Thursday, March 2

I’ve lost track of our days at our camp near Blythe.  I don’t remember what happened on what day . . .

Big Maria Mountains in the distance, southeastern California

Rather than attempt to reconstruct the past in a sequential time narrative, let’s sit back and have a little chat, shall we?

I’ll do all the talking . . . .

My new refrigerator is so cool!

Okay, I had to say that.

I’m amazed how long I’ve gone on one tank of propane since the new refrigerator has been put in place in the Best Little Trailer.

When the regulator switches over to the second tank of propane, I unhook the first tank and pop it in the back of the Perfect Tow Vehicle.

Reggie and I roll into Blythe.  We stop at Cosme’s Propane on the main drag and have it filled.

I just finished reading “The Girl With Braided Hair.”

It’s one of Margaret Coel’s books, part of her Wind River Mystery Series.  I enjoy it because I learn a little more about the Arapahoe and Shoshone people.  Also I recognize many of the  towns, roads, landmarks, and land forms she describes, having camped a few times in the Dubois-Riverton-Lander area of Wyoming.

“Boondocking in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming” — August 2014

While reading, I stop occasionally to open up my Wyoming Benchmark and locate those places I haven’t visited. . . . yet.   Now I have an urge to return to Wyoming!

The library in Blythe has several of the Coel books.

I return the first one and check out two more.

I love my Paperwhite, but I also like going to the library.

People who don’t have an e-reader say, “But I like holding a book in my hand!  I like turning pages!”

Well, just because you have a Paperwhite, like I do, or whatever, doesn’t mean you can’t go to a library and check out books.  A Kindle, such as my Paperwhite, is an important option for any book-loving full-timer, because a library isn’t always available and buying books to carry around in one’s rig is dumb.

Reggie likes going to the library, too.

He knows he will be given a chance to sniff the grass and cottonwoods next to the building. Along the sidewalk at the library is a bush almost as tall as I am and it displays dozens of these large, yellow blooms.

Wow! It’s like the tropics!

A few readers ask whether Reg and I will adopt another dog.

Honestly, I’m not sure.  The possibility does roll around in my mind from time to time.

In an effort to explore that possibility further, Reggie and I go to the Blythe Animal Shelter.  In fact, we go several times.  Reggie waits in the PTV while I go inside.

I have to steel myself for the walk between the two rows of pens holding the dogs. 

I appreciate that the big dogs are beyond another door.  Mostly those dogs are pit bulls and I do believe that when a pit bull pleads with his eyes, they are the saddest eyes in the whole world.

So I only check the cages in the first room where the little dogs are.

Even that walk is tough because this is a facility that euthanizes.  It’s impossible for me not to wonder what happened to dogs that I saw previously and who now are gone.  I hope their owners came for them.

Mostly the dogs are males and, if we adopt another, I’d like a female.  (Reggie is all the “man” I can cope with.)

Two days ago we return again to the animal shelter and I peer through the window of the door to the little dogs.

I spot one that seems “right!”

She’s a white chihuahua-mix, between one and two years old, with bright eyes and ears that stick up. 

Okay, now that you’ve scrolled down to see her photo, can we continue?  Thank you.

She’s also about the same height and size as Reggie. 

I inquire at the desk and the young woman tells me the dog isn’t adoptable for six days, in case the owner comes looking for her. Happily for the dog and her owner, they were reunited yesterday!

I hesitated to tell you about this because I don’t want to be inundated with suggestions on how to look for dogs or that you’ve found the perfect dog for us.  Believe me, I know all the ways to search.  I don’t want to feel under pressure which might force a decision.  Let’s see what the future brings, okay?

Reg and I toodle over to Sheltering Wings Thrift Store.

Not that I need anything or even want anything.  We’re in town so might as well take a look, right?

A strange thing happens.  If you’ve read much of my blog you know that I don’t shop much.  Before I make any purchase I make sure it serves a necessary function.  I don’t want to clutter up the BLT with “stuff.”

That’s why it’s weird what happens at the thrift store.

I’m browsing around and come across these collector china plates from numbered firings.  They’re in excellent condition, three of them with gold trim.

I’m really drawn to these plates!

Enjoy this impromptu art show . . .

“In Display: Ruffed Grouse” by Darrell Bush

~ ~ ~

“Morning Light: Bobwhite Quail” by Darrell Bush

~ ~ ~

“The Green-Winged Teal” by Bart Jerner

~ ~ ~

“A Jump Into Life: Spring Fawn” by Carl Brenders

~ ~ ~

“The White-Tailed Deer” by Paul Krapf

~ ~ ~

“Not This Year: Mule Deer” by Paul Krapf

My photos don’t do justice to the paintings. 

The color and contrast is off and all the detail doesn’t show.

Well,  anyway . . .

I set the plates down and leave the thrift shop.  Reggie and I return to camp.  I think about the plates several times before the next morning when I toss Reg into the PTV and, yes, we return to the thrift store.

Why am I compelled to buy these plates?  I’ve never collected anything in my life and I’m going to start now? I’m not going to hang them on my walls.  Crazy!

The woman at the register watches me as I examine each plate again. 

I must be getting old.  Older.  Whatever.

I ask her if the boxes and certificates of authenticity might be somewhere in the back.  She smiles knowingly and tells me they were donated on hangers, not with the boxes.

She adds, “If you buy them all, I’ll only charge you $2.50 each.”

“Sold!”

Now tell me . . .  What in the heck am I doing with six china plates?

rvsue

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End of another day

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