Monday, January 29, 2018

Less windy, warmer, day of chores....





Our Location: Joshua Tree National Park BLM, South entrance, California


Sleeping on the sofa reminds me again why we need new seating/sleeping furniture in the living room. Riley took over my bedroom and I spent the night in the living room. The winds where extremely strong, gusting at 30 mph with steady winds in the 20 mph range. Many of the folks in the area had their slides in this morning when I went out for the sunrise. Many were also packing up before 7 am and heading out quickly. Not the norm for here even if they are just over nighters.

This morning's sun showing on the mountains across the Coachella Valley....

I will admit the Igloo did less dancing around with the big slides in, it was less noisy as well. However it was still very easy to hear the winds howl relentlessly through the night. I didn’t settle down to sleep until after midnight and awake at 5:30 am to the sounds of more wind, although not as loud and we weren’t shaking it any longer. 

The work day has begun, can you see the tiny big of sunshine that is showing over the mountain? The first rays are just barely there...

Outside for the sunrise it was cool but not cold, although the wind whistling up my jammies leg gave me the shivers. I didn’t walk around much, staying close to the Igloo and out of the wind. It was at this point I noticed everyone had slides in and many were hooking up or packing up. It didn’t take long for them to start their exits once daylight actual broke.

Octollio, also known as the Devil's Walking Stick. Reminds me of a very spikey dragon....
 
Back inside Miss Riley was awake and we debated about what to do. I checked the wind forecast and it was calling for much less wind, higher temperatures and blue skies. The wind was in fact dying down as we spoke. We opted to stay for at least one more night and decided to go ahead with the chores we had planned. 

A different Octollio tree but I love the brilliant red on that branch.

We put the slides back out and immediately noticed the rock and roll dancing was gone. Yeah!!! Put things back together and cleared off the table, which is where we piled everything that comes off the walls and usually goes on my bed or the sofa. 

The Octollio has some new jewelry....

Cleaned up, dressed, and enjoying our hot drinks while reading before starting the day. Reading while enjoying the windless sounds of the great outdoors was soothing this morning. Afterward we sorted laundry, dumped garbages, loaded the truck and headed out for a fun day of chores, chores, chores. 


Another day is almost done.....

First a spot to dump the trash, check. Next find a laundromat. Hmmmmm it’s not where it’s supposed to be, so on to the next one in the list. Way across Coachella to Indio’s Monroe Street. Laundromat found, check. Laundry washed, dried, folded, loaded back into the Dogsled, check. Filled with big dogs drinking bowl with some diesel priced at $3.59 per gallon. Not the best prices but the best I’ve seen here in California though. Filled tank, check. Now groceries. Of course we like Walmart for groceries. Prices are consistent and very reasonable. We needed a few other things as well though. Some we couldn’t find, no women’s shorts out on the racks yet, nor any capri’s either. However we did manage to find a calander as well as a small clip board and note pad, check, check. Groceries, check to the dance of over $150 USD. That’s a lot of groceries folks. 

Sunset as seen through some desert foliage.

We came straight home to the Igloo as it was already pushing 2 pm and we hadn’t had lunch yet. We opted to have a ‘fend for yourself’ day. I of course opted for a big green salad, and Riley opted for the chicken from Walmart. She can make a complete meal on just that chicken. She’ll snack on it all day and there will be nothing left tomorrow.

Sunset as seen through a desert bush....

After lunch we both read for the rest of the afternoon. I headed outside around 4:45 pm to catch the sunset. I did and it was a beauty. I wandered in various places while taking pictures. A number of rigs came in over the 45 minutes I was outside. I also called daughter Bradey to chat with her for a while.  We managed to get caught up on all the happenings in her life. We chatted for about 45 minutes and then I headed inside.

Old rusty barbed wire twirling in the sunset's rays....

Once inside I edited pictures, and started my post. So as you can see nothing exciting but we did accomplish a number of necessary chores today. So in that sense it was a very good day. The wind has pretty much stopped, the temperatures have warmed up significantly and we’re enjoying our last few days here at Joshua Tree National Park. 

Sunset through a Teddy Bear Cactus

Thanks for stopping by and visiting our little neighbourhood. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Feel free to leave a comment, I enjoy reading them very much. I hope you’ve had an excellent day doing whatever it was that got you through the day. 

Sunset through the spines of the same Teddy Bear Cactus..



A deep thoughtful sky tonight...

Until the next time…. take care, be safe,


Good night from Joshua Tree National Park.....


Deb


13 comments:

  1. Glad to hear the wind died down. It's no fun when you have to fight it.
    Very nice photos of the cactus. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Dave. We're very happy the wind has left too. Much more enjoyable now.
      Thank you, I love all of the cacti here in the southwest and they make such good subjects for picture taking.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  2. Nice to get those chores out of the way and settle back down again. Glad you wind died down, but that is a windy spot. Gonna be warming up some now with February around the corner gonna be seeing some very warm days soon.

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    1. It's always nice to get chores completed. We are also glad the winds are gone.
      Warming up will be interesting. We've had some pretty warm days already....soon be time to start heading back east if it gets too much warmer.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  3. Deb your pictures are incredible! I love the one with the barbed wire..tried to steal it but I can't get it..:( that is awesome ..what a great day, even if a lot of it was chores, gotta be done. Love the sunset!

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    1. Thank you. I'll email it to you if you like. It was an easy picture to take, I just happened on the wire here as I was walking around.
      I don't mind doing chores, makes me feel as if I've accomplished something more than enjoying myself all the time. Hahaha

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb
      Thanks. I too like the sunsets out here in the southwest.

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    2. I'd love it if you would email it..i can see it in my house:) mulequeen3@aol.com. thank you

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  4. Beautiful pictures again, Deb. Compliment the Ocotillo for me, lovely bling!
    Glad the wind has settled down for you, they aren't fun when they are that strong.
    Laundry, fuel, groceries out of the way makes for a happy camper.

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    1. Thanks Patsy. Aren't those Ocotillo just the prettiest things!!!
      Most everyone that was here for the winds have left now. The last day or so have been great though, there is no wind now at all.
      Yeppers, a happy camper when all the chores are finished.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  5. Always nice to get the chores done and somehow I never mind doing them when I can stop, look out the window and see beautiful views.
    Glad to hear the wind has finally died down by you. Makes for more relaxing day.
    Great pictures especially the one of the sunset through the barbed wire.
    Be safe.

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    1. Isn't nice to have the chores completed? I don't mind doing them, as they don't require much of my time. I try to do most of them in one day if possible that leaves a bunch of other days free to goof off.
      The wind has departed, making us extremely happy to stay here for another day or so.
      Thanks, I like that one myself. Reminded me of our summer location as we stay on the farm and so lots of barbed wire around.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  6. Got things done. That's always a good thing. I need to stop by the Indio Walmart soon. Need a prescription filled.

    I didn't know the Ocotillo plant was called the Devil's Walking Stick. Learned something new. Understand why the name though.

    That wind has been terrible for you and Riley. I hope HRH Princess doesn't get upset. I'm sure it gets dust everywhere. Next to dusty, wash board roads, I hate wind.

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    1. I like having the chores complete, makes me feel as if I'm not always just goofing off.
      It's an amazing plant, I love the way bark appears to split as it twists and grows.
      The wind has left, and we are once again very happy in our spot. HRH has settled down too. There wasn't too much dust blowing around, that we could see in the air at least. The soil is more gravelly than dusty here. The top road (just below the berm) here is very washboarded but the second road is good, a few dips but nothing too bad. I've noticed the dust is everywhere if there is much faster traffic on the upper road. They get going about 25 or 30 mph to even out the washboards and it raises the dust quite a bit. The slower traffic doesn't seem to raise the dust at all.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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