Desert Hot Springs with Twins

Started this post a couple of days ago but it was late and I was too tired to finish; then became to busy with fun stuff to get back to it. I should have finished this before the one you just read but you'll get the idea.

The cleaning continues for the Horizon and Sunset. Me? I am managing from my lounge chair in the cool shade. Sunrise has been making lunches for us, yesterday salmon and salad and today steak, pasta and salad. Don is being brave enjoying the food and enjoying not having to fix the food.


A couple days ago Sunrise and I went to Lowes to purchase 6 2x6x6 pieces of lunber. We drove her 2seat Honda sportscar. I can assure you with 2 long pieces of lumber on the passenger side there is not a lot of room left for the passenger. Good thing I have lost a few pounds!!! It was pretty amusing to see us go down the roads with wood extending out the convertible top and me on the edge of the seat, squished between the lumber and the door.

A side stop at Star Bucks for a mid morning foo foo drink and we were on the way home. Don spent most of the afternoon rebuilding and strengthening the shelving system in shed the next day. Of course he did a really really good job and we have loaded the shelves with Christmas stuff, yarn, quilting cloth, wood products from Bali as well as clothing from Bali for the twins business. Well, lots of other stuff too. There brother lives in New Mexico and they claim to be moving to the 10 acres in NM he gave them, in a couple of years. However, currently there are several boxes labeled for NM that would give them lots more room in the shed now. Time tells all.

As I said this is a "catch up". TTFN-Katydid

The trip from Yuma to Desert Hot Springs, across the highway from Palm Springs, CA was made without event. The weather was sunny and warm with little traffic. Only the ever present winds were there to taunt us . We took the low road through El Centro, CA then north on 111 up to Palm Springs. The Salton Sea was sparkling and almost inviting as we passed by. Then we would see the salt laying on the desert floor and I felt badly for the birds. Salt is not good for birdies. Too bad the DNR can't construct a net high enough to keep out the birds but allow fisher people to be in their boats catching the salty fish? Yea, I know crazy idea.

Somewhere along the road beside the Salton Sea we began seeing both the Big Bear Mountain (to the right). It is a distance from Palm Springs however, the skiing is reportedly pretty good. It is amazing to see snow so close to the desert of 80+ degrees even in what is reputed to be the "winter". The mountain is the best of Palm Springs.

We have come to see my friends (twins) who live in Desert Hot Springs. I met them in the 4th grade when they transferred into my class. We have been friends ever since. They are both free spirited women and lead a very happy life in Southern California. The girls have taken belly dancing lessons for years and now teach (where they are tonight) as well as perform publicly. They haven't changed a bit and perhaps that is why I love them so much. Horizon is a masseuse who has clients in the Los Angeles, Malibu area and Sunrie a facial specialist at Two Bunch Resort about 5 minutes from home. Much as I ask, they don't tell me about their clients, except that Barbra Streisand and James Brolin did come to Two Bunch a time or two. They also have a line of clothing they have designed and import for sale from Bali. In addition they sell wooden carvings and jewelry from Thailand.

The twins moved into an RV/single wide Park Model facility and built an additional building to use as a "walk in closet" as well as storage. It was time to build better shelves, which Don did today. What a great fellow! Thank you very, very much for doing so much for my friends Don!!! So, I told the girls this was a working and we began clearing out the storage room for sorting, and tossing out "stuff".

See all the pillows? There is even a shelf now just for them in the storage.
Even after we had all the loose stuff out of the storage, we wondered how it was all going to go back in an orderly manner. The key is going through everything and combinding into common tubs. Too many half empty tubs. We've made enormous strides in two days. Lots more to do and we are getting there. Then we can BEAD...and do girlfriend things.

We got the porch clean out this afternoon and it will be a pleasant place to bead and have breakfasts. Can't help but love these two. Even as I am in my cool RV, they are finishing the porch. They had a belly dance class to teach tonight but as soon as they got home, it's work, work, work. Yada, yada, yada, TTFN

Gila Bend to Yuma AZ

We stayed over in Gila Bend to see Mexican Connection friends Roger (Spook) and Brenda & Pete and Sherry. They swooped in with the winds bringing the sunshine with them. They have been traveling through Mexico for many week because they love it and checking out places for next years Mex Conn Rally. Understandably they were happy to have an American home cooked meal at our house. For the first time we had the opportunity to pull our our desk/table to serve 6! Good friendship and talking for at least 3 hours.

As everyone was leaving we checked the cloudy skies once more and saw the very last part of the eclipse. They are always so fascinating to watch.

The 4 were up and headed for Yuma by 9:00am so we got ready and left a couple hours later. The landscape continued to amaze us with the green desert floor.

Arriving in Yuma we were treated to the companionship of man and his dog. The dog was sitting in his own boxed in seat, harnessed with a seatbelt and following the law wears a leather hat, completing the outfit with sun glasses to protect his eyes. Dog acts as the "back seat driver" continually looking from left to right watching traffic. Isn't this just great!

We are camped at the Elks club in Yuma, boondocking for a few days. Had "happy hour" with friends Judy and Bobby last night. Had been hoping to go gem mining but the closest is half way back to Quartzite and a walk in mine, which I have never done and am not willing to do now. Guess Judy and I will simply have to settle for shopping at the world famous Yuma outdoor style flea market. Ya'll have a great day too.

TTFN

Organ Pipe National Park

About an hour's drive south from Gila Bend between Ajo and Lukeville sits Organ Pipe National Park which in 1976 was designated as an Internationas Biosphere Reserve. Within the Park, part of the Sonoran Desert, two distinctly different vegative zones converge. Within these zones are 5 diverse plant communities. Topography, soils and climate determine where each occurs. In the lower areas creosote bushes, mixed scrub like brittlebush and salt tolerant plants live. The luxuriant upland hosts the greatest variety of cacti including Organ Pipe, Saguaro, Prickly Pear and Cholla. The last community sees the most abundant rainfall and agave and juniper grow there.

The large Organ Pipe cactus is more common in Mexico than in the United States and the National Park encompasses the bult of the U.S. population or Organ Pipe Cactus. The cactus loves the heat and light and grows on the south-facing slopes to absorb the most sun. Organ Pipe blooms in the heat of May, June and July waiting until the sun sets before opening its lavender-white flowers. The flowers do not stay open during the day.

Driving to the Park we remarked on how green the desert floor and the mountains are this year. The golden yellow poppy, known as the California Poppy is blooming in many areas of the desert including many areas in Organ Pipe.

When you visit Organ Pipe National Park in Southwest Arizona, we suggest taking the 21 mile one-way dirt road. Don't worry, it is graded so even the everyday cars can traverse the area. The road winds and dips into all the diversity the park has to offer. Along the way remember to keep your eyes open for the animals of the park too. Maybe you will see a white-winged dove, or a Gila woodpecker, possibly a roadrunner or a cactus wren. How about a Gila monster! What ever you are looking for, drive safely and enjoy the view.

TTFN

Cactus & Genealogy

Don went to look through Gila Bend today and came back to tell me about an old fallen down dead Saguaro cactus from which we could cull the inside dried core. All it would take was the use of the small generator for electricity and the electric jig saw. We have those!

Some months back I purchased a very pretty Arizona themed cane carved from a diamond willow and the carver told us that the core of the Saguaro cactus is a very hard wood with excellent carving capabilities. I have been wanting to try carving a cane and Don remembered about the Saguaro. I wanted to take a pix but didn't really want proof of the deed being done. But I have some canes now to practice on and a couple thin ones to hang beading projects from. I am so excited.

This evening I was looking in the internet to see if there were any gem mines we could visit in California. I meant to look in AZ first, but I think it was divine providence that I typed CA instead. I found a tourmaline gem site which lead to a kuntz gem site and a seller in NY. I was stunned when I saw the name Lawrence H Conklin on the kuntz gem site as that is a name in my Conklin family genealogy. The Conklins were among the first families to settle in Hartford, Michigan and they came from the same place in England this aboved named Lawrence H Conklin's family came from. On his web site among the places you could look at what he sells (at the shop in NY and on ebay), he had an 11 page genealogy written out. I am soooo thrilled! Another piece to the continuing puzzle. Never know when something interesting in ones genealogy will turn up. Might have found a cousin, who knows...

TTFN

Casa Granda to Gila Bend, AZ

The rally has ended and as they say, "a good time was had by all". I am attaching a picture of our rally hosts, Terry and Nick Russell, writers, editors and publishers of the Gypsy Journal.



If ever in Casa Granda Mimi's and Golden Corral are both really good places to eat. Mimi's is more upscale with a huge variety of food choices, but not too expensive. The GC was one of the best I have ever been in and they have an awesome desert bar.

Sunday Don and I took a drive into Casa Grande to visit RV friends we met years ago at a Holiday Rambler Rally, Norma and Lynn. As I remember, they were parked next to us and we just seemed to hit it off. When not on the road they live on top of a mountain where we have visited a couple of times. Good to connect again!

Found a great place for pizza before heading back to the Pinal Fairgrounds. The very night the rally ended it began to rain and rain making our parking are muddy, muddy, muddy and full of puddles. As folks began leaving Friday, others began arriving--kids and their folks preparing to show their goats, sheep and cows in the fairgrounds arena. The young man across from us didn't place but did win $30, magically the cost to enter.

As we were getting ready to leave this morning, a black cow with a white face came trotting past us. Two young girls and one dad were in hot pursuit. I think the fellow finally circled around finding that the fair grounds were fenced in. Guess he didn't want to be shown today?

Via I10 and I8 we reached Gila Bend and are camping behind the Shell Gas Station with full hook-ups; electric at 50 amps, water and dump. Don got the washing started and I vacumed. That was enough "work" for one day. We are at an elevation of 772 and the temps are warmer, finally. Tomorrow I'll take advantage of the warm weather and maybe even put on shorts while I sit in the sun reading and relaxing.

Later gaters

Casa Grande First Blog

I learned how "to blog" at the Gypsy Journal Rally in Casa Grande, AZ Feb 12, 2008. ktd