This post includes photos of camps I’ve enjoyed with my crew over the past seven years. Longtime readers may recall the location of these camps. New readers may recognize the landscape or other clues. Do you know these places?
CAMP #1:
As usual, I update you on happenings around our recently purchased house.
Monday, July 30, at home in Arizona
The past few weeks the crew and I wake before daybreak each morning. Today, around four-thirty a.m., Reggie, Roger, and I leave our pallet on the floor and pad down the hall to the kitchen.
Camp #2:
My feet are bare when I step into something wet.
“Wha? What is this? Did somebody have an accident in the night?”
I flip the light switch and stoop to examine the floor.
Oh, no. It can’t be. Darn. I don’t believe it. Yep. That’s what it is. We have a leak.
I check the air conditioner vent above and the floor below.
No way that’s condensation. This here is a puddle from last night’s rain. Hoo-boy. The roof leaks.
CAMP #3:
Pushing my concern aside . . . .
I let Reg and Rog outside and put water on the stove for coffee. I fix the boys their breakfast plates and the morning routine proceeds. For distraction, I take my coffee to the computer, go online, and read stuf
Well, Mike will be here soon to work on the roof. At least it leaked at an optimum time.
CAMP #4:
I set the stepladder next to the puddle. Mike arrives, opens up the vent, finds where the water came in, and reassures me he won’t leave until the repair is made.
Whew!
CAMP #5:
Around one o’clock, Mike and his helper clean up to leave for the day. Before going Mike tells me to call him if there’s a leak. I’ll know soon because it rains every afternoon and/or night now.
“I don’t think you’ll have a leak but in case you do, don’t worry about bothering me. Call.”
Tuesday, July 31
Around two in the morning I wake to the sound of wind and rain. This triggers an automatic response necessitating a quick trip to the bathroom. While occupied I remember the roof leak.
Oh, geez. I’m gonna’ take a look . . . .
CAMP #6
Hmm . . . No water on the floor and no water on the ceiling. Thank God. And thank you, Mike.
“It’s nothing, Reggie. Go back to bed, honey. It’s too early for us to get up.”
~ ~ ~
I tackle the first project of the day!
Yesterday I unpacked everything and set up a work area on a big piece of cardboard in the dining room.
I got my camp chair from the front porch and a step stool from the laundry room.
Today, after another read of the instructions . . .
“Okay. I can do this.”
The instructions and diagram are easy to understand and the assembly goes fairly quickly.
I think I’m done when I realize I put the handle on upside down. I fix it.
Time to try it out!
“Okay, Reggie. Here’s your bed. I’m going to put you in first for a picture. Sit right there. Stay. That’s a good boy, good . . . .”
“Now you get in, too, Rog, okay? Oh, Roger. . . Come back!”
Roger ducks through the kitchen and around the corner to the sliding glass doors . I pick him up and bring him back. Reggie has jumped out. I put them both in the cart.
They look depressed.
“Gosh, it’s just a cart. I’m not going to haul you off to the salt mines.”
Sheesh. Bridget would be thrilled with this ride.
“Perk up. It’s not that bad, guys. Here, let me show you how it rolls . . . . Roger! Stay in, sweetie!”
“All right. One more photo and we’re done. Look up here for me. Good.”
“Got it!”
And there they go!
I pull my new cart around the backyard.
For the fun of it!
rvsue
NOTE: I’ll post the camp names here. — Sue
LATER . . .
#1 Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA
#2 Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ
#3 Mittry Lake, Yuma, AZ
#4 Fossil Falls, Rose Valley, n of Ridgecrest, CA
#5 Absaroka Mountains/Wiggins Fork River, n of Dubois, WY
#6 City Creek boondock, Tushar Mountains, nw of Junction, UT
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!
To see products recently purchased by readers or to browse and shop at Amazon, follow any of these links:
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
Stainless Steel Clothes Hanger
Digital Convection Toaster Oven
Merrell Men’s Jungle Moc Slip-On Shoe
Arizona Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas
Plant Based Protein Powder, Chocolate Fudge
Here’s my cart at Amazon:
Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart
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.
I love camp 5&6…nice wagon….I have a cart I use here to drag things around.9
WELL DONE, VAL R.! You wrote a comment and made first place! 🙂
What a surprise! I don’t get notified when you put up a new post because I like to just discover a new one when I check in. 😊
I’m the same way with my favorite sites. I never follow.
Reggie and Roger had their doubts about that cart. I’m glad you were able to get pictures. You’re right about Bridget; it would be a bigger and better carriage for her.
I don’t know the locations of any of the camps, but #5 and #6 both look wonderful. The first one’s also my kind of place.
Hi, Calvin,
Wow! You’re fast, too! You wrote a message and tied for first!
The camp in the first photo is in California. Some readers will recognize the rocks in the background. 🙂
I am enjoying your blog. As a resident of Arizona I do worry about the dogs running around outside. Too many coyotes who are fast to grab and run. Keep your babies safe.
Good morning, Lenora!
I appreciate your concern and will continue to do my best to keep the crew safe.
I immediately thought of Bridget in her stroller. Ah well, these two are still young and spry. Some day they mighh also appreciate wheels.
Hi Pat,
Maybe they will, but I don’t think they’ll “adore” a carriage ride the way Bridget did. Her eyes brightened whenever I pulled the carriage out of the PTV.
Hi Sue and Crew! I like camp #3, it reminds me of a place I camped along the Colorado river. Reggie and Roger are too funny, they love to run not ride. Maya has pretty bad arthritis so I bought one of those folding camp carts that she could ride in, of course she hates it! But she hated the kayak in the beginning and now she’s ok so maybe she will get used to her cart.
I hope Maya does learn to appreciate the comfort of being pushed around in a cart. That’s pretty good of her to ride in a kayak.
The following is a report from Suzi (and Larry) who are into their first weeks traveling and camping with their new Casita travel trailer. Suzi’s comment appeared at the end of the discussion under the previous post. I move it here for more people to enjoy.
“Aloha Sue, We are camped on a picturesque lake, Canyon Ferry Lake, MT, which so reminds me of many, many of the photos and posts of yours. This is White Earth CG, $5 w/ pass. Water and toilets (clean) on site. Tables, and fire pits. Oh Sue, I (we) couldn’t be more thrilled! The CG has a host, and a boat ramp “reserved for certified boaters”, LOL whatever that means. There is one other camper/boater here, parked 5 sites away. No one else! We settled in, door to the East, and set down our mat and chairs. Opened a couple cold ones, and are gazing out at the Montana hills across the lake. Big lake! I took photos of us sitting out here on the lake shore, and I’m remembering how excited you were when you found a spot with solitude on a lake with a view, when you were only a few weeks or months into your new BLT. We have been only 22 days since we picked her up in Rice, and we have been 3,600 miles, and seen so many wonderful sights; including Custer SP, Little Big Horn, Rushmore and Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Tetons, and Yellowstone this past Sunday. Not to mention everything in between.
“Yesterday we were camped at Pine Creek, MT, S of Livingston on 89, and did a 10 mi hike up into the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. We reached 8,000’, into high alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. It was splendid! The CCC built the CG in 1935. It was forested, huge sites, and I mean you had an incredible “back yard with the works”. Cleanest pit toilets ever, water spigots everywhere, a creek in back, and a waterfall 1 mile up the trail, which we passed on our hike. The hosts were lovely, hard working people from Galveston. $7 with pass. A bit spendy for nearly primitive, but we loved it.
“Last week we were boondocked just outside the Teton’s border, smack dab in the middle of the park, on a road that led to Dubois. We camped overlooking a river valley, on Buffalo Valley Road. Look fori t on your map. Free, free, free!! A great view on the bluff, and 10 minutes from the Park. One downside ; we were swarmed with mosquitoes there and had to spend evenings inside. But with our big windows and view, it wasn’t bad. We even saw that huge moon for 3 nights outside our rear window from bed.
“We have been so remote lately, we’ve had little to no service, so have been behind in news, and your posts. Great cell service here right now though! Yay! Today we got caught up on “house chores”; shopping, washing & vacuuming the rigs, finding parts, banking, and then a huge treat of milkshakes in Livingston. (MT). Funny story; while we were hiking yesterday, we passed a couple about our age coming down, and we struck up a conversation. It led to food, LOL. I guess there is a “famous” burger joint in Livingston, that’s been there since 1954, and people come from all over to have a shake (real hard scooped ice cream), onion rings, or burgers there. So, well, you know….
“After all our chores, and right after washing the rigs, we went to check it out. All I can say is- “score!” 🙂 We polished off two thick, dreamy real ice cream shakes, and an order of onion rings. We were not disappointed! “Travel to Eat” we say. HaHa! Never pass up a Local’s secret. After our treats, I looked at the map and called a Ranger Station, and asked for tips on a few of her favorite “out of the way, less busy”camps. She led us to check this one out, and we couldn’t be happier for 5 bucks. :-).
“As for your post, I’m excited Nancy’s arrival is a mere couple weeks away. This will be so fun for the two of you! Your rainbarrel is spot-on, and I hope you get enough rain to see benefit from it! We saw a lot of that in the PNW for people’s gardens. My favorite photo from this post is the one of the boys playing on the blue rug in the dappled shade. That is so sweet!
“I wish you were here. Lol… You’d approve of this spot! Nothing but us and a few Seagulls fishing on the shore in front of us, and the mountains to the East across the lake. Signing off now, as the wind is kicking up, and it’s time to go in and make a few quesidillas from the bounty we bought today. It’s dinner time!!
“Cheers Sue and all Blogerinos!”
Another super report, Suzi! I’m thrilled for you, Larry, and kitty!
We camped on Canyon Ferry Lake, staying in Riverside Campground on the other side of the dam. Thanks for bringing up those memories.
Cheers to you, too! 🙂
Suzi, you should write a blog! I’d love to follow your travels!
Hi Dawn, that’s an awesome compliment, thanks! But if I’ve learned one thing from Sue, and a couple others, being a blogger with followers takes commitment and time. I’m not sure I’m ready for that now, but I’ve thought about it. I’ve been happy to just post a few pics to my IG account so my friends back home know what I’m up to. @suzicruzer if you want to follow our journey. Kitty has a page too; @roonircat.travels.
Again, thank you for the compliment. ☺️ Aloha!
Wow! Great trip report. I want to be there too! I’ll have to remember these spots to put them on our bucket list. Thank you!
We just got home from Mammoth – had a lovely time except for the poor air quality due to smoke from the Yosemite fire. I’m too exhausted to comment much – but I think if you put some treats in your cart those boys would be in there in a flash!! Cute pics!
Hi, Cynthia,
I understand. Push back and relax. I’m sorry your camping was in smoke.
Yeah, the way to the boys’ hearts is through their stomachs…
You’ll sleep well tonight, I bet. 🙂
Phew, I’m glad the leak was quickly fixed, and that it was the only one you’ve had. It’s great to have Mike willing to be available that much . You did a good job of assembling the cart. It’s too bad that the crew wanted nothing to do with it. Nancy had a cute idea that they and Marg would ride in it together. Their feelings about it may still change some time. It’s great for the purpose you originally intended, though.
Rather than take wild guesses about the camps in the photos I’m going to do a search using what I remember. However, it’s near bedtime now, and in the morning I have an appointment for an eye exam. They will use those drops that interfere with normal vision for a few hours. If you have already posted the answers by the time I see well enough to read again, I’ll still enjoy revisiting the older posts. Neat, either way I have something to look forward to 🙂 . For now, n’nite
Okay, I tried finding those camps before I have to leave, guesses 1)Alabama Hills, 2)Dome Rock 3) Mittry Lake 4)Lava Flow campground 5)Camp Absaroka, can’t find anything for 6.
weather, you are our Super Sleuth! You are correct on #1, #2, #3, and #5. Your #4 is close…. Thanks for participating. 🙂
I hope you received an excellent report from your eye doctor.
That would be a 66.4 out of 1oo on a test, so a D, barely a passing grade. I never got that bad a mark in any class. 🙁 Ha! It was fun, though, I like that game.
Thanks, my eye exam was great, now I won’t need to see that doctor for another year. Your rain every afternoon is a lot like our days here in central NY state lately. We have had more than the usual amount of thunderstorms this summer, and will be getting one this afternoon and may everyday for another week. The waves on the lake are awesome already. I love it here !Kinda wonderful for us both to feel that way, huh?
Yes, it is wonderful, weather. We are blessed. Don’t worry about the D. I grade on a curve. 🙂
Glad your eyes received an A+!
Hahh if weather got a D we are all in trouble..she pays attention to details like there is no tomorrow.
I sat behind weather during the test and my eyes trained in on her scantron…so I got a d also!
Hahahahaha!!!!
I love Camp #1 and Camp #5…I can almost remember where 5 was. But Camp #6 with Reggie watering the tree while you’re up doing business cracked me up.
Glad the wagon got put together with little trouble. I guess the boys just don’t know luxury when they see it.
Ha! The boys have a different idea of luxury. Roger loves back scratches and chest rubs. Reggie loves soft beds and sunbeams. Well, now that I think about it, those are pretty good luxuries. 🙂
Great report from Suzicruzi! 💗 Good for you girl! You have earned your gypsy feet!
And good for you Sue! You actually got the gorilla cart put together! You know why I like best about it? It’s short turning ratio….if that’s what you call it, it makes tight turns easily! This cart has made my life so much easier in so many ways, I am sure you will love yours too!
Camp #5 is my favorite! I wish I could spend a week there!
Are those boys of yours nuts or what? What fun it would be to fill around in that cart! I agree, made me think of Bridget and how she would have loved to ride there all regal! Grin!😂
Well, today was another no rain day! The forecasters sure have been wrong bout forecasting our corner of the planet! Sunday 60% Monday 40%Tuesday 80% and finally today’s had a 30 second hard shower and it was over! Maybe we need to move to AZ to get rain! Ha!
But the boys from us, we love them and you too! Hurry up Nancy, we can’t wait to meet you!💗
Geri! You don’t recognize Camp #2?!!!
Dear Sue, I”m not even going to guess on those campsites as I’m sure I’d be way, way off. As for the “salt mine” comment. Oh boy, I laughed hard at that one. I’ll have to use that line next time my two sulk over a photo shoot.
Hi, Renee…. Hope today brings you more laughter.
🙂
Oh, those two furry boys! Those faces! In the last photo Reggie looks like he is being punished and Reggie is giving you that cheesey smile that happens when you are taking pictures and folks are tired of smiling. LOL. And for sure, Bridget would have been in her element. Funny, sweet, post!
Your descriptions of the boys’ expressions are perfect, Susan!
Roger is smiling as I’m sure there aren’t two Reggies. 😂
No one has guessed a camp yet. How about some hints?
Camp #1: It’s not in Alabama.
Camp #2: The rock is the clue.
Camp #3: I met a guy crossing Arizona on a bicycle.
Camp #4: Lava, lava, lava!”
Camp #5: A river runs through it.
Camp #6: I couldn’t start the PTV — dead battery!
Camp #6 Sherwood campground mt hood national forest?
Camp #4 Fossil Falls!
YES! Excellent, Dawn! That was a tough one!
Nice try, Dawn. Camp #6 is that pretty camp near Junction, UT. It’s a boondock on a Fishlake NF road that leads to City Creek Campground. A stream flows along the back of the site. We camped at two different sites along this road.
This link goes to the first boondock, “A lesson in finding a boondock.” Posts after that one show the second boondock.
Just wanted to say I really love this new “format” where you post a report on the current “goings-on” with your new home along with some past camping pictures and comments. I actually am very happy to hear about your new home and processes to settle in, but the “mix” is very fun too. Congrats! It can be hard for a blogger to figure out how to do things when life circumstances change, and I think you’ve hit on a great path!
Hi, Arden,
It’s thoughtful of you to be aware of the difficulty bloggers have when their circumstances change. I’m glad you like the way I’m handling this time off the road. Posts should become more interesting when Nancy and Marg are here.
My topics may be a bit weird in the meantime (horned toad? garden dump cart? really?). I vowed I never would write a post along the lines of “Not Much Happened Today.” There’s ALWAYS something happening! 🙂
Trying to give them some fun and all they want are their feet on firm ground. Just wait, when you have it full of stuff then they will want in.
Hi, Ronda,
I shouldn’t blame them. If someone picked me up and placed me in a strange black container on wheels, I might make a weird face, too. 🙂
hey, I bought a Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, but it was back on June 19
hope that one’s mine 🙂
Thank you for that order, Lisa!
I found the egg cooker in a report about a week ago. I don’t have any way of knowing if that’s your order. I suppose there might have been a delay in the reporting so it might be yours. Interesting item. I hope you like it.
I was thinking Dome Rock @ the big “Q” AZ, maybe?
That’s it, Geri! Good memories, eh?
It really was! So glad we all went! But once was enough for me! Hahaha! I loved the walking around and seeing all the goodies, but OMG! at the TRAFFIC! 😂
Love the camp pictures but gave up trying to guess where they were. I am so glad the leak was fixed right away. Good thing Mike was on the job. I love the wagon pictures…like trying to herd cats…trying to keep them both in the wagon!! I thought of Bridget as I looked at those pictures…she would have loved that wagon.
I am excited for you and Nancy!!! It won’t be long now. Another adventure in the lives of my 2 sisters! Happy for both of you.
Sending lots of love and big hugs.
Hi Pauline! Nancy leaves Florida in 2 weeks! Sending you lots of love and big hugs, too….
Hi Sue! I laughed at the expressions of Reggie and Roger in that cart. You’re so right, Bridgee Baby would have LOVED it! Ah well, the younger generation just don’t know what they’re missing! The cart looks very handy. Maybe Marg will like it. I am so glad that Mike was around to fix your roof leak. I have had that feeling before, when I am walking on my carpet and all of the sudden, it squeaks and my foot gets soaking wet. Don’t know how to explain it but the air circulator for my a/c gets clogged and floods the carpet! Always a bad feeling, that’s for sure.
As I was looking at your camp pictures, I had to laugh at Reggie taking a wizz in the middle of one of them. Eh hemm,,RVSue do you mind? Some privacy here! Geez!
It’s a terrible feeling, to step in wet in the dark in one’s house. The timing was excellent. The roof leaks on the very day the roofer comes to work on the exact place (around the air conditioner) where the leak is.
Ha! “Taking a whiz”.. Haven’t heard that expression in a long while.
Hi RvSue and fellow Blogorino’s!
Busy summer for me, so far! Haven’t had time to post, tho I’ve kept up with the reading, mostly! Love your format and pics of old camps! A taste of what will come later. I spent 17 days exploring the tuscon area and Albuquerque, nm area with my sister and BIL looking for a good place to retire! Mostly looked at Del Webb and Robson communities. At one point it was 115 degrees. We camped at Catalina State park near Tuscon for about a week. Nobody there! Ha! We did get a few hikes in, a visit to Saguaro Natl. park. Tuscon reminded me of what San Antonio, Tx. was like 40 years ago! I love AZ but don’t know if we can live with the heat. New Mexico was more climate friendly, but less financially friendly. We are going back in about 10 days to look more. BTW, love your camping reports Suzi Cruz! Keep it up. That is what makes this blog so neat! Thanks all for your great comments!
Hi, Terri,
Sounds like you’ve had a lot of fun hunting for a place to retire. I have to stick up for AZ, of course. 🙂 New Mexico has it share of “weather” (wind, colder winters in some parts). We, too, considered NM and would’ve bought there if that’s where we found the right house with the right price.
Best wishes for finding the perfect home for you!
[The neighbors] “There goes that old woman, pulling that cart around the neighborhood for the fun of it. Again. “
Hi, Bret…. I have a special hat with big flowers and fruit on it which I only wear when pulling my cart. 🙂
Hi Sue,
You should hitch the boys to the cart, have them hold a rope in their mouths & wear your hat, of course, then go around the yard. If you get them trained up good you could be in the local parade. People would love it 🙂
Have been catching up. Sad news at my end. Best part was, made it in time to get a kiss from my mom. She passed away on the 23rd and was laid to rest on the 28th. Let’s just say it was not a good trip. Glad to be home again. Wanting a change even worse. My clutteritis is just awful!
Suzi & Larry …..Oh, I am so jealous! Your enthusiasm is wonderful. I couldn’t wait to hear it all. Wish I was there.
Thanks, Sue. What would we do without you?
Dear Barb, I’m so sorry. When parents leave, it can shake us to the core and without us even realizing it. Take care.
Suzi’s reports are great! She lets me experience the kind of vicarious enjoyment that my readers had during my travels with the crew. She and Larry are getting good use out of their Casita. 🙂
Thanks for keeping in touch, Barb.
Phew….glad your leak didn’t leak!
Scrolls down to the complete wagon……it’s a chariot!
Cue the “Chariots of Fire” theme song…. 🙂
We have the same cart here on the property, though ours sees dirt and sticks and such, and never puppies. It has been going strong for a good 10 years now.
We find that the tires need frequent airing up, even with slime in them. If soft dragging a load around can be a real – well – load. In our case we have a big-ol’ air compressor in the shop but the foot-pump I carry in The Van for bike-tires would handle these small tires quite well too.
Hi, greg,
Good to hear your cart is 10 years old and “going strong.”
I was going to add air, if necessary, using my 12 v Vlair air compressor. However my little, digital Slime air pressure gauge apparently has died after 7 years of use. You remind me to buy another one so I can take good care of all my tires.
Some product reviewers (customers) complained that their cart’s tires failed and I wonder if it’s because they did some heavy hauling without sufficient air in the tires.
Customer reviews can be very misleading.
We’re not exactly gentle on our cart, loading pretty heavily at times, heavy enough to pull with the 4-wheeler rather than by hand. We have no yard in the traditional sense and what we do have is pretty up and down, (No flat spots around here!) rough and ‘natural’. The cart also lives outside in the weather most of the time. Yet we are still on the original 4 tires, so I think if maintained with proper air pressure your’s will probably hold up well too.
Hi Sue – that looks like a great cart! Very sturdy, and should haul a lot of stuff for you!
I must say, I am surprised to see photos of such “dog abuse” here! Ask the boys if we should call the SPCA to report their forced entrapment in that evil wagon of doom?
😁(just kidding of course- their faces are hilarious.)
Hi, Becky!
Not only is the cart sturdy, it’s dumps! I should’ve included a pic of that action. 🙂
Both Reggie and Roger, during their time as strays, could have ended up riding in a very real “wagon of doom.” Terrible to think about what could’ve been.
Do you become sad when you wonder about Reggie’s and Roger’s earlier lives? I do, when I think about our rescue. She had had pups and was probably only a year old, was covered in staph, and malnourished when we found her. She has become a terrific friend to everyone and an emotional support animal to our 32 unit condominium building.
She is so resilient and forgiving.
I saw Snapper has a battery powered wagon. That sounds interesting. You might post a link to it in your blog.
Great post this time.
Countdown to the arrival of the rest of the crew.
Hi, Marilyn,
No, I don’t feel sad wondering about Reg’s and Rog’s earlier lives. We live in the present and many times every day they show me how happy they are and they make me laugh with their enjoyment of life.
I can become sad thinking about the many dogs I’ve seen over the years in kill shelters. I can easily recall the faces and wagging tails of dogs behind bars who pleaded with me to take them home. I used to take some home when I fostered dogs in preparation for adoption. However, many more I had to walk past. I remember a scruffy little terrier in the Blythe shelter that wanted very badly to be taken out. If I let myself see the faces of those condemned, I get sad. For that reason, I push them out of my mind. I wish more responsible people would get rid of their excuses and adopt these innocent victims.
Thank you for opening your home and heart to your girl.
Here’s a link to one of Snapper’s wagons at Amazon: Snapper XD SXDUC82 82V Cordless Self-Propelled Utility Cart Kit with (1) 2Ah Battery & (1) Rapid Charger
Thank you for your positive reaction to this post, Marilyn.
Mercy! That’s some cart.
Greetings Sue and Blogerinos!
Been awhile.
Your new adventure seems to be the perfect plan for you at this time. 🙂
I was going through the posts and comments from the last few months and started to jot down a “few” notes. As there are quite a few, how would you prefer them? All in one big, long post or each one a separate comment? Lots of questions and some quips and tips.
So happy that you will be adding to your tribe again.
MV gal
Greetings to you, too, MV gal! Good to see you again!
I love “questions and some quips and tips.” Not knowing what you mean by “lots,” ask away. Maybe group them by topic? 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to reply so quickly. Please reward yourself with another smoothie.
Well, a lot about your yard that the crew so kindly lets you have access to. You probably found many books at the library on gardening in the desert. I hope you came across any and all the Sunset series. The Big book is ‘Sunset’s Western Gardening’. It has so many details and shows some great ideas. It has sections for so many different microclimates, most especially the desert.
I really enjoy succulents. Everybody’s favorite – Chicks and hens. I have never purchased one. Always was given or I asked for a starter. I repurposed a terracotta hose keeper and planted many varieties in it. Some greenish-blue ground cover and C & H’s and others. Then could be moved if needed or at least contained. They would fill out a rock garden in no time. (Sadly, they aren’t as happy up here in the PNW but still try their best.)
Another use for pallets (as you will see in the Sunset book) is to do vertical gardening in them. Set them on their ends against a wall or rebarred into the ground and pack them with growing medium secured with landscape fabric. Then stuff plant between slats. Lots of examples on the net/web. Depending on what you choose, they will fill out or drape down and cover the wood. Add some color and paint the slats before you plant so the colors can peek out here and there.
You probably have gotten rid of yours by now but I just wanted to mention it. Sooo southwest. Also when and if you choose a solid fence you can get them built with offset pockets so you can put plants right on the wall. There are custom bricks for that or have the builder (you?) turn a few cinder blocks at an angle.
Well, I may get ‘timed’ out so I’ll pause here.
MV gal
Amazing! The other day I was reading Pinterest articles on desert gardening and was fascinated by the many uses of pallets by gardeners! Also the many unusual containers in which plants can thrive and look beautiful. And also desert plants that “drape.” Your comment is full of parallels to my thinking!
And, yes, I do have Sunset books that I picked up at the thrift store recently: “Gardening in Containers” and “Waterwise Gardening.” I plan to stop at local thrift shops periodically to build a library of books on Arizona gardening and related subjects.
Interesting idea about fences with pockets for plants!
You mention succulents and “chicks and hens.” That’s one of the things that intrigues me about desert gardening — propagation.
Thank you for your comment, MV gal. You have me fired up for the gardening I’ll share with my sister. Fun! 🙂
More on gardening.
I have a heavy-duty (but pretty) apron I wear for gardening because it has big pockets and places to clip/attach things to. I keep garden gloves and labels and ties in one side and I can put weeds or trashy bits in the other with a trowel. Cargo pants/shorts are great for tools, too. Or water bottle. I also have thick, leather work gloves (pulling blackberry shoots or avoiding blisters when lots of shoveling is needed and messin’ with roses). I mounted a bullclip (or clothes pin) right next to the door for ease of access. Just remember…. shake out each time you glove up. Here….. spiders that could get squished or bite (I enjoy almost all critters; catch and release). Or wasps (sorry, they have stung me unprovoked a few times. One crawled up inside my jacket while I was at the dinner table reading the paper and got my back where I couldn’t reach to treat the sting. I will do the cup on the window thing to shoo them out but, if in my personal space they’re gonna hafta die.) There…who knows! Glove lizard?
Along the mint family, I put a big vote for Lemon Balm! On salmon, in tea, rub on body, make drawer/cupboard sachets, put a packet on your dash. EVERYWHERE!!! Yes, they are invasive as are all mints. But if they aren’t crowding out or taking moisture and nutrients from other plants, set them free!! So nice to brush by them or walk on a branch. Surely if someone there has any they would love to give up a clump. Or a cutting can be easily rooted in water.
I can’t say enough about decorative/custom grasses. Reds, blues, golds, purples! Feathery, spiral, poky, tall. Luv ’em.
More later! 😀
Lemon balm makes great tea too.
Question: How are you going to acclimate your crew to Nancy’s? Will you just let them hang out and see how it goes and adjust any problems if they come up or will they be separated for a period until things settle back down. What has been your experience when adding another dog to the household?
MV gal
Well, MV gal, this is a situation with which I have a lot of experience. Short answer: I’ll “let them hang out and see how it goes.”
When my home was a foster home for a rescue organization, my back yard became a temporary home for a variety of dog breeds. I usually had four or five and as many as seven at a time. Various sizes, various breeds, and various temperaments. Whenever I brought a “new” dog home from the pound, I’d let the other dogs see me bring him/her into the yard, talking softly, communicating that I approved of this dog.
Never had one incident. Not one. One time I had to remove a new dog for a few minutes simply because the others were so joyous and excited that they were overwhelming the new one. I believe dogs experience gratitude and it’s obvious to anyone they feel compassion.
All that to say, the boys and Marg will work out their relationships. I expect Roger to exert his dominance in a non-aggressive way, just as he did with Reggie. I expect Reggie to be a total fool trying to win the affection of Marg. It will be interesting!
Maybe you could snap a few shots of the meet ‘n greet for us?
That’s my plan! Must have a record of such a significant moment in their lives!
I hope this doesn’t stir up a big can-o-worms but….
What’s the difference between a porch and a patio? Is it a porch when it is elevated and covered? Is it a patio if it is covered? Does a porch have to be in front? Does a patio have to be brick/cement/tile?
Maybe regional phrasing just confuses me. Or can it be whatever you want to call it? Like, is a lanai a balcony or is it a deck? Or can a porch be a deck? Pointing to it and saying the word is different than a description over the phone. I have been corrected in several places and a few languages. Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂
MV gal
Oh boy, questions to make one’s head spin.
Here’s my take:
A porch can be in the front or back. Usually it’s elevated because porches are usually made of wood and wood on the ground invites termites and can rot. A porch does not necessarily have a roof, although they usually do because wood deteriorates in sun and rain and the purpose of a porch is to keep one out of sun and rain.
Unlike a porch or a deck, a patio is not made of wood. A patio can be brick, cement, tile, stone, or other hard surface, although new poly materials are being used for DIY patios, too. A patio is in the back or side of the house, rarely in the front but it can be. It can be covered or uncovered. A patio is not surrounded by the house. If it is, it’s a courtyard.
Lanai is an island in Hawaii. 🙂
Sue, the term Lanai is also used for outdoor spaces to sit! And the there are Florida rooms and sunrooms just to confuse it more! LOL
Lanai, Hawaii…. That was a joke, a way to get out of explaining what a lanai is. 🙂
🤣🤣🤣. Being from Hawaii, and having a dry sense of humor, I get this last sentence Sue! 👋🏼😎
Sue,
You mentioned that work crews showed up at your ‘ranchetta’ at very early hours. Do you have any ordinances about this is your county? I would think in the unbearable heat there that might be different than in other counties/municipalities. I am in a residential area but still out in the county and commercial work is not allowed until 8:00am and must cease by 9:00pm. (but how come the recycle pick up clangs its glass and cans at 5:00am? oh well.) I hope the rules there are lax or maybe just as long as long as you are respectful of the neighbors. Everyone there must know that work will start very early in the cool and break for the heat. Or is it just assumed folks will work all day in triple digit heat?
I don’t know about any such rules relating to when people work. If I did know of any rules for our neighborhood, I wouldn’t post them here because, believe it or not, there are people who take such clues to figure out where we live, as if our lives are a game for their amusement.
Anyway….
Mike and his helper do not engage in any noisy work during the early hours. Most of the noise comes from the crew barking for a minute or so, before they realize whose truck is coming in the driveway. Lots of dog owners around and we all tolerate the noise the dogs make without having any rules about it.
I doubt anyone expects work to be done in dangerously high temperatures.
Neighbors do stop by to talk to Mike about doing work for them. I half-jokingly tell them to “stop trying to steal my man!”
Ha Ha! Do you mean Mike or Roger? Ha Ha.
Yes, I meant to ask if you KNEW about any special dispensations for Arizona in general about working in the heat. However, would NOT appreciate a mower/blower going nearby at 4:30am. Commercial or neighbor.
So far nobody has done anything as inconsiderate as running a mower/blower before 8 a.m.
If there are no rules about working early in the day, there wouldn’t be a need for “special dispensations.” Maybe an AZ blogorino who lives in a place that has those kinds of rules can answer your question.
In CA there was a 7am-10pm construction time frame. In NY it was 7 am. Here in AZ, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been woken up at 6 am to the noise of chainsaws and blowers! 😡 I get it…it gets hot…but 6am? Living in this gated community with ALL the other restrictions/rules you would think they had a timeframe. The fire trucks don’t even use their sirens after dark!
Blowers and chainsaws are the worst.
Many years ago I had a job in Florida that required physical labor in the sun. We started at 3:30 a.m. under lights. Quit around noon. Even so, one day I had to be taken off the job due to a near heat stroke.
Arizona does not have any special dispensations for working in the heat nor do any other states in the SW. I
Oh… Sue,
You would be doing a kindness to offer you package delivery driver(s) a soak with your garden hose. Remind them to take out wallet, cellphone and ‘tracker’ then let them spin while you hold the hose for them. Aaaaahhhhhhh!
I don’t think the woman who got out of her air conditioned Fed Ex vehicle to set my package on the porch would appreciate being hosed down! 🙂
You might be surprised. A/C is in the cab only. Lots of getting in and out with the door open. Only in A/C for short time while on route. The drive back to the station is another thing.
Hi, Sue,
Your vehicle seems to show its issues in the morning only or if it has ‘set-a-spell’?
Perhaps after Nancy has had a chance to catch her breath there, you could make an appointment at the shop, have Nanc follow you there the night before and leave it for them to check out first thing. You will have her car at your avail for necessities while they diagnose and repair. You already were thinking that, probably, but shifting from solo to sister/helpmate may skip now and then. Like the PTV’s transmition.
MV gal
I’ve already left the PTV overnight at a shop and the shifting issue was not found. It seems to be going away, hasn’t happened in weeks, and then only slightly. You’re right about having access to another vehicle. That will make maintenance and repair appointments easier.
Hey There, Sue,
You had mentioned how Spike and Bridget loved their sweaters and the new-crew were not as happy with their fleeces. Other Blogerinos over the years mentioned the snugness of the Thunder shirts and how they had helped. Was just wondering if the snugness of the sweaters had that effect and the looser fleeces feel somewhat tickelish/bothersome? Didn’t Reggie have a nice purple sweater (that was stolen 😉 by an arroyo) that he really liked? Now that you can take more time, a perfect fitting in person (in dog) at a [pet]store might offer a snug fitting sweater for Reggie and Roger. Would I be far off if I thought winter in Arizona could still be chilly enough for a sweater for them, especially in the mornings? DON’T want to know if you have one in your area. ‘Any’ store … is as close as the PTV and time to get there.
Ear scritches and chin tickles all around! That means you, too! 😀
MV gal
LOL!! The dogs look like they’re saying “My God, she’s lost her mind!!!”.
Reminded me of our taking our dogs for rides in wagons or buggy as a kid…they were not thrilled either…and loved getting OUT!! Haha…cute photos of the boys!!
Happy Thursday!q
Well it looks like everyone is out getting supplies for smoothies and wrap samis.
Sue, could you pick ‘Toady’ up and put him/her aside while you maintain your yard? I am always worried that I will squish a critter when I’m in the yard. Does anyone know if toads/lizards feel ground vibrations and move away? Up here, especially at night, I have to check for slugs. Yuucck! I hate smishing them. And they are quite tough to get off shoes.
I’ve picked up yard snakes to move them to a better area. A few have ‘squirted’ me with their special juice. Can NOT get that stink off for a day or two. I don’t think I have ever been ‘watered’ by a toad or lizard. The garden books have ways to make fun toad houses. Half buried sideways terracotta pot. Painted or not. These might be more so for toads but I think lizards would like them ,too.
Hope your day is full of yummy and tummy (Smoothies and pupper belly rubs.)
MV gal
Hi, Everybody,
As I type this a little after 8 p.m., a massive monsoon dust storm is knocking out power in the Phoenix area. Hang on tight, Arizona blogorinos!
Meanwhile at our house, all is calm. That may change during the night.
Thanks to everyone who wrote comments for this post. You make my blog special.
Sue
There were a few videos online showing that dust storm around Phoenix, scary stuff, I hope nothing that intense happens where you are, Sue.
Thank you, weather. I wasn’t aware of any wind during the night and it’s a lovely, calm morning here.
It’s one thing to be in a dust storm in the relatively unoccupied desert. It’s quite another to be in an urban area with the havoc on highways and streets with extremely poor visibility, plus the many objects that can go airborne. I’m hoping we will hear that Cinandjules, Gloria, AZ Jim, and all the rest of the Arizona blogorinos are okay.
We’re good up here!
We learned last year…all outdoor furniture is in the garage during monsoon season..or it ends up in the pool!
Dust got up here a couple of days ago…try to always pay attention to the sky but so far I haven’t figured it out yet. One minute it’s nice and the next its 60 mph gust.
Good to hear from you!
Got a nice rain yesterday afternoon and nice breeze in the evening. The clouds are building up again now. Hope we get more rain, makes everything grow so well.
We do not get dust storms in the mountains. Can get windy though.
We lost our beautiful 35 ft. tree out front of our home. Guess we were lucky as it missed our tile roof by about 4 ft.
Called my favorite yard guy and between the three they had it cut up, the hole refilled and all cleanup done in two hours. $350. I am laid up with Sciatica and so Detta had to deal with that. I’ve been in and out of hospital with heart failure. I’m have a very bad year health-wise. This is my first time on the computer in a couple of weeks or more. You guys take care. Hugs
Hi Jim,
Good to hear from you. Sorry about your tree. I lost my magnolia in front to Irma and sure do miss the shade it provided. Luckily it was just leaning. My neighbor with a chain saw cut it down but we still have the stump to deal with.
Sending love & hugs to you and Detta. Feel better.
It’s so good to hear from you, Jim! I’m sorry you lost that beautiful tree. I hope and pray for you and Detta to have better health from now on, sending love to you both.
Good morning, Jim! Good morning, Detta!
Sorry about the health issues and the loss of your tree. Thanks for coming by. I hope you both have a good day today.
BTW, Missy loves hugs from AZ Jim. 🙂
Question: At what point does a dust storm/haboob become a tornado?
New York had a tornado touch down within the last day!
Uhhh I’ll take a guess….they won’t…or I’m hoping they won’t. Like NY they have microbursts which can have a path of destruction like a tornado. I don’t think they can predict a microburst like a tornado. On the Doppler map you can bow echo patterns and when the red meets green…it’s going to be bad! Living in upstate where the weather is unpredictable your favorite channel is the Doppler weather channel!
Hi!
Don’t recall ever hearing about any tornados in Arizona. Maybe? I know Oklahoma has seen them. This brings up memories of my early days in Colorado. Throughout the summers, many of my brothers’ baseball games were called midway through for tornado or lightning sirens. The fields seemed to always be out in the plains area. Big, wide, flat areas with lighting poles that act as lightning rods. What could go wrong??
So it that an ‘Zonie thang, now? Get coffee … let the pets out … check the radar … bring the pets in … get breakfast for all … check the radar … rinse&repeat. Really glad that tool is available to folks!
What did we do in the ‘old’ days? Someone had mentioned their dog would go under the house and that was the alarm. And there were no birds around or singing. We humans haven’t yet attuned our senses as our animal friends have. I’m glad I have the time and desire to so now. Anyone else notice changes before a big weather front comes through?
I’ve attuned my senses to the weather here in Ohio. Many of us here, especially those of us who grew up in the country, know when the kind of thunderstorms that spin off tornadoes are on the way. The light changes and the air feels different. Those are things we always have to notice in case of emergency. In my personal case, I can guess the humidity by my breathing and energy level. The past several days, the air was dry. I’ve been out doing things by bicycle. Today, the air was thick enough to drink but too dirty. The best I could do was put the bike on the bus, and that was plenty of work.
PS…dust storms will stir up the spores that causes valley fever. We turn off the air conditioner and try to not wallow outside (Annie Oakley) until it calms down.
I posted pictures on FB of what the haboob did to our back yard. I have a tool shed for mowers, shovels, rakes, etc. and the other shed holds holiday stuff i.e. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other stuff I don’t use everyday like camping equipment. Anyway, both sheds were lifted off their foundation and raised about two feet and the door of one shed got blown away…can’t find it. My garden stuff on the table bench and carts under the table got blown all over the patio. I had full bags of recycle bottles and cans piled to go to recycle place…those bags got ripped open and cans and bottles all over the back yard and probably into neighbors yard too. My son fixed the sheds, I picked up and cleaned patio but the bottles/can I’ll tackle later. I can only work outdoors 30 minutes at a time due to heat. Back in the day, my wooden fence use to get blown down two or three times during summer. Not anymore. I installed block fencing around the back yard and I love it. So much more privacy.
BTW, why is it taking so long to finish up the roof? I had my whole roof done by two guys in about three days. They stripped off the old shingles down to roof boards, replaced boards that were damaged, and put on 50 year roofing shingles. I’ve never had leak problems in the 10+ years since the roof was done. Water had been leaking under the a/c so we decided to replace the whole roof. The guys did a fantastic job.
Sorry about the damage to your place, Rita. You’re fortunate to have a son available to fix your sheds and put things back into order for you.
To answer your question: Our roof is different than your roof (no shingles). Not wanting to reveal too much about the house, suffice it to say there was repair work to be done. I also opted for installing a roof covering that is labor intensive due to the many steps and material that requires time to “set” before the next step can be undertaken. Also the coating becomes unworkable if it’s too hot.
The roof will outlive me.
Another factor is Mike’s roofing business is not a big operation. He has one helper who is not always available which means two-person steps have to be postponed. Mike does other work on Fridays to provide steady income for his family. In the middle of the job, family illness/caretaking/etc. require his presence elsewhere.
Roofers are hard to come by in this area at this time of year. It’s hard to even get a call-back. When someone comes to Mike with an emergency situation, he knows I will accept a delay to allow him to help those with more pressing needs. He also has done a few, small, fix-it jobs for me without pay.
Hi Sue. What is a roof covering that you mentioned here? Thanks.
You’ve been blessed to find such a nice guy. It’s rare to find a repairman that will do some fix it jobs for you while he’s there, let alone without pay. Pay? A grilled quesadilla?
Happy Friday!
I have been up on many roof types while doing some work (job and home). I would hope most of the low sloped and flat roofs there have Sno-coat on them. That process takes quite awhile. It would seem that if they only had the black tar/tarpaper roof coating on them they would overwhelm the house with heat. Up here, many home homes have the black ‘torch-down’ roof treatment. With just the right balance of insulation in the ceiling, the dark helps with solar gain in the winter. Yes, even in the ‘rainforest’ PNW, some of the sun’s UV rays pass through the clouds.
Must be smoothie time somewhere!
MV gal
Awww…Sue-Sue-Sue-you did it again! This post’ pix that tell your story of the assembly and posing pups was so worth the wait!! Thank you and the boys for my entertainment! That hit the spot! And God bless the roofers! And, thanks for sharing Memory Lane! : )
mb…..still smiling!!
Where’d everybody go? It turned August and hardly a peep. Sue, you must have inspired folks to go play in their yards or take off to find those wonderful sites in the post. Was it me? Do I need a mint? 😀 HaHa! Don’t want to be a pest but was wanting to help keep up the conversations. I really get excited to read these comments and find out what other people are doing, thinking, feeling. I know you have a lot to get done before Nancy and crew gets there. Just sending Saturday greetings. Hoping the bloggerinos will soon share their happenings.
Thank you, MV gal, for trying to keep conversation alive here.
I’ll try to post tomorrow. Yesterday and today my energy level dropped and I’m resting a lot. This happens once in a while, no big deal.
Wishing everyone a good evening,
Bye for now,
Sue
Hi, Sue, those low energy days can be frustrating, at least sometimes they are for me. I hope you found ways to enjoy yourself anyway. I had just thought you might be busy emailing back and forth with Nancy about details for her move and arrival, or having fun some other way. If you can put another post together today, great, if you need another day or so I’m sure everyone will understand, though. You have had a lot to do for several weeks, we all need a little time off now and then.
Thanks for understanding, weather. I took a few naps yesterday and that helped. It is frustrating because I was enjoying days where I got a lot done and felt the satisfaction of accomplishment. It will be great when I get back to that again.
Sitting in the shade of the mesquite watching Reg and Rog patrol the back yard isn’t so bad.