On this date...

Facebook reminds me of snippets I posted on this date through the years...

2012

 I am love, love, lovin' the cooler, lighter, fresher weather today.  

Ahhh...  It is so lovely.

…

 “The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded and to say, “I was wrong.” 

       ~ Sydney J Harris

…

 Two & a half months & I've just discovered a disadvantage of living in a teeny tiny place.  There's no place to get away from the sound of a creepy movie.  Thank goodness for headphones!!!

…

 I might have figured out why that little piece of leftover caramel & chocolate candy bar tastes different.  Maybe onions had been stored in that Glad box in a former life.  Hmmm…

…

 I've been preparing to be ready to start thinking about changing…

… the lyrics to a song.

… by the Ragbirds, a Michigan band.

… one of those lines that can seem exaggerated for emphasis, but which comes really close to the truth.

 

2013

"I feel a deep connection to you based on the books I saw on your bookshelf."

Meme source: The Well Written Woman

2014

Nice night. 

Dinner with dear friends.

Then our old tradition of ice cream snack before bed with my big brother... 

2015

Just a lovely spot we found along a little one-way street. A lovely spot indeed.

(Read more about this fun day.)

2016

I attended a nearby writers' group again last night - for my second time.

On my first visit I had heard about Lois, the 103-year-old poet who often attends - so I was thrilled when she showed up this time.  What a delightful person!  However she no longer writes poetry because she can't see - so she has switched to writing stories.  I love it!

2021

 Word of the day:  tohubohu

[ toh-hoo-boh-hoo ] 

noun

chaos; disorder; confusion.

…

Oh, my; what a fun and funny word.

But not fun to have too much tohubohu.

...

Friend Diane comments: I love that word! Our pastor uses it in his sermons.

...

Me: really? I had never heard it before.

…

 "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”         - Bertrand Russell

Daily Tidbits: Week Two

Saturday, 1-16-16

• Walked along the beach at sunrise - all the way out to the point beyond the resort
• A guy on a horse, several motorcycles, a couple joggers and a few people walking
• Left at 8:04 a.m.; too hot by the time I got back. Must leave earlier.
• I mistakenly swallowed a gulp of water when brushing my teeth. Oops!
• Laundry - washed towels and a few clothes

Sunday, 1-17-16

• Walked 2.34 miles - along the beach and on around the point toward the little beach in the cove as far as I could go without trespassing on resort property.
• Fried potatoes and onions and eggs for breakfast. We need more food staples on hand. Don’t have many options. When we have to carry everything back home on foot, we don’t stock up on things - and we can't find things we wish for.
• We walked into town late in the afternoon for dinner. Checked out the menu at Bungalows on the corner where Le Taino used to be. Ended up going to C’ L Aventura and got a pizza. Not bad. Wanted to walk out to the beach for sunset, but we were too tired.

Monday, 1-18-16

• Walked 2.6 miles early in the morning - along the beach and into town
• Went to a couple stores in search of the “baby wipes” that I’m sure I saw a few days ago. Can’t find them anywhere. Where, oh where, was it that I saw them? Or am I going crazy?
• I did find bananas today - very, very green ones. Oops; maybe they are platanos
• And I did buy one box of that "New York" mac and cheese at “Numero Uno.”
• Stopped at the French bakery for pastries. They had several of the “cream” ones with the yummy yellow pudding-like dollops. But went for the “natural” ones this time thinking they would be much better to transport in my knap-sack. These are the ones sprinkled with the giant coarse sugar crystals. Tasty indeed.

Tuesday, 1-19-16

• Took the quad to Playa Rincon
• Still gorgeous out there. Still undeveloped
• Made several connections to give away all of Bob’s photos! How cool!!!
• Sunburn

Wednesday, 1-20-16

• We went into town to pay my debt at the bakery and to buy supplies
• Recovery day - lower back pain and stiffness as well as sunburn

Thursday, 1-21-16

• Rained hard during the night
• I walked to the beach and back fairly early
• Went down to the ranchito to read for awhile

Friday, 1-22-16

• It’s raining again. Downpour. Might postpone our walk into town.
• Eventually we went into town.
• To the bank. Our cards worked in the automatico this time!!! (The ATM)
• Discovered mantequilla en barras (butter in sticks) at Numero Uno. Yay!
• Found fresh ham
• Productive trip

...

An uneventful week it was, but there it is: Week Two.

Daily Tidbits: Week One

Saturday, 1-9-16 - Fly from Grand Rapids to Santo Domingo via Atlanta

• Super foggy in Grand Rapids. Hoping for no delays.
• Atlanta also foggy
• Watched “He called me Malala” in flight
• Martin, our driver, was easily found as we exited the airport. A careful driver - yay!!! and very helpful.
• Uneventful drive through the countryside and a quick stop at Supermercado Mimasa in Samana for a few groceries before going on to Las Galeras
• Our new place is lovely
• I seem to be catching another cold

Sunday, 1-10-16

• Lazy morning, not feeling great
• Walked to the beach and into town
• Down at the corner water flooded the street, but we found one section of sidewalk on the high side where we could walk - and ford the stream via a couple chunks of concrete.
• The French bakery was gone!  Turns out they moved to a new location. What a relief. Might be my favorite place - with my favorite people. Discovered they have yummy crepes.
• Bob made it to La Playita later in the day - after much searching for the walking route to get there.

Monday, 1-11-16

• Ralph and Patricia, our landlords, invited us to Las Terrenas today. 
• They took us to Super Pola, the store with American imports. That was really nice of them, but it was too early for us to really take advantage of it. Too early to be ready to think what we might need. To be able to think clearly.
• We did get several packages of meat to put in the freezer.
• Stopped in Samana to try to get some pesos. Succeeded in getting a few, but not much.
• Were able to get our phone activated. Yay!
• Lost my wallet! Scary. Turned out to be in their car. What a relief!!!
• Lunch at La Vela Blanca, a little restaurant along the beach.
• An old-looking pirate ship had run aground there. Quite the entertainment watching them try to get her off the sand.

Tuesday, 1-12-16

• Time for a rest day for me.
• Still not feeling up to par.
• Bob went to LaPlayita.
• I enjoyed the hammock and the ranchito.
• Power was off for several hours

Wednesday, 1-13-16

• We walked to town mid-morning.  Too hot. Must go earlier - or wait until late afternoon
• Went to Numero Uno for garbage bags, laundry soap, and ingredients for Bob’s cookies.
• Tracked the route; round-trip to town and back is about a mile.
• Bob made no-bake cookies.
• When it got cooler late in the day, we walked to LaPlayita. About 0.7 mile - one way
• Bob cooked steak for dinner.
• Walked nearly three miles today

Thursday, 1-14-16

• Wrote a blog post
• Stripped the bed and washed the sheets
• Learned the laundry procedures
• We speak of not needing to come back
• Water was off for awhile in the afternoon
• Walked to town late afternoon 
• Bob bought a shirt from Chez Michel
• I found a dress at a little shop - and met the young woman who made it
• Pizza at the French bakery

Friday, 1-15-16

• Walked to town in the morning
• Yummy pastries at the French bakery
• No luck at the ATM, the "automatico"
• Water is off again
• Helicopter flew over. That’s rare.
• Walked back into town in late afternoon to try the bank again. Finally success

...and that was our first week.

Daily Tidbits: first week at the lighthouse

Day One - Tuesday, 9-15-15

• We arrived last evening and met our team members. The place is so beautiful. It's hard to imagine we have this amazing opportunity. And so it begins.
• There is WiFi at the lighthouse!!! Wahoo!!! I am downright happy about that.
• After a brief demonstration from one of the other volunteers, I worked the video room most of the morning, re-stocked the cooler, gave tours of the keepers' quarters to some possible volunteer recruits, shadowed someone closing out cash register, learned to open safe. Bob worked in the tower and at various other jobs.
• I am on a steep learning curve! Lots we need to know to be lighthouse keepers. Glad we don't have to haul oil up the tower to light the lamp. Also thankful for a great team to work with and to learn from.
• Exhausted. Feet hurt...

Day Two - Wednesday, 9-16-15

• From our bedroom window, we saw the Badger leaving the harbor on its way back across Lake Michigan to Manitowac, Wisconsin.
• I learned a bit about running the cash register. 

 

Day Three - Thursday, 9-17-15

• Field trip!!! Craziness.
• Somehow Bob and I ended up having the place to ourselves for the evening. The whole freakin' lighthouse and the whole dang beach. How bizarre! Wonderfully peaceful and quiet after having those students here all day. Well, quiet except for the wild wind and pounding surf.

Day Four - Friday, 9-18-15

• Our day off - so we visited the new grand-daughter who is one week old today.
• Stopped at the famous House of Flavors for supper. Fish is excellent.

 

Day Five - Saturday, 9-19-15

• Busy day. I worked the video room all morning, the cash register in the afternoon, and then back to the video room.

Day Six - Sunday, 9-20-15

• What an awesome view. Nine miles to the south, the Badger is heading out of the harbor and across the lake passing a row of seven sparkling white sailboats as a speed boat zips by all of them. Several fishing boats are spread across the horizon as well.
• Lots of interesting and inquisitive visitors came inside and still more lounged outside. On a quick afternoon break upstairs, I glanced out windows to the scene below. Families were sitting and/or playing in clusters on the beach. People strolled along the boardwalks and hiked into the surrounding dunes. So lovely.
• One of my online writing friends came to visit today. It was our first chance to meet face-to-face after corresponding for three years. Fun times. Actually all of us on the team had friends or family visit this evening.

 

Day Seven - Monday, 9-21-15

• Another gorgeous morning - in a long string of beautiful weather. We sure picked the right time of year to be here!
• An interesting day. First visitors were from London, UK, and later some from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Then a keeper from Passage Island and Rock of Ages in Lake Superior. What fun to chat with him.
• It was 2 o'clock before I even knew it - and before I had chance for a break.
• I feel like I'm beginning to understand the process of closing out the cash register. We were one penny off.
• State park ranger, fire and rescue paramedics, and ambulance all showed up in our yard responding to a medical emergency call during the evening. Turns out all is well.
• Finished out our first week with a campfire out on the dunes.

Photo credit: Bob Sims at Where the Robert meets the road.

Busy days, transition days

It has been a week. Or two. A busy week - or so it seems. Each day brought its own brand of busyness. It seems like forever since I've written about our life on the road. So many back-to-back days of activity and so few writing days. Let's see if I can highlight some of the tidbits...

Monday

• Break camp; hitch up and head out from Emerald Isle.
• Drive north into Virginia - checking off another state
• Set up camp at Aquia Pines near Stafford.
• Found bacon-wrapped pizza - YUM!!!

Tuesday

• Drove to Washington D.C.
• Took the double-decker bus tour from Arlington Cemetery all around the city
• Planned to stay on for the entire tour but had to switch buses a couple times - at Union Station and  again at the Lincoln Memorial
• Conclusion: It was a great overview and introduction to the city and I do want to come back for at least a week. I am now making a list of cities that I want to live in - at least for a week or a month.

Wednesday

• Two new states: Maryland and Delaware
• Drove to Delaware for lunch, but ended up coming back across the border and ate at the Market Street Public House in Denton, Maryland.
• Took a risk and ordered soft-shell clam. Probably won't again. Good flavor, but I don't like having that soft shell in there. Nope.
• Found an alternate route back to camp avoiding much of the D.C. traffic congestion

Thursday

• Friends from long ago came for lunch. Yay! So fun to catch up.
• Had made plans for dinner with foster son, Richie, but he had to cancel. Disappointment.

Friday

• Head north again.
• West Virginia - my eleventh new state on this trip
• Finally found Sheetz after seeing them advertised for weeks. We simply had to try their deep-fried macaroni and cheese bites. And given the chance we will most definitely get them again!!!
• Drove through Maryland again (maybe 5 miles or so) and into Pennsylvania.
• Find a Walmart parking lot near Cleveland to boondock for the night.

Saturday

• Drove a couple hours to arrive at Jimmy G's BBQ when they opened at 11 a.m. Dear friend Jimmy was crazy busy as the cook of the day, but took a few minutes to visit with us while we ate his yummy cooking. Getting off the toll road to drop down to Fremont for some Jimmy G's BBQ is most certainly worth the drive.
• Back in Michigan!
• Pulled into Waterford in time to hang out with the grandkids for awhile before bedtime.

Sunday to Tuesday

• Spent the next three days camping in the back yard and catching up on hugs and kisses. On hide and seek. And silly songs. AND laundry.

Wednesday

• Hitched up once again to move to our new spot for the summer, just thirteen miles from the kids. Yay!!!
• Tax Day! Drove to and around the Thumb for a bunch of business stops here and there. Interestingly enough, our route took us all around Kingston and Hidden Hollows, but not quite to them.

Thursday

• Unpacked and set up kitchen cabinets for the summer
• Explored our new town. Walked around our lake and then to the library a couple miles away. Drove a little farther into town and then out to one recreation area.
• We have discovered so many things that we like about the area. Some of them may be topics for other posts.
• Conclusion: I think we're gonna' like it here!!!

 

Raindrops and other morning sounds

Lazy morning.

It's raining again.

Snuggle a little deeper under the covers and listen to the rain on the roof.

...

Sounds

Besides the raindrops...

Raindrops and other morning sounds

...

The world outside is slowly waking up - as evidenced by sounds.

Lots of sounds.

As I listen, I realize that I recognize many of them...

The low rumble of the train in the mostly still quiet morning air and then the long whistle as it approaches the crossing and then comes into the station.

The big trucks hauling super long loads rolling through the canyon... when the stoplight is green. The deep growl of their engine braking when the light is red.

An airplane overhead. I guess the "Fly Denali" aerial tours have begun for the day.

Closer to our walls, I hear the first traffic within the park. Huge fancy rigs roaring to life to get an early start on the day's journey.

The garbage truck stops all along their route through this back alley followed by huge delivery trucks bringing supplies to the various restaurants and stores.

Suddenly the very loud Chinese-language conversations just under our window. Startling. Once that subsides, I hear another deep voice at the other end of our home. Must be one of the Bulgarian students who works at the ice cream store on his cell phone.

Now there's the big white van flying by - rattling on the bumps - presumably off to shuttle another load of tourists to the attraction they've chosen for the day.

And in between the rattling and roaring and rumbling, the steady sounds of raindrops.

Lazy morning.

...

One week on the road

Today: June 4
One week ago today we pulled out from Kenney Grove Park

Miles traveled so far: 1160

Nights on the road:
- Four in California
- Two in Oregon
- One in Washington

Location:
Olympia, Washington

Outside: Deep green woods surrounding our little camper. Tall tall trees. So lush. Feels like a jungle. No other people or vehicles can be seen from my window

Hubby is: sleeping and gaining strength for another day of driving

Remembering: my dad who died eighteen years ago today

Recent happenings: fun visits with great people. First my aunt and uncle and cousin in southern Oregan and then a dear friend from 25 years ago near Portland

Surprises: Dolphins seen from our "camp-site" along the California coast; rice paddies in northern CA; corn growing in the fields - maybe 4 feet tall; very few wind turbines; a deer and two fawns

Discoveries:
Several long steep mountain grades - one of them was an eight-mile descent
Majestic pines and all kinds of lush green deciduous trees all through Oregon

Reading: Pulled out an old National Geographic article about the Pacific Crest Trail, but didn't get very far into it yet. Seems like I don't find much time to read on the road. Well, I do read things from the internet on my phone, but mostly use it for keeping in touch with people and especially for checking maps and finding fuel or lodging.

Working on:
- Streamlining my morning routines so that my husband doesn't have to wait for me when he is ready to disconnect the utilities or to pull out of camp
- Cleaning out our fridge to prepare for border crossing

Lessons learned:
- Be careful about pushing too far, too many miles for the day.
- Wash dishes early enough so they have time to air-dry before being packed away to hit the road.

Agenda: Driving across the border today

Looking forward to: being in Canada for the next few days

　

　

Life on the road: Five months, two years

Milestones:
Two years since we moved out of the big house
Five months since we hit the road

Location: Kenney Grove Park, Fillmore, CA. Our last morning here. Heading out this afternoon. Gonna' hit the road again with a long journey ahead of us.

Outside: mid-50s, foggy, almost drizzling earlier; sunny now

Hubby is: finishing one last job in the park and then we hitch up

Recent happenings: I've been celebrating the month of May with lots of fun stuff. On purpose. Because I knew I might struggle with being away from Michigan in May. It has been good. Fun times.

Surprises: This place has held some surprises for me - mostly fun ones. Interesting ones.

Made me happy: Facetime with grands last night. Hearing little guy say "I wuv oo, Gumba."

Makes me sad: Not being around to help while he has surgery and after

Noticed: It is lots easier to pack for a big trip when you don't have to move from one "home" to another. When most of your stuff is already stowed away where it belongs.

Blessings: This rig and this place

Accomplishments: Cleaned out the shed, sorted through our books and packed them away for travel, all kinds of other sorting and stowing

Working on: securing things for travel

Considering: which new notebook to christen as my official writing notebook for this journey

Lessons: Life is simpler with fewer things. Less stuff. Yep, yep.

Looking forward to: watching the sun set over the ocean tonight and falling asleep to the sound of the waves

 

Does California have seasons?

Having lived my whole life in Michigan with its four distinct seasons, I may have had the impression that southern California had only one season - summer all the time. So I didn't know what to expect this spring; therefore I have been delighted by the sights and sounds and smells of spring.

Sure enough, things have been greening up around here. The grass at the park is looking good. As more leaves open up, the trees are getting thicker and the woods are filling in. We continue to be amazed at how green the mountains are getting. The orange blossoms are glorious. How cool to see orange trees bearing both mature oranges and blossoms at the same time. I didn't know they could do that.

One house on our street has a very cool flowering tree spilling over the fence onto the shoulder of the road.

The avocado trees are covered with huge bunches of blossoms and already seem loaded down - so it's hard to imagine how they will be able to carry the added weight of more fruit. No wonder the farmers prop up the branches with 2x4's! Rose bushes climb the chain-link fence to hide the avocado groves from sight.

And then there are the flowers! I was happy that were lots of flowers before, but I keep being surprised by new ones here and there. The red geraniums are multiplying and have now been joined by pink ones which were new to me.

Numerous clusters of ground cover produce a myriad of tiny delicate blossoms. Yesterday I learned that one type of "poor man's orchids" blossom for one day - and yes, I was introduced to them while they were blooming.

While talking about the sights of spring, I must include the small brilliantly orange bird that flew out of the orange grove this morning while I was walking past. I wonder what he is.

...

Spring is not only to be seen, but can also be heard. Yes, there seem to be new sounds - although I am ignorant of the time table for all of the sounds around here. One of the first that I noticed this spring came from the bees. Oh, the buzzing of the bees. As I walk through the park I keep hearing the hum of yet another swarm of bees overhead in the live oak trees.

Besides the auditory signal of the bees' presence, there is also visual evidence of them as well. I don't know how the bees coordinate their schedule with our human calendar, but we are learning how to tell that it is "bee season" in the orange groves - when the white netting is put over the rows and rows of trees. Local growers have explained that they spread the nets to keep out the bees so they can produce seedless Clementines. Yum!

There seem to be more bird sounds recently although again I am not nearly an expert and struggle to identify bird calls. I do know there is one that for some reason makes me think of my grandson - maybe because I can imagine him mimicking it. There is even a rooster in at least one neighbor's yard to remind us of life in the Dominican Republic.

The soft swishing sound of windmills can hardly compete with the slightly louder synchronized whine of the fans in the ends of the rows and rows and rows of greenhouses.   In the quiet of the evening I often hear a familiar sound that is similar to those back home in Michigan - namely the low purr of tractors in the fields next door. A few small John Deere tractors are used in our neighborhood as well as an old Ford that reminds me of the one I learned to drive on.

...

Yes, there are new sights and sounds that seem to have appeared this spring, and there are also new smells. Oh, the smells. Driving home from town is like stepping into a room where the wood has just been polished with orange oil, but oh, so much fresher and more wonderful. Naturally the smell was the strongest when the orange blossoms were in full bloom, but it continues. It is hard to identify the exact smells. Once in awhile I can isolate the eucalyptus and often catch the scent of mature oranges but mostly it is just this sweet tangy potpourri all the time. What a tantalizing aroma.

...

Okay; I am convinced. California does have seasons, too. I love the fact that I can live this season of my life in such a place with delightful sights, sounds and smells of spring.

 

Typical Tuesday

So today is a fairly typical Tuesday. No big plans. No sightseeing today. No jaunt to the coast to hang out with family. No beach time. No eating out. Nothing too exciting. Just a typical day in a typical week. Just a normal work day. Just life.

As usual I got up early to write my 500 words before letting myself get distracted by the internet. As usual Bob got up and got ready for work. We had a typical breakfast of sausages and frozen waffles because we like those things. We wondered out loud whether we might want to add some additional selections to our typical breakfast menu options. Is it possible that we are tired of waffles one day and eggs and hash browns the next? Hey, we bought some cereal the other day so we'll be okay.

As usual Bob left for work and I did my normal morning routines: wash the dishes, clean the place up, walk a mile or so, take a shower. Sometimes the "normal" routine includes going into town to do laundry, to fill a propane tank, to get more fresh water, supplies or groceries. Sometimes I get my morning chores done before Bob gets home for lunch. Sometimes.

The afternoon involves more of our normal work - whatever that means. Often I wonder what exactly I have accomplished with my day. Yep, that sure sounds like real life! I've never been good at explaining my work to people - particularly at times when I'm not "gainfully employed." I often struggle with measuring my worth by my accomplishments. I have heard all the reminders that "being" matters more than doing. If only I could figure out what that looks like. But never mind that. My typical afternoon may involve time on my current WIP (work in progress) whether that is a writing project or research or some other ongoing task. Obviously I don't have my usual "sorting and pitching" tasks staring me in the face like I did at home because I did not bring those bins and boxes with me. However, there still seems to be sorting and pitching to do. Indeed vigilant de-cluttering is imperative when living in such small quarters.

Meanwhile a typical work day for Bob might mean trimming trees or repairing a golf cart or keeping the vintage trucks running. Those are the hours he works each week to earn our campsite. When he gets home from that job, he might take a power nap before starting in on office work or photo editing or some other project.

A typical Tuesday may or may not include sitting in the sun or maybe a bike ride for Bob - although that might sound too strenuous after running the chain saw all day - so it can wait for his day off.

A typical day for me also includes taking time to intentionally study Spanish. When we arrived here and discovered we are surrounded by Spanish, I decided to be intentional in my efforts to improve my fluency. A friend recommended a great app for my phone which leads me through the day's challenges. A small step, but at least a step.

I'm not sure we have such a thing as a typical week although lately Bob works Sunday noon to Thursday noon so Friday and Saturday become his weekend. By the way, he does get to do one of those touristy adventures this Friday - going out to the Channel Islands with the kids. Nope, I'm not going on that adventure - preferring to stay on solid ground.

But back to our typical day...

What to make for supper? We could warm up the leftover fried rice and chicken from last night. Or maybe we'll stir-fry something tonight. That used to be a typical practice for us at home and I don't think we've done that here yet. Maybe it's time.

And when our work is done or we run out of energy we'll settle in for a typical evening of reading and listening to music or watching a movie. But first I'll go check the mailbox because I think it's a movie night; in fact, maybe it's "Gravity" - the Oscar-nominated new release starring Sandra Bullock. Thank you, Netflix!

Yes, it is a typical Tuesday. A pretty normal day. A good day. I like my life. I am feeling grateful for my new normal. For good days. A good life. A good place to live and work. This place where we sleep and eat and breathe. Where we live and move and have our being. I do appreciate that we can live in sunny California... Except... Whoa! It's not sunny today! It's cloudy and downright chilly. Wait a minute! That is not typical. In fact, it might be the first day in our two months here to not see the sun.

Okay; I guess this is not a typical Tuesday after all.

Oh, well. The sun will come out tomorrow. I'm pretty sure.
 

Daylight and darkness

Feeling subdued this morning. Again. Here we are in southern California with sunshine and warmth. And I'm grateful. But...

But... I just have to think of friends and family back home who are dealing with crap. Where all is not sunshine and warmth. Where life is downright awful. Where there are no easy answers. Where there aren't even ANY answers - easy or otherwise. Where each new day has more than its share of pain and really, really hard stuff to deal with.

Sometimes I wish we were there. OFTEN I wish we were there. To help - although I wouldn't know how to help. I don't have the answers. But just to be there. To lend my/our presence. To give hugs or back scratches. To listen. To cry together.

So what do we do with all that? Do we figure out a way to go back? How do we know?

...

Ah, there's a bit of daylight. Just a bit.  Where all was darkness, finally some faint light.

And with that teeny bit of light I can see the outlines of the mountains. Ah, yes, there are mountains surrounding us. Can't forget the mountains. What do we do about the mountains? Do we stay in our little valley and go on with every day life here - or do we shake things up and find a way up and over these particular mountains to locate somewhere else? Somewhere where we may or may not do more good. Where we may serve a different purpose.

We all have mountains. Mountains sometimes give good gifts - like shelter or beauty or inspiration. Mountains also restrict. Mountains can be dangerous and deadly.  Mountains demand much of us. Courage. Energy. Faith. Wisdom. Perspective.  Patience.

...

I guess I don't have to figure it all out right this minute. I can appreciate the daylight that is creeping into my world and be grateful that darkness turns to dawn yet another day. I do and I am. Oh, yes, I do appreciate daylight and I am grateful when darkness gives way to dawn. 
 

Watching the sunrise... or where I step

Tucked in the valley, I cannot actually see the sun as it rises, but I can see it shining on the mountains around us. It lights up the peaks - first the tall one behind our ridge that I never even noticed before - and then the closer peaks. Slowly the light from the ridge creeps down the slopes until eventually it breaks into our lovely park.  Little splotches here and there. On the tree tops outside my window, then the trunks, and finally hits the ground in little chunks on the lanes and clearings.

Oh, what a glorious process!
...

My friend Nancy Bouwens talks about perspective and asks whether we are focusing on the mud or on the stars.  It reminds me a bit of my current reality. 

Here I am, off on this incredible adventure, fortunate enough to have escaped the Michigan winter and be living in balmy southern California. I am definitely grateful for the privilege and am continually reminded of my blessings. I certainly don't not want to be whiny and complaining.

BUT, some things are still hard. Because this is real life. 

'Tis true that some things are easier because we are here. The warm temperatures allow me to get outside and do more walking which will hopefully have a healing effect on my joints and muscles.

It is also true that some things are harder because we are here - or at least because we are away. There are complicated situations at home that are made much more difficult for us and possibly for others by us not being there in person to care for the physical details of the various situations and responsibilities. It is hard. No question.

Then some things are hard just because they are hard. They are not necessarily any easier or any harder because of our location. It is just that we are living life and life is hard sometimes.

When you depart one time zone for another, move from one climate to another, you don't get to leave all of your problems behind.  Nope; you simply trade one set of problems for another set. Some things get better, some seem worse, and some just go with you wherever you go.

...

While I was reading what Nancy wrote about choosing between the stars and the mud, I realized that I have my own sky or ground scenario.  Yes, I have the positive choice of gazing at the sky.  My "looking at the ground" option might have more to do with focusing on the pickers and other hazards on the ground than with mud. Things that can trip me up and cause me pain. I love, love, LOVE watching the sunshine hit the mountain peaks in the morning and gradually creep down the slopes... I don't so much love the thorns that get stuck in my flip-flops and attack my feet. They are both part of my present reality. Given the current record-breaking drought going on in this area, things probably won't get much more pleasant or healthy underfoot, so wisdom suggests that I pay attention and find ways to protect myself from further injury. At the same time, I will be grateful for the sun lighting up the mountain peaks in succession each morning, for the amazing blue sky during the day, and for the full moon at night. I will continue to appreciate and enjoy them even while exercizing caution about where I step.

...

 

Day Ten: We made it!

We arrived at Kenny Grove Park, Fillmore, CA, a little before noon.   It is really pretty around here. What a pleasant surprise to drive into a verdant valley with orange groves, nurseries and green sod fields after several days and several states of barren countryside.  And trees.  Lots of trees.  The park boasts a variety of cacti. Those bright-colored "balloons" on some of them! Are they fruit* or flower? Is that a jade plant just outside our door? And maybe a geranium entwined with it.  This might be a very good time and a great place to learn more about desert vegetation.

  *My daughter informs me that the prickly pear is quite delicious.

Our spot is somewhere in the middle of the park on the top of a steep hill. Very tight for parking the rig. Even though this is Bob's first experience to attempt such a feat, he managed to get it in place with less than an inch to spare when we open the slider. We even have a storage shed - where we can pack away our snow boots and winter coats!

Now begins the process of settling in and making this little perch our home. Plumbing, mechanical, finding stuff, unpacking, sorting, storing, and getting comfortable. I think we're gonna' like it here.

Day Nine: Last night on the road

A day off. We didn't have to go any certain number of miles today. We didn't stay on course today. We just went where Bob wanted to go, on a mission he has been dreaming of since the conception of this trip. Somewhere with great photo ops.

I mostly wanted to do some reading and some writing. And to buy some groceries. Those wishes fit in rather nicely with the photo quest. 

Then one more night in a camp somewhere in an amazing canyon before checking in at our new home for the winter.

 

Day Eight: - Made it to California!

 

I liked the little KOA we stayed at last night in Kingman, AZ, and felt refreshed and ready for yet another day of travel. That was a nice change from mostly feeling fatigued the last few days.

I wore my hiking sandals today. With socks, but still.  Maybe flip-flops tomorrow?

Climbed to 7200 feet and back down a thousand or two and back up again. Several times. Yep, another ear-popping day!

Made it to California. Wahoo!!! 

Inspection Center. Oops! We forgot NOT to buy fresh produce before entering California.  Let's see; what do we have? A new bag of mini-peppers and one of carrots - both unopened - as well as a banana. We wondered whether we would be allowed to bring them in. Oh wait; the guy waved us through without even asking any questions.

More vegetation than we've seen through a couple states - despite the horrific drought we've been hearing about. I like vegetation.

• Drove through the Mojave Desert pretty much all day - or at least for 200 miles.
• Sign says "Traffic monitored by air craft." Must be true that it is strictly enforced in at least one section of highway because very few trucks passed us there - which is rare.
• A helicopter passed us on one of the mountain roads - or at least most of a helicopter - on the back of a truck. 
• Holy Moses Wash.  Evidently a "wash" is something like an arroyo - or dried up river. Holy Moses Wash was my favorite.
• Warning sign:  Bumps at bridges  Really?  Guess the only thing different about California and other states is that they have warning signs for the notorious rough and bumpy overpass bridges.  How nice of them to let us know.
• 62 degrees!
• We are camped in what looks like a little "parking lot" or maybe a junk yard in the town of Mojave with a flimsy chain link fence a few feet away. On the other side of the fence is the Mojave Air and Space Port - where space shuttles land sometimes. How fun. Oh, yah, we are right by Edwards Air Force Base...
•  Figured out how to change our clocks.  Hadn't bothered until we reached our last time zone.  Well, at least our last one for a few months.

Day Seven: Some more Arizona, the penultimate state

• 'Twas soooooo good to sleep in our own bed, our own place
• The winds have died down and it is much calmer today. Great news to not have the relentless head-wind
• Low energy today. Not pushing myself to write or accomplish anything.
• Lots of ups and downs today. Lots more ear-popping
• Trees!!!
• Flagstaff is beautiful
• Mountain roads make me nervous. Now there's an understatement. 
• Time for some ice cream
• Palm trees!
• Found a truck wash so we can finally get the Michigan dirt off the rig and the de-icer off the steps. Also found a supermarket. 
• Staying in a KOA in Kingman, AZ, and feeling more at home in our rig
• Almost to California!

Day Six: Arizona & feeling at home

• Drove through Albuquerque today and into Arizona
• Ears popping with changes in altitude.  Actually everything popping and making big messes: the ketchup yesterday, the lotion this morning, the Miracle Whip, the mustard...
• We passed an 18-wheeler today. Yep, that is note-worthy.
• Feeling tired today. Back pain again.
• We are staying in our own place tonight. Finally! It feels so good, like coming home
• I am missing the little guys. Need some Face time