Daily news from our camp in the Colorado Desert

Saturday, February 24 – Saturday, March 3

The crew and I are camped at Midland LTVA near Blythe, California. 

What we’ve been up to this week . . . 

Mostly Reggie, Roger, and I stay at camp.  I bought the boys a pack of beef bones (American “made”) which provide outside entertainment.

Roger likes to stretch out on one of the big pillows to gnaw on a bone, something he will do for an hour or more.  Occasionally he’ll take a break and roll on his side and soak up the sunshine.

Reggie requires more attention.

The bones are fine entertainment for a few minutes, until he notices I’m not doing anything that he considers important.

“Here, RVSue . . . . You need something to do.  You could play Fetch The Badger with me.”

“Reggie, go chew your bone, honey.  I wanna’ read.”

Oh no, not The Stare.

“Oh, all right.  Give me that thing.” . . . you little badger.

(Actually, now that I’ve given it some thought, that toy is a hedgehog.  Oh, well.)

~ ~ ~

One day we roll into Blythe with a load of laundry. Another day I spend time at the bank and also browse a thrift store.

At Ace Hardware I buy a cast iron skillet.

I already have a small cast iron skillet.  The new one is slightly larger. I bought it because its diameter matches the diameter of my favorite flour tortillas.  Amazon has it:

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron 8-Inch Skillet

Speaking of food . . .

(Something I seem to do a lot of lately!)  I notice Smart and Final has a variety of Asian marinades and sauces.  I’d like to try them but they’re sold in restaurant-size containers.  It would be fun to make stir-fry vegetables-with-chicken on the griddle.  Rice on the side.  I should write down the names of the sauces and then look them up on the internet.

There’s always something to keep me amused.  The crew has bones and a stuffed badger; I have food.

I thought I’d be at the griddle today.

After a balmy, calm morning, the wind whistles through here, blowing over the lounger before I get out there to put it away.

The wind puts the nix on using the griddle. It doesn’t matter.  The other day I griddled a huge batch of sausage, peppers, and onions for a day such as this.

After this post is done, I’ll make a nice, fat burrito with some of those leftovers, using my new skillet on the stove.

~ ~ ~

Every day we go for a walk or two . . .

And every day I take the crew to visit their pals.

I tried to skip a visit today because of the wind blowing so much dust.  Reggie and Roger wouldn’t allow a change of schedule.  You never saw such a fuss!

Imagine the two of them planted by the door, whining and pawing the door and the rug, running up to me to pounce on my legs, being pests.

Of course, they get their way and we sprint through the dust to Del’s camp.  

At least the air is warm.  I don’t bring my camera because of the dust.  These photos were taken previously.

That’s it for our big news, coming to you from our camp in the Colorado Desert!

Big Maria Mountains seen from Midland LTVA, Blythe, California

rvsue

NOTE:  For the story of Blythe, “where the sun rises in California,” follow this link. — Sue

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!

To see a few of the products recently purchased by readers or to browse and shop, follow any of these links to Amazon:

Kids Garden Tools Set
Wheel Lock Anti-Theft Tire Claw
100% American Rawhide Chip Rolls
Poppin White + Orange File Cabinet
Dockers Big and Tall Classic Flex Pants
Funko POP! Rocks: Elton John (Greatest Hits) + Vinyl Figure Set

RVSue and her canine crew is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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106 Responses to Daily news from our camp in the Colorado Desert

  1. Ann M in Virginia says:

    Hi, sue!

  2. Cat Lady back home in Baton Rouge, La. says:

    Top 10?

  3. Robin B (Oregon & Arizona) says:

    First?

  4. Chris B and Diego says:

    You have me wanting one of those griddles. It seems like they are easier than a grill. Less drippy mess to clean after cooking. I just might have to get one…of course using your Amazon link!

    Keep warm!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Chris,

      I’m pretty sure a griddle is easier to clean up after cooking. It has a little reservoir where you scrape stuff through an opening. Then the reservoir comes out like a drawer… dump it, wipe it, done!

      I hope you, Clete, Diego and family are all well and happy…

  5. Ann M in Virginia says:

    I have never been number one! I should go out and buy lottery tickets! Sounds like you are enjoying your stay there and the pups are happy with their friends. Good spot!. Very windy here in Va. yesterday. Quite a few trees down.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Ann,

      Falling trees …. Scary! One thing that doesn’t concern me when the wind blows in the desert!

      Glad you’re okay.

      • Ann M in Virginia says:

        The previous owner of this house had a tree fall across the back deck and one across his car parked in the front of the house. Since we moved here, we have had one tree removed because it leaned dangerously when we got a heavy snowfall. So, if nothing fell during that wind the other day, that’s a really good thing! There are trees all around the house and some of them are pines which can snap in two, as you probably know from living in Ga. I am very thankful that nothing fell! I do think that dust in the desert would do me in, though. Last time I was in dust, I ended up in the hospital for 5 days! It’s wonderful that it doesn’t bother you.

  6. Pat in Rochester says:

    I especially love the pic of Reggie handing you his toy. Looks like he used his paws to hold it right up to you.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Pat,

      Reggie can be very insistent when he wants me to play with him. I admit there are times I wish he were better at amusing himself, the way Roger does. Oh well, then he wouldn’t be Reggie. 🙂

  7. Jolene/Iowa says:

    Ha Ha! The stare! We get that stare also from Harley. He doesn’t bark so if he wants to go outside, we get the stare. If I haven’t fed him soon enough, The Stare! It must be part of doggie dna! lol

    It has been windy here also. It seems as if when we have a little nicer weather we get that darn wind.

    I am sure the boys are enjoying their pals and I hope you are also enjoying your stay at this camp, Sue! Take care!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Jolene,

      Don’t you just dread The Stare? It drives me nuts and they know it, especially Reggie. If I don’t do what Roger wants, he’s more vocal about it. If he could talk he’d say, “Get off your rear, woman!”

      BLOGORINOS: Purchase your CBD at Hempworx!

      I’m sure Jolene will appreciate you thinking of her. Her name at the top of her comment is a link to the website.

      • Denise - Richmond VA says:

        Oh, how I wish I could try this. The laws need to catch up with the use of those products for medically supervised pain management. Weed/cabaniss oil use may be legal in your state, but it is still illegal by federal law. This means if you are still working, you can lose your job if a drug test comes back positive. It also could impact those on pain meds that require frequent testing for other meds in your system. Not everyone who uses weed or the byproducts is looking for a high. The use of the oil does not produce a high and has provided pain relief to many. I hope those who can, will order through Jolene’s link.

        • rvsueandcrew says:

          I didn’t know that the oil is illegal by federal law. Thank you very much for pointing out the situations where a person may run into problems.

          LATER>>>> I read a few website articles about when it is and when it isn’t legal. Very confusing.

          • Denise - Richmond VA says:

            Very confusing indeed!

            • kgdan WA says:

              I have purchased cbd oil from Hempworx and find it very effective for pain control. My understanding is that it is legal in all 50 states and will pass any drug test. It is pricey however.

            • Jolene/Iowa says:

              Denise if you have questions, go to my link in my name, sign in and contact me. I can help answer any questions you have. It is confusing, yes.

      • Jolene/Iowa says:

        Sue, yes, I hate the STARE. Harley also does it when he wants to go on a walk or ride in the truck! Dogs are funny, frustrating creatures at times but would be so empty without their love in my life!

      • Denise - Richmond VA says:

        Hi, Joelene,

        Thank you for the additional information. I read an excellent article last night in Rolling Stone magazine regarding the challenge of finding clean cabaniss and byproducts, where toxic pesticides or fertilizers were not used. Hempworx looks like a great company – on the forefront of this push. The article is online. Search for Rolling Stone “Meet the Crusaders of Clean Pot.” I look forward to the day when I can freely place an order through your link!

        • Jolene/Iowa says:

          Denise, if you are on Facebook I would love to connect with you there. Yes, this company is amazing in so many ways and their products are top rate. We may have something a little later this year for everyone that has to be concerned about the THC. I would love to be able to keep in touch with those of you interested so I can tell you when it does come out and share about the other great products. You can even email me from the email on my website if you are not on Facebook.

          I just finished 2 youtube videos this afternoon that I did that explains everything and I go into depth on some of the things you just mentioned.

          So if you or anyone else wants to contact me I have some good info I can share with you.

    • Jolene/Iowa says:

      Hang on everyone. I will get you the legal stuff you need to understand.

      • Jolene/Iowa says:

        Why We Are Legal by Josh Zwagil, co founder of HempWorx
        JOLENE BATES·SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

        Josh Zwagil
        Admin · November 16 at 3:06pm
        ***WHY WE ARE LEGAL & COMPLIANT***
        Here’s some interesting information about our farming partners and how we are striving to be 100% compliant in the CBD industry. MANY companies buying from Colorado, California, or overseas are NOT compliant. Period!

        The 2014 Farm Bill (Agricultural Act of 2014) changed the legal status of hemp in the US forever. Section 7606 conveyed to state Department of Agricultures, and institutions of higher learning, the ability to grow, cultivate, process and market hemp so long as research projects were conducted in accordance with corresponding state and federal laws. While a small path to accessing this American grown superfood became available, it wasn’t until a Statement of Principles, issued last August by the USDA (also signed by DOJ/DEA and HHS/FDA), that federal agencies had a legal basis for the broad federal acceptance of hemp.

        Further recent clarification has removed most of the legal questions about the movement of hemp and hemp-derived products over state and international lines. Kentucky’s leadership in hemp reform, stemming from its long ago history as the dominant American supplier of hemp products, has ensured that Kentucky’s farmers and processors are at the vanguard of this re-emerging agricultural commodity.

        Our farming partners are proud to have a successful history and relationship with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, instituting their Head Office at the Hemp Research Campus in Winchester, KY, and becoming the first recipient of a multiyear production permit. Kentucky grown hemp enjoys the clarity of the agricultural production of a re-purposed crop in a jurisdiction famous for its farmers and its hemp.
        #KentuckyFarming
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        • Jolene/Iowa says:

          This said, I encourage every person to double check your state laws. This is changing rapidly as more states and people are becoming aware of just how much this is benefiting people. If anyone has further questions because I don’t want to get this much detail in Sue’s blog, go to my website link in my name here, sign in and then it has contact me. I have a link to an information group on Facebook as well as my email address and phone number.

          Currently right now today I am working on 2 Youtube videos that will be ready later that I can share where I explain lots of things.

          The short of this is that yes, this is legal to ship all across the USA as well as other countries. The laws in each state may vary but in many states there are no questions about it at all but people are using it all over the country. From my website when ordered it is dropped shipped right to your door. There is so much about this that people do not understand yet but you will NOT get high on this as it is well below the federal legal limit of .3 THC. Safer than alcohol and tobacco and the health benefits suggested are staggering.

    • Jolene/Iowa says:

      Kgdan WA, Because I am a responsible, honest salesperson I want to let you know that yes, most people do not have a problem passing a drug test but because this hemp oil is from a full spectrum plant product there is naturally occurring THC in it. Low/trace thc is actually a good thing in a CBD product when you can do it because it will work better in your body with our endocannabinoid system.

      We are never supposed to tell people that you will for sure pass a drug test because every person metabolizes things differently as well as depending on the sophistication of the drug test. Thc is stored in fat cells. I have seen very few test positive but to be responsible I have to tell you with full spectrum product that you could test positive. Talk to your Dr. and employer if you have any concerns. Contact me and I can tell you more and give you options.

  8. Renee still in Idaho says:

    I saw your post right away, but when I went to your web site, it was the Dogs Fly post. Interesting! My email said one thing, and the web site another. Must’ve been an Android thing! Darn. I could’ve been first too! Oh well.

    I sure enjoyed reading this. I never tire of food. Hubby and I are on a diet, more because he wants to but the side affect is that I’ll lose some weight too, so it’s new recipes and ideas. One of the surprises to me was Chia seed pudding! Wow. Another was Kombucha. Another Wow! No flour or sugars, so we’re being inventive. Enjoy.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Renee,

      Good for both of you, watching your diet and trying new foods. Somewhere recently I saw Chia seed for sale as food (not for gardening). I wish I could remember where. I thought, “How weird.” And you ate it in the form of pudding. What does it taste like?

      I guess the page needed refreshing to bring up the newest post… or something. The mysteries of technology…

      • Renee still in Idaho says:

        Hi Sue – I too was surprised at liking the Cha cha cha chia pudding. It reminds me of tapioca – look and feel of it and the taste is from whatever milk or sweetener you used. I made two different recipes, one using full fat coconut milk from a can and the other using coconut milk in a carton used for drinking. I preferred the second because it was creamier, whereas the coconut milk from the can no matter how much I beat it was grainy in look, but not texture. I’ve found other chia pudding recipes using almond milk, cocoa, chocolate almond milk and coffee. All very simple, four ingredients of stuff you can easily buy and would probably use again. Each recipe, in addition to the coconut milk and chia seeds, used vanilla and a sweetener of some sort, either honey or pure maple syrup.

        • rvsueandcrew says:

          It’s like tapioca… interesting. I don’t know why I was thinking the seeds would make the pudding black. You are very adventurous and creative in the kitchen, Renee. Wow!

      • Barbara (Nashville) says:

        Hubby is on a kidney diet, therefore so am I for the most part. Talk about an abrupt change. No cheese, dairy, potatoes, tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc., chocolate, nothing out of a box, all baking from scratch with flour and yeast. No quickie meals from the freezer dept., low sodium, potassium, phosphates, etc. Pretty much, everything is from fresh. I have been going crazy trying to to think of or find things to cook.

        • rvsueandcrew says:

          Oh, man, Barbara, that’s a tough regimen for the shopper and cook in the house.

          Blogorinos! Give up your recipes! Any ideas to help here?

          • Linda Sand (Minnesota) says:

            I make huge crockpot meals then freeze some for non-cooking days. One easy one is a 2-3 pound pork roast, a large can of crushed pineapple, and grated or powdered ginger; cook it all together then shred the pork and stir it back into the juices. A similar one uses pork, apples, and cinnamon. You can also cook a pork roast with just a can of root beer. Or 2-3 pounds of chicken, peach slices and cinnamon. Or pear slices and nutmeg. As you can see, I like easy. 🙂

          • Judy J. in S.C. says:

            Hi, Barbara. Feeling your pain with cooking challenges. When we found that my hubby had diabetes and had experienced 3 silent heart attacks (blast you, diabetes!) everything had to change. I blithely thought we would just start shopping at places like Whole Foods, for healthy premade. Hah! No such animal. Something I recently discovered is riced cauliflower. I get it in large bags (frozen) a to Costco but it’s available in smaller quantities in other stores. It’s a great substitute for regular rice; also instead of potatoes. Just made a big batch of chicken and riced cauliflower soup. Hope this will help some. You’ll gradually come up with lots of good replacements for the things you used to eat.
            Happy recipe hunting. Judy

        • Diann in MT says:

          I found that the National Kidney Foundation has a good list of cookbooks that might be helpful. Maybe, Sue, there are some that are sold on Amazon.

        • Jolene/Iowa says:

          Barbara, that would be so tough. I know what is has been like changing to low sodium, low fat and low chol. after Rick’s heart attack. So I feel for you. His Dr. has him on the mediterranean diet and he hates that. Pretty much for us, keeping it fresh. It is tough! Praying for you!

          • Barbara (Nashville) says:

            Thanks everyone for your help.

            Linda, those pork recipes sound delicious. No dark soft drinks are allowed however. do you think I could use broth? Is there a recipe book for these or are they your own?

            Judy, I use a lot of cauliflower from whole to riced to mashed. Also use parsnips and turnips to replace potatoes.

            Dianne, I have not checked the Cookbooks on the kidney foundation website. I will try that one. Currently I use cookbooks from DaVita and went to their class. They also send my recipes via email on a weekly basis.

            Jolene, thanks for your prayers. We were doing a lot of the Mediterranean diet, but there are a lot of fresh fruits and veggies that are very high in potassium that he can no longer have.

            Admittedly, I am doing this diet with him but having a very hard time giving up my chips and chocolate, so I still have some, but cut waaay back on them. I appreciate everyone.

            • Linda Sand (Minnesota) says:

              The recipes are my simplified version of recipes from many sources. I look at a recipe and figure out what the main ingredients/flavors are and distill it down to just that. I often add salt & pepper, though, if it doesn’t include other spices. I call them Dump Meats because you just dump everything into the slow cooker and let it do its thing. But all the beef ones I have right now have ingredients you can’t use.

              Yes, I think broth would work. In fact you probably don’t even need to add that if the meat has enough fat. I also slow cook a bunch of prepackaged pork tenderloins without adding liquids and slice them to make boneless pork chops. Since we dip them into applesauce it doesn’t matter that they might otherwise be a tad dry.

  9. weather says:

    Quick question, did you mean to title this “….in the California desert, so Colorado may be a typo?

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, weather,

      It does seem wrong but I checked several sources and this is the Colorado Desert. Here is wikipedia: “Blythe …is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Palo Verde Valley of the Lower Colorado River Valley region, an agricultural area and part of the Colorado Desert along the Colorado River.”

      Thanks for being on the look-out for my errors. I make them often!

      • weather says:

        That makes sense, I just learned something new, neat!

        • rvsueandcrew says:

          Now I’m wondering where the place name, Colorado, comes from…. I’m off to look it up. That’s a great thing about the internet!

          • rvsueandcrew says:

            Oh, for heaven’s sake, I should’ve been able to guess…

            Colorado is of Spanish origin, meaning “colored red.”

            The name was applied to the Colorado river because of the red sandstone soil of the region, and came into use for the entire territory after the discovery of gold in the Pike’s Peak region. In 1861 congress chose Colorado as the name for the Territory. In 1876 Colorado became the 38th state.

            • weather says:

              Haha! You should stop researching for now, you said you were going to post ,then have a burrito. I’ll be back tomorrow, n’nite

            • rvsueandcrew says:

              I snuck in a burrito…. Multi-tasking!

              N’nite!

      • weather says:

        How sweet and homey the BLT looks in the header photo! I love the way it’s tucked in among the trees and bushes. I’m glad to see River made it into another photo, I think he’s such a cute little guy .

        It’s great to see how, and how much, Roger and Reggie enjoy their lives. I know Reggie can sometimes be a pest when he wants you to entertain him. Considering how young he is I know you’d worry if he only wanted to lay around though.

        Polly can be entertained by just about anything, she’s still a kitten in so many ways. When Kyla is bored and really wants to get my attention she starts pulling stuff, like a paper or pen on a table closer to the edge. If I don’t respond quickly enough to suit her she will make it fall onto the floor. She knows that always makes me laugh and stop whatever else I was doing.

        That storm we had the other day brought a lovely development. The winds were so strong they tore apart the ice in lake’s cove at the edge of my backyard. We had weeks of warm enough days before that to have thinned the ice, now it’s floating out toward the middle of the lake. This year’s first geese are here now, swimming around and deciding where to start their families 🙂 !

  10. Pamelab says:

    I’m near Quartzsite AZ and don’t have my BAL jacks down and even though it’s warmer, my Casita is rocking like there’s a Nor’ Easter out there. Wow. Every now and then I think of getting a dog. Then I think of getting a friend for the first one. I think the pups are a comforting addition to a solo boondocker’s life. Thanks for sharing.
    Pamelab

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      You’re welcome, Pamelab,

      Yeah, I don’t have any jacks down either and we’ve been rocking. The wind stopped suddenly at sunset — another beauty — and I ran out for a few photos. Now I hear the wind whistling again. I read that it will be calm tomorrow and we’re in for some temperatures in the 80s. I love warm weather.

      So you might get a crew of your own? We Casitans can handle two dogs, as long as they aren’t too big.

      I can’t imagine life without dogs. They’re as much a part of my life as breathing, and have been for many years.

  11. Joe in TN says:

    Hi Sue,
    Once again, your griddles meal made me hungry. I’ve had a Lodge cast iron skillet for many years and, following my grandmothers instructions, I’ve never washed it. I just give it a good wiping with a a paper towel and put it away. Makes great cornbread.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Oh, Joe. You shouldn’t have mentioned cornbread. I had forgotten all about making cornbread in a cast iron skillet. Now I want some. I REALLY WANT SOME CORNBREAD!!!

      I don’t wash mine either. I do the same as you do. It’s easy and saves on water.

      • Linda not in NC says:

        I don’t know if you have an oven but this is delicious! If you don’t have an oven, it will make you drool. Sorry! Might be able to do it another way though.

        Corny Cornbread
        By Paula Deen

        Rating:
        (14) Questions (0) Difficulty: Easy

        Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 5

        Ingredients

        2 eggs
        1 cup see Cook’s Note* cream-style corn
        3/4 cup self rising flour
        1 cup self rising cornmeal
        1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup for greasing pan vegetable oil
        1 cup sour cream
        1 cup grated optional sharp cheddar cheese
        1/2 teaspoon optional cayenne pepper

        Directions

        Preheat oven to 375 °F. Generously season a cast iron skillet with up to 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Preheat the pan either in the oven or on the stove over medium-high heat.

        Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until combined. Pour batter into the preheated cast iron skillet. Place skillet in the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes. If making individual size cornbreads in smaller pans, they will require a shorter cooking time.

        * Cook’s Note: Frozen creamed corn is sold in the frozen vegetables section of most grocery stores. It is much better than using canned corn.

        • Joe in TN says:

          Sue,
          Now that you have a griddle, just make hoe-cakes (or fried cornbread). I just mix the batter as if I were making cornbread and add a little extra buttermilk to thin it a tad. Then I just fry it like pancakes. If I have leftovers, I save them in a ziplock and use them to make grill cheese sandwiches on the griddle. Enjoy!

  12. Teri Live Oak Fl says:

    Always enjoy your post. We take off tomorrow. This will be the third year we have tried to be gone over the summer. The first year the state of Florida gave me grief and had to come back. Last year it was the IRS and had to come back. This year I’m taking the whole file cabinet with us. Wish us luck.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      I had to laugh at you taking “the whole file cabinet.” Sorry, it sounds like you’ve had your share of PITA. Are you the ones who are going to camp to Maine and back?

      I hope your road is clear with no obstacles or tethers to hold you back. Wishing you safe travels to wherever you want to go.

      Happy Launch, tomorrow!

      • Teri Live Oak Fl says:

        We are heading to Arizona then up to Moab Utah. We take a jeep with us to play with and tow it with a van we converted into a camper. Thanks for the well wishes.

  13. Barbara (Nashville) says:

    Cute post. I love the Reggie stare. At least you only have to entertain one of them. I could just imagine the carrying on to go over to Del’s. The friendship with all of the dogs is really endearing.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      I’m grateful to Roger for the long stretches of time when he entertains himself. He’ll go tear off a branch of creosote and play with it. Or he picks up a piece of kibble in his mouth, slings it away, and then “chases” it. Or he jumps on Reggie. He finds all sorts of amusements… and they don’t involve me! 🙂

      Every time we go over to Del’s and the dogs are all together again after being separated for one day, they are excited like they haven’t seen each other for years. Crazy!

      • Barbara (Nashville) says:

        Angel tosses her Greenie and chases it. She gets one after her bedtime walk. When we come back I get the harness off, then she jumps around until she gets it, then runs to the dining room tossing it in the air. She usually does that a couple of times before she actually lays down to eat it. That dog is just a crazy mess, but she makes us laugh.

  14. Geri in the FL panhandle! says:

    Reggie has that STARE down to a fine art! Funny how dogs can let you know what they want and they want it NOW!
    With Radar, he loves being in my lap BUT he insists on me getting a blanket on my lap so he can cuddle up on the blanket! Sheeeesh!
    I have the same lodge skillet and I bought that size because it was tortilla size!
    Fun post Sue! Have a great day! Hug the fur babies for me! 💕

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Okay, I’ll be hugging the boys tonight. That Radar is so cute! What a precious baby he is…

      Have a good night and a great day tomorrow. 🙂

  15. Oh the stare! Reggie definitely has it down pat. I sure miss seeing that stare now that all of our dogs have gone to wait at the Rainbow Bridge. The stare wins every time, as does continuous whining and pawing to go visit their friends. Hope the wind settles down for the next few weeks.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Lisa & Connie,

      It must be hard for you, missing your crew.

      The wind comes and goes. I read that the wind will be gone tomorrow. We shall see!

  16. Katie-girl, my sheltie has the exact same badger/hedgehog toy. And my maiden name was badger…so I was giggling at little Reggie trying to get your attention and how he had to badger you. Katie badgers me too, but she does love that toy and the low grunt it makes when she squeezes it.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Dawn,

      I don’t know why I came up with badger. That thing is a hedgehog!

      Yep, you have the same toy. Low grunt describes it. 🙂

  17. Cinandjules🌵 says:

    The stare…..is better than the ole stink eye!
    Pre seasoned cast iron fry pan….now that’s pretty nifty. But you never wash it? 😳

    Walmart has an Asian section usually near the Mexican section. Many stir fry sauces to pick from…small jars also. Kikkoman, Panda Brand. We use plain ole sesame oil and then add oyster sauce (similar to the sauce on broccoli beef) with a little water for stir fry.

    How easy is it to clean your grill? If it’s difficult…any sauce with sugar might become glue. When I make teriyaki burgers with pineapple….I have to seriously soak and scrub the grill of my BBQ. With the flat surface you may be able to wipe it clean while it’s still hot. If it’s easy….knock yourself out with your choice!

    So happy for the boys…insisting it’s playtime with Del’s crew.

    Wonder if we are going to get your wind. Hah! You did post Elton…aren’t they darling? Amazon sells Dockers? Can’t find Dockers (kids size) since Mervyns closed. Hmmm…ok gotta go browse…

    Enjoy your evening

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Cinandjules,

      I think the secret to my cast iron not sticking is not cooking stuff that has sugar content. No, I never wash the skillet nor do I wash my griddle. Scrape and wipe is enough.

      Oh, the sauces at Smart and Final are more exotic than the stuff by Kikkoman and Panda. That’s why I’m so intrigued… I definitely am going to write down the names of the sauces. I can’t remember anything any more!

      Enjoy your evening, too…

    • Desert Ginger back in the desert! says:

      You can wash cast iron, as long as you dry it on the fire then give it a light coat of oil. You can also use salt and a scrub brush to clean them. I love my cast iron. Although I would never use it to heat a tortilla, preferring the traditional .Mexican way of just heating them over an open flame.

      I went to Mexico to buy my prescription meds yesterday. One of my inhalers costs $375 a month here; in Mexico it was $45. So that was quite a savings! The other inhaler is $45 a month and in Mexico I bought 3 for 12.99. In and out in a couple hours.

      Beyond that I got the results of my latest cat scan of my neck and it wasn’t good. My condition has gone from moderate to severe in the last year. Foraminal stenosis is not responsive to normal treatment methods: pain med’s, ice, physical therapy don’t do much. The agreed best treatment is surgery but I can’t have that due to poor health. Traction may help so I need to get a home traction unit. I hope this isn’t going to force me to not work sooner or later. I don’t know how I will manage without working.

      Speaking of which, I have an assignment to do. Later kids!

    • Ann M in Virginia says:

      Trader Joe’s has a toasted sesame oil that is wonderful for stir fries. I tried other brands, but TJ’s is the best!

  18. LI says:

    Cute wrestling photo at the end.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      I was starting to wonder if anyone noticed, Li. I think it’s cute, too. Roger doesn’t play the victim often. 🙂

  19. Bob Wells says:

    Hey Sue, have you been to the Intaglios about 15 miles north of Blythe? Many people aren’t familiar with them, which is odd. They are figurines drawn on the ground about 1000 years ago and can only be fully seen from the air. One is small enough to get a good grasp of what it is from the ground.

    Might be a nice afternoon drive for you and the boys!

  20. Rover Ronda (WA) says:

    Hi Sue!
    We eat a lot of tortillas around our house too. Taco, borritto, wraps, even peanut butter and jam is great in a tortilla. Hot or cold. I’m usually too lazy to reheat leftovers so add a little mayonnaise to a cold tortilla and roll up the leftovers. Yum in a minute 😃

  21. Toni CT-NH says:

    I just had another idea for a breakfast burrito! Saute diced onion and garlic (you can buy both already chopped) in olive oil. Mix in either refried or whole black beans and add some cumin. Scramble some eggs put all in a tortilla with shredded cheddar, (maybe some breakfast potatoes too)

    The black beans are yummy with breakfast.

  22. Denise - Richmond V says:

    Good morning, Sue,

    I love the sense of contentment that this post exudes! A favorite camp, wonderful neighbors and playmates, grill creations, lovely sunsets, and wrestle matches. Yes, life is good! I was surprised to see Reggie pinning down Roger – usually it is the other way around! 🙂 I am looking forward to seeing what Asian grill goodies you prepare – always on the lookout for new recipes. 🙂

    Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Sue! I have to make a quick run to Walgreens to pick up a Sunday paper and then will be home taking care of a few chores between giving Gracie lots of love and attention. We haven’t been blown to Oz with all of the cold, ferocious wind we have had the past few days, a couple handfuls of minor limbs down, no worries. Sending you, Reggie, and Roger love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! I have to figure out what I am going to cook today. Between the griddle picture, talk of stir fry, and blogorinos sharing recipes, my mouth is watering and my stomach is growling! xo

    P.S. – I usually pick up the Sunday paper for the coupons. I skim the sales ads and real estate listings, read Dear Abby and horoscopes, and then put the paper in the recycling bin. I used to get the paper delivered, but they raised the delivery price $45/13 weeks. The price of the Sunday paper is $2….I know the paper is hurting, but such a huge increase (up from $34) is ridiculous. Delivery used to be the same face value price. They have had a couple small increases over the past 10 yrs. I wonder if others are experiencing the same thing?

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      The pricing is for Sunday only delivery.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Denise,

      I love your “mini-blogs” that you post here. You help me to understand readers who say they feel like they are with us. I feel the same when I read your comments. It’s like I’m in your kitchen, Gracie pup is at our feet being cute, and you’re trying to figure out what you’re going to cook for us.

      My heart sank when you wrote you were going out to pick up the Sunday paper. Then I smiled at your P.S. Smart woman! The newspaper here went from $1 to $2, and that’s the weekday issues. (I haven’t bought a newspaper in about 20 years.) They’ll never recover. Once they lost trust, there’s no getting it back…. and then there’s that pesky internet.

      I’m glad the wind didn’t cause you any damage, just some tree pruning. Happy Sunday, Denise.

      • Denise - Richmond VA says:

        I agree, Sue. The coupons still make it worthwhile for me to buy the Sunday paper. Kroger offers online coupons that you can electronically load to your shopper’s card. They list some of the same coupons provided in the newspaper, but not all. Kroger has really gotten smart, and started listing coupons for their store brand items. This is great, as they will usually list coupons for produce, meat, seafood, and bakery, too. I like the Kroger brand for most items, so this adds up to lots of savings for me. Plus, I use Kroger gas, so every purchase (including Rx refills and 2x the face value of gift cards – buy a $25 gift card, get 50 gas points) earns gas points. Last Fall, I earned enough points to pay only 9 cents per gallon of gas! 🙂

        • Barbara (Nashville) says:

          Our newspaper is $15.oo mo. for Wed. & Sunday delivered, which is ridiculous, it was $7.50 I quit my subscription also. My neighbor gives me all of the ads and coupons on Sunday and Wed. He is divorced and diabetic, so he rarely uses any coupons and mostly shops monthly at Costco, except for a few fresh products, then he goes to Kroger.

    • suzicruzi from the 'Couve says:

      Hey Denise,
      I was wondering the same thing myself; what to fix for dinner today? It’s cold and rainy, so I decided on a simple, one pot Cauliflower (and other veggies) curry. I’m practicing making simple dishes, that can be made in one pot, and don’t have a ton of ingredients that we won’t have along in our travel trailer. I’m also on a limited “diet” so to speak, so that adds to the trickiness.
      So, what did you end up making after all? 🙂
      Suzi~

  23. Jesse (El Paso, Tx.) says:

    Hey Sue, from Caballo S.P. New Mexico. I have been here for three days and will probably leave today. I have been trying to fish with no luck. The wife went to visit relatives back east and so I get to hit the road until around the 11th or 12th. Not to sure where I will head next. Thinking about going into Arizona. Reggie reminds me of my Pepper (one of our dogs) he loves to play fetch and will do it all day if we let him. I get a lot of joy playing the game though. It has been windy here as well. It is usually pretty calm in the morning but by the afternoon it gets pretty gusty. Well, I hope that you and all the blogorinos have a beautiful Sunday.

  24. Oh yes….no one can resist The Stare!! They are very good at letting us know exactly what they want from us 🙂

    Thought about you guys when we were in Blythe the other day. Hope this wind dies down today. With clouds coming for the rest of the week I’m surprised to see our temps are supposed to increase into the low 80’s.

    How fun for the boys to have “neighborhood kids” to hang out with.

  25. Virginia620 AL says:

    Great post. Really enjoyed reading about the history of Blythe.

  26. Steve in Vegas says:

    As for the Asian sauces I have found that a lot of them can be made from basic items that you may have. Google will be your friend here in mixing and matching the ingredients. I was going make a short list, but found it may be a bit long. Here are some of the basics, Soy, Fish/Oyster, Hoisin (I left out the word sauce, as it redundant), Sesame oil, Ground White pepper, Ground Ginger, Chinese Five Spice, Corn Starch, rice vinegar, honey and Mirin. All of them can be found in small containers.
    As for not cooking sweet/syrup on the griddle or cast iron, when done just put some water on the surface and bring to a boil. Scrape it good, rinse, heat again with a very light coat of oil, wipe off with a paper towel and your are good to go.

    • Steve in Vegas says:

      Did the first cook on the griddle, Philly cheese steak sandwiches. I knew mine cooks hot with a larger tank, but I had to turn it the lowest setting to keep the food from burning. Didn’t succeed for the most part, but it smelled good and tasted fine.

  27. Cynthia from San Clemente says:

    I didn’t have time to read or comment on your February 23rd post, so I just went back to read it. Oh my, the reunion with Del’s dogs was wonderful to behold! There aren’t many things more wonderful that watching joyful dogs, and that bunch certainly was.

    Today’s photos are great too – love the closeup of Reggie’s pleading eyes – how could you not give in to him. And those two little black hiney holes (sorry, that’s as polite a phrase as I can think of) headed away from the camera are hysterical.

    I was thinking the other day of another way you might want to enjoy your beloved tortillas. We use them to make Italian style roll-ups or pizzas. Just layer the warm tortilla with a little pesto (Trader Joes has great small jars or most delis), a dollop of sundried or regular tomatoes, any diced veggies you like, and a sprinkle of parmesan or mozzarella cheese. So yummy!

  28. suzicruzi from the 'Couve says:

    Hi Sue,
    I hope this is not inappropriate, but I have a small favor to ask; and of Mick, your friend who created the specs for your solar instal. Is there any possible way you can ask him if he’d be willing to email me, and let me ask him a couple of questions? There are a couple of things I (we) are confused about. I think my Larry is afraid of “blowing up our Casita” to put it as he said it. 😉

    If this is not something you’d like to do, or Mick says “no”, I’m totally okay with that. I just wanted to ask. Thank you for your consideration, though. It’s hard to find someone who’s done a similar set up as yours, and we are getting too much conflicting “advice”.

    As I look at your pictures of the desert where you are camped, I realize one must be careful of what they “wish” for, as I’m pretty sure I’ll find ourselves there in the not too distant future. I’m looking outside my window at “slow dripping rain” and a very grey sky. This is something I’ve become accustomed to, but am growing old of. Then I read your blog and hear of cold wind whipping across the wash….. and I chuckle and remember that life is an adventure, and adventure is exactly what I have been wishing for – only in the non-traditional way!

    I simply LOVE your blog Sue. It’s the daily things; the cold, the heat, doing the wash, grilling, dumping tanks, the dogs running to Skeeters, the buried poop and flies, the hummers you used to feed, “things that go bump in the night”, the “Fart and Smile” and “have a good one”…… Every day is an adventure, and you are living it and writing about it in a true and honest way. You tell all; the bad with the good, and everything in-between. That’s what I like about you; no sugar coating. I feel you’ve given me a true sense of what full timing on a budget is going to be like. I hope to heck I learn to love the desert as much as you! I’ve never been, and I’ve always wanted to experience it for myself.

    Thanks again for all you do, and wishing you and the boys a great day!
    Suzi~

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      You’re welcome, Suzi. I hope you are enjoying this day, too. 🙂

      That’s quite a summary of my blog! Thank you for pointing out why you enjoy my posts. I appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement!

      As for questions regarding solar, please feel free to ask on my blog. Don’t worry about a question being too specific to your situation or silly or whatever. I’ve found over the years that any question asked by one reader is of interest to several others. Rather than sending folks to private emails, I prefer the exchange of information be available to everyone.

      You’re more likely to receive a response or responses if you present your questions soon after a post appears, rather than after most readers have come here and gone. That way any number of readers with experience and expertise on the subject can offer answers, solutions, explanations, and suggestions.

      As for whether you will love the desert…. That’s up to you! Thanks again for writing…

  29. Rox says:

    Hi Sue and fellow Blogorinos,
    I’m reading every post and thought I should check in to say how I continue to enjoy reading about the antics of Reggie and Roger and the camps of Sue and the Crew. I just got back to Minnesota after a trip to visit my Casita that’s waiting for me in Texas. One more term at school and I’ll be retired and ready to make the big move and roll down the road– can’t wait!

  30. Linda (Wisconsin) says:

    I know I’m late, catching up on some posts… but could not resist the photo of Reggie wanting you to throw his hedgehog! What a sweetheart!

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