Washboard wander in Arizona’s high desert country — Update added

See update at end of post.

Saturday, March 30

Sweeping the covered patio at the back of the house isn’t a chore because I enjoy it.  It doesn’t take much effort and the results are immediate.  The gentle movement of the broom across the shaded tiles is soothing.

Reggie and Roger sunbathe in their beds.

“Does that sun feel good, boys?”

Sweep, sweep.  My mind is far, far away until I’m pulled back by an unusual sound.

What is that?  Not very loud, close by . . . over here somewhere . . . .

I look up.

“Oh, you poor thing!”

A hummingbird is in the channel that reaches up from the ceiling to the skylight. Repeatedly he crashes against the prison walls in futile, frantic efforts to escape.

(Obviously the photo above greatly enlarges the hummer.  He’s only a couple inches long, if that, and he’s flailing around about 6 feet above my head.)

“You can’t get out that way, sweetie.  Hang on.  I’ll get the ladder.”

I easily cup him in my hand and bring him down out of there.

What a wonder!  His face is so tiny!

I set him on the top of the half-wall of the patio.  

Above is the feeder that he frequents regularly.  He rests absolutely still on his belly, wings outstretched, feathers all puffed up.

Gee, he’s exhausted.  And he looks a wreck.

Less than ten seconds go by and he comes to life.  Up to the feeder he goes.

I return to my sweeping.

My presence doesn’t seem to bother him.  He drinks and drinks and drinks, rests a moment, and drinks some more.

I’m glad I filled that feeder with fresh sugar water yesterday . . . . 

~ ~ ~

Sunday, March 31

“Reg, Rog, you be good.  I’ll be back in a little while.”

I shut the gate and start up the Perfect Tow Vehicle.  The weather this week has been absolutely perfect. These probably are the prettiest days of the year in southeastern Arizona.  Highs in the high 70s to mid 80s, occasional soft breezes, no wind, and lots of sunshine.

I love the seasons of Arizona.

I stop at the mailboxes, pick up Saturday’s mail, and then head for open desert.  Those ubiquitous yellow flowers that adorn our backyard and brighten the neighborhood line both sides of the road like carpet runners.

Eventually the pavement ends and the road becomes dirt.  

The PTV bounces over washboard through a rolling landscape of tall, dry, almost white grass that fills in the spaces between prickly pear, yucca, numerous mesquite, an occasional barrel cactus, and pale green rabbitbrush.

I’m reminded of our many desert camps of the past.

Ooh, deer!

Three adult deer cross the road ahead of the PTV and jump a fence on the other side.  They disappear in a tangle of mesquite before I can get a shot.  Then a youngster crosses the road and jumps the fence, giving me another opportunity.  His winter coat is shaggy.

Not a great shot, but it’s something.

Further on, the road takes us past the entrance of a long driveway leading to a ranch house.

Cattle graze on a distant slope.  The PTV rattles over a cattle guard.  Up ahead, two horses!

They lift their heads as I bring the PTV to a stop and raise the camera.

~ ~ ~

I don’t linger.

Although there are hardly any vehicles on this road, it winds this way and that and goes up and down like ribbon candy.  People use this road to go to the mountains. A rear-ending of the PTV is not a photo op I’m interested in!

About a quarter mile further a small sign advises “Do Not Enter If Flooded.”   The PTV ventures forward and we come to a wash across the road and it is flooded.  I park the PTV to the side and contemplate the situation.

Just then a white pick-up appears in the rear-view mirror.  

The pick-up rides high on its axles above big tires.  He passes me and hesitates for a split-second before entering the water.  This gives me an idea of the water’s depth (about 12-18 inches).

When he attempts to go up the other side, he loses traction.  Realizing he’s digging a hole in the mud, he stops accelerating and drops back to try again.

This time he makes it.

Oh-kay….  The PTV would handle that water, but the mud could be a problem.  I don’t want to ruin this lovely excursion.  I’m turning around.

On the way home . . . .

I stop at one of the properties in our neighborhood to take the photo below.  This dog’s yard is twice the size of that shown in the photo and poppies have sprung up all over it.  (I have more to write about poppies in a future post.)

“Hey, there.  Do you know how pretty you are in that field of poppies?”

rvsue

UPDATE:  MONDAY, APRIL 8

Those of you who found my message yesterday (near the bottom of comments) already know the reason this blog went quiet was a mishap between my laptop and a full cup of coffee.  Despite my efforts at repair, whenever I open my Acer laptop all that it transmits is the “good morning” aroma of Folger’s Classic Roast.

Desperate to reconnect with y’all, I made a hasty purchase of an HP computer. 

At this point I hate the dang thing.  Besides inflicting all the usual annoyances of an unfamiliar computer in which various sorts of garbage have been preloaded and must be eliminated in order to make order out of chaos, this HP laptop irritates the socks off of me.

I haven’t yet decided whether I’ll keep trying to like it or if I’ll return it.  (I was told upon purchase that returns are allowed up to 15 days.)  I wish I had ordered another Acer from Amazon like the one that served me dependably up until I baptized it with my morning brew.

If I return the HP, that’s what I’ll do.

So if you don’t hear from me for a while, I’m either struggling with the HP (or life in general) or I’m waiting for my Acer to arrive.

Computers.  You know the old saying “Hate is close to love.”

I’m dealing with some other “life stuff” these days, but eventually all will settle down and the boys and I will be back.

As always, I appreciate your patience, support and loyalty to my blog. 

Sincerely, Sue

~ ~ ~

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“Love the subtle pattern and rose gold color! Other sizes and colors are available.” — Denise

~ ~ ~

MORE LINKS TO AMAZON:

Stuff for Pets

RV Parts and Accessories

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.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!

~ ~ ~

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134 Responses to Washboard wander in Arizona’s high desert country — Update added

  1. Oh my goodness, what wonderful photos! And the hummingbird, so glad you were out there to rescue him!

    • Geri from the FL panhandle says:

      I am so glad you could rescue the hummingbird! Love that feeder, is it on Amazon too! Great hummer photos! 💗 Good morning ride in your neighborhood! Hug the boys from us!

      • rvsueandcrew says:

        Good morning, Geri. . . . Amazon has similar feeders. I like feeders with large capacity. I may have to throw out some of the sugar water but at least I know it won’t run out before I get a new batch made up.

        Hi, Chuck! 🙂

      • rvsueandcrew says:

        I searched for hummingbird feeders at Amazon. I didn’t know there were so many different kinds! Wow.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Dawn. I’m pleased you enjoyed the photos. I’m watching for the hummer. I haven’t seen him at the patio feeder but yesterday, a few hours after he was trapped at the skylight, two hummers had a fierce battle over the front porch feeder. Maybe he drank so much that he was on a sugar high. 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      CONGRATULATIONS, DAWN, ON BEING FIRST!

  2. Carol says:

    Love the photo of the first horse facing the camera! Your photography of the hummingbird is amazing. It must have been wonderous to hold the tiny creature in your hand.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Carol. What is it about horse photos? I never tire of looking at them and they are so easy to photograph.

      Just imagine how tiny that hummingbird’s heart and how hard it worked to keep him going. Miracles all around us!

  3. Pat McClain says:

    On the other hand, we had a bit of snow in Mich! The wind could take your hat off and you’d never see it again. Lovely pics.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Pat. Michigan right now seems to me like another planet! It’s April!

      I wish you sunshine, warmth and gentle breezes.

  4. Ken (In Queen Creek, AZ) says:

    This was a really great posting. I enjoyed it like a great cup of coffee. Good to the last drop.

  5. Sharron says:

    Miss your adventures on the road but thoroughly enjoying your home adventures as well. Photography is awesome as always. Enjoyed my morning coffee with your blog. Thanks for sharing

  6. Columbus Calvin says:

    Your header picture and the one of Roger and Reggie snoozing in the sun embody contentment. The horse pictures and deer one are nice, too. I’m glad you could help the hummingbird.

    I’m happy you’re making forays outdoors again. Wandering is a favorite thing for me to read as well as to do.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Calvin…. Thank you re the photos. Your last sentence is a simple statement that reveals a rich view of life. 🙂

  7. pam ridgely says:

    I hope one day you will feel comfortable to show us before/after photos of your house, both inside and out. Would love to see what all you have done. I think we are getting ready to make the plunge into a house after 15yrs on the road. Love hearing about your finds at the different stores.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, Pam,

      Maybe I’ll do that someday. The interior is still “evolving.” 🙂

      Best wishes as you transition to house living! Wow, 15 years on the road! Quite a collection of memories to enjoy. .. ..

  8. weather says:

    How fortunate for the humming bird that you were at home to provide help just when it was needed… one must wonder about how often those gifts of perfect timing go unnoticed or unappreciated. Your photo of the horse with the white star on it’s forehead may be my new favorite among the many great ones you have shown us, Wow, what a great picture!

    As I type I am looking at a wonderland of snow sparkling on a sunny day with a 25 degree wind chill. Having waited until now to see the foot of snow being plowed from my lane, I guess it’s time to clean off the jeep and run a couple of errands. Thanks for adding more delight to an already gleeful and lovely day, Sue, give your adorable little boys an extra snuggle from me 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good morning, weather,

      All this time you’ve been snowed in! No wonder you’re gleeful about this day. I hope you enjoy every minute of it. 🙂

      Those horses are beautiful, aren’t they? Thank you for complimenting me on my photography. My little effort is a very small part of what it took to create that scene!

      The boys are pestering me. I’ll give them the snuggle from you and go outside with them.

  9. Susan in Dallas says:

    Oh my goodness, that first horse picture is stunning. Wish we had some Arizona weather here in Dallas. I need to get started on yard work but it has been in the 40’s here. Too cold for me to mow, pull weeds or rake.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      I understand your reluctance to start yard work or gardening. It’s no fun when it’s that cold. Warmer days are coming, for sure! 🙂

  10. I agree the weather is near perfect this time of year here. We’ve been drawn to the area for years and are now looking for winter base property. Your little hummer looks so frazzled after the ordeal. Wonderful you were there to save him! The horses are beautiful and so shiny after such a cold winter. Enjoy these few pre-summer weeks in the desert!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Jodee,

      I hope you are led to purchase a property that will give you years of pleasant living. Now that we’ve lived in southeastern AZ for a full year, I can say this is the best place for us. You know what I mean. 🙂

  11. Dawn in NC says:

    What is it that’s so enchanting about animals bathing in the sun? It is the most wonderful thing to see and to photograph! I love taking pictures of my kitties when they sun bathe. They seem so tranquil. Roger and Reggie look so adorable! Also, what wonderful timing for you to help the hummingbird. It is always fulfilling when we can take our proper roles as caretakers of nature.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Cats are the best promoters of sunbathing. They know right where to position themselves to make a lovely pose and they also know how to do “languid” to perfection. 🙂

  12. Dawn in NC says:

    Sue, I wanted to recommend a pair of Merrell’s That I bought years ago from Amazon. They are a pair of Merrell women’s jungle moc slip on. They are so comfortable and durable. They are my go to shoe all winter! ASIN B000AM5OUO

  13. FloridaScott In Ajo! says:

    Hi Sue,
    Still here in Ajo and the weather is Beautiful! Funny thing allot of folks left just before the weather got nice and warm. We are probably heading out for higher elevations in a couple weeks before it gets too hot!

    You won’t believe who we ran into a couple months ago, Al & Kelly! We were at the farmers market and Diane spotted them. We went over and introduced ourselves and they were as nice as can be. Just really great people. I told them we learned about Ajo from you and them when you went to meet them years ago on Darby Wells. They even featured us on their blog. Just search their blog “Scott Diane” and it should come up. What a small world.

    Sue, I have a recommendation for your readers. Crocs Classic Clogs. These are great for just hanging around the campsite. Easy on off, waterproof and are super for using in the shower house. Very comfortable too!

    Enjoying your blog, photos and of course the antics of the crew!

    Be Well, Stay Happy, FloridaScott

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      , Thank you, Scott. You be well and stay happy, too!

      I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you and Diane “bonded” with Ajo. 🙂 I read The Bayfield Bunch regularly and I remember that post about you four meeting each other at the farmers’ market. You’ll find your paths will cross with people you meet along the way, time and again, whether you arrange it or not..

      Funny thing about timing and the weather. Often all it takes is a little patience (and endurance) and you’ll be rewarded with easy-living weather that others missed. Have you decided on that “higher elevation” for your next camp? 🙂

      Thanks for the Amazon product recommendation. I’ll couple your Crocs review with Dawn’s Merrill shoes for the next post. Everybody needs shoes!

      • FloridaScott says:

        Were thinking of going to Huachuca City, for May then on to Silver City for June, July. At 6000ft it should still be warm but reasonable. Being from Florida were used to warm weather. Funny thing this winter, many folks from Canada, Washington and Oregon would be walking around in t-shirts and shorts at 50 degrees. Diane and I looked like we were dressed for the Arctic, LOL. Think it will be too hot in Huachuca in May?

        • rvsueandcrew says:

          Checked historical temperatures for Huachuca City for May: average high is 85, the record high is 102. If you like warm weather, you’ll be okay, dry heat and all. 🙂

  14. Barbara (Nashville) says:

    Love the wonderful photos. The horses are just beautiful. I, like the others are glad you were outside and able to help the little hummer.
    The dog in the poppy field looks a little lonesome.
    I enjoyed seeing your finds at the thrift store the other day. I was busy, so I don’t think I commented on that.
    When you were on your excursion, were you scouting for a getaway?

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Barbara,

      No, I wasn’t looking for a getaway, just out for a drive on a pretty, spring day.

      The dog does look lonesome in the pic but he’s not alone. There’s another dog in the yard with him — big, brown, and barking a lot. I didn’t look closely. . . . Probably the white dog is female and the brown is male, judging by behavior. The brown dog kept running back and forth along the fence, barking, that I didn’t attempt a photo of him.

      Thanks for the feedback on posts about thrift store bargains. It’s fun for me to share them with you.

  15. Barbara (Nashville) says:

    Went back & re-read the post & read the comments. Got tickled at the comments about the retirement attire. Count me in with the rest of you. I wear tee shirts & shorts all summer and sweat shirts & sweat pants all winter. My dressy attire is usually knit pants and dressy tee.
    I don’t regret retirement either. I do still have a work from home job, that takes about 20-30 hours per week, but at my convenience. It gives me some extra income and time to do what I want the rest of the time, when I don’t have to help DH with things.

  16. Denise - Richmond VA says:

    Hi, Sue!

    The header photo of the boys walking together clearly shows how special and deep their bond is; two best buds literally joined at the hip! Love their blissful faces as they catch some warm sun. Ah, the life of a well-loved dog! 🙂

    Echoing other blogorinos, I am so happy that you were there to help the little hummer. What a divine treat to hold such a tiny, fragile creature.

    Glad that you took advantage of a beautiful day for a car ride. The horses are beautiful! Were they behind fences or wild? They look so healthy with their shiny coats. So nice of them to pose for you! 🙂

    Your neighbor’s dog sure is handsome. The yellow poppies are pretty!

    Thank you for sharing your adventure with us! As usual, the pictures are gorgeous!
    Sending you, Reggie, and Roger lots of love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Denise,

      It was a beautiful day for a drive. This entire week has been and continues to be warm and sunny and a delight. I love the freshness of spring!

      Those horses were on a knoll in a fenced field, although the cattle are free-range. They look well cared for, maybe brushed regularly. The one photo of the horse looking at me reminds me of a wild horse I saw in Nevada. I think it’s the way the wind lifted the mane. I should take more photo-drives, look for more horses. I have so much to do at the house (not to mention thrifting) and having so much fun doing those things that I don’t wander around much.

      I hope your week is going well. Thanks for the love and hugs for me and the boys. Sending you and Gracie pup the same! 🙂

  17. So glad you were there for the hummer. There are several where we have the house, they’re all hostile combatants. There are plenty of feeders, but they just can’t share. We have a hummer nest in the front yard. She picked a terrible location, right by the gate, the driveway and the garage door. So far the babies are getting fed, so we’re hoping they will fledge. Great pictures of the horse, I do love a horse in a field.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Allison,

      Hummer babies! They must be incredibly tiny! I’ve never seen them. May they grow strong and find their wings. 🙂

      Thanks re the horse photos.

  18. Suzi says:

    LOVE the horses Sue! And, the Pooch sitting in the flowered yard looks like a super nice dog. Do you by chance know the breed? Maybe she’s a mix?

    Odly, I recognize that campsite in your new banner photo. It is currently full with several tenters. If you walked the doggos to the end of the road, and went through the big green iron gate, we used the big site just in the gate. WINDY 6 days out of 7, otherwise super nice spot! We leave tomorrow for Tombstone. (Middlemarch Road). I hear the big rose festival is happening, and I don’t want to miss it.

    Take care Sue. Belly rubs to both your boys.
    Suzi

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Suzi,

      No, I don’t know the dog’s breed. That property is not close to our house and I’ve never spoken with the owner.

      I don’t know what campsite you describe. If you walk down the road on which the header campsite is located, you come to an area of no-trespassing-allowed. I don’t remember if it’s private property or state trust land. You must be referring to a different road.

      Yeah, springtime can be windy over grassland. Have fun in Tombstone! 🙂

  19. Suzi says:

    Whoa! I had to come back (after reading Scott from FL’s post) and say we just checked Ajo’s wx, and it looks like a week from today they are expecting 96*. Wow!

    I’m bummed we didn’t run into Al & Kelly somewhere, as it looks like they were in Ajo the same time that we were still there. We went to the farmers market every weekend. Really enjoyed it. Maybe next year, who knows?

  20. Eileen says:

    I always enjoy reading success stories of rescued creatures. I think the hummingbird now knows that you’re a friend. Among your other talents, you can now list “Bird Whisperer” as one of them … lol …

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Eileen,

      The hummingbird came back! At least I think it’s the same one. I feared he wouldn’t make it through the night, being he was in such a weary and stressed state. It appears he’s recovered and has resumed his routine. 🙂

  21. Cynthia in San Clemente says:

    I’m so glad you were able to help the little hummer. It does amaze me how resilient they are. I’ve had a few of them fly into my windows and after being dazed for a moment they get right back up and fly away. Everything is blooming in my yard right now – the wisteria and jasmine perfume the morning and evening air like heaven – or what I imagine heaven will be!! The hummers love it – it’s almost like they have attention deficit disorder! They flit from wisteria to a feeder, then to the jasmine, then to another feeder, then to a blooming succulent, then to another feeder. Spring is just spectacular this year!

    The horse pics are wonderful. It looks like you either caught them in motion or there was a bit of a breeze – there is movement in their manes. And the dog posing at his fence – what a nice large yard he has. I hope he has a friend to run and play and share it with!!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Oh dear. I’m coveting your jasmine and wisteria, Cynthia. I agree — heavenly!

      I see jasmine at the garden center so I assume it grows in southeastern AZ. I’ll research the wisteria. I drive around the neighborhood to see what flowers grow well here.

      I see someone has a lilac (or lilac-type) bush in bloom. That surprised me. Also forsythia which I’ve always associated with “up North.” I’ve been searching for any sign of daffodils but haven’t spotted any. 🙁 On a positive note my neighbor has yellow iris so iris goes on my list for fall planting.

      There was a good breeze blowing which lifted the manes. Breeze aided my horse photos but wrecked close-ups of poppies. The poppies wouldn’t stand still!

  22. Barbara from Camano Island says:

    Sue, I’m still reading and enjoying your at home adventures. Thanks for sharing. I just purchased through your Amazon site a Yoga Melt pink roller. We use them in my yoga class and they are much gentler on your back than the old hard styrofoam rollers. My recommendation.

  23. AZ Jim says:

    ?????? What happened? I guess I didn’t get the memo? Where is everyone? Missy? Weather? Anyone? I already lost my beautiful wife 9 weeks ago, now my favorite blog? What’s next?

    • weather says:

      Hi,Jim,Sue and some others are having technical problems regarding posts, comments,laptops, etc. We aren’t disappearing though, hugs,weather

  24. AZ Jim says:

    Cannot post

  25. rvsueandcrew says:

    Hello, everyone!

    I apologize for disappearing. A few days ago I sat down with my laptop and a cup of coffee and proceeded to dump the coffee into my laptop. After a couple days of trying to bring the laptop back to life, I bought a new one.

    At this point I haven’t tried going to my administration page and I haven’t downloaded a photo editor nor attempted to access my photo library/photo editor. I’m happy that I made it thus far — new computer set up and writing this message to you.

    I’m told that writing a comment is difficult if not impossible. I don’t know what that’s all about, but I’ll try to get to the bottom of it. I hope to publish a post tomorrow. If I don’t succeed, do not worry.

    Again, I’m sorry for my absence. Sometimes stuff happens.

    I hope you are well and haven’t given up on this blog.

    Love,
    Sue

    • weather says:

      Gosh, I had hoped you were just busy enjoying yourself. Hopefully it will all come together without too much difficulty. We will be here, whenever you can.

      • rvsueandcrew says:

        Hi, weather,

        I so appreciate your patience and positive thinking! Fortunately the “problems” I’m dealing with are pesky rather than permanent. 🙂

        Wishing you a splendid day!

    • Cynthia in San Clemente says:

      Oh Sue, technical issues are so aggravating but dumping a cup of coffee into your laptop must have been awful! So sorry you had to spend money on getting a new one 🙁 We will wait (somewhat) patiently until you get everything worked out. This should be a lesson to all of us who love and look forward to this blog that it isn’t as easy as you just sitting down, typing out a message, and inserting a few photos. There are all sorts of administrative tasks going on in the background that I’m sure take your time, energy and expertise – all to keep us entertained and connected. Thank you.

  26. AZ Jim says:

    Whew! I’ll await your return with a big smile and open arms…….

  27. Wendy C says:

    I hope you get it all sorted soon. And yep stuff happens, that’s life.
    Good that you and the boys are ok.

  28. Terri in Tx., for now says:

    Hi! I havent commented in a while. Been selling our house, selling stuff, and generally getting ready for our move to New Mexico! Leaving very soon and very nervous! I have always lived in Texas, but am looking forward to exploring nm, and surrounding states. I still read the posts, love everyone of them. We are researching trees and bushes my hubby, who is from WI originally was surprised to see Lilacs grow in nm at 5200 ft. We may plant some! Hope your computer troubles get sorted out soon!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Thank you, Terri. I’ve been overwhelmed lately with minor stuff coming at me from all directions. The death of my computer added to that. These things will pass. 🙂

      Your decision to move to New Mexico is very exciting. You will enjoy experiencing the newness of your location and learning stuff like what trees and bushes to plant. I’m doing the same thing.

      Thanks also for letting me know you still read all of my posts. It’s hard to explain how encouraging it is to hear that from a longtime reader. Wishing you success with your preparations for the big move!

  29. Dawn in NC says:

    Yikes! I was hoping you were enjoying your house, the pups and thrifting! Sorry about the computer. We’ll all be here whenever you are able to post again. Thanks for the update.

  30. Cinandjules🌵 says:

    Stuff happens!
    Don’t stress yourself out! Getting a new computer..comes with the aggravation on how to relearn functions. It like hitching up the BLT will one day be a piece of cake.

    In the meantime..we know the drill!

    Greeting blogorinos…we have 12 inches of sunshine here…the weather seems a bit feisty in the Midwest! Whatever your plans are….be safe! And as always…Have a great day!

    • Columbus Calvin says:

      I’m east of the flooding and what not. The southern Great Lakes are having a nice break for now, other than the usual occasional rain. I’m glad to be out of sub-freezing temperatures for now.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Ha! “12 inches of sunshine” — I like that! 🙂

      The new computer blues are bad enough and then they happen right when I have stressful computer tasks to accomplish. I’m rolling with it… Thanks for the reminder that the learning curve will straighten out, like becoming good at hitching up.

      Hope you and Jules are having a great week….

  31. I’ve been watching Costco for when they stock the Acer Swift3 SF314-55.

    I’ve been a Mac user for the last 15 years, but I think it’s time to change.

    I do plan on loading Linux Mint on it, though.

    I’m almost tired of waiting for Costco, and will probably just order one.

  32. This is the last known address I have for a Picasa loader. If you go to the link, click download, it will download, even though it ways the file type is not supported. They’re going to have to pry Picasa out of my really old fingers.

    https://app.box.com/s/0mrcmofi9m6kq53fashvu7v01zns4uin

    Unfortunately the baby hummingbirds in the front yard are no more. A roadrunner got them.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Oh, darn it, Allison. So sorry about the baby hummingbirds. 🙁

      How thoughtful of you to post a link for the Picasa loader! Thanks, darlin’!

  33. Columbus Calvin says:

    I was delayed finding your email about the update because I was (wait for it) fighting a new HP computer. I have had several computers over the years. I have no brand loyalty; I’ve had to survive a meltdown or two (or more) with each of them. I’m typing this on the old one I’ll probably keep using at home. The new one is a laptop light enough to carry on my daily “adventures.”

    The key malfunction so far today was the new one was set up to default to a Czech keyboard. Nope, I’m not Czech. I also decided to use Firefox instead of Chrome for my browser. Wish me well with that, please.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Dear Calvin, you and I are navigating the same choppy waters of New Computer Sea. Ha, Czech, no less! Well, I didn’t run into that so there’s a blessing. . . .

      I’ve used Chrome and Firefox and always preferred Firefox. Lately it’s been persnickety (on my old ACER), but that may not be universal. This HP (acronym for Hell’s Progeny) has Microsoft Edge, which I didn’t know existed. I’m going to look into Brave for my browser. I’ve heard good things about it.

      I do wish you well, as requested. May we sail on to calmer waters together, eh?

      • Columbus Calvin says:

        Thanks for the good wishes. The positive side is that I’ve never smashed one of these things, although I have to admit to thinking of it more than once.

  34. Elizabeth says:

    I have an acer computer too…but I cannot encourage anyone else to get one…by far, I still prefer my OLD desktop I used to have years ago…and wish I had it again!! Ah well…maybe some day if we have a bit more space!! Sorry about the life troubles Sue. We could continue writing our book too…you really wonder what on earth seems to be wrong with so many today…one thing we see, is it seems to becoming more rare to find those REALLY willing to work. Seems they would want some self respect…guess not. Hope things work out for you!! One GOOD thing that happened today is our daughter got to move her work desk from among the vipers under her…and now her little office, with its smaller desk has a window even!!! YEA!!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Good news about your daughter’s working conditions improving. An office away from discord means a lot!

      • Elizabeth says:

        I could write a book about the reaction of that move by the 2 women under her…never heard of such drama in my life!! So far, most of the men around falling all over themselves worrying about those poor women…good grief it is only maybe 12 feet away from the original office door…beyond belief!! People need to get over themselves. They now understand that my daughter knows some of the clandestine things they have done apparently!! Hmmmm, pays to be honest eh? Mark Twain said it was best to be truthful because then you did not need to remember anything. Indeed!! I hope she can survive there until something better opens up…she is LOOKING!!!

  35. Anne Parr says:

    Hi Sue.

    I am a long-time reader of your blog – about three years ago I “found” you, then went back and read all of your posts from the beginning, up to the present. Have tried not to miss a post since.

    Sue, I know that you are a a “reader”, and that many of your blogorinos are readers, as well. I have written a children’s book, available on Amazon. I would like to gift (for free) an “e-copy” of the book to anyone on your blog who might like to read it.

    It is a “western” about a lonely young boy living on a remote ranch in the desert southwest of the 1850’s.

    I’ll not post the book title, or Amazon link, here, because I don’t have your permission to do so. You have my email address (with this post), so please email me directly if this would be ok for me to share my book with your readers. (I don’t know how to email you privately).

    I would be pleased to send you a copy of the e-book for your review, in advance. I think you might like it.

    Thanks, Sue.

    Anne Parr

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Anne,

      If this is your first time posting a comment, welcome! You are now officially a blogorino! Sending you wishes for much success with your children’s book! 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Anne,

      It is a delight for me to hear from a long-time reader! Thank you for being interested enough to read my blog from its beginning.

      Thanks also for the offer of the e-book. I don’t send emails to readers because I’m very protective of my email address (and time). I rarely email readers.

      Instead, do feel welcome to post a link here to your book at Amazon. I wish you much success with your writing.

      • Anne Parr says:

        Thank you very much, Sue. 🙂

        Here is a link to my book on Amazon:

        http://www.amzn.com/B07PLLJZHQ

        It should also be “click-able” in my signature.

        Everyone, please check it out. 🙂 My email address:

        1dogsplusme@gmail.com

        (that is a “one” and not an “L” in the first character of the email address).

        If anyone would like a FREE “e-copy” of my book, please email me at this *temporary* email address (I will not use anyone’s email address in any way except to send my e-book to you. This is the only way I am able to “send” it. It will appear in your “In” box as a “Gift” coming from Amazon).

        I need your email address in order to send you the book.

        The email address is “temporary” only because posting it here, in plain sight, will eventually generate spam.

        Once the spam starts coming, I’ll need to delete it.

        THANKS, EVERYONE!! 🙂

  36. ApplegirlNY says:

    Hello Everyone.

    Looks like Spring is finally arriving in Upstate NY. Nighttime lows are hovering around freezing, and daytime temps are in the 40-60 degree range, so, we’re on our way. It’s been a pleasure to get into the garden again. I’ve seen plenty of bird life around this spring, too – a nice variety in my garden. I had to shoo a large cardinal from the screen porch the other day. Poor thing got trapped, but thankfully, he got out without too much trouble and a bit of encouragement.

    I wanted to share a quick update on my son, for those of you who have been faithful.
    He had the final pins removed from his hand this week (index finger took forever to knit together). His skin grafts continue to heal and improve. He is off all pain killers. Praise the Lord!
    Although he is a positive and easy going person, I know the loss of his thumb and resulting scars, etc, weigh heavily on him. Now that they are through the trauma and drama, reality is settling in, especially since there are no longer any bandages and coverings to hide the damage. Unfortunately, because he hasn’t been able to return to work, he has too much time on his hands, so we are encouraging him to fill his days the best he can. The change in weather will help. So…. things are definitely moving in the right direction. We are encouraged, but a mother still worries. Thanks for listening and praying.

    • weather says:

      Still praying & trusting God’s best for your son & family, Annie. Thoughts on what experience makes me notice-Winter and nighttime are what makes all right for what will bloom and grow afterwards, too much warmth and time spent in bright sunlit days would wither and burn some of the most precious and beautiful parts of creation . This event in your son’s life has felt like being in a dark valley, those are transformative parts of a journey that make us into ones ready to receive gift strewn paths we weren’t fit for previously.

      • ApplegirlNY says:

        Thank you, Weather. You are so right, and we are trusting that the Lord can make something wonderful with this. All things are possible….

    • Elizabeth says:

      Thanks for the update on your son and the injury!! I think it is something that takes adjusting to and can take awhile (when I was a young teen one of our friends lost 2 fingers and his thumb and I remember his despondency for awhile, only natural). It is so hard to watch our children or grandchildren suffer…feeling your pain too!! May GOD be with you all in all of this!!

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Applegirl,

      Thank you for the update on your son. So glad that he is healing and no longer in need of pain killers. The psychological healing and getting used to his “new normal” will take some time. So many of us are keeping him (and his family) in our thoughts and prayers. **hugs**

      Sending some extra **hugs** for you, too! I know that a mother’s love and worry for her children does not diminish over time. Please be sure to take care of yourself!

      We have had some warmer temps for the past 10 days. I actually had to turn on the A/C! Spring has sprung in my yard, too. The cherry, ornamental peach, and pear trees have bloomed and are now starting to green up. This week, the crabapple tree, persian lilac, and azaleas are starting to bloom. Yesterday evening, I saw my first butterfly of the season – a yellow Eastern tiger swallowtail. She looked so pretty, perched on a small clump of lilac blooms.

      The birds are in full steam nest building mode. I have a nest of Bluebirds in the bluebird house near the patio. No hatchlings yet, but I expect them soon! A Robin pair have been busily build a nest in a neighbor’s shrub. 🙂

      Have a good evening, Applegirl. 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Applegirl,

      I don’t know if you’ll see this reply. I apologize for letting time slip by before writing.

      Blogorinos (above) expressed so well what I was thinking when reading your latest update on your son. Yes, I do hope the change of weather will help your son, for the distraction to provide respite from his grief.

      As mothers often do, you set the tone for the family and yours is positive and hopeful. “things are definitely moving in the right direction.” Glad to hear that, Applegirl. Thanks for the update. Prayers continue.

    • Lisa, Dad, Tommie and Buddy in Florida says:

      Hi Applegirl,
      I lost the tip of my left thumb a couple of years ago to a traumatic amputation. I have adapted, and even though the damage took a small piece of my hand, the impact has been big. I encourage your son to research prosthesis. There are some tremendously good ones out there. Some are using 3D printers to make their own. I know you may not see this as good news, but I think he will have an easier time finding something that suits him, since he has lost entire fingers. Finding something for just the tip of a digit is a challenge.

      I suggest you look at the websites for ‘Instructables’, “the Grommet” and Thingyverse. They hold a wealth of designs, inventions and DIY lessons. I hope this helps.

  37. jenny Johnson says:

    Sorry to hear about your mishap with your computer —and hope it gets resolved real soon — I am still sitting here nursing my broken ankle but at least after two months it is healing nicely. The end is in sight and i will be two legged again.

  38. Suzicruzi says:

    Oh no! Coffee and computers don’t mix too well, unless the coffee behaves. 🙁 Sorry this happened to you Sue.

    First off, I didn’t really enjoy Tombstone as you so kindly wished on me in your last reply. It was too much like a circus for my liking. Instead I enjoyed some of the history and stories I read about. I personally enjoyed my visit to Old Tucson better.

    Secondly, although the Dragoon Mountains and boondocking were calling our name, I wouldn’t recommend going up Middlemarch Road! It was awful, and we bailed at the 3 mi mark. We couldn’t envision going the whole 10 miles just to get a camp, then having to drive a 20 mile round trip on that same road to go anywhere to tour. Uh uh, scratch that! Instead we stayed at an RV Park, which wasn’t ideal either. But, “oh well, life happens”. I did enjoy seeing the beautiful rose tree at the old hotel, now museum. That was just amazing and something to experience! The smell was intoxicating! I bet you loved it when you were there?

    We moved South to Bisbee. We found one boondocking spot 1,000’ above old Bisbee, on a windy cliff, after going about 1.5 miles up a steep, winding, gravel road. (In our van only, thankfully!). The view over the Bisbee valley was ah-mazing! Alas, we didn’t stay. Windy-Windy, and forecasted in the low 30’s for the next couple of nights. Instead we messaged a fellow full time Casita friend, and they gave us a tip for where to stay on the road between Bisbee and Douglas. We are here now awaiting some parts for the solar mounts, which snapped off on a very BAD road! A’hem, yeah. …

    Turns out where we are is a gem in the rough! All that is missing are chickens running around! This is the sweetest dang Mobile/RV park I’ve ever even imagined existed. Due to our friend’s recommendation, the owner made room for us. This is mostly a full time mobile home and RV park. 95% of the tenants live here. A few repeat snowbirds who lease a spot either year round or by the season, and most come every year and are part of the “family”. Our first night here we were personally invited to the Sunday after church potluck. I hesitated, 😳😬 Larry said, “what the heck?”, and we ended up having a delightful time. The people here are a refreshing mix from all walks of life, who have found themselves here for one reason or another. Most all happened by, came back, and eventually stayed. It is like a commune, almost, hence the comment about the chickens earlier. We have felt most welcomed by everyone we have met so far. There is a community center and many residents meet there daily for “happy hour”, at 4 pm. People bring snacks, no one gets drunk or loud, and you can hear a pin drop here by 9pm, despite many dogs on the property. There’s a large kitchen to use, a few laundry machines, hot showers, and toilets all inside an older single wide- with a large sunroom attached. It’s just great! I’m anxious to get the solar mounts fixed and get back on the road, but this stop has been a pleasant surprise. There are full hookups here for $15/night, $75/week, or $200/month plus electric if you go by the month. Or, they will put you in “the back 40” for $11/night, no hookups. Can’t be beat! Douglas and Bisbee both are 12 mi away in opposite directions. There’s a Walmart in Douglas, and a Safeway in Bisbee. The owners are Roger and Bev, in case anyone is interested, and the name of the park is Twin Buttes RV Park.

    Life on the road has provided us with more than we bargained for, in various ways, most of which have been amazing. I am eternally grateful for the “Road Community”, AND, bloggers like you Sue. This has proven to be a wonderful slice of life, and we are both really enjoying it very much.

    Now we are Jonesing for the mountains and pine trees, so we will be heading North before too long, I hope! We almost tripped on (literally!) a 3-4’ gopher snake while on a hike the other day. I seriously thought it was a rattler for a moment. They look so similar. This was the largest snake I’ve seen in person in my years alive. I don’t care to see another! It scared the crap out of us, mostly me, but geez! We were doing a section of the Arizona Trail near Las Cienegas.

    Sorry this got so long but I finally got enough service to write a decent post, and have it actually send.

    Hope you and the boys get all that “life stuff” out of the way, so you can get back to blogging. I’ve really missed you.

    Hugs, Suzi

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Suzy,

      Thank you for sharing an update on your adventures! 🙂

      Sorry to hear about the solar mount, but at least it was “just” the mount and not worse. The snake – OMG! Gave me the creeps just reading about it!

      I recently transferred my info from my iPad mini to an iPad Pro. A few things did not transfer over properly, one is the link to your pictures. Could you please share that info again? Thank you! I am enjoying my armchair travels with you all! 🙂

      • Suzicruzi says:

        You can email me for the link(s), if that’s easier, Denise. My pleasure to share. Just FYI, I don’t geo-tag for a reason, so if you want to know something specific, save my email. . I can share adorable photos of this park we are in! It’s like being back in the 60’s!

        Suzi

        Suzi… I deleted your email address to protect you from spam. If Denise needs it, we can show it again at her request. — Sue

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Suzi,

      Another update! I always enjoy hearing from you and learning about your recent camp sites.

      When you previously mentioned going to Middlemarch, immediately I recalled there being a reason why we never went there. I couldn’t remember why and didn’t want to deter you based on a vague memory. I’m pretty sure now that the reason was the same as yours. Too far, too much trouble, going in and out. An isolated boondock is fine if one is looking to stay put for several days, not good for exploring the area. I may have also been concerned about rain and mud.

      Anyway…. You and Larry are learning through experience which is necessary in many instances. There’s only so much one can learn from others. The Art of Finding Good Boondocks is just that — an art. And you are doing exceptionally well! It takes a while to know when to adjust one’s timing to avoid things like a high, open camp during windy weather. If you ever master the timing, I ask for pointers!

      We’ve had some strong wind, too, right here in the neighborhood. Can’t always be avoided.

      It is especially pleasing to read “This has proven to be a wonderful slice of life, and we are both really enjoying it very much.”

      Sweet of you to miss us. I hope to get a post out soon, assuming taxes and computer fixes are over, and life settles like pine pollen on our porch. Ha!

      Carry on, intrepid travelers!

      • Suzicruzi says:

        Thanks Sue, and for the spam protection, ha! Hadn’t given that a thought here. I always feel so “safe” on your front porch with the neighbors. I tend to forget there are the unscruplous, lurking around every fence post. So thanks for that!

        Yes, the road life must be experienced in person in order to fully glean the lessons. I’m glad you find my posts fun. I hesitate to post too much, out of respect to you, as this is your blog, not mine.

        I can be like an excited kid sometimes and I just like sharing. ☺️

  39. Denise - Richmond VA says:

    Hi, Sue,

    Thank you for the update! So sorry that you are having issues with your new laptop. Windows Edge is a pain in the a$$. I have that horrid app/program on my work laptop. It does not play nice with other programs I need, so I had to disable it. Sorry, but I cannot remember how I did it.

    I have become quite disgusted with Microsoft. So much so, that I am in the process of converting to Apple products at home. If the iPad Pro allowed file saving and backup to an external drive, it would be close to perfect (for me). However, this is not the case. To backup photography files to an external drive requires a MacBook Air or Pro. That may be a future purchase. Money money money 💵

    Anyhoo….I feel your pain. If you are so frustrated with the HP, take it back and get a refund. Order the Acer and be done with it! Microft Windows seems to be having lots of issues with instability, closing unexpectedly, etc. I use now Google Chrome as my web browser (work laptop).

    Please don’t stress….we miss you, but will be patiently waiting for your return. xo

    Sending you, Reggie, and Roger lots of love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! Spring has sprung here, and we both are experiencing the itchies and sneezies from the pollen. Gracie has an allergy triggered ear infection. Treating her with 3 Rx meds: ear wash with steroids, ear ointment, and oral steroids. Poor thing. She should be feeling better by the weekend. 🙂

    Gotta run…have to do my taxes. 🤢 xo

    • Dawn in NC says:

      Sorry to hear about Gracie’s ear infection. I’m glad she has you as a mom, as you will stay on top of the treatment for her. Good luck with your taxes!

      • Denise - Richmond VA says:

        Hi, Dawn,

        Thank you for your well wishes for Gracie! 🙂

        Taxes are finished, but I have to pay. 🤬 It appears that the tax breaks are helping families (which is good), but not single folks without dependents who itemize. I will be making adjustments to my witholdings so next year’s tax process should be less stressful. In years past, I had the withholdings set so I would be very close to breaking even. Glad that I have that task behind me! 🙂

        I hope you enjoy your weekend! It will be rainy here. A perfect time to catch up on indoor chores! 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Denise,

      I appreciate you sharing your experiences with computers. I’ve decided to keep the HP, mainly because of the time and effort I’ve already invested into it. Managed to set up Picasa and retrieve photos. Wishing you success with your attempts…

      Your last line made me sigh. Taxes. I spent hours yesterday, then got an email that my return was rejected, another hour spent this morning, resubmitted…. Hope that’s the end of it!

      Poor Gracie! I hope she is feeling better. And not forgetting you, Denise… May your pollen allergy reactions be gone, too.

      • Denise - Richmond VA says:

        Hi, Sue,

        Glad you made peace with the HP. I hope that your day to day tasks get easier. 🙂

        Taxes….I hope your last submission was accepted. I sent off my taxes today. Yes, I am a dinosaur who does taxes by hand on paper forms and mails them. Went to the post office to make sure the envelope did not require extra postage. My envelope had a flowery love stamp on it; somehow it did not seem to fit the piece of mail that it was attached to! Nobody loves the tax process! Well, maybe tax accountants! 🙂

        Thank you for the well wishes. 🙂 We have about 6 weeks left of pollen season. You know that it is heavy when a poof of yellow rises from the hood of the car every time you start to drive. 🙂

        Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Sue! Sending lots of love and hugs for you and the boys from me and Gracie pup! xo 🙂

  40. Dawn in NC says:

    Hi Sue. Spring is really here. I have turned off all heat/a/c and have my windows open and my fans on. I LOVE this time of year. The forsythias have finished blooming their beautiful yellows and are now turning green. The dogwood trees are blooming thier beautiful white or pink flowers. My favorite, wisteria, is showing their awesome purple clusters all over town. The creeping flox are wonderful in their different shades of purple. The azaleas are blooming. Cherry trees have blossomed. Spring is full ON! I even have to get up and shut my windows at 4 in the morning, because the birds are keeping me awake! I do love bird song, but not when I am trying to sleep. I hope that everyone is enjoying at least a break from the cold of winter, even if spring hasn’t arrived yet in their neck of the woods.

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Dawn,

      Your yard sounds lovely…waves of blooming color! 🙂

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Dawn… Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. If you don’t see this, I hope it’s because you’re occupied with enjoying spring in North Carolina. 🙂

  41. rhodium in sw va says:

    I just spent an hour getting my wife back into her Mac after it stopped recognizing all possible passwords. Whatever the operating system there are always troubles. I hope you find a system that is suitable.

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Rhodium,

      By any chance was there a recent update on your wife’s Mac? Today at work, lots of folks were having issues getting their iPhones to connect to WiFi. Not an internal network error, but an bug with the Apple upgrade.

      • rhodium in sw va says:

        No not that. But thank heavens for Terminal windows, it’s my reason to like macs over windows. Now if someone could just write a waterproof operating system.

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Thanks, rhodium…. Hope Mrs. rhodium and Mac are reacquainted and on good speaking terms. 🙂

  42. Elizabeth says:

    Sue, just wanted to say I hope your computer does better with time…I feel your pain!! It is a shame that they are not easier to manage with!! I am hoping at some point that hubby will help me set up a small one (plus small printer) that NEVER goes on internet (so hopefully will last better and longer) for me to use for working with my cookbook stuff, plus writing notes to others, etc. Seems it would be worth it for those things. I ALWAYS make a hard copy of my cookbook things however so at least it is not completely gone at some point, without my knowledge. Whoever knows WHERE things go sometimes!!

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Hi, Elizabeth!

      I hope all is well in your world today. Enjoy the weekend! 🙂

      • Elizabeth says:

        Hi Denise,
        Oh no…all is not well…but at least there have been times it was more difficult…so at least that I suppose. We work at keeping some hope alive however!! Thanks for asking…and I hope you are doing well and that this next storm will not come to your town!! I am being lazy today…enjoying that!! Hope you are too!!

  43. Denise - Richmond VA says:

    Hi, Sue and fellow blogorinos,

    Like many folks, I am doing a bit of Spring cleaning. This includes sorting through items to donate or sell, and finding a way to neatly store the items I keep.

    Year round, I love to snuggle under throws when watching TV or reading. As my family knows this, they have given me several throws over the years. I don’t need all of them out at the same time. Heavier weight throws can be put away until the Fall. In the past, I have used those space bags that compress with your vacuum. The bags have a very strong odor. Maybe the odor is from the plastic that they are made of?

    I found a better solution. Ziploc Flexible Totes. The jumbo size is 2’2” x 1’4” x 1’. The totes are semi-transparent with a double zip and convenient handles. There is a mesh panel below the zipper, so this is not a solution for those looking for something waterproof. All of my heavy weight throws fit with room to spare. The tote is out of the way on a top linen closet shelf.

    I was also looking for a storage solution for my fabric stash. I purchased an Orgami drawer unit, but since the drawers are metal mesh, contents would not be protected from dust. I found Ziploc Big Bags – Stand & Fill with Expandable Bottom – Size XL – 4 per package. The bags measure 2’ x 1’8” x 7”. The bags close by ziploc, so the fabric will remain dust free, stored in the Orgami unit.

    I found the bags at Target, but they are also available (for a slightly better price) through Amazon.
    Ziploc Flexible Totes – Jumbo ASIN: B07KR16CWH
    Ziploc Big Bags – XL ASIN: B00D8G5EK4

    Happy Spring Cleaning!

  44. Li says:

    Oh dear. Computer issues cause tremendous upheaval and unrest. Sorry to hear your coffee committed this transgression. ‘Hope all is well again soon.
    Li

  45. Cinandjules 🌵 says:

    Sunday Public Service Announcement

    So many Blogorinos have furkids I just wanted to give you a heads up!

    IT seems like EVERY time we go to the vets we hear the yada yada about its Dental Health month. Funny how any given month of the year is “Dental health month” and they try to wrangle you into a cleaning…which means anesthesia and a hefty bill for the procedure.

    Many of our furkids are up in age and the risk of anesthesia complications makes the decision easy!

    So off to the pet store we go to get “Dental” treats. Whether it be greenies, nylabones, real bones, bully sticks, antlers etc. Some over estimate their skills and opt for the finger toothbrush and dental pick aisle not realizing furkid isn’t going to cooperate…and whispers of “momma’s doing this for you” is going in one ear and out the other! Furkid totally remembers you said,”wanna go to the park” and the car somehow diverted to the vets.

    Here is where it gets important. All of the above listed…and probably more..are hazardous to your furkids teeth. They are too hard and if they bite down just right a fractured tooth is the result. Usually it’s the upper 4th premolar referred to as the carnassial tooth. The largest, most important tooth their mouth.

    Here is where it gets personal. Last years visit to the vets he mentioned the plaque was building up. Annie Oakley used to chew on the hard nylabone until shards of plastic ended up in her poop…so we switched to antlers! USA origin Antlers. This year the vet said her teeth look great….she loves her antlers!

    I do check her teeth for plaque…well….during yesterday’s check I noticed an irregularity on that huge row of teeth. She had a slab fracture and the piece was still hanging on her gums. Managed to pull it off…without problems. The problem was the tip of her tooth had also chipped off exposing her pulp! Very tender to the touch!

    Left untreated, bacteria will enter thru the pulp and can cause serious organ problems. The tooth will eventually die and have to be extracted.

    If the tooth is cracked under her gum line (root) the tooth has to be extracted. If it isn’t cracked…READY??? She need a root canal to save the tooth. The cost is 800 for the extraction and 6000 for the root canal.

    Pending X-ray results will determine which procedure is needed.

    It appears that the brushing and dental pick aisle may be the only option as preventative maintenance. We all love our furkids and want to do our best for them! If this can help one blogorino and their furkid…my efforts have succeeded.

    Thanks for reading…..we now return back to our regular program blog.

    Have a great week!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Thank you for sharing this information, Cinandjules. I’m sorry to hear AO has dental issues. May the resolution be the least painful for AO and for your wallet!

    • Dawn in NC says:

      Yikes! So sorry to hear about AO’s problem with her tooth. I hope it can be resolved with the least invasive and costly solution!

    • Denise - Richmond VA says:

      Oh, Cinandjules,

      I am so sorry that AO has a slab fracture. I know that is awful, as Gracie had the same thing caused by her chewing on Nylabones. Her tooth was cracked down to the root, and she also has a piece broken off, with the pulp exposed. The tooth had to be extracted, along with special before and after x-rays to make sure all of the fragments were removed. If memory serves, it was $600+.

      Sending you all positive thoughts and pray for a quick recovery for your beloved AO. Sending you all **hugs**

    • Anne Parr says:

      Thanks for the update on teeth cleaning. So very sorry to hear of your best buddy’s dental problems.

      Hope they resolve, and that he does well. It’s tough to look at a bill like that, tougher still to know the worry about a best friend’s health.

      I had a wonderful Staffordshire Bull Terrier many years ago that was one of the loves of my life. When he was about 9 years old – healthy in every way – the vet talked me into doing a teeth cleaning on him, even though his teeth didn’t look all that bad to me.

      He never seemed to fully recover from the anesthesia, and died about two weeks after the cleaning.

      Since that time, I have always brushed my dogs teeth with a special “toothpaste” designed for dogs (it contains enzymes that help dissolve tartar).

      It comes in two flavors, “poultry” and “mint”. Surprisingly, my dog prefers the “mint”.

      It is relatively easy to start in with tooth-brushing with a pup, but it can still be done with an “older” dog. I didn’t get my boy until he was about three, had never had his teeth brushed, but “a little at a time” (starting with about two seconds of brushing on a front tooth) after about six months I could brush all of his teeth. I can brush his teeth fairly easily, and he doesn’t object – he especially likes the mint-flavored toothpaste, I think.

      Good luck!

      Anne

  46. Sue,
    This is “BECKY IN TEXAS or “TXBX” (or Betty Rountree) in Mt. Pleasant, Texas
    I haven’t been online in several days, because I am a foster parent for a local rescue, and I presently have 11 baby kittens to bottle-feed every 2 hours, several ‘momma cats’ to be spayed, ……. and an odd assortment of other dogs and cats that were going to be euthanized, ….. and I haven’t had any energy left over to get on the computer. FINALLY today, Sunday, 4/14/2019, ……. I see that something didn’t work out right and that your sister is coming for a visit. (I only figured that much out out from other people’s responses.) When I read your last post, it was too late to add to the long list of well-wishes, and the post was closed, so I could had my personal BEST WISHES! I have followed you from the beginning, …. only posting when I had something to say, but I have read EVERY post …….and although I have a motor home, I am quite envious of your casita!! ….. and since my MH was damaged badly in the last spring hail storm, I might be going to RICE, TEXAS soon!!
    I’m hating myself for not getting to ”wish you well’ like everyone else, so I came back to a blog where I could respond, …..and I certainly will be worried that you won’t receive this last message …… to wish you all the happiness you deserve!! Please keep my email address and don’t ‘lose’ me when you post future messages!! I’ve been there from the beginning, (maybe quiet sometimes, but always reading and ‘catching up’ to be sure I didn’t miss the adventures you took us on with you. Hug your boys!! If you ever come through Mt. Pleasant, TX …… I have a big boon-docking spot and a pup that looks like a 1st cousin to Reggie and Roger!! …..and a fenced back yard, too!!
    Anyway, I would love to know you got this message and that you are wished the very best during your break from journaling!! (I want a copy of the first childrens book you publish for my grandkids!! God Bless you in the weeks ahead! You are a brave and intelligent woman, and certainly your followers have benefited greatly from all these years you have been educating us, showing us, and mentoring the newer RVers.
    Please keep me on your group for updates. I have enjoyed every moment of these past years, and every post you wrote on your journey!! I don’t want to miss the next chapter, please!!! HUGS, Becky in TX

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Betty,

      Good to see you here again! I appreciate you wanting to wish us well. Thank you for continuing to read my blog and your complimentary words about my writing. Reggie, Roger, and I are enjoying life in southern Arizona.

      You have a big heart! I wish you the strength, stamina, and all the resources you need to help the little ones in your charge. Two hour feedings around the clock and you manage to write a newsy and heartfelt comment here? Sounds like you are given the energy you need!

      Do check for new posts in case the email notification doesn’t work. Best wishes with your decision whether to get a Casita…. You know I never regretted traveling and camping in the Best Little Trailer. 🙂 Hugs…

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