Friday, February 27 dawned clear and warm.  +50F at 7:00 am and just got better from there.  Jeanne tried from 9:30 am to get a shower but had company.  Finally we were alone until Jeanne jumped into the shower, then Ron & Jerilyn came over.  They stayed for 1 1/2 hours.  We sure enjoy their visits.  They hadn't been gone long when Glen and Gloria came over.  This is the first time they have come visiting, although we met them at Ron & Jerilyn's a couple of times.  They invited us to a "Hobo stew" supper on Wednesday.  After they left we got busy preparing for our "Breakfast in a bag" tomorrow morning.  We have 20 people coming.  Hope it works out okay as that is a lot of people to disappoint all at once.

Thursday, February 26th  After Jeanne returned from her walk breakfast was served...toast, yogurt and oranges and grapefruit.  We had purchased the most delicious oranges and grapefruit at a roadside stand just out of Yuma.  Have really been enjoying them.  Jeanne made two chocolate pies to take to Hans & Maria's.  They are cooking a Brazilian dinner of black beans & rice with fruit salad.  Maggie brought a coleslaw and Kathy brought cheesecake, Sandi brought two apple pies.  It was a feast that began at 4:00 pm.  We returned home at 7:00 pm.  

Had a few hands of rummy then went to bed.

Wednesday, February 25 was hot and windy and a down day for most of us.  Jeanne went for a walk and Gordon made breakfast - an omelet cooked in a plastic bag in boiling water.  Turned out okay.  April came for a visit while we were still eating.  Then Hans and Maria dropped over.  Before they left Sandi dropped in, so it was after noon before the breakfast dishes were done.

Gordon is checking on an inverter/charger so he was back and forth from town. Jeanne made seven cards this afternoon.  What a mess for seven cards.  About 3:30 we walked over to Chuck's as that was where "Happy Hour" was.  Bonnie and Clyde were off to Bingo.  She won $650 last week, making her total winnings for this season $1350.  Not too bad, if you're a Bingo fan.

It was still very windy but we had to cook the sausages.  Supper was over by 7:00 pm, we had a few hands of rummy then went to bed.  The trailer was really hot today because the wind was from the west so we didn't get a breeze through.  It has been several nights we have not had to turn the heater on.

Tuesday, February 24 was our last ride with Bonnie, Clyde and Maggie as they will be heading home in a week.  It has been a fun time sharing our desert travels with them.  Jeanne's wrist had been giving her notice that it wasn't happy with all this riding, so we loaded her quad on the pickup and she, Bonnie & Clyde drove 13 miles to a meeting spot, so that saved her 26 miles of riding.  It was a beautiful day, hot +78F and sunny.  We only traveled about 10 miles after meeting up with Jeanne because we stopped so many times.  

The first picture is of more desert flowers.  The first thing we did down the trail was meet up with a couple from Texas riding mules.  We stopped and visited with them for about five minutes then on our way again.  We came across this stone wall which is thought to be the remains of the stagecoach station.  The desert is home to many stone cabins and stone walls.  Building materials were really close at hand.  Yuki got a nose full of cactus and yelped a bit when the fellows removed them.  That is the first time he has gotten in to them.  It took it's tole on him, that and the heat.

The second row of pictures were taken while we were stopped for lunch at an old mine.  There was a cement pad, in one corner was a shower stall then at the end was the septic tank.  Looking out to the north was miles of flat land.  To the west was this rock formation with a hole in it, as we could see daylight - that tiny spec of white in the middle photo.  Maggie and Yuki walked up to it and there is a cave deep inside.  She said there were signs that humans had lived there, as well as sheep.  To the west was this steep hill.  Gordon had driven off for a few minutes and while he was gone Glen drove to the top, only he went around the south side of the hill and when Gordon returned and saw Glen and Chuck up there he took off up the steep side. After three tries he had to be winched to the top.  Kathy and April didn't want to look as they were afraid he would flip over.

Pictures on the third row are of another mine we visited, Yuki having a bit of down time, and the last picture is the entrance to an abandoned turquoise mine.  Glen and Chuck both had pick hammers and they were in there chiseling away for bits of turquoise.

The first picture on the last row is just more scenery from our travels on Tuesday.  The final pictures is of the baby hummingbirds.  If you look closely you can see two babies, facing opposite directions in the nest.

We stopped a couple of times looking for a cactus boot for Jeanne.  The birds, woodpeckers or desert wrens, will pick a hole in the Saguaro cactus and then build their nests.  The cactus heals itself by building around the nest.  That is called a boot.  April found one that definitely looks like a boot.  We found three little ones but are still looking.  First we have to find a dead Saguaro which has fallen over.  The reeds make great walking sticks because they are so strong and light.

All in all it was a great day.  We returned to the trailer about 4:40 pm, rushed home, made a quick supper and went to an evening with David and Gary Tyson.  David is a singer and Gary is a Comic Magician.  It was a good night's entertainment for $6.00.

Sunday, February 22 was cloudy most of the day, but around +70F (+20C).  Jeanne went to church.  There is still two sessions and the 9:00 am is still the most popular.  There is a lot less people here, as Relief Society does not fill the Choir seats like a few weeks ago.  Last week was Stake conference and we got a new Stake Presidency.  The retiring Stake President was the traveling companion today.  He is an extremely good speaker - both speakers were - so when the meeting went over time it wasn't hard to take.  After Church and lunch the four couples piled into two trucks and headed out the Bouse road.  We are going for a long ride on Tuesday and Jeanne is going to load her quad in truck and meet up with others and save herself about 20 miles on the quad.  She would rather not do it that way, but it will save her wrist.

Chuck and Maggie were with us.  Bonnie and Clyde were with Glen & April.  They took off down a quad trail and we came back to Q and went for ice cream and a walk through some vendors.  They are packing up and each day a few more leave.  Most will be gone by the end of February.  The town will be almost dead by then. Because of Gord's knee we have not done as much "vendoring" as Jeanne would have liked to do.  Oh well, there is always next year.  

Saturday, February 21 we got up at 6:00 and headed again to Algodones for our - we hope - final trip to the dentist.  Just need a little adjustment, which was done as soon as we arrived.  We wandered a different route on our return to the border and found some vendors we had not visited before.  On our way back to Q we stopped at the date farm so Jeanne could have a date shake.  Gord is still not convinced that a date shake would be something worth trying.  The budding cactus picture is taken in front of the date farm.  Gord then went through the Cloud Museum which is old farm equipment and trucks etc.  Jeanne sat in the truck and read her book and enjoyed the down time.  We stopped to photograph a rather large interesting looking Saguaro, which is Jeanne's favorite of all the cacti we have seen.  We were near the Yuma Proving Grounds where they trail military personnel and they had a large display of tanks and guns.  Took the picture of the little lily there among the rocks and sand.  It was only about 5" high.  There were spots of purple as the flowers were blooming.  We wished we were better photographers so we could capture the beauty of what we are seeing.

Here it is, Friday the 20th of February already.  We have had an exciting week.  As you all know, we have spent the last four months in a 19' trailer and have sometimes (Ha!) felt the cramped quarters.  We have been looking for a 5th Wheel we could pull with the Tundra and because it is only a 1/2 ton there is a limited number under our weight restriction.  Monday we went into Q to get some groceries and stopped to look at a used 24' Cougar on a lot.  No good for other reasons than weight.  Actually, we could pull a 28' Cougar.  Drove to the other end of town, and as we have been in all the lots at least once, we tried this one again.  We looked at a 5th Wheel but it was a big NO.  The salesman said, well I have a couple down at the other end of the lot you may wish to see.

2008 24' 5th Wheel, Sportsmen Select by K-Z with a dinette slide and a kitchen slide opposite just opened the space up wonderfully.  However, the interior was Pecan BROWN and we don't like BROWN!  Salesman said he could get it in another color.  He quoted us a price and told us we could pick it up in October on our way down.  Monday night we checked out the website for K-Z and found that Bucars in Balsac is a dealer.  Tuesday morning Gord phoned Bucars, which is where we purchased the Aerolite we are in, and they had an almost identical unit.  Color was Pistaccio which is a lighter color of Brown and had two recliners rather than a couch - Best part was the $$$ was the same amount.  Walla! we don't have to buy in US $$ and lose 20%.  We were just going to leave it until we get home in April, but Bucars said the 2009 with be $9,000 more because of the exchange rate, so we gave our Visa a shot in the arm to hold it for us.  So, it seems like we are the owners of a new 5th Wheel.  Just the thought of it makes the next six weeks bearable!

Wednesday Jeanne was at the laundromat by 8:15.  After laundry she sat in the sun reading and visiting for about 3 hours with Kathy and then Nita and Frank came over.  That evening she noticed a couple of burned legs.  That is good news - that means the sun was out.  It still cools off at nights - down to +40F or +5C.  It is supposed to be nice for the rest of the week.

Yesterday, Thursday the 19, we went on a ride.  Jeanne's wrist has been giving her a bit of notice so she hesitated about the ride, but decided to go.  It is very difficult being left behind and not seeing the country, as we usually don't go the same place twice. Told the others that we didn't want a 40 mile ride again.  They made sure it wasn't 40 miles -- it was 45 miles.  Next ride is scheduled for Monday.  Pictures are from yesterday's ride.  It was the prettiest of all our rides so far.  The desert is beginning to bloom.  There were large patches of little purple flowers, tall yellow ones and we even found a creosote bush with blossoms on it.  There was an old mine, just an open pit, where we could still see a vein of turquoise and a vein of a red stone which we don't know what is.  It must have been poor quality to have just left it.  We spoke to some people who were staying on a large flat rock strewn area - no vegetation but a mountain close at hand where they had seen a desert turtle bigger than a dinner plate and six big rams.  They told us "back there" they had gone into an old mine and got several good pieces of turquoise.  Yesterday we came upon an "active mine" with a "Keep out" sign.  We have been told that the defenders of mines will have firearms and are not adverse to using them.  As a result we turned around at the gate and went seeking our pleasures elsewhere.

The picture of the gang checking out the creosote bush is really them looking for a horned toad.  We saw him scoot into the bush and Glen wanted to get a picture.  Impossible as he blends in with the ground so well.  They were trying to get him to move out of the bush but he wasn't cooperating at all.  If we hadn't noticed him move we would never have seen him.

Hope all is well with all who have read our update.

T

Maggie discovered a hummingbird nest in the tree she is parked under.  That is her hand holding a mirror so we could get a picture.  The nest is the dark circle surrounded by the lighter rim.  She discovered it when there were two eggs now there are two little birds in that nest.  It is so tiny, and we didn't want to disturb it.

The quilt show on Saturday the 14th was interesting.  This quilt of a flower garden is only about 5' x 5' and has 22,500 pieces.  The lady in the picture made it.  Each piece is 3/8".  Took her four months.  I asked her if she had a life. "No" was her reply.

The desert is beginning to bloom.

Wednesday, February 11th Jeanne went to Blythe to chiropractor and Gordon went to get new tires on his quad.  After waiting a month for tires to arrive they were the wrong size. 
Thursday Bonnie and Clyde treated us to a steak dinner for taking them quadding with us.  We were served BBQ steak, asparagus, baked eggplant and Jeanne tried it Gordon didn't- didn't like it, but tried it - salad, onions & mushrooms cooked in wine.  Jeanne didn't have any of those and Gordon wished he hadn't taken any.  Jeanne brought broiled red and yellow peppers, April brought biscuits and Chuck provided mini chocolate chip muffins for dessert.

Friday the 13th we went for a 40 mile quad ride.  Bonnie and Clyde came along as well so for a lot of the time we were doubling.  When we arrived back at B & C's vehicle Jeanne discovered that her camera was missing.  B & C returned home and the other six of us retraced our ride and the camera was recovered.  Jeanne and Gordon had taken off down this trail to see where it ended up and Jeanne was just ready to relieve herself when Glen came around the corner.  She had put the camera on the back of her quad and then forgot about it. April spotted it on the ground and picked it up with a reed from a Saguaro cactus.  Saturday, Happy Valentine's Day to all, we were off to a garage sale at 7:55 am.  From there the gang went for breakfast then a couple went home, four went to the quad parade and Jeanne took Gordon home to do some work on his quad and Jeanne went to the quilt show.  There were many beautiful quilts on display and was very inspiring.

Jeanne returned to the trailer just in time for a quad ride. This one turned into 40 miles also.  Two forty milers in two days was a bit much for Jeanne and she was concerned as her thumb was tingling.  However, it was okay.

It has been a busy couple of weeks.  On Saturday, the 7th it was a cold windy day that turned into rain by noon.  We met Tom and Lucille at the QIA Craft Sale so went with them to LaMesa RV for a free lunch.  A spoon of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and bite of jello.  Looked at some trailers and 5th Wheels there.  That night the "Gang" went to Brenda, a town about 20 miles away, for primerib supper.  While there we say an ad for a 5th Wheel for sale so looked at the outside but couldn't get into it as owners are renting it out and renters were not home.

We went back to Brenda on Sunday, after we had seen a 2004 26' one on a lot in Quartzsite.  The one in Brenda was a 1993 and needed a lot of work on the inside which we were not interested in doing.  Thought about the 2004 and by the next morning decided we would not take it.  The plan was to come home, sell what we have and possibly sell the Tundra and get a bigger truck so we wouldn't be so limited in what we could tow.

Sunday evening we watched "Indian" at Glen & April's.  

Tuesday the 10th we went to Mexico for more dental work.  Took us 2 hours 5 minutes of standing in line to get across the Mexican border.  It was 10:30 pm when we arrived back at Quartzsite as we had to stop in Yuma for groceries.

Here it is, 2:55 am on Saturday morning.  Happy Birthday Taylor.  Wow! you are 16 today.  Hope you have a great day in Magrath and that you all do well in your competition.  For those of you who don't know Taylor, she is in the Color Guard with the Calgary Stetson Band.

Thursday past Gord went and signed up at the Rock & Gem Club and took the orientation.  He was on his feet for four hours and was quite sore when he returned.  April visited Jeanne for a few minutes while Gordon was gone.  The afternoon was spent very quietly, Gordon had a nap and Jeanne went to the Market.  Evening was spent playing Scrabble.

Friday was a cooler and much windier day.  Forecast is for rain this weekend. Gordon was scheduled to go to the rock club to do silversmithing but he didn't feel like he could be on his feet another day for so long.  Just as breakfast dishes were done, (you must realize that we MUST conserve water, after all we are in the desert! so dishes are saved until there are more than a few) Hans & Maria stopped by for a short visit.  The pros and cons of purchasing a unit and leaving it in Quartzsite was discussed.  Oddly enough, it was both women who thought that was not a good idea and both men thought that was the most economical route to take.  We then went to the market to return a top Jeanne had purchased yesterday and picked up four shirts for Gordon.  We hurried home to check on the awning as the wind had got stronger while we were gone.  The big tent is gone - no sign that it was ever there.  A great number of the vendors have moved out or are moving out this weekend.  Even some of the RV dealers are packing up.  It was mind boggling the number of RV's on the dealers lots for the show.  LeMesa is still here and offering free breakfast and lunch.  They didn't have anything light enough for us to pull, so we haven't been there for any of their free meals.  Guess we never think about it.  Should be pretty quiet around here after they are gone.   A lot of the RV's have gone from the desert, but a few are trickling in.  Norma and Leroy are leaving Saturday, Ed and Colette from Edmonton left Friday.  A new unit moved in next to us this afternoon but we haven't met them yet.  We think they are from BC.

We went to a jam last night, (Friday) the first one in about three weeks.  Saw Ken & Christine from Grande Prairie there.  We had met them a few weeks ago at a jam, saw them a couple of times.

Hope you are well, that the weather wherever you are has improved.  We miss you all, but not enough to face winter sooner than we have to.  We only have about five weeks left, so see ya all soon.

Wednesday, February 4 dawned bright and sunny buy only +42 F.  It does cool off at night.  The gang, Bonnie, Kathy (Clyde), Glen, April, Chuck & Maggie are off to Dome Rock this morning and other places of interest.  We were supposed to go also, but Gordon felt he needed to stay off his feet for a time.  We called Doug & Phyllis who are camped at Imperial Dam, down Coyote Canyon so we spent the afternoon with them.  It is about 16  miles into Yuma from where they are, so we drove in to the Greek Chef for supper.  Had a good lazy day, got some sun and thoroughly enjoyed not having to "do" anything.

I misinformed you in my last post - Gordon is not going to do anything with the Angelwing-Selenite.  He is going to grind and polish the fused quartz capped ammolite.  

The end of another day in paradise.

Tuesday February 3 - Jeanne went to laundromat before breakfast but it was still very busy, so didn't get back home until after 10:00 am.  Gordon did some housecleaning - shook rugs and vacuumed, so the Fosters now have clean clothes and clean digs.  We went to the bank then to the QIA for their meeting and thank you to volunteers for Pow Wow.  Each of the vendors donated something as a gift for the volunteers which were put into paper bags.  As our numbers were called we were able to pick a bag.  We were not supposed to lift, squeeze or touch in anyway the bags, except for the one we chose.  This year there were enough for each of the volunteers to receive two gifts.

Jeanne's first gift was a blue necklace - no card enclosed.  Gordon's bag contained a Jurassic Agate provided by Don & Helen Butt from Dove Creek, CO and also a box containing Angelwing-Selenite provided by Butch's Rocks & Gems from Osceola, WI.  Jeanne's next gift was three pieces (enough for a pendant and earrings) of fused quartz capped Ammolite ready to grind and polish, provided y Buzz & Connie Williams of Rathdrum, ID.  Gordon's second gift was a quartz crystal - no card attached.  Gordon is going to join the Rock & Gem club so he can get help in finishing the Angelwing-Selenite for Jeanne.

After the meeting we were treated to chocolate ice cream cones by the QIA.  We went to the Grubstake for fish tonight.  Jeanne had a very poor sleep the night before so we were in bed around 9:00 pm.

Monday morning was sunny and calm.  Jeanne went for her 35 minute walk, then Gordon made breakfast - his was toast and tomatoes - hers was bread, peanut butter and banana.  While eating Maria, from across the road came over to visit.  Before long Hans, her husband, was sitting visiting also.  Our intention was to go and visit Tom and Lucille before our 1:00 pm quading departure.  By the time we got over to the RV park where they stay Lucille and a friend were just pulling onto the street on their way shopping, so we missed her entirely, and Tom had two fellows come to practice their songs for the jam, so we only stayed about five minutes.

Chuck, Glen, April, Gordon & Jeanne went quading - headed north of town to the old Patton proving grounds. Chuck was looking for spent shells.  What we found was changing terrain and two purple flowers blooming amidst the sand and rocks.

Picture 1 - we came to this high point in our travels and the fellows said they figured we could see a great deal from the top of it, so Gordon took off and drove up to the top.  Glen then said, "if he can do it so can I" and he took off and made it to the top.  Chuck, however, stayed at the bottom and kept saying how very dangerous it was and that they were tipping.  Jeanne just told him it looked steeper than it really was, as was most things looking from the bottom or the top.  He wasn't going up.  So, if you look closely, you can see Glen and Gordon at the very top of the "mountain"

Picture 2 & 3 just show the different terrain we encountered.  It is very gravelly and one wonders how anything can grow.

Picture 4 is of the little purple flowers.  

It was sunny and warm today and not too windy.  Very dusty though.  Arrived home shortly after 4 - spent happy hour at Glen & April's.  Bonnie & Clyde had gone to Mexico this morning and were back home by the time we got home.

Saturday afternoon we were invited to Ron & Gerilyn's for a pie iron lunch.  We found another new experience we want to do again.  There were 12 of us and it was a fun afternoon.

Sunday Jeanne was off to church at 8:15 am but needn't have gone so early as many of the members have left Quartzsite for destinations unknown.  (Probably back to their homes in the snow and cold - a thing we are not quite willing to do just yet.)  However, there were empty seats - first time since the middle of November.  Glen and April stopped in for a visit just after Gordon got his supper in the BBQ.  They left and Sandi arrived on our doorstep.  Gordon extended the invitation for supper to her and Steve and they accepted.  She went back to their unit and put a peach pie in the oven.  Gordon's part of the supper was a little overdone, and the pie was a little underdone, so it worked out okay.  They left about 7:15 then we went to Bonnie & Clyde's fire.  Got home just around 9:00 pm

Here it is, February 2nd . . . nope! it is 12:50 am on February 3rd.  Thursday Jeanne had a 1:30 pm appointment at the dentist, but didn't get in until 2:55.  They were waiting on a delivery from the lab.  We sure learned not to wait for work in Mexico, but to go there as soon as we get south.  Before the first of the new year things are much slower than after the new year as so many more people wait to come south until after Christmas.  Oh well.  We stopped for shrimp tacos on the recommendation of some people sitting on the sidewalk eating them.  They were very good.  We ended up sitting on the sidewalk eating them as well.   It took us nearly 2 hours in line to exit Mexico, but at least it was warm.  Gordon sat on a bench about 1/3 way to end of line and Jeanne got in line.  Met a couple from Idaho - he was a Democrat and she a Republican.  Jeanne sure had a good time with him.  He was a great sport so they just bantered back and forth and it passed the time.     As we were pulling into Motel 6 there was a vehicle from Saskatchewan just parking, so we stopped and visited with them for several minutes.  Another night with nothing on TV.  

Friday dawned sunny but windy again.  Had breakfast at Denny's.  Went to the Yuma Territorial State Prison Museum then back to Algodonas for our final dental appointment which was at 2:00 pm.  Got in at about 2:10 and was out by 2:45.  Stopped and had shrimp tacos for lunch and then got in line.  This time the line was about 2/3 shorter than Thursday, so only took about 45 minutes.  Hopefully we are done in Mexico for this year.