tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83803486233825270602024-03-17T20:06:39.270-06:00Me and My Dog ...and My RVFull-timing in our 24-foot 2006 Forest River Sunseeker 2200 as of June 1, 2011, I've added solar panels and a catalytic heater so that we can camp off-grid comfortably. My dog, Katie, is great company. We traveled a bit in the Western States our first year, and visited the deserts of Arizona and most of the New Mexico State Parks the next four. This year - 2016 - I'm hoping to find a park model to buy so we will have a home base, but we'll continue to travel, too. What a life! :)Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.comBlogger830125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-89801655970342696352023-06-04T11:49:00.023-06:002023-10-17T10:58:58.927-06:00Hello! I'm back...<p></p>
<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: normal;">This was weird! I wrote this post last year, it’s been a draft since then, and I forgot about it. Then yesterday, I accidentally posted it, not realizing what I had done. Then… I received a nice comment from Sandie and wondered what she was talking about. So I checked out my blog, and here was the draft post from last year. Fantastic! I changed some of the dates and made other updates, and here we are! Now I’m going to add some photos and re-post.</span></h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 610px;"><p>Thanks, Sandie. I think you just started my blog going again, lol! <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😁</span></p><p><b>June 4, 2023</b></p><p>I've been keeping up with a lot of you through your posts, and continue to be surprised that so many of you are still out on the road, full-time RVing. I think about all my years out there pretty often, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that so many of you aren't ready to hang up the keys yet.</p><p>I'm thinking of publishing a book with all my blog posts, not for sale, but just to have a physical record of the great times - the places I've been, the people I've met, all the experiences I've been so fortunate to have had. I started this blog on August 8, 2010, and the last post before today was March 26, 2019. Eight years and 7 months. 829 published posts. That's a lot of text and photos, and it would cost me a fortune. </p><p>Have any of you published a book of your blog posts? I'm curious about which companies did the best job for the best price. Please leave any information you have in the comments below, I'd really appreciate it. </p><p>And now - to the rest of the story... (Thanks, Paul Harvey!)</p><p>Of course, a lot has happened since I moved to Truth or Consequences, or TorC as we locals call it. It took me a while to start using TorC, but honestly, the whole name of this city is so long to write and type! Expediency won out, finally. </p><p>I've lived here now for over five years. I moved into a local RV park in early 2018 so that I would have a legal address to use for becoming a resident of New Mexico, and then I was able to get a NM driver’s license and register The Palms in this state. I can’t believe that was over five years ago. Seems like yesterday.</p><p>The idea was to become a resident, and then start looking for a house to purchase. I was ready to put down roots again; I wasn't sure about keeping The Palms or selling her, but that decision didn't need to be made until I was ready. </p><p>I looked at a bunch of properties, a single-wide trailer (mobile home) that I loved in Elephant Butte, but I couldn't get a loan and didn't have all cash to make the purchase. I didn’t realize banks don’t make loans on single-wide trailers. The next place I really wanted was in TorC, in town, and again it was a trailer, but a double-wide, and so nice. On a really nice lot. But the title wasn't "real property," it was shown as "personal property," and I couldn't get a loan on this place either until the seller did the paperwork to change the property status. He refused to do so. I even offered to pay for the documents to be done, and he still wouldn't. Obviously, he wasn't a motivated seller. My realtor and I decided I'd only look at sticks and bricks, and I did view a few more houses. Then, just as I was leaving town to visit my family in Lake Tahoe, my realtor called to see if I wanted to look at one more house before I left, and I said, "Sure." And that's the house I've been living in for almost five years now. </p><p>I really think this house and I were meant to be together! It's so perfect for me, so solid, a perfect size, I love the area I'm in and have great neighbors. Just outside of downtown, I'm close to everything, minutes away. I can't believe I've been here almost five years, usually about two years into living in a house, I'm already planning my move to a new town, but this time, I haven't even thought about moving. Anywhere. And after buying the house, I refinanced it a couple of years later, so my interest rate and monthly mortgage payment are so low, I'll never be able to have a house payment this low again. It was just meant to be.</p><p>I'm going to try to post updates pretty frequently along with photos. In addition to my house, I have Charlie, of course, my great dog who will be 5 in July, and as of March 2022, we have four new additions to our little family. Four Black Australorp chicks, who have grown into beautiful egg-laying hens. They are a great breed; I had Australorps before when I lived in Camino, CA, on the western slope of the Sierras. They were great hens, so I chose that breed again. My four hens have a coop with a fenced yard, and I've also put a new X-Pen around that, so they have an enclosed coop, an inside fenced area, and an outside fenced area. </p><p>They free-range in my backyard from morning to night, and then walk up their ramp into the coop every night at dusk, where I "put them to bed," by securing their coop door, and the doors in their inside and outside fenced areas. You'll be hearing more about them as time goes on, for sure! Their names are Annie, Betsy, Coco and Daisy. <br /></p><p>I've always been a pretty quiet, shy, introverted person, I know it doesn't seem like I am, but trust me, I am. When I moved here, into a stationary house that I couldn't drive away, I felt a little fear of letting people know where I was and what I was doing. The nice thing about full-time RVing for all of us who are loners and love our alone-time is that we can always move on. Meet someone who is not working out for us, and we can just start up the engine and move, especially if living off-grid. I was so used to having that option, not that I ever really needed it, but still, it was an option, that when I settled in one place, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel having people know where I lived. </p><p>I'm not a young woman, and every phase of my life has been wonderful; I've learned so much through the years. I'm still learning and changing and doing new things, and having new ideas. For some reason, I'm okay with posting about my life again, and showing my readers photos of me and my little family of loved ones with fur and feathers. I guess I'm gaining some self-confidence in my old age! Finally! lol</p><p></p><p>I think I'm going to change the header to reflect this new phase of my life. And maybe the Blog name, too. "Me and My Dog... and our Hens?" I'll have to work on that. But I'll always keep the photos of the header with Katie and also The Palms somewhere on the site. </p><p>That's enough for now, a good start. I was going to add photos, but I'm going to think about the last five years and see if I can choose some highlights to share in the next posts, along with some photos and current things that come up.</p><p>Thanks for stopping by. See you next time!</p><p>♥️ Barb, Charlie, Annie, Betsy, Coco and Daisy </p><p>PS: When I started this blog, the URL, <b>Me and My Dog</b>, was already taken. I had a little design business named Dewell Designs, so I used that. <b>www. dewelldesigns@blogspot.com</b> became my URL for the RVing blog. So now, only the NAME and HEADER will change. You won't need to do anything different to visit the updated blog posts. Lucky, right? 😊</p></div></div></div></div>
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<![endif]--><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-72192045555632094022019-03-26T18:19:00.000-06:002019-03-26T18:19:48.997-06:00Goodbye to The PalmsGoodbye to The Palms. She sold today, and will continue on with a new
couple who have two little dogs. She'll be much happier with them,
exploring new places, roaring down new roads, than sitting on the side
of my house. Onward and upward, sweet motor home. She was perfect, and
I'll miss her. This is one of the early photos I took of her, visiting
my kids.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEVfQ4WMpkYvW7WnUws7-iFTLjum0NqApQdgHWAQYtVSXVXQXwGefGQBg0dgEQNaHn2ic90W6NGe-S-KsA6W7vBOVx-YK2JQsWFD-ftmFKruh2DRpP0ndJ_dbWaApcqr_mYf07BQjZvQ/s1600/Encinitas+CA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1326" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEVfQ4WMpkYvW7WnUws7-iFTLjum0NqApQdgHWAQYtVSXVXQXwGefGQBg0dgEQNaHn2ic90W6NGe-S-KsA6W7vBOVx-YK2JQsWFD-ftmFKruh2DRpP0ndJ_dbWaApcqr_mYf07BQjZvQ/s640/Encinitas+CA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So... that chapter of my life is closed, and I have lots more adventures ahead.<br />
<br />
Right now working on the new house is on the top of my list. Landscaping, fencing, changing out windows and doors. Patios and pergolas. Shutters and window boxes. Big things and little things.<br />
<br />
She's finally furnished and comfortable, and is going to be a great little house for me and Charlie - who just dug a huge hole in the backyard. It looks like he's trying to help the contractor dig post holes.<br />
<br />
I think about all of you out on the road. I'll keep in touch from time to time. <br />
<br />
You all take care,<br />
<br />
Me and Charlie <span style="color: red;">❤</span> 🐾🐾 😊 <br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-70429526536909625622019-01-22T17:58:00.004-07:002022-09-01T15:51:33.839-06:00Some thoughts on The Palms - to sell or not to sellI've been thinking a lot about The Palms lately. At this point I'm pretty settled in my new house. It's furnished, warm and comfy, and pretty much they way I want it.<br />
<br />
So... what to do about The Palms...I moved into the house the end of July 2018 and haven't even thought about taking a trip. As much as I love The Palms and enjoyed traveling and living in her for more than seven years, I think my RVing days are over. <p>I've loved living in the desert, in the forest, next to the Rio Grande, the Pacific Ocean, and various rivers and lakes. <br />
<br />
I've loved getting to know the different birds and checking them off in my bird guide. I got some GREAT photos. <br />
<br />
One of the best parts of RVing off the grid for me was waking up and seeing cattle all around The Palms. Hearing the MOOOOOing throughout the day. <br />
<br />
The horse families, especially after the birth of new foals, walking around the campground at Bluewater Lake State Park in NM were such a gift. Especially when they were in my campsite.<br />
<br />
The sunsets! Wow, I can't tell you how many gorgeous sunsets I've enjoyed!<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIhjiQsrohcdvmC87L3V10x_JVclck_OiS6HvSwj_SLmBKRTQvkEg6lYY5elgz5EsQrzpxNBRm78Ml7AUWGANr0SUJoO0Fg4beng5KOHf4kLmxr1Wb2uV88djqEAPVGDv2R5JEpT8uiw/s1600/Sunset+from+campsite+at+Storrie+Lake.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIhjiQsrohcdvmC87L3V10x_JVclck_OiS6HvSwj_SLmBKRTQvkEg6lYY5elgz5EsQrzpxNBRm78Ml7AUWGANr0SUJoO0Fg4beng5KOHf4kLmxr1Wb2uV88djqEAPVGDv2R5JEpT8uiw/s640/Sunset+from+campsite+at+Storrie+Lake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And of course, friends I've met on the road. First meeting I liked you all, second meeting you were friends forever. Some of you I probably won't ever see again, but you will be in my heart always. Great friends, great times. Thank you!<br />
<br />
And the independence of living off the grid was something I've wanted to do since I read The Private World of Tasha Tudor years ago. It's such a gorgeous book, her lifestyle just yelled at me, "YOU NEED TO DO THIS, TOO!"<br />
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I know that living full-time in a motor home for seven years off grid wasn't the same life that Tasha Tudor lived. But it was closer than city living in a house. I'd call it different but somewhat equalish.<br />
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Only those people who have full-timed for a while and loved it will understand all that I'm saying here. It's something I can talk about, but like few other things, you can't possibly understand unless you've done it. There are so many parts in the puzzle of full-timing, especially if you're boondocking or drycamping.<br />
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From parking overnight at Walmart, truck stops or rest areas to getting that perfect place on BLM lands, moving every 14 days, finding the laundromat in a new town. A post office to mail off those bills and cards and ballots. Getting your TV and Internet access to the point where it always works, no matter where you are. (If not, I didn't go back, one night and I was back on the road to another place where I could get them.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO2dmDyBRUR9rVD0kLY_14gQUUvQqRXX9CDyOYyj9JS_RBMNPKW86arIH0lYHh-gJjMrkKb6j_MZjeK1FIt0qQnWruBK8Or5etnNp4RxD4muzKhDButfWvQODUqnNlIfb0TUsFFbTZgE/s1600/Sunseeker+in+the+forest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="400" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO2dmDyBRUR9rVD0kLY_14gQUUvQqRXX9CDyOYyj9JS_RBMNPKW86arIH0lYHh-gJjMrkKb6j_MZjeK1FIt0qQnWruBK8Or5etnNp4RxD4muzKhDButfWvQODUqnNlIfb0TUsFFbTZgE/s640/Sunseeker+in+the+forest.jpg" width="640" /></a><p><br />
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And the State Parks in New Mexico are so great! With my annual pass I could always pull in any day of the week, any time of the day and have a place to live for two weeks. Maybe by a lake or river dry camping, or if it was super hot or cold - and I was lucky - an electric site miraculously empty when I arrived (I never made reservations). And they had clean restrooms with nice showers! Bonus!<br /></p><p>Learning all the systems in the rig and having checklists/alerts for the motor home maintenance items; knowing all the time how the solar panels are doing, and it wouldn't be a good idea to land in a great campsite on BLM land with full black/grey tanks and no water in the water tank. You have to keep track of that all the time. And also for the truck. Watching the gas tank - you don't want to run out of gas in the middle of the desert.<br />
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I could go on and on.... it was a great learning experience, a thrilling lifestyle, a very full-fulling seven years in so many ways. I can't say enough positive things about the whole full-timing lifestyle or about The Palms. <br />
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The Palms has been so good to me. I was lucky to choose the right rig the first time. My full-timing years would never have been the same in another motor home. She's a beautiful rig with the perfect floor plan for me. The original owner bought her with almost all the upgrades available, and then apparently didn't use her. So she was like a brand new motor home when I bought her. I really appreciated all the upgrades.<br />
<br />
I especially like the large bathroom and the rear kitchen, also the long fold-out couch. And my dinette is so comfortable that I spent most of my time at the dinette table. The over-the-cab bed was also really comfortable. I never woke up with back pain or any other issues, it just worked for me. Also the great storage inside the rig. I guess I really love everything about her. From the day I bought her, I knew how lucky I was to find the exact motor home I had researched and was looking for.<br />
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<br />
And the truck has been trouble free, too. Up hills she's a workhorse - with her big engine I never had issues going the speed limit up any hills. She just purrs along. I did have to buy more gas because of that big engine. I usually got 8 or 9 mpg, but I didn't drive her slow. If the speed limit was 65 or 70, I drove her 65 or 70 mph. Another driver's gas mileage might be higher, but since I didn't travel far, just often, it worked for me, even on a small budget. I planned where to go and when - depending on gas prices like most RVers.<br />
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I always felt SO LUCKY! I never had an exit plan. I figured I'd keep full-timing until I couldn't anymore or didn't want to anymore. <br />
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So, now that I'm settled in a sticks 'n bricks house again, can I REALLY give her up? For
a while
I wondered if I'd ever want to use the RV again. Maybe in the summers
when it's so hot here, it would be nice to get out of town for a month
or two up in higher elevations. For the last six months I wasn't sure, but I was leaning that way.<br />
<br />
But is it a good plan, a good <b><i>financial</i></b> idea, to keep her on the side of the house for 10 or 11 months every year and only drive her out of town for a month or so each year? Not really. Maybe selling The Palms is my best option. If I change my mind after she's gone, I can always buy another motor home. But I'll never find one like The Palms again. That rear kitchen, the high ceilings, all the upgrades... I guess that would be okay, because the new rig would be just to get out of town for a while, not to live in 24/7. And that's if, a big IF, I missed RVing and wanted another motor home.<br />
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I ran across this quote and it fits so well with my RVing experiences:<br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">“Travel isn't always pretty. It
isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your
heart. But that's okay. The journey changes you; it should change you.
It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart,
and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave
something good behind."<br /> ~Anthony Bourdain</span><br />
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Of course I had MANY "pretty" times and living in a motor home is VERY comfortable.
Meeting great friends, seeing beautiful scenery, camping with<span class="text_exposed_show"> large animals close by, feeling so confident driving my home down the
road. Living off grid gave me such a feeling of independence. And I
was able to live frugally, which I had never really done before. I
found I was GOOD at being frugal. I was healthy and happy 99 percent of
the time. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">But of course it <b><i>did</i></b> sometimes hurt, my heart <b><i>w</i>as</b> broken, traveling in an RV left many marks on my memory, my consciousness, my heart and my body. I don't know if I left anything good behind, but I sure did take <b><i>LOTS</i></b> of good things with me. It's one of the best experiences in my lifetime.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">If I decide to sell her, now is the time. She's in great shape inside and outside, the exterior has recently been buffed out, decals removed and painted back on by a professional. There is some normal wear and tear on The Palms, but nothing major. All her systems are in good working order, mileage is still low and the truck is in good shape. Everything has been well taken care of and I have all the original manuals, service documentation, and receipts for the upgrades I added. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">And all this is why I'm having so much
difficulty coming to a decision about whether to keep The Palms and not
use her much, or sell her and let someone else enjoy her as much as I
did. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">But I think I've already made my decision - I'm going to sell The Palms. It just makes sense.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">I'll post more soon about selling The Palms - with lots of information and photos. Really sad, right? But when the new owner drives her down the street, I'll know exactly what they are experiencing and I'll cheer them on. Because I felt the same way when I bought her. And every time we took off for a new location. And they will leave me in a puddle of tears, for sure! </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">I'll be back soon. </span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">💓</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">P.S. If you are interested or know someone who is, check out the video I did of The Palms for Bob Wells - it's at the end of my blog posts. 😉</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-9828522191675652752019-01-20T11:34:00.000-07:002019-01-20T11:34:03.184-07:00More Charlie Photos - He's getting so big!<br />
Charlie has made strides during the last few weeks. He's gone from 18.4 pounds the day I adopted him on November 6 to 34.2 pounds on January 3. So he almost doubled his weight in two months.<br />
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And he's only six months old. He's going to be bigger than I thought. <span style="font-size: large;"> 😬</span><br />
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He's doing well with his training. He's really hard to walk, soooo strong and tries to pull me along, which I can't let him do. I've invested in different harnesses and a gentle lead that goes over his snout. That works best, but no matter which we use, our walks are very short. If he's pulling me or fusing with his lead, the walk ends and we turn around. Other than that, he takes direction and training really well.<br />
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I've been called for jury duty next Tuesday, so I found a doggie day care in town that will take him.<br />
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He loves the owner, Anissa:<br />
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We've gone for three or four days in the last two weeks, just 2.5 to 3 hours each time, but on Tuesday if I'm chosen for the jury, I guess I'll be there all day? I haven't ever been on a jury and have always wanted to, but my brother is a retired Sheriff in California, and that might keep me off the jury. We'll see.<br />
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I'm gong to keep bringing Charlie to The Dog Shak because he LOVES it and it's great for socializing him with other dogs. He has two best friends, one is a small one year old dog that the owner adopted, and the other is a day care dog, T, who is a large black lab. They are both SO GOOD with Charlie!<br />
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Luckily Charlie loves it there, the other dogs like him, and Anissa, the owner, likes him. This will also be nice if I need some time without Charlie to get things done. He's too young to leave alone at home, and I wouldn't leave him in his crate for too long.<br />
<br />
He was neutered two weeks ago, and also had a dangling dew claw removed, so he had to wear a cone for a while. Poor Charlie! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwnuMIKS3mmcQCAWvHAloVQNHu8RcgcCYsXGCHi4XQrbPaerJve6ix-JIHgAuXASolF3sMU8xVGBZ-QA_imRwp6rSe5EzSjdNEXKJTu9vcZE16ut4AicITidqFsU3feKm-angWZ41oDI/s1600/IMG-0515+%25282%2529+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpDQXMJYAq9qd4-fXfjctrFk6TSs4Fo_SkCHjEZk_Q09cU6m0g0z1fAg0GhO2vebbBR_MXM4Awqcq-vm5O8E3eQRXTjRLNeTT-iiqe8wVNb_KmW8xIFaI76TJ6CwYob9rgm3xH-vZt9E/s1600/Poor+Charlie+with+Cone+1+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpDQXMJYAq9qd4-fXfjctrFk6TSs4Fo_SkCHjEZk_Q09cU6m0g0z1fAg0GhO2vebbBR_MXM4Awqcq-vm5O8E3eQRXTjRLNeTT-iiqe8wVNb_KmW8xIFaI76TJ6CwYob9rgm3xH-vZt9E/s640/Poor+Charlie+with+Cone+1+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwnuMIKS3mmcQCAWvHAloVQNHu8RcgcCYsXGCHi4XQrbPaerJve6ix-JIHgAuXASolF3sMU8xVGBZ-QA_imRwp6rSe5EzSjdNEXKJTu9vcZE16ut4AicITidqFsU3feKm-angWZ41oDI/s640/IMG-0515+%25282%2529+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<br />
Believe me, it hurt me more than it hurt him! With a Heeler, instead
of having his nose on the back of my calf all the time, I was crashed
into with the edge of a plastic Elizabethan Cone. OUCH! I ended up
taking it off early, and everything healed well.<br />
<br />
Here's Charlie with Buster and Bibi, Irene and Scot's dogs, (my neighbors and friends). Charlie loves play dates with these two, they love to run and play, too. 😎<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmRTYLXOUBqshwAxoNJXLZFV2JlviH3Yg79ozp0G8p8QmWtW4vbaisjK8z85sVxGhHmY6Sb5CQXgcoM4ZBtUI7jHmLHfLD4ke6ncsHLKbOOeQpCKLupCyDVLCHVFZs8cuGaFAaLHuOtk/s1600/Buster+Charlie+and+Bibi+running+%2528Custom%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmRTYLXOUBqshwAxoNJXLZFV2JlviH3Yg79ozp0G8p8QmWtW4vbaisjK8z85sVxGhHmY6Sb5CQXgcoM4ZBtUI7jHmLHfLD4ke6ncsHLKbOOeQpCKLupCyDVLCHVFZs8cuGaFAaLHuOtk/s640/Buster+Charlie+and+Bibi+running+%2528Custom%2529.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
<br />
Some of Charlie's tricks - since he's deaf, he has to watch me for hand signals.<br />
<br />
<b>SIT</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuom2pKhJhHAcpO0Ls-l_JAysnD_kVKZ4jpB48R1nzxQWnuruA7H3FaZMB8jURvxfd8URDiRikx5tbBTNA74jmIkwrR8jq7WM4BjvyXXa6yCT_ScuJtl2effjOQ3SlJ5Ihpz6kHdeJq0k/s1600/Charlie+sitting+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuom2pKhJhHAcpO0Ls-l_JAysnD_kVKZ4jpB48R1nzxQWnuruA7H3FaZMB8jURvxfd8URDiRikx5tbBTNA74jmIkwrR8jq7WM4BjvyXXa6yCT_ScuJtl2effjOQ3SlJ5Ihpz6kHdeJq0k/s640/Charlie+sitting+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>LAY DOWN </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oPxYhwRp_NWvrJrGBvoxA3RK8TU3_QJStNPlI8gjNwAGF8QKAgmbH4VXncfctQrVKXUaKE85hACl9J47tCr6KdYanXgbMqXjqjPsn_Uf0kqGQDMW4af4CDP7CQlFScJobiMjDzozOTo/s1600/Charlie+Laying+down+from+Sit+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oPxYhwRp_NWvrJrGBvoxA3RK8TU3_QJStNPlI8gjNwAGF8QKAgmbH4VXncfctQrVKXUaKE85hACl9J47tCr6KdYanXgbMqXjqjPsn_Uf0kqGQDMW4af4CDP7CQlFScJobiMjDzozOTo/s640/Charlie+Laying+down+from+Sit+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>PAW</b> - We do this from a "sit." It's a hand out, palm up. You can see him watching me and starting to raise his paw.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W950tiNiq_oLuj25jPRBm816PE8SSd0zhvpUNByEJfi-Upe5uz7bvGlAMIXCP2XvLVyB2xF_Q_7d2SjV8egXydvZgABoC4T9Np1VJZtkVQnuBH7D4VJRX6uYi-S8clhCCuavvdxb4QM/s1600/Charlie+shaking+hands+1+reduced+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="314" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W950tiNiq_oLuj25jPRBm816PE8SSd0zhvpUNByEJfi-Upe5uz7bvGlAMIXCP2XvLVyB2xF_Q_7d2SjV8egXydvZgABoC4T9Np1VJZtkVQnuBH7D4VJRX6uYi-S8clhCCuavvdxb4QM/s640/Charlie+shaking+hands+1+reduced+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Then he watches my hand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50TuDFl2FJ6mN4S7jR_D-qlOGueYv2BdXEk82kTIlZzSdGFaleGODkC3wHZ6ZoNuFxEgUVM4jpyN5Leh6_rnlASXxwQab9-kjvI9vO-IrLIFnoQiwVX2hPROUkVlmrdleQefQ2CrZl4/s1600/Charlie+shaking+hands+2+reduced+-+Copy+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="314" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50TuDFl2FJ6mN4S7jR_D-qlOGueYv2BdXEk82kTIlZzSdGFaleGODkC3wHZ6ZoNuFxEgUVM4jpyN5Leh6_rnlASXxwQab9-kjvI9vO-IrLIFnoQiwVX2hPROUkVlmrdleQefQ2CrZl4/s640/Charlie+shaking+hands+2+reduced+-+Copy+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And <b>SHAKES</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsiZDFjA03c0ptoYSbuGozcOM00bYCtiK3hVc-_956fK-URCtBGCYc_oGYSTPwdockA7uCXfAhoJ-zAzBJcZ_HwW7DEuSRSc7czuuHQ2MN2VpydGKNeWNG6J2Y_cm-vZhh0IM8MLPtOs/s1600/Charlie+shaking+hands+3+reduced+-+Copy+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="314" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsiZDFjA03c0ptoYSbuGozcOM00bYCtiK3hVc-_956fK-URCtBGCYc_oGYSTPwdockA7uCXfAhoJ-zAzBJcZ_HwW7DEuSRSc7czuuHQ2MN2VpydGKNeWNG6J2Y_cm-vZhh0IM8MLPtOs/s640/Charlie+shaking+hands+3+reduced+-+Copy+%2528Custom%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Pretty cool, huh? <br />
<br />
He knows a lot of words/signals now, but SIT, STAY, LAY DOWN, PAW, PUZZLE, and WALK are his best ones.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by. Lots of things going on here, more next time. <br />
<br />
From Me and Charlie, have a great weekend! <span style="color: red;"> <span style="font-size: large;">❤</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> 🐾🐾 </span><br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-79217210426795394442018-12-22T21:37:00.002-07:002018-12-22T21:37:11.597-07:00MEET CHARLIE!<h2>
</h2>
<b>November 7, 2018</b><br />
<br />
I adopted Charlie on November 6, 2018 from our local rescue center here
in Truth or Consequences. I wasn't there to take home a dog, I just
wanted to look. You know how that goes! LOL He seemed so bright and friendly and I fell in love with him!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepk2PicblqYIebM8wnqtX3rpUxDuA_ZNvOSeKRWl3fXiRE3WkZ0-3HgwElk-_Xt4e5FObSIasQxBq3jG23SPFFAXtAN_hyphenhyphenP-B6SvFsZJdEE5wofRpyHYVOw1F5YTJoaoZ4giFdly5Yfo/s1600/First+photos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="532" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepk2PicblqYIebM8wnqtX3rpUxDuA_ZNvOSeKRWl3fXiRE3WkZ0-3HgwElk-_Xt4e5FObSIasQxBq3jG23SPFFAXtAN_hyphenhyphenP-B6SvFsZJdEE5wofRpyHYVOw1F5YTJoaoZ4giFdly5Yfo/s640/First+photos.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />
The TorC Animal Shelter found him wandering around alone on the local streets
and he didn't have a collar or a chip, so they couldn't identify his
owners. He had just come off the waiting period when I walked in. Charlie is a Blue Heeler, about 4 months old when I brought him home.<br />
<br />
This is our history so far, starting the day I brought him home up until today. When he first came home he was teething and not yet potty trained, so we had a lot of work to do. I don't remember having a puppy before, and he sure kept me busy. I didn't take my eyes off him. We went out to the backyard every time he was done eating, sleeping, or playing - all day long! He had some accidents that I didn't catch in time, but all in all the potty training went pretty fast.<br />
<br />
It was the teething that I REALLY had to watch out for. He was chewing on furniture, drapes, rugs, EVERYTHING! So I was up and down all day, and in bed by 8:00 if I lasted that long.<br />
<br />
At this point, he's potty trained and pretty much done with the teething. That's SO nice! He's worn out and sleeping from 6:00 pm to around 9:00 pm and then I take him outside for a final potty and then he's in his crate until 7 am. He's sleeping really well, long hours overnight.<br />
<br />
This is from what I posted on FaceBook - it was easier to copy it over than to start from scratch.<br />
<br />
<b>November 9, 2018:</b><br />
<br />
Charlie loves playing with his tennis balls, and he loves chasing them when we're outside. He's behaving better and better every day. (That's Katie's bed, he didn't fit in it for long. He was 18.4 pounds when I got him on November 7 and on December 14 he was 29.6 at the Vet's. That was 8 days ago, and I've loosened his harness and collar twice since then. He's growing like a WEED!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xvQ02tUMKxYuFhv3jkUblj1aTMnyHd9_ko_1dz7sh3dpUbp9KgpIazPWzGRW7k19X0qxPwconFv6JpyuPqCaWGqy2WDDL6BIyMMr7DZoJr4lbs9ns_Hmdr2wBS1Hz9UnCWempGKrnKQ/s1600/First+photos1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="576" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xvQ02tUMKxYuFhv3jkUblj1aTMnyHd9_ko_1dz7sh3dpUbp9KgpIazPWzGRW7k19X0qxPwconFv6JpyuPqCaWGqy2WDDL6BIyMMr7DZoJr4lbs9ns_Hmdr2wBS1Hz9UnCWempGKrnKQ/s640/First+photos1.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVE1ehDWlPFoU_sS9TxuXIkM3CSc_5KKhQyHI2cwFvpwq2PRAROl00A1mUdJGvIrgo486ScLVWhTiY4Dd_NDSPjsizCWQfaofCNT9j_E1BzWhAlSux1qIRBegOqBQLGIk65oZ-Vr6y8Y/s1600/Charlie+with+his+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="574" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVE1ehDWlPFoU_sS9TxuXIkM3CSc_5KKhQyHI2cwFvpwq2PRAROl00A1mUdJGvIrgo486ScLVWhTiY4Dd_NDSPjsizCWQfaofCNT9j_E1BzWhAlSux1qIRBegOqBQLGIk65oZ-Vr6y8Y/s640/Charlie+with+his+ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>November 12, 2018</b><br />
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Storage box under my desk - Charlie likes to climb up on it. He's so funny.<br />
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<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ad-preview="message" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_1ko">
<b>November 15, 2018</b><br />
<br />
Charlie
yesterday afternoon - he's laying under the plum tree with his ball.
Picture taken by my friend, Irene. Thanks for the Share, Irene!<b> </b><br />
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<b>November 15, 2018</b></div>
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Charlie has a new trick. His water bowl was empty and he dragged it
under the kitchen table. I took it and put an inch of water in it, and
he again tried to drag it under the table, of course spilling some of
the water. He's such a monster puppy. If I live through this, he'll
the the BEST DOG EVER!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUSpsil2nk0_tzZOZa1KWguHBsNidbJ4esaMQZmUuK_qzJxPSGS-TVa3gURVJ0Pbgv35zg4k8W1GuzCb2fyvW68TdXFr_Z_uakjVfHtFSt4IwWMF0cmo8zEHJJU8JyGmGUjz_E2n76cw/s1600/Charlie+under+the+table+with+his+food+bowl.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="522" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUSpsil2nk0_tzZOZa1KWguHBsNidbJ4esaMQZmUuK_qzJxPSGS-TVa3gURVJ0Pbgv35zg4k8W1GuzCb2fyvW68TdXFr_Z_uakjVfHtFSt4IwWMF0cmo8zEHJJU8JyGmGUjz_E2n76cw/s640/Charlie+under+the+table+with+his+food+bowl.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>November 17, 2018</b><br />
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CHARLIE - He's so funny. Today was such a good day, I spent part of
the day working in the backyard raking leaves and picking up sticks.
I've already cut back the grapes and other bushes that the frost
affected - and that Charlie was always trying to chew on. So the yard
is pretty dog-proofed right now. He follows me everywhere, so he got a
lot of exercise walking around with me and running away from me with a
stick in his mouth. LOL
We also played a lot of ball, he loves playing ball. When we came in
the house at 3:00 he was pooped and went into his crate for a nap. He
moves around a lot when he sleeps. I looked up and he was laying on his
back, completely stretched from front to back in the crate. He cracks
me up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUVI_Gc0xJv8d9A1Bb045OjsurXPQdP8isJNr6qokfEoMyYv-QdrcE6M1X0m377448mMo7GVG9d5wJrHMtrbggubAaSSYi76-7OW1NIgBjdMfA8nRwGMqGFk0sJ2iqya0d4uHy9NQ6WM/s1600/Charlie+stretched+out+in+his+crate.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUVI_Gc0xJv8d9A1Bb045OjsurXPQdP8isJNr6qokfEoMyYv-QdrcE6M1X0m377448mMo7GVG9d5wJrHMtrbggubAaSSYi76-7OW1NIgBjdMfA8nRwGMqGFk0sJ2iqya0d4uHy9NQ6WM/s640/Charlie+stretched+out+in+his+crate.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<br />
<b>November 22, 2018</b><br />
<br />
The Ocotillo tasting - which he couldn't figure out. Charlie is teething and trying to chew everything. He's determined to eat this Ocotillo, but it's not cooperating. He was frustrated, I think. He tried to eat it, then touched it with his paw, then backed up and just looked at it. Then he ran up the hill further and dug a big hole. LOL<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2qM1hVqZqE5wYmySA2bJMeXiQm-toAfrofDJJM2Z72IL9NHImYjhydg7Wbw5nFe4c4u6A8OkypnO1lqqmTL1TJNhoDLpB0W5ArzmzdNzayMgVeejwvsiX2RHJalrZiBGvK3x-zoPCVc/s1600/Charlie+eating+the+Ocotillo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2qM1hVqZqE5wYmySA2bJMeXiQm-toAfrofDJJM2Z72IL9NHImYjhydg7Wbw5nFe4c4u6A8OkypnO1lqqmTL1TJNhoDLpB0W5ArzmzdNzayMgVeejwvsiX2RHJalrZiBGvK3x-zoPCVc/s640/Charlie+eating+the+Ocotillo.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qKQrFfNAVSZP0CkwMFN2v_V8Ic4TJxajZYcQLYceqS7BChgdzhLEht3NVFKnuTT0ppUlDiKBwZAYR4py8GcKOjbeqlpCZn6mUA4FCVSMkd0qe0Ke7_hLetyqdy8dtdAcbTSwlcDTpZY/s1600/Charlie+feeling+the+Ocotillo+with+his+paw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qKQrFfNAVSZP0CkwMFN2v_V8Ic4TJxajZYcQLYceqS7BChgdzhLEht3NVFKnuTT0ppUlDiKBwZAYR4py8GcKOjbeqlpCZn6mUA4FCVSMkd0qe0Ke7_hLetyqdy8dtdAcbTSwlcDTpZY/s640/Charlie+feeling+the+Ocotillo+with+his+paw.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4sCS2GL5HeseOZXF7GSZwYsLz70vGAFnDQN8sMAwqkiO31Tj1VLPakYsk_-IizHg0tef4sklnYPjkNH_RcIbU9Z2uGy-0iT3I1Kmr2Dsc1jep99o-x3Qep4sRjYPzCM5LbWLbwcpvj8/s1600/Charlie+looking+at+the+Ocotilo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4sCS2GL5HeseOZXF7GSZwYsLz70vGAFnDQN8sMAwqkiO31Tj1VLPakYsk_-IizHg0tef4sklnYPjkNH_RcIbU9Z2uGy-0iT3I1Kmr2Dsc1jep99o-x3Qep4sRjYPzCM5LbWLbwcpvj8/s640/Charlie+looking+at+the+Ocotilo.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<b>November 24, 2018</b><br />
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I spilled spot remover on Charlie. Now I can't find him. 😁😂<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXUbmEVRGSJpJsw5RiyqTmTllUvuytHaeIyYHkoPxD3vjVUZXz8AGYIWAiaEaYrDZkCOf8CgepUtS6p03DGE5gFc9JSqBFlSL3ZMC9Hdm6eJ5lwc5cILcW0xKmq1-UKUDHH1qe66BO94/s1600/Charlie+staring+in+a+low+position.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="505" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXUbmEVRGSJpJsw5RiyqTmTllUvuytHaeIyYHkoPxD3vjVUZXz8AGYIWAiaEaYrDZkCOf8CgepUtS6p03DGE5gFc9JSqBFlSL3ZMC9Hdm6eJ5lwc5cILcW0xKmq1-UKUDHH1qe66BO94/s640/Charlie+staring+in+a+low+position.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<b>November 24, 2018</b><br />
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First he steals my heart, then he steals my chair! 💕 Then he chews off part of the arm on my chair. 😞<br />
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<b>November 27, 2018</b><br />
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Charlie loves to watch himself in the mirror. The second photo is where Charlie is every day on and off. If it's warm enough I open the front door and drag over a padded storage box. He jumps up on it and watches the neighbors go by. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="smile emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta5/1.5/16/1f642.png" width="16" /></span> <br />
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<b>November 27, 2018</b><br />
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One of Charlie's favorite toys - a squeaky donut. When he'd had enough food and water yesterday, he got his donut and put it on the bowls. Sometimes I wish I knew what he was thinking! <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="smile emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta5/1.5/16/1f642.png" width="16" /></span><br />
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<b>November 27, 2018</b><br />
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I took Charlie down to Elephant Butte Lake to see if he liked the water. When we were walking back to the truck, Charlie peed and pooped, and when I bent down to pet him, he grabbed the poop bag out of my hand and proudly carried it all the way back to the truck. Sometimes he's just so darn cute! Then he was back in his crate, and not too long after being home, sound asleep. He still sleeps a lot. <br />
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<b>December 6, 2018</b><br />
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I came back from town - after being gone less than an hour - and found this. At first I thought, "Oh, how cute, he's burrowed under his bed." THE NEW BED THAT WAS DELIVERED THE DAY BEFORE! I got out the camera, took a picture, then zoomed in and saw the carnage. Little brat!<br />
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<b>December 14, 2018</b><br />
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We visited the vet today and confirmed that Charlie is deaf. But I already knew. I spent Thursday online finding good hand signals for words I want Charlie to know - I have three pages of typed commands with instructions - 37 of them so far. I'm sure I'll be adding to that list. But for now, only the most important ones, 10 of them, are at the top of the list. I have to learn them, and am practicing the most important ones, but Charlie already knows some... We're doing<span class="text_exposed_show"> short practice sessions of a couple signals during the day. Once he knows the essential signals, I'll add others one or two at a time.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">I ordered a couple of books on the subject - and the Dictionary of ASL is a good reference, too. Many people use those signals, but I want to have only "one-hand" signals if possible.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">For his safety, in case he gets away from me, I ordered him a Deaf Dog harness.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">I've also made some labels to stick on the back of his collar tags, and I called the chip ID place and they noted that he is deaf. If he DOES get away, it's important that people know he's deaf so they won't punish him for not responding to them. It's pretty easy to make up hand signals for come, sit, etc. that he would probably understand, but if they talk to him, he won't be able to get what they're saying. And if he isn't looking at them, he won't get any hand gestures, either. So.... I don't particularly like this vest, and might look for something a little less obvious, but for now, we'll use it.</span><br />
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<b>December 17, 2018</b><br />
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<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ad-preview="message" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_t3m">
I think this picture is hysterical - I break out laughing every time I look at it. It looks like it's gone through an app to make him look funny, but this is how he looked.</div>
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Charlie was a "crazy tired dog" this afternoon, so he napped in his crate in the living room. This is him noticing that I noticed he was awake. Before this he was playing quietly with his toys. Funny thing is, I've been trying to see his teeth, his adult teeth are coming in, and he wouldn't let me. Well, I've sure seen them now!<br />
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<b>December 19, 2018</b><br />
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Charlie's puzzle. This is a Level 2, and I have two Level 3 puzzles for him when he gets this down really well. He gets to find the treats every morning. At first I had to help him, the directions tell you how to get them used to it, then he got the red sliders by himself, and now he can do it all. He LOVES it! We'll keep using this one until the gets bored with it.<br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></span><br />
<b>December 20, 2018</b><br />
<br />
I got Charlie a big bag of flat rawhide chew toys. Every time I give
him one, he takes it out in the backyard and buries it up on the hill.
So the other day I blocked off the door to the yard so he couldn't
scratch the door to get out, and then I gave him the chew toy. He
knocked down the fence blocking the door, and killed his fox. 🤣🤣🤣 I
opened the fence more and put part of it behind the bakers rack so he
couldn't get it down. And of course, he roamed around the house looking
for an INSIDE place to bury it. This - under his bed on the couch -
was the best he found. Later it ended up buried somewhere up on the
hill. 😏🤣<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
And our final photos from today:<br />
<br />
<b>December 22, 2018</b><br />
<br />
Charlie's Bumble Bee toy - BEFORE and AFTER.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Charlie is just an adorable dog, so smart and funny. I'm enjoying
him so much. He's very different from Katie, like night and day, but if
Charlie turns out to be as good a companion as Katie was, I'll be
a happy camper. He has so much energy and personality.<br />
<br />
BTW, even though he can't hear, he can smell really well, and is
very aware of his surroundings. I wanted a dog partly for protection and thought that because of Charlie's deafness he wouldn't be a protector, but I'm not worried about that any more. A neighbor was visiting, he came in when
Charlie was in the backyard, and when Charlie came in though the open kitchen door,
he stopped on a dime, raised his nose in the air and sniffed, and slowly
walked behind the couch to where I was sitting. He slowly climbed up
on me while growling at my neighbor, a man he had met and liked outside
during walks. But in HIS house, it was different. He was growling for a while and I finally got him to stop. He didn't do anything aggressive, but he let my neighbor
know that he was protecting me. So even though he can't hear, I think
he'll be a good protector. He's only five months old, and did a good job of
warning my neighbor without aggression.<br />
<br />
And yes, for
those of you wondering, he is DEFINITELY trying to herd me. And he's
really strong. Sometimes our walks around the yard into the house are
interesting. But I'm still bigger and stronger, so I'm going to be the
boss! :)<br />
<br />
I have a few other news items that I want to
post about - and will do that before long. So Charlie and I will be
back soon. I need to change my header - makes me tear up just thinking
about doing that. 😥<br />
<br />
See you next time!<br />
<br />
Me and Charlie 💓💓<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-32477110438886565882018-08-19T12:26:00.001-06:002018-08-19T12:41:33.648-06:00The end of an era and a new beginningIt's been more than a month since I lost Katie. That was such a sad post to write through my tears. Thank you all so much for your kind comments, they helped, for sure. I still miss her, of course, and think about her often. I'll adopt another dog - I'm not ready yet, but I love having a dog, so I know another little critter is in my future.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
There have been lots of changes in the last month.<br />
<br />
Before I lost Katie, I started looking for a house to buy in Elephant Butte or Truth or Consequences, NM. I've been thinking about this for a few years now, and suddenly the time was right and all the elements needed to do it came together. I've been considering this area, and really only this area, for a while. I really like Cottonwood, AZ, too, but all in all, New Mexico beat Arizona for me.<br />
<br />
When I arrived at Elephant Butte Lake State Park in February I decided to start the process by becoming a New Mexico resident and we lived in an RV Park for four months while establishing residency.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I insured The Palms in New Mexico and got her registered at the MVD here, and when I had met all the requirements and had the proper paperwork, changed my Driver's License from CA to NM. I've been doing some freelance writing, and got a business license in new Mexico to set up a legal business here.<br />
<br />
Then I started looking at houses in Elephant Butte and Truth or Consequences.<br />
<br />
We had a family vacation planned for July up at Lake Tahoe in California, and before we left Elephant Butte, I did some house hunting, found four I really liked, both in EB and in TorC. I finally decided on one that was a keeper. It has everything I wanted and needed, was move-in ready, is in a good neighborhood, and fit my budget, so I made an offer on the house. The seller countered and I accepted the counter. The morning we left town the home inspection was done, and the house came through with flying colors. Nothing negative on the report. 😁<br />
<br />
It was so hot in Elephant Butte I was happy to leave the area for a cooler climate. I packed up, and Katie and I started the drive to King's Beach, CA, where I was meeting up with the kids and grand kids at my son and daughter-in-law's beautiful house in the lake area. <br />
<br />
Before we drove on to Lake Tahoe, we stayed a couple of weeks in Flagstaff, AZ, mostly camping at A-1 Mountain Road, where it was much cooler than in EB. Sadly, two days before I left for Tahoe, I took Katie in to the Vet for the final time and said goodbye. I'm doing fine so far, but it'll take time for all the emotion to calm down. 😥❤. I keep thinking I'm over Katie, then it hits me. Whew... <br />
<br />
I drove on to King's Beach alone and spent time with my son's and daughter's families, and it was a really good visit. Here's a photo of all the kids and grandkids out for lunch:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
And on another day - the photo is a small size, so I can't blow it up, it gets too fuzzy.<br />
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<br />
And here's me with all five grandkids:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Then I left and drove back to the state park at Elephant Butte.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile the home loan and home insurance were in process. We had a closing date of July 31, but ended up closing a week early, and now I've been here in the new house in Truth or Consequences, NM for almost a month.<br />
<br />
I've been setting up house - I haven't done this from scratch since I was a newly married young woman, and it's been fun (but expensive!). Thank goodness there's a Walmart in town! It has almost everything I've needed so far.<br />
<br />
My son, Tom, and I were talking about my new house, and I said I didn't have a stick of furniture, but I'd camp out inside the house as I accumulated what I needed. I've done that before and don't mind it a bit. I'd bring in all my kitchen and bathroom stuff, the mattress and bedding from the rig, and I have camp tables and chairs to use, as well as my clothes, TV and computer. AND I'd have a large swamp cooler to keep me cool, a full kitchen and a bathroom with a bathtub and lots of water! The Palms would be parked in the driveway and I'd use her to get around until I found a little car that I liked. <br />
<br />
Tom has been flipping houses for years now, and when I told him my plan, he said he was glad I mentioned that - because he had some staging furniture that he wanted to thin out. So when we were in Tahoe, Tom and I went through photos on his computer of all the furniture, and I got to pick what I wanted. How nice was that?<br />
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AND... he also gave me a small truck that he was rotating out of this company's fleet. It has high mileage, but is in super condition and runs like a top. One of Tom's employees who has a commercial driver's license trucked out the furniture and truck a week or so ago, so now I'm all set. I still have some decorating to do and small things to purchase, but I'm so far ahead of where I thought I would be at this point! Thanks, Tom! Your generosity has been overwhelming and is so appreciated. 💗💗💗<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
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I've met some of my neighbors and they are all very friendly, nice and helpful. It's a small neighborhood of similar homes to mine, all pretty well maintained. My house was in move-in-ready condition. Yards were clean, the house looked like it was newly painted inside and out, appliances looked new, the carpet and tile bathroom floors and wood laminate kitchen floors looked brand new.<br />
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With all the homes I've bought and sold over the years, this is the first one that had absolutely nothing to repair or replace - or even a negative comment on the Home Inspection Report. It was all good. Truly move-in ready. I just wiped things down, vacuumed the carpets and then had them professionally cleaned, and that was it! I was really lucky. The seller took very good care of this house and I look forward to many years of living here and enjoying the house, yards and neighborhood.<br />
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There's room on the side of the house for The Palms. It doesn't quite fit because my large swamp cooler is attached to the side of my garage, but my next door neighbor very kindly said I could park her on his property at the side of his house so she would fit. Luckily he has no windows on that side, and she won't be visible or in the way for him. So she's parked between our houses.<br />
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And BONUS! One thing I hadn't thought about when buying a house in TorC was that I wasn't leaving the sunrises, sunsets, bunnies, quail and other birds, or even roadrunners when I left the state parks. They live here all over the place!<br />
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I was happy to learn I have a little cottontail bunny living in my backyard. I'm told his name is Charlie, and he lays in the shade of a grape plant that is growing on the fence. The swamp cooler drains into the dirt under the vine, and since it's cool and shady, it's a perfect bunny spot on a hot day. He also has a little depression he's made under my plum tree's shade that he lays in, as well as other spots in the yard.<br />
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My bed is in front of the bedroom window overlooking the backyard and when I wake up I look out the open window and some mornings I see him hopping around the yard, as well as lots of quail and other birds. So I still have lots of nature out the windows to watch and enjoy. I've rigged up a bird bath in the side yard for the little birds. It's right out the window by my desk, so I look out often. They are investigating it, but so far no birds have jumped up into the water. I've seen lizards there, too, rooting around and sunning themselves. I'm wondering if they will investigate and find the water.<br />
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My house faces west, so I still get to see the gorgeous sunsets here in New Mexico from my kitchen and living room windows. And my bedroom windows face east, so I see the sunrises in the morning. That seems so lucky - sunrises every morning without even getting out of bed, and sunsets out my front windows in the evening. Perfect!<br />
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And guess what? I'd heard there's a Roadrunner in the neighborhood, and I just saw him running along the street in front of my house! I love that! 😍<br />
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So now, instead of The Palms being my <i>home</i>, she's my "<i>ticket out of town</i>." I bought a New Mexico State Park annual permit again, as I do every year, and whenever I feel antsy or need a change of location, I'll load her up and move to a state park for a get-away. Even if it's a "stay-cation" 12 minutes away at Elephant Butte Lake. <br />
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It's hard to believe I'm settled again and no longer full-timing. It's the end of a 7+ year lifestyle that I loved and will never forget. That seven years fulfilled so many wants, dreams, issues and needs I've had for years, and I wouldn't change a thing. I learned so much, met so many people, stayed in so many cool locations. Only full-time RVers will understand what I'm saying. It's one of those things you have to <i>do</i> to really <i>understand</i>. And I will forever be grateful and happy that I had a chance to be a fulltimer for so long. And <i>so, so grateful </i>that I had Katie with me the whole time. She really made the difference in so many ways.<br />
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My only regret is that Katie isn't with me now. She would have loved this house and yard. But, I'll get another dog. I'm thinking I'll probably rescue a medium size dog instead of a tiny one, which is what I've always thought my next dog would be. A medium dog would be fine in this house, with RV trips from time to time. So we'll see what the future brings me.<br />
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I plan to continue this blog but will only post from time to time as I have been for the last year or so. I'd like to keep my private life more private now, but definitely plan to post when I take The Palms out for a trip.<br />
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The name "Me and My Dog... and My RV!" will stay. Katie will continue to be in my header until her successor appears, then I'll move her photo to the top of a sidebar. She'll always be my RVing buddy, my protector, my mouse finder, my best girl. I doubt I'll take The Palms out again for a trip until I have my new dog. I can't imagine taking off without a dog on board.<br />
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So... I'll see you down the road, or at least post about it to let you know I'm still out there from time to time. I've loved writing this blog and appreciate all my followers. There are a lot of you who posted comments (that I LOVED reading) and many more who read all the posts without commenting. Thank you to <i><b>all</b></i> of you - without your support blogging wouldn't have been half the fun it's been. You are the reason I posted so often for so many years, and now I have a wonderful travel <i>and life</i> log for the past seven years. A wonderful, special time of my life that I can read about in the future, and my kids and grand kids can read, too, if they want.<br />
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So long for now,<br />
<br />
Barb <span style="color: red;">❤</span><br />
<br />
P.S. Even though I won't be posting much now, I'm still checking in on your posts to see what's going on in the RVing world. I'll be keeping up with what you're all doing - I don't want to totally lose touch! <span style="font-size: large;">😉</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-31495091074272989912018-07-05T13:50:00.002-06:002018-07-05T13:53:08.994-06:00A very sad post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I lost my best girl Katie on Tuesday. It's the hardest, saddest thing I've ever done.<br />
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I rescued Katie when I was in my San Diego condo when she was a year and a half. That was 11 years ago. Katie was with me almost 24/7 once I retired, and she was my constant companion, protector, mouser and traveling buddy for the last 7 years.<br />
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She was the best, I couldn't have asked for a better dog, especially being a full-time RVer.<br />
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Lots of you knew Katie, lots of you recognized <i>me</i> when we were walking from the <b>photos</b> of Katie posted on this blog. Many people stopped their vehicles and said," Is that Katie? You must be Barbara." And we made new friends on the spot. She wasn't much of a dog person, but loved people and had lots of good "people friends," - and a couple of special ones.<br />
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Over the years Katie developed various chronic health conditions, and I knew this day was coming. I thought about it, talked to a couple of people about it, but it wasn't something I could plan, I just couldn't plan it in advance. I woke up Tuesday morning and knew.<br />
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Katie had a good afternoon and even though she was on a restricted diet, I gave her cookies and boiled chicken, two of her favorites, and other treats. We took two walks on grass and smooth sidewalks, and she was a happy girl. I'm so glad she had a happy afternoon. Then at 4:00 we drove to the pet hospital.<br />
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Katie passed laying comfortably on a big fluffy blanket on the floor of the Comfort Room at Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff, AZ. The room was comforting with low lights and a small faux fireplace burning away, very quiet - we had time to say goodbye. I was laying next to her, petting her and talking to her, telling her what a good girl she was and how much I loved her. She was asleep almost immediately after receiving the medication, which didn't hurt, thankfully. Then Dr. Karen gave her the final shot and she was gone.<br />
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I have to give my sincerest thank you to Dr. Karen and the entire staff there. They were so kind to Katie and me, so gentle with Katie. Katie wasn't even afraid to be there, usually she hates the vet, but their procedure at Canyon Pet Hospital was not like a vet visit. I am so grateful.<br />
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Here are some photos of my Sweet Baby Katie.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know you're resting in peace, sweet Katie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love you. I miss you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤</span></span></h3>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-68942108170521162812018-05-31T17:04:00.001-06:002018-05-31T17:04:15.174-06:00Much needed UPDATE! :) Time has flown by so fast, suddenly it's over 60 days since I last posted. Have I ever lagged that much before? It seems like I just posted! <br />
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Lots happening, I've been super busy, the temps are in the 90s to 100s in Elephant Butte, NM where I'm camped, and things have finally settled down a bit. It's still hot, but honestly after a while you get acclimated to the high temperatures. It just slows me down a bit!<br />
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Some of the things that have impacted our lives in the last couple of months:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">1.</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>I'm now a New Mexico Resident!</b></span></h3>
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I've been wanting to leave California since I got on the road over seven years ago, but I didn't know where I wanted to land. I love Arizona <i>and</i> New Mexico and it was a hard decision to make. Now that all the paperwork is done, I have a New Mexico Driver License, The Palms is licensed and insured in NM, and my Medicare stuff has been transferred and all THAT paperwork is done, I think I made the right decision. <br />
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Transferring residency is different depending on the states, I imagine, but since I've gone through it here I'm going to do a separate post letting you know what is needed to get it done. It's really fairly easy, but time consuming.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>2. Our cabin door lock broke, and I couldn't get the door open! </b></span></h3>
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I called Chip Baker of Baker's RV Service, who is highly recommended and very good at all things RV. He came over and looked at it and said he'd never seen this before. He finally got the inside plate of the lock off and we could see the broken piece, but he couldn't release the lock to get the door open. He thought he could do it with other tools he didn't have with him that day.<br />
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I told him I'd order the lock on-line and call him when it came in, so he could come back and fix it.<br />
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Of course a few days passed before the lock arrived, and when I called Chip, he was booked for another three days. I am very lucky that I have a Class C so Katie and I could get in and out of the rig through the driver door, but that's such a pain. <br />
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I didn't want to wait another three days so I called another RV repair guy, Dave of RV Mobile Repairs and he was also booked the next three days. <br />
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We're lucky to have two different Mobile Repair companies here in Elephant Butte who are highly recommended and know what they're doing. They are also priced low to moderate from what I've seen. I've been very happy with both Dave and Chip when they've come out to repair things for me on The Palms. <br />
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Next I asked a man here in the park, Max, if he would mind looking at it. One of the problems is that the outside plate of the door, the part with the locking mechanisms, was solidly stuck. <br />
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Max tried this and that, got more tools, and he managed to get the rest of the lock out! Whew, that was a relief!<br />
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Then getting the new lock in was not an exact fit, even though I paid more than $125 over the Amazon.com locks that were comparable to my old lock. I went right to the manufacturer and she said their locks cost more because it was an exact fit to the old lock, which was no longer made. Well, that wasn't necessarily true! But Max was able to work around the issues and get everything to fit, securely in place, screwed in, and it worked! YAAAAY!<br />
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I'm kind of amazed watching these guys with mechanical know-how and lots of experience working around problems - the way their minds work is an amazing thing. I was really impressed.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">A BIG THANK YOU TO MAX!!! </span> He wouldn't even take a glass of cold water on a hot day, he insisted he didn't need a thing. He said he was happy to see how these locks worked, then if his rig had the same problem, he'd know what to do. What a guy!<br />
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You don't really appreciate that door until you can't get it open!<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">3. Katie has been sick!</span></h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br />
If you don't like reading about diarrhea, move on to Item #4. :)<br />
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Her heart and kidney issues seem to be under control with the meds she's on. And they have really booted up her system. She likes walking again and seems younger, so I'm thinking she's had some issues for a long time that just weren't caught by the vets she's seen for the last few years, and I've also blamed her slowing down on her arthritis for the last few years. 😟 <br />
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Then on May 14th, Katie woke me up trying to jump down from our over-cab bunk. I jumped down fast and got her down, threw on clothes and took her outside. She was vomiting and had diarrhea. Then we walked - a lot - and came back to the rig. (I've discovered during this episode that Katie LOVES walking at night!)<br />
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From that point on she's had problems. She only vomited one other time but we're having a problem getting the diarrhea under control. She literally leaked when she would sit or lie down. You can imagine the mess that makes.<br />
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I kept her in "kitchen jail" since that first morning, blocking off the linoleum flooring from the carpet and couch/dinette seats. I used my windshield sun screens and two rows of decorative boxes. No way was she getting around those! (Notice the clean rags in the baggie and the Clorox Wipes. Also baby wipes for little Katie and small clean-ups and I had a Clorox spray bottle for the floor. I was using them constantly and finally just left them out so they'd be handy.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT8cMp3gt8m4NMohaPA0IeGAxUoraXg_gC3SnrEtmyl8SaCBMngsT3VX5o6DkRX65A2_oor7v_3gdDiMzLd0CtebABDp4Q2UbyUkA98a6vuB-vXnco-iTqEF7jGbkEQy22TMSMZpLhOc/s1600/Kitchen+Jail+Barriers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT8cMp3gt8m4NMohaPA0IeGAxUoraXg_gC3SnrEtmyl8SaCBMngsT3VX5o6DkRX65A2_oor7v_3gdDiMzLd0CtebABDp4Q2UbyUkA98a6vuB-vXnco-iTqEF7jGbkEQy22TMSMZpLhOc/s640/Kitchen+Jail+Barriers.JPG" width="640" /></a> She was SO GOOD accepting that she couldn't go past the barriers - but of course, I was "high stepping it" every time I moved around The Palms. A real PAIN!<br />
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I was waking up three or four times the first three nights to take Katie outside and we'd walk and walk, she didn't want to go home. Her bed was covered with a blanket, and I'd change the blanket so she'd have a clean surface to lay on, and we'd go back to sleep. Soon we'd be up again...<br />
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Finally I was so tired, I just told her to poop on the floor. I was too tired to get up and the floor needed cleaning every morning anyway, so... I needed to sleep. <br />
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Those first days I'd wake up, get her outside and we'd walk till she was done "pooping" and then return to The Palms.<br />
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The second thing each morning was cleaning up - I'd be on my knees with the spray bottle sanitizing the floor with two or three passes, then I'd take her bed and blankets outside and clean them, then lay them out to dry. Then I'd fill a plastic tub with warm water from my outside shower and clean Katie up. She wouldn't let me clean her poopy body parts and yelped like crazy if I went anywhere near her tail, so I had her sitting in the warm clean water, then showered her off. What a deal, huh? Katie always seemed to like it, though, so I was able to get her pretty clean each time. <br />
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I went to town and bought some small cheap blankets and another dog bed. I just couldn't keep up with the mess! Luckily there's a laundromat in the RV park we're in, and when I had a load, I'd take it over and run them through the washer/drier.<br />
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I couldn't take her outside to walk when it was in the 90s because the gravel was too hot for her to walk on. I'd pick her up and walk her over to some shade to do her business. One time when I got to the shade, I had dog poop running down my shirt and shorts. Thank goodness there was no one around! <span style="font-size: large;">😯😧😝☹ </span><br />
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That went on for four days. In addition to on-line research I had called the vet and was given suggestions on what to feed her to get the diarrhea under control, and after four calls to the vet I went by and picked up some meds for Katie. She was still eating and drinking and acting normally, so that was good. The first Rx didn't work, and it should have worked by the next afternoon, so I went back to the vet and got another dose as well as an antibiotic. The next morning things started getting better.<br />
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This is Kitchen Jail, Phase 2. I removed one layer of the barrier to make it easier on myself and she still didn't try to jump over. She's such a good girl. I did put up the windshield barrier at night, though. Just in case. <br />
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(BTW, that thing attached to her collar is a lead I bought so she can be attached to the rig and go inside and outside, but still stay in our campsite. She loves it! She lays under the rig in the shade, or out on the rug in the sunshine in the morning and late afternoons. It's given her a lot of freedom.) <br />
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We're not back to normal and it's been over two weeks. But we're getting there. I'm still feeding Katie the white rice/bland chicken meals along with bananas, canned pumpkin, cut up baked potatoes, things like that that she can have and are easy on her stomach. And I'm introducing her regular food back into her diet very slowly. She really prefers the home made meals at this point.<br />
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I went to the vet yesterday to pick up more prescription food, which she eats now for her heart/kidney issues, and weighed her, and she's lost one pound since this started. She actually needed to lose that pound, but you don't want to lose weight because you're sick. I also got her a canine probiotic kit that has a capsule you break and sprinkle the contents on her food, and a paste also that helps firm the stool. If it <i>was</i> a bug that the antibiotic knocked out, the probiotic will get her little tummy back in a good healthy condition.<br />
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Katie is out of kitchen jail now, but I'm not letting her sleep up in my bed. This is a good time for her to sleep "down" anyway because of the heat. We're both more comfortable, I think. <br />
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So, Katie is on the mend. Have any of you had an issue like this with your pets? I've never had a dog that went through this. I couldn't think of anything else to do to help her - did I miss something that would have gotten her better quicker?<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>4. Guess what? My door wouldn't open again yesterday! </b></span></h3>
<br />
Max said he'd come right over and look at it and get it working... It was so hot, I told him to wait till late afternoon or the next morning or late afternoon, no hurry because I didn't mind using the truck driver door. <br />
<br />
You know - lots of RVers only<i><b> HAVE</b></i> ONE DOOR! Thank goodness I'm driving a Class C with the two truck doors! Otherwise Katie and I would have been climbing in and out of a WINDOW till the new lock came in the mail, and again when the door wouldn't open the second time.<br />
<br />
That afternoon I thought I'd at least start the process and save Max some time, and took out the screws of the inner plate and tried turning the locks and playing with the parts and WaaLaa, the door opened! I couldn't believe it!<br />
<br />
So I screwed the inner lock plate back on and stood outside trying to figure out what was happening. As I was closing the door slowly, it seemed to be harder than normal to close it, something was catching and I noticed the two metal thingies - I don't know what they are called - seemed longer than they had before. These two metal, round things attached to the door itself, not part of the lock.<br />
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They fit into the door jamb plate when the door is closed. <br />
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<br />
I've read that they shouldn't be messed with - if there's a problem, call a professional locksmith. Now I know why: you could lock yourself out of your rig. <br />
<br />
I noticed they were loose and extending out further than they should, so if I slammed the door, they would have gone past where they should be and the door would be stuck again. (Or something like that.) So I got my screwdriver and tried different lengths to see what worked. Finally they were at a place where they went securely where they should be without catching on that metal plate and there was no problem getting the door closed or open. <br />
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That was a good lesson, I know more about these locks than I ever thought I would need! But if I ever feel that little feeling where the door isn't closing easily, that little "catch" and a metallic sound - I won't close it. I'll check those two round things to see if they are positioned correctly first.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>And finally... </b></span></h3>
<br />
Well, it sure sounds like my life has been horrible, but other than Katie being sick, I'm happy as a clam as usual. You all know we have things pop up from time to time and we just have to take care of them then life is wonderful again. It's only frustrating if the fix isn't easy. Right? <br />
<br />
But I have a new job which I'm loving, and I'm really enjoying being a New Mexico resident. I'll post about those next time and I also want to tell you about my new Medicare plan here in NM. I freaking couldn't believe how good it is!<br />
<br />
Check back soon, I'm in a writing mood and might just write the next post to publish in a few days! I have a list of nine things to post over the next week or so.<br />
<br />
Oh, also - and this is a BIGGIE! I don't know if I have an ANGEL, or lots of ANGELS, but as you probably know, I'm an Amazon Affiliate. I have links here on my posts that will bring readers to Amazon.com to browse around and make any purchases they want/need. Whenever someone buys something from Amazon.com after using my links to get there for their <b>first search for that item</b>, I get a small percentage of the sale. It's not more expensive for the buyer, Amazon takes a bit from their profit and gives that $$ to it's affiliate. Win/Win for you and me, because it's easy for my readers to get there through my links, whether they buy something or not, and then I earn some money through their purchase. <br />
<br />
BTW, you can click ANY of the Amazon links on my blog to be taken to Amazon.com, then search
around to where you need to go. Anything you purchase during that
particular shopping time - a small percentage will be credited to my account. 💕<br />
<br />
Normally my proceeds aren't very high except sometimes around the Christmas season, but I just checked this morning and SOMEONE or a bunch of SOMEONES have been making a lot of purchases through my links! WOW!!<br />
<br />
THANK YOU for your purchases - I appreciate it so much when my readers use my links to go to Amazon.com. That was such a happy surprise! 😍😘 <br />
<br />
I'll end this here - I'm WAY too long, sorry about that. And More to Come...<br />
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Have a wonderful day, everybody! 😊❤😎<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-48674451938975314062018-03-22T19:30:00.001-06:002018-03-23T14:49:37.349-06:00A cool little purchase...When I was in San Diego staying with my kids, my daughter-in-law, Trish, had a diffuser. She has all kinds of oils that she uses for various things - they seem to help different aliments, moods, etc. I had heard of diffusers, but hadn't seen one in action.<br />
<br />
I was still getting over my flu - which I now think was bronchitis. I was feeling great, but had this dumb little cough that I couldn't seem to get over. I mentioned it to Trish, and she got out her diffuser and put the correct essential oil into the water and turned it on.<br />
<br />
I realized the next day that I hadn't coughed since the previous day: the night before - no coughing, and the next day - no coughing. There must be something to these essential oils other than smelling good. Which, actually, would be enough for me, but the healing properties of the scented air wafting around the room is an added bonus.<br />
<br />
I told her I was going to buy a diffuser, and she gifted me with my favorite of all my oils. (Not that many really, I still want a few more.) The one she gave me is Christmas Spirit, by Young Living. It smells SO GOOD!<br />
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As soon as I got settled in New Mexico and had an address, I ordered this diffuser on-line:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH5odlm3XdCVIBJe-2-Y3e4VL5JEzawxMmmLI4N1PYG_8_11tjHoKf-7HxSvHz4dLe-aQY6OOAAKRnSmeFyHoD9VmgUSm5y8Bj2-kjWf2P9cnjov6hGc27gRO1vmJ1K52JlG3eDKfbk0/s1600/Diffuser+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH5odlm3XdCVIBJe-2-Y3e4VL5JEzawxMmmLI4N1PYG_8_11tjHoKf-7HxSvHz4dLe-aQY6OOAAKRnSmeFyHoD9VmgUSm5y8Bj2-kjWf2P9cnjov6hGc27gRO1vmJ1K52JlG3eDKfbk0/s640/Diffuser+3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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There are so many to choose from, different sizes, colors, functions, materials and prices. This one is only $22.99. Plus rocks/soil and plants/faux foliage. 🌿🎍🌿<br />
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The thing that was different about this one is the space where you can put some soil and little plants. I saw photos where people had small live plants, grass, etc. growing, and that was my plan. But then I thought, I'm in the high desert, really dry air, very small planting area. I'd be watering it all the time, trimming it, and having to be SO careful that I didn't knock it over.<br />
<br />
As I was walking through Walmart, I noticed the faux succulents they had for sale - $1.98 each. Four of those and another plant stem with little white flowers that I cut up to add in between and a bag of pretty rocks, and waa-laa!<br />
<br />
I love it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i-WWZaSFjcT2nraFqhGcUD06SUYoOfHXdUsradLm6WopITVNd2qULi03wxbnsxc4psrywbjKPfDVfkSI2FA36rz525CREh3egUPFptyuJUnMY3lkZ80pLGdT_SFdpCJQMfcJKNLyMFw/s1600/Diffuser+with+essential+oils.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i-WWZaSFjcT2nraFqhGcUD06SUYoOfHXdUsradLm6WopITVNd2qULi03wxbnsxc4psrywbjKPfDVfkSI2FA36rz525CREh3egUPFptyuJUnMY3lkZ80pLGdT_SFdpCJQMfcJKNLyMFw/s640/Diffuser+with+essential+oils.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
These are my current crop of essential oils: Tea Tree, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, (all blended with Coconut Oil), Sweet Orange, Lavender, Frankincense, Breathe Easy (Eucalyptus, Basil, Tee Tree and Peppermint blend), and the middle one in the photo is the Christmas Spirit which is an Orange, Cinnamon and Black Spruce blend.<br />
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Mine - this model - has buttons on the front that you press for how long you want it to run - one hour, three hours, or six hours. There's also a lighted area around the diffuser - see the white line above? Well, with different buttons pushed you can have white, red, blue green purple, or yellow in that lighted area when it's turned on.<br />
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It's easy to fill, easy to clean, and really cool to use. I turn it on first thing every morning and six hours later, fill it again, and then maybe again till bedtime. I love the different scents diffusing through The Palms.<br />
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I don't know if using these for different moods or health issues really works, but...<br />
<br />
1. My cough went away.<br />
<br />
2. I was working on a project and couldn't settle down and DO it. I researched, and futzed around, read information, copied it into folders on the laptop for future reference, then researched more. This went on for DAYS.<br />
<br />
Then I thought: I wonder if there's an essential oil to help with concentration. I looked it up and - Yes! Frankincense helps to Stay Focused, Centered and Relaxed! So I bought some - came back home, added a few drops to the water in the diffuser, sat down and finished my project. Ha! It worked!<br />
<br />
Was I playing mind games with myself? Who cares? Whatever caused me to sit down and get the project done, mind games or essential oils, the project got done.<br />
<br />
So, that's my new thing. I can't really call it a toy or an RV mod, but it's my new favorite thing and I wanted to tell you about it. <span style="color: red;"><b>NOTE:</b></span> See my P.S. below for info about pets and essential oils.<br />
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Just in case you're interested, here's a link to where I got mine at Amazon.com:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2uhioN4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2uhioN4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">My Very Cool Diffuser/Planter</span></b></a> </span></span></div>
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There's never a dull moment with me and my Wonderdog, Katie - some big changes are going on in The Palms lately. I'll tell you about those in the next post.<br />
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From Me and Katie, have a great weekend, everyone!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">P.S. </span></b> My first two comments were about certain essential oils not being good for pets, so I did a bit of research and found a couple of good websites on this subject, and I'm sure there are more. It turns out some essential oils are NOT good for pets, while others are BENEFICIAL. <br />
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Click on those links to learn more. <a href="https://organicaromas.com/blogs/aromatherapy-and-essential-oils/using-essential-oils-around-your-pets-1" target="_blank">Organic Aromas</a> <a href="http://essentialoilvet.com/about/" target="_blank">Essential Oil Vet</a> <br />
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Here's a chart that was on Organic Aromas that I thought was pretty good (you may have to enlarge your screen to read it.)<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-2888972351269132072018-02-27T10:05:00.000-07:002018-03-01T18:10:36.760-07:00I'm glad I waited to post about Katie......because if I had posted last week, well, things were kind of grim then. And now they're looking up!<br />
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Katie has been having some issues, which I noticed most when she was sleeping right next to my pillow last December. I could hear her heart beat so loud, so fast, so erratic. I did some on-line research and got advice from friends whose dogs had died from heart issues.<br />
<br />
We were in Arizona at the time and went to a new vet to have her examined on December 30. He wanted to do so many tests and said he couldn't give me a diagnosis unless I had all the tests performed, and it was going to be expensive. We had a pretty good conversation about my options, one of which was to "wait and see and keep a close eye on her." That's the option I chose.<br />
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And for a month things seemed fine. <br />
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The first week of February when we got to San Diego, Katie and I were parked in my son's parking lot for his shop. We got there on a Sunday and Katie couldn't wait to go into the office to see Tom. She went to the door, looked in and waited, but no one came to get her. 😟 <br />
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When we got up Monday morning Tom's car was there, so we got ready and went to the office door. Tom saw us coming and met us at the door. Katie was so excited. She ran around all inside the shop office, she was so happy to see Tom. Then when we were talking right outside his office door, I heard a strange moan/whine coming from the office, and Tom and I went in to see Katie on the floor. She was laying on her side, making this strange noise, her four legs were stretched out and her head and neck were stretched up and to the side. Tom thought she had died. I thought she was having a seizure. We waited for a minute or so, talking to her and I knelt down next to her so she'd know I was there, if she was conscious. It was pretty scary.<br />
<br />
Slowly she came back to normal. Her tail wagged and she got up slowly and very quickly was walking around again.<br />
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That was how it started, or at least my awareness of something REALLY being wrong. I did a lot of on-line research and thought she had congestive heart failure (CHF). I really thought I was going to lose her and was preparing myself.<br />
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Katie was fine the rest of the week we were in San Diego, and we left to travel to New Mexico on Friday afternoon. All was well until the following Thursday night when I woke up at 2:00 am to Katie making that weird whining noise again, and I saw she was having another episode.<br />
<br />
After it was over, I took her outside twice. She wouldn't let me lift her up into our bed on the bunk, so I pulled out the couch and got the bedding and we slept on the couch/bed for two nights. It was too cold overnight to let her sleep by herself on the couch, and I wanted to be close just in case.<br />
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The next morning I made a Vet appointment at <a href="http://www.sierravetservices.com/">Sierra Veterinary Services</a> (1607 N Date St. Truth or Consequences, NM 87901 - 575-894-6773) in TorC for the following Monday.<br />
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Katie's vet there, Danielle Dawkins, DVM, examined her, took three x-rays of her chest, and said she was not yet in CHF, but she did have a significant heart murmur, it was so loud when she examined her chest that the vet couldn't hear anything else going on, but she assumed Katie also was having kidney issues and was retaining fluids. When she showed me the x-rays, she pointed out where she could see fluid.<br />
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She wasn't sure from my explanation whether Katie was having seizures or fainting (syncope). But after seeing her chest x-rays and the size of her heart, she said it was heart disease causing fainting, not a brain issue causing seizures. <a href="https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_syncope"> Click on this link for a description of syncope.</a><br />
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She prescribed a heart pill, a water pill and Hills Prescription dog food, the k/d one which is low sodium. Dr. Dawkins said either the heart or kidney dog food would work, both were low sodium and that's what Katie needed.<br />
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Katie has a real problem eating anything but Royal Canin dog food for Chihuahuas - anything else gives her intestinal issues, and she vomits up the food and has diarrhea. But she has to eat a low sodium food now, so we were going to have to change things up. This was going to be fun! Dr. Dawkins warned me the water pill would have her drinking more water and going potty more. Night and Day.<br />
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When she started with the new meds and food (1/3 new food to 2/3 old food to start) we were getting up in the freezing cold nights a time or two, once three times. Then things seemed to settle down and the last five nights we've only had to get up to go outside once.<br />
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Katie hasn't had a fainting episode since that second one and it's been over three weeks. I know there will be more and I know she will get worse, but for now the meds and Rx food seem to be keeping her stable.<br />
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I've stopped all her store-bought treats except her daily rawhide chew toy, her favorite, and substituted bananas (which I use to hide her pills in), chopped apples, baby carrots and frozen green beans. They are all good for her and salt free, and she LOVES them. She also gets 1/2 of a Hills k/d cookie morning and night. So everything she is eating is low or no sodium.<br />
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For now all is good and Katie has lost weight, about two pounds which were probably fluid, and she wants to walk again. This morning we walked a mile and a half, and she is leading me now. That's great!<br />
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Many, many thanks to <a href="https://emptyatticart.blogspot.com/">Kim (The Empty Attic)</a> for all the time she's spent answering my questions and giving me the benefit of her experiences with her beautiful dog, Doris who had the same symptoms, and who Kim and her husband John lost last year. So, so hard to lose a dog we've had so long, and who we loved so much. Thanks, Kim! You were such a big help, you gave me good information and also gave me hope. Both were very much needed.<br />
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Tons of thanks also to <a href="http://wherearethedixonstoday.blogspot.com/">Sandie Dixon (WHERE ARE THE DIXONS TODAY?)</a> When Sandie saw on my blog that Katie was having some health issues she e-mailed me and we corresponded back and forth about meds, where to get them, the best prices, etc. She and Jim lost their Skittles last year and still miss her like crazy. Skittles also had heart disease and was on the same meds that our vet prescribed. Thanks, Sandie - it's not only the information you provided that helped so much, but also knowing that someone who's been through this cares so much. <br />
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Katie has a good prognosis, she could still be a full-timing canine for two or three years. She turned 12 on February 20, so she's not that old for a small dog. Hopefully she'll celebrate her 15th birthday with me. That's my plan!<br />
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From Me and Katie, have a great week, everyone! <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>❤</b></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-51626376380080464552018-02-20T15:37:00.000-07:002018-02-20T15:52:09.438-07:00The Palms got a Facelift!Katie and I traveled to San Diego early this month - my son Tom had offered to remove the faded, cracked decals on her exterior and re-paint the same shapes so they will last (and look a lot better!). Of course I accepted his offer. This was last November and at that time he had a busy schedule, but he kept the second week of February pretty open for himself and his crew.<br />
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This is what she looked like before - you can see below the window they are just starting to remove a decal:<br />
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The decals were faded and cracked:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KLiJQ-G1ctg97yFlGE1C1tSkdQrKWmVKa0VpFMhOnq5-6EGE39ULbAngndLcE8w_4tanKQy7-xQ2znzQYpQfJ3CS1B3y39D2xySjqd1ZM0qH14Ffb4wIrGBVAnokQQBzgWuUegiB-qw/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="314" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KLiJQ-G1ctg97yFlGE1C1tSkdQrKWmVKa0VpFMhOnq5-6EGE39ULbAngndLcE8w_4tanKQy7-xQ2znzQYpQfJ3CS1B3y39D2xySjqd1ZM0qH14Ffb4wIrGBVAnokQQBzgWuUegiB-qw/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is - as Kim put it - The Palms without makeup:<br />
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These are the colors they used to paint on the new decals:<br />
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Brown:<br />
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Copper - I had a problem getting photos without reflections of the clouds - it's so smooth and shiny now:<br />
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Another copper:<br />
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And silver:<br />
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Brown, silver and copper together:<br />
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Some photos when they were working on her in the shop:<br />
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And here she is, back in New Mexico, taken in our RV park - yup - you heard right. RV Park. With Katie being sick and having to go outside twice during the night to do her business, and the cold overnight temps, as well as as lots of wind and occasional rain, I decided I wanted electric hookups. AND we're changing our domicile to New Mexico and this is our address for a while.<br />
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Isn't she beautiful?<br />
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I was staying at my son and daughter-in-law's house up in Carlsbad, CA and Tom's shop where he does the car/truck restorations is south in San Deigo in an industrial area. So, Katie and I dropped off The Palms and went home with Tom that day. I had the use of their Jeep during the week but it wasn't worth it to fight all the traffic to go back to the shop during the week while things were in progress. I didn't drive down until the job was done.<br />
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I was pretty floored when I saw her. I was only expecting the decals to be new looking, that would have been wonderful, but not only did they remove the old ones then paint and clear coat new decals, they also buffed the entire rig so she shines like new. Tom said he was surprised at how great the original fiberglass clear coat is holding up.<br />
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It was amazing! He did so much more than I expected. In addition to replacing the old decals with beautiful likenesses, they went all over the rig where the caulking is – around all the little covers and the door, windows, the outside shower – all those places that have been caulked and have turned black from road grime – they re-caulked them all and they are white again like they should be. </div>
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They repainted my step, the door handle/lock plate and all around the gas intake area, anything that is black, Tom repainted. The truck grill was starting to have areas where the black had worn down and a green color was showing through. That was re-painted black.</div>
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When they buffed the fiberglass out they got all the rest of the tiny speckles of tar that I picked up coming back from Kanab, UT when the road crew sprayed the back and side of the rig. I had gotten what I could reach and needed a ladder for the rest and now all those speckles are buffed out.</div>
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I had two lower outside compartment doors that must have been a different material than the rest – that was too bad, because those two changed color in the sun, one on each side of The Palms - they had turned yellow. Tom painted them white again so now they match the rest of the rig. They also painted a big chip on my side mirror white to match. The stove vent outside had turned an ugly yellow color, as well as the material on the top and bottom of the grab bar handle by the door. Those are now a beautiful bright white. </div>
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They washed and waxed the whole thing and dried it so there wouldn't be water marks. </div>
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Tom put a treatment on my tires so they are nice and black again. </div>
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It was unbelievable when I saw it all. </div>
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It was a huge job, but they actually restored The Palms back to her beautiful beginnings. It's like the pantry Tom built me for the kitchen, whenever I walk by the pantry, I still put my hand along the door, so smooth and beautiful. Now I'm doing the same thing with The Palms.</div>
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When I go outside, or come back from shopping and see her it's like a big, beautiful present sitting there. Sigh... I can't believe she's mine! <span style="font-size: large;">😊</span></div>
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Unfortunately this isn't a quick modification many people can do without a big hit to their pocketbook. I am a lucky camper to have a son who has an auto repair/paint/restoration shop so they know what they are doing. <i>And</i> who is willing to take the time to do this for his mom. </div>
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Many thanks, Tom - you have no idea how much I appreciate you taking your own time from your huge work schedule and lending your crew to do this for me.<br />
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The Palms is rolling along now leaving a bright shiny trail in her dust. Other drivers - put on your sunglasses, you'll need them when we pass you! <span style="font-size: large;">😎 </span><br />
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From me and Katie, see you next time!<br />
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PS - I have news after Katie's vet visit yesterday. Some good, some bad, but overall I'm relieved that we have a plan. I'll tell you about it in my next blogpost.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-62097756361688289702018-02-17T19:58:00.000-07:002018-02-17T20:12:50.458-07:00Katie and I are fine - well... I wanted to post to let everyone know we are still rolling along. I couldn't believe it when I pulled up my blog and saw the last date I posted something.<br />
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When I started doing the Art Challenges on other blog posts, that really got me going and most of my creative moments have been spent doing digital collage art for the challenges. I'm still really into that, but I haven't stopped posting here, just a looooog lull.<br />
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Sorry for the "title tease" - I'm fine, but Katie is having some issues. I think she has congestive heart failure. She went to her vet in Arizona on December 30, but since then other symptoms have occured. We're going to her vet here in New Mexico on Monday afternoon. She's happy and fine and a constant tail-wagger still, but having problems sometimes. I'm hoping medication will ease things for her. Fingers crossed. More on that next time.<br />
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I'm making some changes to our normal travel/living routine and will tell you about that soon, too.<br />
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Just to throw in a few photos... We drove to San Diego the first week in February for a project my son did on The Palms - here's Katie in their backyard. She just loves it there, she has so much room, she actually runs around and seems like a pup again. Or lies in the sun.<br />
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We're back on the road again, in New Mexico now. Katie wouldn't let me lift her into bed Thursday night so we slept on my couch - it pulls out into a bed. It's pretty comfortable, but there's no way to tuck in the covers and she burrows under all day, so The Palms was crowded feeling and in a state of "not neat" for two days. Kind of drove me crazy, but Katie loved it.<br />
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In the midst of that, our campsite was flooded last night and we ended up packing and moving in the rainy dark early evening to a new site. Such a pain! No room in The Palms, everything was WET and SANDY that was outside, rugs, tables, chairs, her fencing, light cords, electric cord.<br />
Geez - then I lost my keys. It was So Not Fun! <span style="font-size: large;"> 😣</span><br />
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So, anyway, I left the bed this way for the last two days and we're going to try going back up to the bunk tonight. She LOVED having covers easily available to snuggle under. It's been rainy and cold and she was like a little bug in a rug all day.<br />
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When she wasn't laying on a heap of the covers she made, she burrowed under. <br />
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And under further... just a nose poking out:<br />
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I'll post again soon - I have a <i>HUGE</i> RV mod to post about and show you. I'm SO excited about it.<br />
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Another thing that's new - that I'll just mention here but will tell you more later - is our friend Kim, you know - Kimbopolo - has a new on-line store! <a href="https://emptyatticart.threadless.com/designs">I'm putting the link here</a>, and will also add it to my sidebar soon so you won't have to search for it if you want to check it out in the future.<br />
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I purchased two things today, a spiral notebook and a coffee mug - both with her original art. I can't wait for them to arrive! When they do, I'll post a photo. She has different designs and various items you can choose - I also loved the tote/shopping bags - REALLY beautiful! So check it out, get yourself a present, or two like I did, or purchase a great gift for someone else. She's always adding her own new, original artwork; check back from time to time to see what's new! <a href="https://emptyatticart.threadless.com/">Click on this link to go to her shop!</a><br />
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That's it for now - I need to take some photos of my new RV MOD and will post again soon. I promise!<br />
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From Me and Katie, have a great weekend, everyone! <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">❤❤</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-48086430042135723012017-12-10T19:08:00.001-07:002017-12-10T20:03:50.998-07:00What Do You Do, When All Your Dreams Come True?" *** and *** “This Blog Is For Me, Too” <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I found a cool blog a while ago titled </span><a href="https://www.brenontheroad.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Bren on the Road</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">, read most of the posts and liked it so much I added it to my Blog Roll. Even though the author isn't RVing, it <i>is</i> a travel blog. Today I clicked on the sidebar link and went back to read some of the older posts that looked interesting. I'd read most of them, but they looked like subjects I'd enjoy reading about again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw083aLfYOYCbLaji157o1tG4cCjhMOZeZGVRaefGXnZzTWrlCPV3Ai02Pb9Q3-rk-mkKjQfb21ak9KcCwKCrTGybqE11ABkqTEV86JQqhKwS9zeopB2YbUgp7gpu7QUvx8-hIb1Hz84/s1600/Bren+on+the+Road.PNG"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw083aLfYOYCbLaji157o1tG4cCjhMOZeZGVRaefGXnZzTWrlCPV3Ai02Pb9Q3-rk-mkKjQfb21ak9KcCwKCrTGybqE11ABkqTEV86JQqhKwS9zeopB2YbUgp7gpu7QUvx8-hIb1Hz84/s400/Bren+on+the+Road.PNG" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Bren is a young, single guy from Auckland, New Zealand traveling the world. Really, the <i>world,</i> but so many of his stories and tips work for RVers, too. And I really enjoy his writing style. I've spent hours going back through all the posts with titles of interest to me today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">As I looked through the list of past blog posts, two of the them really spoke to me and I wanted to share them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">The first post is kind of where I am right now, I pretty much have fulfilled all my dreams, wants and wishes. What do I do now? It was written December 6, 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.brenontheroad.com/dreams-come-true/">What Do You Do, When All Your Dreams Come True? --Bren on the Road</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">The second one I especially wanted to keep handy because it's been harder for me to find interesting topics to post about lately when I'm in a "no inspiration, no motivation" blogging mode. </span>It seems like a lot of us who have been blogging for years sometimes go through these "lack of motivation" times. Click the link below to be taken to that post.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.brenontheroad.com/blog-is-for-me-too/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">This Blog is for Me, Too --Bren on the Road</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">It was written October 9, 2014. When I was reading this post, it emphasized to me how fortunate we RVers really are, those of us who are lucky enough to be able to leave home and travel. Whether it's to all the State Parks in New Mexico year after year, or camping in all the National Parks in the USA, or visiting each of the 50 United States. Some people have specific goals and bucket lists and some are just "on the road" like me. I have no itinerary and no long term plan. As long as I enjoy this lifestyle, I'll keep doing it, making it up as I go along. When it stops being wonderful, I'll figure out something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the beginning of the part of his post that really got me:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: maroon;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: maroon;">"Us long term travelers are spoiled on the road. We forget what we’re looking at. We get lazy. Unappreciative. Another rural town with beautiful colonial buildings? Snore. Seen one of them before.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">"But if we stop being such jaded, stuck-up snobs, we might remember what this new town really represents; a new adventure. You might meet your next best friend here. You might hear a song that you would never hear anywhere else. You might fall in love with the girl who sits beside you at the coffee shop. You might eat a mandarin pie that is so perfect it will be seared into your taste-bud memory for life.</span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">"But we forget that. All of us do.</span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">"And that’s when I realised, this blog isn’t just for you. It’s for me, too."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I don't think we are all spoiled, unappreciative or lazy, and the people I meet are definitely not snobs. But he's traveling as a single man in other countries, and we are in RVs in the US. Different kinds of travel - that might make the difference. But his concept, I think, is correct. He goes on from that point explaining... well, you can read the rest on his blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Sometimes what Bren writes is so true! I use my blog for so many different things, sometimes I use the Search Box to find information I need, and when I get to that particular post, I end up reading it, and then some of the other posts around the same time, or in the same place. That always gets the creative juices going again and reminds me how much I love reading my old posts and remembering where I've been, people I've met, new birds I've photographed; great times, stressful situations, wins and losses - all the different crazy and wonderful experiences that happen when you live on the road. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Could I possibly ever forget how lucky I am? And continue looking for the unusual, exotic and funny things I can write a new blog post about to keep those memories safe and available at the click of a Search button? Luckily I have my blog to look back and remind me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Even though Bren is traveling the world and is much younger than I, the concept is still the same and most of his blog posts have something in them that give me ideas or make me smile and nod my head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Hummm, I didn't mean to make this a review of </span><a href="https://www.brenontheroad.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Bren on the Road</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">, but I do recommend it for current or future travelers. His posts are interesting and I especially liked the ones I've linked to. Who knows, you might get some good ideas, learn something new or just have an enjoyable read.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#editor"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;"></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I've never met Bren, but felt like I knew him when I first found his blog and read through his posts. After spending an entire afternoon re-reading some of his past blog posts, I feel like I've met him all over again. If you get a chance, check him out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">"If you’ve forgotten why you travel... Try to remember the reason you fell in love with the road." --Bren on the Road</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">From me and Katie, have a great day, everyone! 😊</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-47345519686080562482017-12-06T16:29:00.001-07:002017-12-06T16:38:01.101-07:00Check out my new BlogThe news I was talking about at the end of the last post is - Ta-DA! I've started another blog,<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://bjdewell.blogspot.com/"><b>My Art Bag</b></a>, </span></span>not a replacement for this one, but in addition to Me and My Dog ...and My RV.<br />
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I was going to keep it private. I wanted a place to keep links, photos, copies of artwork I might do to keep track of my progress, etc., and who would be interested in THAT except me?<br />
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But then my friend, Kim, previously of <a href="https://kimbopolo.blogspot.com/">Kimbopolo</a> and now her second blog, <a href="https://emptyatticart.blogspot.com/">The Empty Attic</a>, told me about Art Challenges she does. I thought that was pretty cool and loved her work, checked the links on <a href="https://emptyatticart.blogspot.com/">The Empty Attic</a> to see what the other people were doing, and decided I wanted to participate. To do that I needed to have the blog public so the hosts for the week can see the piece to do their judging for that week's challenge. <b><span style="color: red;">Thank You</span> </b>Kim - you've set me off on a new creative path. And it's sure keeping me busy!<br />
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This week I've entered two of my graphic art collage pieces. These sites are open to anyone, to submit <b><i>any</i></b> kind/style of art. I want to explore different ways of putting together my digital graphics into other styles. I love what I'm doing, but I want to grow into other areas and seeing the work of the other participants will give me ideas that I might like to try.<br />
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If I ever get good enough to sketch or draw or paint a piece free-hand that is worthy of a submission I'll enter it, but that's way down the road. I literally can't draw a straight line or a circle freehand and my brain isn't pointed that way so I never have any good ideas. Of course, these challenges might help with that.<br />
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I took the photo on the small easel below of a Black-necked Stilt in May of 2013 when I was at Caballo Lake State Park, Riverside Campground in New Mexico. I put it through a program to make it look like a painting, then added it to five digital graphics to create a digital signature sign-off for <a href="https://bjdewell.blogspot.com/">The Art Bag</a> posts.<br />
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This is Digital Art Collage. And it's addicting! I remember the day I took that photo, so exciting - I'd never heard of this bird before and they were so fun to watch as they waded in the Rio Grande.<br />
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I'm a total beginner making art with my hands, drawing, sketching, oils, acrylics, water paints. Those are the classes I purchased on <a href="http://udemy.com/">Udemy.com</a> during their Black Friday sale, which was awesome. (<b><span style="color: red;">Thank You</span> </b>to Don Stier for telling me about the super prices on <a href="http://udemy.com/">Udemy.com</a>!) When I get started with those on-line classes I'll post finished products as I go along. <i>They wont be pretty! </i>Total, total beginner with that stuff. But I've wanted to create art my entire life, and I'm taking baby steps. Hopefully if I enjoy it I'll get better and better.<br />
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I'm getting my feet wet with the digital art piece challenges. It's been a while since I've played with digital graphics and I'll continue to submit those to the Art Challenge websites. I purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 and an instruction class to learn about it as well as a book Kim recommended. I have lots of apps and a couple of programs similar but much smaller and easier to use than Elements, so my learning curve isn't starting from a flat place. But I still have a LOT to learn. Elements contains all the things I use my other apps/programs for - but in one place. Now I move my pieces from app to app transforming them as I go along. It would be nice to have it all in one program.<br />
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They say as we get older, and especially when we're retired, it's a good idea to learn a new language, start a new hobby, participate in a new sport, etc. This will stimulate the production of new synapses in our brains, keeping us happier and younger and helping with brain growth. So for now this is what I'm doing. And I'm having a BLAST!<br />
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If you click the link to the new blog - <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://bjdewell.blogspot.com/">My Art Bag</a></span> - click on the photos of my Art Challenge pieces; you'll see more detail. My entries have some pretty small graphics. <br />
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I'm working on two others now, and will post them as soon as I get them done. I'm waking up every morning excited to get started and heading off to bed near midnight. (Not JUST doing these things, but once I get started in the afternoon it's hard to stop until my eyes hurt and I can hardly stay awake.)<br />
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From Me and My Dog, have a great day everyone! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-17549568440003477442017-12-04T21:11:00.001-07:002017-12-04T21:26:20.337-07:00Busy, busy, busyI'm starting to get comments and e-mails asking if Katie and I are okay - has it been that long since my last post? YES, it has. I went back to the last one and checked where we were, and realized my last post ended with a comment about heading to San Diego for medical appointments and then I didn't post for over a month. Sorry, everyone, the tests were all good and I'm on the road for another year.<br />
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Last week I went across the border to visit my dentist, Dr. Rafael at Rubio Dental Clinic for my annual exam, x-rays and cleaning. Everything was good there, too. It's always a relief to get those things done for another year.<br />
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We've been to a few different places, well I guess more than a few, since my last post. Below are some photos of where we've been - then I'll be caught up again.<br />
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San Diego - I spent only a few days in San Diego. Now that I'm getting eye and dental appointments taken care of in Mexico, I only have lab tests and a doctor appointment. I had a nice visit with my family and was heading back over the mountains to Alpine for one night. Then I drove on to...<br />
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Hot Springs, LTVA, Holtville, CA<br />
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I stop here every year on my way to or from San Diego. This is the hot springs soaking area with two tubs and a shower:<br />
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Next to the soaking area is the pond:<br />
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It's so pretty, I've seen people swimming in it, but not often. I just like to walk around it every year and enjoy the ambiance.<br />
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I had a really nice, very large campsite this time, that felt very private, like a real yard.<br />
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I bought another little Keurig coffee maker, so of course I had to re-arrange my kitchen counters again:<br />
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I love my kitchen, and it's fun changing it around from time to time. There's not much I can change in The Palms, so usually the kitchen gets the honors. 😊<br />
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We were surrounded by trees and bushes except on the street side. Since it was really like a "yard" I was able to let Katie off her leash and she wandered around inside our site. It was nice for her. I also got a long lead that I could loop around a tree branch when I wanted her to stay close. When we went for walks, I'd put the leash back on. But most of the time she was free as a bird.<br />
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Speaking of birds, there were Roadrunners here that wandered through our camp every day. One day I threw a little piece of meatloaf out the window and this guy came running.<br />
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Isn't he a beauty? Look at the detail in his feathers.<br />
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One morning this little guy came strolling through and hopped up on the branches of one of the trees in our camp, he continued climbing up and then just settled in. (If you look up above to the photo with the red chair, you can see all the branches on these trees, some right on the ground.)<br />
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I'd look out the window, and he'd still be there. He really blends into the tree branches. Can you see him?<br />
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I've never seen a Roadrunner up in a tree before.<br />
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I met a bunch of really nice people here at Hot Springs this year, and look forward to seeing them again.<br />
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I was having a problem draining my grey tank and finally called a company that clears clogs and cleans grey and black tanks. The only problem was that I needed to be camped where he would have access to a sewer and water. So I got a reservation in Yuma for one night at Sunset Palms RV Park and drove there for an overnight. I have to say it was really nice - full hook-ups, laundry next to my site, and clean showers, too.<br />
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The company is All Pro Water-Flow, owned by John Michel. He arrived shortly after I got settled and started setting up. Meanwhile I was parked right next to the laundry and made a few trips back and forth. Sure is nice living next to a laundry for a day! When I came back from checking on the washing machines, he said he had good news. There was no clog - whatever the problem was, it was gone. So he continued to clean and sanitize both tanks and it cost me a lot less. He said clogs are one thing, but just cleaning tanks is quicker and less expensive.<br />
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John did a great job and I have to say, it's nice to know both my tanks are clean. I won't have to worry about having any issues for a long time. I would highly recommend All Pro Water-Flow if you are having any tank problems and need them cleared or cleaned out and sanitized. His contact information is on the trailer pictured above. He works in and around Yuma, AZ.<br />
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The next morning I headed back to Hot Springs.<br />
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Don Stier stopped by to visit for a couple of days over Thanksgiving on his way west. On Thursday morning we went to Los Algodones, Mexico for a little shopping and got some liquor to bring back to have a Tequila tasting with our snacks before dinner. He already had a bottle, a different brand name, so we had three kinds to try. They were three different prices, too and with Tequila, price matters. The one in the center, the clear one, was the best and cost the most. I'm developing a taste for Tequila, but after our tasting, I mixed mine with some water, honey and a little lemon juice. It was really good!<br />
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Katie was pretty interested in what was going on above her on the table: chips and shrimp with dips galore! She's such a good girl, she never tries to get food that's not for her.<br />
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There were some gorgeous sunsets at Hot Springs:<br />
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Friday morning I drove to Imperial Dam LTVA and got a spot at Quail Hill, where I always camp. The weather has been great here, quite windy today but until now it's been perfect. I always like to get a site overlooking the dam and canals if I can, and again this year I was able to get one.<br />
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Imperial Dam - you can see the water flowing and on calm, clear nights I can hear it.<br />
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A White Egret wading in one of the canals:<br />
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Sunset out the window the other night:<br />
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<a href="http://dalelafferty.com/">Dale Lafferty</a> was camping here, too, and was going over to Los Algodones last week, so I made my dental appointment for Thursday morning and went with him. We drove our rigs to the Quechan Casino near the border and overnighted there and walked across the border the next morning. I had my annual dental check-up, x-rays and cleaning - everything was GREAT! - (thank goodness, after last year) - and we had breakfast and did a little shopping then back across the border to the Good Ole USA!<br />
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That's about it in a nutshell. We're up to date. I've gotten involved in some new things and I started another blog, I'll tell you about those next time.<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great week, everyone!<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-60152097946553464192017-10-27T19:37:00.001-06:002017-10-28T20:14:05.133-06:00Leaving New Mexico - Final pics of critters and sunsetsKatie and I sure did enjoy our stay in New Mexico - probably more this year than ever before. The weather was good, the lakes were high, we met some nice people, and for part of the time we camped with friends. We snagged some of the best sites, and... there weren't any bugs! This has got to be the first time we've camped here and not had mosquitoes. I don't know where they went, but it sure wasn't here. Really nice! Of course, there were SOME bugs, but none that really bothered us.<br />
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Two days ago we left Elephant Butte Lake State Park, heading west to San Diego for a family visit and annual medical appointments. So these are the final photos - not many, but a few...<br />
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I saw this little bug again, I've seen these guys before and they always fascinate me. Little blue dimpled bugs, dimpled like tiny blue half golf balls. It's a <i>D<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">esert "blue-ball" blister beetle (Cysteodemus wislizeni, Meloidae)</span></span></i> - Thanks, <a href="https://zeetraveler.blogspot.com/">heyduke50</a>! So interesting looking:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImRKhbU2L19tsqzKQ9EMs5uqRaDtsr1dI1ZE1KZpgxIkOLYWmD0ndgB_ekpNEyox1t_iZdYpJJQJgGc9P2dRg3Z7ahhtj5od0pAsUgsudtIZZbd2qVqeOsR-s5oxCygIi-3K2_uYx9qs/s1600/Blue+dimpled+bug+at+Elephant+Butte+Lake+-+reduced.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImRKhbU2L19tsqzKQ9EMs5uqRaDtsr1dI1ZE1KZpgxIkOLYWmD0ndgB_ekpNEyox1t_iZdYpJJQJgGc9P2dRg3Z7ahhtj5od0pAsUgsudtIZZbd2qVqeOsR-s5oxCygIi-3K2_uYx9qs/s640/Blue+dimpled+bug+at+Elephant+Butte+Lake+-+reduced.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now that I know what he's called, I looked him up on-line, but I couldn't find anything about him other than a photo and the name. I'm assuming from heyduke50's comment that they bite or sting or something, but I couldn't find any info. <br />
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I don't know if I've posted any photos of Gambel's Quail - I think they are one of the prettiest birds I've seen and they are all over the desert in this area. You can hear them talking to each other all day long. This is the male:<br />
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And this is the female:<br />
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When I was camping here at EBLSP a few weeks ago with Don, we were out walking and saw this snake - Don said he thought it was a Sidewinder and it was definitely winding along going from side to side:<br />
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Here are the footprints he left - or should I say, body prints? Thanks for the pictures, Don!<br />
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Then the other day I was back at the park again and when I was walking, I saw this little guy:<br />
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Neither snake had rattles, which was the main thing for me, but they seem to be as afraid of me as I was of them. They really move away fast when they feel our feet on the ground, or see us. Don't know which come first, but they must feel us coming. And they scoot!<br />
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I haven't put up Katie's fence for a long time. She doesn't like it and doesn't seem comfortable inside, but she wanted to be outside a lot at Elephant Butte Lake, so I put it up. She laid down and relaxed and enjoyed looking around the area. Even the birds walking past didn't bother her. I could watch her from the dinette window and she could see me, so we were both happy.<br />
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Here she is laying in a patch of sun in the doorway:<br />
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Last sunset shot I took - isn't it beautiful? Like a pastel watercolor.<br />
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On our last morning I filled the water tank, cleaned the floors, vacuumed the carpet and defrosted the fridge and freezer. We left the park around 2:00 and stopped at the dump station to empty the tanks. Then we drove down through Hatch and Lordsburg and stopped at Benson, AZ. We spent one night at the Benson WalMart, then headed off early in the morning. As we were driving along traffic suddenly slowed, and this is what we saw:<br />
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We slowed, but were still moving. The east bound lane, however, was backed up for a long distance. One car was upside down on the center concrete divider and the other car was totally smashed in the front end and also got rear-ended. Thank goodness for the dividers! It was a bad accident, but if the cars had come over into the westbound lanes it would have been far worse. Always sobering to pass something like this.<br />
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As we were nearing Viejas Casino in Alpine, CA, the sun was just setting. We always seem to get here this time of day, I remember snapping similar sunsets on previous trips to San Diego.<br />
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Viejas allows people to park in their big rig/RV parking lot for three nights each month. I always seem to be coming through Alpine the end of a month. Since the weather is always cooler up here, I stop off for three days on my way to San Diego. Visit my son and daughter-in-law and grand kids, take care of annual medical appointments, and then sometimes stop again on my way back to Quartzsite. Since it's then the beginning of a new month, I can stop for another three days in the cooler temps and nice breezes, before going down to the desert again.<br />
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So... this always feels like the beginning of the new year to me. Summer and lakeside camping are done and dry desert camping begins. All of you RVers out there know the feeling of anticipation I feel when the seasons change and I begin the planning and then start the engine for a new location. Fingers crossed that the medical stuff will be easy and quick with good outcomes, and I'll be on the road again soon.<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great weekend, everyone. 😎 <div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-58308274274406080012017-10-16T14:03:00.001-06:002017-10-16T14:10:00.068-06:00Caballo Lake State Park, NM - quick updateWe're still in the Elephant Butte, TorC, Caballo Lake area. It's so pretty here, so easy to camp and find a great campsite, nice people, great walking, beautiful lakes, super weather. Why would we want to leave?<br />
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I've been camping with my friend, Don, for a while. We spent some time at Caballo Lake after leaving Elephant Butte Lake in NM. Caballo has lots of places to camp - right on the lake, on the Rio Grande, overlooking the lake, in developed campsites, and electric/water sites. Some of the camping areas are pretty stark, some are lush, and some are overgrown looking. We drove through the area the day before we moved to Caballo, checking for empty campsites, and deciding where we would head next.<br />
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We decided on the Appaloosa Campground, it has no-reservation electric campsites and the temps were still high enough to want air conditioning from time to time. Then one day when we were on our usual morning walk we noticed the gate at one of the reserved camping areas, the Stallion Campground which had been closed, was OPEN. So we walked over to the Visitor's Center and asked if that campground was now open to anyone. I guess it's been so crowded, they decided to open up that one, and since it was October, no reservations were required.<br />
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We hustled back to our campsites, packed up and drove to the Stallion Campground. There was no one there and we got the pick of the sites. We had great sites! Quiet, private, lots of trees and bushes and I even had a view of the lake. I've been so lucky with campsites this year in NM state parks. <br />
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Look how big this site is, and my only neighbor is Don, next door on the other side of The Palms: <br />
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Beautiful view of the mountains, and see my little lake view through the trees?<br />
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Most mornings we walked down to the lake and all around the campgrounds near us. We got some great exercise. I'm trying to walk a target number of steps each day, and am going about a mile or more over my goal most of the time. :)<br />
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This might sound dumb to some of you, but I've been walking so much I've discovered a new muscle in my legs that I've never felt before. I was talking to my son on the phone and reached down to rub my leg. What's that??? I realized it was a muscle that was obviously getting more developed so that I noticed it. I looked it up to see what it's called: <br />
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<span class="_Tgc">"The large calf muscle, or <b>gastrocnemius</b>, has
two parts or heads -- medial and lateral -- which extend from your knee
joint to your heel bone. While the medial head is positioned on the
inside of your lower leg, the lateral head runs along the outside. The
two parts work together to extend your ankle downward." Pretty cool to notice new muscles at my age! <span style="font-size: large;"> 🙃</span></span><br />
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Now if I could just stop eating chips and dip and chocolate covered almonds, LOL.<br />
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View of the site from my dinette window:<br />
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I think Don's site was even bigger. One day he was gone in his car for a while, and some people drove up, looked at his site, parked and walked over to his empty casita. They looked pretty happy. I'm watching them through my window, wondering, what the heck? Another car, part of their group, drove up on the other side of the site and parked. He was getting out when I went outside to see what was up. I couldn't believe they were planning to use the site. The half with the casita. Ummm, no. "This is part of the campsite belonging to that motor home over there. Sorry." They were embarrassed and apologized, got back in their cars and drove away. It would have been funny if I wasn't there to see them, and Don got back later with half of his campsite occupied by strangers. I don't know if they were there for the day or planning to put up tents, but... I've never seen that happen before.<span style="font-size: large;"> 🤔</span><br />
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Nighttime walk, the evenings were beautiful:<br />
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I've been pretty busy and haven't taken many photos - almost none while at Caballo Lake. That's unusual for me, but campsite pics will have to do for this location. We've moved on, and I'll post from another location next time. :)<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great week, everyone! 😁😎🙃<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-43107577392150430892017-10-06T22:27:00.002-06:002017-10-07T20:19:49.305-06:00Wow, it's been a while since I've posted! (Again)Katie and I have been at Elephant Butte Lake State Park in Truth or Consequences for a little over a month, and have now moved to Caballo Lake State Park. I've been busy and not particularly in the mood to sit down and go through all my photos, you Bloggers know how THAT is! Tonight the mood hit, and here I am. <u><i><b> Finally.</b></i></u><br />
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We really enjoyed our stay at Elephant Butte. Did lots of walking, lots of visiting, some lunches in town, walked around TorC a little, and did some sightseeing. All in all great weather and an enjoyable stay. I'd have to say the same for our time at Caballo Lake, too, so far.<br />
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Below are some of the photos I've taken in the last month. Most of my favorites were Roadrunner shots, but I've taken a few of other critters, some campsite pictures, a rainbow and some sunsets, the usual. Sometimes I think I'm re-taking the same photos as I'm staying again and again in my favorite campgrounds, but I still can't resist. And trust me, I'm sparing you all the lizard shots, I'd swear it's the same lizard as last year, the moon photos that look exactly like every other full moon I've posted, and the endless birds that live in this area. Etc., etc., etc. <br />
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Here's one of the sites we stayed in overlooking the lake:<br />
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Elephant Butte State Park has these really pretty trees, and when they're in bloom they are just beautiful. I love these little flowers, in fact I'm using the photo below as my screen saver right now.<br />
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The third and fourth weeks we were at the lake, we were lucky to get the end campsite with a great view. After one of the rainstorms there was a rainbow going completely over the lake:<br />
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Lots of Mourning Doves - I knew they had blue rings of featherless skin around their eyes, but didn't know until I saw the photo below, while he was blinking, that their whole eyelid was blue. Interesting. <br />
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See his blue eyelid?<br />
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Of course, I had to post a couple of bunny photos. They are running all over the place here, these cottontails and also jackrabbits. They're so cute - the jackrabbits run when they see us, but these little guys think that if they stop and stay still, we won't see them. (?) I guess that's what they're doing, sorry little guy, I can see you! <br />
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On one of the especially <b><span style="color: red;">hot</span></b> days, the rabbit below hopped into the shade, fashioned himself a nice cool depression in the sand, and laid down in it. <br />
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This large <strike>grasshopper</strike> Preying Mantis (Thanks to Anonymous and ndenim for the correction) was on my tire when we were moving to a new campground, and I had to flick him off the tire. I was afraid I'd run right over him. Pretty small wings for a big insect - they look like a skirt, don't they? <br />
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And my Roadrunners. They've kept me entertained. Twice in two different campsites I've looked up and there was a Roadrunner on my truck hood, looking at me through the window.<br />
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They have so many different poses, it's fun taking pictures of them.<br />
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Do you remember when Mello Mike had his Annual Roadrunner Photo Contest a few years ago? I ended up winning First Place the first year. I haven't seen a post from Mike in two years now, but every time I take a Roadrunner shot that I especially like, I always think, "This could have been a winner this year." These are two of those shots: <br />
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There were three Roadrunners seeming to fight over a piece of food, and the two on the left were jockeying for position to grab it while the roadrunner on the right and the rabbit behind him in the photo looked on. Later I thought maybe the center bird was the mom and the one with the open beak was her baby.<br />
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After the center bird finally chased the bird on the left away, she went over to the food and picked it up and offered it to the other bird. It doesn't look much smaller than the others, though, so... I don't know what was going on, really, but it was very entertaining to watch. <br />
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Below is a sunset photo from Elephant Butte - the sky was so red around the setting sun:<br />
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I just scheduled my annual medical appointments in San Diego and will be
heading west soon. I'm sure going to miss New Mexico, but it's always
nice to get those appointments out of the way for another year!<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great weekend, everyone!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="font-size: small;">❤❤</span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-53799706439717821942017-08-31T14:10:00.003-06:002017-08-31T14:15:22.179-06:00Storrie Lake State Park, NM - coming and going....Katie and I spent the end of July and most of the month of August at Storrie Lake, one of my favorite state parks. It's been really interesting, peaceful, scary, beautiful and fun. Lots of walks, great bird sightings, beautiful sunsets, horrible hail storms. Below are some of the photos I took while we were there. I apologize in advance for some of the photos being a bit blurred - I had to really zoom in on some of them.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>BIRDS AND CRITTERS</b></span><br />
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You know how much Katie loves hunting for lizards - here she is, missing the mark. LOL She never did sniff in the right direction. When I look at this picture, I always have to laugh. <span style="font-size: large;">😁</span><br />
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Here's a bug we found on the road while out walking one day. He didn't look real. He wasn't big, just the size of a medium beetle, but he sure was interesting. Doesn't he look like a kid's toy with his orange/black wraparound cape, black helmet and orange balls on the end of his antennae? <br />
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I saw lots of birds in the park this year. Sometimes there are hawks on the overhead wires as we pass by the field and this year I was lucky to see one and get a photo. I don't know why, but I love seeing hawks.<br />
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And as usual, there were a lot of Canada Geese. They didn't come up into my campsite this year, which was surprising since some of the time the campground was pretty empty.<br />
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There was a flock of Pelicans that flew in and landed on the lake. They floated around for a while. Fun to watch Pelicans, especially when they are flying in formation.<br />
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I was surprised to see Great Blue Herons - I don't think I've seen them here before. There were two of them hanging out in one of the more protected areas at the lake's edge. Every morning when I'd walk by they were there, and one fished every afternoon a bit further into the open area of the lake.<br />
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Some Ring-billed Gulls were hanging out where the Canada Geese were. A morning shot:<br />
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And an evening shot - it was getting stormy and the lake was reacting:<br />
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There were also a lot of hummingbirds, of course, but this year I didn't put out any feeders, so I didn't get photos. The camp hosts had a few feeders out and they had flocks of hummers in their site every time I walked by.<br />
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We did get a Roadrunner, he was running across a field where we were camped, but he was moving so fast he came up to the motor home and disappeared. I looked out all the windows, but never saw him again. Standing there with camera ready... I don't think I've ever seen a Roadrunner at Storrie Lake State Park before - no photo, but at least I saw him. It's nice to know they are here.<br />
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This little critter, a Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, had a burrow in our campsite and scampered around looking very cute.<br />
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There were also horses and a donkey on the other side of the fence near my last campsite. I could see them from my windows, and hear the braying of the donkey. <br />
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Also - this was funny - one day I'm walking along and a chicken crosses the road. Not a joke! One of the neighbors on the other side of the fence had some chickens and at least one rooster. I could hear the rooster crowing every morning, <i>I loved that!</i>, and I learned that every morning one of the hens jumped the fence and ran across the road to the camp hosts' site. They put meal worms out for her every morning, and she'd run over to eat them, then run back home. She was a shiny black hen and reminded me of the Black Australorps I had up in Camino when I lived on the western slope of the Sierras. They were bred for egg production, and I really enjoyed raising them and eating their wonderful, fresh eggs. (I'd love to have hens again some day.)<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>STORMS</b></span><br />
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We had some ferocious storms while we were at Storrie Lake. It was monsoon season, which I always look forward to: sunny mornings, cloudy afternoons, rain for a while, everything gets soaked and then usually the sun comes out again and dries out the area. This year, though, some of the storms had awesome lightning and thunder, super high winds, incredible pounding rain, and we had three terrible hail storms - one had golf-ball sized hail - in the mix.<br />
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As you might know, when you camp at New Mexico's State Parks, you're allowed 14 days to camp, then you have to leave for six days before you can return for another 14 days. Unfortunately the scary hail storms were all while I was out of the campground, hanging out in town at the library, or spending the day somewhere else in town, at a local park, etc. The Wal-Mart allows campers to overnight in their parking lot for the six nights we are out, and I leave in the morning, and return early evening.<br />
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So, each time the hail started I was day camped somewhere in town and the only place I could think to go for protection was the Wal-Mart where I could park as close to the back of the long, tall building as I could, right in a corner to get the best protection for the motor home, if possible.<br />
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The first time it started, I didn't think much of it. I was parked in front of the library and it was raining and hailing and then suddenly it sounded like I was in a war zone. The hail was CRASHING into the motor home, it was deafening! I starting driving to Wal-Mart along 7th Street (a beautiful tree lined street of historic houses), and I thought tree branches were falling on the roof of the RV. It was loud and scary, and I was praying I'd make it to Walmart without any damage.<br />
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That first time I had waited too long, not know what was coming, and in addition to the hail, the streets were flooding. I was afraid to stay on the road and ended up pulling off into a shopping area, and parked as close to the front of the building as I could. These were the cars in front of me, doing the same thing, but they were lower and fit better. One pulled right up onto the sidewalk and nosed his bumper up to the front of the store. See his headlights on the wall?<br />
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Everybody in a vehicle was heading for cover. All the gas stations, with their nice overhead roofs, were crowded. It was something, a real experience! <br />
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The next time the hail started, two days later, I was better prepared. This is what I wrote on my Facebook page:<br />
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"Tornado warning in Las Vegas, NM. I'm hanging out in town for 6 days,
and will return to Storrie Lake State Park on Friday. Afternoon storms
have been AWFUL! I'm learning, though. I was parked at the library and
when the thunder <i>started</i>, I drove back to Wal-Mart to beat the
flooded streets. As I was parked here, I got a Tornado Warning on my
phone. Started the engine and drove around the side of the store, as
close to walls as I could get. HUGE hail. Everyone was dri<span class="text_exposed_show">ving
as close to the building as they could get. One man with kids in the
car pulled next to the wall and a young man and boy got out of the car
and ran to the corner of the building, the little guy was hysterical. I
ran over to see if I could help - he had blood down the back of his
head, neck and shirt. A huge piece of hail punched a whole in their rear
window, and hit him in the head. His sister's long hair was full of
glass. They came inside my rig and between wet towels and a fudgsicle,
we cleaned him up and he stopped crying. The father came over after
covering the window. He said this is the first year this has happened,
and this is the third hail storm in four days for me. Make it STOP! My
windows are okay, but I haven't climbed up on the roof yet. Fingers
crossed!"</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Well, we didn't get a tornado, but the golf-ball sized hail was enough for me! Later I climbed up on the roof and checked everything out and all was well, there was no damage anywhere. I wasn't worried about the roof itself, it's rubber, but everything up there has plastic covers, the vents and the air conditioner, and I was worried about them. I thought the solar panels would be okay, and thankfully, they were. And of course, I worried about the windows, but I knew they were okay once the hail stopped - we were good there. Whew!</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">This is the little guy and his brother, below, getting back into the car after his dad put something over the rear window. He's still got the washcloth on his head to keep the blood from running down his back. His older brother was great - SO caring and sympathetic. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">That second storm was the worst one. </span><span class="text_exposed_show">In the days following I saw trucks with ads on their doors for "hail damage," and I saw three or four vehicles driving around town with windows gone. They must have punched out the rest of the glass, and were waiting for replacement windows. </span> <br />
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During that second storm, when the hail first started coming down and I drove behind the building as close to the corner of two walls as I could get, this truck pulled up in front of me, right in a planting area. That's the corner the kids ran to on the other side of the truck.<br />
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Later in the evening when Katie and I were walking around, I noticed this beautiful cloud across the street. I couldn't get a photo of it, but lightning flashes were going on all throughout the cloud as we walked. The lightning didn't come out, but looked like it was contained in the cloud. It was really pretty. I saw other people taking photos and videos of it as we walked. <br />
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After our six day out of the park, we went back to Storrie Lake. We were able to get one of my favorite campsites, so I was a really happy camper! There was one more hail storm, but it wasn't bad. We did get a lot of rain though. This is a photo of how wet it got one evening - everywhere it looked flooded, but some of the water was very shallow. The next morning it was all gone and the sun was shining and the ground was normal again. <br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>THE LAKE AND SUNSETS</b></span><br />
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This was a favorite fishing spot for the local fisherman. It's a large,
flat rock that worked well for lining up their chairs and taking it
easy while they fished. Katie and I walked all along the shore line in
this area. She actually walked in the water, which surprised me.<br />
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Bonfire, anyone?<br />
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We had some beautiful sunsets over the lake, as usual.<br />
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And that's it for our time at Storrie Lake. It's always interesting there, and I'd go back again and again if there was a good state park or BLM or forest land close by, but day camping in town and then spending the night at Wal-Mart for six nights... well, I can do that for one time out, but usually that's it for me. After my second two weeks in the park, we headed south.<br />
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I know this is long and has a lot of pictures, but with my track record lately, I thought I'd better get it all done at once. Who knows when I'll post again??? We're at Elephant Butte Lake State Park now, and I have some great Roadrunner shots, so hopefully I'll publish another post soon. <br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everybody! 😎😧🌧😲🌩😨 <div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-88814454397435022922017-08-01T13:40:00.001-06:002017-08-01T13:44:10.294-06:00Takin' it easy at Bluewater LakeOur two weeks at Bluewater Lake State Park were easy and enjoyable. We stayed in the same campsite for 14 days. Usually I like to move my site once in a while, but this time I paid for two weeks in an electric site, so we stayed put. Plus it was a nice campsite. We had three sets of neighbors during our two weeks, and they were all nice. And we were close to the new restrooms with the NEW SHOWERS! Yes, after no showers for a couple of years, they are done and opened up over the July 4th weekend. So Bluewater now has a working dump, potable water area, and showers. That really makes it nice. <br />
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Here are some of the photos I took while we were there. Our campsite in the electric non-reservation area:<br />
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Here are some photos of the lake - I've never seen it so full:<br />
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There have been times I was there when this boat ramp had to be pulled out further into the lake, because it didn't reach the water line:<br />
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And I remember laughing at this sign, "ROAD ENDS IN LAKE." I've never seen it end in the lake before this year, in fact the whole area that's covered in water in this photo used to be a nice, big, fairly level area to camp. The lake being so full is beautiful, but it sure took away a lot of campsites for the fishermen and people who like to be closer to the water. On the weekends, though, there were a lot of RVers down there, so there's still plenty of room, they are just parked a bit closer together. <br />
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Some flower shots - I don't know what these are, but they were pretty:<br />
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A little yellow cactus flower getting ready to open:<br />
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These thistles open up into pretty purple flowers, but I like the buds, too:<br />
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Here's a shot of Bluewater Creek, a bit further down from where JP and I hiked a few weeks ago. There was a nice riffle in the water. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BdnLOzzytHl7HAhlEV2U5baNxT89KY8DHK8HsbM2UEi_KvJEGVOu4HEAlk7nyilYSUUfdLwZZYYys-K0Ls5XU8aJfNRD-oHxtLdt_FpzwYAHw-jT_lzQadgW7vnPPHZsUtVsXXtOx5A/s1600/Little+riffle+in+Bluewater+Creek+canyon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BdnLOzzytHl7HAhlEV2U5baNxT89KY8DHK8HsbM2UEi_KvJEGVOu4HEAlk7nyilYSUUfdLwZZYYys-K0Ls5XU8aJfNRD-oHxtLdt_FpzwYAHw-jT_lzQadgW7vnPPHZsUtVsXXtOx5A/s640/Little+riffle+in+Bluewater+Creek+canyon.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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One morning I was in the mood for a cheese omelette, so I put one together with cheese inside, and avocados and tiny heritage tomatoes sliced on top. It was SO good. And of course, my usual catsup and sour cream on the side. :) Every so often, I crave this dish. And I ate every bite!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNMtB1PHe2NL3Xm60unRI3jk5YAPCa9o27jyd3Evc_w4JTK_3Jke27kLZ2nlqKEYDikRLazeJ6tAqtSZt2Tvkjw8WpYIPrIWoFcs2R9xHF0Z1Mx8_9RA620QRFjLveGZ1jTYbPiKyn18/s1600/Cheese+and+Veggie+omlette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNMtB1PHe2NL3Xm60unRI3jk5YAPCa9o27jyd3Evc_w4JTK_3Jke27kLZ2nlqKEYDikRLazeJ6tAqtSZt2Tvkjw8WpYIPrIWoFcs2R9xHF0Z1Mx8_9RA620QRFjLveGZ1jTYbPiKyn18/s640/Cheese+and+Veggie+omlette.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And two little residents of the park:<br />
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That's it for this Bluewater Lake trip. I'm not sure we'll be back this year, but it remains one of my three favorite New Mexico State Parks. Bluewater, Storrie and Elephant Butte Lakes. I love them equally! :)<br />
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Katie and I are in Storrie Lake State Park now - after two weeks sitting still, I was dying for a road-trip, so I really enjoyed our drive over here. We stopped in Albuquerque to shop and then headed over through Santa Fe to Las Vegas, NM where Storrie Lake is. The weather here has been SO NICE! Warm and then cloudy and rain. Some electrical storms. We're in MONSOON SEASON. Finally.<br />
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I'll post some photos of Storrie Lake next time.<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everyone! 😀😊😎<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-25903401856175390492017-07-10T16:35:00.003-06:002017-07-16T09:48:23.148-06:00Lake Mary Rd and Willard Springs, near Flagstaff<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Lake Mary Road</b></span><br />
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After leaving Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico, Katie and I traveled to the Coconino National Forest south of Flagstaff, AZ to meet up with Mike for week. He was camping with Chris, who I met in Sedona, and so it was nice to see them both.<br />
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They told me there are a lot of antelope and elk that pass by every day, but they are both early risers, and by the time Katie and I are up and outside, the wildlife are long gone. But one evening, I did notice movement in front of The Palms over by the treeline and grabbed my camera. I saw three <strike>Pronghorn Antelope</strike> Elk grazing. It was dusk, so these are kind of dark, but so far they are the only photos I have of these animals. These are the best, clearest ones. I couldn't get a good shot of all three, one was always behind a bush! <span style="color: #990000;"><b>NOTE:</b></span> After posting this, I received some comments saying these are not Antelope, but Elk. Thanks to you all - I had info on Pronghorn Antelope on this post, but deleted it, since it's no longer relevant. I don't know why, but it's even cooler to have seen Elk. 😊</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSAc6Ad99hJzB-m_S1146OGidHQX9cb7YfxqlKJrLWuY3FD4PkPb5NAKJY3oF5jGxw9C_CRs1TWlcK7XKzoMz4875PXRNHM_SpIaqz-LmixtXmElyEvoSycBrSKAZhiBtRrfwbzTHthg/s1600/Antelope+at+Lake+Mary+Rd+campsite+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSAc6Ad99hJzB-m_S1146OGidHQX9cb7YfxqlKJrLWuY3FD4PkPb5NAKJY3oF5jGxw9C_CRs1TWlcK7XKzoMz4875PXRNHM_SpIaqz-LmixtXmElyEvoSycBrSKAZhiBtRrfwbzTHthg/s640/Antelope+at+Lake+Mary+Rd+campsite+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk3rzeCv_-7lzNcEQjcD8RluE8gapTW2FDrHeCNfJfNEvcF3HSheh5zhOD8Hyo93okHTKHIIJThbcmaJrWJmw0vWlgPVYP2VaBtbYjlt4PEFU_79PJtYK5xS2pP66Dp8JnYjOS295jm4/s1600/Antelope+at+Lake+Mary+Rd+campsite+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk3rzeCv_-7lzNcEQjcD8RluE8gapTW2FDrHeCNfJfNEvcF3HSheh5zhOD8Hyo93okHTKHIIJThbcmaJrWJmw0vWlgPVYP2VaBtbYjlt4PEFU_79PJtYK5xS2pP66Dp8JnYjOS295jm4/s640/Antelope+at+Lake+Mary+Rd+campsite+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Aren't they beautiful?</div>
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Our campsite in the Coconino Forest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKktAp6y5nzK6TpRVeVh1aXlEEjtopooTZLVk0wklJTPzKzxo2HxuI_x9_yPgyp9q_VoKO69lHLyP7K_JR6ENE176ANqSJ3vIpiYAFQ1nTPU7BOVZOTZziK-vhcLCFlGHCVEJZVfN9wM/s1600/Me+and+Chris+and+Mike+at+Lake+Mary+Road+-+back+in+the+trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKktAp6y5nzK6TpRVeVh1aXlEEjtopooTZLVk0wklJTPzKzxo2HxuI_x9_yPgyp9q_VoKO69lHLyP7K_JR6ENE176ANqSJ3vIpiYAFQ1nTPU7BOVZOTZziK-vhcLCFlGHCVEJZVfN9wM/s640/Me+and+Chris+and+Mike+at+Lake+Mary+Road+-+back+in+the+trees.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It looks like I'm alone, but you can see Chris' motor home next to me and Mike's van a little further away in the photo above. We had some nice chats while we camped together. Then Chris left because of the 14 day rule, and Mike and I stayed on.<span class="_Tgc"> </span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">On one of my walks I noticed something weird hanging in a tree - right about eye level. I walked over to see what it was, and this is what I saw:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI0Lvg7D0hp0OhpzCdo9SoP4UVXUt_Uhf_i_prlMgunSOhZlzO5UCWxObseESBwrwZwI6oHUlOwPkIfRgEFG3ugYb4F6qRnM7h8vuLeUV9dfRYesFGiyUoLc2ZGd4KJKZOtDAGbKUwk4/s1600/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI0Lvg7D0hp0OhpzCdo9SoP4UVXUt_Uhf_i_prlMgunSOhZlzO5UCWxObseESBwrwZwI6oHUlOwPkIfRgEFG3ugYb4F6qRnM7h8vuLeUV9dfRYesFGiyUoLc2ZGd4KJKZOtDAGbKUwk4/s640/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after+2.JPG" width="640" /></a><span class="_Tgc">Usually cocoons are not see-through, like the one I found on the rock in my last post. This one looks like it's encased in a spider web. I can't imagine what kind of insect is inside, or what it's becoming. But spiders lay eggs, right? So this isn't any kind of spider.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEtSYe_XqbLZTbG6uU1hnPfw_q0oRALhboo53FkH3h0bYJNjl198uPwL-dTNJLxFOwKnF97FegReQGwEhQux-T8Gp6mvaKuVA2AmgfAhobN7sdcZIh7JTZZr9d3_Eo0sRAVihZWCCSPM/s1600/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCQ5vkiOZqzXkHd0MVh-dq4r4Jl4vrljXXt22_HGGWGuwKSINnHRmZHup_-KwOydNlyWQnkZFxbY2Hlp2oFLieIpyTDa_7rVEMb6nca9L1IgIrACktmLMKTXPyA4N9yF6K_erfMXGa_Q/s1600/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOQ9vzohbUSSUdAjZU1mpEGY5jWrIUPYy7hAlNmcCrnizvW4kb_yZZkaooJJfptaILfi3X7ug_Kvoknr4JrCW8tGb6cs_mZu7Tu7zKPYz8fz4DCuMLYCpq_l9LSNyx1Os2cyzF-lfBGY/s1600/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOQ9vzohbUSSUdAjZU1mpEGY5jWrIUPYy7hAlNmcCrnizvW4kb_yZZkaooJJfptaILfi3X7ug_Kvoknr4JrCW8tGb6cs_mZu7Tu7zKPYz8fz4DCuMLYCpq_l9LSNyx1Os2cyzF-lfBGY/s640/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after+3.JPG" width="640" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEtSYe_XqbLZTbG6uU1hnPfw_q0oRALhboo53FkH3h0bYJNjl198uPwL-dTNJLxFOwKnF97FegReQGwEhQux-T8Gp6mvaKuVA2AmgfAhobN7sdcZIh7JTZZr9d3_Eo0sRAVihZWCCSPM/s640/Chrysalis+-+what+kind+of+insect+before+and+after.JPG" width="640" /><span class="_Tgc"> </span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"> It doesn't look like anything I've seen before! What do you think? </span><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc">Have you seen one of these? Do you know what it is? </span></span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc">And then a miracle happened! Coming from high 90 temperatures in New Mexico, I was hoping I had made the right decision, and that our weather south of Flag would be cooler. And I started to hear pop, Pop, pop, POP, POP! I looked out the window and it was HAILING! Hail pounding on the roof - I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. Then hail and rain, then just rain. I don't know how many degrees we dropped in about five minutes, but it was dramatic. I was hot, then I was reaching for a sweatshirt. Sweet, holy hail, Batman! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR5qBt_E8TLkxExHHUU7Zy3LpmVn8luNTteom9YQJTXKc6xuYrY42mnw2XSJHSjUAv_7g0LCpczB5IMWDwCuefc_fVHP7TQb7EFQ6TDbG1bh47ao9ceLjNBojjPut3BWeQpAuBakQaJk/s1600/Hail+at+Amhurst+Lake+off+Lake+Mary+Rd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR5qBt_E8TLkxExHHUU7Zy3LpmVn8luNTteom9YQJTXKc6xuYrY42mnw2XSJHSjUAv_7g0LCpczB5IMWDwCuefc_fVHP7TQb7EFQ6TDbG1bh47ao9ceLjNBojjPut3BWeQpAuBakQaJk/s640/Hail+at+Amhurst+Lake+off+Lake+Mary+Rd.JPG" width="640" /></a><span class="_Tgc"><span class="_Tgc">Here's the hail - kind of like manna from heaven to starving people. Hail from heaven to roasting people. (Apologies for any offense to religious people. Of which I am actually one. You had to be there to appreciate how great this was.) </span> </span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"> </span> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkWOqXrSqALUnZkuAPK9I5yMO-NA-Ar48tSt_DHmw_YXth7vLZPZB3mXoh4DZVqjVs7fL5ElvIDEQ51Ac0emFS0dpETjJN6FpMG9qNtCjOp9amiiYPtWpsQLHXZLDxG5_8AFKBS1eYlo/s1600/Hail+on+the+ground+at+Lake+Mary+Road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkWOqXrSqALUnZkuAPK9I5yMO-NA-Ar48tSt_DHmw_YXth7vLZPZB3mXoh4DZVqjVs7fL5ElvIDEQ51Ac0emFS0dpETjJN6FpMG9qNtCjOp9amiiYPtWpsQLHXZLDxG5_8AFKBS1eYlo/s640/Hail+on+the+ground+at+Lake+Mary+Road.JPG" width="640" /></a>Look at this beautiful crescent moon:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj10pDfgClZBNmZoXZ5sXb15x1pLQogm6yDmDPl8SSk2QEJq2Z2XH3F3PEUuiaVa4HdPpFJZKUGOagJCcuNpjwme-y_l3KPnullAERUjhBqFSb9qppfOeOXBlKbvBnb6xDzQUlkGyJlWI/s1600/Moon+closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj10pDfgClZBNmZoXZ5sXb15x1pLQogm6yDmDPl8SSk2QEJq2Z2XH3F3PEUuiaVa4HdPpFJZKUGOagJCcuNpjwme-y_l3KPnullAERUjhBqFSb9qppfOeOXBlKbvBnb6xDzQUlkGyJlWI/s640/Moon+closeup.JPG" width="640" /></a>Crescent and full moons are my favorites. I love the crescent moons because they are beautiful, and the full moons because they give us so much night light wherever I'm camping.<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Willard Springs</span></b><br />
<br />
Right before the 4th of July weekend, I moved over to Willard Springs to join Jeanne and John. I expected it to be crowded in that area, it has been before when I've been there over a holiday weekend, but this time it was almost empty. Maybe because there were no fires allowed due to the high fire danger. And no fireworks allowed, either. So we pretty much had the place to ourselves, other than a few other rigs, and could park where we wanted.<br />
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But there's sometimes a downside. It was painfully obvious that recently there had been a TON of ATVers in the area, because all the roads had dust galore on them. An inch or more of fine dust. Any time someone drove by, clouds of dust were raised, and if there was even the slightest breeze, it came over and hung in the air. You could see it, you could taste it, and you knew it was filling your lungs with dust.<br />
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These were taken when there was no wind. When it was breezy, it just floated over overthing.<br />
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On the upside, there are a lot of good birds in the area, and we were there when the Acorn Woodpeckers were out working the trees. They are so pretty:<br />
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And these cute squirrels were running around. <br />
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One evening I went outside and glued the rear view mirror back on the side mirror housing - it was a permanent glue that I got at Napa Auto in Flagstaff, and they said it would work. So, I glued it on, held it until it was tacky enough to tape, and taped the heck out of it. <br />
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It only needed a few hours to cure, so in the morning, I removed the tape and it looked and felt like it was, indeed, a permanent fix. Fingers crossed!<br />
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It was nice to get that taken care of.<br />
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It started heating up again, so Katie and I moved to another camping area at Willard Springs, where we were the very first time we camped here. It has more trees, and I wanted shade - a big shade tree to park under to keep us cooler. Even though there was only one other camper down a ways from us, and it's beautiful, I didn't like this area any more either. We stayed only one or two nights. Late one afternoon I walked the whole area, down the road to where I was parked early in 2016, and all around. I couldn't find were I was parked before. The whole area looked totally different to me.<br />
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There were roads criss-crossing the entire area made by ATVers - all dusty and dirty. There wasn't a large enough area to park an RV that would get you away from the noise and dust if they were racing back and forth on the roads. Which - when the ATVers are there - is what they do. And the weekend was coming.<br />
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I don't know if things are really changing or if I'm just being a complainer. But I've been here before and loved it. <span style="font-size: large;"> 😟 </span><br />
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I did see this neat tree on my walk, though. I wondered what was inside the hole, but didn't get close enough to look. <br />
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There's probably something living in there.<br />
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When I took Katie out for her potty walks, she came back into The Palms with her paws coated in dust, and I had to wash her feet. <br />
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So... back to the weather apps to see what was going on at Bluewater Lake. Had the temps come down there at all yet? Yes! Thank goodness for wheels under our house! I packed up and the next morning, we headed back to Bluewater. That's where we're parked now - for two weeks.<br />
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We arrived on Saturday afternoon, not hoping for a non-reservation
electric site to be available, just hoping for cooler temps. And guess what?
We were able to get an electric site. The last one... I immediately snagged it, not
even looking for anything else. Paid for two weeks - at $4 per night with the annual pass, how could I not? And we're golden.
Yup. And happy as clams.<br />
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The weather has been GREAT! Warm, some rain on and off, then sun comes out again. I guess we're in the beginning of Monsoon Season? Yesterday I bleached some white tee-shirts I wore at Willard springs that were so filthy with dust they needed bleaching. Between the dust in the air, and Katie sitting up close to me and rubbing dust off her and onto my shirts... And I also soaked and hand-washed two pair of running shoes. They were filthy inside and out, as were all the socks I wore with them. They also got bleached with the shirts. And Katie got a good wipe-down, too. She was filthy!<br />
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I'm still cleaning up all the fine dust that came in through the screen door and window screens at Willard Springs. It was so warm, you had to have the windows open when there was a breeze, and the breeze was, of course, full of ... right. Dust. <br />
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I don't know if I'll ever go back there again. It's a gorgeous forest, a beautiful camping spot, and huge, so you always find a good campsite. But the ATVers have changed it. It's legal to ride motorbikes and ATVs there, so I can't fault the people who are doing it. They are having a blast - this is their kind of fun. But unfortunately you always know when they've been there. <br />
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So, we are back at Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. Funny how the temps keep changing this year, but I think we're good for a while. Between the warm days and cool mornings and evenings, and the rain that comes through almost every day, it's been so nice. <br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everyone! 😊 😎 🙃<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-10527316386588971972017-07-10T14:24:00.001-06:002017-07-10T16:02:37.695-06:00Bluewater Lake - The Beauty and The Blues<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>FIRST THE BEAUTY:</b></span><br />
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Katie and I came to Bluewater Lake State Park in NM because it seemed to be one of the coolest areas I could find. The first week here was wonderful, and I got one of my favorite sites, overlooking Bluewater Lake:<br />
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View of the lake out the couch window:<br />
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I set up my little clothes line - this is what I do if there aren't any good trees nearby. I can hang socks, towels, and/or tee-shirts on hangers. We had good trees, but they were dripping pine sap, so:<br />
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Although the sunsets here are spectacular, sunset in the western sky is often pretty, too:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000;">THEN THE BLUES:</span></b><br />
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And then the heat rose. I wasn't expecting it - when I've been here in the past, the weather was always nice. Wow, it was something! We had a dry-camping site, no electricity, and of course with the heat, there were no electric sites available. So, what to do? Drive all the way back to the Flagstaff area, where it seemed to be a bit cooler? Or stay here and sweat it out?<br />
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My air conditioner, which has always worked just fine, suddenly wouldn't stay on for more than 10 minutes, then it would shut down. The generator was still on and no breakers were tripped, but I had to wait a while before I could turn it on again - for another ten minutes! Meanwhile it got up to 97 degrees inside The Palms. (Note: I've since learned a few things about the A/C units, and our altitude might have been the culprit. I'll see when I'm lower. I thought it was protecting itself and shutting down due to the high temps, but obviously that's when you need the cooling power, so it kind of didn't make sense. Any thoughts?)<br />
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Then we had to leave the park after our 14 days - the 6 days out rule - before we could return. So we drove down to the little town of Grants, 20 or so miles south, like we always have in the past. I was still having issues with the A/C and it was <span style="color: red;"><b>SO HOT</b></span>. The first night we spent at the Grant's Wal-Mart, and in the morning, the generator wouldn't start. At all. It tried, but couldn't seem to catch.<br />
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Knowing how hot it was going to be, I made some phone calls and got a reservation at one of the local RV parks for that day - Wednesday. Then I called a generator repair place in Albuquerque and made an appointment for Friday morning. They said to come down on Thursday and I could park in their lot with their electrical hook-ups and be there in the morning in case they were ready for me earlier than scheduled. <br />
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I needed to do laundry and couldn't leave Katie in the rig in that kind of heat while I was inside doing laundry in town. So when we checked into our very nice RV park I found out they had washers and dryers. Yes! I didn't need the water or sewer hook-up in our site, but the electricity was SURE NICE, and I got all my laundry done while Katie was cooling her heels in The Palms with the A/C running. AND they had a beautiful, spotless bathroom with a large shower. I was in HEAVEN.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Completely <span style="font-size: x-large;">😀</span> and totally <span style="font-size: x-large;">😊</span> in heaven <span style="font-size: x-large;">😇</span> !</span></div>
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<br />
The next morning we drove down to Albuquerque, checked in at the office and got hooked up to their electricity.<br />
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Unfortunately, with THEIR electrical hookup, the A/C again wouldn't stay on for more than 10 minutes. It was awful.<br />
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Finally it cooled down a bit as the sun set. Katie and I were exhausted and went to bed early. At 2:30 in the morning I woke up to gunshots out in the street. I counted eight shots, got up and peeked out the windows, but didn't see anything. I heard a yell and then a car slowly passing by, and that was all. No police sirens... apparently this isn't unusual in the area.<br />
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In the morning I talked to another RV owner who was parked next to me and asked him if he heard the shots. He said, yes, he got up and got out his gun and slept with it next to his pillow. He said he talked to another customer who was parked there, and that guy said he was ready with his gun power, too, just in case: a hand gun and a long gun. Luckily there were no more disturbances. (But when offered the opportunity to stay another night because my work started late in the day and ended around rush hour, I declined. I'll take commuter traffic over gunshots any time!)<br />
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Katie and I started the trip back to Grants with our repaired generator (a new starter motor). As I was driving up one of the long hills in that intense heat something in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I looked in the driver door rear mirror and it looked like the side of the The Palms was coming unlaminated (is that a word?) The whole side of the motor home was shaking like crazy!!!<br />
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Good Grief! Then I realized it was the <b><i>mirror itself</i></b>, shaking like crazy. I immediately checked both mirrors, slowed down, and pulled over on the side of the road. As I was pulling over, I lowered the window and reached out to the mirror to steady it, and it came off in my hand. WOW, I almost lost the mirror. Another few seconds and it would have been on the freeway in a million pieces. <br />
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I put the mirror in a safe place, got back in the driver's seat and looked left - as I always do - for oncoming traffic. But of course, there was no mirror, and with the RV cabin coming out further than the truck cab, I had no vision of oncoming traffic. There was no way I could pull out.<br />
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I went back and got the mirror and a roll of duct tape and went around to the driver's door, as big rigs and cars were pulling into the inside lane, thank goodness, and duct taped the mirror back into place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGfFsVBXJCpF08OEpRksZh8G_dp3vuYbhjNa2cHvGlkXfp3fZ7G-Dy7FbHUdl6y5m-Z13jGU2jmDho1kHVdsW3FeTW-00obcpiClR0J_a3N_1ohCR_rdyNqUPE26dmnllrUVqjIR0B6A/s1600/Poor+broken+mirror.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGfFsVBXJCpF08OEpRksZh8G_dp3vuYbhjNa2cHvGlkXfp3fZ7G-Dy7FbHUdl6y5m-Z13jGU2jmDho1kHVdsW3FeTW-00obcpiClR0J_a3N_1ohCR_rdyNqUPE26dmnllrUVqjIR0B6A/s640/Poor+broken+mirror.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Kind of "Beverly Hillbilly'ish," but what're ya gonna do? <span style="font-size: large;">😳</span><br />
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Back on the road, I realized it was slipping down under the tape, and pulled off again and duct taped the hell out if it in every direction, then got back on the road. Luckily, it held until I was able to get something to glue it back on.<br />
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I'll tell you, being a full-time RVer takes a lot of duct tape and ingenuity. Roll with the punches, solve the problems, and keep moving on. LOL<br />
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I had plans to meet up again with JB, my canyon hike friend, and we were going to camp together for a while back at Bluewater, but honestly, I was so worn out from the heat, which was expected to continue for another couple of weeks, and all the issues I was having. I checked all my weather apps and decided to leave the next morning to head back to Flagstaff. It seemed to be the coolest place. So unfortunately I cancelled our camping plans and in the morning, Katie and I drove back to Flagstaff.<br />
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I had some friends who were dry-camping near Flag in the Coconino National Forest, Mike and Chris were both at Lake Mary Road, and Jeanne and John were at Bellemont, moving to Willard Springs in a couple of days. Mike texted that it was nice where he was and Jeanne texted it was nice where she was, so Katie and I first camped at Lake Mary Road for a week, and then moved to Willard Springs. It was good to see everyone, and good to have temps a bit lower. Still HOT, but not as bad as it was in New Mexico.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>AND MORE BEAUTY:</b></span><br />
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Of course, the canyon hike I took with my friend, JB, would definitely be under the Beauty category. I've already posted photos of that day, and here are some of the cool things and critters I got photos of while at Bluewater:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgmyxA6dXZ7n66O0BBsoWAhyphenhyphen6lAwWrXqmJ9dGydyURrBy0Oo2LRGctOqRkF_bvW2T_8hpiJ5IB7U5mSP5zYNHm6xxL48ABAPlhGtMWEfIpPcK_3C7rS-4ftcDy2CXXaJ01SufezqGqNs/s1600/Butterfly+at+A-1+Mountain+Rd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="771" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgmyxA6dXZ7n66O0BBsoWAhyphenhyphen6lAwWrXqmJ9dGydyURrBy0Oo2LRGctOqRkF_bvW2T_8hpiJ5IB7U5mSP5zYNHm6xxL48ABAPlhGtMWEfIpPcK_3C7rS-4ftcDy2CXXaJ01SufezqGqNs/s640/Butterfly+at+A-1+Mountain+Rd.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I saw this cocoon, below, on a rock sitting in the sun on one of my walks and decided to bring it back to my campsite to see if anything would hatch. Unfortunately, nothing happened, so I left it when I went to Grants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJwnDQtHwHvcQoF4NQYLiZ5CKrsb71WjB_k4SVfZdL6lVxcOMtkfZVbVAy3i6oM1VIBA1bUvXksE-Fd0vUX2rDIPzwBQoeO2qPw2TQAzK3D6znA5TMYq4YWis352ntUYWQwpnGmQMd-0/s1600/cuccoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJwnDQtHwHvcQoF4NQYLiZ5CKrsb71WjB_k4SVfZdL6lVxcOMtkfZVbVAy3i6oM1VIBA1bUvXksE-Fd0vUX2rDIPzwBQoeO2qPw2TQAzK3D6znA5TMYq4YWis352ntUYWQwpnGmQMd-0/s640/cuccoon.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Each evening when it started to cool down, swarms of bugs came out. They got into The Palms twice! I couldn't believe I let it happen twice! I had to get out my step stool and use my adhesive lint roller to get them all off the ceiling. Took forever to get them all. When I was done, the ceiling was full of smashed black bugs and I had used half my lint roller's tape. The next morning, I cleaned the ceiling of all the bug debris. What a mess that was! AND IT HAPPENED TWICE. All I had to do was open the door at the wrong time and in they came. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XkD__LRotraFCz-oVhO2iUMi_mvfiKkePGGfOkyh6QbsMSUGL29ZzF05j-fuLfP7YhMhfx3sclazL6zvqeRzba2nLswnkuEbzwk1FOayPWi5yd3Actaz6r4TJIsI_Y2Fv7Q4BfVbw4o/s1600/Evening+bugs+at+BWL+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XkD__LRotraFCz-oVhO2iUMi_mvfiKkePGGfOkyh6QbsMSUGL29ZzF05j-fuLfP7YhMhfx3sclazL6zvqeRzba2nLswnkuEbzwk1FOayPWi5yd3Actaz6r4TJIsI_Y2Fv7Q4BfVbw4o/s640/Evening+bugs+at+BWL+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Pretty flowers above our site:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R5n0j2f9sjin6irJdxU9zkjVhC5izLgTLh8ueuXdxREh8VBO8VctANZ6Zqs6WfdK77OdblsZyg8W7zM5_THe5xt9m1XaL2jnBnLaGHzRi0KD9daGhizFVaGiav6yXwywndN9kgJN0-0/s1600/Flowers+on+the+hill+behind+our+site.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R5n0j2f9sjin6irJdxU9zkjVhC5izLgTLh8ueuXdxREh8VBO8VctANZ6Zqs6WfdK77OdblsZyg8W7zM5_THe5xt9m1XaL2jnBnLaGHzRi0KD9daGhizFVaGiav6yXwywndN9kgJN0-0/s640/Flowers+on+the+hill+behind+our+site.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lots of squirrels in the park - they are always so cute:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ceMj4QV7nAvaggRM4kkXUFuLDD8s1wAASpUzuVvdUBfrlktn4RLc-PnOaOL3CXOaBjiaHdVUG3OrfX9r3z2idVQiVs-ZpOvVYdc51pCnEvONfn3a7mzUb6T3Rwi0WqHw6iWkYzcac4/s1600/Squirrel+at+BWL+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="800" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ceMj4QV7nAvaggRM4kkXUFuLDD8s1wAASpUzuVvdUBfrlktn4RLc-PnOaOL3CXOaBjiaHdVUG3OrfX9r3z2idVQiVs-ZpOvVYdc51pCnEvONfn3a7mzUb6T3Rwi0WqHw6iWkYzcac4/s640/Squirrel+at+BWL+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And of course, lizards. First, I saw lots of the these guys:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sOcr9SVRlqo7m-wtDWzX0ROhXlOMiJYzKciH4IZuiyiFZliKV2mWtvgSuB1PVfjqQGbgES7FGXAKAc1_SYEzdQ0L85b1tSad1OSrPpdfLlgyZ7YPQFfPF8WHAWGOXIjdSGo3TGAM2UU/s1600/Western+Fence+or+Blue-belly+Lizard+at+BWLSP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="800" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sOcr9SVRlqo7m-wtDWzX0ROhXlOMiJYzKciH4IZuiyiFZliKV2mWtvgSuB1PVfjqQGbgES7FGXAKAc1_SYEzdQ0L85b1tSad1OSrPpdfLlgyZ7YPQFfPF8WHAWGOXIjdSGo3TGAM2UU/s640/Western+Fence+or+Blue-belly+Lizard+at+BWLSP.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And then I noticed this guy - there were two, this bigger one and a smaller one. They had beautiful fluorescent blue undersides:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-iK54LlGKVCy4QKGSHSyPDW8V82HRTXEu4ILvEyzIEt6SZeNfie3ZuObYkn6ce5ezLp2v5aAyeeUzrVBk_Oqb2U3AykQzEXm8dlsGU5sdvsEAVZfvC42DZDC4IS_gwq1xYyEixSwofk/s1600/Western+Fence+or+Blue-belly+lizard+at+Bluewater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-iK54LlGKVCy4QKGSHSyPDW8V82HRTXEu4ILvEyzIEt6SZeNfie3ZuObYkn6ce5ezLp2v5aAyeeUzrVBk_Oqb2U3AykQzEXm8dlsGU5sdvsEAVZfvC42DZDC4IS_gwq1xYyEixSwofk/s640/Western+Fence+or+Blue-belly+lizard+at+Bluewater.JPG" width="640" /></a>And finally, the sunsets! I think Bluewater Lake State Park has the most beautiful sunsets I've seen while full-timing. Here are some of them from this trip, with a full moon thrown in. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM06PomyDIbeZyXRAenOVDtbP-d34JB0TfZHuPvHrAZbuicuPfKfvGSQdhkEg57rq-CpQ-uTsmgbWiFgIMslm9UTjalxypFesIGFj9MZYYS4weQ7S5KcvJMhNdCr6zy3tEp84s1Yp-Cj8/s1600/The+sun+is+down+and+the+lake+is+pink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM06PomyDIbeZyXRAenOVDtbP-d34JB0TfZHuPvHrAZbuicuPfKfvGSQdhkEg57rq-CpQ-uTsmgbWiFgIMslm9UTjalxypFesIGFj9MZYYS4weQ7S5KcvJMhNdCr6zy3tEp84s1Yp-Cj8/s640/The+sun+is+down+and+the+lake+is+pink.JPG" width="640" /></a>And that's it for Bluewater Lake - for now. We headed to Flagstaff for cooler temps, planning to be back soon. <br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everyone! 😎☹🤔💲💲💲🙄🔫😲😏 <div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-38363112587530721182017-06-26T22:23:00.001-06:002017-06-26T22:32:42.948-06:00Bluewater Creek Canyon HikeA couple of weeks ago, Katie and I went to New Mexico - the temps there were great, and I love Bluewater Lake State Park.<br />
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There's a canyon that goes through the edge of the campgrounds and I always walk over and peer down. Every year I get pictures of the canyon. One year from the edge I could see a beaver dam, and you can see the water and all the green grasses and bushes. This year I could see there's more water down there in the creek than in previous years. Very lush and beautiful!<br />
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I've always wanted to hike down into the canyon. It's not something I'd do alone, though, but this year I have a friend who lives near Albuquerque and he's a big hiker, so I asked him if he'd come up and do this canyon hike with me. He said that'd be great - he's camped in some of the New Mexico State Parks, but never at Bluewater, so this would give him a chance to check out the park, too. <br />
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This is where we were going - a close up from the edge of the canyon:<br />
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This is a normal shot without using the zoom lens:<br />
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The canyon cliff:<br />
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It was actually an easy hike up and down the canyon, and along the creek to the
dam. The only problem was
that the very nice temperatures at Bluewater changed after I was there a week, and when we hiked down into the canyon it was really <span style="color: red;"><b>super hot</b></span>. We also visited for a few hours after he arrived and the time got away from us - so we left on our hike a little later than we should
have, at 11:30. That was a mistake! It would have been much cooler if we had left at 8:30.<br />
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Being a resident of the Albuquerque area he was used to the heat and the altitude, and <i>he</i> hardly broke a sweat, but I was really feeling the heat <i>and</i> the high altitude! By the time the day was done, I had logged in over 10,000 steps on my GarminVivofit. And I was HOT and TIRED! But it sure was fun.<br />
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He brought his hiking poles and suggested that I bring mine, too, and I was glad I did. When I was climbing down the canyon and over the creek on the rocks and logs I really needed them! Good grief, look at my feet - they really aren't that big! That's funny... 😁<br />
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Isn't this beautiful?<br />
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Crossing the creek - I was really concentrating. Thank goodness I didn't fall in!<br />
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There was a path, but sometimes the terrain looked like this, and we had to slog through water. My shoes were wet and muddy, but that was okay because the water was cool and felt good!<br />
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And then we saw the dam in the distance:<br />
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And closer: <br />
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We got closer and closer and got a lot of pictures:<br />
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It looked like there were some patches on the wall of the dam. There's lots and lots of water over on the other side. I was happy that it stayed there:<br />
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When we got this close to the dam, he wanted to climb up to the top and get a closer look at the stone house up there and see if we could walk across the dam to the other side, which was close to my campsite. He went over to check the difficulty of the climb up in case I wanted to check it out with him, but I decided to stay where I was. <br />
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I needed a rest, so he went up and in a while I could hear him talking to some people - he said later he was talking to a family floating in a boat on the other side of the dam. <br />
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I wondered what that red thing was - I've never noticed it from the other side of the dam.<br />
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He got some good shots of the little house up close and let me borrow them for this post...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb42qVo_XPpZA-3EzhQr1v3g1C1FF7ev9km51oDtIDfWYxp7Ys9Wa9tZ-lT_FU48ko_1MdxWxrMz24gz-kSaAgrgUKdiSvyZFlYBX51b5dgmoZMJE36YAdIWQCTS2e5kU6-_sdKEM5kmQ/s1600/Brick+house+by+Bluewater+Lake+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb42qVo_XPpZA-3EzhQr1v3g1C1FF7ev9km51oDtIDfWYxp7Ys9Wa9tZ-lT_FU48ko_1MdxWxrMz24gz-kSaAgrgUKdiSvyZFlYBX51b5dgmoZMJE36YAdIWQCTS2e5kU6-_sdKEM5kmQ/s640/Brick+house+by+Bluewater+Lake+Dam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KUbalIURbPJAyewmDMt0AFLwMOtOKUmhSVIQBgaJ_HK6zKe_3Bf2XmZgSQCN81LRA-UpWsweerqASI2WdwiJGCiz5GIgz71ZmDIlhD1FJQ7XmnwFyKa2F8l8_a86RYt7r9aplyeXzBg/s1600/20170616_131722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KUbalIURbPJAyewmDMt0AFLwMOtOKUmhSVIQBgaJ_HK6zKe_3Bf2XmZgSQCN81LRA-UpWsweerqASI2WdwiJGCiz5GIgz71ZmDIlhD1FJQ7XmnwFyKa2F8l8_a86RYt7r9aplyeXzBg/s640/20170616_131722.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and also some shots of the top of the dam. As you can see, there's a locked gate there, which prevents people from crossing over into the campsite area. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSiIdYWcAriVX0OvBhZ9gu8FXwa2WETykIPrTamW714rj6leFujR2W1_NqMyfWrVYCqDoB-AExljKuf32aVAC5DV22bAbrwkMgWMsnckOVU-Op84WRJ1mYy3D9VNXMUxLgy0i1OOk1hc/s1600/Bluewater+Dam+with+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSiIdYWcAriVX0OvBhZ9gu8FXwa2WETykIPrTamW714rj6leFujR2W1_NqMyfWrVYCqDoB-AExljKuf32aVAC5DV22bAbrwkMgWMsnckOVU-Op84WRJ1mYy3D9VNXMUxLgy0i1OOk1hc/s640/Bluewater+Dam+with+gate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was so beautiful and peaceful down there, I wouldn't hesitate hiking down again - earlier in the day, or on a cooler day - but I still wouldn't want to go alone. Anyway, it's always more fun to walk or hike with a friend, right? :)<br />
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Thanks for coming up and visiting and taking the canyon hike with me - it was really fun!<br />
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And by the way, we saw where the beaver's dam had been in past years. It was kind of broken up, but I got to see a beaver dam! <br />
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I have two more posts after this of our Bluewater Lake SP visit which I'll publish this week, hopefully. As usual at Bluewater, we had some gorgeous sunsets. But then, unfortunately, the heat drove us to move again.<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everyone! 😊😎😅<div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-61589160881016035852017-06-10T15:35:00.001-06:002017-06-10T15:35:34.596-06:00Aw, Geez! Two flat tires? And an RV mod I've been needing :)<span style="font-size: small;">While at Pickett Lake, off Lake Mary Rd, Jeanne and John and I went out one day to scout some new boondocking areas. Off we went in Jeanne's car. Jeanne had heard of a couple of good areas - lots of trees with fields, perfect for boondockers with solar panels. One of the areas we checked out looked good, but was really rocky. Suddenly Jeanne's Tire Pressure Monitoring System went off. We were already out of the rocky area and driving along the good dirt road, but obviously something was wrong with the front left tire, so she pulled over.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We all got out and looked. This is what we saw:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wXSp0EjDB2eFYfXfveK_Cr88QlIgJQ4FVzj1NRH0NkaMVzjijcMbJgX3Cb05JNlIFAxLZN52Vq6x-6x0HpQt2-DLhNTI5GyDnLl2wR1mckoMoxi8izo_kIRWjkf-mODYbOIXsfnR5q0/s1600/Sidewall+slit+in+Jeanne%2527s+flat+tire+by+A-1.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wXSp0EjDB2eFYfXfveK_Cr88QlIgJQ4FVzj1NRH0NkaMVzjijcMbJgX3Cb05JNlIFAxLZN52Vq6x-6x0HpQt2-DLhNTI5GyDnLl2wR1mckoMoxi8izo_kIRWjkf-mODYbOIXsfnR5q0/s640/Sidewall+slit+in+Jeanne%2527s+flat+tire+by+A-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Brand new tire - she had just bought four new tires the previous week. As we drove down the rocky road, one of the rocks on the side of the road must have been really sharp and punctured the sidewall as we drove past it. It really deflated fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">John immediately got the right tools, figured out the jack, and took off the lug nuts and the tire. Jeanne and I, two very independent, self sufficient women, stood back and watched. LOL Then</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Jeanne fitted the spare onto the wheel and John tightened the lug nuts. </span>Later we agreed - IT'S SURE NICE TO HAVE A MAN AROUND! Guys, sometimes you just know stuff that we ladies have to take a little time to figure out. I haven't changed a tire since I was 15 years old in Driver's Ed. We would have figured it out, but John just knew what he was doing, so we let him do it. Sure was nice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's Jeanne fitting the donut spare on the wheel, with John watching:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucKq_cUSkcYVnvf84dpAhfxb2HX8jeQY_agMi8muriJpu8UZPYQJijJt6PC14DFrfeveRfEBcyE2DUTzG330tWtDyF3qPS7SSVA7CCOoDLV2XABa6PXoT3JTZ7OAypDA8A6Sq57f3coQ/s1600/Jeanne+and+John+changing+flat+tire.JPG"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucKq_cUSkcYVnvf84dpAhfxb2HX8jeQY_agMi8muriJpu8UZPYQJijJt6PC14DFrfeveRfEBcyE2DUTzG330tWtDyF3qPS7SSVA7CCOoDLV2XABa6PXoT3JTZ7OAypDA8A6Sq57f3coQ/s640/Jeanne+and+John+changing+flat+tire.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After Jeanne put the spare on, John tightened everything up and they loaded the flat tire into the trunk. We piled in the car again and drove to the Sam's Club in Flagstaff where Jeanne had purchased the tires. Unfortunately it wasn't repairable and they didn't have that one in stock. She would have to wait two days for one to be ordered and arrive at the store.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's kind of nerve wracking driving on a small spare tire but luckily the speed limit out of town and then along Lake Mary Road was 50 MPH, so that fit with the speed the little spare was supposed to be driven. Two days later she went back to town and had the new tire put on. Luckily it was all covered under the warranty, and she only had to pay for the installation. Darn rocks!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So, the next day I drove The Palms into town to get supplies and gas and propane and water, etc. As I arrived in Flagstaff, MY Tire Pressure Monitoring System went off just as I was pulling into the Giant gas station. My right front tire was losing air. I got all the tasks done and checked on my GPS for a Discount Tire in town. There was one on the other side of town, so I started driving, keeping my eye on the TPMS. It was slowly going down. My tires should be at 70 PSI in the morning, and of course the pressure goes up as I'm driving.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The front tire was going down fast now - I'm driving through city traffic, watching the TPMS, stopping at red lights. It was kind of stressful, to say the least. I could have stopped and called a tow truck, but I was only a few miles from the tire store. It stayed at 24 PSI for a bit, then dropped to 21, then 20. The Palms was driving fine, and everything felt fine. When I pulled into the driveway at Discount Tire, the flat tire showed 19 PSI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-gveL_ZtfUFmEBDWFP6iC8imPvtY_SocgCPF8W_pJckbDtVJacRIza1EVbHBgTLJOTanlFheH1c5OzmjKq_k4PukAcOeMZ-b2cjhDqY1CIhBk7vyLHRCtQ1zyQAvgEMG2MYMZjuoGoU/s1600/10+pounds+tire+pressure+in+Flagstaff.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-gveL_ZtfUFmEBDWFP6iC8imPvtY_SocgCPF8W_pJckbDtVJacRIza1EVbHBgTLJOTanlFheH1c5OzmjKq_k4PukAcOeMZ-b2cjhDqY1CIhBk7vyLHRCtQ1zyQAvgEMG2MYMZjuoGoU/s640/10+pounds+tire+pressure+in+Flagstaff.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I drove in and parked and an employee walked right over. I told him I had a flat tire, and he said, Yes, the right front? They could all see it as I drove in. I didn't think it looked that bad, but what do I know?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CVUu5aBmXDBvYb1jOWlkp4v0163cN0YRjQT9WcyIgxH_8Z-_FniRDMsP5zPUmqn9N5MD36W9cBa6HoJ9DiWawnleb5NGQecz4oY7mFHXh28sWVAyLAS-_lO_Y8zPW8ux0N1GlCC50GY/s1600/flat+tire+in+flagstaff.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CVUu5aBmXDBvYb1jOWlkp4v0163cN0YRjQT9WcyIgxH_8Z-_FniRDMsP5zPUmqn9N5MD36W9cBa6HoJ9DiWawnleb5NGQecz4oY7mFHXh28sWVAyLAS-_lO_Y8zPW8ux0N1GlCC50GY/s640/flat+tire+in+flagstaff.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">He took all my information and my car keys and Katie and I sat down to wait in the customer waiting room. As I was sitting there waiting for the verdict, I texted Jeanne - "You're not going to believe this..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Less than a half hour later he was back. I looked up and The Palms was parked outside waiting for me. Turned out the tire itself wasn't flat, the valve stem was coming loose, allowing the air to leak out. So they repaired it, or replaced it, and we were good to go. No charge. Discount Tire is so great! I sure recommend them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Can you believe we both had flats one day apart?!? Hopefully we're both good now and won't have any more flats! And again I have to give a 👍👍 for TMPS. We might have felt the flats, but our systems warned us before we knew anything was happening. And who knows? That red light and beeping sound might have prevented an accident.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now, on to the RV mod that John did for me - this is the happy part of this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So... I have a really nice awning, it's brand new. I've never used it - NEVER in six years. But it doesn't have a cover over it, and I camp where the sun's shining and the temps are warm. My poor awning started fraying along the top of the roll a couple of years ago, the part exposed to the sun almost every day for the last six years. When it first started looking bad, I got some awning tape, cut off the little threads and pieces that were coming apart, and taped the whole awning across the top. It looked great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A year later, with more sun and lots of sand and dust storms, the awning was not only fraying again, it had some pieces of awning tape hanging off it, and it was now a brown color from all the dust getting under the tape. Brown sticky tape hanging off the white awning fabric. Honestly it looked awful and was embarrassing. So I bought some cheaper clear tape and taped it up again. That tape didn't last at all, and before long I was again spending almost $75 for three rolls of clear awning tape.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, when I was camped with Jeanne and John at Pickett Lake, off Mary Lake Road, John mentioned that one day recently, he was sitting inside his fifth wheel, his awning was rolled up as usual (he doesn't put his out either), and the wind picked up and grabbed the awning, the material rolled out and was tossed over the roof of the RV, flapping up and down and all around. Wasn't much he could do with the wind blowing, until things calmed down. When he was able to check it, he saw the awning was ripped from flapping on the roof. So what he decided to do was take the awning down. Not the whole thing, just the fabric. And that's what he did. I walked over to see it, and it looked great, neat and clean.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I had been planning on taking my whole awning off - all the hardware - when I got to San Diego and asking my son to store it for me, so that if I ever sell The Palms, we could re-attach it for the new owners. But John's solution was so much easier, and could be done NOW. I'd lose the eyesore awning and keep the hardware intact on The Palms. If I sell, the new owners can leave it that way if they don't use their awning or they can have a new awning installed. It was a perfect solution! And the frosting on the cake was that John offered to cut the awning off for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I should have gotten "before" photos, but just picture a long white awning with dust covered tape coming off here and there. It was really bad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's John on the roof, or at least his shorts and shirt, cutting each portion of the awning loose as he unrolls it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPATikjFoRYXTDggOHEHIf-c7LSjT-42tuDceypauzd_rMmEiIxuzlu9YXaaILXIbebOVLMznLmN8t-3JhtK8wzQ-AtB3Tk-KrZ_Q-kgbafz0Q9j1Nl2SGcTGZaIfAbHvje4iOMJj9mhA/s1600/John+taking+down+the+awning.JPG"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPATikjFoRYXTDggOHEHIf-c7LSjT-42tuDceypauzd_rMmEiIxuzlu9YXaaILXIbebOVLMznLmN8t-3JhtK8wzQ-AtB3Tk-KrZ_Q-kgbafz0Q9j1Nl2SGcTGZaIfAbHvje4iOMJj9mhA/s640/John+taking+down+the+awning.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Finally down to the last part:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdrvDKMsdilzKpnGeYNhyphenhyphenGRIfQMe6VXYRB5VN-eyB_fXqINozuS_4t2lZutnueZe2es-d1kWvKjw2fOZXVDIN8QlyM99KA2UAVR2R8AOX6R1hjrvqba_oqeUSBPhyphenhypheng7MIs98Yx3PVdaA/s1600/John+taking+down+the+awning+2.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdrvDKMsdilzKpnGeYNhyphenhyphenGRIfQMe6VXYRB5VN-eyB_fXqINozuS_4t2lZutnueZe2es-d1kWvKjw2fOZXVDIN8QlyM99KA2UAVR2R8AOX6R1hjrvqba_oqeUSBPhyphenhypheng7MIs98Yx3PVdaA/s640/John+taking+down+the+awning+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And the last piece is cut off!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSnWwptdu5CW6EFuMHoHJZFOpZxilxHSfko3szj40PvKs_hVKIyar5cROPcNLPqA7YRRuOfRvdjlUnMtmTVEbjQRPc6qDISQshI-Pt2y2sHlOC20pnJ_Lpb4dOSfcwKr4BGxxNtXUG6M/s1600/Awing+almost+down.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSnWwptdu5CW6EFuMHoHJZFOpZxilxHSfko3szj40PvKs_hVKIyar5cROPcNLPqA7YRRuOfRvdjlUnMtmTVEbjQRPc6qDISQshI-Pt2y2sHlOC20pnJ_Lpb4dOSfcwKr4BGxxNtXUG6M/s640/Awing+almost+down.JPG" width="630" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKbRi8vWzvyILcXkIt5qELsdcwJXm27pZpQnCp3HcT_ypZ68ix0iljj3HBOjxtpBZuWWEYSpb9FZqC-mNfnMgvcOUNFF8RaWif5oy5cv1YOPcy8UXZ7K-U2v_Z9iorUCJVrMbEMRoJqs/s1600/Awning+is+down.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKbRi8vWzvyILcXkIt5qELsdcwJXm27pZpQnCp3HcT_ypZ68ix0iljj3HBOjxtpBZuWWEYSpb9FZqC-mNfnMgvcOUNFF8RaWif5oy5cv1YOPcy8UXZ7K-U2v_Z9iorUCJVrMbEMRoJqs/s640/Awning+is+down.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And here's The Palms with the awning hardware intact, the roller across the top looking clean, with nothing messy hanging loose. It was such a relief to have the awning gone, and not have to spend $$$ on tape again! If I had known about this "fix" I would have had it cut down years ago. And saved a bunch of money on awning tape. Who knew?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RPOOY96SM6SBJnxQdp5fT-5ywUItf3bJ6dX7JHRNyciETYDMTa72fyGzuRI5LZ6SVsY2a4hhZ_CAqWCd0r0QL37o3X6tqbY76_dGmfCzGbfk-1KIie0-1Ym8oRZJ8RBzjMopYSNH7iE/s1600/Complete.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RPOOY96SM6SBJnxQdp5fT-5ywUItf3bJ6dX7JHRNyciETYDMTa72fyGzuRI5LZ6SVsY2a4hhZ_CAqWCd0r0QL37o3X6tqbY76_dGmfCzGbfk-1KIie0-1Ym8oRZJ8RBzjMopYSNH7iE/s640/Complete.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's my beautiful awning - never used, this part never even exposed to the sun. It was a shame, really.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQYCdkXqy2XJ1oDjwzgq2YtKqdE91JwLkBfL9LDopC4dFekXs4rKAyNUJoBghZUL_BNJD__HoRUkrdddow7-0Cu-H6muf_W8e6k1X4W0Hj1F8XNd3nCr3yHQYosaQl-61TgtjFRj59Ho/s1600/My+new+awing+all+cut+up.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQYCdkXqy2XJ1oDjwzgq2YtKqdE91JwLkBfL9LDopC4dFekXs4rKAyNUJoBghZUL_BNJD__HoRUkrdddow7-0Cu-H6muf_W8e6k1X4W0Hj1F8XNd3nCr3yHQYosaQl-61TgtjFRj59Ho/s640/My+new+awing+all+cut+up.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">BTW, John doesn't like his picture posted, so I never show his face. He's helped me with some other things and I love to give him credit, but I always crop his face out out of the pic. Some of you know Don "donhalfaface" - well, this is John "johnnoface." LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you, John! I can't tell you how much I appreciated you doing this for me. I don't think I could have done it by myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And here are a few photos to finish up my time in Flagstaff:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I caught this guy perched on the top of a pine tree - he looked like a blackbird, but he has a grey collar and a grey beak. There's also some grey on his chest. I did some research on-line to find out what kind of bird he is, but there was nothing I could see. Anyone know what kind of bird this is? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDRLCKenqgWGGzRSss9lYzL1UUjD91ZJODxIzjfDJ1k-WZoUEuk4MUEBKiQf3r5jFTdlldgANejBtdGtfrM7LBdoEyD40BzzXpJxkX8wyPDBognbcQElMqkv75qE9OEwjp_0ZZxUaYjo/s1600/Black+Bird+wtih+Grey+Collar+and+beak.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDRLCKenqgWGGzRSss9lYzL1UUjD91ZJODxIzjfDJ1k-WZoUEuk4MUEBKiQf3r5jFTdlldgANejBtdGtfrM7LBdoEyD40BzzXpJxkX8wyPDBognbcQElMqkv75qE9OEwjp_0ZZxUaYjo/s640/Black+Bird+wtih+Grey+Collar+and+beak.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Flowers in bloom along my walking trails:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF8UvYnoA_JYTRG0D8AXda_xYVqo9PGChj_6ZPqp2M8wxpYoqf3oY16k1mJA320WfujZdd3FEH6GE2OxLbC0e4DHhWbHAlTLTCBjuvnZh4sdZWMEbrBRBtXJqvEvMpjhrVaQaoqe5OW8/s1600/Pretty+flowers.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF8UvYnoA_JYTRG0D8AXda_xYVqo9PGChj_6ZPqp2M8wxpYoqf3oY16k1mJA320WfujZdd3FEH6GE2OxLbC0e4DHhWbHAlTLTCBjuvnZh4sdZWMEbrBRBtXJqvEvMpjhrVaQaoqe5OW8/s640/Pretty+flowers.JPG" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejlok_3FIuDZKGtYXdVnoiBj3MD5LOau0iwWvI8ExpnNqyZyzLjSQuZJAb23OMMy8xq9_w5Cf-Fs2RVVnhJj6_6X8YLMSlkhu5u3_0AIfpmzQycIkUMcNyScnoojh0q4i725KUCFNemQ/s1600/Pretty+pink.JPG"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejlok_3FIuDZKGtYXdVnoiBj3MD5LOau0iwWvI8ExpnNqyZyzLjSQuZJAb23OMMy8xq9_w5Cf-Fs2RVVnhJj6_6X8YLMSlkhu5u3_0AIfpmzQycIkUMcNyScnoojh0q4i725KUCFNemQ/s640/Pretty+pink.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6ZojPjKZjxy0LaDJr5PGnyfyLXb0EWZmhzr5kf6aBMhjZRC_2NaHiyuIT5_gszSepS0IcjkhuDt5GvHiW39ezWIsYduP0Lh9SlVGjYNTNOSwTZGeTMHhJN0hZDs-md1nwrL7TnDEOrQ/s1600/Pretty+yellow+flowers.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6ZojPjKZjxy0LaDJr5PGnyfyLXb0EWZmhzr5kf6aBMhjZRC_2NaHiyuIT5_gszSepS0IcjkhuDt5GvHiW39ezWIsYduP0Lh9SlVGjYNTNOSwTZGeTMHhJN0hZDs-md1nwrL7TnDEOrQ/s640/Pretty+yellow+flowers.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv94ii5MJnNjvnNBweQunfTwwrYIj8H4LMmy-IpdeaL1Q4Kx1qqGDdKZ18abcwhyphenhyphen-pJwM3cJWXMsviq7Lgwvts2JFlsqTNmWEko33snyqv7yGAXNVnz-kjfKm97fKnwtlGW01D2RTGoaU/s1600/Lots+of+groundcover+flowers+on+my+walks.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv94ii5MJnNjvnNBweQunfTwwrYIj8H4LMmy-IpdeaL1Q4Kx1qqGDdKZ18abcwhyphenhyphen-pJwM3cJWXMsviq7Lgwvts2JFlsqTNmWEko33snyqv7yGAXNVnz-kjfKm97fKnwtlGW01D2RTGoaU/s640/Lots+of+groundcover+flowers+on+my+walks.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">FINALLY, I've gotten my wish - I'm tall and thin! And I have the picture to prove it:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WJoivMweCw5I6mCfPquN_SeruWwONaPLFSe3T9BpnAhBCfSNIK8RBwSXws85R3LOek53KMscMgKZrOwY6192i7Wjqq6avnB4gNjAOPzh4EmXshP8_RrjNoTkyOjtdp0Ocwjeg-FLHhg/s1600/I+finally+got+my+wish+-+I%2527m+tall+and+thin.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WJoivMweCw5I6mCfPquN_SeruWwONaPLFSe3T9BpnAhBCfSNIK8RBwSXws85R3LOek53KMscMgKZrOwY6192i7Wjqq6avnB4gNjAOPzh4EmXshP8_RrjNoTkyOjtdp0Ocwjeg-FLHhg/s640/I+finally+got+my+wish+-+I%2527m+tall+and+thin.JPG" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just look at those long legs! LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">From me and Katie, have a great weekend, everyone! 😲😟😊😎😘😀</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380348623382527060.post-25057275248370440042017-06-03T13:16:00.001-06:002017-06-19T10:15:09.251-06:00Flagstaff, and camping near Lake Mary RoadWell - you know the old saying "We make plans, and God laughs at us?" Or something like that...<br />
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I left Utah because of the cold, and guess what I woke up to in Flagstaff?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8TYGEyn49Qivtk72stKh-aPk10C4iPinWcRShf1xq0StGFW2w8bAzyys5K5az734ICt0n2F9B43V4d0l_7S3p9wgqdqnyXh7nNa03VTesOAfUjwp7SpShnrjBvykzf6ViPoapmGd4Yw/s1600/Snow+in+Flagstaff+5-18+2+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8TYGEyn49Qivtk72stKh-aPk10C4iPinWcRShf1xq0StGFW2w8bAzyys5K5az734ICt0n2F9B43V4d0l_7S3p9wgqdqnyXh7nNa03VTesOAfUjwp7SpShnrjBvykzf6ViPoapmGd4Yw/s640/Snow+in+Flagstaff+5-18+2+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I drove to Flagstaff, did all my shopping, took care of tanks, had Katie's nails clipped, etc., etc., etc. and over-nighted at one of the Wal-Marts. In the morning when I woke up The Palms was covered in snow. What a surprise! It was really pretty and started melting as soon as the sun came out.<br />
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My friends Jeanne and John had their rigs camped right next to Lake Pickett, which is about 22 miles south of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Flagstaff. I headed down to meet up with them for a week or so. It's a very pretty location, except on the weekend when the ATVers zoomed back and forth along the road, creating clouds of dust. Then they left and on Monday it was peaceful and beautiful again.<br />
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A pine tree view out the kitchen window:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjg2Log-9dfoTOaX7coew2iAx_07z3pYy6ZtxQNfa37XEtZHmINe8hjIVVEzPiEFLqmFfvTz0C3-rCr4TIX4-QkNpZXElLMgoexXOPH9ic2vOU1vAR5-ZcFzk9qj5YAf0hcP3kQtpIzk/s1600/Late+afternoon+view+out+the+kitchen+window+at+Lake+Mary+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjg2Log-9dfoTOaX7coew2iAx_07z3pYy6ZtxQNfa37XEtZHmINe8hjIVVEzPiEFLqmFfvTz0C3-rCr4TIX4-QkNpZXElLMgoexXOPH9ic2vOU1vAR5-ZcFzk9qj5YAf0hcP3kQtpIzk/s640/Late+afternoon+view+out+the+kitchen+window+at+Lake+Mary+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is the view from my dinette:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNbj4qOdwXuRUxn_sY6gdIPysbpFBCsXvpt1OZBxWOk9OyMjycck41sOd-K9XxUwin3aYpN9h3Gq16WcX4oWnG-sZAGFESYnlJUPHhOyrbKSZwrhkZkfobAVotv-jM7T8NQfoEoPSJhE/s1600/Lake+Pickett+off+Lake+Mary+Rd+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNbj4qOdwXuRUxn_sY6gdIPysbpFBCsXvpt1OZBxWOk9OyMjycck41sOd-K9XxUwin3aYpN9h3Gq16WcX4oWnG-sZAGFESYnlJUPHhOyrbKSZwrhkZkfobAVotv-jM7T8NQfoEoPSJhE/s640/Lake+Pickett+off+Lake+Mary+Rd+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Laurelee and her dog Libby arrived the day I did, and <a href="http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot.com/">Gayle and Jim</a> came in a couple days later, so we had a nice group. Gayle took a pic of the RVs in camp:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8avFONJF2AdppbT57WhP-1QpaKHYJgt9HX8XSAT_LVuO9qpPIjUOen6o98jjMVPW-WW3E-aOFyNb3ddGMnN5ja3ifu3ig5aoEOtzdl9nmDisUtSVDkT_mNpv0PtPjovzGuML8_hnY7Zg/s1600/Lake+Pickett+campsite+-+Gayles+photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8avFONJF2AdppbT57WhP-1QpaKHYJgt9HX8XSAT_LVuO9qpPIjUOen6o98jjMVPW-WW3E-aOFyNb3ddGMnN5ja3ifu3ig5aoEOtzdl9nmDisUtSVDkT_mNpv0PtPjovzGuML8_hnY7Zg/s640/Lake+Pickett+campsite+-+Gayles+photo+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And another picture of the ladies when we were outside chatting - from the left - Laurelee, me and Jeanne, and Gayle's shadow:<br />
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<a href="http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot.com/">Thanks, Gayle,</a> for letting me use your photos!<br />
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When I drove along Lake Mary Road on the way to camp that first day, I saw Great Blue Herons along the shoreline of Upper Lake Mary. I pulled over and walked down closer to the water to get some shots. These are the three that were closest to me:<br />
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Our little lake, Lake Pickett, dries up every summer and it wasn't deep at all. We didn't think we'd get any water fowl in our lake, but we did see some a couple of times. Hunting for frogs?<br />
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One morning I was walking with Jeanne and John, and spied this horny toad - I didn't have my camera, so Jeanne got a shot with her phone. Thanks, Jeanne! Isn't he a cute little round guy?<br />
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We had lots of grasshoppers on the ground, some of them were pretty good sized. Katie had fun chasing one, and unfortunately she caught it. When I noticed, she was playing with it and I made her leave it there, before she ate it. Ugh!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhjuIA8fBJEXaIsq99ehTmulBKuU-zKmie7Ba-q_3MCyVLYT0RdAa52Olpw8dTSyk2_GhE3X_-BwjKJAko0K2XoNkYWesIgThiBev_OAZ5pkBWIV6PqqvTQAw-0LUYMHo2OrZXbFmZo/s1600/Katie+found+a+Grasshopper+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="663" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhjuIA8fBJEXaIsq99ehTmulBKuU-zKmie7Ba-q_3MCyVLYT0RdAa52Olpw8dTSyk2_GhE3X_-BwjKJAko0K2XoNkYWesIgThiBev_OAZ5pkBWIV6PqqvTQAw-0LUYMHo2OrZXbFmZo/s640/Katie+found+a+Grasshopper+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here she is, sitting in the sun on the back of the couch. Looking inside from the doorway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK18lwaohZV_BHFoGwVidzZBB1bXQx101tsJoMZ-Y4DdHHWmWh8_Kvr4kUI7GoATB2WWSrkeeTEz0kv2OzrGHV_H-WLRVAtRS3jlDJutwuh06YkKmoBpUhzlFJ432VrODNg9j-cFfft0/s1600/Katie+in+the+sunshine+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK18lwaohZV_BHFoGwVidzZBB1bXQx101tsJoMZ-Y4DdHHWmWh8_Kvr4kUI7GoATB2WWSrkeeTEz0kv2OzrGHV_H-WLRVAtRS3jlDJutwuh06YkKmoBpUhzlFJ432VrODNg9j-cFfft0/s640/Katie+in+the+sunshine+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And finally, I snapped this picture one evening as I was boiling water in the tea kettle for a cup of decaf. My new "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EOM5RN0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=meanmydo09-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00EOM5RN0&linkId=ac5f94476e1011c65f4832e32cd81627">Clever Coffee Dripper</a>" makes the <i>best, richest</i> coffee! Like an upgraded Melita Cone dripper, but much better. The kitchen looked so cozy and warm. In fact it was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg588-ZSrNm2b6rjU3abwJPlC_RTMXbdipIgHXqA0ZikXnqPCI3lhriATY7XfrFn6V-wDyms5_kLmBsM7nbfGwqvPzbSh38d44ubgcclvzFfTT5L2lUkNOTCJyIPDtOhSHDrnw7RqgBuLQ/s1600/Making+coffee+in+my+cozy+little+kitchen+-++Love+it+2+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg588-ZSrNm2b6rjU3abwJPlC_RTMXbdipIgHXqA0ZikXnqPCI3lhriATY7XfrFn6V-wDyms5_kLmBsM7nbfGwqvPzbSh38d44ubgcclvzFfTT5L2lUkNOTCJyIPDtOhSHDrnw7RqgBuLQ/s640/Making+coffee+in+my+cozy+little+kitchen+-++Love+it+2+%255B800x600%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Other than the above, I know - kind of boring, not a lot going on. Sometimes that's just the way I like it. Relaxing and enjoying life. But in my next post, more exciting things are happening. Some good, some bad. One's an RV mod I've needed for a long time, but didn't know how to fix the problem. Done and done now, and I love it! I'll tell you about them next time.<br />
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From me and Katie, have a great day, everybody! <span style="font-size: large;">😊🐾☕☃😎</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">dewelldesigns.blogspot.com, provider of "Me and My Dog ...and My RV" 2010 through 2018https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8380348623382527060#settings ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
</div>Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516591720277269204noreply@blogger.com11