Saturday-State of the Garage Take One

This was the state of the garage before the movers came on Thursday.

The red totes are the only thing currently stored where they will always go!

Those are my Christmas Decorations all 11 boxes of them as well as three trees and the light bag. 

I have a few new ones from the summer to add as well.

After the movers.

This is how it looked tonight.

There have been some boxes moved into the house and some things moved around a bit.

As always, there is just something I NEED to have before I can do anything else.

In this case I need some tools to cut off the countertop so that the refrigerator fits in it's hole.

As bad as this looks the rest of the house looks worse.

I do have most of the main pieces of furniture set in place.

Rob and Tanya came down for a bit and helped me set some things in place-it is very hard to

move furniture on the carpeting.

Reminds me of why I love hardwood floors!

For the first time since the end of July at least 99% of my possessions are in one place!

At one time things where spread out in 5 different places!

There is hope that I will be able to find more things tomorrow-like the dishes and that one pesky tool!

I did find the wine flutes or I'd be drinking my champagne out of the bottle!

Not thinking I'll make it to midnight for a champagne toast but I did find the flutes so I will salute my first night in my new home on the first night of a new year!

Here's to 2017.

Hope it brings health and happiness to each and every one of you!

Busy, Busy at the moment!

Christmas has come and gone yet again!  Mine was spent at my youngest son's in Columbia as the oldest son and his family had come to meet Ryan.  Also because I did not have a PLACE to celebrate and My darling daughter and her family are off on a cruise as well as vacation time in Florida.  Hope they're having a great time!  Anyway, we had a great time.  Ryan's birthday is on Christmas, he turned two!  Our little miracle. This year I did a combined gift as he's too little to care so a small trampoline was bought for him.  It was amazing how quickly he picked up what he was to do.  He's a VERY active little boy!  His 7 year old cousin,   Nora enjoyed the trampoline as well-she is a very active little girl!

I opened my Secret Santa gift from Maria at thenextstage-maria.blogspot.com!  All they way from Australia, I always get excited about things that come from Australia!  I don't think you can tell but each of the white squares has a bit of lace in it and it is so pretty!  I LOVE IT!  Thank you Maria.  The chocolate koalas are no longer in the package but in my tummy!

Came home yesterday as the children were headed in different directions-Scott and family to Boston, MA, Steve and family to Washington DC.  Today, I moved yet more boxes from storage to the garage at the new house.  Tomorrow the refrigerator, washer and dryer will be delivered! A couple of loads from storage and I should be pretty well set for the movers on Thursday.  I plan to spend my first night in the new house on New Year's Eve.  Ah, to have everything in one place again will be so delightful!

My New Home

It's moving time!

The paperwork has all been signed-boy was there a LOT of it!

I have keys 

and garage door openers!

Now come the fun part

MOVING!

I'm busy moving boxes and odd things from storage 

trying to find my suitcases.

Most boxes are staying in the garage for the moment.

I have committed to reducing all the "stuff" I own by one-half over the next year.

Plus I'm not really sure where things will go so sorting a few boxes each day

while taking longer will be better

I think.

When I get more settled I'll post photos of the inside.

At the moment it's an empty space!

No Christmas tree this year-really must buy a MUCH taller one-or any other decorations.

That makes me sad.

Winter Arrived!

Winter arrived late yesterday in the form of freezing drizzle.

Today it is snowing.

Tomorrow is to have severe cold.

The plan for this weekend was to move my "stuff" from storage into the new house.

Needless to say even if we'd closed on Friday as scheduled we wouldn't be moving today!

We are closing on Tuesday!

All the documents necessary are in so that's pretty much set in stone.

I'll move boxes and totes-the things that will fit in my truck-but I'm not setting up the movers until after Christmas.

 I wouldn't enjoy Christmas if I was worried about unpacking boxes and where to put things!

The California boy ended up in St Louis last night as his flight into KC was canceled.  He's hoping to make Columbia, at least today but that depends on road conditions.

We are celebrating part of Christmas tomorrow so I'm hopeful that the boys will get here and that Bri and Ryan aren't stuck in Boston!

I gave myself a Christmas present yesterday.

Four new tires!  Isn't that exciting? NOT!

I knew I needed to buy tires but I hadn't planned on it yesterday, 

UNTIL I had a blowout and shredded rear tire.

Roadside assistance to the rescue.

Then Tanya's friends at Sears who had the tires and worked me in so that I could still make the movies at 4:30.

Rouge One was great and we saw it as a clan.

(Ethan has been renamed Rouge One for his 5 year old enthusiasm  for running loose!)

  Yet another bit of the Star Wars story!

I've been in love with those movies since what is now know as Episode 4 came out close to 40 years ago.

This and That!

Smithville Lake

Catch up time again!

Quinn and I took a short jaunt up to Smithville Lake, north of Kansas City on Monday.

It was warm enough that I didn't need a heavy jacket-not true today-and somewhat sunny.

I hoped we see some eagles as they are reported to have several that overwinter there but NO!

Did see some very large red-tailed hawks sitting in trees.

Picked up some literature on the predator birds found in Missouri.

Hopefully, I'll be better able to identify them in the future!

I had a Doctor's appointment on Tuesday.

Just a recheck on my asthma.

It's all good.

Plus I got my flu shot and the last pneumonia shot I needed, both arms are a bit sore.

Then I did laundry while Quinn was still playing at Zoe's house.

Also on Tuesday, I received the expected news that we would not close on Friday the 16th.

No new closing date has been set as we are waiting on the VA appraisal.

I was bummed.

Had to cancel the Uhaul, extend my hotel stay another week etc.

That might be for the best as Saturday, when I planned to move, is to be extremely cold.

When I do move now I will have to hire it done, or at least the big stuff, as three of my boys have travel plans and the fourth has to work during the week.

Needless to say I am not holding my breath for closing soon-it's a day to day wait.

On the 21st I'm going to leave the hotel for my daughter's house.

They are going on a vacation in Florida and a cruise so I will house sit and pay attention to the cats!

Yesterday,  I mailed the Christmas cards out!  Before the 15th!

It's surprising how much I put that off even having so much time on my hands.

Then Quinn and I looked at appliances for the house and bought wrapping paper.

Next,  we went to the big greenhouse and looked at all the flowers!

Flowers always make a day brighter and they are dog friendly so we got to walk around inside!

Lest you think I took advantage of them-I came home with a few potted plants.

Some stitching has been done and some knitting as well while binge watching TV.

I keep the TV on nearly all the time here to help Quinn deal with all the sounds.

They have some channels I don't usually have (Air TV at home) so I've finally seen Chip and Jo!

Chip definitely reminds me of some Baylor boys I once knew!

Finished!

I took the final stitches in "A Stitch in Nine!" Yesterday afternoon.

Now I'm doing a bit of knitting.

Tomorrow, after errands, I will work on the two red and black flannel quilts for Brayden and Kolby.

If I stay in a hotel long enough I might finish them as well.

It's sew or go crazy!

Last night the family went to the Arboretum's Luminary walk.  

Lovely time.

Long walk through candlelit woods,.

Miniature fairy and gnome homes

Lighted trees,

Model trains 

and really good hot apple cider and cocoa!

Great fun.

Until we got cold.

Santa's Sleigh has arrived!

Santa dropped off this parcel for me all the way from Maria Goodwin in Queensland, Australia!

The Ornament I could open up today but the rest must wait for Christmas!

Can Not Wait!

Quinn and I have been bored.

It finally got cold, single digits!

It even snowed, a little.

Between the two we stayed home from our planned wander for the week.

We were sad.

The most excitement we've had is that I lost the TV remote.

I've turned the room upside down twice.

Still can't be found, sigh.

I am so ready to get moved!

The hotel is bigger than the trailer but still not home.

Still hoping to close on the 16th but that might be iffy,

waiting on the appraisal which has to be in by Monday for closing on Friday.

I've spoken to the UNIVERSE.

Wanderings

When I left Montana I made a promise to myself that I would continue to take

"Backroad Adventures."

While they are certainly different here-we were only on one gravel road and it was smooth as silk-

we did go see some new territory.

For most of the trip we drove between the Missouri River on the left and the bluffs on the right with a railroad track on one side or the other.

The first three shots are of the Missouri River from the bluff overlook  at Weston Bend State Park.

It is worth commenting on the size of the river considering it's importance in the history of the American West.

Water travel, even upstream, is faster than travel by wagon or horseback(mule back etc).

Which is why the instructions given to Lewis and Clark were to use the Missouri and such of it's tributaries to find a Northwest Passage across the continent.

That didn't happen.

The Missouri is a very long river but back in the early days it was only deep enough for steamboats twice a year.

Once during the spring rains here and once when the snow melted upstream (think Montana, Dakotas, and so on.)

Otherwise is was really shallow.

Eventually a shallow draft steamboat was developed for just such use.

Small canoes, keelboats and flat bottom ferries could travel most of the year.

Today, the river has been dredged and confined by levies into a course that runs much deeper and faster than it used to.

Still it seems like the "Mighty Missouri" should be much larger than it actually is!

Unlike the Mississippi which is wide enough in places that you can't see the other side the Missouri is

easily crossed by a bridge.

The area around Weston used to have a great deal of tobacco grown around it and so the is a "Tobacco Barn" at the Park.

Now the rolling hills around the town of Weston are grass covered.

There are at least two wineries and one distillery-McCormicks

To make my sister-in-law, Jessie, jealous this is a photo of downtown Weston, MO.

She and I usually go shopping and out to lunch when she's here-there are lots of little unique shops.

Today, I only stopped long enough to take this photo as Quinn was with me.

They looked fairly busy for a Wednesday.

Our next stop was a side trip (gravel road) to Little Bean Marsh State Conservation Area.

Missouri has a great many of these small (and some large) conservation areas.  I think we passed 4 others today alone.

As is normal for us, we saw no wildlife here but it was interesting to note that only archery hunting was allowed and only with non-toxic materials.

Then we went on to Lewis and Clark State Park.

The wind had really picked up and there were whitecaps on the lake.

This is the Lewis and Clark Memorial at the park. 

 I've never seen one just like this and I've seen a lot of Lewis and Clark stuff!

While Quinn and I were walking back to the lake here I'm almost certain I saw an eagle!

It was too dark and too far away to tell for certain but it was very BIG.

Much too big to be a hawk.

It's wings seemed to be straight out, where a hawk flies with the wing tips curved up.

I stopped at the office to ask if they had one about but it was closed.

Lunchtime.

From here we finished up the drive into St Joseph, MO.

Wandered about a bit--okay a lot-- and saw lots of neat architecture

including Shakespeare Chateau Inn!  

Really amazing looking place and had really amazing neighbors as well.

Just goes to show that getting lost is not a bad thing!

Then it was time for the drive back.

Next week I have another drive in mind!

Monday Musings

So,

After spending several hours quilting on 

"A Stitch in Nine" 

I have come to the conclusion that my stitch in the ditch is still 

crummy!

And,

my piecing on this one wasn't the best either!

But,

I will get better!

In fact, 

There has been some improvement already.

Thank Goodness.

I started out using a "stitch in the ditch" foot that came with my walking foot.

I couldn't see where the needle was going so I wasn't

very happy in that.

Changed over to a plain walking foot which was better.

More stitching tomorrow.

Even being less than pleased with the piece, 

I know it will keep me warm!

Right now I'm going to either cross-stitch of knit.

On being an adult.

Which I am not!  Or at the very least I've had a really hard time returning to adultness after the trip!

I have been busy, but really that's no excuse.

After, looking for a place to rent and not finding anything available any time soon I took to the internet in search of a house to buy.  (Truthfully, I asked the Universe to slam a door on renting or buying as I couldn't decide which to do!  Pros and Cons to each option.  No rentals available was that door being slammed.)  I looked at several-it's surprising how many houses are built with the same floor plan so if you don't like that lay out you can eliminate them really quickly!  I did find one I really liked and the people accepted my offer!  We are hoping to close on Dec. 16th so I should be in before Christmas.  I doubt that any of my trees come out for the holiday though-bummer.  As soon as I'm in I'll post photos.

Quinn and I moved out of Ceili and put her into storage in the caves after emptying nearly everything out.  I can never remember what is and isn't in there after the winter, then I end up with duplicates!  So,  I'll just put together totes for trips out in her until I sell her.  I don't anticipate any long trips in her ever again-it just isn't comfortable.  We are living at an Extended Stay hotel in the city.  It's nice enough and is certainly bigger than Ceili although not much more comfortable!  I can set up my sewing machine at least and finished my Secret Santa gift for Chookblues swap-Santa picked it up yesterday!  Today, I plan to quilt A Stitch in Nine.  I think I have to go to storage and look for the binding though (and pick up the rag quilts to work on next.)  Sometimes my life seems to be all about taking and retrieving things from storage!

Also, today I have to hit the bookstore for a detailed Missouri Map (Quinn and I need to take some backroad adventures!) and Ethan's birthday book!  Hoping for blinders so I don't see any books I really want to buy!  I have so many books, even though I donated a great many I still need to do more.

Guess, I'm off to try this adulthood thing again!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday Musings

Today,

I may have found my new home!  I still want the local children to take a look (if they want) but I'm pretty sure I will make an offer on it.  In the meantime I have to move out of Ceili and into extended stay.  I wan't Ceili to be empty when I put her into storage because I can't remember what's in her and wants not and I can't get into her once she's in the caves!  So I packed some boxes-what goes to storage, what goes with me?

I went to see Dr Mac, the eye doctor.  Eyes dilated and I'm still in shock.  The cataracts are "ripe"!  In April she wan't "impressed" by them and now they are ready.  I need to get moved first as I can't lift much after so I'm to see her again in January.  Surgery will likely be in February.  My right eye first then the left one two weeks later.  Lazer surgery and multifocal implants.  I have been wearing glasses since I was 12 it will be interesting to not wear them!  Still I will never have 10 year old eyes again and I might need some readers.

My eyes are still messed up so I need to get off here.

Playing Catch-up!

I have been such a slacker!  Posts almost every day until I get home then nothing, sigh.

It has been a difficult November.  First, I was SO tired all I wanted to do was sleep.  After I left the quiet loveliness of Montana-where 6 cars on the highway constitutes a traffic jam-I drove through big city after big city.  Salt Lake, Las Vegas, LA, San Diego, Tuscon, El Paso, Dallas, Oklahoma City-all excepting San Diego new to me.  All with extensive freeways.  Making them all very tiring.  The dark circles and bags under my eyes that I lost in Montana caught up to me along the way home.

Due to all of that exhaustion, I could not decided if I should rent or buy, although I did begin the loan process for a home.

Talked to my financial advisor, set up appointments with my eye doctor and primary care doctor.  

Haven't a clue why I'm seeing my primary care doc except I got a message saying I needed to come in for a re-check (if she wants blood - and she always does) that will have to be another day! 

I have cataracts, have had for several years, and they are very slow growing ones.  Every time I leave the office they say "If you notice any change be sure to come in."  So, on the trip I began to have greater and greater difficulty reading road signs-even the giant highway signs-which creates some interesting side trips in cities even using Google audio directions.  They always say turn right at Harris St instead of take the next right and by the time I can see that it's Harris street I'm past it or in the wrong lane or some such nonsense!  Also, glare has become more of an issue.  Anyway, tomorrow I'll check in with the eye doc-she'll probably say they aren't ready to come off but maybe I'll get a new script and will see better.  Also in the vision department, I think I need to purchase a Kindle paperwhite.  The backlit feature of my Fire is nice but I think it's causing eye strain.  Urgh, the problems of getting old!  Just grateful that I have insurance that will cover most of this stuff.

The indecision over living arrangements continued until I said I was going to wait until after the election.  (more on that later) But it seems that finding a house to buy will be easier than finding a place to rent so I'm house hunting.  There are to many options there as well but I'm going single family so Quinn can have a yard to run in again and I can have a veggie patch.  At least until I can't manage it.

The Election.  

First just let me apologize to my friends outside the US.  I am sorry that the way our elections are set up has allowed a man to be elected who did not win the popular vote, again. Unhappily, that will likely affect your countries.  I am so sorry.  I understand why people voted for him (even though I think they are misguided, they are entitled to their opinion I just get to have mine!) I have been tied in knots since Tuesday, terrified of what's to come, with a continual tummy ache.  I have no real choice but to go forward and I will. I have considered leaving-actually I first considered it after Bush the Second was elected but I love this country.  Larry served in the Air Force for over 22 years and I have always been proud of that.  My ancestors, all of them, were immigrants. One came on the Mayflower, One group was made up of French huguenots and I am the 14th generation born in the state of Missouri.  Even those of American Indian blood came from Asia.  My children and grandchildren are here and not all of them could join me.  Plus, if all of us who stood opposed to him leave who will fight the fight ahead.  So, I won't leave unless I cannot see any other option.  I will not speak his name, he may be the political leader of my country but I do not claim him any other way.  He will remain He Who Shall Not Be Named (HWSNBN for short or Voldemort for those who have not read Harry Potter.)

So, in the coming days I'll attempt to be more vigilant in my posts and more positive in my heart! I'll even get the camera out!

Home!

I've really slacked off with the blogposts this past week, so sorry.

No pictures-who wants to see really flat pains nearly covered by oil wells, and associated equipment.

Big Springs Texas has a large refinery-which is sort of architecturally interesting but not beautiful.

Finally hit the green again!  And trees!

Spent part of a day with my Baylor college roomie, her husband and sister in Grand Prairie-lovely visit.  Gloria took me off to the library's book sale-I bought books!  Then we took Quinn off to a nice dog park, something she hadn't been able to do for a while.

Skipped driving though Dallas with Ceili by taking a state farm road out of Weatherford, it was a nice drive and brought me out almost at the Oklahoma state line.

Spent Friday night just outside of Oklahoma City at a really nice park, didn't unhook just got up the next morning and hit the highway again.  Usually, I'd go up Interstate highway 35 which turns into the Kansas Turnpike then into the southwest corner of the Kansas City metro.  This time I took the Oklahoma turnpike/Will Rogers turnpike into Missouri at Joplin and Interstate 49 North.  That one takes you into the Metro at the Interstate 470 loop east skipping a great deal of congestion!  Pulled into Oak Grove Missouri campground early enough that I got all set up before dark!

Yesterday was spent watching Kolby play soccer and catching up with the children.  I managed to sneak up on Brayden and Beth with hugs-Both big boys were glad to see me, it's really lovely when your children and grandchildren miss you!  Scott and Ryan came up from Columbia, Rob and Tanya make Baked potato soup for one and all.  It was great!

I missed apple season here but not the fall color!  Some trees have lost their leaves but the really pretty ones like hard maples have just begun to change! Grass is still mostly green.

I'm glad to be back!

Today, I have to start the process of finding a place to live!  First though I have to decided where and How I want to live!

Midland-Odessa

From the time we left El Paso until we changed to Interstate 20 from Interstate 10 there were mountains somewhere around us.

About 3 miles onto Interstate 20 and we were in the flat!

At least there is grass growing here.

I think Quinn thought we would never see it again!

Nothing to see for miles and miles.

Save for oil derricks, pumps and storage tanks.

Snooze.

Is it any wonder then that I was tired and cranky when we got settled here!

Today, I did boring but necessary things:

Got an oil change in the truck-the light can stay off now!

Visited a Quilt shop.

Hit Petco for Quinn's food.

Did some minor grocery shopping-more milk!

Then cleaned the trailer 

and the truck a bit.

Read.

Went to Taco Tuesday for dinner.

Filled the truck with gas for tomorrow.

Snooze.

El Paso, A you can't get there from here place

I spent part of the day shopping in El Paso, TX.  I bought some new Nikes at the Outlet Mall-finally I bought something at an outlet mall! My old tennis shoes had begun hurting my little toe on my right foot and my slip-on shoes were aggravating the nerve issues still affecting my left foot.  It is hoped that new shoes will help at least part of that!  I tried to buy some other shoes as well-some hiking boots, cowboy boots, and a couple other pair of boots-unfortunately I have a very high instep and I simply could not get them on my feet! So I was disappointed there.  I did get an outfit for Ryan at the Oshkosh outlet which I think will be very cute! Then I went to the grocery store.  In the process of doing all that shopping I discovered that El Paso is a "You can't get there from here" town!  I thought only San Diego had earned that title but I was oh so wrong! Spent as much time wandering about as I did shopping!  Once I found my way back to the campground it was with the heartfelt "I'm not leaving Ceili until we head out tomorrow!"

On other subjects.  I just finished the book: No Time On My Hands by Grace Snyder.  I highly recommend it.  Grace McChance Snyder was a Nebraska Quilter and an amazing woman! Inducted into both the United States Quilting Hall of Fame and the Nebraska Quilters Hall of Fame, two of her quilts appear in the book 100 Quilts of the 20th Century.  I loved the book even though I cried when I finished it!  (Which is still available from Amazon and other places-I got mine at Chimney Rock, NE) Google Grace and there are videos of her life and color photos of her quilts, you won't be sorry! (I tried to do links but I guess I'm just not good enough at that as none of them worked!)  Some of the quilts are at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, NE.  I think I saw one, but now I have to go back!  I am certain that I shall never be the quilter that Grace was.

300 miles

Or something like 300 miles. 

 I was headed to El Paso, Texas.

I made it into Texas, exactly 1 mile into Texas!

I guess the campground is in Anthony.

Anyway, we left Tucson early for today's drive.

It's a good thing as we drove into the Mountain Time Zone and it was an hour later there! 

The road was very hilly for a while and there was actual grass

-not a lot but enough that a few cows were spotted.

Not far from Tucson we stopped at the Texas Canyon Rest Area.

Normally, I wouldn't stop so soon but there was something here to take photos of 

and a safe place to take them!

Pretty interesting rocks!

Mountains in the distance too!

There have been mountains in the distance nearly all day and on all sides.

Not really high mountains like Montana (I miss them) but a break from this:

Although there is a lot of vegetation here and in someplace it was quite barren.

I saw some areas of obviously planted TREES.

At first I thought citrus but they seemed too large.

There is never anyone to ask as you drive down the road!

Sometimes you get lucky though.

The last batch I saw had a truck parked at the end of the rows-The New Mexico Pecan Co!

Solved that one.

Then there were the dairy cows.

I know what a black and white Holstein looks like.

 I might not know a Guernsey or a Jersey but I know a Holstein!

There were hundreds of them hanging out in paddocks.

Must have been some big dairy operation but 

I was not lucky enough to spot a sign!

The last picture is of part of Organ Mountains National Monument behind Las Cruces, New Mexico.

This monument is in three parts which we drove right past!

That's Interstate 10 right down the center.

Miniatures!

Today I visited The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures here in Tucson.  Lots of fine art miniatures and the Fairy Tree was super cute.  Also lots of manufactured things like Department 56 North Pole Village-Of which I have a few pieces.  I enjoyed it. I read the blog of Casey Rice  which is always fun thanks to Tessie and informative-lots of how to's.  She did a lot of restoration on doll houses etc for the museum.

After that I hunted down another quilt shop and a yarn shop, came away from both empty handed.  Which is fine.  Then I stopped off at a garden center, just for grins.  Almost came away with a kumquat tree though.

The big excitement for the day came when I got gas in the truck at QUIKTRIP!  First one I've seen since I left home!

A Different Forest

Did you notice?  I got the Moon!

Quinn and I took a drive, part of it was a dirt road adventure!

We left our RV Park and headed west to Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.

The park is in two sections one on each side of Tucson.

It was a gorgeous drive up the Gates Pass road through Tucson Mountain County Park.

Lots of Saguaro along the way.

The Saguaro is the largest cactus in the U.S. Standing up to 30 feet tall.

On the way up I had the thought (I know strange-I had a thought!).

What I was looking at was a forest. 

A forest of Saguaro.

A forest where each "tree" was totally visible.

See what I mean?

The cactus grow clear up to the top of the mountains-check out the right hand edge of this photo and you'll see some standing against the sky.

Six species of rattlesnakes live in this forest!

Yikes!

This is how the arms start!

The tree in front of the saguaro is a Palo Verde, literally the Green Tree.

It has the greenest bark I have ever seen and tiny-I mean really tiny leaves!

It is the state tree of Arizona and acts as a nurse tree for saguaro cactus by creating shade.

The mountains in the distance. From our dirt road adventure.

The mountains here aren't really in ranges they just sort of Pop here and there!

This wasn't a really long trip and we started early as the daytime high temperatures here are still in the 90's.

So after dropping Quinn off at the trailer I visited a Quilt shop, of course!

Bought a few fat quarters then went to a yarn store where I finally found the needles I needed for the knitting project I bought in Dillon!

Playing Catchup, Again!

I've been in San Diego, CA for 6 days with this girl and her parents!

We were busy, busy, busy!

So to catch up.

We spent three nights in Yerma, CA doing not much of anything.

I did go to the outlet mall but didn't buy a thing.

Always wonder why I bother, I'm not a Coach girl or any other big name brand for that matter.

Then we drove to San Diego.

That requires driving around Los Angeles, not through for which I am grateful as just driving around wasn't fun and I will not do it again.

Also, air quality was horrible and I'm sure I drove through smoke from a big fire!

I really can not imagine why anyone would live there!

To encapsulate the rest of the week:

we dined out, a lot!

Quinn and I went to the dog beach, twice.

 We would have gone more but there were high tide warnings.

She does love the sand.

That's her, the smallish one in the middle!  

She isn't fond of getting wet.

She got sideswiped by a wave once and there was sheer terror on her face!

The second time she willingly got her feet wet but mostly ran on shore while the other dogs ran in the water!

I walked on the beach with Steve, Candice, Nora and Tina after dark at La Jolla Shores.

I always try to make it down there.

Looking east.

We drove up to Julian for apple pie!  

Then back through the National Forest.

We took a little hike there! 

Part of which was on the Pacific Coast Trail.

Eastward!

I went clothes shopping with Candice as my personal shopper!

Yikes, I get sticker shock!

I did buy some new, dressier clothes though.

(I still need more though.)

Then yesterday we turned the truck to the EAST and began the long trek home. 

We went up and down mountains until we hit the flat.

Passed a National recreation site of golden sand dunes.

Hit the INS vehicle stop where we chatted with a nice young man from Washington, MO.

Drove through more boring scenery than I could name on worse roads.

Everything in Ceili was a disaster!

For the first time this trip I did not unhook the truck and we stayed only one night in Gila Bend, AZ

Both of these photos from our huge campground.

The desert is hard.

Evidence of that fact is very common.

Tonight we are in Tucson, AZ where we will stay for three nights and see some sights, take some photos, etc.

I can tell you I could never live here.

I would miss the green.

I already do.

Where am I now?

So, now that you been told all the fun stuff in Utah how about you hear what's happened since?
I left Cedar City, UT in the morning wearing a shirt and warm sweater as it was 30 degrees.  My hands took a long time getting warm from hooking up!  Hit the Interstate headed for Las Vegas, NV.
The only remarkable thing about that is the Virgin River Canyon which is actually in Arizona.
I think I might have mentioned, once or twice, my aversion to pulling the trailer in heavy wind.  There wasn't a big wind on moving day but there were all these signs about heavy crosswinds in the canyon-anticipation can be exhausting!  In Nevada there are mountains, all around.  Nearly bare of vegetation and only scrub in the valleys between.  One thing though, without vegetation the layers of sedimentary rock are quite visible and they are all at an angle from Tectonic plate shifts.
I really try to find things that are interesting but it's a challenge in the desert!

We arrive in Las Vegas in the early afternoon, our campground just to the south of Nellis Air Force base and the Thunderbirds are practicing which reminded me of Larry and all the open houses on the bases where he was stationed. One thing about being near an AF base is that it is really noisy during the day! But very quiet on the weekends and at night-one or two planes might land or take off but it you hear a lot of planes being scrambled you'd better get up and see what's happening! It was 80 degrees, we hadn't seen 80 degrees in a really long time!  Quinn is not happy!

I'm not a gambler-not opposed to it necessarily, I just find it boring-so the three days were spent finding dog parks (to run those little sheltie legs) and quilt shops.  The campground had a dog washing station so Quinn got a bath and a good brushing before we headed out on the next leg of the trip.

We left Las Vegas Sunday morning at 9:30am.  I got on the interstate and stayed in the right hand lane as I'm slower than the cars.  I never changed lanes but when we got out of Vegas I was in the far LEFT-HAND lane!  Traffic was horrible-all the way to Yerma, CA where we are parked now.  Nothing to do here except read, do laundry etc until we move to San Diego on Wednesday.

Parowan Gap

For our last outing in Utah we did something different.

We drove out into the flat (mostly) to Parowan Gap to see the petroglyphs.

The gap between the two sides at one point had a river running through it 

and was used by early peoples as a traveling aid.

As well as a meeting place - apparently much visiting between groups.

The rocks on the sides of the gap are covered with petroglyphs.

They have been documented and studied-it seems pretty extensively.

One person studied them as cryptology and felt that they were symbols for sign language

that a great many groups understood.

There are other petroglyphs that share the same markings in other areas, so that makes some sense. 

The markings here are thought to have been made by a farming group called the Fremonts

about 500AD.

Both modern day Utes and Hopis claim some relationship to the Fremonts.

Anyway, on to the Petroglyphs!

  

This is called the zipper.  

One scientist believes it to be an astrological symbol relating to the many Cairns found in the surrounding area.

Plus on the summer solstice the sun rises directly in the middle of the gap.

You can read much more detailed description here.

See the Alien under the round spot?

Personally, I think it looks like one of the Hopi Kachinas.

I took 57 photos at the gap-there were petroglyphs everywhere.

I don't know maybe we're all making too much of it and it was just bored children writing on the wall.

Cedar Breaks

After we left Bryce Canyon we went back along Rte 12 to US 89.

Oh yeah, had lunch-fried chicken and cherry pie!

Turned left and drove up to Utah 143, or perhaps it was a county road who knows?

Many signs on this paved road about how it wasn't suitable for vehicles over a certain weight or length.

I don't really know how long or how much weight my truck carries but I was pretty sure they meant bigger than a pickup!

The one that would worry me the most was the "No snowplowing after dark" and one that left me feeling like they might not get around to plowing at all!

Happily, it was a beautiful day and no flakes fell from the sky!

We drove past beautiful mountain lakes, without a single waterfowl in sight.

Hum, guess they've all gone south for the winter.

Through wide meadows.

Beside Aspen grove.

Beside more of the Black Rock Desert.

Through a very large flock of sheep-on both sides of the road,

sometimes ON the road-wonder when they bring them down from the high country

Some cattle still up there as well.

Again you don't feel as if you are doing any real climbing

but in the back of your mind is still that very large hill you drove up!

Knowing at some point you really have to go down.

You turn into Cedar Breaks Monument and drive some more

without really seeing anything but trees.

Finally, there's a pull off.

And walking out you see what is called The Amphitheater.

Bowl shaped.

The two photos are of the amphitheater.

Then you go on to the Visitor's Center.

By this time I'd driven more miles than I wanted to think about,

was so tired I really didn't care

and still had that big hill to go down!

On the way down that hill I saw the breaks from the bottom!

No place to stop and take a picture-dang it!

I have on more than one occasion this trip wished for a Dash-Cam!

I see amazing things and don't have the opportunity to take pictures.

Finally, we arrived back in Cedar City.

Fell into bed about 8pm!