The Weekend And Sports Are Not Synonymous
24. How Not To Act Younger Than Your Children
25. You Too Can Be A Designated Driver
26. Male Bonding: Leave Your Friends At Home
27. Attainable Goal - Omitting Foul Expletives From Vocabulary
28. You Don't Really Need That Porsche

Whatsamatta University's Seminars For Women's Fall Catalogue.  Once again, the male staff at Whatsamatta University will be offering courses for women of all marital statuses in an attempt to help males and females understand each other better. Attendance in at least 10 of the following is required.
1. Combatting The Impulse To Nag
2. You Can Change The Oil Too
4. How To Properly Fill A Beer Mug
5. We Do Not Want Ties For Christmas
6. Understanding The Female Causes Of Male Drunkenness
7. How To Do All Your Laundry In One Load And Have More Time To Watch Football

8. Parenting - Your Husband Gave You Children So You Could Have Someone Other Than Him To Boss Around
9. How To Encourage Your Husband To Cook More And Be Able To Stomach His Slop
10. How Not To Sob Like A Sponge When Your Husband Is Right
11. Get A Life - Learn To Kill Spiders Yourself
12. Balancing A Checkbook - Even You Can Get It Right
13. Comprehending Credit Card Spending Limits And Financial Responsibility
14. You, The Whining Sex
15. Shopping - Doing It In Less Than 16 Hours
16. If You Want To Know How That Looks On You, Ask Your Mother
17. How To Close The Garage Door
18. If You Don't Want An Excuse, Don't Demand An Explanation
19. How To Go Fishing With Your Mate And Not Catch Pneumonia
20. Living Without Power Windows - How To Turn A Crank

21. Romanticism - The Whole Point Of Caviar, Candles, And Conversation
22. How To Retain Your Composure While Your Husband Is Relaxing By Himself
23. Why You Don't Need To Invite Your Mother Over Every Weekend
24. Payday And Shopping Are Not Synonymous
25. How To Act Younger Than Your Mother
26. You Too Can Carry A Backpack
27. Female Friendship - Why Your Best Friends Are Not The Women Who Complain About You The Most
28. Learning To Appreciate The Beer Belly And Lard Butt Morphologies Of Men
29. Attainable Goal - Catching A Ball Before It Stops Moving
30. How To Close The Top On The Toothpaste

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